Good morning everyone.
Pic to follow
I gave in
to little MissG's requests to get the Christmas decorations down from
the loft last night so our evening was spent going through the various
bags and boxes. Some decorations haven't been used for years and I
don't know why they go back up into the loft year after year! I think
it's time to go to the charity shop.
Pic to follow
I am
feeling a bit under the weather (just a cold) so stayed cosy at home
this morning. I have just put the finishing touches to our decorations
while listening to the wonderfully Christmassy Michael Buble CD -
lovely!
Pic to follow
A colourful, crafty and chatty blog
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
nice november news!
Yes, I do also have some nice news to share too!
Little MissG and I enjoyed a lovely day at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. She had already been to the show on the Thursday with her school's textile department and she came home telling me how much I would have loved it. So... on Saturday off we went to Harrogate. I couldn't believe the size of it - there was stall after stall of all sorts of crafty things. A joy to the eye, I should say!
The stall holders were really helpful and were happy to share the techniques used in their craft. I feel inspired to try needle-felting and machine embroidery.
We bought buttons...
pic to follow
Decopatch paper...
pic to follow
Christmas ornaments to decoupage...
pic to follow
Christmas stars to decoupage...
pic to follow
A needle felting kit...
pic to follow
A freindship bracelet kit...
pic to follow
Little MissG is already wearing her first attempt and is happy with the results. She'll have to crack on though to get one finished for each of her friends for Christmas!
Have you been watching the Kirsty's Homemade Britain series? I wasn't so interested in the baking or flower arranging episodes but the one where she joined her local WI to enter three craft pieces based on The Secret Garden book was very inspiring. I loved the mosaic mirror, silver leaf and key and most of all Kirsty's needle-felted robin. I think I'll go and get my kit out and have a go....
Little MissG and I enjoyed a lovely day at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. She had already been to the show on the Thursday with her school's textile department and she came home telling me how much I would have loved it. So... on Saturday off we went to Harrogate. I couldn't believe the size of it - there was stall after stall of all sorts of crafty things. A joy to the eye, I should say!
The stall holders were really helpful and were happy to share the techniques used in their craft. I feel inspired to try needle-felting and machine embroidery.
We bought buttons...
pic to follow
Decopatch paper...
pic to follow
Christmas ornaments to decoupage...
pic to follow
Christmas stars to decoupage...
pic to follow
A needle felting kit...
pic to follow
A freindship bracelet kit...
pic to follow
Little MissG is already wearing her first attempt and is happy with the results. She'll have to crack on though to get one finished for each of her friends for Christmas!
Have you been watching the Kirsty's Homemade Britain series? I wasn't so interested in the baking or flower arranging episodes but the one where she joined her local WI to enter three craft pieces based on The Secret Garden book was very inspiring. I loved the mosaic mirror, silver leaf and key and most of all Kirsty's needle-felted robin. I think I'll go and get my kit out and have a go....
not so nice november news
Well, what
can I say? Not the news I was hoping to share with you. I don't
actually know if I should be sharing this with you but my blog is a form
of diary and it may help for me to put it in writing. We have had the
most devastating news about my Mum and it has shaken us all to the core.
Mum went see her Doctor at the end of September as she was feeling anxious and had a shortness of breath so she was treated for anxiety. The shortness of breath became so bad that she was taken to hospital and it was discovered that she had fluid on her lung. That was treated and she was released from hospital after a week but was told that the fluid was due to an infection and she had to go back in for a CT scan to see where the infection was coming from. Well, we got the devastating results on 14th November. Her breast cancer (from 5 years ago) has spread to her lung, liver and brain. As you can imagine we are in a state of shock.
I can't believe it. My lovely Mum. I have been driving up to Carlisle to see her as often as I can and have taken her to the various hospital appointments. She has had radiotherapy on her brain and chest and has numerous tablets to take. The doctor is pleased at how well she is responding to the treatment so far. Apart from feeling very tired she is quite bright and chatty. I love you Mum x.
Meanwhile, on one of my trips to Carlisle my husband phoned to say that the results of a recent blood test have confirmed that he has diabetes. Can you believe it? He has been to see the diabetic nurse this week and has been given dietary advice and a little machine to read his blood three times a day for the next week or so. He is a 'shower, shave, dress and out of the door' sort of guy and can't be doing with all the parping about!
I think while I'm at it I will get it all off my chest here and now and also add that my son (16) has just been for a blood test on Tuesday as he keeps feeling dizzy and faint - results should be back next week. My sister has been diagnosed with PBC (primary biliary cirrhosis) and feels really tired and drained - she needs regular iron infusions. Then her daughter has just had a scan which showed that she has stones in her liver - she'll need an op to remove them.
We have been a relatively healthy family until now and for it all to be diagnosed over the last couple of weeks is just too much!
Mum went see her Doctor at the end of September as she was feeling anxious and had a shortness of breath so she was treated for anxiety. The shortness of breath became so bad that she was taken to hospital and it was discovered that she had fluid on her lung. That was treated and she was released from hospital after a week but was told that the fluid was due to an infection and she had to go back in for a CT scan to see where the infection was coming from. Well, we got the devastating results on 14th November. Her breast cancer (from 5 years ago) has spread to her lung, liver and brain. As you can imagine we are in a state of shock.
I can't believe it. My lovely Mum. I have been driving up to Carlisle to see her as often as I can and have taken her to the various hospital appointments. She has had radiotherapy on her brain and chest and has numerous tablets to take. The doctor is pleased at how well she is responding to the treatment so far. Apart from feeling very tired she is quite bright and chatty. I love you Mum x.
Meanwhile, on one of my trips to Carlisle my husband phoned to say that the results of a recent blood test have confirmed that he has diabetes. Can you believe it? He has been to see the diabetic nurse this week and has been given dietary advice and a little machine to read his blood three times a day for the next week or so. He is a 'shower, shave, dress and out of the door' sort of guy and can't be doing with all the parping about!
I think while I'm at it I will get it all off my chest here and now and also add that my son (16) has just been for a blood test on Tuesday as he keeps feeling dizzy and faint - results should be back next week. My sister has been diagnosed with PBC (primary biliary cirrhosis) and feels really tired and drained - she needs regular iron infusions. Then her daughter has just had a scan which showed that she has stones in her liver - she'll need an op to remove them.
We have been a relatively healthy family until now and for it all to be diagnosed over the last couple of weeks is just too much!
Monday, 31 October 2011
end of october
The last week of October was our half term school holiday. We didn't go away this time but had some lovely days out and about.
The weather was wonderfully autumnal.
We had a windy walk around Williamson Park in Lancaster.
with all it's pathways
with all it's pathways
and flowers
and mosaics
and mosaics
and the Butterfly House
Monday, 24 October 2011
summer hols
Well no
foreign climes for us this summer. We spent a wonderful week in sunny
Scotland and had a thoroughly relaxing and rejuvenating time.
The nearest village was called Strontian in western Lochaber (I think The Proclaimers sang a song about Lochaber didn't they?). Anyway... Strontian village is located on the shore of beautiful Loch Sunart, a sea-loch which cuts deep into the mainland from the Sound of Mull.
The cottage was reached by a mile-long single-track road. One of us had to jump out of the car and open and close the deer gates along the track. We didn't see any deers near the cottage but we did have very close encounters with a family of pine martens! They came to our cottage for supper each evening - we put peanut butter sandwiches out along the windowsills and they came right up to the window to feed. Unfortunately we didn't get any good photos because of the reflection on the glass.
There were some wonderful walks, views and sandy beaches. If you haven't been before then I highly recommend a holiday there.
Beaut-ifulllllll.....
As always one of the problems of taking a holiday is that we always return home wishing that we could live somewhere else and the whole house-hunting lark starts again! Do you ever feel like that? Do you think it's just a case of 'grass is always greener'? Or is it that you feel relaxed on your hols and wish that feeling could stay with you all year round?!?
We hired a fantastic cottage that was well and truly 'away from it all'.
The nearest village was called Strontian in western Lochaber (I think The Proclaimers sang a song about Lochaber didn't they?). Anyway... Strontian village is located on the shore of beautiful Loch Sunart, a sea-loch which cuts deep into the mainland from the Sound of Mull.
The cottage was reached by a mile-long single-track road. One of us had to jump out of the car and open and close the deer gates along the track. We didn't see any deers near the cottage but we did have very close encounters with a family of pine martens! They came to our cottage for supper each evening - we put peanut butter sandwiches out along the windowsills and they came right up to the window to feed. Unfortunately we didn't get any good photos because of the reflection on the glass.
There were some wonderful walks, views and sandy beaches. If you haven't been before then I highly recommend a holiday there.
Beaut-ifulllllll.....
As always one of the problems of taking a holiday is that we always return home wishing that we could live somewhere else and the whole house-hunting lark starts again! Do you ever feel like that? Do you think it's just a case of 'grass is always greener'? Or is it that you feel relaxed on your hols and wish that feeling could stay with you all year round?!?
craft fair
After a
fretful week visiting our poorly Mum in hospital, my sister and I took
ourselves off to visit a local Craft Fair and boy oh boy did we enjoy
ourselves! It wasn't at all as I had expected. I recently went to a
Craft Fair to find I was the only member of the public there - I really
felt for the stall-holders and really hope that it got busier later in
the day!
Anyway this one was a thrive of activity - the place was packed with stalls and stalls of wonderful crafty things and lots of people taking the opportunity to start their Christmas shopping! Of course, seeing so many beautiful things that had been lovingly made by hand I just had to treat myself to a few little lovelies...
I have a thing about throws and blankets. My Grandfather worked in a woolen mill and the smell and feel of a wool blanket takes me back to the days when we visited him at the mill.
I think I'm going to make the blanket into cushion covers for my living room. I feel bad cutting it up but I'm sure the finished results will ease my conscience. I so wish I had bought a green one too.
The lady that made this picture had the best stall of all. She had lots of wonderful things - I could have taken one of each item! She made the appliqued pictures using both machine and hand sewing and her husband made the oak frames. A very talented team!
Anyway this one was a thrive of activity - the place was packed with stalls and stalls of wonderful crafty things and lots of people taking the opportunity to start their Christmas shopping! Of course, seeing so many beautiful things that had been lovingly made by hand I just had to treat myself to a few little lovelies...
I have a thing about throws and blankets. My Grandfather worked in a woolen mill and the smell and feel of a wool blanket takes me back to the days when we visited him at the mill.
I think I'm going to make the blanket into cushion covers for my living room. I feel bad cutting it up but I'm sure the finished results will ease my conscience. I so wish I had bought a green one too.
The lady that made this picture had the best stall of all. She had lots of wonderful things - I could have taken one of each item! She made the appliqued pictures using both machine and hand sewing and her husband made the oak frames. A very talented team!
I
just happened to be looking for an 'owl' related birthday gift for a
friend (she's really into owls for some reason) so this cute little owl
tea-light was perfect.
and
I couldn't resist this little ceramic button for myself. I'm going to
make a felt flower corsage and use this button as the centre
I also started my Christmas shopping. I won't name the recipient of each gift just in case they happen to read this blog!
Thursday, 20 October 2011
end of september
Well September has been and gone!
We returned from our summer holiday on 3rd September which just happens to be our eldest sons birthday. Our first 'little bundle of joy' has just turned 19! And after passing his A'levels this summer he has just started a three year degree course in Computer Games Art at Uni. Exciting times for him but mixed feelings for me - I'm so going to miss him.
On 25th Sept we packed up the car with all his art equipment, laptop, suitcases, bedding and kitchen paraphernalia and set off on our two hour journey. Our first stop was at the Uni to formally enroll. The place was absolutely buzzing with students and it felt quite exiting - a new and exciting beginning for him. He can't wait to get started on his course and is really looking forward to his first project. After enrolling on his course and signing up for the doctor, dentist, insurance etc we picked up the keys for his digs and went to see where he will be living for the next year! He was understandably anxious though about his accommodation and who he would be sharing with. It's one thing leaving home to live with friends or girlfriend but quite another to move into a house with two strangers! As it happens it has worked out really well and the two lads he is in with are both good guys and they seem to get on.
My other two 'little ones' started back at school on 7th September. MissG has just started her options for her GCSE's and is particularly enjoying doing her art and textile lessons. She is getting much more homework this year which is fine if it's art and textiles but quite another thing if it's maths or world history! I'm afraid I'm not much help to her as history is one of my weakest subjects. Guy has just started in sixth form and his subject choices sound really interesting. He is doing psychology and sociology and he comes home with lots of interesting facts. I'm probably going to learn a thing or two over the coming year!
We returned from our summer holiday on 3rd September which just happens to be our eldest sons birthday. Our first 'little bundle of joy' has just turned 19! And after passing his A'levels this summer he has just started a three year degree course in Computer Games Art at Uni. Exciting times for him but mixed feelings for me - I'm so going to miss him.
On 25th Sept we packed up the car with all his art equipment, laptop, suitcases, bedding and kitchen paraphernalia and set off on our two hour journey. Our first stop was at the Uni to formally enroll. The place was absolutely buzzing with students and it felt quite exiting - a new and exciting beginning for him. He can't wait to get started on his course and is really looking forward to his first project. After enrolling on his course and signing up for the doctor, dentist, insurance etc we picked up the keys for his digs and went to see where he will be living for the next year! He was understandably anxious though about his accommodation and who he would be sharing with. It's one thing leaving home to live with friends or girlfriend but quite another to move into a house with two strangers! As it happens it has worked out really well and the two lads he is in with are both good guys and they seem to get on.
My other two 'little ones' started back at school on 7th September. MissG has just started her options for her GCSE's and is particularly enjoying doing her art and textile lessons. She is getting much more homework this year which is fine if it's art and textiles but quite another thing if it's maths or world history! I'm afraid I'm not much help to her as history is one of my weakest subjects. Guy has just started in sixth form and his subject choices sound really interesting. He is doing psychology and sociology and he comes home with lots of interesting facts. I'm probably going to learn a thing or two over the coming year!
The
last week of September was amazing. We had a whole week of really hot,
summery weather and we had to dig our sandals out again! On the
Saturday night we managed to cut the grass and sit out on the patio for
an evening barbecue before the rain and wind came on Sunday.
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