Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning....

I always remember as a child when I we saw a red sky my dad would say "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning". It's an old weather saying often used at sunrise and sunset to signify the changing sky and was originally known to help the shepherds prepare for the next day's weather.

What has stuck in my mind is what my grandad used to say. "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd's house is on fire". hehehe When I was really little I did worry about all those poor shepherd's and their houses being on fire.

Week 32 of #Project366 - A photo every day for a year!

I have had a good week. There isn't much to write about which I haven't already said in my Word of the Week blog post. We haven't really been up to much over the past week and it's boring me, never mind you reading here.

Next week should be more fun, we're going into town to do a bit of back to school and birthday shopping. Hopefully we will get everything we need so we won't have to go back for a while.

Now for a photo every day.

214/366 - 1st August

Stu got to work in the garden. Cutting the grass, weeding and getting the wildflowers under control. They were becoming a little too wild and growing into the path.

215/366 - 2nd August

I almost forgot to take a photo for Sunday. I had laid down in bed and remembered I hadn't taken one so took a screenshot of my favourite game to play on my mobile, Township! 

216/366 - 3rd August

Stu put the new door handles on the kitchen cupboards. I did tell him he should have waited until we had painted them but what do I know.

217/366 - 4th August

Becky wore her hair up for the first time in ages. She looked so strange, I am used to her wearing her hair down.

218/366 - 5th August

Ellie wanted something to do so I suggested she could sort and fold the washing. It's a job she loves doing so she was happy.

219/366 - 6th August

Stu wanted some clothes for his birthday and I have bought him this Walking Dead t-shirt. I quite fancy claiming it for myself. Daryl is my favourite character.

220/366 - 7th August
A prize I won from Rachael Jess blog arrived, a craft kit. It kept Ellie busy all afternoon.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

This week my Word of the Week is: Good! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

Over the past couple of weeks I have felt stuck in a rut. Everything is too samey. I was even struggling to write blog posts. I felt like I had lost my blogging mojo and even wrote about it. After posting that blog post I must have took the pressure off myself and was up bright and early and wrote 5 blog posts over a few hours.

I might have found some things to write about for other blog posts but this Word of the Week post was a struggle. It was hard to choose a word to describe our week. I could write about our noisy neighbours or Becky's new part time job but the time isn't right. Becky has only worked a few hours and she's still on trial. I want to see how it goes before I write anything here. She's enjoying it and it's giving her something to do.

So this week my word of the week is good! It has been a good week. Not a great one but not a bad one either, like I said everything is very samey but good things have happened.

I woke up on Saturday to find my dad parked on my driveway using my Wi-Fi. lol He has had issues with his internet provider so is changing suppliers but they are taking their time setting him up so all week he has been coming here to use my internet. He came in and sat down in the living room one day and Ellie and Becky were playing Fortnite. Ellie didn't know he was here and was shouting at Becky from the dining room. He certainly saw a different side to her. Usually she's a goody two shoes in front of her grandad and he's never heard her bossy side. hehehe

I got Stu's birthday presents delivered. I have been that organised in getting the girls presents sorted I totally forgot about Stu's in the middle of this month. He was easy to buy for this year, he wanted some new work trousers and some t-shirts. I have also bought him a new spanner set that he had been umming and ahing about buying himself. I have also booked a shopping delivery the day before Ellie's birthday to get her cake which she has already chosen.

Ellie had been looking on Google maps for different routes for us to take when we go out on our bikes. She found us a new one to try and me and her went out and had a couple of hours cycling. We did end up on a busy road which I wasn't too keen on so we decided it was safer on the footpath, there were no people about so it was fine and it was all was good after that. Next time we'll have to take Becky.

We have decided that next week we're going to go into town. It will be the first time since before the lockdown started. I want to get the last of the birthday stuff for Stu & Ellie, stationary stuff for the girls going back to school and college and school shoes for Ellie. I am feeling surprisingly OK about venturing out, I am feeling more stressed about the thought of having to queue to get into the shops.

Fabulous Fakeaway ideas. Some of my favourites!

I wrote a blog post a little while ago about why you should be faking it when it comes to takeaways and thought I should share some of my favourite takeaway meals to make at home. We do love a takeaway but it is better for everyone and my bank balance to cook it at home ourselves. 

Pizza! 

Pizza has to be the easiest takeaway meal to make at home! We make our own pizza at least once every couple of months and we do enjoy them more than the takeaway one's. We can use whatever toppings we want and they cost a lot less too!

Fish, Chips & mushy peas!

This is an easy one. I buy frozen battered fish usually Birds Eye, I make our own chips from potatoes which have to be fried and then a tin of mushy peas. A lot cheaper than a takeaway meal and just as tasty!

Chicken Katsu Curry!

Recreate your Wagamamas favourite and make katsu curry at home. This Japanese curry is a decadent treat with its fried, breaded chicken and a smooth curry sauce.

Egg Fried Rice!

Don't call the Chinese takeaway make your own egg fried rice. Use leftover rice, or cook and dry it on a plate before using so it doesn't stick to the wok. Then you can add any leftover meat to it if you want to.

Slow cooker Doner Kebab!

There's no better way to end a night out than with a greasy doner kebab but it’s no secret that they’re not exactly good for you. However you can make your own tasty versions at home using fresh ingredients and they're just as good as the real thing.

Sushi!

Sushi might seem like a complicated dish to make but it really isn't. All you need is seaweed sheets, a sushi rolling mat, rice and whatever you want to put inside. Vegetables, fish and any seafood that you want. Ellie my youngest loves to make it and can knock a few portions up within half an hour.

Cheat’s Chicken Tikka Masala!

Packed with big flavours, this curry marries succulent chicken breast and fresh herbs with a fragrant tikka masala sauce. This classic takeaway dish can be rustled up in 30 minutes and is sure to impress even the biggest of curry fans.

Do you make your own takeaway meals at home? What do you like to make?

My youngest girls Japanese birthday wish list.

We're heading into birthday season in my house. This month it's my fella's and Ellie's then in September it's Becky's. I am feeling pretty organised at the moment and started buying presents at the beginning of last month.

Becky is getting one big present this year and a shopping spree around Primark but Ellie was a little harder to buy for as she had decided she wants all things Japanese this year. She knew what she wanted but some of the stuff took a while to get here. So I had to be organised. This year I have got all of her presents off eBay and Amazon. I think it is the best place to get all things Japanese.

Aiko Panda Kawaii Friends Bento Box - £6.89 - eBay.

Anime Sword Art Online Cosplay PU Leather Purse Wallet - £4.99 - eBay.

5 Pairs of Japanese Natural Bamboo Chopsticks - £5.47 - eBay.

Sword Art Online Youth Anime T-shirt - £4.49 - eBay.

Pusheen The Cat Sushi Making Kit - £14.99 - eBay.

Kawaii Japanese Care Package  - £8.99 - eBay.

Kracie Popin' Cookin! DIY Sushi Kit - £1.98 - Amazon.

Japanese Candy Box - £11.97 - Amazon.

Anime Sketch Book - £4.47 - Amazon.

100 Mixed Anime Characters Coloring Book - £5.54 - Amazon.

Kawaii: How to Draw Really Cute Stuff - £6.99 - Amazon.

Plant Theatre Bonsai Trio Kit - £14.99 - Amazon

Long Sleeve Kitty Cat Hoodie - £9.99 - Amazon

Children Multi-Colour Night Light with Remote - £14.69 - Amazon.

I think Ellie is going to be happy with everything I've bought, after all she chose 99% of what I've mentioned above. I will have to buy her some new colouring pens and pencils so she can do some sketching and colouring in but I am just about done with buying for her birthday. Phew!

Are your tweens/teens fans of anything Japanese?