Saturday 18 February 2012

Red and Pink

Mmmmm the house smells so yummy

I've been industrious today!
  • Washed out the vegetable drawers in my ice box (I'm not sure what possessed me, but they were empty and I seized the moment)
  • Posted my five mittens to afghans for Afghans
  • Bought a refill for my laundry detergent - I use the ecover brand and there's a shop in East Dulwich which refills them
  • Bought a bunch of lovely veg at the organic veg shop - aren't they gorgeous!  I just love the vibrant colours of veg, the red-pink of beetroot juice just makes me happy
  • Bought three kinds of cheese from the lovely cheese shop two doors down
  • Made rhubarb compote, yum! for putting on my yoghurt
  • Cooked up beetroot greens and sausage - very yum for my lunch and leftovers for another day
  • Cooked the beetroot (for some yet to be determined recipe in the next couple days)
  • Chopped up a pineapple
  • Made breakfast bars
  • Spoke to one of my sisters
Phew, I'm ready for a cuppa tea and a sit down. It's hailing here in Peckham so a wonderful excuse to chill out...I wonder if there's a period drama or a Miss Marple on the tele.

Friday 17 February 2012

Thrifty goodness

Last week I started a new job just up the road from New Malden station.  I’ve been heads down absorbing information and trying to remember everyone’s name.  Today at lunchtime I wandered out into New Malden high street to investigate.

What did I find?  Well my goodness gracious I discovered that New Malden is charity shop heaven!  I went into no less than six charity shops during my 45-minute jaunt (and I only made it half way up the high street).

I was rather overwhelmed by the number of shops and have to admit that I only gave each a cursory walk-through.  I tend to focus on the housewares section of any charity shop, looking for pretty dishes, picture frames, glassware, candleholders, knick-knacks, and similar.  Apparently many of my fellow New Malden workers like these things as well because in each shop there was a cluster of people congregating in housewares.  I also like looking through the clothes, but in my quick lunchtime whirl-around I felt I needed to focus.

In my second shop I patiently waited behind a lady who paid for her £5 purchase with pennies and five pence coins.

In my fourth shop, while waiting my turn to look at housewares, a cross-stitch book caught my eye and I realised I had been neglecting to look at crafty books!

In my fifth shop I remembered that bed linens make excellent fabric for toiles.

In my sixth shop I saw a huge cone of (wool?) yarn for £5, reminding me that people donate crafty things.
 
I came away from my most enjoyable lunchtime with a very little sweet glass vase which I hope to fill with flowers from my very own garden come spring.