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Thursday, 6 July 2017

History on the Doorstep - author Clare Flynn and the inspiration for The Chalky Sea

Today I'm welcoming Clare Flynn to Literascribe. Clare has just published her fifth novel, The Chalky Sea, set during World War II, and I invited her to tell me how she drew on local knowledge and local history when she wrote it. The result is a fascinating article, reminding us that we often don't know the details even of the recent past, in the places familiar to us. If you're a writer and you choose an exotic location, you're all set to research it thoroughly, whether in person or on the internet. But even if you're writing about home, you need to look at it with a fresh eye and delve into records and old images - you will be amazed by what you turn up, as Clare proves here!

I recently moved to Eastbourne, on the Sussex coast. I lived here as a teenager and because I love the sea and the Downs decided to move back after twenty years in London. I get very cross when people have a go at Eastbourne – describing it as “God’s waiting room” and the like. Someone reviewing my novel Kurinji Flowers referred to the fact that the main character honeymoons here in the 1930s with the comment “I suppose someone has to”. There is so much more to this town as I quickly discovered.

During my school days in the late sixties/ early seventies, no one spoke of Eastbourne’s pivotal role in the Second World War. It was as if the town had put its past behind it and wanted to focus on the present. So it was a big surprise when I moved back and discovered that it was said to have been the most heavily bombed town in south-east England.

Walking the streets the evidence was there – I just hadn’t noticed it. There is the ugly 1960s extension tacked onto the Victorian Cavendish Hotel on the seafront, built to replace the original east wing bombed in May 1942; the Central Library is a modern building, opened in 1964 to replace the red brick structure that was destroyed in 1943 and there are post war buildings to replace Marks & Spencers – bombed while people were doing their Christmas shopping in December 1942, Barclays Bank (1943), and the central fire station (1943), St John’s church, Christ Church junior school, to name but a few – as well as four hundred and seventy four houses. For years I had walked unknowingly past an unmarked spot, where a blast shelter sustained a direct hit, killing everyone inside during a raid that across the town centre claimed thirty-two lives with ninety-nine injured.

One hundred and ninety-nine people died in the bombing raids on Eastbourne – one hundred and seventy-two of them ordinary civilians. The raids began in July 1940 and continued until the last bombs fell in March 1944. As well as being bombed out of their homes, the townspeople endured being strafed in the streets by machine-gun fire from the fighter-bombers. The early raids were doubtless to soften up the town ahead of Hitler’s planned invasion, Operation Sea Lion, which was expected to take place along the Sussex coast. But the bombing didn’t stop when the invasion was called off. Eastbourne suffered from bombs dumped on the return leg from London and the Midlands but, being just a short hop across the Channel, it was subjected to “tip and run” raids with bombers coming in low under the radar then, as they reached the coast, climbing up over Beachy Head to the Downs, banking and swooping down to attack the town before nipping back across the Channel. These attacks were not aimed at strategic targets – there were none – they were designed to cause terror and damage morale.

Another factor that may have made the town a target, especially in the run-up to the catastrophic allied Dieppe raid, was the presence, from 1941, of thousands of Canadian soldiers until the D-Day preparations of 1944. They were essentially the allies’ reserve army and thus an attractive target for the enemy.

The town also witnessed the loss of German life. The first “kill” over Eastbourne of a German fighter plane happened at the end of my road. A twin-engine Messerschmitt Me110 was shot down and crashed into the grounds of the Aldro School – now part of Brighton University’s Eastbourne campus. The pilot, Hauptmann Ernst Hollekamp, already dead, landed on the roof of another school half a mile away, while the rear gunner parachuted into the sea and drowned. For years, the people of Eastbourne believed the crashed plane to have been a Henkel bomber until the pilot’s widow visited the town and confirmed he had flown a Messerschmitt.

With the heavy bombardment of Eastbourne, which began a month before the London Blitz, the vast majority of the population evacuated, so that the local MP described the place as “Ghost Town on Sea”. The arrival of the Canadian army must have been welcome to the pubs, cafes and retailers who remained open throughout the war.

With all this history on my doorstep, it was impossible to resist the idea of setting a book here. It was not in the plan when I moved, but within two months of arriving I had started writing The Chalky Sea. The book is set mostly in Eastbourne, but also in Aldershot, where numerous Canadian regiments were garrisoned throughout the war years, and a little bit in Ontario, Canada.

The challenge in writing fiction based on actual events is to be respectful to those involved while also being accurate. It is probable that relatives of victims of the bombings still live in the town. I have used real bombings, but all the characters involved are completely fictitious. I have tried to ensure that I stuck closely to the dates and places that were actually bombed, beginning with the first attack on the town in Whitley Road at 11.04 on July 7th 1940 – a Sunday morning. If people die in the book, then people actually died in that raid at the time. Sadly with so many raids there was no need for invention.

The book follows two main characters – Gwen, an Eastbourne woman, alone and refusing to evacuate the town after the departure of her officer husband to an unknown destination for what we now know as Special Operations; and Jim, a young Canadian farmer, who joins up in a fatalistic effort to escape from a broken heart. The Chalky Sea follows their individual journeys and examines the impact of war on them and how it changes them profoundly.

Clare Flynn writes historical fiction with a strong sense of time and place and compelling characters. Her books often deal with characters who are displaced - forced out of their comfortable lives and familiar surroundings. She is a graduate of Manchester University where she read English Language and Literature.

Born in Liverpool she is the eldest of five children. After a career in international marketing, working on brands from nappies to tinned tuna and living in Paris, Milan, Brussels and Sydney, she ran her own consulting business for 15 years and now lives in Eastbourne where she writes full-time – and can look out of her window and see the sea.

When not writing and reading, Clare loves to paint with watercolours and grabs any available opportunity to travel - sometimes under the guise of research.

Want to be a writer? Visit my website to download your free guide to living a productive writing life.

Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Triskele book launch: the power of writing communities to create connection, promotion, celebration

Jill Marsh and Catriona Troth
of Triskele Books
We’re stronger together

Phew! As I look back at June, I wonder what happened – it went by in the blink of an eye. What I want to do with this post is celebrate the power of friendship in this often challenging world (see the heading above this paragraph). Whether we’re writers or readers – or, indeed, both - it’s an absolute joy to make connections and discoveries, to support and celebrate one another’s successes.

Alison Morton, Antoine Vanner,
Anita Chapman and you know who
My June started with a book launch in London on the 3rd, at The English Restaurant in Spitalfields. An amazing group of writers got together to send their books out into the world. After my rather hermit-like winter it was good to see so many old friends all gathered together.

The party had been organised by the Triskele book collective (see my blogpost on the last launch of theirs I attended). A nicer, more professional, more sickeningly productive bunch of women you are not likely to meet!

Jane Dixon-Smith aka JD Smith
Here’s the list of their new books:

JJ Marsh was launching the last in her successful Beatrice Stubbs series of crime novels, Bad Apples.
Gillian Hamer – the latest in her Gold Detectives series set in Wales, Sacred Lake.
JD Smith – The Rebel Queen is the fourth in her series about Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra (exotic or what? Who could resist such names?)
Liza Perrat – who sadly could not be with us on the day – was launching her suspense novel, The Silent Kookaburra
Gillian Hamer

Jessica Bell
Plus, the Triskelites had invited two more writers to join the launch. Alison Morton had just published Retalio, the latest in her Roma Nova series of alternate history thrillers, which have been a huge success. Jessica Bell was launching her powerful memoir, Dear Reflection: I Never Meant to be a Rebel.

Every single book looked absolutely gorgeous, with excellent production values and brilliant covers.

Readers, we had a ball! Catriona Troth very ably compered a series of readings and interviews, there was fizzy wine, lots of food, and the chance to meet other friends again – Roz Morris, Rohan Quine, Clare Flynn, Glynis Smy, Anita Chapman, Jane Davis, Helene Halme, Antoine Vanner, Debbie Young (who had just published her latest, the brilliantly named Best Murder in Show), Carol Cooper and Karen Inglis - plus Jessica Bell’s amazing mother, musician Erika Bach.
Erika and Jessica

After such an afternoon of fun on a very hot London afternoon, I took the train home and came back to earth heavily when I heard the London Bridge terrorist attack had just taken place, so the end of the day was spent checking Facebook to make sure everyone was OK and texting my son to make sure he hadn’t been in the area (he wasn’t – but he had been just 22 hours earlier …)

It was a salutary reminder of the preciousness of friendship and of celebrations on warm, free summer days, of the freedom to write what we want and share it. Let’s cherish it all.

Glynis Smy and Clare Flynn
I’ll be blogging again soon about this year’s Winchester Writers’ Festival, but in the meantime, Clare Flynn will be guesting on Literascribe tomorrow, talking about her fifth novel, The Chalky Sea, an exciting wartime drama – don’t miss it!

You can visit the Triskele website and their blog here, Alison Morton's amazing Roma Nova website here and Jessica Bell's multi-dextrous website here. Is there nothing these people can't do?!

Ros Morris

Want to be a writer? Visit my website to download your free guide to launching a productive writing life.


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about us

Liteworks Lighting Productions Inc. (LLPI) was formed to meet the increasing demand for high production values and unique experiences in corporate and special event lighting.

Founder, Dave Eveson, has been in the industry for over 15 years, supplying and designing over 2000 events. This experience, and strong relationship building with some of the best equipment suppliers are the foundation for the company.

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On Average LLPI manages over 20 events a month. This volume has earned us significant discounts from our chosen suppliers, thus enabling us to compete in the market as a full service lighting production company.

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Friday, February 13, 2009

On Sunday March 1st, 2009

Four readers make the moment at Lit Live!

Susan Helwig reads from a selection of new poems that follow on the heels of Pink Purse Girl, her most recent collection from Wolsak and Wynn.

Jon Paul Fiorentino takes us Stripmalling through his novel recently published by ECW.

Jim Nason opens up the Housekeeping Journals, his first novel, published by Turnstone Press.

Robert Colman follows The Delicate Line, his first collection of poetry that was published in 2008 by Exile Editions.

Susan Helwig

For several years Susan Helwig produced and hosted the literary programme In other words at radio station CKLN-FM in Toronto. Her broadcasting stint closed with a flourish as she talked to Yann Martel about Life of Pi. Her work has been widely published and anthologized throughout North America, from ACTA victoriana to Zygote, most recently the Silver Boomers Anthology, Hammered Out and The Windsor Review. She is a member of the Draft Collective which runs a reading series in the Leslieville area of Toronto. Her first book, Catch the Sweet, was published by Seraphim Editions in 2001. Her second collection, Pink Purse Girl, was launched by Wolsak and Wynn in September 2006.

Jon Paul Fiorentino

Jon Paul Fiorentino is a writer and editor. He has published two books of poetry with Coach House: The Theory of the Loser Class (2006) and Hello Serotonin (2004). He also wrote Asthmatica (which was brought out by Insomniac in 2005). He has edited two anthologies: Career Suicide! Contemporary Literary Humour (DC Books, 2003) and Post-Prairie - a collaborative effort with Robert Kroetsch (Talonbooks, 2005). He lives in Montreal where he teaches writing at Concordia University and is the Managing Editor of Matrix magazine. His latest book is a novel, entitled Stripmalling (ECW).

Jim Nason

Jim Nason’s poems and stories have appeared in journals across the United States and Canada, including Best Canadian Poetry 2008. He has published two books of poetry: If Lips Were as Red (from Palmerston Press) and The Fist of Remembering (from Wolsak and Wynn). Nason’s debut novel The Housekeeping Journals was recently released by Turnstone Press in 2007. He teaches creative writing at George Brown College in Toronto.

Robert Colman

Robert Colman is a writer and editor based in Newmarket, Ontario. His poetry has appeared in literary journals across Canada, including The Malahat Review, CV2 and The Fiddlehead. His first collection of poems, The Delicate Line, was published in the fall of 2008 by Exile Editions.


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Archive for November 2010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

altered window frame tutorial and scotch tape giveaway!

Thanks to Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape for sponsoring my writing about crafts. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win free sample rolls to help with your upcoming holiday needs!

And yes, this project does use Scotch tape. It's one of my favorite projects. In fact, I don't have little girls, but i loved this Dear Lizzy paper by Elizabeth Kartchner so much that I decided to use it anyway (have you seen her new Enchanted and Christmas lines, too? Adorable!). So if you do have a little girl and want this for her room, contact me--it's for sale!

Altered Window Frame Tutorial

*Wood window frame with glass panes in tact
*Coordinating patterned paper
*Paper trimmer or scissors
*Bone folder or similar tool
*Scotch tape
*Optional: drawer pulls, hand drill, and heavy-duty glue (like E6000 or Gorilla Glue)

First, find an old, wooden window frame. You can find these at flea markets, antique stores, and even garage sales. Prices can range from a few dollars to $35+. For this project you'll want it to have glass panes. We'll show you a few other uses for window frames in the future, so if you find a great frame that you love, by all means, buy it! You'll regret it later if you don't (believe me).

Next, chip loose paint off. Old paint often contains lead, which can be dangerous for children if ingested, so you want to get as much off as possible. Then use an electric sander (or a piece of sandpaper and some elbow grease) to sand it smooth. If you don't like the shabby chic look, you could tape off the windows at this point and paint the frame. I left this one as is.

Arrange your papers under the windows until you have an arrangement you like.

Cut your papers to the size of the wood frame for each window pane (this will make them slightly larger than your glass). This is a good thing.

Take a bone folder and crease each edge so the paper is flush with the glass. This will create a little lip of paper around the edge of the pane.

Now tape each lip to the wood frame with some good ole' Scotch tape. You could glue it, but I liked this option because I can easily remove the paper if I ever want to update it down the road.

Use your bone folder to smooth out the tape and make sure all your papers are secure.

Repeat with remaining panes.

Isn't it looking pretty?

If you want to have knobs for hanging, position your drawer pulls evenly across the bottom side of the frame. I found my pretty, vintage knobs at Anthropologie. They were pricey, but so worth it. They really make it. To attach knobs, mark the spot and drill a hole the same size as your knob. Squeeze a little glue inside the hole and stick the screw end of your drawer pull inside. Allow to dry before using your new hook.

Lastly, I added a couple of window hanging attachments to the back so I could hang it on the wall.

I thought it needed one more little touch, so I added a simple paper flower wreath hanging from the front. (See the amazing inspiration wreath here.) I simplified it a lot, but basically, I cut four-petaled flowers in several sizes with my Slice machine from coordinating/matching papers. Then I curled the petals with a pencil and stacked them up. I sewed a button in the middle to secure all the layers. Then I hot glued them to a wreath form. Easy, but time consuming. And worth it. I love the way it turned out!

Okay, thanks for reading all the way to the end of that long tutorial, even if it was just to find out about the Scotch tape giveaway! We will choose 10 random winners to receive 10 rolls of Scotch double-sided tape courtesy of 3M, just in time for holiday crafting! Just leave us a comment on this post--it can be about anything: what you'd use the tape for, how much you love my window, or what you're cooking for Christmas dinner. Just leave us some comment love by Friday, December 3 at 11:59pm PT and we'll pick 10 lucky winners! Good luck!

Please learn more about Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape and other Scotch(R) Products, and join the conversation on the Scotch(R) Brand Facebook Pageand via Twitter. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

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storkie giveaway winner

I know you are all dying to hear the winner of the $100 gift certificate from our Storkie Giveaway. Well, the lucky gal is....

Liz from The Stevie Times

Congrats! I have passed your email address onto the sponsor and they should be contacting you soon! Enjoy your fabulous cards.

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Monday, November 29, 2010

everyday lettering giveaway

Want to hear about a really great holiday gift idea? Everyday Lettering is wonderful. Using beautiful pictures from Joy Photography by Heather, words are created from everyday items and you can make a word or saying from them. How awesome! I just love this idea. Heather says, "After seeing similar products in stores priced at over $150 for a small word/name I searched for a way to make it more affordable. I spent over a year collecting pictures of everyday objects and editing them to make them beautiful."

Take a look....

Today, Everyday Lettering is offering one of our readers the chance to win one name/word valued at up to $30 + shipping for free! All you have to do is visit Everyday Lettering and look around. Then come back and tell us what word you would pick to order. You can see all of the letter here. Good Luck! This giveaway will end on Sunday, December 5th at 11:59pm PT.

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Thursday, November 25, 2010

cyber monday deal from flirty aprons!

We've got some fun handmade Christmas gift ideas coming up soon, but if you're already feeling overwhelmed by the holidays, you have our permission not to make every gift this year. Why do that to yourself? We have a great Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal for our readers: 30% off your purchase from Flirty Aprons, now through November 30, 2010. Use Coupon Code CYBER30. I love their aprons--they look like something I would make if I had the time!

Here's are the aprons on my wish list (I can't decide!). . .

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

king arthur flour demo = perfect pie crust this year

We recently had the opportunity to attend one of King Arthur Flour's traveling baking demos. It was fabulous! They showed us how to make the perfect pie crust and offered many wonderful baking ideas and tips. Besides being a fun girls day out with friends, we really learned a lot.

One of my favorite ideas was using little cookie cutters to cut shapes out of pie crust to add a little decoration to your pies. You can line the edge of your crust with cut-outs or do the whole top crust as a blanket of cut-outs. What a festive touch!

Take a peak at our festive pumpkin pie...

Here is the wonderful recipe for pie crust from King Arthur Flour.

Basic Pie Crust
makes one 9-inch double pie crust
2 1/2 or 3 cups all purpose flour, pastry flour or combination of both
1 tsp. salt
1 cup butter
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

Mix dry ingredients together with whisk. Cut in half of the butter, combining thoroughly. Cut or pinch the remaining butter into small bits. Toss these bits of butter into the mixture you already combined, mixing just enough to coat with flour. You want these pieces in larger bits. Add the water a tablespoon at a time and toss with a fork to moisten the dough evenly. To test for the right amount of liquid, use your hands to squeeze a chunk of it together. If it sticks together easily, it is moist enough. If it falls apart, add a bit more water. Divide the dough in half and wrap both halves in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Roll out dough onto lightly floured surface and use a spatula to help you transfer the crust to pie plate. Follow further directions for baking based on what recipe of pie you are making.

*TIP-One great tip we learned at the demo was to use a spray bottle on the dough. If you just need to add a little bit of water as you roll it out or form dough, you can lightly spray all over without getting it too moist in only one section.

We tried out another delicious from the demo and it was delicious!
The Easiest 100% Whole Wheat Bread Ever
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
1/4 cup orange juice
3 Tablespoons molasses
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
1 1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. instant yeast

Grease an 8 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch loaf pan. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl. Beat vigorously for about 3 minutes. An electric mixer on medium-high speed works well here. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan. Cover the pan with lightly greased plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 1 hr. It won't fill the pan. It also won't dome as it rises, but will remain flat across the top. While the batter is rising, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Uncover and bake for about 45 minutes, tenting it with foil after about 20 minutes. The bread is done when it is golden brown on top and an instant read thermometer inserted in center registers 190 degrees F. Remove from oven. After 5 minutes use a knife to loosen edges then turn out onto a rack. Brush with melted butter if desired. This will keep the crust soft. Cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

We hope these recipes can be a great addition to your holiday meal! Happy Thanksgiving!

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forget black friday - this year it's small business saturday!

Thanks to American Express for sponsoring my post today about small businesses. American Express is presenting Small Business Saturday, a way to honor the local merchants who are the backbone of the economy, this Saturday, November 27. They're offering statement credits to people who shop at small businesses, advertising for small-business owners, and donations to Girls Inc. for "Likes" of the Small Business Saturday page on Facebook. Join the celebration by clicking the "Like" button and then visiting the Facebook page to learn more about the program and read the terms and conditions that apply.

I learned a lot about how small businesses affect communities when my local scrapbook store, of which I was an employee, closed this summer. I was so surprised to see how some customers made the store their home, how they connected with the employees, and how devastated they were to see it go. Small businesses truly are the lifeblood of our communities! That's why I'm so thrilled that this Saturday American Express is honoring the small businesses that bring so much to local economies. And that's why I want to tell you about one of my favorite local businesses.

I stumbled upon it while antique shopping in the quaint town of Snohomish with my in-laws several years ago. I felt like I had discovered a precious stone--that's how amazing this store is. The shop is called Joyworks, and it is a little bit vintage, a little bit handmade, and all style. Home decor, gifts, and clothing and accessories that really make you feel special. Because they're different, they're chic, and you can't get them just anywhere. And a lot of that is because the owner, Jana, has such great taste! She and her staff really know how to pull different items together to not only give you great decorating ideas, but to make you need them. It's a little bit mean, really. I want it all!

Did I mention I need this jacket?

If you're in the Seattle-Everett area, you really need to check out Joyworks. I guarantee you'll find great Christmas gifts, neighbor gifts, and holiday party-wear. If you're not as lucky as us to be so near this amazing shop, please spend some time patronizing your local small businesses this holiday season, and especially on Saturday, November 27. Because they're working hard to get our economies back on track. And be sure to "Like" Small Business Saturday on Facebook to help support local stores across the country! You could win a statement credit on your AMEX!

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Small Business Saturday

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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

thanksgiving place cards, napkin rings, favors, and more!

Jennifer is back with more vintage Thanksgiving clip art projects! She's created an entire Thanksgiving paper feast for us. And you're going to die when you see the amazing printable "blessing cards" she put together for you!

Thanksgiving Vintage Clip Art Projects
Last week I made a banner for Thanksgiving using vintage collage art. All week I have been thinking about those adorable vintage images and trying to figure out how to use them again. I just goes against my thrifty nature to waste all that lovely clip art. I came up with four ways to use the collage art and leftovers from last week’s project. This would be a great project for kids of all ages. They can even work on them while you are cooking dinner.

These projects are simple and quick to put together. Check out this post to see where to get vintage clip art. You are going to need to print multiple images in several sizes.

Thanksgiving Napkin Rings
A napkin ring is so cute and so simple to put together. Resize desired images to 1.5” wide. Print and mount on cardstock. Punch two holes in the top and tie with ribbon.

Thanksgiving Place Cards

Place card holders are a must at the Thanksgiving table. How else would we know where we are supposed to sit? Give one of your children the job of assigning the seating. It’s a really important job making sure that everyone gets to sit next to their favorite Grandma.

Resize image to about 2” wide. Using leftover cardstock from last weeks project, or scraps from another project, cut a rectangle about 4.5” wide by 3.75" tall. Fold in half. Glue image to the left side of the place card. Write guests names on the place card. Having your child use their handwriting would be adorable.

Thanksgiving Leftover Containers
It’s always fun to send leftovers home with your guests. It’s even more fun for them if their leftover container is cute. These tags for leftovers are not washable, so remind your guests to remove them before they wash their container.

Resize images. Check out your container lids to see what size they need to be. Find a bowl or lid about the right size as your container and use it as a template. Cut out. Tape the image to the lid of your leftover container.

Thanksgiving Blessings Table Favor
This was my favorite project of all. Click on the image of the library cards below and print your own (see instructions below image for best results). Cut out a library pocket holder using leftover scraps of colored cardstock, fold and glue. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a die cut center in your basement, (I just happened to keep my favorite dies when I closed my scrapbook store) use this template to cut out your library card pocket. Resize your image to about 3”. Cut out and mount to the front of the library pocket. Print enough blessing cards for everyone at your thanksgiving table. Have your guests fill them out while they are waiting for dinner. If you take a photo of your guests during dinner you can mount your photo and this library pocket holder right into your scrapbook. It’s good to look back on the things that we are grateful for.

Instructions for printing "Blessings" library cards: Click on image. In your browser, go to the Page Setup command (should be under the File menu). Be sure your image has the "shrink to fit" option checked and then change your margins to .25" on all sides. Then go to the Headers and Footers section and select "empty" or "blank" for all options. This prevents the printer from printing the Web page information on your card stock. These steps are critical if you want it to print in the right dimensions. You may also try saving the JPEG and print from your computer if you are unable to change your browser's print options. Send us an e-mail if you can't get it to work!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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noah and lilah winner

Thanks for entering the Noah and Lilah giveaway! The winner of a $40 gift certificate to the Noah and Lilah shop is...

Felicia from the Skimpy Pantry

Congrats. I have passed your email onto the sponsor so she will be contacting you.

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Monday, November 22, 2010

mandy's famous thanksgiving yams recipe

I was never a huge yam fan at Thanksgiving, that is until the year my mom made this recipe. We call them Thanksgiving "Yums". They're too yummy to be called yams. They're like a dessert, really, although forget the marshmallows. Whenever I offer to bring my yams to a Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, I always get, "Sure, you can bring them if you're family likes them." Then they try them. And then they know why I call them my "famous" Thanksgiving Yums.

Mandy's Famous Thanksgiving Yams {or Yums} Recipe

4 c. mashed yams (about 4-5 large yams, peeled, quartered, and boiled until tender)
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg

Put ingredients in a large bowl. Blend together with a mixer or beaters and put in a greased casserole dish (approx. 9" x 13").

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Mix and drop spoonfuls on top of yams. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. These are simply divine.

Note: I often put these together the night before but don't bake them. Then I can just stick them in the oven on the big day so I have more time to fret over my turkey.

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Sunday, November 21, 2010

storkie giveaway

In case you haven't noticed...we have a new sponsor! Welcome Storkie to our sidebar. As we have said before, we love our sponsors. They really do make this blog tick. Today, our newest sponsor, Storkie is offering a wonderful giveaway to our readers. You will be thrilled to hear about this one! In case you have never heard of Storkie, here is a little bit about what they told us of themselves:

"Storkie has been providing high quality, affordable custom-printed stationery for over 20 years. From baby to holiday, wedding to party, we are proud to offer a wonderful selection of stylish and unique invitations, announcements, and cards. Our super advanced website allows for full personalization - our easy to use tools make it quick and fun to customize and order. Every order is checked by our professional typesetters to ensure perfection, and digital proofs are available at no extra cost. Storkie features an incredibly fast turnaround time, with most orders shipping within 1-2 days: you can place your holiday cards order Monday morning and receive them as soon as Wednesday with overnight shipping! You could wait until December 20th, and still get your holiday cards in the mail to friends and family before Christmas! Another awesome option Storkie offers is "Stuff, Stamp, and Mail" - where we'll calligraphy your recipients' addresses, stamp the envelopes, and mail your cards for you! Talk about convenience!!!"

How great is that? Be sure to check out the holiday cards and Christmas cards...

and even the holiday party invitations!

You can also find Storkie on Facebook and at Twitter @Storkie. Today, Storkie is giving one of our readers the chance to win a $100 gift card for personalized holiday cards and/or holiday party invitations!! All you have to do to enter is visit the Storkie website and find your favorite card or invitation. Then come back and tell us what it is. For a second entry you can like us on Facebook. This giveaway will end Sunday, November 28th at 11:59pm PT.

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Friday, 20 May 2011

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

So annoyingly perfect.

11TH MAY 2011

I was supposed to put these up on my actual birthday but I was having way too much fun. Cos, you know, I have a life...kind of...Turning 20 made me feel as happy as it did nostalgic. I don't feel very grown up at all sometimes.

ps. I'm deep (see above picture for confirmation)


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Wednesday, November 10, 2004

A bachelor's tale...

An interesting list?
Here is a list of things I purchased at Wal-Mart this afternoon:
- 10 ct. box of chocolate chip granola bars
- Bottle of Spray 'N' Wash (which didn't really work)
- 4 pk. of Duracell batteries
- A CD I didn't need
- Halls Defense Vitamin C drops (getting close to that time)
- 12 pk. Nestle bottled water

Why did I get a new CD? Why? I can't afford it. I didn't need it. I have medical bills coming out the ying-yang. Yet still I can't resist. Oh well, it's just less that the court will be able to take when I file bankruptcy :-P And why am I buying Spray 'N' Wash? What happened to my life? If I have a stain, I should just wear it anyway, or throw the shirt away. That's what a true bachelor would do. On another note, do the people who produce batteries just think they can charge whatever the crap they want for these precious portable cells of energy? Apparently. They should put these things on the futures markets. "Gold is down a dollar today. Silver, down a nickel. And batteries remain strong, up seventeen cents."

The evening
After church, I met K up at Logan's for some dinner. I was starving as all I had for lunch was part of a peanut butter & banana sandwich. Well, we sat with some new chick who didn't know us... so we both ordered water. Well, while we're waiting to order, the really short girl brings over a slip of paper and a spoon. Written on the paper are the words "From Shanna Fer" (which is what I call her). So I'm a little confused. I look up and see her across the way and she's smiling real big and says, "It's for your macaroni & cheese!" Well, that's a long story. Anyway, I'm not sure what any of that is supposed to mean.

The good stuff
"We'll surprise her."
"Speak to her. That'll surprise her."

"Ask her. She'll know."
"No. She's too stoned. She won't know."

"Dude, it's like we're here in Afghanistan about to capture Osama, and you want to run off to Iraq to look for Wes."

"I don't stop breathing everytime the phone rings. My heart don't race when someone's at my door. I've almost given up thinking you're ever gonna call. I don't believe in magic anymore..."

  1. Well, heavily influenced by the awards show the other night, I purchased Brooks & Dunn's Greatest Hits II.

  2. Thanks for sharing your interesting day with us. LOL

  3. His day is more exciting than mine!

  4. OK, now that's kinda sad. lol

    Speaking of more exciting days, everyone be sure to click on the link to GiggleChick's blog. She had a little accident on the way to work.


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Friday, 11 August 2017

My free, chook proof (so far) scavenged garden fence!

Since we moved to the hinterland I have been keen on getting a vege garden up and running for a couple of reasons. One, because the shops are so far away and two, because the soil and weather should allow us to grow veges!

So I waited a few months to see where the sun fell, where the rain water flowed and what sort of winds we had - actually I had too much unpacking and rearranging to do to worry too much about anything else, but while I was hanging curtains and putting boxes in the trailer to go to the dump, I was noting the sunny spots, the drowned out tank over flow patches and the areas that never got any sun!

Once the inside of the house was sorted (well, lets say its liveable) I turned my attention to the prospect of a small herb and vege garden. I have no money to spend on this garden so it was going to be small by necessity rather than choice. I also have a flock of hungry chickens who think that all things green are for their dining pleasure (goats may be less destructive than my horde of chooks!) so it will need a chook proof fence. Permaculture principles state that a vege garden needs to be close to the house or I wont go and get the veges... So with these points in mind -

Here's what I did...

I decided to start small and expand - better to have a small success than a large failure was my theory - and chose a morning sunny corner. This bush was already there and has had a prune - you can see the dirt showing that it was much larger. My initial theory was that the shrub could stay - but I wish I had taken it out at this stage rather than when I was almost finished building the garden...

I collected bits and bobs from around the yard and our junk pile. Some Koppers logs from a defunct front garden and a couple of hardwood planks decided the garden dimensions. Four star pickets became the corners and an old piece of dog fencing became my base fence. I thought the chooks would be able to get through the wire - especially if they are motivated by the sight of fresh green lettuces and so I started cutting branches and weaving them through the wire to make the holes smaller.

I put the star pickets in to hold each corner and then wove the picket through the wire to hold it in place.

The Besser block is to raise the down hill corner a bit - partly for aesthetics and partly to raise the corner so the plants don't get water logged. I put one of the middle posts on the inside of the garden to keep the fence from sagging outwards. I started this fence with fairly robust branches.

I cut the dog wire to the right length and then curved it around a star picket gate post to fix the ends of the fence. I happened to find a bit of dog fencing wire from the fence that got taken out that fitted the wood base of my garden. So I ended up with four corner star pickets and two star picket gate posts that support my fence.

I haven't got a photo of it, but when I was filling the garden with an old compost heap that I dug out of a neglected part of the garden, the chookies could walk in and out of my garden at will through the branches and wire and enjoyed digging in the dirt I was putting in there. The gaps in the fence were big enough for the smaller chooks or the bolder chooks to get through. I started collecting skinnier stick to put in the gaps and then decided to put taller ones in as well to discourage the chooks from flying over the fence.

The stick that I used as the palings were reasonably heavy and this down hill corner was "sagging" a bit so I used a piece of wire across the corner (the bright shiny piece in this photo) to pull it together and provide a bit of stability. This fence isn't going to survive a decent storm but as a temporary, lets try a garden here fence, it will do!

The gate is the original door to the "hospital cage" that got an upgrade when the Quail spent a month in it waiting for their big cage to be erected. It was originally off a home made aviary. I put a few long sticks through the gate to discourage any chooks from flying over it too.

I used a couple of cable ties as the hinges and a coloured rock as the lock. Its a very light gate. A determined possum or wallaby would be able to get in but I'm hoping the presence of the dog and the six foot high chain link fence around the rest of the yard is deterring them from coming near my garden at the moment!

Before I planted anything in the garden, I put a couple of "bait plants" in there for a week or so. Nice big green seedlings in a pot were sitting enticingly in the sea of brown compost. I had the gate and fence finished and the chookies hadn't been able to get in for a while but I wasn't prepared to plant it out and discover that they needed the motivation of expensive seedlings to prove they could get in.

The chooks showed a lot of interest in the bait plants but after a week they hadn't got in. Nothing else had touched the plants and so I took the risk and planted out a punnet of mixed lettuce and Asian greens seedlings - so far so good. I haven't planted anything close to the edge as the chookies can still get their heads through some of the holes.  There's a couple of sprouting onions and potatoes in there too somewhere!

I think the tall sticks also deter the cockatoos and other parrots as they move in the wind and aren't strong enough to take the weight of these birds. So far they haven't shown any real interest in the garden and the few seedlings have remained unmolested.

Its certainly not a garden for the pages of "Better Homes and Gardens Than Mine" but if you are into rustic or interesting garden fencing, then this free, chook proof (so far) one might be the one for you!

It took a bit of time to collect the right sized branches and sticks. I weaved them through the fencing but found that they bunched up a bit and in some places I have five sticks in some places where I'm sure one well placed one would've been sufficient. I could have wired the branches in place or cable tied sticks to stay where I wanted them but I'm trying not to use plastics these days and didn't have an easy to bend wire to hand. This style works for me as I collected sticks on my afternoon walks with the dog and wasn't in a hurry. Its still cold at night here, around three degrees and so I wasn't in a rush to get the seedlings in, just in time for a cold snap or a frost.

Ultimately we will put in a large covered completely animal proof garden that (hopefully) will provide all our greens and a few other veges - but until then, this will be our place to learn and see what works and what doesn't. I'm sure you'll see a few more posts featuring this garden in the future!

What free garden fencing have you made? Post some pictures or links in the comments!

Score card:
Green-ness: 5/5 for using items that
Frugal-ness: 5/5 for not spending any money on the garden and fencing!
Time cost: About 2 weeks to get the basics in place plus waiting time to see if the chookies could get in.
Skill level: Confidence and desire to do it!
Fun-ness: Great fun to see my veges growing on the inside of the fence and the chooks on the outside of the fence!

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