Such a busy time..

I saw this on Attic24's blog, a multi coloured poncho, so I decided I'd make one for me.

I am having problems getting jumper sleeves over my brace and in an evening this would ideal. I sometimes wear my shawl but this was a bit of a stash buster too! 

Crocheting is some I can do and it's good for my hand, as sewing is still difficult and still causes tweaks of pain.

 

 

 

And sorry this is the 'C' word!!

 

Christmas!!

 

 I have made the first Christmas cake( I always make some for my grown up sons as well as us.) and a very large pudding as we are joining with DH's daughter and her hubby for Christmas in Yorkshire. DH's  other twin daughter will be joining us as well , so quite a different Christmas for us as we always stay home.
And not to be out done, Dh has made mince meat.. we have already given some away, it will be ready to use in a months time.

I can't wait to make the pies but with my arm still not ok I will need help or I could let DH make them!!

Have you started your Christmas baking yet?

XX

 

For Downton Abby fans

A treat for Downton fans, I loved it..get your cup of tea or coffee, sit and enjoy

                            https://vimeo.com/115023404

Chris xx

I don't usually swear... but.......

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1988. Since then I have once a year blood test to check my thyroxin dose. I went yesterday. Over the years my veins have become difficult, evidently they collapse when touched? Anyway it doesn't really bother me,  it is an unpleasant prink,  but I no longer look and I take deep breaths to relax. 

 

But this time, the phlebotomist inserted the needle, hissed that the vein was difficult and then started to wiggle the needle in my arm, the pain was horrendous and my reaction was immediate, I yelled 'Ow,' and said, 'Bloody hell that hurt.' I looked at the bruise expanding on my arm, she gave a weak' sorry,' She tried in another place, no joy, stuck two plasters on my puncture wounds and called to the senior phlebotomist to take over. Anyone would have thought it was my fault she failed to get the blood in the tube!! The senior phlebotomist got it straight away from the back of my hand, which is black this morning.  DH said they could hear me in the waiting room!! I am not having that woman again... EVER!!!  Thank goodness it's done for a while. (I  was a nurse when I  young and did loads of injections and no one ever screamed!)

XX

Five on Friday.. is about my Greatest Love

When I was a child, we did not have a TV .I was brought up by a Victorian Grand mother and two maiden aunts after my mother died when I was two and my father re-married. I spent a lot of time alone and found through the local library a love of books. I read everything and went along the shelves with no guidance and lived inside which ever book I read. I didn't need to go to ballet lessons I read all about it in ‘Ballet Shoes,’ I didn't need a dog I had Timmy, George's dog in the ‘Famous Five’.. I flew aeroplanes with ‘Biggles’ and lived in the wilds with ‘North American Indians.’ Today as a much older 'child' I read more than anything else in my life, it is my greatest love!!
And having been bought a Kindle by DH, a few years ago  I have been able to supplement my library books with ebooks. And the ease of buying a book instantly has given me more and more books to read.

Some books like this one I loved so much,  that I gave away two  copies and then bought another copy for myself.

It’s the story of two young girls, Bobbie and Cynthia, who are best friends and also of their mothers. It's a book about friendship and tragedy and forgiveness and so much more besides. We live with them all through two decades and through wonderful times and terrible times and when we leave them behind at the end it's with a sigh and a tear. I didn’t want it to end and when it did I felt bereft!

My Favourite author 7 years ago was Emily Barr, ( I change favourite authors as I read more and more) But then,  I read everything she wrote, ‘Cuban Heels,’ ‘The First Wife,’  ‘Stranded,’ Backpack.’ ‘The Sisterhood.’ My love of her books was helped by the librarian of the local library loving her books too, so I was able to read all ten of them. But then in 2014, a new book was published,

 ‘The Sleeper’ A sort of mystery. What a disappointment it was, and I bought it which was another downer too, have you ever found that? You've longed for another book and you feel let down; but is it that you have changed?

I cried through ‘ A Song for Jenny.’

A mother’s story of how she and the family coped or didn’t cope when her daughter Jenny was first missing and then confirmed dead in the London 7/7 bombings (2005).. so sad. It made me feel blessed. My daughter worked in London a few years earlier and used the underground every day on her way to work.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Hosseini's former books – ‘The Kite Runner’ and ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ - I harboured the suspicion that he could not pull it off again. Oh what little faith I had, 'And The Mountains Echoed' is an excellent book and I am confident that anyone reading it will not be disappointed.  Set mainly in Afghanistan, the story starts with a poor farming family, barely able to feed themselves. The father's brother-in-law works for a rich couple who are unable to have children themselves. In exchange for his daughter, they will offer money so that the father is able to feed the rest of his family. He succumbs to this temptation and so starts the interweaving of the different generations and to the finale leading to a family reunion. A beautiful and very moving book that brought me to tears on several occasions, this isn't fundamentally about politics or war; it is about the unforgettable people who populate its pages - about humanity. And though there is sadness and sorrow here, there is also love and joy and a deep sense of hope.

For my 5^th book, I chose… well if I just tell you of some of the stories and perhaps you can guess. It has incest, rape, homosexuality, heads cut off, daughters sold to old men, theft and crimes that will make you cringe, brothers killing brothers, sons killing fathers. Hatred and wars, lovers and passion and tender love. ....
And then a friend who betrays his greatest friend who is then killed in the most abominable way.. beaten and crucified. Have you guessed???

The greatest book ever written, the most sold book ever and translated into every language there is….

Yes it is The BIBLE!!! Would you believe it has such stories, well it does!

I am joining again with Amy for Five on Friday...and these five books are just some that I have loved. I read on average  60 to 90 books each year. I live inside which ever book I am reading at that time and when the dark evenings start, I like to retire to bed early just to read; I have even stayed awake till nearly day break, because I have to find out what happens next!

http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Five%20on%20Friday

What are your favourites, have you ever stayed awake till nearly daylight just to read, have you ever cried and cried over a book, have you ever read a book that had such a powerful effect on you, you couldn’t forget it? I can’t imagine life without books, what about you?

XX

Happy reading!!

 

Did you see it?

I woke at 1:30am and woke DH and we stayed up to see the eclipse and the red moon; beautiful clear skies and not a bit cold. We opened the bedroom window wide as the double glazing was giving us a double moon!!  DH went down stairs to go outside on the front lawn with his binoculars and camera.  We watched as the earth's shadow gradually crept across the moon.

It took 90mins!

Here is one of the photographs that DH took as it was happening.

 

 This is a professional photograph, DH camera wouldn't give as clear a picture.

  

We went back to bed just after 3! Well it won't happen again till 2033 and even if I will be still alive I guess at 91 I will be happy to stay in a warm comfy bed!!

I think I will be having a nanny nap this afternoon, but it was worth it.

Yawning already!

Chris xx

 

Ah!!... Just what we needed

We have had a lovely break away in Southwold.. sun most of the time, only had rain at night or early morning. The only time I used my umbrella was when I was sitting on a bench and the sun was too hot!! Got up last Friday morning to brilliant sunshine, so did our walk to the sea front the long way round,  so I could have my daily 30 mins walk plus!! I did more than that,  because we then wandered back through the town and popped into those shops we had promised ourselves we would. We had cakes out side the kitchen shop,  as it was the Macmillan's coffee morning and Nell nearly had a creamy cup cake because the lady dropped one on the ground!! LOL They had dog biscuits ready for your dog! Then we sat in the middle  of the high street on a bench in the shade with a take away Costa coffee,  as it was too hot in the sun!
We got back to the cottage middle of the afternoon, and decided to come home that evening so we could have all Saturday at home as the weather was supposed to be good and we had promised ourselves to get the garden a bit more sorted,.. we stopped off at Waitrose for a cooked chicken, coleslaw  and some salad bits and full fat yogurt, the last treats of our holiday!! (we like to live dangerously LOL)

Super cottage, only minutes from the town.. I ate all sorts of naughty things, so dreaded weighing and yes I have put on 3 pounds but we're back on track already. I liked to go back there for a another holiday, such a lovely little town.

My physio app. has come thro' at last, it's next Friday, so hope they are not too fierce as my arm is still very tender. I used to call them physio-terrorists after my knee op.LOL
These pretty beach huts sell for around £175,000!!  Can you believe that!!
 

 Hope you all have had a break away too and had sunny shiny days like us. Thank you for all the comments on my happiness post, this week away has almost got me back to my happy go lucky ways! And yes I had a few of these!

 Be happy.....

XX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Five on Friday... Happiness!

So many things make me happy and I have so many blessings.  Here are just five as I join with Amy on 'Five on Friday.'

Wednesday here was a very, very wet day, it was real weather for ducks!

 We were in town by 9:30 as I had a nail appointment, both pedicure and manicure so wasn't finished until nearly 11. My nails looked lovely, a deep crimson colour. I love them!  I was smiling and my nails flashed red as I walked along.

 

 

Then I went to the library as I had to see the librarian about the book group I run,  and the books I ordered for myself were in... yeh!! My happiest times have been when I have been inside a book. I can't wait to start reading....'The Paying Guests,' by Sarah Waters, 'Stranded,' by Emily Barr (one of my favourite authors) and 'My Sister's Secret,' by Tracy Buchan. Then on our way back thro' the town I stopped at one of the charity shops as they had books for 25p, I bought three.....what bliss.. lots of reading, how could I not buy books for only 25p!!

 

 .......and then in the shop, I saw a tote bag which was a Kate Spade New York!! It was £8.50 and brand new, never been used by the look of it, white  patent with seagulls on it in navy, just the sort of bag for a sea side holiday and I looked it up on line when we got home, they sell for £165 !!!! Wow I felt I had won the lottery!

‏            

Isn't absolutely gorgeous? We wore our new macs and mine is lovely, kept me dry altho' having bought that bag I wouldn't noticed the rain as I was so happy!!

And even with my broken arm, I‘ve done some sewing. DS#1's girl friend had asked me to make some cushions, using some old curtains, two days before I broke my arm!!   I did manage to sew, last week,  but it was a struggle because I can't lift my right hand up unaided, but I did them and feel I did my arm good because I had to stretch it forward,  which is one of my exercises. I couldn't match the stripes back and front as I had to cut out the material from the curtains that had rust marks on them, so was limited, but they look good and I inserted a zip in each one for removal for washing, so I was pleased. But I won't be sewing proper for a while, it was too hard and painful.  The cushions were a great success especially the zip inserted so you can’t see it, so now her mother has asked will I make some for her, but not till after Christmas as she has bought a new static holiday home in Norfolk and wants them for that, praise indeed. Although if you sew, you'll know cushions are pretty simple to make!          

    

 

And I can crochet!! wow such excitement when I realised I could. First time in 20 weeks. I am doing a stash buster item, I shall reveal it when it is done. Although you can see it is shaped so I wonder if anyone can guess what I am making?
So yes I am feeling much better. There is still lots of things I still can't do but my greatest bliss since my last hospital appointment is I can remove the brace to have a proper shower. It took me three days to get up the courage to take it off: but oh the shower was wonderful, first proper one for 22 weeks!! I felt I had turned the corner and I felt so invigorated I cleaned the kitchen and it gleamed. I sang the whole time wiping around (still left handed) And I felt normal, thank the Lord, my arm is healing. Thank you again for all your get well wishes and prayers, and all the comments, they brighten up my days. I think I've got my 'fiz' back!
 

xx

A delightful few days away.

We had to cancel our planned Italian holiday, so have been having days out and days away.

Last week we had three lovely days in Stratford Upon Avon.  

Our hotel was just five minutes stroll to the town.

We stopped each morning on the little bridge to watch barges going through the locks on the way to have breakfast at Carlucci's,

an Italian café that over looked the river.

In the sun sitting outside, we could have been in Italy!

When we lived in Coventry we visited Stratford quite often and it still holds its charm for us.

Lots of visitors there all visiting Shakespeare's house.

It always looked pretty with the pelargoniums; the floral displays were beautiful throughout the town. We mooched around, stopped at a cafés, drank lots of coffee, ate lemon cheese cake and scoffed a bag of fudge, did some shopping and bought a winter jacket each. All in all we did what we liked and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The sun shone and it was warm, even though it poured with rain as we drove there, by the time we arrived the rain and black clouds had gone. I said probably because we had forgotten our sun glasses and I had bought a mac!!

 It was nice to get away. and what I needed because  I saw a specialist on the Wednesday before we went and the news on my arm was not good. My bone has not healed, and he said it might never heal.

The brace was taken off and a new one put on.  I am to start ultra sound treatment on my arm, he advised multi-vitamins and calcium tabs. I really don't need them, as we eat a very healthy diet and I drink at least half pint of milk and eat two yogurts daily, but I have bought them and am taking them. Anything to get back to normal.

On Tuesday it will be September 1st, our first day of Autumn, I feel I have missed the whole of summer with this arm!

XX

 

Gifted Gorgeousness ( Sorry ....A day late!)

Ingrid gifted this chart to me a couple of months ago and  a lovely stitched pin keep, which said 'Believe in yourself, Follow your heart.'

 

The chart is 'La foret Enchantee Printemps' by Tralala. Isn't it pretty, I loved it as soon as I saw it. It is going to be one of my blogaversary gifts. So watch this space, it will be to celebrate 7 years of blogging, which not only do I enjoy, but I love to read other very talented women's blogs.

The little I have stitched has taken me several days, but it is getting easier each time I try. It is now 19 weeks since I broke my arm, so I should hope it would get easier to use. I have a lot of people praying for me, so I know it will mend in God's planned time.

Thank you for all the good wishes, it does give me a lift to read all your comments.

Happy days!
 

 

Back on The PLAN !!

At last we have had some real rain, just what the garden needed. Thunder and lightening last evening and still raining this morning.

But the rain  had stopped by 9 and we had glorious sunshine.. I wore my cardi out and was sweating. When we got back from shopping DH went for his Dr app. and I was left filling the fridge and I  found mushrooms galore so......we had mushroom soup for lunch and it was delish. I hadn't made it before but  there were loads of recipes on line. I nearly fell at the first hurdle because I couldn't turn the key in the garage door to get an onion, so used a red one we had in the cupboard! I also couldn't chop it finely so just chunked it. It all whizzed up ok and I managed to cut small sprigs of thyme because I couldn't cut the woody stems. This broken arm stops me doing so much and my left hand  is hopeless with a knife or scissors. Anyway it was lush for our lunch.

 

We are also using up our tomatoes as they are all ripening fast, in this warm weather, so tonight we had a super pasta meal with roasted baby toms, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. (recipe in the Waitrose mag. ) Perfect for my slimming world food plan, and this last week I lost 3 pounds!! At last I am back on plan and eating some delish meals and losing weight again since my Dr has upped my thyroxin dose which was suddenly too low. No wonder I was sleeping every time I sat down!

Happy days even with my useless right arm.