MY CAR BOOT SALE

Today we decided to have a car boot sale. We had been planning it for weeks and the kids wanted to make some extra pocket money. Kim was saving up for a new mobile phone so unlike any other morning she had to get out of bed early.

We arrived about seven o'clock and set up our stall. Of course we had the 'vultures' around first, but I just wanted to get rid of stuff and sold a freestanding mixer for £8 and a craft set for £4 which was worth about £40 new.

Kim made enough money to buy a new phone, but Kelly ended up spending what she made on a huge animal hospital helicopter and some books!

All in all it was a good morning, we came away with just over £100 between us, but I came worse off than all of them. I only made £15 and 2/3 of that went to pay for the space in the field!

However I did get some bargains - 2 pairs of curtains, brand new, still in their packaging and some lovely books, one named Hints and Tips From Times Past, which particularly looks interesting.

VINTAGE COOKERY

As promised a few weeks ago my Auntie bought me some cookery books that belonged to my nan, and look what I found inside - some four-leafed clover that I found as a child. I even remember putting them there! The clover must be at least 32 years old if not more!

The book, by the way, was published in 1936.

MY EASTER SWAP GOODIES

Yesterday I received my Easter Swap goodies from Mary at Sew Hot Mitmot. This is what I received:







A beautiful lemon basket



A gorgeous chicken/heart hanger



Some egg decorations



A fabric egg



Some Easter Embellishments



Easter Napkins

A Lovely Hand Made Brooch

A Tissue Holder

oh! and erm.....ahem..... some Chocolate eggs ...... they just seemed to disappear from the photograph!











Thank you to Mary for such wonderful swap items - they were lovely!

MAKING ROOM WITH AMAZON

Still on my clearing out theme, I decided to get rid of some of my books. I love books and I have 2 book cases in my living room - 1 floor to ceiling, 1 on the landing and the kids have a bookcase each in their bedrooms. All these are absolutely overflowing with two rows of books on each shelf.

I was not going to get rid of any of them to begin with as I am quite attached to them all! But common sense had to take over in the end - no one needs 3 chocolate cookery books, and paperbacks that were read years ago and never to be read again. So I listed a few on Amazon.

I couldn't believe it! I was still in the middle of listing some items and I was getting emails to say that the items were sold. I made just under £100!

So anyone wishing to clear out their books - Amazon is the place - Brillliant!

MORE THRIFTING....OR IS IT?

Have you ever lent anyone anything and not had it back. I have. A couple of years ago I lent someone ALL my Jean Greenhowe toy patterns and did not get them back. We have since lost contact with each other, so there is no chance of getting them back now. However I managed to buy all these toy patterns for only 10p each at our League of Friends stall at the hospital. I was very pleased and thought I had definitely got a bargain. But if I had got them back to begin with I wouldn't have had to buy them again would I?

EASTER MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS:

300g Plain Flour

1 tbs Cornflour

100g Caster Sugar

100g Sultanas

2 tbs Candied Peel

1 Egg, beaten

175ml Milk

6 tbs Sunflower Oil

100g Marzipan, finely grated

Zest of 1 Lemon

ICING:

200g Icing Sugar

2 tbs Lemon Juice

Yellow Food Colouring

36 Mini Eggs

Preheat oven to 200'c/Gas 6. Place 12 large muffin cases in muffin tray. Sift flour with baking powder and caster sugar, add sultanas and candied peel.

In a separate bowl combine egg, milk and oil then add marzipan and lemon zest. Combine with dry ingredients until just mixed together (do not over mix).

Divide mixture between the 12 muffin cases and bake for 20 mins. Allow to cool.

Sift icing sugar and add lemon juice and yellow food colouring to make icing. Use to decorate muffins and top with 3 mini eggs on each one.

HEART SWAP GIFTS

On Friday I received my Heart Swap Parcel from Alex at Pink Feather paradise.

I received these lovely items:

A Hand Made heart with beads (absolutely gorgeous).

A big red stuffed heart decoration.

A lovely quartz key ring (hand Made) in a little pouch (again, this is beautiful).

A mug decorated with hearts & 2 pairs of heart socks.

Silver heart braid.

2 Phone charms

Hair clips and bobbles

Cup cake paper chain papers (lovely!)

and.... A Thorntons chocolate shaped lolly!!

I couldn't believe there was so much in the parcel. Alex had obviously gone to a lot of trouble.

Thank you Alex for such wonderful gifts!!