Just couldn't Wait Any Longer....

Anyone else excited yet?

The View from My Window...Summer 2013...

Bit late for this, as it's almost winter now, but these are some photos shot from my windows from this summer...

 

Pretty!

from here

Charity Shop Treasure...Candle, Retro Wallpaper and Fabric, Plant Pots and Owl Spoon Rest...

The charity shop gods have been good to me recently...here's my haul...

Little elephant rose scented candle, 50p

Retro black and white wallpaper roll - £1

Funky vintage polyester fabric...75p

Blue rose plant pot...50p White Glass Bowl (says Kenwood on the bottom so I guess it was once part of a mixer, but I'm using it as a plant pot)...50p

Owl spoon rest...50p (I think!).

Not too bad!  Have you found anything magical lurking in a second hand shop recently?

Easy, Cheap Vegan Meal Ideas...Garbanzos con Espinacas, Balsamic Vinegar Potato Wedges, Gnocchi and Tomato Sauce...

Here are some more yummy, easy vegan recipe ideas...

Garbanzos con espinacas (chick peas with spinach) is something I order every time when I go out for Tapas, so I thought it was probably time I learned to make it myself.  I looked at loads of recipes online (lots pinned here), but made it up as I went along in the kitchen.  Fry some cumin seeds in a little oil until toasted, add canned chick peas (half a can per person) and fry for a while.  Crumble half a stock cube over and add a little water, fry for a while longer.  Add a large handful of spinach (one handful per person) and cook until wilted.  That's it, all done!  I had this for my lunch, so I just had it on it's own with a few nuts and grapes, but it's nice for dinner too with a few other tapas (we like garlic mushrooms and patatas bravas).

These are sea salt and balsamic vinegar potato and red onion wedges.  Slice your potatoes and onions into wedges, shake them about in a roasting tin with a little oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt and a couple of crushed garlic cloves.  Roast in the oven until cooked.  They are amazing.  Served here with a Morrisons own brand vegetable quarter pounder.

This one is super easy, shop bought gnocchi (I like Asda's own brand), fried in some olive oil with a few dried herbs chucked in, and tomato sauce, made from passatta, garlic, basil and onion cooked together. Yum!

What's your favourite easy, veggie meal?

Easy Green Things to do This Month...November 2013...

Here's this month's list of easy green and eco friendly actions...

Sign Friends of the Earth's petition to ask for better conditions for workers and better ecological practices in the production of tea. 

Russia are still holding 30 Greenpeace activists, use this online form to ask the Russian Ambassador in London to free them.

November is World Vegan Month, why not give veganism a try, or maybe try a Meat Free Monday if that's a step too far for you!  There are lots of vegan meal ideas on my blog!

November 23rd is Buy Nothing Day, a stance against consumerism and capitalism, why not join in?

If you have any ideas to be added to this months list, then let me know in the comments section and if I like it, I'll add it!  And feel free to share any of this info (or the whole post) wherever and with whoever you like! 

Crochet Poppy. We Will Remember You.

I wore my crochet poppy with pride today, as a walked with my unit of Rainbow Guides in the Remembrance Parade in town.  You can find the free Remembrance Day Poppy pattern I used here.

Things I Loved This Month...October...

Bit belated, been busy-busy!  October was ace, I loved...

* Watching Marvel films * home made tapas * pink stripy wool * nice work people * buying all sorts of Christmas t shirts and socks and nighties and knickers * starting new crochet projects (can't carry on for a while, 'cos I've cut the top of my thumb with a sharp knife and have to have huuuge plasters on it while it heals - whoops!) * baby fish in the pond * many many pub lunches and dinners - yum * trip to Wolverhampton to see Dracula at the theatre, a wander round and quick look round the Art Gallery * being given a mix CD * pink pens * crochet ghosties * potato cakes * snuggling on the sofa with blankets and good TV * reading Richelle Mead vampire books * Great British Bake Off * my little niece, she's so cute, getting lovely and chubby and is an excellent smiler * postcards from Australia (my mum went on her holidays there for 4 weeks!), she brought me back a wombat and some aboriginal art * watching The Princess Diaries, Never Been Kissed, Agents of Shield, Downton Abbey * curry * visiting Birmingham to see the new library and some shiny lights * turquoise hair * pretzels * walk in the park in the sunshine * new sketch pad * pumpkin carving *

Hope you had an excellent October too!