As if by magic

Goodbye Chester

2012-01-31T22:27:00.000Z

It's been a sad week this week as on Saturday we had to say goodbye to my loving cat Chester. He was almost 16 and although he'd been looking his age for the past couple of months he still had the energy to race around the house when the mood took him.

He had to go to the vets on Thursday as he had an intestinal blockage, they sorted him out but he never really got over the procedure and by Saturday morning we knew that he wasn't going to recover so we took the only choice that was left and had him put to sleep. I miss him already as he sat on my knee most evenings or at the side of me if I was stitching, but I know we made the right choice and as much as we didn't want him to go, it was the kindest thing to do.

I did manage to finish my ornament for this month, it's been a lovely quick stitch to get me back into stitching. I've not had chance to finish it off as I'm waiting for some trimmings that I need to do it. It's a freebie pattern found here.

I've also done another bit on my Beatrix Potter, I really think that it's time that this UFO was finished. I was hoping to finish this pattern this month but didn't quite make it.

I've also nearly finished knitting a cardigan for Becca my granddaughter, just the button band to do so all in all not a bad month for my crafting.

Now that the girls have all left home I've made the small bedroom into my craft room, another "work in progress" but I'm getting there. It's been lovely having all my stitching and cardmaking stuff on hand instead of looking in drawers or in boxes under the bed. I even felt inspired to make some cards again and really enjoyed myself.

I can't wait for some sunshine, we seem to get rain most days or it's freezing. It's my check up at the doctors tomorrow for my depression so I hope the sun is shining so I feel ok about cutting back my tablets. If the sun's shining I can cope with anything.

Love and hugs,

A finish and a new start

2012-01-10T19:35:00.001Z

Hello one and all, I hope that you're all having a happy stitching New Year. I've been looking at so many blogs catching up on what everyone has planned for this year and it's really made me feel that I want to stitch again.

It's been lovely having the grandchildren living here for the past six months, even though it's gotten a bit stressful at times but it hasn't left much time for stitching and my other crafty hobbies, So, now that I've got the house looking something like a home again I want to spend some time on me and my hobbies; the house needs decorating all the way through and it will soon be time to plan the garden so busy times ahead.

We have daffodil bulbs showing by a good three inches and for saying that I was late planting them they are really looking good but the garden is so wet and muddy that even if it was fine outside I wouldn't be able to do much. I can't wait for Spring, I love Winter for sitting cosy by the fire but I tend to hibernate and get to the point where I don't want to go out so a touch of sunshine is so welcome.

My first finish for 2012 is one that's been hanging around for the past few months waiting to be finished but never having the time to do it so I needed to get it out of the way before I could start anything else.

CCN Summer Garden

I decided that my next start would be La-D-Da Bushel and a Peck, I bought this last year and couldn't wait to get started on it but other things took priority.

I realised that I was missing a couple of the threads needed so while I've been waiting, this week I started stitching Small Token by Blackbird Designs and I'm loving doing it.

I forgot to add a photo of a present that I had for Christmas from my daughter Sharon. She's started doing crochet at the end of last year and entered a Christmas ornament exchange and I loved what she'd done so she tucked one away in my present. Unfortunately the girl who she crocheted the original one for never sent her anything in return so she was a bit disappointed that no one would see her handywork so I thought I'd put it on here.

The base underneath the skirt was a bell so there have been plenty of angels getting their wings this Christmas.

One last photo and this is of my birthday cards from the thread exchanges that I'm in at Needlecraft Haven and a little group called Threads of Friendship that I've been in for a few years.

Well I think that's all for now, hopefully I'll be a better blogger this year, I need to keep track of what I've been doing!

A Very Happy 2012

2011-12-31T16:29:00.002Z

My posts seem to get further and further apart these days but the past few months have been rather hectic ones but at last after 33 years together me and Tony have the house to ourselves. It does seem quiet with no daughters or grandchildren living here but I'm enjoying the peace while I can.

Tomorrow will be another busy day, New Years Day is my birthday and we have the family round for dinner so it's almost like having another Christmas day with us all here and as Christmas this year has been a really happy time, I'm looking forward to it.

I've been sorting through all my charts and I've picked a few out that I'd really like to stitch in 2012 as well as getting a couple of UFOs finished, this year I didn't have a lot of stitching time so I'm going to make sure that I'm more organised so I have more time for myself.

I hope that 2012 will be a very happy and healthy New Year for everyone.

I'll leave you with a photo of a beautiful Christmas ornament that I received from Chris.

Isn't it gorgeous and such a lovely surprise.

It's been a while

2011-10-17T23:06:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since my last blog post and I'd begun to ask myself if I'd ever blog again, but here I am trying to start again and hoping to keep a more positive frame of mind.

June and July were taken up with the garden which I absolutely love, getting out in the fresh air is the best medicine that I could have and although my muscles ached from all the digging and weeding, it has really paid off this year. We've had a bumper crop of vegetables that have been frozen or bottled and will last us well into the new year and the flower borders have been a wonderful sight once they got established after the dry spell that we had. It's such a shame that I'm having to dig some of them out to make way for the Spring bulbs that need planting now but I know come Spring the sight of the daffodils and tulips will brighten any cold day.

My middle daughter Kim announced that she would be moving in with her boyfriend in August and I thought that at last me and Tony would have the house to ourselves but alas that was not meant to be as DD number three, her partner, two children and dog moved back home the week that Kim moved out.

It has been a struggle trying not to interfere when Lily and Callum are crying especially when they've been naughty and want a cuddle so there have been quite a few walks down the garden to get away from it all. I'm sure my three were never as noisy as the two of them are.

The past couple of months haven't been very good health wise either getting one infection or virus after another until at one point I thought that I'd never feel well again but thankfully I am much better and thanking God for every day that He gives me.

A couple of weeks ago we took Callum and Lily to visit Josh and Rebecca and it was a really hot day so they all made the most of it in the paddling pool.

Josh Lily and Callum having fun in the paddling pool, and below taken just a week earlier is Rebecca on a cooler day.

I am trying to get some stitching and knitting in again, though time has been a bit short so no new finishes but I have enjoyed what I've managed to do and now the nights are drawing in I might feel more like sitting in the warmth stitching rather than pulling up weeds.

Well that's about it for now hope it won't be too long before I visit again

Love and hugs

A busy weekend

2011-05-29T18:49:00.000+01:00

I thought being retired meant more time to do what I want but I think I got it wrong somewhere. I seem busier than ever with the garden to look after, knitting for the grandchildren and of course, visiting them all. My cross stitching has taken a back seat for the past few weeks mainly due to the fact that I've not been able to get comfy with my hip hurting so much, but I found that if I did my knitting I could do a couple of rows, get up and have a potter round and then get back to it. Now I don't know about anyone else, but when I cross stitch I've got my lamp, magnifier, chart and threads all close at hand and once I settle down to stitch I don't want to move again for a while. Thankfully the hip is on the mend and I'm back to stitching again. I've put a few more stitches into CCN Summer Garden and hope to get a bit more done this week.

I've also put a few more stitches in my Beatrix Potter sampler and I'm doing a SAL with my daughter Rachel. I wish she'd have a blog because she does some lovely stitching and she's much faster than me. Years ago I was bought a Lilliput Lane cottage by the children at the playgroup that I used to run, I got more and more of the cottages bought for birthdays and Christmas and in a mad fit I decided that I wanted to stitch a cottage to go with the ornament. Rachel sewed one for our 25th anniversary but my kits lay in the drawer for some time so when she said that she was going to stitch another I thought I might as well have a go too. I was going to change the fabric to evenweave but then decided to stay with the aida in the kit. It's strange working with aida again after using evenweave for so long but I thought it would match the other that I already have. I shall have to see how I get on with it.

We've had the grandchildren here this weekend so it's been a little chaotic but lovely at the same time, it must have been so quiet before they came along because it's certainly noisy now, lol.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend,

love and hugs,

Time keeps flying by

2011-05-09T22:33:00.000+01:00

I honestly don't know where my time goes these days, it's not as though I've been doing a lot, a creaky hip and a stinking cold aren't the best things to have when there are things to be done.

We've had a couple of visits to Chester to see my new granddaughter; she arrived on the 13th of April and I've been waiting to get a good photo of her to put on the blog but the ones that Sharon took of me and DH were not up to public inspection, lol.

Sharon is supposed to be emailing some through to me but I think she's a bit too busy at the moment to think of getting anywhere near a computer so for now this is the best one that I have of her. She weighed in at 7lb 6oz and they have named her Rebecca Elizabeth.

Josh decided that he wanted to get into the photos too but wouldn't come out of his chair where he'd been eating chocolate buttons. He still doesn't know what to make of Rebecca and is wanting lots of cuddles at the moment, he'll be two on the 22nd of this month and is such a giggler.

Not a lot else has been happening apart from the usual day to day things like cooking, cleaning, washing and more cleaning. I even gave the living room carpet a good clean last week and couldn't believe the dirty water that the cleaner sucked up, still it's lovely and clean now, or I should say it was until Lily spilt her drink and Callum decided to wee all over the place when his nappy was taken off. Ah well, accidents happen and I'd rather have a messy carpet than not have the cuddles and kisses from my grandchildren.

I am still doing a bit of stitching though not as much as I'd like but the garden is in dire need of some TLC and with the old bones giving me pain, I can't bend down to pull out the weeds for long. I went for an xray on Wednesday so I'm hoping that they don't find anything wrong with my hip and it is just old age catching up with me. I have to see the doctor again on Friday so I shall know what it is by then.

Time for bed I think, goodnight all,

Hugs

Still no news

2011-04-12T16:14:00.000+01:00

I'm still waiting for news of my latest grandchild's arrival but still nothing to report.

We've had a busy weekend with friends and family popping round which has been lovely and Lily and Callum certainly keep me going but that's probably what I need.

Lily bought me a lovely plant though she says that it's hers really, isn't it pretty...

and I think Stella likes it too....

Sunday was my sister's 65th birthday, she was christened Patricia but she's always been known as Pop as my gran said that she was a little poppet and the name stuck.

This is a photo of me, my dad and Pop, she's the one standing, we are at my grandad's allotment which we had to look at each time we visited. We didn't have a car so we all went on the bus and usually it was a double decker which meant we could sit upstairs looking out of the front window where we could see all around us. After the walk to the allotment we'd go back to grandma's house where she'd have dinner ready, a lovely treat. After dinner we'd sometimes walk home, visiting bluebell wood on the way. In those days you could pick the bluebells and we usually came away with our arms full though by the time we got home they were looking a bit bedraggled but mum always found a pretty vase to put them in. This photo was taken over 50 years ago and I can't believe how quickly the years have flown, so many happy memories.

It's been colder here today so I've spent the day indoors just pottering about, all the plants and seedlings are behaving themselves so no need to go out other than give them a good water later on.

Just a few pots to put away and then I'm through for the day so I might put a few more stitches into something.

Love and hugs,

Keeping busy

2011-04-09T20:39:00.002+01:00

Thank you for the lovely comments and emails I received about my last post and I'm happy to say that I've pulled myself together and am feeling much better, it's amazing what a good talking to myself can do.

I've been keeping myself busy in the kitchen, the garden and getting back into stitching even though it's only a few stitches, I've really enjoyed it.

I love baking, it was my job at one time before I retired and I like to bake at least once or twice a week, more if I can. It always gets eaten so no worries about anything going to waste. DH loves coffee and walnut cake so I made him one.

I also had an urge to make some bread and it felt so good kneading the dough and getting rid of frustration, I must do it more regularly, and it tased really good.

Today has been spent pottering around in the garden, sowing more seeds and potting on some seedlings, it's been lovely to get out in the sunshine and plan what plant is going in which spot, I just hope they all grow. The three apple trees that we planted in March are looking healthy and it's going to be a hard task pulling the young fruit off like we've been advised to, I want baskets full of apples this year!

I decided to do a little project to get me stitching again so I stitched LHN Honesty which was quick and easy and very enjoyable to stitch.

I also managed to put a few more stitches into CCN Summer Garden, I love the colours in this.

We are still waiting patiently for Sharon to give birth, she's due tomorrow but as she was two weeks overdue with Josh, I'll just have to keep on waiting.

Hope that everyone is having a good weekend,

Love and hugs,

This old blog of mine

2011-04-05T17:57:00.001+01:00

Just having a moan to myself so I'll understand if you don't want to read any further.

I nearly deleted this post but it's here as a memo for me.

When I started this blog it was partly on the advice of my doctor; I've suffered from panic attacks and depression since my late twenties and she thought that if I wrote a diary of my day to day life it might help to see what achievements I've made and spur me on to do more. I started with a big notebook and wrote all my thoughts and memories down and then gradually when I got used to the computer I thought that it would be a good idea to write about my life, family and hobbies on here and I'd also be able to make it more real by adding photos. Somehow, along the way, my blog turned into a stitching blog.....not that I mind showing my cross stitch....but it doesn't record the good days and bad days like my notebook did and after reading one of my old books it's made me realise that I seemed better then than I do now.

Winter is always a bad time for me and I can't wait for spring to arrive but this year I can't get out of the rut that I've got stuck in over winter. Curling up in a cosy armchair in front of a roaring fire watching endless programmes on the telly might seem an ideal way to spend a day, but when you do it day after day and can't motivate yourself to do anything, it starts to become a habit that I can't get out of.

I don't know why I get depressed. I have a wonderful family who are my world, my husband never moans when I'm feeling down and always tells me not to worry and do what I can when I feel like it. I do have good days when everything goes well and I am so grateful for these days.

I know that I should thank God for every day that He gives me especially since losing my cousin last month to breast cancer at the age of 44, and I have so many blessings with children and grandchildren so why am I like this!

Perhaps I'll never know but at least I feel better for getting it off my chest.

Tomorrow is another day and hopefully it will be a good one.......

Love and hugs,

Sunshine days

2011-03-21T15:33:00.000Z

It's been lovely to have a few days of sunshine and to be able to get out into the garden for some much needed fresh air and after such a cold and miserable winter it's been truly appreciated.

Chris has let me know that she has received the PIF that I sent her.

I know that Chris likes her garden so I thought these words taken from a Country Cottage Needleworks chart would be right for her, and thanks to Chris for letting me copy her photo as my camera is on the blink at the moment so other than this I can't show you any more of my stitching.

This is the latest photo of my daughter Rachel and her children Lily and Callum, taken at the nursery that they both attend. Aren't they both cute, well I may be biased but I think they are!

My eldest daughter Sharon is due to have her second baby in just over two weeks so I'm looking forward to welcoming another addition to the family. We went to see them at the weekend and had a lovely time and best of all I got dinner cooked for me.

Well that's about all my news for now, nothing happening apart from gardening, stitching and cooking and cleaning, not a bad way to spend my days now that I'm retired.

love and hugs,

Look what the postie brought me

2011-01-29T18:14:00.000Z

I had a lovely surprise this morning when the post lady came, instead of all the usual bills and junk mail I received my PIF from Elisa.

It is really pretty and as I love cats it was very appropriate for me and what Elisa didn't know was that I was going to stitch that for myself as I'd just down loaded the pattern. Now I don't have to and it's been made into a beautiful pillow with the most gorgeous backing fabric. Thank you so much Elisa, I shall treasure it.

love and hugs,

Sue xx

Beatrix, an exchange and a new start

2011-01-27T22:23:00.000Z

Beatrix is coming along nicely though I forgot to post a pic last week when I had done another two motifs, I did another one this week so although I'd like to get it finished soon, I can at least see some progress..

My Valentine exchange arrived with Carol this week and I hope she enjoyed receiving it as much as I did stitching it for her.

The pattern is from a Shepherds Bush leaflet, Valentine Folio. Stitched on 28 count antique white jubilee with DMC threads.

My new start is a Country Cottage Needleworks Summer Garden I can't wait to get stuck into it but every time I've sat down to stitch this week someone has either phoned or popped round so not many stitches have been put in. It has been nice catching up with friends and family, nothing like a good gossip or a moan to make you feel better.

As Chris was the only one to enter my PIF, I shall stitch something for her and do a couple of RAKs during the year, the problem is, who do I stitch for, there are so many nice people out in blogland.

Not a lot been happening in this part of the world though my middle daughter, the only one left at home, has informed me that she will probably be moving in with her boyfriend in July so I might get to have my craft room yet, wouldn't that be nice. I'm not sure how I feel about being an "empty nester" yet but she will be 30 this year so I guess it's about time that she put some love into a home that they can share.

It is freezing tonight so I'm going to make myself a nice hot drink and snuggle down in bed with my book,

Love and hugs,

Sue xx

My Valentine Exchange, Beatrix and a PIF

2011-01-10T16:21:00.001Z

This is my Valentine exchange piece that Elisa stitched for me on the Exchange Heaven blog. It is really lovely and my poor camera can not truly do it justice. Thank you Elisa, it was really nice to receive it.

And here is my progress with Beatrix, just one motif done but as I have all year to finish it, I'm quite pleased with how it's coming along.

And finally as I said in my last post, I was fortunate enough to be one of Elisa's winners in her PIF so I would like to offer it on my blog if anyone is interested. If there are no takers then I will do a RAK during the next twelve months to people who I think deserve one.

Edited to add that the draw for my PIF will be 23rd January, my daughters birthday.

Everything is getting back to normal; Tony is back at work, the house is getting some order back to it after Christmas and New Year so I'm looking forward to getting plenty of stitching time in before the garden takes up my time, which won't be any time soon judging by the weather we keep getting........

Love and hugs,

A New Year, a birthday and stitchy updates

2011-01-04T19:50:00.000Z

I know that I'm a few days late but I'd like to wish everyone one out in blogland a very healthy and happy New Year and may all your hopes and dreams come true.

New Years day is also my birthday so a double celebration in our house although after a hectic Christmas with all the children and grandchildren, it was nice to have a quiet birthday this year spent sewing and knitting while hubby decided to put in a new loft ladder and add to the insulation in the roof. I received some lovely sheepskin slippers, another Lilliput Lane house and some M&S vouchers from my daughters so I feel truly blessed.

Last year as you've probably noticed, my stitching bug kept going on holiday but hopefully, he'll stay with me this year as I have quite a few projects that I'd like to do.

I've joined in with Chris's Quaker SAL and have decided to try and finish off my Beatrix Potter which I started stitching in 2009. This is as far as I got with it.

I've also joined in the Valentine Exchange on Exchange Heaven blog which is coming along nicely.

And, as for those socks that I have been knitting, well, I finally managed to finish one of them after struggling with four needles.

Whilst Tony was emptying the attic, he found my knitting machine that had been up there for a while as I ran out of space to use it; I've persuaded him to bring it downstairs for me so that I can have a play around with it. Goodness knows what state it is in, probably covered in rust knowing my luck, but I'm dying to have another go on it even if I just do a scarf.

I was lucky enough to be chosen for one of Elisa's PIFs before Christmas so on my next blog post I will offer the same to anyone out there who wants to join in. I've also got another project that I want to start, a Country Cottage Needleworks chart that I bought last year but as the batteries in my camera need charging at the moment, I'll put a pic up next time.

It is so cold this evening and we had snow again today so I'm having a lazy night sitting by the fire with the TV and my stitching and trying hard not to finish off that box of chocolates that keeps calling........

love and hugs,

remembering.......

2010-12-19T14:24:00.000Z

Writing out my Christmas cards made me a little sad knowing that some of my friends and loved ones are no longer about this year and I know that many friends in blog land have lost loved ones so I thought I would share this verse that a friend sent me when my Mum passed on. I hope it might give someone a bit of comfort.

My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

with tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular! Please wipe away that tear, for I

am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas

choir up here. I have no words to tell you the joy their voices

bring, for it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me. I see the pain inside your

heart, even though I am so far away, we really aren't apart.

So, be happy for me, loved ones. You know I hold you dear.

Be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift from my heavenly home

above. I send you each a memory of my undying love. After

all, "LOVE" is the gift more precious than gold. It was

always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do, for

I can't count the blessings or the love He has for you.

So, have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.

Remember, I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this

year.

Author Unknown

Love and Christmas Blessings,

Another wintery day

2010-12-08T11:25:00.000Z

I can't believe how the weather has changed since last time I blogged and although I've not been able to get out very far, there's something about the snow and the frost clinging to the branches that makes me glad that winter is here and Christmas is just around the corner.

I've done a lot of my Christmas shopping online this year, I used to love walking in town with such pretty decorations to look at, but lately it's become too much of a hassle to fight my way through the crowds of shoppers all trying to get a bargain, I'd much rather sit in front of the fire with a cup of tea on hand.

I've been busy decorating my living room and thankfully I've managed to finish it and start to put the decorations up. I'm still waiting for Tony to get me the other boxes out of the shed so that I can put a few more decorations on the wall and then it will really begin to start to feel like Christmas.

The Christmas cake is packed away but being fed regularly with brandy and I have to say that it smells yummy. No stitching to show as I have been knitting, a cardigan for me and my first pair of socks which I'll post a picture of later when I find whether they look like socks or something unrecognisable!

I'm looking after Callum, my grandson, today and at the moment he is fast asleep in his swinging chair so I'm having a minute before he wakes for his next feed, he looks so peaceful lying there, you wouldn't believe that ten minutes ago he was screaming the house down......

love and hugs,

A time to relax

2010-10-06T15:48:00.008+01:00

Blue skies, fluffy white clouds, you could almost think that it was the beginning of Spring instead of the start of Autumn. The garden is beginning to look a little tired now that everything has bloomed but there is still plenty of colour out there. It will soon be time to dig everything out to make way for Spring bulbs and then another gardening year will be over.
We've spent a lot of time out there this year, pulling stuff down and building things up but I think it's been worth the effort. The willow tree that has been causing concern for the past couple of years was finally taken down this summer; it had got too big for the garden and was overhanging next doors garden too and although it looked really nice in full leaf, it never stayed that way for long.

This was when Tony started to take it down,and here it is before we started on the backbreaking job of digging the roots out. We'd had the idea of putting the grandchildrens swings there but then we decided to build something for us, or at least Tony did.

This is what he came up with, all his own work and design and I couldn't have asked for anything better.

He finished it just in time for our anniversary in August and I've already spent many an hour out there reading or stitching. The pots were full of busy lizzies the week before I took this photo but some greedy slugs came and devoured the lot.

I do have a little stitching finish to show....

I really enjoyed stitching this LHN, Rose Sampler, just what I needed to get me back into the swing of things, now to decide what to stitch next......

Take care,

Catching up

2010-08-11T15:19:00.003+01:00

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun? It's been hectic the past couple of months; the garden has taken up a lot of my time, forever watering and weeding and this year it's been for little return but I have enjoyed being out in the sunshine.

The flower garden has provided a good show as have the fruit bushes and once I get the time I shall be making jam as I'm down to my last jar.

I am still cross stitching but have no pictures to show any progress as I can't find the cable to my camera, I've looked high and low for it so I suppose that it will turn up when I'm not looking for it.

On a happy note, I became a grandma again on Friday. Callum Owen Brodie popped into the world at 2:08pm weighing in at 8 pounds 1 ounce. I've managed to snag a photo from my daughter Rachel's Facebook page so that I can share him. At the moment he is being good although I don't think that Lily is too sure of him yet, I think she thought that he was only going to visit, not be here all the time but I think she's enjoying being a big sister.

Hope all is well in your world,

take care,

Where has the time gone?

2010-05-31T18:04:00.010+01:00

It's been a while since I visited my blog, computer problems and lack of motivation have both got in the way, so I thought that it was about time that I did a little update.

There's not a lot of stitching been going on although I have started a couple of things but not made a lot of progress. I've been decorating and cleaning and doing the one thing that keeps me sane........gardening. I don't know what it is but when I get out there all my problems disappear, no pressure, no problems, just a peaceful way to spend the day and then after a soak in the bath, curl up in front of the TV and nod off!

I've let so many things get to me since last year but I think that with the aid of the "happy pills" and a lot of talking to myself, I'm finally sorting myself out, albeit slowly. I've finally realised that I can't be superwoman, I can't be the best at everything I do, not that I ever thought that I was, but I can do what I want to and be happy in achieving whatever makes me happy and contented in my life.

I've taken a few pictures of the garden to remind me of a few of my achievements........ along with a little help from Mother Nature......

The first picture is of my paeony, it was a small piece taken from my Dad's garden at least thirty years ago and still going strong.

Next is a gorgeous pink rose that the old gentleman next door was throwing out, it smells devine.

A view of the pond, sadly only two fish out of the four are left but it's lovely to hear the sound of water trickling down the rocks.

I have lots of different aquilegia but this is one of my favourites.

And finally this beautiful lupin that self set amongst the vegetables, it was too pretty to dig out so there it can stay.

That's about it for now, next time I hope to be able to show some stitching progress.

Thank you to those who've emailed to ask where I'd got to and if I was ok, I'll try and update this old blog a bit more regularly if I can,

love and hugs,

A finish at last

2010-03-12T15:22:00.006Z

I think that I am at last coming out of hibernation, it's amazing what a few days of sunshine can do to lift the spirit, and finally I have put the last few stitches into LHN Travelling Stitcher which I started as a SAL in January. Two months late here it is mistakes and all.

I knew that I'd made a mistake but the mood I was in at the time meant that I just couldn't be bothered to frog the house and the tree and as there's probably only me who's going to look at it all the time, I decided to leave well enough alone. I've not put the date or my initials on yet because I don't know whether I want them on seeing as it's going to be framed and not made into a stitching bag. All I've got to do now is decide what to stitch next, there's still plenty to do on my Beatrix Potter which got sidetracked last year, and there's still a couple of UFOs lurking in the bottom of my sewing drawer so I won't be stuck for something to stitch but I really fancy something different.

I've also been doing a bit of knitting, but sometimes I relax so much when I'm doing it that I fall asleep so I don't get very far.

This is a little cardigan for Lily, it's supposed to a little extra gift for Easter so here's hoping that I can finish it on time. It's quite an easy knit but I'm not sure about the band round the neck yet.

It's been so lovely to have had a bit of Spring weather, even if it has rained a bit today, it's still been bright and the days are getting longer so it will soon be time to get out in the garden and give nature a helping hand. There's just one problem with this sunshine, it shows up all the dust.....

Sue xx

Just a little moan

2010-02-24T21:23:00.003Z

I have been feeling so down again so I thought that if I wrote about it on my blog it would get it out of my system. I just seem to getting one thing after another; colds, sore throats, aching and generally feeling run down but it seems to have been going on for so long now, in fact way before Christmas. I just want to wake up feeling full of energy with no coughs and sniffles. I am due back at the doctors on Tuesday so I shall ask her if she can do anything to help as I'm starting to feel that my tablets aren't working any more

I have done a bit of stitching and knitting but nothing to show at the moment but I'm hoping to be able to post something soon if I can get it finished. I had so many ideas of what I wanted to do this year but another month is nearly over and I've hardly achieved anything.

I am looking forward to going to Chester either this or next weekend to spend some time with Sharon, Carl and Joshua. Sharon says that Josh is trying so hard to walk on his own and I don't want to miss a minute.

Sorry for the moan, just needed to let it out to someone.

love and hugs,

My PIF from Chris and my PIF

2010-02-16T15:30:00.003Z

Last weekend I received my PIF from Chris which was a lovely surprise as I'd forgotten all about it. She made me a beautiful scissor case, complete with scissors and a gorgeous handmade beaded fob complete with a pretty handmade card. Chris made seven of these fobs and scissor cases for her PIFs so she's been a very busy lady.

So now it's my turn to offer a PIF to anyone who would like me to stitch a gift for them in the next twelve months. Once I've stitched something for you then it is your turn to make the offer to stitch for three people. It's a lovely way to make new blogging friends.

Anyone who would like a PIF from me would you please leave a comment on this post and if I have more than three takers I will draw three names on Sunday February 28th.

hugs,

A new month

2010-02-02T16:28:00.004Z

I am so glad that February is here as January wasn't the best of months for me and ended last week with my youngest daughter Rachel being admitted to hospital with chest pains. Thankfully she is out now though she has to take a strong course of antibiotics and as she is three months pregnant it was a very worrying time for her with all the drugs that she was given when she was first admitted.

We've looked after her daughter Lily for most of the weekend and it's been lovely to hear her shout my name when she wakes up in the morning and even her singing away at 4.30 one morning was a joy. I can't believe that she will be two years old on Sunday, it doesn't seem five minutes since she was born.

I thought that it was about time that I posted a photo of my Travelling Stitcher SAL as I think this is the last week and I'm nowhere near finished yet.

This is what I had done by the end of the second week but then I couldn't find the cable to attach to the camera to download the photo. I have done a little more since then but not a lot so I must try this week and stitch a bit more.

I hope that wherever you are that the weather is better than it is here, very wet and windy, just the sort of day to sit and stitch if only I could get off here!!

hugs,

Belated New Years greetings and part 4

2010-01-23T19:13:00.006Z

It seems such a long time since I've felt like blogging, I haven't felt well since way before Christmas and a bit of a health scare set off my panic attacks again, though now that the pills have kicked in I'm beginning to feel so much better.

We had a lovely Christmas with all the family here and we enjoyed it so much that we decided to do it all again for the New Year as it was my birthday but things didn't go to plan as both Tony and I went down with the Norovirus which was sweeping the district. We were both really worn out so I spent my birthday on the settee under my duvet.

I've not done a lot of stitching but I have managed to finish my Prairie Sampler off and make a start on the Travelling Stitcher SAL which I'm enjoying and Chris has introduced me to Gimp so I've been playing around with that programme for a while and I think I'm beginning to understand it at last.Today is my eldest daughter's birthday, I can't believe that the last 31 years have gone so fast, so Happy Birthday Sharon and I hope that this year is a good one for you.

Sharon, Kim and Rachel

This is a picture of my three daughters taken at our 30th weddding anniversary party last year, it's not very often that I can get a photo of all three of them together.

That's all my news for now,

hugs,

Part 3

2009-11-23T19:53:00.004Z

Part three of Prairie Sampler is finished so by this time next week it should hopefully be finished.

I've run out of one of the threads though so with any luck it will arrive in time for me to finish on schedule. It's been lovely stitching this and I'm hoping to get it framed before Christmas.

It's been wet and windy again today, really miserable weather, so I'm making the most of sitting by the fire and playing with Lily. She's decided that she likes grandma's cakes!

I can't believe that Christmas is so near, we've been trying to sort out how we can get ten round our small table this year, I think there's going to be a lot of furniture moving. I've nearly done all my Christmas shopping which is a first for me as I usually leave it until the last minute but it's been a lovely experience shopping for grandchildren this year and I get to play with the toys first.......

hugs,

Sue

Part 2

2009-11-16T15:00:00.004Z

This is the second week of stitching on Prairie Sampler and so far I'm keeping up with it and still enjoying doing it.

I've not done any other stitching this week, just had a quiet week catching up on housework and sleep.

Still raining heavy though it's not too cold but just the weather to snuggle up in front of the fire with a good book.

Hugs,

Prairie Sampler and GOF

2009-11-12T19:35:00.006Z

I thought it was about time that I updated my blog as it will soon be time to show part 2 of Prairie Sampler and I haven't even posted part one. I've really enjoyed doing this, though at first I wasn't sure how I'd get on doing it in four weekly sections but it's been easy to keep up each week so it's made me think about how I usually start a new project.

I'm not over keen on the fabric that I'm using, it's 28ct permin linen in amber which has the look and feel of brown paper and creases terribly so I don't think that I shall use it again. It's a lot darker than the photo and it does look ok with the crescent colours that I'm using.

I've also finished the exchange for the Gift of Friendship that I do two or three times a year.

This year I chose to stitch a pendibulle as I'd never done one before and the only problem was finding a pattern that would fit into a corner but I don't think it's turned out too bad. I know that there aren't many in the GOF group that know that I have a blog so I think it's safe putting it on here.

Apart from a little stitching I've been looking after a poorly pussy cat. One of my daughters cats that she left here when she moved out got hit by a car three weeks ago. She broke her bottom jaw, split her top palette and her skull. Thankfully the vet managed to operate and wire her jaws up but the downside was that she had to be fed every couple of hours through a tube in her throat which was a bit tiring to say the least. Luckily for me she had the top wire out at the weekend and she's back to eating normally so just the bottom wire to come out and hopefully she'll be as good as new.

Hope everyone is keeping warm and dry, it's bucketing down here....

love and hugs

Come and join us

2009-10-25T22:59:00.004Z

Chris and I are doing a SAL for LHN Travelling Stitcher. It will start on January 2nd 2010 so there's plenty of time to get your name down and join in the fun.

You can find all the details here so please take a look

LHN Starlight Sampler

2009-10-04T12:44:00.005+01:00

A finish at last.

I've only had the bottom border to do on this for ages but I've just not had the time to finish it but I finally knuckled down to it yesterday and here it is.

It's been lovely to stitch and so lovely to see it finished.

I have joined in with a SAL for LHN Prairie Sampler, link is in my sidebar, and although it doesn't start until November 1st I thought that I'd get myself organised so the threads and fabric are waiting for me to start.

It's a beautiful sunny day outside so I am going to brave the spiders and do some much needed gardening

An exchange and a proposal

2009-09-21T15:02:00.003+01:00

My gift came today from Wendy Jo for the autumn/halloween exchange on Exchange Heaven and it is absolutely gorgeous.

The finishing is perfect and the colours so rich. She also sent me a piece of fabric that I shall certainly find a use for. Thank you Wendy Jo.

My other news is that Rachel, my youngest, phoned me last night from her holiday and told me that Darren had proposed and she had accepted. Me and DH knew he was going to ask her as he came and asked for our permission last week which I thought was rather nice. Of course we said yes as he's been so good for Rachel since she met him 18 months ago and after her first disastrous marriage she deserves someone who'll take care of her.

I managed to get some more stitching done on starlight last night until the spiders started invading the house. We had two giants crawling round the living room but thankfully Tony caught them both otherwise I'd have still been jumping up and down on the settee, I am such a wimp!!!

Have a good day whatever you're doing.....

love

Autumn sunshine

2009-09-20T16:53:00.005+01:00

It's glorious outside today and DH keeps saying why don't I go out in the garden and enjoy myself like I usually do when the sun is shining. Well, as everything in life, there is a reason why I don't like gardening in autumn.........I'm terrified of spiders. I don't even like going into the greenhouse to pick the tomatoes in case one falls on my head from where it's been lurking, waiting for me to walk into it's wonderful web! I can sit and watch them from the safety of the conservatory and marvel at the intricacies of their spinning, but oh how I wish they'd do it somewhere else.

On a brighter note, Elisa has received the stitching that I sent to her as her exchange piece for Exchange Heaven.
I loved stitching this and made it into a needle book for her. I really must learn how to use my camera better than point, click and that's it!

Lily has gone away for the week with her mum Rachel and Darren, her first proper holiday and I think if things go to plan for Darren there will be news to tell when they get back. I am going to make the most of it and try and get some stitching done though to be truthful I really ought to do some decorating before it gets too cold to keep the windows open, but it's so much nicer and oh so much easier to sit and stitch.

Joshua is growing fast but still no news of his appointment for his clicky hip. his neck has responded well after visiting the osteopath and Sharon says that he might only need one more visit and then she can carry on with the exercises herself. Poor little chap he's had so much prodding since he's been born but he still smiles away.
Hardly any Beatrix done this month but starlight sampler is coming along nicely.....

hugs

Exchange received

2009-09-01T20:41:00.006+01:00

It's cold and wet and miserable here in Derbyshire, so I'm sitting here doing nothing apart from catching up with tv and putting my feet up. Not much stitching going on either as it's been a busy few weeks though that is going to be remedied soon hopefully.

I received my exchange from Lucy on the Exchange Heaven exchange. The theme was "Home" and this is what she sent me.

This is so apt for me as I'm never without a cup of tea in my hand. Lucy charted the design herself, isn't it lovely.

This is what I stitched for Wendy Jo; I made it into a door hanger and added a little pincushion to match.

I made a little pocket on the back and trimmed it with lace, I read on her blog that she liked red so I hoped that she liked this.

Hoping to get my LHN Starlight Sampler out again soon, it's been too long since I've sat and stitched.

Stitching and strawberries

2009-08-11T18:34:00.009+01:00

It's been a busy few weeks since I last posted on my blog, time has a habit of flying by when you're having fun. Lily as usual has kept me busy and so has my poor cat Chester. No sooner had I posted the pic of him on my last post, he got attacked by another cat and was quite seriously mauled. His head and neck had to be shaved and as the other cat had nicked a vein, he had to have staples in his head and chin to stop the blood. He's now on his third lot of antibiotics because his jaw keeps swelling up and if there's no improvemnt by Sunday, then he's got to have an operation to investigate. I hope that it calms down for the weekend, he's getting a bit too old to be put under.

We've also had a couple of visits to Chester to see my new grandson Joshua, who is now a happy and healthy 12 lbs. He's having to have physio on his neck as being overdue in the breech position has made his neck weak on one side but Sharon says that you can see improvement after only a couple of sessions.

On the stitching front, well, I've hardly picked a needle up in the past two weeks as Tony has been off work so we've been doing all those little jobs that need doing around the house that I can't manage on my own.

I received my exchange gift from Carien for the Gift of Friendship bookmark exchange, this is what she stitched for me along with the card kit that she gave to me.

I stitched for Debbie who said that she liked flowers and butterflies.
She let me know that she loved it and the colours that I'd chosen were her favourite.

And finally stitchy wise, I have to say a big thank you to stitchin' sweet Sue for the goodies that she sent to me. A few weeks ago on her blog she posted a pattern link for some felt strawberries and I happened to comment that I didn't have any red felt left. No sooner had I commented than she offered to send me some which she did in double quick time along with some charts and a skein of Weeks Dye Works thread that I'd never tried, indeed a true act of kindness. So Sue, just for you, here is my effort of making those strawberries and I now realise why you said that they were flying round the room.The garden is rewarding us after all our hard work.

The chillis are waiting for some more sunshine to ripen but we've picked loads of tomatoes, sweet peppers and we are giving cucumbers away as fast as they grow. It's certainly been a good year for the greenhouse.......

hugs,

Rainy days and Mondays

2009-07-13T15:06:00.010+01:00

I've had that song going through my head for the past couple of hours, especially the first line ...."talking to myself and feeling old", probably because that's how I've been today but rainy days don't get me down, in fact I love the rain on my face (as long as it's not cold rain) and since I've retired, Monday is just another day to do as I please, within reason.
Last week when we did have some sunshine, me and Lily made the most of it and got the paddling pool and play mat out and went for a splash.
She really enjoyed getting me and her mum wet! I can't wait for her to get her first words out, she is trying so hard to tell us something and she "talks" for ages in her own little way. She is so comical. Last weekend was my sister's 70th birthday party and it was the first time that Lily had been on a dance floor. She kept trying to catch the flashing lights that were on the floor and she just went round and round in circles until she was dizzy She didn't want to give in though and she got quite upset when it was time to go, but with kisses from everyone and a balloon to see her on her way she was smiling by the time she left.
On the stitching front I have finally finished LHN Natures Beauty, I say finally because when I'd put the last stitch in and sat back to admire my work I noticed that I'd stitched the flowers on the left of the verse half a stitch lower than the other side. Tony said that it wasn't noticeable but I knew it was there so I had to rip it out and start again.
I started another LHN called Starlight Sampler and I've also put a few more stitches into my Beatrix SAL so I'm happy to say that I'm feeling good about my stitching.
The garden at the moment has a mind of its own, some things are growing and some are definitely heading for the compost bin.
These are my first tomatoes of the season, followed by a sweet pepper or two.This is how the garden looked a couple of years ago; last year we decided to get rid of the drive down to the shed so that we'd have more lawn. Tony has decided to get rid of his old kit car that lives in the shed so we won't need the driveway down there any more once it's gone.And this is how it looks now, it's looking a bit bare but we intend to put some more shrubs in when we get round to it. The borders are filling up nicely thanks to all the seeds that Chris sent me, even the seedlings that she sent through the post survived and grew.Some days I wonder what I've done with my time but when I look back at these photos I know where my time went and I'm quite pleased with the results. Some days it's been hard work but I love being out there, it's so peaceful.
And finally, this is my old Persian cat Chester; he's twelve years old now and this is how he spends most of his day. Wouldn't it be nice to be so relaxed.

Hugs,

An up and down week

2009-06-16T22:11:00.005+01:00

Well, it seems ages since I wrote anything on here yet it's only two weeks but time has a habit of slipping away from me lately and I haven't felt the best either. But, hopefully, now that the sun has made a welcome return, I shall start to feel brighter again.
I've not done a lot of stitching as even that didn't sem to pull me up from the black hole that I was in but I do have a little progress from last week of LHN Natures Beauty. I have done a little more of this but not enough to make a difference so I didn't bother taking another photo.

I also stitched a scissor fob for a friend and I liked it so much that I made one for myself.
It's a freebie design by The Drawn Thread and I didn't stick to the colours on the chart but I think these go well together anyway. I've done a little more, and I mean a little, on my Beatrix Potter but a picture of that can wait until the end of the month.
We have been busy in the garden, taking down all the wire and fencing that we put up to keep Rachel's cats from getting out on to the main road and tomorrow we have a load of turf being delivered so that we can extend the lawn nearer to the house so another busy few days.
The garden is looking very green at the moment as everything seems to have finished flowering and the summer flowers aren't quite ready to show their faces yet.
We have a few roses in bloom that brighten the place up, this is one that my friend Diane bought us for our pearl anniversary last year, Sharon my eldest bought us the same one but it's not quite as open as this one yet.
This is my old bench where I like to go and sit and grab five minutes peace and quiet; the flower borders are actually beginning to fill up again after being either pulled up by an over enthusiastic husband or an ever growing army of slugs and snails last year.
The greenhouse is thriving; the tomatoes, peppers, cucumber and aubergine have all started to grow well and we even have some tomatoes on the vines and three or four cucumbers growing already. I love watching everything grow, especially when it all goes right for once.
This was taken last week and I swear everything seems to have doubled in size since then, it's amazing what a bit of sunshine can do.
I think I'd better head off to bed as the vegetable garden needs weeding tomorrow as well as all that turf coming so I'd better get some beauty sleep in......
hugs,

Never a dull moment

2009-06-02T20:54:00.011+01:00

It's been a busy week what with looking after Lily and making sure that the garden is well watered now that everything is planted and growing. I can't wait for all my bedding plants to bloom, there's certainly enough in the ground now to give a good show.

I must thank Bev for the award that she gave me over a week ago and I've still not managed to put it on my blog but here it is now.Thank you so much Bev and once I've found my list of blogs to give it to I'll put it on here.
I have managed to do a bit of stitching, this is the scissor fob that I stitched for Janice on the Exchange Heaven blog, it was a quick little stitch and I really enjoyed doing it.

It's not a very good photo as it was taken when my camera was still playing up, but I think I've got it sorted now.
I've only managed a little on my Beatrix Potter this month as other things have taken priority and I do find it hard to keep the fabric from flopping around everywhere, but it's better than nothing.
I've even put a few stitches into my LHN Natures Beauty and hopefully before long it will be finished, but I've been trying to finish a bookmark that I'm doing for a Threads of Friendship exchange before I do anything else of mine.

I was looking through an old box with some of my earlier stitching in and I came across a UFO well hidden amongst my sewing stuff. I started this years ago and I loved doing it at the time but somehow it got pushed to one side, I think it's all the different colours in the garden that put me off. I was stitching it to make as a fire screen, maybe I ought to give it another try.
It's a Teresa Wentzler design called an English Garden Sampler, I've stitched the middle section with the alphabet and the potted trees and to be honest it looks a lot nicer than the picture of the kit above, there's a lot of green and gold in it which looks lovely.

And finally, I can't end the day without putting up a photo of Lily; she fell over today just after I'd taken this picture and she has a slight chip on her front tooth. I don't know who cried most, me or her. I felt so guilty that I'd let her fall over and I asked Rachel, her mum, to come over in her lunch hour to check her over. I'm so glad that I'm past child bearing age !
And just one more, here's baby Joshua just before he left hospital.
hugs,

Home at last

2009-05-30T09:59:00.003+01:00

We went to see baby Joshua last Sunday and while we were visiting at the hospital Sharon was told that they could go home. Unfortunately Joshua didn't settle, he wouldn't feed and never stopped screaming which he had done a lot of in the ward but everyone thought that he just had wind. By 3. am Monday morning Sharon and Carl had to take him back to the hospital as he was still screaming and since then it's been one long round of tests until he could come home again. Poor little mite had canulas in both hands and a feeding tube up his nose; he had to have a lumbar puncture and heel pricks and lost a pound off his birth weight which was very worrying.

Hopefully now that he is home he will be able to settle down with his mum and dad and enjoy his new home. I'm longing to go and visit but we've said we'll leave it until next weekend so that they can have some time together without constant visitors. This is the only photo I have of him and it's not a very good one but I can keep having a look at it until I can cuddle him again.

hugs,

I'm a grandma again

2009-05-22T22:50:00.003+01:00

My daughter Sharon has finally given birth to a gorgeous baby boy named Joshua. He was born around 1.00pm this afternoon , not quite sure of the exact time, but he weighed in at 8 pounds 3 ounces. He was eleven days overdue and yesterday they found out that he was breech so she had to have a c-section as the hospital thought that trying to turn the baby at such a late stage would probably upset both babe and mum.

They are both doing fine as is Sharon's partner Carl who is over the moon that his first baby is a son. I can't wait to get up to Chester to see them all but especially to have a cuddle with their new arrival.

It's been a lovely sunny day for most of the day though we did have the occasional drop of rain and I had my friend call round with her grandaughter who is only ten weeks old, so all in all it's been a rather lovely day.....

And finally, my lovely granddaughter lily with my old gardening hat on, I love her to bits.

Thunder and lightening

2009-05-19T15:31:00.007+01:00

There's not been a lot of stitching going on apart from the exchanges that I've done but I can't show those as I've not even posted them yet! I really want to get out in the garden but with the rain and storms that we've had today it's easier to stay indoors and put another few stitches into Beatrix.
Tony is still remodelling the greenhouse but he's not having much luck getting the glass back in with the rain, it's a bit of a delicate operation trying to fit big sheets of glass with wet hands. Anyway I thought I'd share a few photos of the garden that I've found on my camera from last week.

The first is a rhodedendron called Grumpy, how something so pretty can be called that I don't know, but I had to buy it for Tony because that's a name I call him sometimes, not always to his face, lol. The second is of my lovely potato plant that goes mad every year growing over my pergola, it's a lovely sight from the bedroom window.

This is one of the many aquilegia plants that grow so well in my garden, I love how they keep
coming back year after year, and a lovely iris that used to grow in my Mum and Dad's garden.

Just a few of the little plants that are coming up and a view of my greenhouse when everything had been taken out ready to extend it. The aluminium greenhouse has gone now and the wooden one is extended where it stood. I hope that it's up and running for the weekend because there's so much that needs to go back.

hugs,

Another exchange received

2009-05-10T09:23:00.004+01:00

I am so behind with posting that I nearly forgot to show my exchange from Michelle on Exchange Heaven. This months theme is a scissor fob and Michelle made me this and sent me a little pair of scissors to go with it. Thank you Michelle, I love it.
I am still in the process of finishing mine, it won't take long but I'm making the most of the sun while it shines this weekend.
Tony has a week off work which means that he'll either be taking things apart or building something, why can't he want to go on holiday like anyone else. I enjoy these weeks together though, as with him working permanent night shift I don't always see a lot of him. All that will change when he goes back after his week off as, after working the night shift for over thirtyfive years, he's had to go on afternoons due to cut backs. I've still not worked out when we're going to eat as we've always had an evening meal before he went off to work. I'm sure we'll fit it in somewhere.....

hugs

Two more exchanges done

2009-05-10T09:03:00.006+01:00

I think that I've finally got my camera going again though I still can't get it to focus properly, where's the instruction manual when you need it?
My first exchange is from Chris M on the xstitch monthly group. The exchange was a lavender bag but with a hobbies theme.Isn't it lovely, and I love the little pair of scissors added to the ribbon. This was my exchange to Chris. I think that she liked it.

I also heard from Lucy on Exchange Heaven that she had received my colour exchange to her, this is what I stitched.Lucy's colour choice was purple or black so I stitched her initial for her.

hugs,

Lovely postie day

2009-04-23T20:52:00.004+01:00

I had a lovely postie day today; first was my exchange piece from Exchange Heaven. The theme was a colour exchange and this is what Maddy stitched for me.

I asked for blue and greeen as my colour and this is stitched in a lovely combination of both, it looks so much nicer in real life.
I also had a parcel from Chris with some seedlings in that she had popped in the post as my rudbeckia hadn't even sprouted and she had a few extra to share, wasn't that kind of her. All in all it's been a good day though I've been dozing on and off for a great part of it, I think I overdid it a bit yesterday in the garden but at least you can see where I've been so it's been worth the effort that I put in. With any luck I can get a few hours in tomorrow and finish my planting as the weekend weather doesn't look too good, and then I won't feel guilty sitting stitching....

hugs,

Back to blogland but nothing to report

2009-04-20T22:25:00.003+01:00

Last week should have been an easy week with Tony off work, but then I had to have Lily an extra day but I thought that as Grandad was at home she'd be no trouble, she wasn't, it was me who was the trouble.
I was so frustrated at not being able to go out and help in the garden that I was getting a bit down, but never mind, I thought, I'll play with Lily and help outside when she has a nap. This was the week that she decided that naps were out and running up and down the garden was in!
By Wednesday evening I was shattered and I'd not managed a thing in the garden; we'd played with those big lego bricks for most of the day and we'd made a big tower to show her mum when she came to collect her which was duly demolished as soon as Rachel walked through the door. Then one of those daft moments happened when although you want to cry, you try and hide it with a smile. Yes, I tripped over a lego brick, bouncing on to the door frame and ending up in a pile on the hall floor. Tony came running when he heard the bump, took one look at me lying there and when he realised that it wasn't Lily who'd fallen over he walked off laughing. He did come back and pick me up though so he's not all bad.
All day Thursday I could hardly put my foot down and I'd also jarred my wrist so I've not been able to do much at all, not even stitch as it was my sewing hand that I fell on.
It did give me time to sit and think about how life is going for me at the moment and what I need to do to get out of this ever deepening rut that I'm digging for myself. I'm hoping that the higher dose of my thyroid tablets will kick in soon as I'm still so tired and I don't want to feel like this all the time. I have made a list of what I need to change to make things better and the top of the list is to get myself more organised as, with looking after Lily, any routine that I used to have has gone out of the window.
My plants are growing like mad in the greenhouse and if I don't get round to potting them on soon all the effort of growing them will have been wasted, I just hope that the lovely weather that we've had today carries on through the week, I need to get out there...

hugs,

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T14:01:00.002+01:00

hugs,

LHN update and BP SAL

2009-04-12T13:44:00.003+01:00

I've managed to put a few stitches into my LHN Nature's Beauty and I'm still loving doing it. I just wish that I had a little more time to stitch but with the garden and the two other exchanges that I've been doing it's been hard to fit everything in. Sorry it's a little crumpled but my stitching hoop broke and I'm using a small one which is a bit too tight on the linen.

I also did a bit more to my Beatrix Potter SAL but for some reason I can't get the photo to upload so I'll have to try again later.

hugs,

Gift of Friendship Exchange

2009-04-12T13:16:00.004+01:00

Thursday was the opening day for our gifts from this exchange organised by Bec and I so loved the wall hanging that Anita had stitched for me.

I don't know why but I can't seem to take a clear photo of it but it is stunning. She also sent me some threads and a chart to stitch so I'm a happy bunny.

I stitched for Tony who wanted something cute, now whenever someone mentions cute my mind goes blank as I don't usually stitch cute things so I don't know what people like. I ended up stitching a "cute" sheep and making it into a padded wall hanging.

hugs,

Another sunny day

2009-04-01T21:37:00.004+01:00

It's been another glorious day in the garden and me and Lily have made the most of it though most of the time she's been picking up stones and putting them on Granddads bench and I've been taking them off again, still it keeps me fit.
I'm hoping that the weather holds out for a little longer as I want to get some planting done while Lily is at home with her Mum as there's not much chance of getting anything done while she's about.
She comes with me most days to check on the progress in the greenhouse and to see if any more seeds have sprouted overnight. The sunflowers are ready for potting on though a lot of the other seeds that I planted are still on the small side.

The vegetable plot is looking bare since we dug it over two weeks ago but it won't be long before it's filled up again with some lovely home grown veg.One thing that never fails us is our rhubarb patch and we always have far too much of it even to freeze so we tend to get lots of rhubarb loving friends calling round for a handful. This is only one little bit of it, it gets huge in full growth.

And finally, this is what I found in a little corner where I keep old plants that I thought were dead, I'm so glad that I didn't throw it out.

hugs,

My PIF to Susan

2009-04-01T21:20:00.004+01:00

I saw over on Susan's blog that she has received the PIF that I sent to her.

It is another ornament from the JCS Christmas '06 edition though it is made up as a needle case in the magazine.

A PIF and a win

2009-03-25T10:54:00.007Z

I noticed that Kath has received her PIF that I stitched for her, it was based on a strawberry design from JCS Christmas ornaments '06 but I'd got a bit fed up with stitching red so I thought
that I'd do blue for a change.
I hope that she liked it

I received another gift in yesterdays post, this time it was a win that I'd had on Cameo's blog.

I am determined that I shall stitch this before the year is out. This bike brings back so many memories of when I went to the TT races in 1970 on the back of one of these. I went with an ex and seven of his friends who all camped while I had to stay in a B&B or my mother wouldn't have let me go. She even sent a letter to the B&B just to make sure that I was there. I was twenty at the time in the days of mods and rockers and although I loved riding on the bike, I was still a mod at heart where fashion was concerned. I shudder when I think about it nowadays, I don't know how I had the nerve to get on the back of one of those.

I have some photos of the garden to show but it will have to wait until later or I'll get nothing done today and I've still got to find two more charts for my next exchanges.........

A couple of finishes

2009-03-25T10:36:00.006Z

I saw today on the Exchange Heaven blog that Lorna had received the gift that I had stitched for her and I think that she was happy with it.
The theme was food and drink and I found this freebie to stitch which I thought was quite nice.

I received my gift from Chris in yesterdays post for the same exchange and she had stitched me "chocolate lover" which she had made into a tin topper.
Inside were some lovely chocolates for me to eat, isn't it gorgeous, I love Chris's stitching.

hugs,

A LHN start

2009-03-07T21:39:00.005Z

The past few weeks or months even, have been taken up with exchanges or gifts so I decided that while I had a bit of time to spare before I start my next exchange, I'd start one of the Little House Needlework charts that I've been storing for a while. I haven't managed to do a lot as I only had the time to put a couple of hours into it but I'm really enjoying it so far.

I also had a nice surprise today when I found out that I'd won the giveaway on Carols blog, it's a chart called Rainforest Romance. Today has been a lovely day.....

hugs,

Saturday in the garden

2009-03-07T16:51:00.009Z

Saturday again and what a glorious day it has been. The sun has been shining for most of the day and I've spent nearly all of it either pottering in the garden or the greenhouse. It's been lovely finding flowers that I thought we'd pulled out when we altered the garden last year.

The crocuses were found hiding beneath the twisted willow tree; there are about six that have managed to survive all the digging out from last year, the others were all put in pots. The primroses were nestling underneath the yew tree, don't they look pretty, all ready for some spring sunshine.Last year Chris, sent me packets of seeds that she had collected from her garden and I have been sorting through them all and sowing them in the greenhouse so if all goes well, I should have a garden full of flowers this year if they all grow. I've still loads more to put in but I'd left the compost outside and it was too wet to sow any more so I'll have to wait until it's dried out a bit. Actually feeling as though spring might just be round the corner.......

hugs,

Beatrix Potter and a little stash

2009-02-27T14:24:00.005Z

This is my Beatrix Potter SAL which I started at the end of January. I've not done a lot to it since I put my first photo up but this month seems to have flown by so I've not had a great deal of time to work on it, but at least there's a bit of progress to show.

Before the car decided to give up the ghost, I sent off for some goodies from sew and so as now that I was in front with my exchanges I needed something to stitch for me so I thought that I'd send off for a few threads that would make up my LHN charts.

I also bought a new thread box and some bobbins as my threads were getting to be a bit jumbled. Just need to get myself organised now.

hugs,

Lily's birthday

2009-02-27T13:39:00.005Z

How could I forget about this? February 7th was Lily's 1st birthday and Rachel and her partner Darren brought Lily round to show us the cake that she'd got for her birthday tea. It was so funny watching her face as the candles were lit and then when Rachel tried to blow them out with her, she screamed the house down.

The pictures are all a bit dark for some reason, but , as you can see she had a great time pulling pieces off the cake though she didn't eat any. She must be the only child I know that doesn't like sweet things, not even chocolate.

hugs,

back again

2009-02-27T13:14:00.004Z

It seems ages since I've blogged but I have had so many problems with my computer that I've felt like throwing it out; if it wasn't for the fact that I can't afford a new one then it would be gone. To be honest though, she has done me proud as we are both getting on in years, so until she heads for the big cyberspace in the sky then I'll stick with her!

We also had another major expense that we didn't want when the car broke down. Tony said that it had been driving funny for weeks so we thought as it was so old we'd have to get another or risk being stranded somewhere, so last week was spent looking for another car.

We eventually got one on Saturday afternoon so on Sunday we decided to go for a drive to test it out. I didn't want to just go up and down the motorway so we decided to head for Bakewell which is probably an hour and a half from where we live. It is so beautiful there and although it is only a little village it was so crowded. The area is well known for hikers and climbers but I didn't imagine that there would be so many people about this early in the season.

Here's a link to the village if you'd like to see what it's like.

I didn't let on to Tony that there is a lovely needlework shop in Bakewell until we happened to walk past it. We did go in and look around but as we'd just had the expense of the car I was quite happy just to browse but later on, just before we went home Tony took me back and ordered me a new sewing lamp that I'm eagerly waiting to be delivered.

All the stitching that I've done seems to be for exchanges or PIFs so no pictures to put up but now everything is done I'm thinking of stitching a LHN chart that I've wanted to do for ages, just got to decide which one,

hugs,

xstitch monthly exchange

2009-02-10T21:38:00.006Z

My exchange to Tara made its way to her dispite all the snow on the ground so I can put a picture up to remind me of what I've stitched for her.
I added a little pocket at the back as I thought it might be somewhere to store thread or scissors.

An Award

2009-02-06T21:58:00.007Z

I have been given this award by Chris and I now have to pass it on to 8 friends who I think deserve this. It might take some time so I'll be back later. The words have to go with the picture.

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

Right, I've had a think and these are the people that will get an award

Erynne Be-stitched
Susan the lazy stitcher
Kath kaths stitching heaven
Lorna a bit of everything

And the winners are...

2009-02-01T12:17:00.003Z

thanks to Kath, and Susan, for entering my PIF and as they are the only two, well you're the winners lol.
If you could both let me have your addresses then I will stitch something for you by the end of the year.

Sue

My Pay It Forward

2009-01-31T21:58:00.001Z

There's still time to join in if anyone would like to, I'll give the results tomorrow.

Sue x

Saturday

2009-01-31T17:23:00.004Z

yes it's Saturday again and after another shopping trip and queueing in the post office for half an hour I've finally managed to do a bit of stitching, nothing that can be shown as it's for a gift. I thought that I'd have five minutes looking through my mail and as usual I end up looking at other peoples blogs and the time vanishes so quickly when I'm enjoying myself.
I am now an official member of CADD thanks to Erryne, http://be-stitched.blogspot.com/ I wish I knew how to do a proper link, if anyone could tell me I'd be so grateful.
I've a stitchy night planned, Tony says he wants pizza for tea so who am I to argue, it means I don't have to cook so more time to stitch.

My exchange from Tara

2009-01-31T17:13:00.005Z

I joined xstitch monthly just before Christmas and this is my first exchange with the group from Tara. I went to the post office this morning to send mine on its way and when I got home Taras was waiting for me to open. I can't put a photo up of what I've stitched for her yet just in case someone sees it. Isn't it lovely........

Too good to be true

2009-01-28T16:22:00.004Z

I had so much planned for today and its now gone 4.00pm and I'm still in my dressing gown. Another water infection has had me spending the day on the sofa, I am so fed up with feeling low. Still I have had time to finish my library book so it's not been all bad. I couldn't concentrate on my stitching otherwise I'd have done a bit more on my SAL; never mind, tomorrow's another day and hopefully it will be a better one.............

Summer will soon be here again................

Tuesday and I'm shattered

2009-01-27T20:24:00.003Z

I think that I'm still catching my breath from the weekend. Sunday I had a day in the garden and did some heavy digging although the garden was a bit too wet for it but it really needed doing. I cleared out the small greenhouse where we usually grow the tomatoes, changed all the soil and composted it so that it's ready for some juicy tomatoes and cucumbers to grow.

We went to the garden centre first thing Sunday morning as there is a lovely little fabric and stitching shop on the site, a little bit expensive but some lovely fabric, and I needed some to back some stitching that I'd done. Then of course I couldn't walk away without looking at the seeds and came out with a load of potatoes, onion sets and seeds to plant, hence the mad workout in the garden.

The garden was sadly neglected last yearuntil the autumn when we started to move everything around but at last I can see what I need to do to make it look better.

This is our vegetable plot though now it is twice as big as we've taken all the turf up so that we can grow more. We moved the turf up to the top flower garden and extended the lawn with it so now we have a clean slate to start off with this year though at the moment the flower borders are looking a bit bare but I can see the daffodils and snowdrops pushing through as well as a load of forget me not plants that I dig out every year but always come back.

Yesterday, I spent most of the morning sorting out the freezer as we'd ordered a load of meat from Tony's brother's shop so I made sure that everything was labelled correctly so we don't eat beef when it's supposed to be lamb............I've done that quite a few times lol.

Today it's been back to looking after Lily and she's such an angel. She hardly stopped giggling from the moment Rachel brought her in this morning until she picked her up this evening. She takes all my energy though so it will be an early night if I can make it.

There's nothing on TV so I think I'll go and stitch for a bit, it's such a hard life.........

Saturday

2009-01-26T22:31:00.005Z

Saturday was a day for me. I was determined that I was going to get something done so I started early with the housework so that I could get the rest of the day to myself. First I had to do a bit of baking as Tony likes his cakes and if he's happy then the whole world is fine.

By the time I managed to take a photo, half an apple pie had been devoured and a few of the tarts and sad to say they have all been polished off by everyone now so I need to do some more.

The afternoon was spent searching for a pattern for my Easter banner so I had a good look through all my old magazines but still didn't come up with anything but I've an idea of what I want so it might have to be a bit of this and that to make what I want to stitch.

I finished Tara's needlecase after the second attempt. The theme is signs of the zodiac and with Tara being a Libra I thought that I'd stitch some scales; that was until DH asked why I was stitching a pair of hanging baskets and somehow it didn't look right after that. After that I sorted out my material for my Beatrix Potter SAL and spent a few hours in the evening stitching away on that. I'm still not sure about the colour but I don't think that I can be bothered to frog it all so I'll just have to get used to it.

It doesn't look as dark as this in real life so I think I might persevere.............

where did all those years go?

2009-01-26T22:17:00.004Z

I'm catching up on my blog as I seem to have been a bit too busy to write anything for the past couple of weeks, but I couldn't miss writing about Sharon's birthday. 30 years ago on 23rd January 1979 I became the proud mother of a gorgeous baby girl who arrived looking bright red with an enormous mop of black hair, but after almost 24 hours in labour and an emergency caesarian I wouldn't have cared what she looked like. And now she is expecting her first baby and I can't wait for it to come.

This is Sharon and Rachels' baby Lily taken in September last year, oh how lovely to be able to sit outside in the sunshine again......

Clearing away the cobwebs

2009-01-13T21:42:00.003Z

I have had a few days trying to sort out the computer as it is so full of junk that it's going on strike. I thought though that I didn't want to get rid of everything so I'm putting a few pictures to remind me on here. The next two photos are of my middle daughter Kim, she doesn't get a mention very often so I thought that I'd write a bit about her.

Recently, just before Christmas, she was made redundant from her accounts job and has had no luck in finding another job yet though it is early days and there aren't that many jobs going around here. She also split with her boyfriend of over three years so a good reason for her to let her hair down a little. The photos were taken at her friend Donna's birthday party, and, no, she didn't take the gun out with her. All her friends dressed up in forces uniform and I dread to think what they all looked like marching into the pubs, but they had a good night out and that's what counts.

She's been thinking of joining the RAF and went to an open day in Nottingham yesterday for the nursing course. She's not sure if she's going to do anything about it yet as it means another three years at uni and she's already done four but this time she would be getting paid for it. If she does decide to try for it and she's lucky enough to get accepted, then the training starts in June and it will be the first time in thirty years that Tony and me will be on our own in our little house which seems to be getting bigger month by month. I would have two bedrooms spare and the front room, someone must have been listening to my prayers.

New blog background

2009-01-07T14:56:00.002Z

I have been having a messing about day today on the computer and saw on Chris's blog a link to Izzie Grace's free backgrounds and as it's taken me over an hour to figure it out I'm not sure whether I should leave it like this or go back to my original white background. I shall see how long it takes for me to get used to it.

PIF

2009-01-07T12:00:00.002Z

I entered a PIF on Chris's blog last year and I was one for the lucky people to be drawn as a member of her PIF. I've not had chance until now to sort me and my blog out to give the chance to someone else so I'm hoping that somebody might find my blog and join in.
*** This is how it works ***
If you would like to receive something handmade by me within the next 365 days, please comment on this post to say that you are interested. I will then ask my DH to draw 3 names out of a hat on January 31st. If you are one of the chosen three then in return, please post the same offer on your blog.This is a simple and a lovely way of spreading joy in the stitching world. I hope that you will join in and possibly become one of my PIF members!This PIF is open for everyone.

Beatrix Potter SAL

2009-01-07T11:49:00.003Z

I have finally sorted out my fabric and threads for this SAL and hopefully I'm going to try and get some stitches in before the weekend. I decided on 32 count antique white Belfast linen as I've used that before quite a bit and for some reason I can never match coloured fabric and threads successfully. The thread is DMC115 as I already had enough of that in my sewing box and I like the effect that it gives so I've stuck with something that I know that I'll be happy with.

It's not a very good photo, I think my camera is freezing up in this cold weather or it could just be my cold hands not doing it right lol.

PIB

2009-01-05T22:49:00.007Z

Chris sent me her lovely needle case for her PIF but I wanted to send her something just for being a good friend and keeping me motivated with my stitching, her enthusiasm is certainly catching. This is what I came up with and I said it was a PIB, a Pay It Back, for all her kindness.This is the first time that I'd tried doing a heart shape and I'm pleased the way that it has turned out and I think chris was pleased with the end result too.

My Birthday

2009-01-05T22:32:00.007Z

Well, I was feeling so much better for my birthday even though my head was still spinning for an ear infection that the flu had left me with and I had so many cards and presents for my birthday (January 1st) that I couldn't be miserable even if I tried.
These are the cards and presents that I received from the Threads Of Friendship group that I am in, they are a lovely group of ladies and this was either my third or fourth year of doing this exchange.

These are all my birthday cards, I think I had about 40 in all as well as some lovely smellies and chocolate and another Lilliput Lane cottage to put to my collection.

Chris http://alwayssmiling24.blogspot.com/ sent me her PIF that I was lucky enough to win on her blog and it is absolutely gorgeous.

Don't you agree that it is lovely, the photo doesn't do it justice so if I get a minute I'll try and take a better one.

Christmas and the New Year

2009-01-05T21:21:00.007Z

It seems such a long time since I posted but things have a habit of going into freefall these days and I've not been feeling my best.

The week before Rachel and Darren were to move out, I came down with the flu and it stopped me in my tracks, I felt so rough and ended up in bed for almost a week which took us to Christmas. Tony in the meantime had also caught it but had to help Rachel move out or they'd have never got in in time for Christmas Day.

Sharon and Carl came for Boxing Day and Saturday and I felt so sorry for them as we just weren't up to visitors but they said that they enjoyed the time with us although we weren't 100%.

Rachel Lily and Darren came for Christmas lunch which turned out surprisingly good even if we didn't eat much but the highlight of the day was seeing Lily open her presents for the first time.

As you can see, she was more interested in the wrapping paper than she was of the gifts inside but she did love the little cooker that Darren's mum and dad bought her.
This is our Christmas tree which we managed to move back into the front room. We only had half of it up in the conservatory but once Rachel had moved all her stuff out we managed to get the whole tree up and decorated just in time for Christmas day.

The table setting wasn't too good this year as it was all done in a bit of a hurry but the old stanbys served their purpose and we sat by candle light for our meal.

All in all dispite feeling so ill, I think everyone enjoyed themselves but just in case they were being kind, we said that we'd do it all again at Easter if we can

On the move

2008-12-10T22:30:00.006Z

We've had some good news over the past couple of days; Rachel and Darren and baby Lily have found themselves a house to rent and the good news is that it's only five minutes down the road from us so visiting won't be too bad.

Rachel moved back home to live with us before Lily was born as she and Lily's dad didn't get on anymore so we had to rearrange the whole house to accomadate her and her new arrival, not to mention the three cats that she brought home with her. To say that space has been on the tight side would be an understatement as me and her dad moved downstairs to sleep so that Rachel could have the little room next to ours for Lily's nursery.

It has been a struggle as our house isn't very big to begin with and with Kim still at home and Rachel having Darren her new partner to stay over, it's been a bit of a tight squeeze.

They get the keys on the 19th and they want to move in before Christmas and as it's a new house I think they'll manage to do it.

I'd like to think that I could move all my furniture back upstairs and have the dining table up and running again before Christmas Eve; I think I'll be pushing my luck, but I'm certainly going to have a damn good try.

It will be so good to go upstairs to bed again although it's been easier on the old knees but I've never felt quite right sleeping in the front room.

Apart from being really cold with this frosty weather, there's nothing much else to report. I've finished all the stitching that I needed to do for Christmas, I do have a picture to show but until it's arrived I won't post a pic of it yet just in case the friend who it's going to sees it.

Off to my bed now as my fingers are seizing up with the cold, a nice cup of tea, a good book and a warm bed are all calling me................

Gift of Friendship.

2008-12-09T22:13:00.006Z

I received my GOF from Chris (http://alwayssmiling24.blogspot.com/) I wish I knew how to do a link properly but I don't. It was a lovely Christmas biscornu in the reds and greens that I had chosen and it's truly beautiful.

She also sent a Lizzie Kate pattern, some buttons which will come in handy for Lily's cardigan and a lovely Kath Kidson tin of pins so I feel quite spoilt.

I sent to Sally in Canada and she said that she loved the biscornu that I had made for her though she isn't a big chocolate eater so the selection box that I sent might last her for a while.

I've really enjoyed doing this exchange and I am now looking forward to opening my cards on January 1st for my birthday thread exchange. I've been in it for three years now I think and I love the little surprises that are sometimes tucked away with the cards and thread.

I was naughty last week and splurged out on six LHN charts from ebay. They were a bargain so I had to have them and they only cost me £7, a small price to keep me busy during winter............

Clearing out

2008-11-14T15:24:00.004Z

I had a good old sort through my bits and pieces the other day and found a couple of UFOs that have been lurking at the bottom of a drawer for ages. When I saw this little chap I thought how sad he looked so I decided that I'd try and finish him before I start on anything else. He's been too long tucked away out of sight.

I can't remember when I first started stitching on this but it must have been a few years ago. He shouldn't take long to finish, it's just the outside window frame that's going to be boring but at least with one colour it should be quick.

Another sunny day today but still a bit too cold to venture far. Hope that it keeps fine for tomorrow, there's still a lot of clearing to do in the garden which needs to be done before the frosts hit.

There's Christmas cards to make too so that should keep me out of mischief for a couple of days at least.

Saturday

2008-11-08T09:09:00.001Z

Well, it's a wet miserable day here in Derbyshire, not helped by the fact that the cat woke me three times in the night, I think the wind must have scared him. If it ever stops raining I need to get out in the garden and see if the fish in the pond are still alive as there's leaves everywhere

There's plenty to do if I can't get out, like all the washing and ironing and there's still the bathroom to finish off properly. We started it last Christmas when we had a new suite in but it's never been finished off so maybe todays the day to do it. The only problem is finding a time when no one's in there, it seems to be permanently occupied.

I finished my biscornu and I'm quite proud of my first effort.

It should now be winging it's way over to Canada for Sally.

I think before I do anything else I'll pop the kettle on and then do a bit of baking, nothing like the smell of homemade bread and cakes to cheer the house up......

I'm so glad today's over

2008-11-06T23:05:00.004Z

I shouldn't really moan, but today has been one of those days where you want to scream at anything and everything but you know that even if you did it wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference.

As much as I love having Rachel and her daughter Lily living with us, I'm finding it hard to get a little bit of space for just me; it can't last for ever though can it?

This is what the little monster was up to earlier.

She was supposed to be kissing her grandad goodnight, but the door shut on her so she thought that she'd do it through the glass.

Is it any wonder that I'm always cleaning on the days that I don't look after her?

Sharon's news

2008-11-04T21:45:00.002Z

I almost forgot to write about the best news that I've had for weeks; my daughter Sharon and her partner Carl are expecting their first baby in May so me and Tony are going to be grandparents again. They live near to Chester so it's a good two hours drive away for us and we always get stuck in a traffic jam going to Chester zoo, but I'm sure the travelling will be worth it if it means we shall get to hold our latest addition to the family, I'm definitely going to have to get the knitting needles out now

French exchange

2008-11-04T21:20:00.004Z

This is what I stitched for my friend Helene in France, it was made up into oven gloves which she had requested, I think she liked them.

I have finished my biscornu and it is all ready to send to my partner in the Threads of Friendship Exchange for the December 1st opening. I'll post a picture later as my camera seems to have died on me, too many photos of Lily I suspect.

Talking of babies I have become a great aunt again to Ruby Louise, the daughter of my nephew Carl and his wife Jess. I am also waiting for another arrival due this week, that of the son of my nephew Marc and his partner Kate, so a busy week for babies. Might have to get the knitting needles out again.

Soooo cold

2008-10-29T11:12:00.002Z

It's been a real cold start to the morning; frost has covered everything in sight and my wallflowers are looking rather wilted sitting out in the garden, hopefully they'll pick up once the sun comes through on that side of the border. It's beautiful and sunny now and if it wasn't for the fire stoked halfway up the chimney you wouldn't think that it was so cold outside.

I've just put Lily down for her morning nap which are getting less and less frequent these days, she just doesn't seem to want to sleep and as she's all over the place I daren't leave her too long out of my sight in case she falls over. My last day for the week though, her mother takes over until next Monday, so four days of catching up on what I've not done.

I did manage to get a hearty stew going in the oven before she got up, one of Tony's favourite meals, only the dumplings and shallots to add later so an easy day cooking wise. I might even make a rice pud to go with it for afters though I probably won't be able to move for hours after I've eaten it.
Rachel's three cats don't like this cold weather and they've started picking on each other and the fur is literally flying everywhere so a good hoovering is on the cards for tomorrow. I'd love to have a move round with the furniture but at the moment I can't see how it would fit in any differently, will have to get the tape measure out and work it out.

I think that it's time for a cuppa then I'd better make a start on the two piles of ironing that are waiting for me. I might manage to get a bit done before Lily wakes up. you never know...........

A new beginning

2008-10-27T22:45:00.001Z

It's been a bit hectic the past week or so, Rachel has had Darren staying over for the week and with my three days looking after Lily time has been a bit lacking.

Lily is now crawling, a bit too fast for these old legs of mine to keep up with her, but we have fun on our days together. Rachel found another tooth had come through tonight so that means she's got four altogether and she certainly knows how to nip with them. Feeding time is fun as she is supposed to be having proper meals but getting anything solid down her is like fighting a losing battle, though she has taken a liking to organic carrot coated crisps!!

I had a lovely weekend in the garden with Tony, I watched while he did all the work. We had a drive down the side of the garden and he's turfed it over to make a bigger lawn for me. It's been a lot of hard work for him but it's looking good at the moment, I've just got to sort the borders out with my bulbs and wallflowers and hopefully come spring I'll have a nice display to look at.

I've managed to finish my cross stitch for the Christmas exchange that I'm in, I never thought that I'd finish it as one thing after another seemed to go wrong. I haven't done a lot of stitching this year but I'm getting back into the swing of things so I hope that I can keep going with it.

I've still got to sew the biscornu together and as I've never done one before, I'm hoping and praying that it will come together ok. I've got to post it out next weekend so if it all goes wrong there's not much time to stitch anything else.

I've also managed to make five of the six cards that I need for the thread exchange next month, I don't have to make hand made cards but I like to make the effort. Now if only I can find the energy to do all the cleaning that's been backing up over the last week, I'd be a happy lady. I'd better go and do a bit of tidying round or it will all be waiting for me tomorrow and I don't think I could face that........

Twelve months on.

2008-10-14T23:05:00.000+01:00

Well, the last post I did was a year ago and I can't believe that it's gone so quick. Such a lot has happened in those twelve months and this blog which was meant as an online diary for me to remember everything is sadly lacking any news at all. Over the next few weeks I'm going to try and fit all that's happened, all the stitching, knitting and gardening, all about what's happened to the family and add some photos of my new granddaughter Lily Mae. She is now eight months old and I did manage to finish my knitting for her before her hasty arrival in February.

This is Lily at just a few hours old; she weighed in at 5lb 10 1/2 ounces and looked so tiny but she's certainly making up for it now.

nearly two months

2007-10-25T22:30:00.000+01:00

I can't believe that it's been almost two months since I last posted on this blog page, the time has flown. It's not been a good two months either as already I've had the oncoming signs of the depression that always gets to me at this time of year, but trying to keep myself busy and get on with the various projects that I have on the go can only help. I sometimes feel so overwhelmed with everything going on in my life that I find it hard to cope, but cope I will.

I managed to finish the cardigan for Rachel's baby so I must get a photo done to remind me of what I can achieve. I also bought some more wool, a lovely shade of pink to make another little jacket that is covered in a heart pattern, I can't wait to get started on it. I've also finished the cross stitch exchange and already have ideas for my next one. I do so enjoy my cross stitch at this time of year, it's a good excuse to snuggle down in front of the fire and not feel guilty about not doing work outside.

We did manage to have a good go at the garden last weekend when the weather was so nice; the vegetable plot is now almost dug over ready for next year and the flower garden only needs a bit of sprucing up and that should carry it through until the real work starts again in Spring. I'm still contemplating whether to go ahead and have some chickens for next year, we have the space and I have the time so there's nothing stopping me, but I'm still not certain. I like the thought of having fresh eggs and knowing where they've come from.

That's it for today, not a lot to tell.

holiday weekend

2007-08-27T09:51:00.000+01:00

Another bank holiday almost over and as usual it's been a working one though I have to say it's not me who's been doing the work. OH is still trying to finish the cat run off so that we can let the little horrors outside without fear of them getting run over. Not a lot more to do but it's hard work.

It was our anniversary last week, 29 years and they said it wouldn't last, how wrong could they be. I had two huge bouquets of flowers from Tony and Rachel and they smell gorgeous. Why do roses always fade first when they are always the most expensive flower in the bunch?

some of the flowers from Tony

some from Rachel

I've not done a lot more on my knitting as there isn't a lot left to do so I really ought to push myself to finish it before this baby makes an appearance. Rachel has started knitting a little hat which is coming along nicely. Here's a quick picture I took last week.

It's not a very good picture but you can see the basic pattern; I knitted this for my girls when they were babies and as the eldest is 28 it's been around for quite a while.

I've been asked to join another cross stitch exchange for Christmas with my friend from France who I met on the dmc forum so I think I'll hunt out some patterns and get stitching this afternoon, another little pleasure in my crafting life.

Time Flies

2007-08-17T20:50:00.000+01:00

I can't believe that it's over a week since I last posted, I really don't know where the days go. Tony is back at work and I've been catching up on odd jobs that I couldn't do while he's at home.

It's been such a lot cooler this last week, it's hard to imagine that last week we had glorious sunshine and were out in the garden all the time. I took a few photos in the garden just to remind me that we have had a little bit of summer.

This is one of the last of the geraniums they are fading fast now with all the rain, but still a dash of colour to brighten up the darkest day.

Another lovely sight but sadly these too are fading fast.

I've also been busy knitting. My youngest daughter is expecting her first baby in February so I thought I'd get the needles out again and it's been lovely to sit and knit in the evenings especially as it feels as though autumn is already here. I'll add some photos later if I remember.

Apart from that I've got the card making kit out again and tried my hand at a couple of cards that I need for the thread exchange that I'm in. It's been lovely making so many new friends through this birthday exchange and it's great to learn a little of other peoples lives.

Now, do I go and finish my knitting or sort out a pattern for my cross stitch, so many decisions to make. Think I'll go and make a cuppa and decide later.

Working Holiday

2007-08-09T13:58:00.000+01:00

well, Tony's on holiday this week so as usual it means a holiday working at home doing all the jobs that he never has time for during the year, thank goodness that he's so good at DIY.

For the last two months we have been building a pond and now it's almost finished apart from getting the water to clear which has been looking like something out of a horror movie.

This morning, I found Chester our cat looking with a glint in his eye at the fish that are almost visible once more. Having checked them out he decided that they were no threat to him, he's a bit of a coward, and promptly settled down to treating the pond as his own personal watering hole.

So far he's not fallen in but I don't believe for one minute that it's not going to happen. There's loads to do in the garden, we're fencing off the top part near to the house so that we can let Rachel's cats outside. She came back to live with us in February with three cats in tow and they have never been outside. As ours is a busy road, we're trying to make sure that when they do go out they are completely safe, just seems a big job at the moment.

Apart from a little knitting and making a card or two, that's all to report for now.

hello Everyone

2007-08-07T23:48:00.000+01:00

this is my first post on my new blog so if anyone ever reads this please excuse any mistakes that I might make. I have no idea what I shall write about; I have many hobbies such as cross stitch, card making and knitting so I didn't really want to put a "label" to my blog because my interests change from day to day.

I hope if someone does have a read they might find something to interest them in amongst the ramblings of a fifty something woman.

Well, here goes, lets see if I can get this to post, bye for now.