Saving Wildlife and the Environment

There has been a trial on in the area where I live, to lower the amount of plastic bags being used by the public when shopping. Evidence is there that the message has been heard by the local public.
The damage to the environment by these bags, is wide spread and although some manufactures claim that their bags are bio degradable, the degraded dust still contains toxic waste particles.

I can not help thinking of the song "One Way or Another I'm Going to Get You"

I have found a site which is attempting to encourage us to greater awareness of our own part in saving the environment and would ask that you visit the site to see if you can find a way of adopting their message and their Bags of course. Please visit

morsbags.com

While looking at the site I wondered if fund raising projects, say for schools, could would benefit by selling the bags, what would we not do for our children and their future.

Still recycling

Our Local Authority has announced that no body does it better, regarding recycling, than them. They give us a gift each year, we are allowed to over fill the bins after the Christmas week without penalty.
With that and the season in mind, I continue to bring news of sites which may assist you to clear space for all the new goodies you may receive this Christmas.

Recycle clothing
whatsmineisyours.com

Or add to your winter wardrobe by

peopletree.co.uk

and
adili.com

So lets see you all happy that you have cleared space, even if it was only to fill it again from another site. Merry Christmas to you all.

Santa came to town

I received this pattern last week from the Knitters and Crocheters Guild and thought that they would be fun to make, they become addictive though and I could not stop.
Anyone who fancied could lengthen the hangers and wear them as ear rings or add a fastener and wear them as a broach.
I like small projects at this time of the year, they fill in odd moments when I am at home and sitting still.

Delftware from Amsterdam

As you will see we have been to Amsterdam and bought five diffrent KLM miniature huisjes.
My total collection is fourteen and it will cost at least another £1,500 to complete it.
I was informed by a resident that brides and grooms in Amsterdam, are given a replica of the palace by Bols. What a nice gift.
There are now 88 huisjes in the collection, the latest is a replica of "'t Lootsje", the former Amsterdam tasting room of the leading genever manufacturer, Lucas Bols.
A complete collection of the huisjescan be viewed at Bols' headquarters in Amsterdam.
For admission details visit www.houseofbols.com.

More Christmas Cards

This was the first batch of Christmas cards that I made, the carpet is full of glitter which twinkles when the light is switched on.
There will be more cards made in the next few days.
I had planned to make lace cards this year, time just ran away. Could be that next years cards will be made earlier.

Christmas Cards

Well now mac's niece made me feel quite guilty about lack of crafting over the last few weeks.
There are projects on the go here, although I have had a spell of reading.
However I have taken a leaf out of her book and made some Christmas cards, not 130 though I am full of admiration for her.
These are made with a tree cut out, filled with 'makower uk' printed material which has been padded to give an embossed effect.
I bought the material to make our grandson an advent calendar using these small pictures as the pockets for the basic large tree shape background.
In my voluntary work I travel to villages and have found some very nice craft shops. As a consequence my craft shelves are filling up with future projects.
I have more cards which I will show in the next entry.

Sri Lanka Wedding Elephant

This is a picture of a ceremonial elephant, believed to bring good fortune, at a wedding in Sri Lanka.
The elephant was kept in the grounds of the Kani Lanka Hotel and Spa for four days, to cover several weddings that took place there.
It takes four hours a day to bath the elephant in the river close by, to wash and hydrate it as well as keep it cool.
They are very short sighted, however have amazing hearing.
We never found out where it was kept while it stayed there and there was no noise made at any time.
You just walked about the grounds and turning a corner came across the elephant.
There were many wild life species to see while we were there and would guess that there are a good amount more that we did not see, owing to their ability to hide or blend in well with the scenery.
We had a lovely holiday and our memories will stay with us for a long time.
I will post more soon.

Environmental Caring

Today is Blogger's day when we discuss issues close to our hearts, mine is concerning the environment.

You may have noticed that many blogger's have been discussing recycling for some time now, posting various web addresses to enable you to clear items from your home which you no longer need, there by preventing over burdening the land fill sites.
If you have ever used E Bay or Free cycle you will have been helping the environment, others and yourself as the saying goes 'your trash is someones treasure'.

Compost making and Wormeries are also a topic of discussion as by recycling garden and kitchen waste you will have the benefit of improving your garden's soil and productivity.
Local Authorities recycle Christmas Trees as well as the green waste that is collected fortnightly in some areas.

My concern is to do with a substance we are unable to live without. WATER. Think of what it would mean to you, if there was a water shortage and we were all rationed on the water we could use.
In some third world countries they have two wells in the garden one for clothes washing and household cleaning, the other for personal care. This is collected rain water.
What do we do with our rain water, fill the pond, water the plants.
The Eden project recycles rain water to service its Public Toilets.


Reflect on the following.

The amount of water wasted through a dripping tap. If you are unable to afford to fix the tap at least save the water and use it for every day usage.

Over filling a kettle with water you will not use, you will not have to wait as long for the kettle to boil if there is less in it. You will also spend less on electricity.
You can also buy an element that you place in a cup to boil for one cup use.

Wash your hair separately to showering, it uses more water through a power shower.

If you do not have a loo with a double size flush facility and wish to lower the amount lost by
each flush. Fill one or two empty plastic 500 mil bottles with water and place these in the cistern. They will lower the amount of water used.
Do not use a brick particles of the brick breaking off damage the cisterns working.

Use a hand spray of water to rinse the windows not a bucket of water.

I am sure that many of you know of more ways to save water please feel free to respond to me and I will make sure that I incorporate your methods as well as my own in the efforts to save this valuable commodity

Last Rose of Summer

This is a picture of a rose given to me by special friends in memory of the wonderful time we had together celebrating their Ruby wedding anniversary on 26 September 2007. May there be many more celebrations Nita and Richard.
I have placed it near the front door as a welcome to all who call, as well as a reminder of my friends each time I leave or return home.
I did not expect it to flower this year given the change in weather conditions so it is a lovely surprise.
Other half and I are off for a holiday soon and we plan to take as many photographs as possible, to show you when we return.
I am hoping that there is some lace amongst the photos, done by other enthusiasts.
I have packed in my case a lace project to take with me, as well as a Kumihimo Disc and bobbins for in the aircraft, to make a cord for the purse I am knitting . I do not think that will breach any aviation rules.

Meme Tag

I have been along with others tagged by dancin' fool, having given some thought to the set questions below I have chosen as follows mind it dates me.


1) If you could have super powers, what would they be? and what would you do with them?

2) Were you to find yourself stranded on an Island with a CD player........it could happen........what would your 10 blogger Island discs be?

3) If you were a smell what would it be?

4) What bird would you most like to be?

5) If you were a bird who's head would you most like to poo on?

6) Are there any foods that your body craves?

7) What is your favourite time of the year?

8) What is your favourite time of the day?

9) If a change is as good as a rest which would you choose?

10) If you could have a dinner party and invite any five people from the past or present who would they be?

Well there is plenty there to think about.

1) The power to give to the medical profession the ability destroy all Physical and Mental illness or Disease.

2) my 10 Cd's would be

Aretha Franklin I Say a Little Prayer for You
10cc I'm Not in Love
Andrew Lloyd Weber's, I Don't know How to Love Him. From Jesus Christ Super Star
Andrew Lloyd Weber's, Pia Jesu sung by Sarah Brightman and Miles Kingston
Mamas and Papas Dedicated to the one I Love
Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson I Know Him So Well
The Flying Pickets All I Needed was the Love you Gave
Phil Collins and Phil Baily Easy Lover
Phil Collins Against All Odds
Karen Carpenter Love Me For What I Am

I think that having listened to them for a while I would be longing for some one to be with me.

3) I would like to smell as a sun warmed Rose.

4) I would like to be a Barn Owl, wonderful flight, good eye sight, and not hunted.

5) I would most like to poo on Pete Docherty from Baby Shambles, he has so much and seems unaware of it.

6) Foods that I crave are Fish, rice and honey.

7) My favourite time of the year is Spring, the awakening season full of pleasures and surprises.

8) My favourite time of day is the evening, having completed the days assignments and ventures I have time to relax, enjoy myself and contemplate.

9) I would choose change over rest , just think when your feet are killing you, a change of shoes is bliss.

10) A dinner party well I would invite Clarrisa Dickson Wright formerly from The Two Fat Ladies, such a learned person and a exceptional speaker.
Jane Austin who had a wonderful way with words.
Stephen Fry so much knowledge and interesting with it also.
Richard Burton actor, who I could listen to for hours with that sonorous voice.
Richard Attenborough actor, because I have enjoyed his films for a long time.