Sunday Slumber

HaHa - I wish!

It is 4pm and I have just got washed and dressed but I haven’t been doing nothing - oh no!

In the last month I have been slowly tidying our study, to give us or probably more me, as I work from home - a calm, quiet environment to work from.  That is what I have been doing today.

There is a wall of plastic storage boxes; filled with: fabric, yarn and craft supplies.  There are boxes and boxes and believe me, I still have so much more!  I already had a lot of craft ‘stuff’ before I brought my Sewing and Craft School home.  But there really is no regrets - even though Noel and I have lived in a real pickle for over two years.  I love working from home.

Now so much better being five months on from my second left hip operation.  I am only really dealing with my lungs / asthma, with just the odd niggle from my hip and femur.  I have been able to think more clearly - can't over emphasis how having a clearer not so morphine foggy brain - is just wonderful, so much clarity.

So not only have I been doing a little bit of tidying each week, I have been really working hard on my digital footprint for my school.  My goodness is that, so paying off - well beyond my dreams.  I believe yet again (how could I possible think I wouldn’t be) looked after and given just enough work that I can cope with.  I am so very grateful for ‘being’ looked after by that very special ‘being’ above and my family.  I don't want to forget to give Noel a very special mention; so not only has he been working on my meta data for my website.  He is still very much doing the cooking and housework!  Remember he works full time with an hour commute each way to work and back but BUT he would prefer that I use what energy I do have, to fill fulfilled and not just use my limited resources on doing housework - one lucky and fortunate wife.  

I am trying to do a little bit of cooking and last week, Poppy and I went shopping.  Due to my lungs, I can only walk very short distances and carrying anything is just impossible but please believe me; I am not complaining just explaining.   We have costume making to do this coming week - watch this space - the costumes have to be completed; for the Autumn Half Term festival session.

This photograph (photographer unknown) was taken in the mist on Southampton Water last month - fabulous photo of a tall ship - just fabulous.

Chat soon xx

Autumn Equinox

22nd September 2018

I did have some profound words to write about the Autumn Equinox but who know what 😂 

Chicken Tree

I love trees - I like the the story they tell; moving through the seasons.  Spring; the tight buds appearing and the clean, bright, light green leaves.  Blossoms and delicate petals, ready to grow into fruit or seeds to scatter later in the trees life.  Summer;  the fullness, the privacy and shade or shelter that trees give to us during light rain showers or blazing sunshine.  The time to rub the bark and spread your arms around the trunk, wondering if the past Kings of England had touched this very same tree!  Autumn; the colour - the amazing colours; reds, oranges, yellows and rusty browns.  The crispness as those leaves drop off onto the ground and then the child like activity of kicking up and through all those fallen leaves.   Collecting fruit, chestnuts, walnuts and conkers - to polish within our mitten hands.  And then winter, the trees showing their bare branches in all their glory, beautiful silky spiders webs made expertiersly between little twigs or the spookyness in the dark with owls moving quitetly from tree to tree, watching mice scurrying between the roots, looking for acorns and fallen berries.  While I am trying to find the last of the pine cones ready to dress the fire mantel for Yule time.

Then there is the trees’ after life - the felling, the chopping ready for the timber yard.  All those age rings and knots giving  the timber its personality. Being bought to be made into - what?  Boats, houses, furniture, paper and so much more.  The smell of the wood, wood shavings and off cuts for burning in the log burner with any fallen and chopped up branches.

My favorite tree is the majestic and at the same time witchy tree; The Beech Tree.  The smooth bark, how beech trees were grown in circles on hills.  The pink of the seasoned timber, so smooth when plained and lightly waxed - beautiful.

Sadly we have had to cut down two trees in our garden this year - they had grown far to big for our little garden and for the houses around.  However, as the garden slowly gets reinvented - we will be planting new smaller trees - for their additional height over other plants, their beautiful colour and privacy.

In our village; either on the way out or as we are coming home - we have an amazing tree.  I can honestly say, practically the whole village loves this tree.  How the wind; up and down the hilly fields have shaped this tree ....  please let me have the honour of introducing our ‘Chicken Tree’ ....

Beautiful isn’t she?  Do you have a special tree in your life?  Take care, till we meet again. xx

Sunday Crafts

I have been sewing a poofy petticoat today for a young dancer.  Still have a bit to do but I am having to be sensible about how much time I am sitting at the sewing machine.  I have a ‘very’ sore left shoulder / neck muscle, added to the costochondritis; from breathing so hard, due to the weather changes.  Extra pain seems to have returned for a while....

So this afternoon was spent sock knitting and watching the DVD; The Accountant - I have really enjoyed this film and I also managed to do quite a few repeats which was pleasing.

Really this poster should read weekdays and not just weekends but still very true  😉 luckily for me, Noel had made a lovely Lamb Tangine in the slow cooker, served with boiled potatoes and peas.

What have you been up to this weekend, did someone cook you dinner too?  Take care xx

New Acadamic Year

With a new school programme - so very excited for the new acadamic year 2018-19.  Take a look, make a choice and I will hope to see you very soon in my fun, relaxed and best learning environment you could want ...

Sewing and Craft School - Programme

Anniversary

A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions.

We are celebrating 15 years of marriage - our crystal anniversary, these roses are colours of our wedding.  Lovely memories of a wonderful day with my new husband, family, friends and ice-cream.

Buzzing

Hello, 

Wow what an exciting day! Firstly had a visit from Martha and her mum Emma.  This visit was to measure Martha for a new tutu.  Then I had a visit from Phoebe and Lily and their Nanny.  The girls want to learn to sew - so two new ‘little people’ students.  Then Nic - who had messaged me during the night a week ago.  I just happened to be awake, so we discussed all about dressmaking lessons and she came to her first lesson this evening.  I had another lady; Gina who has paid, to confirm her dressmaking.  Plus I am just emailing a lady about machine quilting.  And I have yet to upload my new programme for September 2018.  Exciting times ....

www.sewingandcraftschool.co.uk

Small Achievements

A tired day - the change in weather pressure makes my breathing hard going - so today was all about pacing myself in a slow comfortable way.  But that hasn’t stopped me from smiling ...

What was a very good start, I have some very pretty silver bracelets but have not been able to wear them for over a year as my body has been so fat and bloated from all the high amounts of steroids I have been taking but due to being able to reduce the high dosage.  I have lost some weight and bloating.  I was so pleased when they fitted this morning.

I was teaching dressmaking this morning, even though it was hard to get out of bed, I do so love teaching, the conversation and company.  I LOVE my job!  After the lesson had finished I set about overlocking all the seams I had tacked on a black dress I am making.  I had cut this dress out last week and then was informed that black wasn't being worn but there seems to have been a change of mind.  So I need to crack on with getting the dress made.

This afternoon, when the tiredness really kicked in, I sat in the lounge and continued crocheting my Cupcake Blanket, designed by Lucy at Attic24.  I have crocheted 30 stripes, 60 rows pretty rows.  A third of the blanket, not including the border.  I am loving the colours.

And my final little achievement of the day; every other month I have a little book called ‘Inspiring Women’ delivered to my home.  It is bible study notes, written by women for women.  I have used these little books for quite a number of years and find most of the monthly courses just as it is titled inspiring.  However, when  the July/August edition arrived, I filed it in a very safe place and have subsequently missed a whole month of study.  But I made a concerted effort to look for the book this morning and I was so chuffed when I found it in the middle of lots of sewing ‘stuff’!  Tomorrow is the first of the month and I can start a fresh.

Lots of little things that have made me smile today.  What has made you smile?

Take care of yourselves xx

Lots of emotion

Well that month disappeared - puff and it was gone!  We have had three very poorly people all being admitted into hospital, 3 different hospitals too.  It has been horrid and scary and also very sad.  We have a funeral to attend on Friday; with a wake and flowers and chats to the priest, life has been slightly more busy than usual.  The coming together as a family, supporting each other and generally being there for each other has got us through.  It hasn’t all been sad - when there is a six month old grandson to entertain - living has to go on and what a gem he is 💙

We have had more cherries than ever before and even better, we managed to beat picking them before our resident blackbird got them!  They taste wonderful - these little things help to make us smile too.

Sleeping Ski

Yesterday’s full moon ... beautiful ...

A busy day today!  Hannah has all been clipped and groomed - she will feel so much more comfortable, now that she has had lots of fur chopped off.  I tried to bribe her with (dog) biscuits, so that she would let me take a lovely photo of her all clean and pretty.  The clever girl kept taking the biscuits and disappearing - I will try again tomorrow.

Next, I had an appointment at The Great Western Hospital with an oral consultant, a new one to me.  Mr Allen who was such a lovely man, retired a few months ago, so this must be one of his replacements.  He was very nice and very informative and answered some questions that I was much braver this time to ask about.  I have to go back in 4 months, which was a bit of a surprise but I am aware my mouth feels very sore to my tongue but thankfully because of the steroids I take, I cant actually feel much.

Poppy, is my chauffeur today!  We then zoomed between J15 - J16 of the M4, to collected Hannah from the groomers.  We also bought dog food and cat litter, a very important combo.

We then dropped Hannah off at home and went back to Wyevale, which is where the pet shop and groomers is based.  I wanted to go to the quilting shop - oh my goodness I fell in LOVE with two lots of fat quarters.  I have forgotten to take photos and I am up stairs in bed now - so I will take some pictures tomorrow.

Then we dropped into Barclays Bank, I had £44.00 of old £10, £5 notes and £4 worth of old pound coins, which got paid into my bank account - which helped to go towards all the fabric I had just purchased!!

Then the treat of the day, Poppy drove us to Old Town (Swindon) to the Baguette Bar, where we both a very scrumptious coronation chicken and tomato baguette each,

Home to eat our lunch and then we sat down and watched the first episode of the second series of The Handmaiden Tales drama on I have recorded.

At this point Poppy went off to work and I got equipment and techniques ready to teach.

A bit of a full on day for me - extremely tired but not quite in the same amount of pain having had 10ml of morphine!!

A very tired but chilled Ski ...

This made my day

Our local Parish Council has a Facebook presence.  Yesterday I noticed a post; asking for submissions of photographs, so that the parish council administration team could up date the Facebook cover photo.  A very serious and incredibly talented photographer submitted two very good photos.  One I thought was maybe a little bit busy but the other photo I believed was spot on.  However, I decided to chance my luck!  My photo was taken on my phone, while Noel was driving at approximately 50 mph along the A4361. We had come up the hill and out of the village, travelling towards Avebury, just past the Broad Hinton turn off - when the yellow of the Rape Seed Oil fields just ‘sung’ out against the hazy blue sky.  And yes you have guessed correctly my photo was picked.  It will be upload tomorrow, while also giving me the credit.  Now - picture me with the biggest smile possible.  

Down Hill Racing!

It has been a warm day and we are due to have a warm week.  It is lovely except we just aren’t given the time to get adjusted to the heat before it all changes again!  However, lets make hay while the sun shines - as they say.

And talking of hay or probley better to say crops - we have a new crop circle.

And the down hill racing - well it definitely is not me!!  This is my son; Toby racing at Bala, Wales over the weekend.  He has been doing all sorts of cycling; mountain bike, down hill, road racing since his teenage years.  If I am well enough, Noel and I are going to try and watch him race this weekend near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

Enjoy the sunshine and remember to look after yourselves in this weather xx

Sew Sunday

Beautiful weather we are having - I enjoyed sitting in my garden in my pyjamas - well that is resting, isn’t it?

I decided to do lots of different crafts, that needed to be done; I have sandwiched a play mat together, the darker green fabric is the bottom and the farm animals are the top layer, with 4oz wadding in the middle - now just a simple quilting pattern before using a (I think) yellow bias binding.  The fabrics were picked by Noel, when he went with a ‘Jacky’ shopping list and a 20% off voucher to Hobbycraft.  The fabrics were not on the list but didn’t he do well?

I sewed the ends into my finished knitting - Hitchhiker Shawl

Made five more stitch markers - I didn’t quite have enough for another knitting project I am working on.  I wound the sterling silver wire around a metal die (that Noel made for me, to my specifications!), so that I could then cut my own jump rings. I cover the join in the jump ring, with a bead, using a drop of super glue.

I cast on 198 chain stitches for the start of my Cupcake Stripe Blanket, by Lucy at Attic24.

And finally did some; pining, tacking and machine sewing on a jersey top I am making for myself.  There will be a ‘Show and Tell’, later in the week.

Noel cooked us a nice (Waitrose pizza) for tea and we made the most of the warm weather and ate alfresco.

And lastly I noticed this leaf - which I assure you is a mulberry bush leaf and not what it looks like and growing my own medication - LOL!

Enjoy your week xx

A Picnic - of sorts

I had big plans for today!  I wanted to go and see the ceramic poppy display at the Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson. Then take a drive to Weston Beach to collect some suitable pebbles for decorating and while we were at the beach - to take in the view and have a picnic.

Poppies Tour

Ha - well like all my big plans - it didn’t go to plan at all - NOT AT ALL!

I had a fidgety night, in pain and hot, cold and visa versa.  Woke up in a pickle, just not feeling great at all. Then I vomited, this was the last straw of lots of other little issues - something was going on with my heart and it wasn’t good.

I wanted to shower and put easy comfy clothes on before Noel took me to hospital.  I wasn’t particularly poorly at this point but I was so tired and I just kept feeling dizzy, with pins and needles down my left arm a pain in my back.  I was also aware of my heart - I couldn’t take it for granted and just ignore it like we all do for thousands of beats a day, every day.

I had to wait a little while in the waiting room.  I probably delayed my own admission because another lady was in so much pain she just didn’t know what to do with herself.  So I wheeled myself over to her and held her hand (not a sensible thing to do, taking my autoimmune issues into  account) but I couldn’t just sit and watch and listen to her in so much pain.  She was eventually sick over the floor and it was at this point she was taken into triage - quickly.  I went back to Noel and just rested my head on his shoulder and dozed.  It wasn’t to long a wait and I was then called into ‘Majors’.

Bloods taken, blood pressure, oxygen levels, respiratory rate, temperature and an ECG was performed.  My blood pressure was high and my ECG was not right!  I felt vindicated when, what I am feeling is shown to be true - silly I know.  But I would hate to think I was wasting time (and money) by being a hypochondriac.

The visit for me, was quick, just six hours - I needed repeat blood tests plus a chest x-ray before the ok to going home could be discussed.  My blood tests showed my potassium was slightly low - so I was given two fizzy, foul tasting potassium tablets - yuck!

So what the ECG was showing, was a blip - one of the ventricules was being squeezed while empty, due to the previous heart beat not having enough time for the blood to flow from the top, down to the bottom chamber.  This in turn was not sending blood out to the body, so my head would go dizzy and I just felt weird!  The doctors didn’t think I had a heart attack - there was no indication from any of the tests and x-ray to say I had.  Dr. Tim and I discussed the way forward; normally beta blockers would be prescribed however they have the opposite effect of salbutamol, so as a chronic asthmatic, this wasn’t going to work.  We therefore decided as I had been so poorly this last week, that we would see if the symptoms just went away! Instead of added medication on top of medication which can have lots of its own issues. I was then discharged home to rest - but let’s be honest I do an awful lot of resting!!

This sort of picnic was not in my plans for today!

A very rare sight - and only for a split second; no trolleys!

A very busy monitor ...

A mad Ski sat in my chair - photo xxx

On the mend

Because we all need princess pyjamas - even at 55!

Oh my goodness that was awful - I hate having autoimmune issues, which then trigger any number of issues; this time being my large intestines.  However because I have only been able to lay on my back, I know that I am now fighting a chest infection but honestly that is nothing - a walk in the park to what I have just had!  If things get any worse, I have antibiotics at home, ready for these kinds of instances.  So if I know full well that I have a ‘proper full on’ chest infection I can start the antibiotics, instead of waiting for a doctors appointment on Monday.

My family all upped their ‘Jacky’ sitting duties - what would I do with out my family and friends?

Noel had meetings at work this morning, so first sitting was Charlie - he was on breakfast duties. Then Poppy; she was on mid morning, showering, clean pyjamas and lunch duties and then Noel was able to get back just an hour after Poppy had gone to work.  However in that hour; Toby who was making his way to North Wales, chatted to me on the (hands free) phone a) to keep me company and b) making sure nothing was happening to me while I was on my own!  After a really lovely catch up of all that has been going on, Noel was on dinner duties and a very nice dinner it was ...

Home made beef and mushroom stroganoff 

Thr Longest Day

I had all sorts of plans to enjoy the longest day ...  sunrise this morning over the River Hamble .... 

However all I have managed to do is sleep all day!  I have also just managed to eat some soup - wish me luck please!!

Oh dear - two poorly ladies

Well I am sure by now you get the picture - that I am quite a poorly person.  I am told I am clinical complex but I am very good at controlling my illness(es) very well.  So when I get a flare up of diverticulitis, I get very upset with myself!  I just can not work out what part of my diet changes to then suffer with awful tummy cramps and diarrhoea.  Is it my diet or is it all the different medications I have to take on a daily basis - who knows?  But what I do know is that I feel so poorly and it hurts a lot.  Not made any the better because I am unable to curl up in a ball, like you naturally want to do with tummy ache.  I am still in the period of laying flat on my back, so that I do not dislocate my new right hip replacement. Laying on my back causes me more lungs issues; normally leading to bronchitis and now with my sore tummy - well let’s just say I am in a pickle and feeling quite sorry for myself.

But I also have another poorly lady in the house; Hannah, my beautiful dog. Hannah has a bladder infection and probably cystitis - so sore.  Even at 14 years and 8 months old, she is a pretty clean lady.  But this is the second time she has had a bladder infection and I missed the clues this time.  I know I am poorly but I feel so very guilty that I didn’t notice or think about what was happening.  She has just had to pee! She goes to the nearest door; front or back door and pee’s on the door mat. She does try to go out.  But if the back door isn’t open she can't cope with then finding me to say, “mum now, door NOW”. So we have had a couple of puddles in the last couple of mornings and then yesterday afternoon while I was in bed we had a couple more puddles.  I happen to text Poppy late yesterday evening and she came straight back with; I wonder if she has a ‘bladder infection’ - of course, why on earth did I not think. The last time she had it, I was so on ‘it’ that in fact I got her to the vets so quickly that she didn’t even have a temperature!  But this time - I failed her.  Anyway I rung the vets first thing this morning and got her a 10:30 appointment.  Poppy said I didn’t have to go to the surgery but I wanted to go, she is my old lady.  As I am still not driving, Poppy came and picked us both up, to take us to our vets but at a different surgery.  Me hobbling along on my walking sticks and Poppy having to lift Hannah into the back of the car - what a pair of ‘old’ ladies we are.  On the drive to Royal Wootton Bassett Poppy also said, having thought about how Hannah had been on her walks and with hind sight Poppy realised that she was crouching down in a slightly different position.  So she felt bad too.  What it is to be pet owners - all that guilt, when you don’t work things out quick enough!!  Anyways while waiting for Poppy to come and get us, I had managed to catch a tiny bit of urine to take to the vets and as soon as the vet saw the pee; she said, “guys I think you might be right”.  The urine was so cloudy and even I thought gosh this is bad. Hannah now has some antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to make her feel better - hopefully.  As she has only just had blood tests done, the vet didn’t think they would be required unless of course the medication didn’t make her better in a few days.  I do have have to say Hannah has probably at most had the infection for three days but probably just two.  So it’s not as if she has been in pain for a long ‘long’ time.

This is all after having had a tiny two minute stroke, three weeks ago and her first (again) tiny stroke last December. We don’t think she has had anymore.  I am home with her a lot and both times she has come to find me, to show me what is happening.  It seems to be more distressing for us than her because her tail is still wagging all the while, even her gait is peculiar and she sits with her hanging to the left for that very short time!!  

But we are getting sad - it is not time yet.  And she is doing incredibly well for a Bearded Collie but we do all wonder just how long we have left with her ....

Hannah 04/10/2004 - Present

Crop Circles

We have a new(ish - 09/06/18) crop circle near where I live; it’s at Hackpen, Wiltshire.  I love crop circles, when I was much younger I would have loved to have been part of a team making one!  To be let into the secrets of the designing, being part of all those geometric shapes and then going into the fields and transferring the design into a a real crop circle - not now though.  Today I just enjoy seeing them!

Hospitals!

Two hospital visits; one for me at The Great Western Hospital, Swindon - I have a routine 4 weekly appointment, with a specially trained respiratory nurse to look after me and 10 other patients.  We all have this very extreme form of asthma and are all on the same medical trial.  My results for this month are poor however when looking at the overall picture of how poorly I have been and the major operation I have had.  A) we (the nurse and myself) are not surprised at the results and B) we are in fact incredibly pleased that the results were not in the fail category.  I did come away with a new inhaler to replace a similar make of one I had but in an incorrect format - a certain nurse is going to have words with the consultant!!

Our (Noel and me) second hospital visit of the the day was at Southampton General Hospital, sadly Noel’s dad is very poorly.  However we made him laugh, I got the impression he hadn’t done that fo a while and I think I was also able to make him relax and understand that I could help to make him more comfortable. I am going to use all my hospital experiences to assist him in planning a care package.  A package that fits and works for him - the most important thing being his pain control.  I feel honoured that he (hopefull - not quite confirmed) will let me help him sort all this to the best of my ability.

This is where I find knitting comes into it’s own.  So smoothing, so meditative, so relaxing - while ‘crap’ is going on all around me!  I can still engage with the surrounding hullabaloo but also just nestle into my knitting; Slip 1, knit, 1, knit through back of look, knit 3 and so on ...

Fathers Day - The next Generation

In January we welcomed a brand new little human into our lives. I joined the Granny Club and probably fell in love with this little man, quicker than I did with his Daddy.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love my son with all my heart but back then in 1984, having just given birth to him, I looked at him and realised my life would never be the same again - ever.  It took a few hours of cuddling my baby before the rush of love came over me.  It really did come like a wave, a tsunami in fact.  So I never doubted my love for my son. But cuddling my new grandson; William for the first time, he was so much easier to love. Yes I would be always there for him, yes I would love him unconditionally however, I wasn’t going to be completely responsible for him, this made loving all that bit easier.

Today we had to revert to Plan B - typical English weather scuppered a trip to the Brean Beach to have a family BBQ and picnic. So we had a lovely roast dinner instead at our home. Noel and Charlie (not in these photos!) did the cooking - thank you guys you did an excellent job. The rest of us sat back or took turns as entertainment officer to the little man. 

William - 5 1/2 months old

A doting Grampy - 43 1/2 years old - lol 

A very proud Daddy - aged nearly 34!

Toby, William and Noel xxx

A little achievement

I set myself a little target last week. To write a blog post every day!  Make it small I thought, make it achievable - write about one important thing to me, that has happened on that particular day.  Try not to make to many links or post lots of photographs - keep it simple was my ethos.  I am so very pleased with myself; that it has worked - yes there may be a little bit of an artist element to the photos but actually even they are mostly relevant. Except today’s photograph of a family of cygnets being raised in Hamble Creek, River Hamble, Hampshire.

Photo by Paul Willis (I hope you don't mind?)

Fast Cars

The 3rd session of the Grand Tour is being filmed - I know this because I have been listening to all the cars being raced around the Eboladrome!!  It is exciting even when you are not watching, a very evocative sound; of big engines and wheel spins ...