Wire wrapping a marble, hanging baskets and Tom Yam Gai

Well the weekend has been and gone and we can claim to have had another 2 BBQs.  Not bad for the middle of April - long may it last though it's still far too chilly to be outside and eating alfresco.  Decided to put myself up to a challenge this weekend and try some bead wire wrapping.  I bravely ventured into the attic and amongst the pure chaos of forgotten belongings I source some long lost marbles from son of 15 years earlier childhood days.  Equipped with marble, a variety of pliers, wire and a book that promises to teach me the technique I begin.  After numerous attempts and a lot of broken, crumpled and useless wire that gets discarded I finally manage to get a marble wrapped in wire so that you can still see what is on the inside and it doesn't look too much of a mess.  Decide to challenge myself to a second attempt and I'm pleased to say I found success again.  I later found a much simpler technique on Youtube.  Still, at least I can say I can do it the hard way and to quote the book I used "The most difficult undrilled objects to wrap and smooth and round" - that sounds distinctly like a marble .... doesn't it!?

Daughter of 12 has been nagging me to get a hanging basket as she wants some pretty flowers outside the house.  I finally relent and we visit our local garden centre of Saturday and end up purchasing not one, but two hanging baskets, the moss lining, the suitable compost and a variety of hanging/trailing flowers.  I must say that having got down and dirty while making them up the end result was quite pleasing.  Just hope we have some decent weather to let the flowers flourish and I still need to fathom out the best way to keep them watered.  They are rather high up!!!! I wonderr why?

As Saturday draws to a close I suddenly realise that I am on Sunday school duty the next day.  Mad panic as I quickly identify what the chosen activity is, decide against it and find another one that I think is far more fun and in keeping with Palm Sunday then realise that I need split pins.  This results in a mad dash to the large craft shop in the neighbouring town where I arrive puffing and panting with what I think is 5 minutes to spare (it's 4.55pm) only to be told that they close at 6.00pm.  I could have finished my cup of tea that I left on the side of the kitchen table after all!!!

Sunday school went without a hitch and needless to say the children loved their large scale donkeys with moveable legs, head and tail.  Thank you split pins.

Tom Yam Gai was then the flavour of the day.  Armed with one of my favourite chefs... Nigel Slater I then decided to make one of his perfect soup recipes.  Quick run through of all the ingredients and I was ticking boxes all the way through only to realise that I didn't have any limes.  Quick dash to the local shop proved fruitless and Tom Yam Gai needs lime juice (preferably fresh) so decided to improvise and make a variation on the above incorporating noodles (the children love chicken noodle soup) and using fresh ginger as well.  Well judging by the empty bowls and the predictable return of son of 15 years 1 hour later for more (I don't know where he puts it all) it must have been a hit.

Right nearly time for a shower and for the the 2 furry friends to have their dustbaths .. that is the chinchillas.  Next project, challenge is to make some polymer beads using some clay in a variety of colours and getting ready for daughter of 12's easter egg hunt party on Thursday. 

More to follow
love jayjay