Sorry, no snow here

Snow, what snow ?


The whole country is deep in snow except in a few places...
Lucky us..... NO SNOW....................
Not a smidge....
luv Midge :-x x x )

We have lambs and it's only November

I can't keep it up... Not blogging for days.
For everyone that asks after Amie Soto Blossom, or those on facebook Amie Soto blossom blossom... yes she is fine. She has been doing her best to annoy Mew with her new chewy shoe. It's an early Christmas Present, days are getting shorter and longer and darker.
To Ames Christmas is a long way off yet.....


See what I mean, the longing in there is "go for the shoe" !
Old lady she might be, still my dog defiantly.................


It's getting colder in this part of the world, although would you believe this photo, taken only this morning......
Clear blue sky and the sun was out. Soggibottom is way in the distance, over the hill and a couple of valley's, but your looking in the right direction.


Lambs......
I would love to know why poor old number 15 looks so put out. BLESS HER .
Aw.... lambs and it's only November.
Easter is on it's way..
The giveaway is still on .... it would be good to know that you share it by telling your bloggers that it is here :-) xxx A click away on the right...

Soggibottom's Birthday Giveaway

The problem with a Soggibottom bear is that they can be trouble maker's.


They are always friendly.


They like to mix with their own kind.


They tend to climb on the furniture though, so you have to watch them carefully.
If you don't want them on your furniture, be firm. The command is DOWN.


If they climb up onto the fire place, them you have to tell them to CAREFULLY GET DOWN.


This little guy has spent quite a time playing around the cottage with toy cars.


Hiding in fir cones............

He is waiting for the giveaway that is open from now until December 7 th. 2010. 8 p.m. G.M.T.
He could be all yours if you leave a comment and if you haven't done so already join Amie Soto Blossom's list of friends.

This little fellow is quite happy to travel anywhere in the world, hopefully in time for Christmas.
It would be a sharing thing to let your own blogger's know he is around. I will check :-)

Why a Birthday giveaway ?
The cottage is 342 years old this year.
The day we moved into Soggibottom Cottage was December 7 th and my birthday.
Good luck....... x x x

Thunder Birds

If you've clicked on Soggibottom and expected to see Tracy Island, sorry they aren't the Thunder birds that have been seen in the tree's at the front of the cottage.

As interesting as Thunder birds and Tracy Island might have been to me at one time, I now find this bird much more interesting. This is a Great Spotted Woodpecker.


We don't have one that visits we have two. Our camera isn't that good at taking longer shots.
Woodpeckers are said to be more active before a storm why they are also known as Thunder birds.
These two are frightened easily so we keep our distance and mostly admire them from the cottage window.


For a change, it's a clear, crisp, cold, blue sky day here.
Not a storm in sight yet they are both outside of the tree's.
You will have to take my word for it that they are there.

Two legs, Paws and Claws, everyone needs good thoughts.
My thought of today, we need more bird seed.

Power of the Paw

I love the idea of Power of the Paw...... no words needed on this one.
Just lots of paws................

Love ribbon, don't do tinsel.

If you have ever received a parcel from Soggibottom then you will know that we try and re-cycle as much as we can, for those who have had something stuffed into an empty (clean) cat food box through the post. This is especially for you .
Also especially for Sue at Quilt Times as today I'm joining in her quilt along.


Doesn't look much like a quilt yet does it ?
More like cookies and a cup of coffee.


I'm not a prolific quilter, although after joining Sue on her quilt along day a few months ago the cottage now has a new quilt in the spare room.

The hearts are made from thin soft wood.
The cottage carpenter spent a cold day last week in his shed cutting them all out. To his dismay I then took them over the kitchen cooker and slightly burnt them.
Like most of the things I cook, some might have been burnt a little more than other's.
I then dipped them in vanilla essence. It took the slight smell of burning away.
So don't forget if you burn anything, VANILLA ESSENCE helps.
Depends on what you are cooking.

There is a message written with the sharp end of a knitting needle in the middle of the hearts.
I'm sure there is a proper tool for this, don't waste money, the knitting needle worked.
Threaded with raffia and a few bells, then all tied onto LAST YEARS wreath that had been in the cupboard looking sorry for itself.
I felt so pleased with my effort that I decided to do another.


This time using poppy heads that came from our garden. They are always hung to dry ready to use at this time of year.
The vase is a childhood memory, I remember it always being in my Nana's kitchen.
Now it's in my kitchen.
I haven't a clue about the lettering on the bottom of the vase, apart from Wedgwood obviously.
If anyone knows what the symbols mean, please let me know.


I didn't dip the hearts for the second Christmas wreath.
Although I added some ribbon and more bells.
The wooden heart base was also made by the soggibottom carpenter.


I think the hearts would make great gift tags. Although I won't go any where near the cooker with the second batch that are due out of the shed next week.


Finished result of the second Christmas Wreath.


For all the comings and going in the cottage over the last few weeks, some things always stay the same.


It's a wonder anyone ever notices as you pass by.

On the 11th hour on the 11th day on the 11th Month.

Three generations ........

William Trevor.
The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Photo taken 1914 when William was 18 years old.
1896-1971
William was gassed in the trenches at Passiondale and survived.



Norman Vaile.
The Royal Engineers.
Photo taken in Egypt in 1940.
Norman was 23 years old.
July 28th 1917 - 1966
Norman spent most of his army life in Egypt and Palestine.


Anthony Norman Vaile.
17th/21 Lancers.
Photo taken in 1974 at Gosford Castle, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Tony was 27.
Tony's army career took him to many places in the world.

How to ? Is always a good way to start a toy dog.

How to ? ...... do a quick drawing of Amie Soto Blossom.

You should all know by now I struggle with a pencil and paint brush.... Heather at Little bearries is a talented artist, it took Heather a few minutes.

Heather, thank you so much.... Amie would be very honoured except she is asleep in her usual pose, reclining at my feet. I will gush for her and say, how very honoured we are that you have taken the time and effort to do this drawing.

I know post scripts should come at the bottom of a posting..... how could I not include Heather's drawing of Ames in this post. Here is Heather's blog link, you can see Heather's version of Amie Soto Blossom for yourself.



How to ?
Is always a good way to start to wonder how on earth you can replicate a dog...
Never................. not in a million years..............
How to?
When you want it to be a look alike ...


For AMIE SOTO BLOSSOM... Michele Beesley does it so much better than I ever could.
Michele's painting of Ames is above the toy dog you notice.
I don't even come near..........


I am not that cleaver, or never ever try to be... this dog is the real thing.
A one off and never to be repeated babe..
There is ONLY ONE snorer in the cottage and we know who you are AMES .

She might be cute, even in her old age, doesn't mean that snaffling cat food is a forgivable offense either... WEASEL !
Even with the kiss kiss mistletoe stuff.. we all know Christmas is coming...
Do we really want a Christmas Card with you on it ?
Dog with attitude... !
I love my dog :-) ...........

Caroline. and Carrot

The urge to blog has got the better of me......

Behold.... Caroline's giveaway.... a carrot. :-)

Red is a very nice carrot.
Most things that cross the cottage threshold have a name.
In fact, I can't believe that I have won "Red".
I am far too cheeky in nearly all the giveaway's that I enter.
So, if I haven't apologised for my cheekiness before, I do now.

Caroline is a really great knitter. Knitting things that I couldn't possibly do....
She is also a fantastic artist.
My other famous win on Caroline's blog is displayed on the wall in Soggibottom's kitchen....
Right next to Red. ... How on earth Caroline had the staying power to paint over 100 potatoes for a book commission is beyond me....
So for all my cheekiness, I won .............. you need to check out Caroline's blog...............

Things are normal at Soggibottom.... thanks anyway for all the beautiful email's and concern...
Back to normal blogging soon... I promise... :-) x x x

Watching out

When your getting older and things aren't quite so clear in black and white.


When your glasses fall off of your nose and your reactions are slower, it's always best to have someone else to watch out for you.................