Category Archives: Puppy tales

Snowy Walks and Marzipan

At last, I’m sitting at the computer with enough time to have a little chat. I can’t believe how this week has flown by and now the Christmas counter is saying seven days, just 7 days to go. I think I’m pretty organised, despite the odd gasp of dismay as I realise something I’ve forgotten. If we get snowed in before I get to the shops I can rustle up most of the Christmas dinner, but I’m really hoping I can get to a bottle of Harvey’s Bristol Cream! Mind you, if we do get snowed in, I’ll have masses to eat, ‘cos it’ll just be me, Higgins and Henry! Please can everyone send up a little prayer for Tim to get home from work safely on Tuesday?

I popped into Norwich on Wednesday for a tidy up at the hairdressers and to finish the Christmas shopping and have to show you how pretty Norwich Arcade is looking for Christmas.

Higgins and I went for a very chiily walk while we waited for the promised snow to arrive, at least the going underfoot was firm but I do feel sorry for Higgin’s little tum being so quite close to the ground!

It’s times like this I realise how little Higgins is. Everytime I try to photograph him when we are out walking I look at the picture and he’s just a little spot in the middle!

Once we back home and the fire stoked up there was present wrapping to do. I had planned to use brown paper and red raffia, but then I went to ‘Glory Days’ and found this…

…which took me straight back to childhood Christmases – and it still looks good with red raffia. I didn’t have any labels which matched, but with a little help from the scanner and Photoshop I came up with these…

I made a little stocking too, using some of the pretty trimmings bought at ‘The Owl and Sewing Cat’, and a bell from one of last years chocolate reindeer!

Outside though, something was happening…

…And we popped out to see if it came up to Higgins’ knees…

We certainly haven’t had that much snow here in Norfolk but it’s very cold and it’s so beautiful. Another walk for Higgins and me this morning…

Higgins, once I’ve dug him out of the bottom of his bed, really enjoys a romp in the snow…

After all the fun outside I had a date in the kitchen with the Christmas cake. It occurred to me that if I didn’t get some marzipan on it PDQ I’d be icing on Christmas day. Anyone else made their own marzipan this year? I think I did years ago and don’t remember having to beat it for twelve minutes over simmering water and then over cold water until it was cold. Thank goodness for the food mixer! I then moved on to the Frangipane Mince pies which are delicious but I can’t photograph them until the morning hopefully brings more light. So more of these, and the recipe next time.

Heavens, look at the time! I must away and make up the fire and get ready for ‘Strictly Come Dancing! Tomorrow I have Christmas bunting to make and I have to look for a saw so I can pot the Christmas tree…

See you soon, keep warm x

Christmas Smells

We’re really getting into the swing of Christmas here on Planet Penny, are you keeping up? My main problem has been that if I’m being creative I can’t squeeze in the blogging, sorry, I will try harder!

Delia’s’ Happy Christmas’ is sitting up on the kitchen bar and I have in progress Christmas cake, Christmas pudding AND mincemeat. All of it has to sit over night for the flavours to blend so the kitchen will be a frenzy of activity tomorrow too. But the smell is already tantalising, mixed spice, cinnamon and my favourite, freshly grated nutmeg, the zesty tang of oranges and lemons and heady aroma of the dried fruit for the cake, steeping in brandy. (note to self – I must not pick and nibble…no, no, NO!)

This morning I popped out to the shop where the sun was shining on the snow and a brass band was playing carols which made me feel really festive so when I heard what a depressing play was on the radio I abandoned it for my ‘free from the Daily Mail’ carols CD….

Higgins, under protest, has gone for walk so I have been able to quickly clear up the carnage left after he disemboweled his festive reindeer soft toy, new today, little terror. He seems to think his mission in life is to remove the squeaks from all his toys, leaving a trail of stuffing all through the house.

So what have I been up to? Well next Saturday we have a Christmas Fair at our village hall and the Knit and Stitch Group have a table to fill. I have been stitching and stuffing in ever available spare moment, producing little hearts…

and birds…

The next project is to find a twiggy branch which I can turn into a tree for them to perch on at the fair, my cherry blossom branches don’t look Christmassy enough…

As usual I am battling with the light for photographs, flash does weird things with the colour. I find I don’t have one photo which shows that each little bird is made with two different but complementing colours with little silver stars for eyes, and every bird is different.

If you would like to buy the hearts or birds without a trip to Norfolk please get in touch!

Higgins is home now, and very tired. He can’t think who could have done the naughty thing to his toy and made all that mess, because he is, of course, a very good dog. Look, butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, now would it?

Blog Award

The lovely Teje of Nero’s Post and Patch has given me an Award! Thank you so much Teje, one day we must get Nero and Higgins together, that would be an achievement! As part of the award I must reveal seven secret things about myself which has set me thinking. So I will continue to think as I decide who I can pass the award on to which is really hard. Hard because I read so many blogs, and there are so many talented and versatile people out there who have become blogging friends, and I can only choose three, only three?

So, with difficulty I will choose, without further ado…..

Penelope at L is for Love, Julie at Swedish House and Lisa at Bobobun for their versatility and alround fabulousness!

Now these secrets..Hmm, I do have secrets but most of them are really quite boring…

Who know ALL the goss….?

Ah! I know! Higgins! he knows all my darkest secrets…

If you click here, he will tell you everything…

Robin Redbreast

Oh, woops…Wrong photo, wrong Robin Redbreast! ( Higgins does like to join in)

Remember I mentioned robins the other day? Well, since then I’ve been seeing them all over the place and I particularly liked this image in Country Living.

But I’ve also been having a lovely time with the needle felting,which I have sadly neglected lately with all the knitting and crochet work I’ve been doing. I’ve really got to get back to making the big stuff I enjoy so much, but just at the moment I’ve been having lots of fun with my Christmas theme in mind. Hence the robins…

I love the way they fit into the palm of the hand, they are very tactile, if time consuming to make. I can just imagine how sweet they would look as a Christmas table centre, or all along a mantlepiece. That was the intention, but I have been getting sternly spoken to by my artist friends. How long ago did I first mention selling on line? Don’t tell me, it’s too long. I’ve been procrastinating like mad, in the name of research. However, after an assortment of dire threats from people I had previously assumed were sweet and mild mannered…ladies, you know who you are!…I have taken the plunge.

Planet Penny is now a Folksy Shop..Ta DAAA!

As from half an hour ago.

And there my little robins are available to buy. At the moment, I have said I’m only shipping to the UK, but do get in touch if you live somewhere else and would like to make a purchase.

Now I have to work out how to put a link on the side bar… Hmm, please bear with me, I think there might be a few teething problems before I get it right!

Edited to add: As of 2012, Planet Penny is to be found on Etsy, where the latest versions of the needlefelt Robins are to be found…

Drippy, soggy weather…

…hasn’t helped the general mood. Is it the same where you are? I have been cheered however by setting the laptop wallpaper to show a slide show of my blog photos. I didn’t really think when I started blogging what a bonus to general life it would be. I record so much more than I would have done without it, and my photography has improved enormously. Watching the changing display on the screen brings back lots of little moments I would otherwise have forgotten about. I know I really ought to get to grips with Flickr, but after a little tussle over passwords and things this morning I’m afraid I decided to do something more rewarding…Ironing, anyone? Mmmm, perhaps not!

Also, having a blog focuses the mind on getting on with things, and I have been beavering away at a tutorial today, for the white cotton Christmas Bunting which I hope to publish very soon.

Higgins doesn’t like this weather AT ALL and even though we’ve got the fleecy jacket out again, he just feels silly.

It actually makes a huge difference being able to wash the jacket rather than bath Higgins after every walk, but I haven’t convinced him yet!

Oh, and I’d like to share this with you. I’ve noticed on other blogs other pampered pets have gorgeous little knitted, crochet or even patchwork blankets. And you’ve probably noticed that my own pampered pooch doesn’t. This is why…

This was once a cushion cover…

I’m going to end with a couple of cheery pictures, little unexpected bits of flowery happiness, just the thing for a dark, wet and windy evening.

Who would expect to find something as beautiful as this in a Little Chef car park?

And this jolly pansy graced a table in the couryard of a St Leonards coffee shop…

Hmmm…I think I need to change my coffee brand…

Hello, Hello!

We’re home from our hols… The first holiday we have taken all together as a family, me and Higgins and the boss (so Higs and I let him think….ssssh!) The little country dog has been to town, and done shopping, and hot chocolate,

and walking along the Promenade.

and when he is not doing all that he has been with his Boys…the Big One and the Little One, having so much fun. Today has been the first day back and has been devoted to sleeping, some sleeping and a little bit more sleeping…

There’s lots to tell you all about so please call back when you can, I should have sorted my photos out soon!