All things bright and beautiful...

2011-05-28T18:46:00.005+01:00

Yesterday I deleted this blog. Today I re-installed to leave this last message.

"All Things Bright & Beautiful" no longer represents who I am.

I feel uncomfortable with this blog as it stands.

So I deleted it.

Life is hard. You know a lot (maybe too much!) about who I am but there is a lot of hard stuff that I have not shared. I worry that eventually I will share too much. It is too easy to write forgetting that there is an audience :)

My life is quite bleak right now.
I have to haul myself up and focus, focus, focus.

I have a new blog :)

A blog with definition and discipline.

It does what it says on the can.....

http://reasonstobecheerful123-lynn.blogspot.com

You are very welcome to join me.

Much love, as always.
L.x.

Make hay while the sun shines.........

2011-05-27T09:25:00.006+01:00

........ and clear out yer garage when it doesn't!

Yesterday we had plenty of liquid sunshine (rain!) So I spent the day de-cluttering the garage. The idea was that it would be far easier for Greg to take all his stuff when he leaves if he could actually see what was in there! Gosh it was a mess.

I like de-cluttering.

My boys were in & out yesterday working different shift hours at work and school. I was happily surprised to find each one came to find me with a cup of tea in hand.

When Alex got home from school he spent a couple of hours helping me - I didn't even ask! It is amazing how even clearing the garage is preferable to revising for exams!

Steve came home early, just as I finished - typical - lol!

With flowers! Forgiven!!!

So now we have a tidy garage which Alex says will be even tidier and will remain so seeing as our untidiest house member is leaving.

Greg is probably the untidiest and the noisiest of our household especially when he leaves the house at 5am when he is on early shift. On his return he leaves a trail of post, clothes, work stuff from front door to his room. And he is always surrounded by noise - music, Formula 1 racing car commmentaries, phone calls etc etc.

And anything that is broken ..... well he's your man - he can fix anything. He is also the first to notice if anyone is fed up and goes out of his way to make you laugh again.

We all joke nervously about how quiet and tidy the house is going to be. Watch out Southampton - my mini tornado, Greg, is heading your way!

L.x.

Is it just me?

2011-05-25T09:28:00.003+01:00

I know I say it a lot but the world's gorn mad governor!

As my lifestyle is less rushed these days I seem to notice the mad bad sad more and more.

Is it just me but..........

Surely I am not the only one totally not bothered to know the name of the "secret must not be named" footballer who of course has now been named despite the court injunction?

Surely I am not the only one to notice how politicians & the media confuse "in the public interest" with "what the public are supposedly interested in"?

Oh and while I'm wittering, Grumpy Old Woman fashion - I really didn't get the excitement about the mapped out route of the journey of the Olympic torch.

The TV presenter even excitedly told us where it was staying overnight!

"Travel Lodge or Premier Inn? Will it be guarded from the Bryant & May mob and drug tested for Duracelle?" I grumpily asked the TV screen.

Then a VERY grumpy lady was interviewed from my local patch about why her town should have "hosted" the torch. It's a torch????

I feel quite ashamed that I can not get excited about the Olympic torch honestly, I do but I can't. Can you?

Is it in the public interest? - lol.

Much love.
L.x.

He got the job!! - I even managed to look happy for him

2011-05-24T12:30:00.005+01:00

My eldest son has got a new job - over a hundred miles away - gulp.
He moves out at the end of June - gulp gulp.
I am trying to be positive.
I am not losing a son I am gaining a craft room - lol - gulp, gulp, gulp.

My youngest son is going to university- over a hundred miles away - gulp.
He moves out in September - gulp, gulp.
I am trying to be positive.
I am not losing a son I am gaining yet another ****** craft room - gulp, gulp, gulp.

How many craft rooms does one woman need?

I don't even craft any more.

2011-05-23T08:59:00.006+01:00

Yesterday I woke up to find I could read - I mean really read a lot. So I downed all tools - well Sunday is a day of rest and I read all day - all day!!!! I don't think I have ever, ever read all day. I read a whole book! This is just astoundingly good news for me.

And this is the book that grabbed me.

I had put off reading it as I thought it would be a harsh read. Daley's girlfriend's Mom had loaned it to me. She too works with children. I thought it would be a busman's holiday type read - lol!!

But it is so poignant. I could relate so much to the teacher's work. I read remembering some of the special needs children I have loved and loathed all in the same moment - it is hard to love a child who is kicking you or throwing furniture round the room! But you get over it!!

At times I laughed reading this book and at times I was close to tears.

And I was reminded of one particular incident - in the book a child buys Torey Hayden a gift from Poundland.

In my own class, one Christmas, a child who was loveable, funny, sunny but had challenging behaviour bought me a gift. He found academic work difficult and each afternoon I spent extra catch up time with him. We had been working on number recognition 50-100. Gaining the giddy heights of 90 plus had quite gone to our heads but we were having problems getting much further and recognising 100 was particularly elusive. But that did not stop us trying - lol!

Anyway, that Christmas he excitedly shoved the gift on my lap at register time and said "Quick, open it. I bought it all meself and everythin'." I opened the package which was looking a bit dog-eared by now but well-loved and inside was a large and very luminous lime green frog! This child loved frogs and was busy trying to convert the rest of us.

"Oh it's lovely!" I gasped wondering what on earth I was going to do with it.
"Lovely - you'll put that on your mantlepiece at home won't you?" smirked my naughty teaching assistant.
The child just glowed with pleasure.

The Poundland price sticker was still on; "£1.00" - "And look," he stabbed a finger at the price tag. "It cost me a HUNDRED pounds!"

Our adult eyes met and, ever the teachers, we silently agreed that this counted as number recognition of 100, who cared about the decimal point - lol !! My TA & I were ecstatic!

He shared our joy thinking it was financial rather educational, "I know, A HUNDRED POUNDS!" the child repeated!

That luminous lime green frog is still much loved by me. As I cleaned the little pond by the greenhouse last week and placed it back at the edge I could still hear that six year old's excited chatter,"I know, A HUNDRED pounds!"

Well, it's priceless to me, sweetheart.

Edited to add: We also made a note to re-visit money values in the January term. You can't win 'em all!

Answered prayer

2011-05-21T17:42:00.004+01:00

This time last year I asked you to pray for my friend who was critically ill in intensive care.

Tonight we shall be whooping it up at her wedding reception!

I have rested all day to ensure maximum whooping it up energy - well I shall be sitting in a corner sipping a glass of wine watching the others whooping it up!

It will be nice to catch up with mutual friends I haven't seen in a while. And maybe have one dance with Mr All Things B&B!!

This is the card I made......

.....the first card I have made in an age.

I looked at the cards whilst out on my jolly yesterday and thought 'I could make that' and so I did - using materials I already had but which would have cost about
25p if I had had to buy them and not the £3:95 the shop was charging for something similar!!

Such little frugal joys can still make me smile.

Happy Saturday.

L.x.

Hello :)

2011-05-20T15:01:00.007+01:00

Long time no blog. Sorry.

Some days these days, I can barely string a sentence together. So I am better trying to do something and blogging about it another day.

These daisies have inspired me this week...

The weather has been glorious so I gardened........

This mixed planter is made up of evergreens(lavender, silver daisy rhodenthemum, festuca), scented plants (lavender and lillies), perennial ox eye daisies & intermingled with my favourite, favourite light blue lobelia. Everything in it is blue or white. Have finally realised that my gardening squirrel friend stops re-arranging the display if I add a light dusting of pepper. He and I have fallen out; especially since he decided to try out my house loft space for future living accommodation.

Just one day we had some rain - two hours of rain - I still gardened!!

I have now almost caught up with two years of garden neglect and am on course to be only maintaining the garden so I am looking for a new gardening project.

I was offered an allotment last week but having had one before I realise the hard work involved and anyway I want to garden where I live and not have to travel to where I garden - some days I don't want to drive. It's easier to just pop out the kitchen door, do twenty minutes and pop back in for a cup of tea and a rest - lol. So I have to decide whether to further develop our own plot.

I went out today!!!!! I bought this

- a HUGE treat as I think it was expensive but I am hoping it will offer me some incentive to start crafting again. I gave it a good look through in the shop - I was so pleased it was non packaged so you could look through. I actually had the last one on the shelf and I had had to hunt it down. I think it was worth the money - especially as I think it will inspire me to have a go again.

I have had to have a re-think lately and further simplify my life. Little driving meant I was home all the time and had to make more stuff rather than just be able to zip off in the car and buy what I needed. To be able to be more self sufficient is good. I also used up what I already had made up in the freezer - a stock of home-made ready meals is a real boon - most of it is just say one additional portion that I had eked out of an ordinary meal by adding more veg. But over a period of time I had two freezer drawers full of these single portions and they have really been a help. I warmed a few altogether in a large casserole adding a little extra sauce or some cheese or whatever served with some salad and it was easy and home cooked; and cheaper than take-away.

I had to re-think what I need to stock in my pantry & freezer for days I can't go out, reconsider substitutes for recipes etc.

And I went back to having my shopping delivered via an internet shop. I used to do this occasionally when I worked full time. I now realise that even when I am well I need to conserve my energy for other housework stuff and for having some fun. So I shall continue having the heavy or boring staples - tinned stuff, loo rolls, laundry cleaning products etc delivered. I kept a careful log of the costs etc and found the delivery charge was worth it when I took into account the petrol, putting nothing extra into the trolley and saving my husband's time - he works long days and though he has offered I don't want him having to shop. Also as I cook the food I like to "shop" for it albeit sat at the computer with my recipe books - and I am way more frugal than my lovely husband :)

I also researched easier ways to clean the house and got into the habit of making a realistic weekly list rather than a daily one. And I stopped feeling anxy if stuff didn't get done :)

And after months of just flicking through books and mags just looking at the pictures, reading is easier some days so I have got back into Bible study again - I LOVE my Bible!! Am also reading this.........

But it's taking an age for me to read!

Do you remember this Alan Ahlberg poem?

I – am – in – the – slow - read – ers’ - group –
my – broth – er – is – in – the – foot – ball – team –
my – sis – ter – is – a – ser – ver –
my – lit – tle – broth – er – was – a – wise – man –
in – the – in -fants’ - Christ – mas – play –
I – am – in – the – slow – read – ers’ – group –
that – is – all – I – am – in –
I – hate – it.”

Slow Reader from Please Mrs. Butler, Allan Ahlberg (Penguin, 1983)

Poor - kid -
I - know - how - he - feels.

So that's what I've been up to. How about you? Hope you are in fine fettle.

Much love.

L.x.

Another day done....

2011-05-14T19:03:00.009+01:00

...... and I've gotten through ok.

More than ok - today is the first time in a couple of weeks that I have managed to drive - ye- ha!

Steve was on a course today; so an early start - whilst he showered and dressed I got up and made him a cooked breakfast and a packed lunch as he had been told that there would only be hot drinks provided.

Off he went - early, very very early.

So, I had figured that the roads that early on a Saturday morning would be empty and so it would be a good time to try a maiden voyage in Rita Rover. I had already told my sons of my plans a few days ago so they could come & rescue me if I had to stop.

It is a joke of the house that my little car can find its own way to the garden centre as we (Rita Rover & I!) have been there so often. Well joy of joys; she still remembers - just point her in the right direction and off she goes :)

And I did it - I drove there and I drove back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent a happy half hour (ok nearer the hour) soaking in all the glorious floweriness. It would have been churlish not to have made a purchase.

But I am bad....... so bad...... when it comes to reining in those purchases - lol!

I keep a gardening journal (I know I am sad!!) And I had written in it that we needed more colour August onwards so I tried to buy perennials today that will be flowering after August. It felt like a very grown up trolley - no instant colour - all sensible - later colour stuff!

Oh there was a beautiful clematis "Rebecca" deep cerise pink flower & huge and a burgundy rose "William Shakespeare" an old rose in presentation; pom pom type flower, heavily scented but repeat flowering!! However as these were a bit pricey I decided I'd wait for Steve to see if he liked them too.

I was utterly exhausted when I got home. But tea revives :) I missed Steve so much today - aren't I a sad old toad ?!! After a rest and with lots of rests in between I worked in the garden all afternoon - Weeding and edging borders. I know, that's all I do isn't it? But really we have neglected the garden these past two years and so it all needs some TLC and hard graft!! Much of the above we will put in tomorrow - I thought Steve might like some say about what goes where.

It was very windy as I gardened - my face is burning now!!

But the garden is coming together and we are beginning to think that we might be able to realise a dream of mine this Summer which is to open the garden for charity !!!!!! I am thrilled.

So that was my day - gardening - again!!

Hope you are ok.

Much love.

L.x.

A Flower obsession

2011-05-12T12:50:00.000+01:00

It struck me today that I have an obsession with flowers.

If I am not tending them in my garden then I am taking photos of them...

(the first Rambling Rector rose - far too early, of course).

I can not resist painting them.

(Yarrow - done at art class last night)

Then I put them all over the house.

And spend oodles of time listening to radio programmes about them, looking through catalogues and gardening books and watching TV programmes about them.

I am utterly and totally flower obsessed :)

L.x.

Border control

2011-05-11T08:43:00.005+01:00

I have re-shaped the border slowly, slowly

and feel it is now nearly right. I shall probably give it one last tweak. MMMmmm can one become obsessive about one's borders? Presumably, yes!

This border was wrecked a few months ago by work men building a new fence for my next door neighbour. I lost most of the plants in it. Some of the sturdy perennials are returning. I like perennials; after a winter away I welcome them back like old friends - this year doubly so. It would seem that many were either dug up or concreted in along with the fence posts :( But some stalwarts are returning. But I can not tell you what as I just can not remember their names from just the leaf this year - am hoping seeing the flower will jog my poor memory. Still I must look on the bright side - it will be like Christmas in July - an unknown flower gift :)

One new addition is this lovely clematis "Mrs Cholmondeley" (pronounced Chumley).

It is said to flower May to September which sounds mighty hopeful to me especially when you consider that the biggest flower here is 6 inches or so in diameter - it'll be exhausted come September!

When I planted it I laid one of its stems beneath the soil which hopefully will have some roots on it by early Autumn and will be a new plant next year.

This border now shows the others up - they all need re-edging and I'm nearly half way through. My name is Lynn, I've got "can't stop edging your borders disorder" !

Happy Wednesday and happy gardening :)

L.x.

2011-05-10T01:27:00.000+01:00

I feel like I have my own line of cheerleaders :)

Thank you so much for your lovely comments.

I wish I was as strong as you say :)

In quiet alone times last week many a tear was shed.

My friend Jill said I should make a list of the stuff I can do/ stuff I am good at. Well, at that point in the week I was physically very weak but I did think that I hadn't had a good old potter for ages which I always love and could do at my own pace.

So I started off by filling the candle burner and a pot pouri bowl with rose oil so the house smelt gorgeous.

I took all my pink and blue accessories that have been in the living room and used those to decorate the conservatory.

And then I gathered together anything pink and green that I already had (no energy/money/car to shop at the shops so I shopped at home!) and played.

I enjoyed changing things around a bit and it cost nothing.
Thanks Jill.

Happy Tuesday.

L.x.

The post where she tries to keep motivated :)

2011-05-09T08:42:00.011+01:00

Good Morning :)

I have just sat on my back door step feeding my visiting ducks - bliss. They are partial to well soaked (dripping wet) bread and seeds. I give them only tiny amounts as they must not become dependent on me. In fact it was my soppy husband who started this - he who does not want ducks or chickens, despite my pleas, has now said he doesn't mind?? So now they hear us around and come running, searching the ground around our feet for any scattered largesse!

Deirdre laid an egg in the garden too.

Here they are settling in for another day chez All Things Bright & Beautiful :)

Loads more gardening this weekend - can I show you?

We (Steve!!) made a start at extending this border but I can see this morning it needs a bit of tweaking - more of a swoop to carry the eye - I shall have a go later. I think you can see a big bag of composted manure that I asked Steve to leave out for me to top dress the border with today. I couldn't even lift a mug of tea last week with my right hand so I think a compost bag will still be a no no!

Steve has wanted this new tree for an age - it is amelanchier lamarkii. It's pretty names are snowy mespilus or juneberry - it is little more than an 8 foot twig for now......

But it has lovely Spring blossom and Autumn colour and should grow out of its twigginess :)

I am not driving at the moment and have loaned out my car. I had to turn down supply work which, I have to say, pretty much broke my heart but there you go. If you haven't the strength to hold a cup of tea and can barely limp to the washing line well a classroom full of busy under fives is clearly not your niche :)
So I shall be at home all week; gardening when the sun shines and decluttering the garage and possibly painting furniture when it doesn't.

I am hoping that with all this exercise the right side of my body might decide to join in the party at some stage :) I have to say it is going to be a real effort to keep motivated and jolly so I shall try to post most days showing what I have managed to achieve - Daily posts might be the kick up the backside that I need :)

Hope you are all ok.

Happy Monday and happy new week.
L.x.

Hellooooooooooooooooooooooo :)

2011-05-05T08:51:00.008+01:00

I'm back!

Another couple of attacks had me laid low for a while but I'm back - be warned - I'm back - lol! Still a bit weak and wobbly but am reading and writing again so here I am blogging again.

So how are you? Well, I hope. Aren't we Brits lucky this Spring? Nice weather, numerous Bank holidays, and a whole Summer to look forward to.

This post threatens to lapse into the old school writing exercise of "What I did in the holidays" which I had to write in the seventies but here goes; forgive me if I lapse :)

Crafting and reading are difficult and slow these days but gardening is grrrrrrrreat.

I spend enormous chunks of every day gardening. If I need an excuse, which I don't, I call it my physio - lol!

The gravel area is completed in the first stage

I shall add more thyme between the slabs, more lavender too as I go. The scented rose (Zephirine Drouhin) needs to mature of course and hopefully this will be a scented hidey hole from which we can birdwatch.

I have been renewing borders, edging them, Steve has taken out old woody stuff and I have moved shrubs from other parts of the garden and top dressed. All very satisfying.

And planning ...... I just love planning. This is our next project.

We removed the dead half of this shrub - am pleased the salvaged half is surviving ok and the gaping hole will become a seating area with a scented climbing rose (Madame Alfred Carriere I think - anyway she is waiting in the wings, well a temporary nursery border in a huge pot) together with lavender and rosemary infilled with bulbs and perennials for all year round colour. There will be loads more seating areas in the garden - I manage ten minutes or so then need a break - a slow way to garden but at least you get to look at and enjoy what you've done.

Dennis and Deirdre continue to visit most days though Dennis has ideas far above his station - found him on the garage roof yesterday morning

- he stayed there berating me as I hung the washing - he hates the whirly washing line and makes his opinion noisily known!

We visited Bath to look at Bath Spa uni for Alex - nice.

There has been a 50th wedding anniversary party (not mine - lol!!)- nice - and warm enough for my new Summer stole.

A new art class - nice. Though I can not control the brush these days :)

It's nice to read this and see I'm still doing stuff. It's nice to visit your blogs and see you doing stuff too. Sorry I haven't left many comments though.

Happy Thursday, Happy May and Much Love.
L.x.

Keep calm and garden!

2011-04-18T08:33:00.000+01:00

Hello

Greg sorted the computer virus (saving us £600 plus - thank you Greg!!) and we are back online.

It's been a strange week.

A week of just carrying on carrying on. Do you have weeks like that? Weeks when you're just glad you got through. Nothing mega awful happened but you just saw the frailty of it all. As Miss Read puts it; at night time it was just lovely to go to bed "and shelve life for 8 hours".

So when the going gets tough Lynn gets gardening!

The ducks continue to visit each day.

Alex is up to his eyes in 'A' level revision, Daley is in talks at work re a promotion (!) and Greg is studying, applying for jobs 100 miles away (gulp!) and taking a diving course (gulp! gulp!)An elderly relative needs more TLC than usual. Steve's back is on the mend. And I am learning not to worry (yeah right).

I can see me doing even more gardening!

We now have buzzards "visiting" each day. They circle the garden usually just two of them "mewing" at each other. Very high up. One day we had six - quite a sight. Each day I try to get a photo and thus far have failed quite brilliantly!

Better go; am aiming to have chores done by 2PM and then I can "play" in the garden :)The gravel garden at the side of the house is coming on a treat - will put piccies up when I'm nearer completion.

Much love, nice to be back.

L.x.

computer virus and caravan capers

2011-04-14T08:20:00.003+01:00

Our main house computer has been infected with a mega virus - annoyingly by one of these rogue companies trying to sell you their anti-virus package.
I am lucky that I can borrow this wee diddy sort of lap top thingy (techy aren't I?!!)whilst my son mends the main computer. But for the past few days and for the next I have no email, limited internet time as everything on this is strange and small !! and everything has been wiped off the other computer - favourites, photo programmes everything so I shall probably just be reading blogs rather than posting on here - just thought I'd let you know :)

Picked up caravan this week and towed it to its new storage home and the jockey wheel fell off!! Husband hurt back getting jockey wheel back on. All does not bode well with this caravan milarky. Good job I am an obstinate old mule (or fool??) who does not give in easily. I really want this to work as I wanted us to have jolly weekend adventures - you know Enid Blyton for grown ups. We'll see.

Back soon.
Much love,
L.x.

Caught in the act!

2011-04-13T05:58:00.000+01:00

Steve and I spent all day on Saturday gardening. When he went inside late afternon to watch the football results programme I lingered awhile still full of ideas and restless energy and decided to decorate the gazebo.

I got quite carried away and didn't hear my husband return half an hour later.

"Caught in the act - are you playing house again!" He laughed.

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?

Thanks for calling by.

L.x.

.......just direct your feet, to the sunny side of the street.

2011-04-12T08:32:00.000+01:00

I felt cross because the rain was too heavy to go outside and rescue the washing - too late it was already soaked and it had been almost dry. Might as well stay out there and drip rather than bring it in to drip. And I'd be soaked too.

And then I remembered the recently divided cranesbill clumps, the new herb garden, and the potted wallflowers on the patio; all of which had looked dry and forlorn as I had hung the washing and had remained untended.

Well, they wouldn't be needing any watering now - no hauling out the hose pipe or lugging a heavy watering can.

I smiled at re-discovered silver linings and not long after, the sun came out.

And the inability to change any of this with any of my nonsensical angst kind of hit me.

Why do we witter the small stuff?

And whilst I pondered this; soaking up the beauty of the rain-refreshed garden I was treated to this.....

A heron balancing serenely on my neighbour's roof. Bet she's not worrying about leaving her washing out in the showers.........

L.x.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6 25-34

Heartfelt thanks

2011-04-10T11:15:00.000+01:00

I do not deserve such warmth and kindness but I am so glad that you reached out. I am humbled and teary - yep cried buckets all week - lol!

Thank you so much for caring enough to write.

Looks like I might still be blogging then!

I'm not sure when I'll start again. But I'll try to be back this week.

Suffice to say I was utterly heartbroken. Thank you so much for lifting me back up again. In "real life" I have told just my husband and he was there for me. I am truly blessed. Thank you.

If ever you need a word of encouragement in return - well, I'm yer girl :)

Back soon. Much love.

L.x.

2011-04-07T12:45:00.003+01:00

Hi

For a long while now - probably much of the time I have been writing this blog to be honest - I have had some form of depression. This blog has been a huge incentive to do stuff on those black dog days, so that I could take a piccy and prove to myself that I hadn't just stayed in bed all day, as I had longed to do - lol!

I enjoyed creating a blog. I learnt new IT skills. I made new friends - several of whom have become friends in "real life" too.

I only ever received 4 or so hurtful comments. I was lucky. But I am way too sensitive and they shook my already shaky confidence.

One such hurtful comment, received this week, concerned my lost babies and my Mother's Day post in general.

I have decided to stop blogging & will delete the blog in a few days time.

I was going to just delete the blog now but felt I owed you an explanation.

Thank you, to those who have only ever shown me kindness and support, for all your lovely comments these past few years. I know I am weak to give in and stop like this but maybe All Things B & B was reaching natural closure anyway.

TTFN & God Bless.

L.x.

Pretty maids all in a row

2011-04-07T09:04:00.005+01:00

Except the exuberance of tulips can't be done in rows :)

I was chatting with my Mom on the phone yesterday and Deirdre and Dennis

(yes I named "my" duck guests - lol) were kicking up a right old stink at a visiting neighbour's cat. Mom heard them and so I told her of all the duck exploits that had been going on all afternoon - she found it all very amusing.

She went on to say how funnily I told the tale and then told me comments my Dad had said to her about me (nice comments - lol) when I had come home with my children one day after a visit. How I hadn't changed & was still like I had been as a little girl. It was nice to hear.

So as the gentle afternoon sun warmed and opened the cold tulips so my Mom's gentle memories warmed and opened my cold old heart.

L.x.

Garden Party Guests

2011-04-06T13:54:00.003+01:00

Today I have company as I garden.

They don't seem to be very good at volunteering with the spade though.

Happy Wednesday :)

L.x.

A plug for Peter Hodson

2011-04-04T17:06:00.008+01:00

Peter Hodson is an artist whose mission statement reads something along the lines of "making art accessible to everyone".

After Daley's graduation we walked back to the car park via the Pavilion Gardens - yes because they are pretty but mainly because they are under cover and warm! Steve says Buxton has two kinds of climate "Freezin' and bloomin' freezin'" lol. I am sure it does have some nice days but we have yet to visit when it is warm. A June cricket match was once called off due to snow!

Anyhow, in the Pavilion Gardens there was a craft fair and Peter Hodson was exhibiting his work and as per the above mission statement his original pieces were selling for just £5. He paints in acrylics and the colours just sing. This little beauty

was supposed to be hung upstairs by now but it remains on the mantlepiece

amongst all things turquoise; making my day.

Happy Monday.

L.x.

Happy Mothering Sunday

2011-04-03T13:10:00.006+01:00

Each year my lovely men children stagger in with something gardeny and tell a tale of how they chose what they chose.

This year is no different and I laughed again as my non gardeners explained their reasonings which included "Mom'll love the basket as much as the flowers" I do, I do - I already have plans - it is huge - a knitting basket lined with fabric? a herb basket? a log basket? Apparently they had also discussed the different plant choices and which last longest - like they know - lol - they said it was a funny conversation!

And each year I sit here thanking the good Lord that he gave me the opportunity to be a Mother.

One Mother's Day I carried a baby mid pregnancy who I knew had died. I was 17 weeks pregnant. I was due to go into hospital for surgery the day after Mother's Day. I had lost another baby the previous year again at 17 weeks. That Mother's Day I had my three very much alive boisterous lovely boys and my silent baby cradled closely within me. It was not a sad day, stangely enough. I felt at peace that I still had my baby with me for Mother's Day together with my live babies :)

The next day Steve and I drove to the hospital. We put the radio on and Kim Wilde was belting out "All that she wants is another baby" and we turned the radio off again.

Every Mother's Day I say a prayer for my lost babies & for women who may have longed for motherhood but who have not been able to have children. I am so very grateful for my three lovely boys and my chance to be their Mother. My cup has truly overflowed and my gratitude knows no bounds.

Happy Mother's Day.

L.x.

Edited to add: Please do not think I never cried (buckets!) for those lost babes. That Mother's Day just saw a lull in the tears.

Gardening the blues

2011-04-02T19:23:00.003+01:00

My garden is a real joy to me.

Today our sons cut lawns and put together another bench.

Steve and I have cleared more of the jungle areas, worked further on the planned gravel area at the side of the house and then went to the garden centre to look for inspiration :)

As we wandered round soaking up the colour I commented on the fact that maybe we have too many projects on the go at the same time and maybe to boost spirits we should work on finishing up an easy to finish project.

So we came home and completed the blue border. We moved plants from other parts of the garden, added some more blue slate and a blue daisy plant that we bought this afternoon and voila - one project completed - the blue border......

I love it!

L.x.

Slow slow quick quick slow....

2011-04-01T16:24:00.003+01:00

....is said to be the rhythm of a tango - how nice - "I am living my life to the rhythm of a tango" sounds so much sexier than "I am living my life to the rhythm of a geriatric tortoise on tranquilisers" LOL!

Thank you for all your lovely comments.

Another quiet day spent relaxing and pottering. My eyes are playing up a bit so I am reserving my reading to blogging as that offers some socialising aspects and then I am listening to books on CD as I work around the house.

Even watching TV is hard on the eyes so I watch with my eyes shut - lol. TV has become like radio for me which I have to say is far more civilised!

I am trying to get into The Archers on Radio 4 but goodness there seem to be so many characters. If any ardent fans fancy telling me what on earth is going on....!! My English teacher when I was a girl left her job to join the writing team of the Archers.

Greg put together a new garden bench for me this afternoon.

This is another new area of garden. We still have the slabs to put down beneath the bench and some clematis and ivy to plant up my neighbour's new fence. It looks strange to have new areas in such a mature garden but I guess that's what happens and gardens have to be renewed now and again.

This weekend is Mothering Sunday in the UK. Our Moms are coming for tea. For the rest of the weekend Steve and I are hoping to do gardening.

Happy weekend :)

L.x.

Hello

2011-03-31T17:16:00.004+01:00

My blog thoughts today are should I post or not? It has been a bad couple of days - I have a bad case of neuro symptoms - wretched "tingles" & numbness- getting steadily worse. Probably - hopefully - drug induced. Oh dear that sounds bad :) I mean hopefully it is due to a side effect of my medication and not migraine/stroke related. My husband says to rest which I know makes sense but I may rest but my head doesn't so I just lie there & worry then. So I have tried to gently potter with lots of rests in between.

I have to say all this activity has been an enormous effort & chore but at least my head was kept busy & distracted a bit from too much worry.

I have gently continued to de-clutter; today it was the airing cupboard, pantry and recipe book shelf whilst I listened to good old Miss Read. I found this CD in the library last week and joy of joys, can't remember the story line so am enjoying it as a newcomer - a bad memory can be a blessing after all.

I have also cooked some Indian food for supper - the house smells lovely. We shall eat chicken tikka masala, saag aloo (spiced potato & spinach), poppodoms, naan, rice, raita and salad.

Last night we went to a new painting group. Our old class had become very expensive and we weren't enjoying it so we had a few month's break. The new group is only £2 each per week and we were made very welcome. They too were having a de-clutter and gave us some paints. When I protested that this was our first week and we had not paid any subs prior to last night they said that no-one else wanted the paints so we could have them - and they were just what was on my wish list :)It turned out I knew 4 of the group already!They have loaned me a book of flower pictures for inspiration - isn't that nice? - and each painting has a related poem - painting and poetry - heaven!

Today the sun shone and is has been very breezy so I have been a very good housewife and washed a blanket.

The teen-age boy next door can be a bit of a pest with his football flying over the fence expecting me to play goalie to his centre forward and returning the ball to his half (garden!!) every five minutes. It is a bit odd to answer the door to a kid taller than myself asking "Can I have me ball back?" Well I must have looked poorly cos he only asked the once this afternoon. So you see girls - there is always a silver lining - even when you are numb and tingling and weak all down one side - lol!

Better go; Man Wonderful will be home from work soon and I have a bit of a job on my hands to make myself look prsentable this evening - still, I do love a challenge :)

Much love.
L.x.

Hello

2011-03-30T09:34:00.006+01:00

Posts seem scarce of late don't they? Sorry. I seem to have little of interest to write about. I am doing THE most boring stuff. Well actually it's not at all boring to me - I'm having a ball - lol - but I'm scared you will be bored to tears if I tell you.

Here goes.

Firstly, I am rounding together stuff for the caravan - tea cups, linens etc. So my plans to de-clutter the house are moving on apace as I beg and borrow from the house in order to keep costs down.

And I am also moving on with my garden plans.

Oh my, the garden - incredibly hard work. I have several projects on the go and each afternoon I dabble at one or other (usually all!) of them.

When we removed the shed last Summer (placed there by the previous owners) the totally inaccessible part behind it had brambles and such over six foot high. Slowly we have been clearing. We are now at the stage of getting out the final roots, levelling, laying a membrane and gravelling. Then I can do my favourite bit; the final prettying up a bit.

But look I am still quite a few hours work away.........

It looks like a dark alley doesn't it - which is what it is really between our house and next door's! But I have visions of a gravel garden with blue pots, and a focal point at the end - maybe a bench as the view back into the garden is a very pretty one - should have taken a photo - I will when it's all done.

The slabs were what the shed stood on which I shall repurpose around the garden - some as hard standing for another bench and some for stepping stones.

This is hard work and it can get a bit uninspiring so I tend to play truant working in more colourful areas of the garden..

.. for part of each afternoon which is why the job is taking so long - lol!! Sadly it takes me about two hours to do what I would have been able to do in less than an hour in years gone by. So I'll be back with "after" photos but I may be a while!!!

L.x.

Mothers Union

2011-03-28T17:37:00.005+01:00

It has been gloriously sunny and I have worked like a mad woman in both the house and the garden.

The day started off swathed in mist. As I cleaned up the kitchen I noticed that Mrs Blackbird had left her nest in the ivy over the garage and was taking a breather. She rested for ages on the patio chair; eyeing up the neighbourhood.......

keeping a close eye on her new abode........

As I washed up we watched each other closely.......

...... it was almost as if we were entering into a silent conversation...

"Busy, busy..."
"....never ending"
"Woman's work....
".....never done"
"Best get on."
"Me too."
"Nice chatting"

And off we went to our duties.

She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27)

L.x.

2011-03-27T17:30:00.003+01:00

Yesterday Steve and I left the house very very early for a Saturday morning and drove the almost two hour journey north to Buxton. The scenery is stunning and we promised ourselves a weekend break here soon.

We were going for our son's uni graduation ceremony. Our second son graduating. We were treated to opera at this ceremony which Steve and I both love. As the music washed over me so did my memories of a funny little boy who used to laugh so hard he couldn't sit upright! A little boy who twice cut his own hair with disasterous results! A little boy who was incredibly sporty and was often on the sports pages of the local paper. A caring son who still has a wonderful sense of humour and still makes me laugh heartily.

He met his lovely girlfriend at uni and she too graduated yesterday. I watched proudly wondering, as maybe only a mother does, what the future holds. They are good for each other, I wish them well.

We had lunch with my son, his girlfriend and her parents - Lovely.

And then home again to sink into comfortable chairs and rest my aching feet which had been squeezed into click clack fashion heels. It was good to dress up! I have lost some weight recently and wore a tailored trouser suit that I haven't worn in years - nice :)

Hope you have had fun this weekend.
Much love,

L.x.

Come inside and have a cuppa.....

2011-03-23T08:57:00.006Z

I love having a nosey around people's caravans. Funnily enough not houses so much - unless they are in magazines or for sale - because I just feel well .... nosey - lol!

Anyhows this is my little caravan - quite quite empty just waiting to be made homey. Would you like a look, see?

There is a shower room/loo with basin - which I didn't bother to take a photo of - small , white and clean!!

The bedroom has a little vanity area with sink.

The man in the mirror is my son. I think I was showing him the heater and the wardrobe - isn't he lovely to look as if he is listening? - lol!!

The bed is fixed so no lugging out cushions and bedding each night. the cover is actually a mattress protector. I shall put white bed linen and a gold coloured throw so it looks warm on cold evenings :)

The kitchen area.

The flooring throughout is a laminate effect lino which I am thrilled with as it will be easy (and quick) to keep clean. My mother - in - law, a keen caravaner all her life and still caravanning at 75, now in a static ,is gutted that our van has not an inch of carpet. "Never mind," she sighed. "Rugs!" And then her eyes sparkled at her own brilliant idea :)

It's funny in my caravan dreams I was always going to clutter it up with bunting, patchwork, crochet, knick knacks etc etc. Now I'm going to have a caravan and I've seen the inside etc I want it minimal, and easy. I think I know that I have less energy and what little I do have I want to use it to make sure Steve and I get to relax and do some walks and tourist visits and not cleaning the caravan :)

And this final living area converts into another bed. The material colours are more muted than the camera shows so I really do not know what colour to put with it. I wanted a warm colour that would glow warmly in evening lamp light when it can feel a bit parky!! I may just live with it for a while and then decide. But I think cream and gold like the curtains.

Do you know, I have had tons of pleasure just in the thinking :)

Anyway kettle's boiled - let's drink some tea!!

L.x.

Adventures new

2011-03-22T08:31:00.003Z

Hello :)

You sent me some lovely comments and emails and I thank you heartily.

And how are you? I have thought of you often.

Life here continued apace, as it does. My Mom turned 80; we had a couple of meals out with her to celebrate and Sunday tea here.

There has been no crafting as my hands were too weak & clumsy and not fit for fine work, lots of reading though - I'll review some books later in the week perhaps?

To raise my spirits I am best outdoors - We are working on a major re-organisation of the garden - putting like plants together, creating a small gravel walkway where the old shed stood and clearing clutter and working towards low maintenance. Perhaps I can show before and after photos. At the moment they are "chaos, in the middle of the mess, why ever did we start this? Whose idea was this? It'll work, honestly, trust me!" photos - LOL! As it is my idea, I hope it works or I shall look silly :)

And new adventures?

Well I have the urge to travel but not too much cash to do it with so we bought ..........

I feel quite dizzy with the craziness of this huge purchase!! This isn't our caravan but the same model - I don't think ours has the stripe; I think ours is just white. I took interior photos of our van but not exterior ones! It is about 8 years old.

My sons asked "Why didn't you take photos of the outside?" They wanted to see wheel/tow bar spec etc (why??) "Because all caravans are the same on the outside - white and oblong - I wanted photos of the materials inside so's I can match the cushions" I explained.
"I can't believe you just said that" one boy sighed.
"I can!" the older one laughed!!

I have become a caravan bore the past three days since purchase - I even bought Caravan magazine yesterday. My kids are in stitches as I peruse my mag - but if you need to know how to protect yer pipes overwinter ma'am - I'm the gal to ask - lol!! There are jokes flying round like "Hiya Gypsy girl, how ya towin'? " and stuff like that ~oh dear~ :)

Steve has told folks "Lynn only went to buy some daffodils and came back with a caravan!" Kind of true as the caravan sales park is next to the garden centre and I did say to Steve that when I got the daffodils (in flower to fill a gap in our new scheme) I "just happened to pop in and see a very good price on a very nice little caravan!" He then said, "Shall we go back to take another look?" which, I have to say, surprised me!

We take delivery next week. I am busy making lists of stuff we shall need to make it homey.

So that's just some of the mischief I have gotten myself into. How about you?

L.x.

2011-03-06T17:35:00.003Z

Hello :)

I'm sorry I have been absent this week. I had another migraine which had me laid low for awhile and then I had some catching up to do :)

As I am still trying to catch up I have decided to put blogging on hold for a while. I'm not sure when I'll be blogging again. I hope you understand.

I hope to still drop by your lovely blogs and say hi.
Much love.
L.x.

Take 20 things and give them away... every day

2011-03-01T12:01:00.000Z

I have to say my give away/throw away 20 things every day challenge has been going really well and I feel GGGGGRRRRREAT! doing it. There are empty shelves in cupboards, clear surfaces are easier to clean, drawers have spaces in them. I feel like I can breathe!

So I have carried on the challenge for a second week.

I have extended it a little too.

I waded through our household filing system, my email in-box, my favourites, my desktop. Old papers made a warming fire to sew in front of one evening :) And the delete button is very freeing!

I went through my pantry and freezer using stuff up before I bought more. I made a note of things that just aren't worth me buying any more. Items that double up. Nothing was thrown away or wasted - I used it all up. But I shan't be buying shelf hoggers again.

I went into the garden lopping and chopping and digging stuff up - my council compost wheelie bins are bulging.

I went seriously through my clothes - "should keeps" have gone. Why do we litter our lives with "shoulds"? Should keep in case I lose weight, gain weight, have to go to this function, that function (these were functions that I really don't want to go to and don't need to go to, so why go to them?)

Then there were the uncomfortables - yes all underwired bras have gone! How liberating! In recent months I have found some very pretty, lacy, very uplifting (in all senses of the word!!) Marks and Spencers frillies, in all manner of gorgeous colours with not a wire in sight. So the wired terrors... gone. Tights, pop socks - dreadful contraptions - just a minimal selection kept, placed in bags - no tangles to untie.

I went through my husband's sock drawer - "just in case I find the other one" odds were tossed out, religious ones (hole-y!!) binned. So that meant he had no socks left!! So I treated him to some new ones - oh yes I know how to treat a man - lol!

This campaign is catching on as Steve has started to bring me stuff of his own "to add to your 20 things for today".

It seems crazy to me that our world is so harshly divided.
The haves and the have nots.
The haves and the have not paid for what I've got.
The haves and I spend all my time sorting it, dusting it, and working daft hours to pay for it and buy more of it.

I want to give some of it away and have some time back.

So the charity van is coming and my house is emptying quite nicely.

Wishing you an uncluttered day.

L.x.

Taking car sharing to the extreme

2011-02-28T15:34:00.005Z

With Alex's driving success, there will now be four of us occasionally vying for the use of the beautiful Rita Rover (my car). Public transport is poor round here. No car and I don't go out. "Do you know, tagged prisoners will be getting out more than me!" I moaned.

Yet more ramblings :)

2011-02-28T09:08:00.007Z

Hello, happy new week!

Hope you had a good weekend.

It was cold here. Very cold. I wanted to garden. which I did between the showers. Didn't get much done though - by the time I had got my jumper on, my wool jacket, my scarf and gloves and then struggled into my wellingtons - tucking in my jeans so they were comfy; collected the loppers, fork and secateurs - I managed about ten minutes. Then the next deluge came. So I had to put away the tools, struggle out of my wellies, peel off all those layers, wash my hands and by the time I was sat down in my chair again, with tea and tapestry, the sun was out again.

Mother Nature and I played this caper for a few hours til I announced her the winner and stuck with the tea and tapestry!

My new tapestry cushion cover.....

One day last week, home alone I decided to garden.

We have several cordylines that have grown into palms maybe six feet tall and thus much taller than me. This Winter has killed them off. Anyway as I stripped the dead fronds from one rotting crown I realised how unstable the trunk was and with not too much effort got it out of the ground. But it was too heavy for me to carry.

Oh I wish you could have seen my middles son's face when I said later, on his return, "Daley could you help me move this palm tree? I didn't know my own strength!"

Have a good week.

L.x.

Stay off the roads!

2011-02-25T16:53:00.004Z

Alex, my youngest son, passed his driving test today! So you have been warned - LOL!!

I think it is normal and natural that this momentous event stirs feelings of pride, pleasure and panic in equal measure in a Mother's heart :) So I shall pray ..... a lot!!

I kept myself busy as I waited at home and cleared out the household filing cabinet .........

And when he came home we drank lots of tea and he told me all about it and we 'phoned his Dad and brothers at work and drank more tea and just kept grinning at each other - LOL!!

Happy Friday.

Much love and panic!!!!
L.x.

PS Of course how I can possibly be old enough to have three children old enough to drive is a mystery indeedy ;)

Yours youthfully
L.x.

Out of the mouths of babes

2011-02-24T14:59:00.004Z

Well ok not a babe but my 17 year old son but in my head he will always be my babe - lol :)

This afternoon he had to make a difficult phone call to an adult who has let him down and not provided a lesson he had paid for and he needed to sort it out whilst a) being polite and b) still getting the lesson.

I said I could sort it for him, of course I could, but he should do it himself to learn the difference between aggression and assertiveness (not that I need worry re aggression - he is a gentleman) and to build confidence in himself that he can sort stuff; after all, he is planning to live 100's of miles away from home at uni come September.

So we discussed how to approach it in a friendly manner, keeping to the point so that he could get what he wanted without upsetting their working relationship etc etc.

I told him how I hate potentially confrontational conversations such as these so I usually write down what I want to say and then use that as a prompt for a 'phone conversation.

So he went to the privacy of his room with the phone.

All went well and the situation is now sorted to his satisfaction. "How did you approach it, in the end?" I asked.
"I wrote it down."
Perhaps I should say here my son wants to study script writing at uni.
As he went off to his re-arranged lesson he grinned. "You know Mom, life is so much easier with a script!"

And off he went as teenagers do, leaving me to ponder as I do.

Blimey if only you knew, son, if only you knew. If I could just have had a script or two, you're right, life would have been much easier. What a profound thought!

But then maybe the good Lord has already provided my script? Every time life got tough, I turned to Him ......

...... and my life's plot didn't change but re-reading the script made it easier!

Out of the mouths of babes and all.

L.x.

If you like Anne of Green Gables.....

2011-02-24T09:13:00.002Z

..... there is a black and white oldie on BBC2 this morning. I watched one of the films yesterday - corny, cheesy, just my cup of tea - lol! I am not entirely sure they stuck to the book but I enjoyed it nonetheless - spent much of it admiring the kitchen, the furniture, the garden etc.
Anyhow thought I'd mention it - no rude comments if it's rubbish - lol! I shall be ironing as I watch - ha - bet I shan't!!!

Some people go through life trying to find out what the world holds for them only to find out too late that it's what they bring to the world that really counts.

-- Anne Of Green Gables

Poetry rules ok :)

2011-02-23T16:55:00.003Z

My husband and I love poetry. We seldom like the same poetry - LOL! He likes some really serious heavy stuff. The kind I studied for part of my degree and didn't understand so he studied with me and explained so I could sit an exam :) Now that's love - for poetry and for me!

But I do love poetry and I love finding a poet I haven't read before. Oh and today I found several new poets that I enjoyed and that I can share with my husband. It is quite unusual for me to be the finder - usually Steve "finds" the poet following a Radio 4 programme on a long car journey to a client.

But no the poet we shall share tonight is "mine" - LOL.

And I bet you knew her all along..... Mary Oliver?

And this poem, in particular has sent shivers down my spine - I have spent some soothing time copying it into a journal........

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

© Mary Oliver.

You know you are a Grumpy Old Woman when......

2011-02-23T09:37:00.002Z

.......you hurl abuse at the cookery book.

I'm reading the recipe book as I cook.

The recipe says "Add 1 pint of stock (from a cube is fine)"

"Well thank you very much for giving me permission to use a stock cube in my own kitchen," says Mrs Grumpyy sloshing boiling water over an oxo cube.

Yes, and I said it out loud too!!

Using up left-overs

2011-02-22T16:31:00.004Z

Last night I used up left - overs.........

Wrinkled plums became plum crumble - To the crumble I added some almonds and the Christmas left over marzipan (grated down) and some oats - all tiny bits & languishing in the pantry. Tasted lovely served with home-made vanilla yoghurt - very creamy.

Left over cauli and broccoli boiled with an onion, homemade chicken stock and a stock cube - whizzed in the blender with a dash of semi skimmed milk became a lovely soup topped with a bit of tired cheese and "drying up a bit" coriander.

A leg of chicken and half a breast from Sunday's roast (only three of us here on Sunday) went in a pot pie for two with veg & gravy and topped with pastry and served with roast potatoes. I had a baked potato & salad which Steve and Alex hate BIG time :)

Forgot to take piccy of the pie - sorry!!

It always feels like a free meal when you are using stuff up!

One tapestry cushion front....

2011-02-22T09:56:00.006Z

...... nearly done.

Some of the yarn is tapestry wool but a lot of it is double knitting wool left overs from previous projects. It feels good to be using stuff up.

I don't think I have ever enjoyed a project as much as this one.. ever. I am sorry it is nearly finished and have found myself stitching slowly; savouring these final squares!

But I have plans for using up more of my stash...!!

L.x.

Day two of the "Take 20 things and give them away" challenge.

2011-02-21T17:01:00.003Z

Well Sunday was day one and I found 16 items to recycle or donate to a charity shop.

So yesterday, day two, I had to find 20 plus 4 additional things - did it and more!

* a candle, a fancy soap - both of these were strongly and not very nicely scented.
* 2 tired house plants (put in the garden compost wheelie bin)
* old clothes (10 items)
* contents of crackers- - thanks for the reminder Jill :) I shall never make my
own again - fiddly and more expensive than shop bought- I got enough crackers for
two years for 75p in the sales
* The tattier bits in my Birthday and Christmas wrappings box
* Cards kept for making gift tags - I have made oodles of gift tags already.
* Miniature toiletries, massager sponges, toiletry bits and bobs.
* A huge household catalogue

Today will be difficult because I have to think about gifts that I know I shall never use, which surely a charity shop would benefit from? If I can just not feel so guilty about donating them.

L.x.

Take twenty things and give them away...... every day

2011-02-21T08:53:00.004Z

I have been looking around my home at stuff thinking of William Morris' "Have only in your home what you know to be useful or believe to be beautiful" or whatever it is he said, lovely man.

The areas of the house that I have de-cluttered during the Winter look good; pared down and now filled only with stuff I like and use.

But I have looked in other areas with dear William whispering in my ears.

I thought that if I were to move house would I take this item, that item? Would this item merit a place in an expensive removal van? Would that item be the sort of thing that languished in an unopened box long after I'd moved in and started to decorate the new abode? And I was surprised to find that there were several - ok loads - of such items.

I have started to question everything I buy - if I buy this item what will I donate to charity? For example, on the basis of wanting say a new vase, which vase would I donate from what I already have? - after all, I only need a certain number of vases. Usually I decide my present vases are fine and I don't buy a new one :)Happily I have even thought gosh I have too many and have donated something to charity anyway :)

In my effort to be rid of more stuff I have decided this week during half term to find 20 things each day that I no longer need, want, use, like etc and recycle or donate them.

I started yesterday - old gardening magazines, old books, tired woody plants in the garden, old weather worn cracked plant pots; I only managed to get to 16 items but I was pleased nonetheless. And I can see a difference. Today I shall try to find 20 plus the 4 I didn't manage :)

I am only going to get rid of stuff I am happy to lose. There are some old magazines I keep on coming back to; so they stay!!

What do you think? Would you be up to keeping me company? Maybe you are already clutter free? Or maybe you are a happy hoarder?

Steve says he's going to carry on moving; just in case!

L.x.

Beneath my living room window.......

2011-02-16T09:52:00.007Z

..... is this hopeful little border.

A tiny spike of a dwarf evergreen pine bush can just be seen in the bottom right hand corner - this has been a beacon of colour all winter long along with the other evergreens in this tiny patch of garden.

But now we have daffodils, bellis, pansies and primroses clashing in colour and trying to grab the limelight. Later daffodil varieties and many tulip clumps huddle together promising that this Spring show will be a protracted affair. Sprinkled between are love in a mist seedlings and other warmer weather perennials slowly waking and braving the cold.

Meanwhile my beloved buddleia bush quietly pushes forth leaf knowing that in just a few short months, at more than 6 foot in height, there will be no doubt who will rule the roost and be noticed! I love the buddleia here; she shades the room not only from sunlight but from my neighbours driveway. So I can make believe, as I watch the birds and butterflies on her branches from the comfort of my chair, that I really live in the country.

In the conservatory baby pelargoniums and other Summer bedding plants are coming on a treat - my gardening insurance policy as I am sure I am going to have many many amateurish gaps especially as I have lost some lovely specimens following such a harsh Winter.

The sun shines on this little border today. The colours are rich. I remember well the rainy days when I stood cold and tired digging in those brown and boring bulbs in a clay soil that refused to yield to the spade. When I wondered if it was worth the effort. And now look at it.

And this is why I garden perhaps?

A border full of hope right beneath my living room window.

L.x.

Cosy and kinda nice :)

2011-02-15T10:41:00.002Z

Here I am at my desk. It is very dark and cold outside today so the lamps are lit - it's cosy and kinda nice :)

The house is very quiet. There are just two of us home at the moment - though others will drift in and out as they go about their day.

The washing machine is bubbling, the central heating boiler is gently whirring - there is nowhere I have go - it's cosy and kinda nice :)

The whole day stretches before me and I have putzy pottering kind of plans.

The kitchen floor needs a good clean before our feet stick permanently to the grot and grime - just keeping it real so you don't think you have wandered into an episode of The Waltons - lol! And then I have to go through the book.... again looking for spilling mistooks :) Appuruntly it dusn't look gud to rite an inglish buk wiv lots ov spilling mistooks!!

A close friend has suggested I need a new challenge to help me get my get up and go back so I am starting small with a re-vamp of the conservatory ready for Spring. I know I said in a previous post that Spring had maybe Sprung well it has since come unsprung and we are back to Winter here today :) I have been working on the Conservatory little by little over the Winter having a major de-clutter and am nearing the end. Am nearing the nice bit where I can just play around with the fluffing it up with cushions etc. using just what I have in other places round the house. When the weather warms up a little I have some furniture awaiting me in the (cold) garage where I shall paint it for the conservatory and the dining room.

So that's my day.

Hope you have a good day.

Much love,

L.x.

hello

2011-02-14T16:54:00.008Z

It's good to be back here.

And how are you?

I have been gently pottering at the re-writes. Much of it was additional paragraphs as chapters were re-organised. Nice pleasant stuff and no great upsets :) I like my editor - she just says what needs doing, offers help, is always polite and always says thank you. She is polite and kind. Yes I like her a lot!

I have been very depressed of late. I have now been told that it is a side effect of my meds. Now I know, it is easier to cope with. Things that I could normally have dealt with quite easily, had seemed suddenly to be a huge crisis - lol. But my medication stops another stroke and I am grateful for that :)

So I have had to find ways of coping with the side effect of depression.

Well firstly my editer, bless her, keeps me busy :)

My work is via email. So whilst I awaited my editor's feedback I have gently pottered at home. Home is like a cup of tea for me - a panacea for all ills :)

I re-arranged stuff and made things look pretty......

I made my desk look nice seeing as I was spending so much time there - lol....

I made a berry wreath to hide an ugly door latch....

I tidied the pantry.....

....... and potted up Spring bulbs.......

Put fresh linen on the beds - I have a thing for pretty pillowcases on our bed!

And I have cooked a lot and worked on my tapestry a lot.

And what have you been up to?

Much love.

L.x.

Hello :)

2011-02-09T11:56:00.003Z

I may not be around for a few days. The final proofs of the book have arrived and design issues & actually seeing it in full colour and as it is etc. now means a chapter re-write - gulp - it's due to be published in 4 weeks -- LOL!

Anyhoos in view of the last blog post I thought I'd better say - in case you thought I'd run off to sea!

By the way, I think what I meant in the last post is there is so much you can do in this life. I have two children leaving home this year. We are at the stage of do we down size? And I have this awful feeling , as always, that time is running out and I am wasting time that I should be using to help others.

Anyway, for the time being it's back to the book.

So I'll still be reading your comments and blogs but probably not writing my own - just as well really :)

See ya soon, TTFN and all that.

Much love,

L.x.

Has Spring Sprung?

2011-02-08T21:14:00.003Z

Do you ever wish you could start all over, do something differently, start afresh? Or maybe just carry on from where you are but with a totally different approach? Maybe Spring has Sprung; as the flowers awaken and the days lengthen I feel a sudden restlessness. There is a shift in value and importance; and new opportunities open up as the weather warms up.
In terms of 2011 I am approaching Spring.
In terms of my life I guess late Summer is approaching.
Either way, I am living according to a season.
And for everything there is a season.

L.x.

Everything stops for tea........

2011-02-07T18:16:00.004Z

........and a read of a "new to me" book :)
A pot of chicken stew and dumplings bubbling and the house smells divine!
Happy new week,
L.x.

Are quiet days the best days?

2011-02-06T19:28:00.005Z

I think so :)

I don't want high days, holidays, party days and people.

I am happiest with just me and mine and quiet days.

Boring, aren't I?

For me happy days are not necessarily the high days but the everyday.

I suppose today was the everyday.......

Tea in bed reading Candleford Green.

A trip to the garden centre - I was searching for snowdrops in the green - well actually in flower too! - to swell our collection and fill a gap.

We came home and filled the gap with snow drops and some very dainty and small double - headed primroses.

Teeny tiny Summer bedding seedlings were in the garden centre and as I had some success with these last year and thus saved a fortune we bought some home today - some mixed begonias - good container gap fillers - tough as old boots hold a lot of water, don't need dead heading and the slugs hate them. And some scarlet and fuschia coloured pelargoniums (annual bedding "geranium") little dead heading needed, slugs don't bother with them and they don't need watering every day.

I cooked shepherd's pie for tea

- Steve's favourite and something my sore mouth can tolerate :) As I cooked I pondered is this a kitchen or a garden? LOL.

Last night's yoghurt - apricot - tastes like an apricot custard and is too yummy to last long :)

In my pantry clearout I had marzipan past its best before date - I researched and, as it is basically just sugar, felt it was fine to use - I have grated it down, portioned and refridgerated it to use in baking. Tonight it is making an appearance in my Lark Rise cake - I have to have cake and tea as I watch Lark Rise otherwise I feel short changed - it's Dorcas' fault - she is always eating something scrumptious and I just have to join in - it is my one weakness (yeah right, if only!)

Anyway the experiment worked and the grated marzipan gave a lovely almond taste to the sponge - I decreased the sugar by 2oz as that was the amount of marzipan I included.

So a quiet, happy, everyday kinda day.
My kinda day, in fact.

L.x.

2011-02-05T17:24:00.004Z

I didn't get round to doing a supermarket shop mid week so Stephen dropped me off this morning whilst he sorted some minor repairs on the car and then came to help me finish off.

The first shop of the month is always HUGE and expensive. He has renewed faith in my trolley lugging strength and my ability to make £1 do the work of 2 - lol! He said he was glad he didn't have to do the job each week :)

These tulips caught my eye and though I shouldn't, I did!

I also got some spears of daffs

I love how you just shove them in water, watch, wait and then just gasp in wonder as they seemingly jostle themselves into order and bloom :)

February 1st is my lovely Dad's birth date. He may not be here now but I continue, as I always have, to measure the New Year's progression by that date. Usually Spring is further along. The January Gold daffodils in my garden are in bud and should open this week some 4 weeks later this year. We have our first crocus clumps open - again 4 weeks later than the norm for these parts. I do have a few sturdy (foolhardy?) Bellis, violas, pansies and primroses in flower though these are patchily scattered across the borders, whilst most of their neighbours steadfastly refuse to waken just yet. The winter jasmine stars the fences - those still upright following the storms - more expense - ho hum.

I bought chives and mint from the supermarket salad counter as living plants last Summer and planted them outside in a wicker basket by the kitchen door. They grew as cut and come again plants all Summer long. In the Autumn I cut them back to soil level & I noticed this afternoon that they are growing back again - good value eh?!! Pity I can not grow cut and come again fence panels!!!!

I was home alone this afternoon as there was a football match on - it was lovely and warm inside and I gently pottered. I read some Lark Rise, did a little tapestry and then, inspired by Tina at The Quiet Home, did a little de-cluttering and planning of further de-cluttering :) I planned meals for the next two weeks, checked my food budget and ways to use up what I have had in my pantry for a while.

It's always nice to be home :)

Much love.

L.x.

2011-02-04T12:01:00.003Z

I continue my quest to slow down and ....

I have been working on what do I really need. And this week started work in my pantry - using up what I have and deciding what I shall restock and what I shan't bother with.

When you go to the supermarket there is a whole aisle of one thing, isn't there?

There must be 20, 30 maybe, different types of pasta or rice, for instance. After some thought and a look through my recipe and menu planners I realise I use the posh spaghetti - forget it's name - it's the square cut - I am frugal usually but I find my tummy tolerates it's wheat content better and sauce coats better on it than the cheapie stuff - so that will stay and a small amount of penne is useful. I don't really need to buy the other kinds so I shall use it up and then not bother - unless there was a massive sale - ha!!!!!

As for rice - well I tend only to be using easy cook long grain and arborio - so they stay. I shall just use the others up.

I'm doing this with everything.

This book is helping too.

It was a freebie with some herbs I was buying anyway. I like the idea of simplifying ingredients. Some cookbooks - the ingredients list is the length of my weekly shopping list!

I am also trying to do more at home so no sneaking to the shops for additional supplies and the extras that sneak into the basket too. So more bread making.

I have yoghurt making sorted now. I had one failure - my own fault - I rushed it unwittingly.

I sowed corainder this morning.......

And the sprouts are coming along.....

Though the mung are putting on a braver show than the mustard. "As keen as mustard"??? perhaps not.

But I am as keen as mustard :) LOL

L.x.

Keep calm and carry on reading and nattering and cooking and smiling :)

2011-02-03T21:24:00.006Z

My library order came through and I have spent some quiet reading time today.

My Mother's library in the city has reduced it's opening times. My own county are endeavouring to save library hours. I hope so - I would be lost without my library.

I 'phoned my Mother a few times today as she was unwell yesterday. She is much better today and we spent a long time nattering as she told me of the old days during the war & pre National Health Service. She has lived a hard life and seen many changes. I enjoyed hearing her stories.

I listened to Mom on the 'phone wrapped in blankets feeling unwell myself but not knowing why - until late afternoon when what I thought was post dental work swelling ruptured - yet another infection. When I 'phoned to request a dental appointment tomorrow the receptionist said this was urgent and to go straight to the surgery - so I now have the gum "packed" and am on my fifth lot of antibiotics in as many months.

I came home and took a pizza dough I had prepped out of the bread maker and added some home made chilli sauce as a topping with some cheese. A bowl of salad and another of oven chips made a quick tasty meal with a bowl of grapes for pudding.

I am ready to climb into my bed and sleep for England. Tomorrow is another day and I am due at the hairdressers :)

As my Dad used to say, "Goodnight and God bless",

L.x.

Today I have enjoyed much warmth......

2011-02-02T16:01:00.004Z

A long lie in, in a warm bed - No school run as Daley took Alex to school :)

A hot bubble bath - and at lunch time too - that is always so luxurious to me after years of working full time outside of the home - to take a bath in the middle of the day just because!

The warmth of a friend's generous gifts & thoughts

and the kindest letter, painting and prayer - thank you Pom Pom :) Treasure indeed.

Home-made soup.

Lots of mugs of tea in pretty cups.

Cleaning a warm house.

Ironing in a warm kitchen whilst a pot of meatballs bubble in homemade tomato sauce.

And warm cakes at tea time straight from the oven.

I hope you are blessed with some warmth today. If it is a difficult day for you - here is a warm ((hug)) just for you.

L.x.

2011-02-01T21:40:00.001Z

The children, my teacher friend, and I had such fun in nursery this morning.

Sometimes I sit there and can not believe I am being paid to have such a nice time.

I made a Chinese wishing tree with the children as part of our Chinese New Year celebrations. The BBC Photo above shows a wishing tree with the wishes written on red paper and tied to a tree. Our Wishes ranged from wanting to be Rapunzel (and why not indeed) to wanting a dog to wanting to see a shooting star.

Some of our children are going through the usual flotsam and jetsam of every day life that we all trudge through. But it is so lovely to see them living in the moment and enjoying their play and their friends, in the here and now; right now.

I learn so much from my pupils; their joy in the moment and their pleasure in the simple things, - jumping in the playground puddles brought whoops of joy.

And I revisited the joy of puddle jumping too.

2011-02-01T21:10:00.005Z

OUCH! - Who'd have thought dental surgery could be so painful?

My friend works on reception.

"Everything go ok?" She asked.
"Sue, the pain register was that of childbirth, so where's the baby?" I replied. We laughed. Well, mine was more of an anaesthetically induced dribble :)

The dentist said, "That was a really bad case."

Me: "I Know!" LOL.

I was told I should stay longer to recover. "No way, I'm getting out of here while I can!"

Glad to be home.

Getting ahead

2011-01-31T14:17:00.004Z

I have spent today trying to get a little way ahead; to save time and also to save money by growing or making more of our food from scratch.

Tomorrow I am working a morning at school and in the afternoon my tooth will be removed now the abscess is responding to antibiotics. So I think I shall be busy tomorrow (!) and resting up on Wednesday!!

So I have to make the most of today :) Even more so, than usual.

I made a few days worth of yoghurt which is maturing nicely in the yoghurt flask on the counter alongside my sprouting beans which are at the soak stage.

This will be my first attempt. Salads are so expensive I am trying sprouting seeds and micro salad leaves.

I could not eat all my supper last night so I saved the potato, broccoli, and chicken rather than throw it away and made myself a one portion soup for lunch which I ate with homemade parmesan and sun dried tomato bread. It was very tasty.

I made stock from the chicken carcass and then added it to chicken strips from the bones, reduced priced carrot, a wilting parsnip, 2 sprouting potatoes and some dried thyme to make a huge pan of soup for the next couple of days. It tastes good.

I am also doing slow cooker chilli tomorrow for everyone else - they will have soup and chilli, I expect - hollow legs, all of them.

Yesterday whilst the oven was on cooking roast I braised steak and onion - this has matured in the fridge overnight and, with additional veg to extend it further, will be a pie filling for tonight's supper.

I had some left-over mincemeat from Christmas and this has gone into small sponge cakes which tasted lovely

- as you can see I was a bit too heavy handed with the icing sugar - LOL. I have little control over my hands at present - consequently they are a bit kitchen war-torn with cuts and burns and cakes are over icing sugared - but never mind :) Things can only get better.

I have a little ironing to finish up and then I am going to put my feet up for a little while :)

Happy new week.

L.x.

I lived in the moment.......

2011-01-29T19:34:00.003Z

I made bread

Enjoyed a trip to the library

Made smoked mackerel mousse

Ate my first mini salads

L.x.

Inspiration to live in the moment

2011-01-26T16:54:00.003Z

In the comments of the last post - Monica kindly linked to a Youtube video - which I watched and loved. I have downloaded it to the blog - you'll find it at the bottom of this page if you scroll down.
It is promoting Ann Voscamp's book(now on my very lengthy wishlist - lol) so if you dislike ads on blogs - sorry - but the video is beautiful and I want to be able to access it easily each morning as I sit here with my first cup of tea :)
Thanks for the link , Monica.
Much love,
L.x.

Living in the Moment

2011-01-26T09:27:00.013Z

In Blogland and the "real world" (!!) a lot of people I come into contact with have been saying they have had enough of this gloomy Winter and are ready for Spring.

Where I live our Winter has been cold, we had weeks of snow, we have had days of little light and lots of rain; and throughout it all, it's been bitterly cold.

Sunny days have been rare; their frequency reminding me of the full stops on the page of a child who has just learnt how to write; few on the ground but you know you'll get one eventually - LOL!

I don't share this eagerness to bid Winter farewell. The dark Winter days have suited my mood well and hibernation has been a comfortable cloak to wear.

On days when there were no errands to run, no school supply work to do, it has been satisfying and indeed healing to light lamps in a warm home and quietly, steadfastly do my daily round of housework.

The repetitive nature of what would seem a mundane task can be meditative.

Seeing domestic chaos restored to order can be refreshing in a world that is messy and beyond one's control.

And as for colour I have imported my own......

I have tried to use the long Winter days wisely. I may hibernate as in not go out much during the weekdays, but I am not sleeping! I have re-organised my home and tidied and de-cluttered; trying to be more efficient so that I have time to learn new things......

Please don't think I am super duper smug and in control - far from it - maybe that is why I am happy to like where we are right now and not make huge plans for Spring -maybe I am just lazy - mmmmmm yes that's it - Spring sounds so energetic and tiring to me - loads of gardening to do for a start - LOL!

But I am more than happy to drink tea and live in this moment, right here and now...... here.... this one.

L.x.

2011-01-26T08:29:00.003Z

Thanks for all your lovely comments on the previous post. I fear I may have sounded smug - "Look God was looking after me" which is not what I had intended - honestly - indeed I have put that to the back of my mind and just thought of it as kinda strange and a sixth sense kinda thing.
I know we are all looked after - not just silly old me :)

A weird thing happened on the way.........

2011-01-25T15:54:00.004Z

Hiya :)

The past two days have been hectic - I have had 5 different health checks in just two days - crazy. As I was rushing to another appointment yesterday, feeling a wee bit groggy - I have a dental abscess - I look like a chipmunk - lol - I pressed the button at the pedestrian crossing for the lights to change and when they did, oddly enough there was no traffic to stop and the way was clear for me to cross anyways. But I just had this feeling to wait awhile even though the traffic lights were on red, there was no traffic coming anyway, my pedestrian crossing light was on green and I was in a rush.

The young woman on the opposite side of the road looked at me and the lights and then me again obviously wondering why I hadn't started to cross but she too stayed put on the kerb - checking the lights which were in our favour.

But still I stayed there and I don't know why I just knew I mustn't go, yet the road appeared entirely safe.

All of a sudden a huge 4x4 truck came out of a side road at very high speed, jumped the lights and roared down the road, right over the crossing and jumping the lights where I and this lady would have been crossing the road had we started crossing immediately the lights had changed.

Weird or what??

Life returns to normal tomorrow - I can stay home all day - I shall celebrate by wearing my new apron and sipping tea in my new cup!

L.x.

Friday Fun.

2011-01-21T17:23:00.008Z

I spent another morning in school and it felt good to be teaching again. I would be lying if I said it was all sweetness and light - I am exhausted when I first get home and I do get stressed thinking about the work as I leave the house each morning. But when I am there it is as if I have never been away :)

Who knows how long I will be supply teaching. But I have achieved my goals; to prove to myself that I could still do it if I wanted to and that there is life after stroke. This has built my confidence and self esteem a little.

The children are lovely; they really relish one's time and attention. They are eager to learn and to please. I even had a few drawings made just for me today - sweet. Their laughter and joie de vivre is quite exhilerating.

One three year old tantrum this morning was quite spectacular - lol - and I had to admire her energy! I could so empathise with her frustrations. There are many times, especially during the past year, I would have loved to have thrown myself to the ground, kicking and screaming - LOL!! But my job is to teach social skills; accepted norms and values. So the child and her tantrum were ignored mid tumult and then when the storm had passed we negotiated better ways of coping with life and its frustrations! And life was full of smiles and good grace once more. If only life was always so easy.

My next booking is not until Feb so I shall happily be at home again next week - recuperating - LOL.

Some quiet time with my tapestry would be nice.......

It crossed my mind this afternoon that three year olds have tantrums whereas forty odd year olds have tapestry to help cope with life's frustrations - lol! I am certainly finding this piece of needlework very relaxing :)

Happy weekend.
Much love.
L.x.

Flowers for a friend.......

2011-01-20T17:50:00.004Z

I bought these flowers for a friend this afternoon.

She has had faith in me, encouraged me and helped me achieve something I have been working towards for a few months now.

Today I went back to work.

I helped my friend return to work after long term illness and she said when I was ready she would do the same for me.

So today we worked together in the same classroom. I was a teacher again working a supply morning session.

I have never been so scared.

But thanks to Ann, I did it.

The children (aged 3-5 years) were lovely and funny and full of curiosity and we spent a happy morning together learning new things.

And tomorrow morning we shall do it all over again.

Helloooooooooo!

2011-01-18T15:59:00.010Z

And how are you?

Well, I hope, and happy and looking forward to Spring.

I had a bit of a stressy hospital appointment yesterday - I think I am giving up on this hospital - they make me feel worse rather than better - lol.

When I left, the Dr said, "I'll see you in 4 months time".
I was so so tempted to say, "Not if I see you first!"

Then last night, an elderly relative I am supposed to be doing some decorating for told me that she was cancelling, as she would "never forgive myself if you had a funny turn up the ladder".

I felt angry and old and decrepit and on life's rubbish heap.

I mean, how much mischief can I possibly get up to on the second step of the step ladders? OK, moving swiftly on......

So today has been what Arkwright used to call, "a funny old day!" LOL. Which most of mine seem to be :)

I felt so unsettled today and flitted. I thought I'd done very little but actually I can see I was quite productive after all.

I have done a little laundry and ironing, dusted and vacuumed our bedroom.

This is last night's batch of yoghurt - strawberry - which needed a bit of a stirring (and sampling - well someone has to!).....

The daily check of the propogator shows that mixed salad leaves and rocket are ahead of the race and maybe a bit leggy - this is just 3 days since sowing - weird.

I plonked cheese and onion bread dough in the breadmaker to make pizza dough...

Last night's planned chilli left overs (I left a double batch cooking in the slow cooker) became 3 pizzas for the freezer.....

Then I received a HUGE thrill.......

..... from a very dear blog friend - I do not deserve such kindness - thank you so much Elizabeth.

As you can see, I was not at the front of the queue when God was giving out the voucher to the flower arranging classes - lol!

But, better than flower arranging skills, He has blessed me with kind friends, whom I do not deserve but for whom I am heartily thankful.

I am cooking lambs liver and bacon this evening - a favourite of mine - I cook it in a tomato, onion and mushroom sauce - yum. No -one else likes it - so they are having sausage instead but with sauce - so some of the liver goodness maybe??

I shall spend my evening stitching my tapestry which is coming on a treat, watching Land Girls which thus far I have missed - what a sorry time to air good drama -
2:15PM - BBC you should hang your heads in shame - LOL - I am a goode huswife - I am busy at 2:15PM (yeah right - ok - I forgot!!).

Have a cosy rest of your day. And Elizabeth thanks for making my day :)
Much love.
L.x.

Oh dear oh dear Queenie.......

2011-01-17T08:28:00.005Z

...... the scene where Queenie teaches lacemaking.

Now Queenie is one of my fave characters but...........

It just reminded me of a purely platonic version of the potters wheel scene in the film Ghost. I couldn't help but giggle a bit. Plus the fact it looked like poor Miss Pratt had grown an extra head!

And Gabriel is getting on me nerves a bit, "Dorcas, Miss Lane, Ma'am......"
Miss Lane's a meddlin' with face pinched and skirts a rustling and she hasn't had a single weakness thus far!
Laura's become "Miss Nearly Perfect On A Good Day"
The Miss Pratts are a prattling on and on.
Thomas is all of a do dah.
Margaret is all of a moither.
And it is only Minnie, quite dotty, who is keeping me sane :)

Still enjoying it but not the same somehow.

It was quite poignant, though, to be sitting there listening to Queenie grieve over the demise of her beloved hand crafted lace; going the way of other slower paced hand crafts, as I sat slowly stitching my tapestry.

Maybe that is why I shall continue to watch - those poignant moments amidst the bungling chaos - just like real life then really :)

L.x.

Greedy for Colour

2011-01-16T16:23:00.006Z

For me, colour is therapy.

You will never find a monochrome interior design in my home.

I do not love black and white photos as some do; as I long to know what colour dress the lady was wearing and what colours were in the flower bed.

I once flirted with white flower beds in my gardening, a la Sissinghurst - didn't last - I got distracted and added blue and then a little lemon and then, before I knew it, pink came to the party and a gaggle of other colours gate-crashed - but a thunderous good time was had by all!

We tootled round the garden centre today admiring all the discounted items. In December we had said we would buy a new Christmas tree in the sales and there was £80 off a glorious specimen. But neither of us had the heart to buy a tree in January, only to put it straight in the loft; when the money could be spent on something Spring like. So no doubt, come December when Christmas trees are massively expensive we will "make do" yet again with the delapidated tree my Dad bought and I shall be super duper happy that it has been reprieved again!

(If we do find a bargain tree though I have mentally found a new home for my Dad's tree in my dining room - I know Steve wants a new tree and I want Dad's - so a compromise!!!!!!!)

Anyways - Primrose Emily jumped into my basket

- naughty girl! I planted her into the front garden border as soon as I got home. I was so desperate for some colour when I look out from my window. It was pouring with rain as I planted those plants - that's how desperate I was!

My garden notebook - yes I journal about my garden saying what needs doing - LOL - had a note about how last August the garden looked forlorn and lack lustre - so I am planning colour.

I am going to plant up pots of colourful bulbs/tubers ie lillies and dahlias and then when they are in flower transplant them to any bare patches in the borders. Hopefully the August garden will look better this year - a riot of colour no less!

Yesterday I also went round the garden noting in my journal what needs lifting and moving etc. I take my gardening seriously - LOL!!

And whilst I await Spring to come I am giving her a helping hand indoors - a hyacinth

- making the laundry shelf a bit less utilitarian :)

Are you greedy for colour? Actually I am just greedy - for anything - as Dorcas would say - it is my only weakness - enjoy Lark Rise this evening!!

L.x.

Garden therapy

2011-01-15T14:15:00.004Z

Today we gardened.

Steve did heavy stuff.

I did light stuff.

The weather was warmish but dull.

I swept the patio and filled a large tub with primroses - they are not in flower yet as I raised them myself so have not been forced like those in the garden centres. Some of my home grown violas were flowering so they are now offering a cheery welcome in the window box by the front door.

I also played with my new toy - an electric window sill propogator.

Bought with savings made by being frugal with my food bills - I want to raise mini salad trays. I love salad leaves but am the only one really so I have to eat mountains of the stuff before it goes off or buy living salads which cost the earth. I am going to see if I can raise my own living salads and micro leaves. You just cram in your normal leaves and eat them whilst they are still quite tiny and tender but I can just let them grow til I'm ready. I did a brassica micro leaf, spinach beet, lambs lettuce, all round lettuce, pea shoots, rocket, and a mixed salad leaf.

We'll see.

It was good to feel compost in my fingers again.

And I ate my home made yoghurt for breakfast - lovely :)

I hope you are all happy.

Much love.

L.x.

The Wanderer returns.........

2011-01-14T17:14:00.008Z

Hello - Sorry I have been AWOL. Life has been a bit (lot) tough and I have been confined to barracks.

But they are pretty barracks and warm too. So who am I to complain?

For the past few weeks it is as if Life pushed me in at the deep end of the swimming baths and I have been desperately treading water ever since.

Christmas was enormous fun but such hard work.

I had had flu just before Christmas and not rested enough so I got a chest infection and another kidney infection and I am now as weak as a kitten but not nearly as cute :)

I now have an ear infection and can barely hear a thing which maybe is not too bad a deal - LOL!! My world is very quiet. And I have almost lost my voice - which is not too bad a deal for those who live with me :)

I am mightily pleased that I can stay home in the warm and just simply be.

Today I had a wee bit more oomph - so I made my first batch of yoghurt which tastes fab and makes me feel independent in a self sufficient, Good Life kind of way. It is cheaper than a shop bought bio yoghurt and I'll keep a stash of "make it from scratch" ingredients - both Easi-yo and starter and UHT milks in - for when I can't buy shop bought on offer.

During the day when I am home alone my dining room becomes my work room where I blog, write, iron, anything really cos I like to keep my living room ready for visitors and my kitchen is teeny tiny so needs to stay tidy. So here is my dining table today -

It has on it my Cath Kidston notebook where I keep my housework notes - have gone back to my 5 minute housework tasks cos 5 mins is enough and then I have to have a sit down - lol- and have a cup of tea. And next to that is my new tapestry - this is giving me much joy - a mundane repetitive little task where the only "chore" is "what colour shall I use next?" If only real life was like that!! It is going to be a cushion cover.

Sadly, there have been some life knocks too these past few weeks. I thank God for the friends I have been able to talk to. And the resilience He has taught me.

Many years ago, someone, very unkindly, commented upon how easily I can distract myself from every day stuff. She had no idea the unbelievable hardships I was enduring at the time. I think she thought I was just a bit of an "air head" LOL! But I think it is a God given gift to be able to distract oneself in the beauty surrounding you, finding pleasant and productive ways to fill time that could weigh heavily - maybe it is God's panacea to our pain?

Anyway, however one likes to think of it all; I just think that there is an awful lot of nice stuff still to do and maybe especially to do; when the going gets tough.

Keep on smiling.

Much love.
L.x.

Hello

2011-01-12T21:28:00.002Z

Thanks for your emails asking if I'm ok :)
Yes I'm fine and will be back soon.
Been a bit busy with the more boring side of life - health appointments, getting over flu etc.
Hope you are all ok:)
Speak with you soon when I'll show how I've been distracting my little old self - LOL.
Much love & keep warm.
L.x.

A jumble of thoughts this Thursday.

2011-01-06T13:59:00.008Z

So, much like any day then; a jumble!

How are you?

Goodness it's taking me a while to get back into the groove after the hols. Have you slipped back easily into the day to day? Or are you like me? I seem to be flitting - I have tons of to do lists,plans and projects aplenty in my head and butterflies in my tummy - odd.

I found myself in a traffic queue this morning and thought it might be a good time to pray to our good Lord for a bit of help in sorting out the mess that I currently call my life - LOL.

It's strange, but during the rest of the day as I have gone about my chores I am beginning to see a way forward. I'd like to find a new writing project and the local hospital seems interested in my art work with patients. So now I need to find the confidence to up and go :)

I had a call from my old church yesterday reminding me that I am still on the flower rota - from which I had been told, last week, I had been removed. It would seem church rotas are for life not just for Christmas - lol - to use the old dog rescue ads. So this morning I had the glorious job of choosing altar memorial flowers for my Dad......

..... there they are having a glug of water before tomorrow's arranging.

They make this week's house flowers look very sober.

However these, no doubt will be doing their drunken ballerina act pretty soon despite the pin hole in the stem - besides I do like tulips as they begin to run rampant. It's like they have forgotten their early house guest days manners!

Amaryllis no 2 has now joined no 1.

Now no2 has more colouring and thus far seems better behaved; requiring no staking. These bulbs have flowered in record time - 5 weeks or so. I am going to try to save the bulb again this year - I have never had any success - if you have - please tell!!

I have recycled my Christmas cards and the curling ribbon I hung them from into next year's gift tags.

I put together all my unused cards and have just enough for next year.

As a contingency I found some sale cards this morning - 30 cards reduced
to 74p!!!!!! I couldn't make them for that.

And crackers - 12 reduced to 74p also. There are 12, I have 4 left from this year so I have enough for 2 Christmases - yes I am mean - I count them in and I count them out! We have a cracker each at our lunch-time meal. As you see we do not do the "luxury" cracker. So long as it goes bang (and if it doesn't we can shout "BANG!"), has a hat, a bad joke, and a "novelty" we are well pleased!

So that's some of Christmas 2011 done - am on the look out for some nice but cheap, preferably gold paper, for parcels under the tree for my boys now, and I'm done til nearer the date.

We have loads of gift bags for some reason, collected over several years, so most pressies will be posh and gift bagged this year!

I usually buy a voucher each month which I then use to spend on small gifts and the food come November and December. This way I can "do" Christmas from my monthly housekeeping budget. And this year I will be making pressies again too - which I haven't done the past two years. So I feel I have made a start.

It was a bit warmer today and felt Spring like. I was tempted to start planting out the 40 primroses I raised in the greenhouse - but more snow is forecast so they will stay where they are and so shall I - in the warm.

Happy Thursday!
L.x.

You know it's time to go back to work.....

2011-01-04T08:58:00.003Z

......when you crash land your remote control helicopter (Santa's crazy gift to all the family which I love) into your wife's tapestry yarn and yer blades get all tapestried up.

So the hols are over; sad.
We have snow; pretty.
I have work to do; shame :)
L.x.

A fresh start

2011-01-03T13:36:00.003Z

Steve sugggested putting the decs away today as he is home to help make the job easier. So I snapped his hand off!! Any offers of help gratefully received. He even vacuumed afterwards - nice man:)

I am making a tagliatelle recipe I saw on tv cooked by a bona fidae or as Victoria Wood says a fona bidae Italian who says this is what "Mama used to make" - pork & beef mince, passata, no herbs, onion simmered gently for a few hours then layered with cooked tagliatelle and mozzarella and topped with grated parmasan - though I shall top with cheddar as that is what we prefer - so there - like this Mama used to make then - lol!

There was too much beef mince as I only had a large family pack in the freezer so I used the left over combined with veg to make a cottage pie base for tomorrow. So the house smells of cooking - nice.

The roof man came to mend the roof today as he forgot it was a Bank Holiday - lol. And here I am grabbing hold of the day reluctant to let the final day of the hols go. Tomorrow Steve will go back to work and Alex to school. Daley returned to work days ago. Poor Greg is in bed with the flu virus where I think he will remain for a few days yet :(

I have decided tentatively to have a few resolutions this year - I haven't done the resolutions thing for years but I need something to work towards. So I have euphemistically called them plans - much more user friendly :)

As I am not going to church now I shall have more daily meditative quiet time with my Bible and faith books, I need to build my strength and stamina with my next stage of physio and I shall also be crafting more to help with fine motor skills.

When I was snowed in I had a good tidy of the house and noted how much craft stuff I have and I could be saving a fortune ,making gifts again like I used to and of course that would be good physio - So my final "plan" is to go back to what I used to do; "using what I have" or "shopping from home" before I hit the shops.

I started this last night making a gift for a friend - will show you after her birthday - oh boy, it was so s-l-o-w and frustrating. Hopefully I will get it done and after all I have not said which birthday - lol!

So that is my fresh start.

Happy 2011.

L.x.

1/1/11 Lantern Living

2011-01-01T13:00:00.008Z

Well we saw the New Year in, watching the fireworks on TV as Big Ben bonged.

I did my usual Grumpy Old Woman "Good grief how much would those fireworks have cost?"

"Hundreds of thousands," said 'im indoors. (It was £313,000) "And I don't really care what New Year in New Zealand, Australia etc etc looks like - it all looks the same to me - each country trying to out do the last" He said the same last year - lol.

And I wittered on about how the money could have fed the hungry, set families up with seeds etc in the Third World, helped people in our own country worried about their heating bills, the homeless etc etc. And how I would have far more respect for a government/local council who decided no fireworks or even just a minute's worth of display.

We had watched Grumpy Old New Year earlier can you tell? LOL.

This was the first New Year that I felt unsettled and fearful. Usually I just think well it's another day in the number apportioned to me by the good Lord. But this year I just felt fearful and worrisome for my boys, the future, the world we live in. So I spent much of the evening apparently watching rubbish TV with my husband but actually in silent prayer - lol!

I looked out of my bedroom window at midnight and the sky was filled with the latest craze of Chinese Flying Lanterns - they wafted silently amidst the fireworks. I love these lanterns - silently and steadfastly they made their way through the hullaballoo of crashing and flashing fireworks. I stood transfixed. Nothing could deflect them from their path. There were hundreds of them.

They seem to hold a lesson somehow - Just keep on steadfastly through all the hullaballoo, holding onto the Light in the surrounding darkness.

I turned off the TV, opened the blinds and climbed into bed. We lay watching the lanterns track their course continuing long after the fireworks had fizzled out.

As I watched, I wondered about each person who had lit their lantern; had they made a wish for the coming year? Had they said a prayer concerning the passing year? Was their lantern in memory of a loved one? Or was it merely just a fun part of a jolly good New Year Knees Up? I do hope that it was the latter!!

So as I slipped into slumber I felt that my fears might fly away with the lanterns and after all tomorrow will be another day - a day that the Lord has made and which I shall rejoice in.

And today is 1/1/11 and there shall be 3 more dates this year when we shall have all the ones.

Seeing the date as 1 1 11 made me think of a silly rhyme my best friend used to write when we were at school.

11 was a racehorse
22 was 12
1111 race
22112

(reads as
One One was a racehorse
Two two was one too
One One won one race
Two two won one too!)

Anyhows thus finishes today's witterings - looks like it's business as usual!

Happy New Year!

God Bless.

L.x.

New Years Eve - already? Surely not!

2010-12-31T18:48:00.006Z

The amaryllis are flowering early this year and jolly nice too :) This is the most advanced of the three - how obliging that they are staggering their flowering seeing as I foolishly planted them at the same time!

I spent this morning at the dentist as a back tooth broke last night. She is a lovely dentist and very good. I am so grateful that she saw me straightaway.
Steve did the shopping whilst I was seen to. Then we came home and watched the Just William episodes on catch up TV - oh how I loved Mrs Brown's 1950's kitchen!! I think I missed much of the plot as I drooled over the kitchen!!

Then we watched The Sound of Music - bliss!

We reminisced about an Austrian holiday in Salzburg, shouting out "Been there" etc. I recalled how we had gone on a "Sound of Music" coach tour and as we travelled along songs from the film were played, the scenery was stunning and I sang along - "I feel quite emotional" I had sighed as the coach climbed the mountain roads. "Yes it makes me want to weep too" said my husband drily!!

So a Happy New Years Eve.

We are not great party animals - we are staying home - a chinese meal, a glass of wine, good books, some TV, maybe some knitting or crochet for me.

I have received some really lovely comments especially over the holidays. You have really cheered me. Thank you so much for dropping in to visit me and listen to my witterings this past year!

May I wish you much joy in 2011; days filled with love and laughter, may you be hale and hearty and absolutely assured that Jesus loves you.

Much love.
L.x.

Jumping through hoops and the promise of something new.

2010-12-30T16:49:00.007Z

My little corner of the world is veiled in freezing fog. We have a thaw but the lull before the next snowstorm is enveloped in fog.

I spent the morning with Gladys Taber at Stillmeadow. I love books. You can travel anywhere... world wide, then or now, and visit whomever you wish. And Gladys is such a good host :)

At lunchtime we took Alex for his theory driving test.

Whilst he sweated it out we picked up some wool that I had ordered to finish a project and then visited the hospice charity book shop. On the way back to the car we saw daffodils for sale. Daffodils - well it must be Spring soon, after all the decs will be taken down next week - lol!

We sat outside the driving centre reading my charity books debating whether or not the theory test was in the bag or not. Alex's grin as he walked to the car said it all. PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now he can sit his practical driving test in a few months time. Life is full of hoops for us to jump though isn't it?

When we got home I pondered on my purchases - raw materials offering the promise of something new - nice.

Wishing you much love and the promise of something new.

L.x.

2010-12-29T17:48:00.003Z

Today we went to the Rob Ryan exhibition. It was advertised ages ago in Country Living and as I am a fan I was quite prepared to travel to London to see it. But as I read further the article said it was coming to my county town.

And today was the great day!

He mixes poetry with paper cuts and screen prints. The exhibition includes the orginal paper cuts of his work for Carol Ann Duffy's The Gift.

Admission was free and you were allowed to take pics. My only criticism was there was little of his stuff left to buy :(

Rob Ryan you are a genius!

He has a blog and an etsy shop - mmmmmmmmmmmmm I have to save some pennies methinks!!!

Ye ha!

2010-12-28T22:27:00.001Z

Lark Rise to Candleford is back - new series 9th Jan!

2010-12-28T18:18:00.004Z

I felt so guilty talking about relishing some quiet time yesterday that I almost deleted the post.

During the potential dark worry time of night I pondered on what if something dreadful happened to those who fill my quiet times with noise - I would regret posting that blog. But then I reasoned that I was merely saying that noise and quiet each have their place and I appreciate both.

I know a lady who hates quiet time. Companionable silence is an anathema for her. Consequently time spent with her can be exhausting as every moment is filled with chatter. And when one runs out of chatter, it is easy to slide into gossip.

It was interesting to read Gladys Taber's views on silence in Country Chronicle this morning. I felt reassured that I am not odd to relish quiet times. My inner cheer leader applauded her :)

"There are many silences - so many I would like to write a book about them........... I think perhaps the winter morning air stillness has the most magic. Quite literally there is no sound. And therefore the motionless air seems to sing - a melody from the beginning of time. I cannot analyze it, but my heart also stands still."

We went for a long walk today. The snow is melting steadily but along the canal the towpath remains a slippery ice trail and the canal is still frozen. The air was heavy with mist and few walkers were about. Any noise was stifled by the falling fog. Heavily swathed in fleeces, scarves, hat, gloves and heavy wellington boots my body felt heavy as I trudged. The silence was all enveloping and I pondered Gladys' thoughts.

Thanks for the recommendation dear Pom Pom :)

Ssssssssssshhhhhhh!

2010-12-27T18:42:00.002Z

There have been up to 9 of us some days.
This evening there are just two of us.
It is quiet.

Noise is nice.
Quiet is nice.

Don't stop me now...........

2010-12-26T17:10:00.005Z

I'm having such a good time.............

Well I am but goodness isn't Christmas and all this good timing tiring? LOL!!

I've been hearing about folks who start thinking of taking the decs down soon. Sorry but round here it's Christmas til the fat lady (me) sings ie says so and that's about Jan 5th. I figure that for as long as Steve is off work then we are Christmassy - and after all we have the 12 days of Christmas to consider and Epiphany and such.

But our Christmas is a quiet family affair - watching films, walks, chatting , reading etc. Not a party in sight.

Did you have a lovely day yesterday? - I hope so. It's a busy day what with all the cooking. I like Boxing Day best - it's quieter, less to do and seemingly more time :)

I started the project in my CK pressie today.

Cath Kidston - you are having a larf - the soluble transparent canvass "aida" has miniscule holes - I sat beneath a strong light with a magnifying glass balanced over my work and managed just 4 cross stitches before I gave in boss eyed. It is a lovely project but at 4 stitches a day it's gonna be a labour of love that takes an age to complete!

Well back to a glass of something Christmassy and maybe a choccy - hard life but someone's gotta do it!!

I'll raise a toast to you all - Happy days and the gift to find the funny in the everyday stuff,to be able to tread water when we're in the deep end, walk through treacle backwards, make a G&T when life gives you lemons and always always smile even when trying the CK impossible aida project!

Much love,

L.x

Happy Days!

2010-12-24T18:31:00.006Z

Pre-Christmas days have been spent in peaceful preparation at home.

Daley wanted to make his girlfriend a Christmas card. I didn't have much in the way of Christmas stuff in my cardmaking supplies so I tried to show him how to do dry embossing which was hilarious especially with Greg watching and joking along. But a nice snowflake card was made.....

Excuse the state of the craft table!

Greg has been making this wooden storage box for weeks now for his girlfriend. Decoupaged in their holiday snaps - it is finally finished.

The drawers pull out and the top bit pulls down on a hinge thingy.

It is still cold

so I stayed home and read my new books.......

I've done prettying stuff.....

The Christmas tables beginning to look ready - just need the crackers, the food and the people!

Happy days indeedy!

Happy Christmas!

Much love.
L.x.

I think I must have been kidnapped......

2010-12-22T11:03:00.005Z

..........it's just three days til THE day. I have guests coming - will they get here? I have turkeys (yes - plural - two small crowns and a pork joint to be collected) and as yet not a sprout to be seen let alone boiled to death and yet I care not a jot. I am as calm as calm could be.

Whoever has kidnapped the real me - well you can keep her - I quite like this new me!

Yet more snow overnight- 6 whole inches:)And still it falls. Steve had to be all "he man" and dig his way out of the house today - yet still he went to work - not sure whether to praise him or not over this one. It was all very "Little House on the Prairie".

My asthma is dreadful - asthma nurse is sending a prescription for antibiotics and steroids to my local pharmacy for me to pick up so we have back up stuff in the house over the holidays should we need it. I feel like with all the stocking up of holiday food, meds etc we are laying in for a siege :)

I am gently pottering, making up guest beds, getting table linens, china and silverware together - stuff that I only really use at Christmas. So we have a table laid and no food and guest rooms ready but no guests - lol! This feels like the pretty but superficial Hyancinth Bucket

"Keeping Up Appearances" school of housewifery and is all very surreal. Meanwhile the more everyday has to continue; the washing machine hums, the kettle boils non stop and still the snow falls.

Welcome to my world!

Entertaining angels

2010-12-21T17:00:00.004Z

I have always been fond of the Hebrews passage encouraging us to treat everyone who crosses our path well as we may unwittingly be entertaining angels.

In similar vein we just don't know what is happening in the lives of the people who cross our paths.

Yesterday whilst scrambling about in the loft to find the origins of the water leak which we didn't find, we found a hole in the roof at the opposite end of the house - never a dull moment chez moi.

I have a list of skilled workmen recommended by a trusted chap who has done a lot of work here- and on the list was the name of a roofer - noted as a good worker
and doesn't charge the earth.

He came round today - a burly chap, boisterous, cheery, reassuring. "Squirrel damage, Love" he shouted through the loft hatch door. "Looks worse than it is....."

It is still freezing here. I made him hot coffee whilst he made a temporary fix - he'll go up onto the roof after the thaw, refixing slates, mortar and roof felt - charging under £80 total.

As he sipped his coffee he suddenly broke down telling me about his Dad's funeral last week, his mother died last Christmas. His Dad's story had many similarities to my own Dad - taken ill at this time of year and who I have been thinking of a lot this week. I sat for nearly an hour listening to this man's heartache at losing "my best friend" and I thought of my Dad; I'm not sure I ever told him he was my best friend - I should have told him.

But I think he knows; later than I'd have liked but I think he knows and I found a peace in that today.

And whimsically, I pondered did my Heavenly Father have a hand in the roofer crossing my path, so that I could listen to his hurt but at the same time come to
realise that my own Dad knew that I loved him dearly? Either way, it doesn't really matter other than another human being was allowed a quiet moment.

2010-12-20T14:53:00.006Z

Hello :)

We awoke to a damp patch gently seeping it's way across the bedroom wall. Still awaiting a visit from a plumber. However it seems to have stopped and the plaster work dried?? We have looked in the loft and all pipework seems ok??

Then Steve's car wouldn't start.

The temp has been minus 12 outside this morning.

I have been pottering indoors and managed to get quite a lot done - yet more laundry and finished de-cluttering my crafts stuff.

Tomorrow I shall do a little cleaning and fluffing up!
Wednesday I shall buy my fresh veg.
Thursday I shall collect my turkey.

I simplified Christmas so much this year and it has been lovely - calm and peaceful.
Hope you are feeling it too :)
L.x.

All is calm.........

2010-12-19T16:54:00.006Z

Foghorn Pete (aka Steve with a bad cough) & I went to complete the non perishable supermarket shopping today. We chose Morrisons as we had a £25 voucher to spend. They play tinny Christmas music in Morrisons. It was his first trip out since last Monday, we are both high on Lemsip and a week of old Christmas movies - it was good to be out - we bopped & sang-along as we trolley pushed the aisles!!

We got home and sat round the table sipping tea and talking - life seems leisurely.

Steve is watching Songs of Praise at the moment - Christmas carols - All is Christmassy.

Several of our extended family tease me regularly for being too organised. I am so so glad that I am. This week has been horrendous - I think we both had flu proper - thank goodness I was a fair bit ahead with Christmas preparations as I felt too dreadful to do much. Also being organised means I can now accommodate the additional dinner guests who have just arrived unexpectedly. Surely organised is not such a bad thing?

(I notice how it is those relatives who tease me all year who reap the benefits of my organisation when they spend the holidays here........ mmmmmmm!)

I hope you are all having a peaceful and leisurely Sunday.
L.x.

Silver linings and sprinklings of snow.

2010-12-17T10:27:00.008Z

Well every cloud has a silver lining - I may sound like the Queen Mary coming into port but I no longer have her girth. Steve and I have lost nearly one stone between us this week. Now, as I am a voluptuous kinda girl this is good news regardless of how it came about.

We have a light sprinkling of snow and more is forecast - it all looks lovely and it is good to be indoors just looking at it :)

I have had some worries just lately that have been small and petty but have bothered me. Stuff and people have got me down. I have prayed - a lot. And this morning answers have begun to appear in ways that I could not have foreseen. All quite astonishing and very welcome. There is a long way to go but somehow I feel less fearful :)

I spent the day ironing and sorting through my craft supplies. I threw away stuff I had kept "just in case" but was really too small to be of any use. Today all the papercrafting was done - I just have a little of my sewing stuff to do and then I shall be finished. I am hoping that having sorted and seen what I have I will now be inspired to craft again.

I dreamt in the night that I was stealing blankets from people's beds & putting them on my own - pretty much like in the picture below - LOL! I woke very snug in my little bed so I think I am in hibernating mood :)

o

With more snow forecast we are home for the weekend - probably finishing the last of present wrapping.

Stay warm & safe.

Much love.

L.x.

2010-12-16T16:35:00.002Z

Steve has very generously shared his cough lurgy so I now sound like the Queen Mary coming into port and am high on inhalers.

The snow has returned.

There is a ton of stuff I should be doing............

Keep warm.

L.x.

A Kitchen Memo....

2010-12-14T19:57:00.001Z

The ghosts of Christmas past

2010-12-14T16:36:00.007Z

I have been reading about the Christmases in my favourite books; sharing in the festive frolics of Miss Read, Jan Karon's Mitford, Milly Molly Mandy, The Ingalls, Rowena Farre's Seal Morning, Nella Last, Margueritte Patten's wartime cooking leaflets and broadcasts and The Women's Institute.

They have all had me grinning broadly as I soaked up their charm and simplicity.

I cringed a bit at the "Xmas" - I hate hate hate the abbreviation "Xmas" as it's taking Christ out of Christmas and we do that enough already. But the rest of the article amuses me....

"Question: I shall miss my gay bowl of fruit on the Christmas table ....
Answer: Not if you have a bowl of salad in its place. Vegetables have such jolly colours - the cheerful glow of carrot, the rich crimson of beetroot, the emerald of parsley."

I just love it. How can we moan nowadays?

I turned the page to find this......

Give over, yer avin' a larf - I'm still trying to convince Steve that chickens might be nice!!!!!!!!

Actually his grandma always kept a pig in her back garden whether or not there was a war on. Mmmm perhaps I should remind him of this.

We have the "cheerful glow of carrots" for supper - meatballs in tomato sauce containing said veggy glow. The meatballs are from IKEA. Can you imagine what our wartime WI ladies would have thought "You can buy huge bags of frozen meatballs from a furniture shop - oh and by the way, you buy the furniture but you have to build it yourself - but don't worry you won't need a nail, screw, hammer or screwdrver. There's a leaflet showing you how to do it but it doesn't, show you how to do it, that is. There's always loads of pieces left over, it never looks as good as it does in the shop - except the Billy Bookcase - and it may work its way loose and wobble a bit. But the meatballs are lovely"

Actually when I open the bag of meatballs I half expect them to be flat-packed with allan key included!

Anyway gals better go, TTFN :)
L.x.

Dear Gorgeous Lovely People :)

2010-12-13T14:45:00.006Z

Thanks for your nice comments.

It's funny how yesterday I was thinking - it's no good girl, yer gonna have to quit this blogging lark for a few days cos there's nothing going on around here to write about - and then you leave me such lovely comments - thanks you made my Monday morning :)

I had a 'phone call very very early from my mother - so early in fact I thought she'd had a mishap and I'd be spending the day hospital visiting or some such. I have a school report that reads "Lynn (aged 7) has a vivid imagination" so apparently does Lynn aged 47!!!!!!

Anyways poor old Mom says for the millionth time since September "I don't think I should be coming to you for Christmas what with you being ill" Of course she does want to come. She just wants me to tell her she's coming... (again!)

"Mom the kids are beginning to ask if you don't really want to come, " I said. "And I'm beginning to feel like a kidnapper bringing you here against your will...... by the way who do I send the ransom note to? And how much can my brother afford?"
This lightens the mood and she laughs ....... but continues GASP!

Mom: "Many old folks spend Christmas Day alone........ Thousands of people are alone at Christmas......"
Me: "Thousands of people are on drugs now please tell me you're not going to try that as well?"
Mom: 'Course not.
Me: So Greg'll fetch you as usual then?
Mom: If you're sure.
Me: Yes, sorted then. (Thinking - 'til tomorrow)

My brother has also asked Mom so she wouldn't be alone anyway. Funny old thing!
That whole conversation actually took an hour.

Then I went to finish my Christmas shopping.
And I just happened to see these lovey PJ's........................

Well it is Christmas. And I do need new PJ's :)

Steve has come home early - got Alex's cough and the shivers - and a mammothly high temperature??? - so no art class for us - shame he's ill but glad we're not art classing - so cold here just want to stay home :) More snow expected Thursday. Lots of horrible viruses around. So I shall be playing nurse for a few days ;)

Better go check the patients.
Much love,
L.x.

I love the way we can carry on learning new things.

2010-12-12T16:19:00.006Z

Steve and the boys have been houseworking. There were some heavy housework jobs that needed doing. I spent much of yesterday resting as I have kidney trouble again and am in a lot of pain. So today Steve and the boys have done the heavier bits of the housework.

I have to say they did a really good and more thorough job than I would do. They are now congratulating their little selves with mince pies in front of the footie on tv!

So freed of housework which I can't do but knowing there is stuff I can still do, I retreated to the kitchen and in the company of Miss Read (again!) I made a beef and vegetable (leeks, onions and carrots with a tin of tomatoes, paprika & mixed herbs) casserole which I shall serve with mustard dumplings and creamy mashed potatoes. I also decided to make the most of the time saved from the chores, as well as keeping myself occupied whilst they worked, and have a go at making some mince pies to serve to our Christmas guests.

Last year I made this plate...

... joking that the plate may be made by me but, yet again the mince pies placed upon it would not be. My mince pies have always been shop bought.

Yet again this year my New Year resolution was to bake more bread, learn how to make my own soups and to learn how to make pastry and I've done it!!! I've baked bread, and made my soups.

Now pastry was difficult.

I have tried hard at pastry over the years.

Picture the scene dear reader...... Many Christmases ago I laboured over my mince pies, took them from the oven and nearly dropped the tray under the weight - they were so so heavy - the pastry was as hard as iron. I gave up after that.

Alex made pastry at school a couple of years ago - light as a feather, melted in yer mouth. I am not usually a jealous person......... I studied the recipe, asked him to repeat EXACTLY what he had done in class. And I sort of mulled it over. But still no joy. If I wanted pastry - I asked Alex!

Then I read the Hairy Biker's fool proof pastry - and I am that there fool! I LOVE THE HAIRY BIKERS!!!!!

So slowly slowly - it looks like I can do pastry :)

Alex sat watching me bake awhile this afternoon - he has the most awful cough right now and I think he was quite enjoying the warmth of the kitchen as he sipped tea. He was asking how I knew what to do, "You taught me!" I said.
"Me?"
"Well you got me started" I said and I told him how his brilliant pastry from his school cookery lessons had inspired me to carry on trying.

I give you my mince pies.....

#

They are yummy - the proof being that of the 26 I made only 12 made it into the freezer - lol. I shall have to make some more for our guests!

They look nice on my plate too!

Next year I want to master scones, more bread recipes, yoghurt and jam and growing a bit more food - but easily on the patio in pots - manageable for me :)

I love the way we can carry on learning - not just skills, hobbies, crafts but life stuff too.

And my menfolk learnt stuff too :)

Whilst the mince pies cooked I sat in the kitchen watching their loveliness through the (clean!!!!!!!!) oven door and made lists of what still needs doing before our Christmas house guests arrive (not too much) in case this wretched kidney condition continues and I need to delegate. I am a control freak aren't I? And I pondered on our willingness to learn new things and take on new tasks. And also our willingness to step back and allow others to step forward and learn.

I have an elderly relative who says "I am older than you and so I am wiser." But this is just not right in all situations. The young can teach us things just as we can share our experiences. I have learnt so much from my sons. Alex taught me pastry, patience and perseverence. Greg teaches me much about computers, compassion and the sheer joy of living. Daley teaches me a lot about determination, and he has my Dad's dry sense of humour. I am older but am not necessarily wiser than the next person.

All of us, no matter what our age; have something to learn and something to teach.

Much love.
L.x.

Oh you will never guess what I did!

2010-12-10T17:49:00.005Z

I had a makeover at the posh make-up counter!

Well, I figured that if I have to live with a new me, well she might as well look a bit different - LOL!

So when I was at the hairdressers and she said - shall I mix your usual colour I said "yes and let's add some highlights!" - so we did!! I haven't been able to for months as a side effect of my meds is possible hair loss so we waited to make sure everything was ok before adding more chemicals and as it is ok we went full steam ahead!!

And then I went to the posh make -up counter in town with birthday money from last August and climbed into the high up chair thing and we discussed colours and all things girly and I came out a new woman - LOL!

I have never ever done this before so it was a BIG thing for me. I usually buy the
99p make-up from the chemist shop so this is so luxurious :)

oooooooooohhh I do love a bit of glamour!

Another day another dollar.......

2010-12-10T09:31:00.008Z

..... have often wondered where the saying comes from. So researched it. Apparently on long sea voyages - sailors were paid by the day and got through by thinking of each day as another dollar.

Yesterday whilst out I did a reccy of the roads -mainly clear - and so today I did the school run - first time in an age. We are in for a few ok days and the cold returns middle of next week.

This morning I shall be packing up parcels, as today is the final posting day for the US and I have had my relatives' present for an age and done nowt with it!

The elephant (see last post!) and I are going to the hairdressers for our Christmas cut and colour - which will be fun as my hairdresser and I are kindred spirits and we laugh a lot. Don't you find the hair salon a place of camaraderie? I guess it has to be - we know each other's secrets - like the real colour of our hair!

An elderly gentleman once came into the salon to pick up his wife. He gaped at all us ladies swathed in gowns & towels, under dryer hoods, sat before heat shields hair covered in foil papers or teased and twisted into rollers; others succumbing to the tortuous straightening irons and curling tongs and he just gasped, "What are they doing to you all?" It was really funny!

I would love to come home and read and rest, knit or do nothing but there is a pile of ironing and I bet I shall dutifully do that, knowing me - LOL - though I might watch Little Women as I do it :)

So that's my day.

Hope yours is a good 'un!
L.x.

Getting to know the new me.

2010-12-09T18:01:00.004Z

When I put my photo on the blog a few weeks ago someone who knows me very very well didn't recognise it as being me. They got out of it very well by saying something nice and kind along the lines of "It doesn't do you justice. You look much prettier in real life." Aah bless. I don't. But nice to say so.

My diagnosis has been blurry with no concrete scan evidence; apparently it is not unusual for a stroke especially one due to migraine to offer no evidence on an MRI or CT scan.

My neurologist is one of the leading neurologists in the country. He says he is 99% sure. I have it all written down in a letter - I didn't mishear or misunderstand. Yet on good days I am still in denial. Me? A stroke? Don't be daft. Yer 'avin' a larf.

But some days, like today, as darkness falls so does a certain melancholy. A sour taste of certainty that drives away denial.

In the quiet of the dark evening, as I wait for others to come home, I remember how it felt to be enveloped by the cold today and how I could not shake off the numbing heaviness along the right side of my body. How my mind plodded through its thought process like an elephant labouring through a mud bath and how my tongue seemed suddenly quite tied up in knots as I spoke to my friend. And all because the cold weather was tingling those damaged nerve endings.

So I am getting to know the new me. She doesn't feel like me, or look like me. She doesn't do me justice! Surely I am much prettier than this?? LOL. The real me can can feel things symmetrically, think quicker than this and give any mud bath plodding elephant a run for her money! And the real me could talk for England!

But not when it's still icy , it would seem.

The Great Escape On Ice

2010-12-09T15:14:00.006Z

I actually drove myself in my own little car to the supermarket today - hoorah! With my right side being weak when it's this cold and with so much ice I had felt a bit scared so I hadn't driven for ten days.

My little road still has an inch or two of solid ice so Rita Rover and I ice skated bolero

to the main road where, the ice had been dealt with by the gritters and volume of traffic over the past few days, so it was plain skating, nothing fancy from thereonin!

It was good to be back in the land of the living, albeit the supermarket. Some of the shelves bore witness to some stocking up - like the depleted bread mixes - how dare other people panic buy when that was my intention - lol! Looking for alternatives made me realise how spoilt for choice we are in this country.

Anyways, as celebration of the fact I was out and about, had had a jolly chat with a friend I'd met in there and would soon be on my way home again (there's only so much supermarket excitement a girl can take!) I treated myself to a new magazine and a pot of lemon and coriander houmous for my lunch - I know I could make it myself but it's nice to pretend someone has slaved over a lunch for me for a change!

Stephen rang me on my 'phone as I approached the checkout - "I 'phoned home, you're not there - so you're out!". Made me sound like I'd scrambled the walls of the local prison; either that or I'd been let out for good behaviour - LOL.

I'm glad to be back home now! It is getting dark already, the house is warm and smells deliciously of cooking.

Supper is curry for those that love it and chicken risotto for Alex; the non curry lover. I am not sure which camp I shall be eating with - though we shall be round the same table - LOL. I may be a rebel and have a baked potato :)

Happy Thursday - hope you are experiencing a thaw too if that is what you wish for.
L.x.

Outside a thaw approaches, inside it's freezer work!

2010-12-08T15:40:00.009Z

Went a bit mad again today - so what's new? There is so much to do though isn't there? The days just aren't long enough, somehow.

My quiet snowbound life, this last week, has been spent pleasantly catching up with past forgotten chores and making plans, getting a little way ahead, with Christmas and the New Year.

I have felt peace and calm making home nice for my menfolk when they return cold and tired. They are all working hard and odd shifts. I have been glad that I am the constant one - able to be home when each of them is home - for instance with Daley working night shifts he is only seeing me at the moment - he doesn't see anyone else in the family from one weekend to the next - a different way of living for us but we'll get used to it! I feel like the go between sharing news with everyone - LOL. "Tell Daley about footie on Sat...... " etc etc!!

I also seem to be doing a lot more cooking :)

In "Nella Last in the 1950's" she wrote about someone living a very isolated life on the then quiet edges of Coniston Lake commenting that "With a companion of one's own way of thinking, life could be very pleasant, for books and the wireless could make up for other entertainment."

I have pondered on this today as I went about my work. In many ways my life has become very isolated compared with my busy life just a couple of years ago. But I live a life with a like minded husband and it is a pleasant life. And during the day audio books, radio, good TV, films, like minded bloggers are my companions as I go about my work.

I think I do so much, too much really, because I get carried away, totally absorbed by my audio books and just keep on working.

Today it was Miss Read who kept me company on tape in the kitchen as I tidied the pantry and re-organised the freezer. With the bad weather I have been using up what I have - I last went grocery shopping over a week ago. I have been using what I bought then and what I already had.

The cold spell made me realise I could make even better use of the freezer.

I am sick of half filled bags scrunched up, me not knowing how much is in each....

....leaving debris like this

.. even when I do fold over the top and use a peg to close the bag.

So I emptied each drawer, cleaned it, decanted the opened stuff into see through bags. And made a list of everything I have.

At least my homemade stuff was labelled!! Though there is one unlabelled meat looking "thing" possibly a lamb chop?? Quelle surprise! Whatever it is it will be one of Daley's pre night shift suppers, no doubt! Anything I am not sure of I open then cos if it turned out to be a chocolate eclair then I could pinch some of the main supper the rest of us are having for him and say "Oh and there's a pudding for you this evening!" Now that would be a "quelle surprise" cos I don't do puddings every night of the week - oh no siree!

Anyways, so now thanks to me getting lost in Miss Read - we have order.......

I am one step closer to the Funny Farm, aren't I? Alex thought so when he got home from school and I said, "Look what I did today!" He just smiled. But I knew he was thinking FUNNY FARM!!!!!!!!!! I'm his mother I know these things!

Much love.
L.x.

Frosty the Housewife

2010-12-07T14:35:00.012Z

Helloooo!!!!!

Turned out cold again! The frost is thick enough to look like snow. Looks nice though. I am a lucky girl to be able to stay home looking at it and not having to go out in it. Even luckier I get 'phone calls throughout the day as Steve and my sons go about their days telling me which supermarkets they are passing and asking if we need anything. As I say.... lucky.

I am hurtling through the house and it's all this books fault - and please will someone tell me if and where an apostrophe is needed cos it's driving me nuts - I'd say "book's"????? Is that right?

Post stroke I had difficulty reading /writing - much much better but - me spilling und mi grumma aint wot it shud bee :) My degree was largely made up of English modules - You have to laugh or you cry.

Honestly you would not believe the number of times I have to edit these posts each day and still I find errors.

Anyway the book......

I always thought I was a good de-clutterer and pretty well organised - this book has shown me that I am merely good at moving my piles of clutter around and re-arranging it.

So more of the desk has been sorted

and so was the cutlery drawer...

Am not even going to show you the before pics.

The cutlery drawer had enough crumbs in it to bread crumb an entire fish fillet had one so wished - mmmmm nice, I hear you cry - I can be so vile can't I? And this is the posh blog, edited version :) Tee hee!!

I have been journalling today in this lovely journal given to me by a lovely friend -

you know who you are and look I am using it and it is bringing me lots of journalling joy - thank you :) There's nothing to beat stickers and felt tips,modelling mind musings to paper.

I also started exercising again and this was the view from my exercise bike

- I watched a bobbin' robin hopping to and fro in the doorway of the greenhouse which you can just about see in the photo but which is clearer from the bike in real life.

It was lovely to watch him pecking up crumbs of seed scattered by Steve, as he carried the replenished feeders through the doorway to the feeding stations at the week-end. And who says you don't get to see scenery on a stationary bike? LOL!

As I pedalled word association got me pondering on a "round robin " newsletter I received in a Christmas card this morning and it brings me onto today's Nosy Nellie Christmas question.........

You've had the Do you fiddle with your tree? Now it's .....
Do you send Round Robin letters in your cards? I have to say I don't cos I feel a bit awkward. As I read this morning's one it felt a bit like "I'm too busy to write to you all year so I'll just splurge it all at you now". I'm a funny old bird aren't I? Don't get me wrong, I love receiving and sending letters, it was lovely to hear all this lady's news but it was odd to hear a whole year's news in one go, in an anonymous letter written to everybody she knows and about everyone in her circle of family and friends most of whom I don't know. Are round robin letters an English thing? Not an English thing? I'd say probably not.

So that's my day thus far.

Am off to make chilli pizzas for tea There are soups from the freezer - asparagus, tomato and salami, dahl, I shall add a couscous salad bowl and some chunky chips (fries).

Much love and warmth!

L.x.

I should explain........

2010-12-07T08:39:00.002Z

...... for maybe overseas or non tv watching readers - we have a programme in UK - Grumpy Old Women - where women of a "certain age" (mine and upwards!)give their views on the world gone mad. I seem to refer to it a lot - in case you were wondering!