Going Crackers - Jacobs Cracker Crisps

Uh?  What on earth could this possibly have to do with green issues or crafts?  Absolutely nothing but hey, it is my blog and why not??!  Maybe I want to shout to the rooftops how great they are, which is absolutely true.  They come in three flavors Sour Cream and Chive (my favorite), Thai Sweet Chilli and Salt and Balsamic Vinegar.  Are they a cracker or a crisp?  A bit of both and no, nobody is paying me to say this.  I got them from BzzAgent which can be joined right here so you can try out a few things and let people know what you think, just like I am doing right now.

Jacobs has been making tasty treats since 1850 and are still going strong.  It was started by baker William Jacob in Waterford, Ireland and in 1885 the cream cracker was born.  Now they are based in Aintree, Essex and still baking merrily away bringing out old and new snacks for us to enjoy if you live in the UK at least, not sure about other countries.  Visiting their website makes me want to start making out my shopping list!

I can heartily recommend Cracker Crisps anyway, available in most good supermarkets.  A good supermarket is one that sells things like this...

Fun With A Bun

That's it, fun with a bun.  Not the sort you find in a bakery and eat, but the sort you wear on your head and a pretty band to go around it once it is up.  This helps stop the pins falling out and breaking the vacuum cleaner, and also finishes if off nicely.  Updos are really in right now, and so are leathercrafts.  The beads are made from leather offcuts, and the bun ring is made from old stockings and tights.  Yes I know you can buy them in shops, but if you make your own you can choose the color to go with your hair instead of being limited by the usually three colors they are sold in.  This one is a reddish shade and matches my own hair.

How do you make these items?  You need to get the latest issue of Bead Me magazine, available at the iTunes store here.  There are lots of other projects to make as well as this, which also includes instructions on actually putting up the bun once you have made the ring. Sometimes it is not only easy being green, but fun too...

Big Butterfly Count

Have you signed up for the Big Butterfly Count yet?  If you live in the UK Butterfly Conservation wants you to log how many butterflies you see every day between 17 July and 9 August.  You don't have to have a garden to do so, you can see them out and about anywhere where you live.  Sign up here, it is not too late.

Here is one you are bound to see at some point (I hope):

Yes, it is a Small Tortoiseshell.  This one is on a buddleia growing in my garden that I didn't even have to plant, they are that profusive and now a wild plant although not a native of the British Isles.  If you don't have one and want one you can find out more about them at The Urban Butterfly Garden website here and get sent to the Thompson and Morgan website.  Be warned, most of them grow rather large but you can get dwarf ones now so there is something for everybody, including a patio or balcony.

A comma, not seen by me for several years now.  They are on the wing from spring until autumn and again, consult that useful website to find out more about them and what to grow to attract them here  Guess what, they also love buddleias!

A pearl bordered fritillary, more of a woodland specialist so not actually seen in my garden.  Adults seem to love brambles and various other woodland plants like bluebells and the caterpillars enjoy munching various violets.  One attribute is they are one of the very few butterflies to obligingly open out flat when resting so are very easy to photograph!  Find out more here

Now sign up, do your bit for conservation and see what you can spot in your area!