Pumpkin pie with a pecan and gingersnap layer.
I also made up some maple syrup whipped cream (recipe for
pie and cream can be found here - although I would use
your own shortcrust pastry recipe as the one provided
was a bit stodgy).
Razor blade door hanging!
Continuing our 'Chop Shop' theme!
Taking 'raw feeding' to a new level!
Our take on 'Psycho'
The dogs partaking in the horror.
Siamese figher (Betta splendens), or Tengu
Black phantom tetra (Megalamphodus megalopterus).
The image doesn't really do this fish justice!
We have a shoal of 5 phantoms, but I suspect one of them is actually a rosy tetra, or possibly a hybrid as it has white tips to the pectoral fins. She (Twinky, as she was the only survivor from the first batch of phantoms we bought) is perfectly happy shoaling with the new phantoms though.
Panda corydoras (Corydoras panda).
Man, the pandas are busy! We only added them to the tank yesterday and they were scoffing their faces before they reached the bottom of the tank! They are proving quite endearing though. We have a shoal of 5, although the smallest one seems to prefer to forage on his own!
Fist ever cross stitch. I think I was about 13 when I did this one. 
First completed 'big project'
One I completed on the many long train journeys to Plymouth
I love this design! I'll certainly look for more of their designs in future.
A couple of bookmarks.
I drew this a couple of years ago during a
particulary dull lecture. Probably on cell membranes.
I was surprised to find that this one was drawn
ten years ago. It was when I was working on
various comic characters for a comic that I never
completed. About this time I had a few issues to
work through and my arts took a bit of a sabbatical
for many years. I wish I had kept up with my drawing,
and often wonder if I should have done art instead of
zoology at university. Never mind, can't change past
decisions, only the one's you're going to make!
August
October
Close-up of the mermaid's face detail and some beading
Just look at the focus on his face!
It was my birthday last month and my rather fantastic husband bought me a tropical fish tank. I'm very excited about this as I used to be a keen aquarist when I was younger. I bred a range of fish before discarding the hobby in favour of other teenage endeavours. Photos will follow, but currently the tank is devoid of fish whilst it undergoes the nitrification cycle - A photo of gravel and plastic plants isn't that riveting.
I've made a few craft items, which have their own posts and Gareth has finished his Masters now, so the hunt for work begins for him.
I'm also currently weaning off my anti-depressants, which is less than fun. It's like being drunk but cheaper. It's hard to predict when the withdrawl symptoms will hit so during the day I will get dizzy, nauseous and confused at sporadic points. I don't think anyone has really noticed at work, which is a little discouraging!
So, update over with, I will forego the usual promises to blog more regulary, as clearly it's a platitude I cannot adhere to!
I tried to replicate the existing seam pattern, but my
sewing machine couldn't handle the thick layers of fabric
so it kinda stops dead by the zip! I also got the tension wrong
on the hem, plus its in a different colour thread to the rest of the
stitching, but hey, it was my first attempt!
I'm attempting to bring back pale and ashen and make it chic.
(Excuse my bloated gut at the top of the photo).
Side view showing a faded area that used to be the 'knees'
of my old jeans.
They do look rather homemade, but I think they are fine for dossing about the house. Hopefully the next skirt I make from old jeans will come out a bit more professional!
Tangent was very focused throughout hisround. Love that boy!
Tangent was 9th in the running order for Beginners (dog and bitch). The judge was very pleasant and didn't mind me training the round. I was very happy with Tangent today. He was very motivated for his toy, was very focused and generally seemed to be having a whale of a time! His heelwork is coming along (well, as long as we avoid left-turns!) and he's starting to work much closer to my leg.
He wasn't this close during all his heelwork,
but I thought I would show his best position!
He proved entertaining with the retrieve excercise as he initially brought the dumb bell to the steward, probably because she was closer!
Willow drew 2nd in the running order for Novice, but I decided not to work her in this class as she didn't really seem herself (I've decided that working two classes with her is asking too much of the old girl now).
Top: Willow miles in front!
Bottom: She wasn't really concentrating;
it looks like she's out for a jolly little walk!
She was quite distracted throughout this round, and ended up anticipating her recall. By the time it came to the retrieve she had lost the plot somewhat and toddled out after the dumb bell when I threw it, stopped, looked around and caught site of a dog in another ring she took a disliking to and bolted after it. Fortunately her instant downs are pretty ace so I yelled "Down!" and she dropped. I tried training the rest of the round, but by now she was far too distracted so I ended it there.
I was not disappointed with Willow, just how it went! I think she is definately past her peak with Obedience and considering the 6 year gap in shows, I was happy with her.
Willow once again distracted! Excuse my
vast ass - going by the position of all the
surrounding dogs it looks like it has its own
gravitational pull!
"I wanna go out!"
