Shhhhhhhh.....................

I am going to be very quiet and you will find out why when I post next time.

But in the meantime I am stitching, making cards and moaning about the rain ......... yes! it's raining.......... again!!!

It's also very cold.

I am trying very hard not to be miserable so I will show you some stitching I have finished ready to be posted at the end of the month.  For new readers, I am a member of a group that stitches squares which are made into quilts for Breast Cancer fighters. 

We have requests for quilts which will take us up to January next year.  .  . . .



This square is ready for the
end of October for Molly who loves
cats.



This square is ready for end of
November Jenna who wants
a quilt that is Breast Cancer
Themed



 Please pray for a cure

ALSO - I have sorted some of my English postage stamps and decided that now is a good time to stop collecting............. in fact my albums finish at 2006. 

I am not going to make any more albums so I have sorted all the purchased stamps since that time and put them to one side.  I printed off a postage price list from Royal Mail, bought a small set of scales, and now I am independant of the PO and can post all my mail as and when I think of it!!!  

Just for interest sake - at today's prices that's a BIG saving - very big. 

So you see I am keeping busy although IT IS RAINING!!!!!!!!!

No Hardanger Day

I have set aside a day for that so ...................

I spent yesterday making bags.      YES!!      I KNOW!!!      JUST BOUGHT ONE!!!!

This is different.............  I shall be going to Scotland again soon and I need a small bag to put my sewing in. 
So I had the idea to make one (or two) using some of my material stash from Africa.  So here they are:-

This one is large enough to take
my 12" hoop plus

This one is small enough to take
the squares I make for Q4BC group.

I made the large one first and then thought that I should've used the embroidered front so I made a smaller one which has silver (!!) embroidery down the middle.  Both bags are self lined which means that the smaller bag has a pocket behind the opening in the embroidery. 
Speaking of pockets ............. I have a lot of trouble finding my phone in my RED bag so I made a couple of pockets for it. 

Two plain pockets made from
the actual pockets on the
top.

Using the original pocket gives
me a double layer pocket - clever!!!

One to be stitched inside the front zip pocket and one to be stitched inside opposite the deeeeeep zipped one. (wish I could turn that photo round but I can't - Note to self: - take photos landscape ONLY in future!!!)







I amaze myself at times (in a humble way) - do not ask where I get these ideas from, I really don't know. 

New Back Pack

So after months of searching, looking at patterns, there it was - right in front of me .............

MY back pack................

Now you will have to excuse me here as I go overboard about this.  PJ and I frequently pop into town and usually I am so heavily laden he has to carry my bag for me.  A back pack was suggested some time ago and PJ bought one.  I am a tadge more selective, ok ... fussy!

I didn't really know what I wanted but it had to be feminine.  Not difficult.         Very difficult.  and then one night, whilst in a restaurant I saw the bag - red and soft.

We could not find one anywhere so I started searching my craft groups for a pattern and I looked at loads .......... loads!

Last Monday we met the youngest in Oasis to sort some stuff out and while I waited for her I wandered round the stalls and there it was!!!! 

MY BAG. 

OH! YES! 

I couldn't wait for her to come so I could show her, but I was very good and we sorted everything - Hen Night tee shirts if you must know (Catt designed them and I did the PC work) - and then I took them to see MY BAG. 

As my youngest said 'that is so you' and PJ said 'if you want it get it' so I did.  it's beautiful.

It was made in Nepal so it is a version of cotton and thick canvas with multicolour straps.  There are two pockets on the outside, one zipped and one buttonned.

The lining is plain black cotton with a deep zipped pocket.

So I am one happy bunny!  (mind you it is so deep I can't find anything in it!!!)

Silver Bells

Yes!!!! We made it!!!! 

God gave me a Scripture back in 1986, and unbeknown to me, God also gave a Scripture to PJ.  So eventually, in obedience to God and against my wishes, we were married on 1st October 1987.  

 I say against my wishes as I had already been married twice and did not (ever) want to commit my life to another bloke, but you know how it is when God speaks ................

So I liked the guy, so I had known him for yeeeaaars, so he cared (loved) me, I DID NOT WANT TO GET MARRIED AGAIN!  but God said .................

and so a beautiful wedding ceremony, small and intimate with very close family present, took place in Solihull.

and here we are 25 - can you believe it!!! - 25 REALLY!?!? - years down the road and still together and so much in love.  I didn't know what lay ahead of me but  ................ God did.

We have been through the by-ways and high ways of places I didn't know existed, I have done things I never knew I could, I have spent fortunes in various places and enjoyed every minute - no - I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute.   Although ..     ....... there were times when I prayed in desperation ......................
times like when we were travelling down mountains in a 38tonne truck and told there were no brakes on the trailer ..................... times when we parked over a gorge (don't look down!!) in order for PJ to deliver .................... times when I have been exhausted by the heat and PJ encouraged by saying "it's just round the corner" ............................. times when we where holed up in some unknown place and men with guns menacing us .................... oh! yes!
Maybe it's a very good job that God knew what lay ahead cos if I had known  ..................!!!!

So today we have been out into town, spending money  - what else?!!!  retail therapy.... come on here!  - and then out for a gorgeous meal........... 

Rocket leaves, orange slices,
Avocado slices, Melon,
Pomegranate seeds, Mango slices,
Delicious!!!!!

View from secluded corner
 of room

Starter of Crab & Calamari followed by this gorgeous Salad with Salmon and for sweet - a slice of Pineapple with Mango sorbet .  PJ had Pancetta Hash (looked like an egg and bacon sandwich done posh!)          followed by Pork ribs and for sweet - Apple Crumble.
The inevitable bottle of wine, coffee and altogether lovely nite!!

How I love that man and I thank God every day for putting us together!!!

The Cock Inn at Wishaw

!

Things to do on a Wednesday

It is raining.

There are floods in the north of England and the weather all over is s***.

I am telling you this because  .................. my little one is on holiday ........ in the sun........... and the warm.

I have just seen the weather forecast for my holiday - in Scotland - ............. rain, overcast and cold!!!

So what shall I do?

1)      I am going to search the internet for simple, very simple, instructions for Hardanger ........... yes, I am still harping on about it.  I WILL do it, even if it is only a small card I WILL do it.

2)     I am going to try not to eat the beautifully, moist ginger cake I made yesterday (trying to forget the rain!!)

3)    I shall make more cards - losing myself in my craft room.  I may even go so far as to tidy parts of it .......... like my desk!!!

4)    Not throttle the cat! 

She really needs to go to the toilet ........... the door is slightly ajar .......... she doesn't like getting wet -   ergo she stands on the threshold with all her legs crossed and looking at me piteously ............. I will not carry her outside to a dry place - there isn't one!

Off to Hardanger land then ......................

Things to do on a rainy day!!!

It is not just raining ........... it is pouring, the back is flooded, the fish pond is overflowing ........ trains are not running, weather warnings across the country are amber .........moan, moan, moan ...........

So what do you do?
I shall make my monthly swap cards ready for posting and think of where they are going .......... feeling better already!!!

this little one - punched paper tied with chiffon ribbon is going out to Indianapolis where it is 19C and possibly going up to 24C later in the week.

Feeling better already - I don't really do heat!!

These two are off to the east coast of Australia, fairly decent 18C and sunny.   I know it is only Spring there but much more the right weather for me.

The orange teabag folded one is also entered in an online contest and if I win ..................... I know what I shall buy ......

Now let me see ............ where to next?  Back to America I think!

Just north of Santa Cruz in California is where this one is going ............ it's back to the sixties and music festivals.  Here in England it is always a good idea to take your wellies!!  By the way it is 27C and cloudy over there ...............

The digital stamped card will go to Pennsylvania where it is 66F and sunny

This one was copied from a design in a magazine and I am rather pleased with the way it has turned out.  It is going to the south of England but hush!...................

 it has stopped raining and ..................... the sun has come out!

I hope that you have enjoyed my little travelogue - in and out of the weather ................ I still have one more card to make but that is for an online contest so it wont leave this address this month.

uh! uh!  It's raining again!

I think I hear my cross stitching is calling to me - maybe I will share that soon.

 

Tales of ponies, chickens and such

Isaac went forth and digged a well ..................

My Isaac just digs holes!!!

We went to visit friends who have horses so 'we' could get some manure - yeah!!!!

 This little fella had just come back from a birthday party - human 70year old - and just couldn't wait to get into the field to his friend

The larger horse was having problems with flies attacking his ears

 so he wasn't looking his best but he is still a magnificent animal.

The views around this field are wonderful and the birds trill away all the time we are there. 

Just great county sounds and when the birds fly to other bushes further away it is soooo silent ................

It is difficult to believe that we are so close to the Motorway but you can see how close the blue signs are!

I wish that we had brought a container with us that would be suitable for these juicy fruits - a fresh pie made with these ........... and the windfalls at home would be lovely after lunch

 These pretty Balloon flowers will soon be in seed so we must come back soon

and here is 'Isaac' merrily digging away in the 'manure'

Several holes later and half a dozen filled bags -

which are TIGHTLY closed we are all finished and ready for food.

We drove out to a village called Shustoke, where we stopped at The Plough (http://www.wheresbest.co.uk/venue/3494/The-Plough-Inn/).  There were lots of birds there, from chickens to ducks to turkeys and rabbits - hope they're not on the menu!!!  We had a wonderful meal - too large for me, but they wrapped the leftover chicken for me to take home.

So fully replenished and all the birds tucked away for the night we left to our own houses.

Amaryllis bulbs

I have planted up my bulbs,

(Amaryllis bulbs - the correct name for the indoor flowering Amaryllis is Hippeastrum)  hopefully, to bloom at Christmas. 

 I don't know why I bother with these flowers so much ...........

I just love them!

and so did my Dad - they were his pride and joy during the winter months.................... most would have just one single bloom

but sometimes there would be two or three .............

such joy to all of us .............. and the neighbours .................... and the visitors ...................

all had to be shown the magnificent flowers and we all aaahhed and oohhhed in all the right places!!!

So mine are now potted up and we will await the results.  I am expecting to have a lot of leaves and no flowers as I can save bulbs over the winter (or summer!) and then they grow blind. 

But we shall see.

While I have been potting up - PJ has been pithering ................ in the garage/workshed!!

This cat lives at the railway and not only is she pretty but she loves a fuss.

She is looked after by the guys who work there and, at present, there is a lot more going on than usual. 

 The guys have moved from their old - think dilapidated - hut (bothy) to a new home, more sheltered and clean (well - for a short while) and the younger guys, or apprentices have a portacabin in which to spend their breaktimes. 

Trouble is the cat now has nowhere to shelter or sleep as the guys feed her and look after but do not want to leave her overnight in their new hut.

PJ has been clearing their old bothy in readiness to knock it down and out of the kitchen cabinets he has made a new house for the cat!! 

Why not? 
The wood is only going to be chucked out and we are into recycling so with a bit of a cleanup, touch of paint and a clean old blanket -
New Home for Cat.


Remembering .............

 

My Father became a gardener when we moved to Grandad's house.  I don't remember him doing much in the garden of the old house ...............I suppose while he was Park Keeper he worked long hours and usually had me along!!!

He would grow the most magnificent dahlias and chrysanthemums.  They would be cared for in detail although he never entered them in shows, but we knew that he should, they were always huge flowers.

These were Dad's favourites and he spent a lot of time helping them to grow large!

Mam always had a nice selection to cut and take to Auntie May, or whoever she would be visiting, even given to me and Ena after we had left home.

 This is how it looked - Dahlias interspersed with Chrysanths.

I wasn't keen on the dahlias as they often had earwigs in them

I always made sure that when I was given a bunch I turned them upside down - much to my Mother's horror! - and gave them a good shake.  The earwigs usually fell to the ground and scuttled away!!   

Dad had certain colours in his Chrysanths as well, autumnal ones, making sure that each one had the right amount of curling petals.

He would place each flower bud into a paper bag so that, as it opened, the petals curved like these......................................

We often looked out of our lounge window to see lots of flowers like these!!!!

And then when the garden was cleared in the Autumn ready for the winter weather to work the soil  ......... we would have the Amaryllis to look forward to...................

Exploring cat .......

We have a very timid cat - had it since it was a kitten and it came home to a house with four other cats.  Over the years it has become our only cat.  It's black.  It's quite small.  It's very stupid (or is that cat clever!!)

She doesn't come out in the garden unless we are there, at least one of us has to be there and if not, then we have to leave the back door open and be still in view!!!

Whilst we have been out pruning the Buddlias etc. she has ventured out.  Not a good day as it was a bit windy (doesn't like windy weather) and prunings were falling down (she's not keen on a lot of noise!) but out she came.

She spotted the space where the old pond used to be ................ that's new ......

Eventually, after much watching, sniffing, moving cautiously, she managed to get herself into the space.

We thought we had lost her as she was under the bushes for sooooo long and being black, in the shade - need I say more?!!




We knew she was there ............ we could see her tail!!!!

Sorry - I cannot alter this picture - it is a landscape that has turned portrait!!!

She sat watching spiders move, sniffing smells ........... forever ............... and then ran out and into the house like a black streak.


 It appears that she was very tired as she went to bed and slept the rest of the day until the smell of the chicken cooking on the barbie woke her up!!

Kaffir Lilies