itch2stitch.com blog

Fed up with blogging. Not sure! Maybe. Hmmmm.....

2010-10-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

Feeling somewhat reflective these days!

Oh dear! I have been AWOL! What can I say? Busy as usual, and other things going on in my life that are keeping me on my toes, so I am sorry for neglecting you all again. Will you forgive me folks? SO! Today I am writing a blog post about not wanting to write a blog post! To be quite honest, I am finding it hard to keep up with the old blog these days, and even worse, I am getting a bit fed up (whispered!) with it too. Does anyone else feel like this? Then I find myself feeling guilty if I don't get around to reading all your lovely blogs. So somewhere between feeling guilty and feeling fed up, I find myself in the middle wondering why I do it at all! I find myself hankering for a time where there were no computers, no mobile phones and even no Facebook! I have a keen desire to become a hermit!

Just at this moment in time I find myself in a nesting mood, I just want to concentrate on getting my mutinous house under control, and get the garden sorted out for the winter. I have been planting some daffodil bulbs, and tidying the borders when I get a minute away from renovating the house that is!

Last friday I made a pissa ( No '-'s again on this puter! Here it is so you can know what I am talking about! I made the base too, and it turned out quite tasty. The topping had artichokes, peppers we had grown ourselves, fresh herbs from the garden, and plenty of stick on the hips cheese of course! Oooh and tuna, it was delish!

I also made a lemon drissle (!) cake. See, it is bad, I can't even be bothered to take a photo! I am in a very ponderous, housey, reflective, quiet place at the moment.

I really actually do have an enormous urge to just walk away from my blog. What stops me? You! yes all of my friends in blogland who I would miss, and wonder how you are all getting on. And would I change my mind when life becomes more settled again, and my little sun shines again. After all if my little sun comes out again I will be all chirpy and full of energy.

Maybe I just need a darn good belly laughing session! Chirpy and energetic is waiting for me !

That really is the main problem I think.....I just have very little enthusiasm right now. Lack of sleep and a few things in life which I have to get my head round have left me feeling somewhat depleted, and sometimes after, or during a busy day, when my head feels in a whirl, the last thing I wish to do is to write this blog! Then I worry about the fact that I haven't got to others blogs, and then that just stresses me too! Does that make any sense to you at all?? Or is it just me?! Do you ever get the urge to press delete? Or have I stood up and blurted out the unspeakable in blogland?

I think I am quite tired though, maybe it is that simple, I never used to feel this way, I used to enjoy it all so much. Maybe I just need some extra ssssssssssssssssss (!) See I have definitely lost them! Maybe I am just feeling the effects of time, like a creaking old gate. Heres a little funny to show that I am not a complete misery! A few of you will have already seen it on my facebook page!

Today, which will be tomorrow (!) I will be getting round to reading all your blogs! ( I always post after midnight, therefore Friday, but it always says thursday! Yes, after midnight, after 1pm sometimes, and then I wonder why I am always tired!)

I hope you are all well and happy! Have a happy weekend! Lots of love to you all, top of the world to you all! Susie xxx

More Handmade Christmas, Plus Teacosy Pattern

2010-10-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

Hello again peeps!

Well it would seem that everyone who commented last week, certainly shares my longing for a more simple christmas with handmade gifts and old fashioned values, which may I say is very refreshing! Thank you so much for your input and lovely helpful comments. You have all inspired me further to press on with my quest!

So this week as I was busy sewing, drawing, painting, etc., I was still pondering over how hard it is to think of good handmade gifts for men, and I found myself smiling to myself reminiscing over past makes which didn't quite turn out the way I had hoped for. There were the pyjamas I once made for George out of an old sheet, very thrifty...(I know, poor George!). You know, sometimes an idea just pops into your head, and well, you just have to, don't you? Bless him, he wore them, even though the traced markings, ie. dots and the words cut here, never ever would wash out!

Then there was the jumper I made him on my newly aquired knitting machine, which had one of those contraptions which allowed you to draw the shape on it, and then just knit it. Happily flinging the carriage from one side to the other, following the chart, I didn't realise that the jumper was growing longer and longer! On that occasion George refused point blank to wear it, and I ended up wearing it around the house as a very long nightie/dressing gown!

Sadly no pics though, as it was in the days before digital cameras!

As well as trying to catch up with various jobs, such as a cross stitch I promised the lovely Lynne in Ireland many moons ago. If you are reading Lynne, it is coming along very well now! I have been a busy bee drawing and painting little pics for a few peeps, and still trudging on with my secret project.

There are a few simple knitted gift ideas too which I have to get on with. This is a gift I made for my friend a couple of years ago, and she still has it, and tells me she treasures it more than any shop bought gift I have ever bought for her. Those words warm the cockles of my heart!

Another popular request is for this teacosy which I made too. you can find the pattern here folks!

Another handmade gift that I may make, is this pin cushion with needle keep which I designed and made a few months ago. But not many of my family and friends are into sewing, so I am not sure who I would make one for yet!

Or perhaps I could make some more of these?

I have also been trying, as you all may well know, to sort out our house. The bathroom and the shower room which were to be started this monday, have now been delayed due to an internet purchase which has been causing us distress for a few weeks. It may be sorted out now, but for a while there we were feeling rather sick that we may have lost a bit chunk of our house budget! They had debited our card, but we could not contact them at all, desite numerous efforts. We have now managed to cancel the order and hopefully will get our money back, but it has caused a big delay, as our plumber has now got other jobs on. Here is a before pic of the bathroom, in a sad state of limbo!

Anyhow, sorry for boring you with that! It will all come out in the wash as they say, and there are worse things at sea!

GET STUFFED! Sorry! :) I have been stuffing this week..... stuffed marrow, and yesterday stuffed peppers. I love the stuffed peppers, and sometimes I use no meat at all. Yesterday I used a bit of minced meat which I minced myself from some steak we had last friday, when we had thin slices of steak on ciabatta, with sauted onion and cheese! Ooooh yum. I love being thrifty with food, it must have rubbed off on me from my Mum. It really delights me to buy a cut of meat and then see how many meals I can get out of it. So, I held back some of the steak and minced it.

Stuffed marrows before the cheese was added and before cooking, with a marrow from the garden by the side!

Next, I made up a basic mix, with onion, celery, etc., and cooked it all with a bit of homemade sauce. So this week we had stuffed pepper and stuffed marrow another day, twas yummy! Mollye, you asked the other week how I stored my chili peppers, well I frose them, I didn't write this because, I have to spell it frose, as I have lost my ' ' and have to use 's'!!! Its to be hoped that I don't visit the oo soon and have to write about the animals I saw a t the oo!

Talking of my Mum, it was the anniversary of her death on the 4th of this month, and my Dad's on the 7th. I still miss them like it was yesterday. It is hard to believe that they have both been gone for so long now. I often long to have just another day with them both. I think of all those questions I should have/could have asked, but never did, because we always think we have all the time in the world don't we? But we don't! So if you are both around somewhere... I love you so much, and miss you terribly. Grab someone you love today and give them a huge hug!

My Mum and Dad! Years ago, before I was a twinkle in the eye!

Anyway, I hope I haven't bored the pants off you today! Will be trying to catch up with everyone this weekend!

Lots of love! Susie xxxxxxxxxxx

I'm dreaming of a thrifty Christmas!

2010-09-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

Hello to all you fine peeps! Happy October! Did you remember to say White wabbits? I always say it!

This was a picture from last October, and I grew my own pumpkin, this year not one of my seeds germinated! No Pumpkins! Boo hoo!

Well its that time of the year again ( I know, already! :0). Time to look towards cosy nights by the fire, bonfires, fireworks, and then of course to top it all off with the cherry on the top........... CHRISTMAS!!! There, I said it.....CHRISTMAS!!!

ooooooh Yummy! And next thing you know its.........

Now, I am no Grinch, I love Christmas, all the sentimentality, nostalgia, sparkle and glitter. BUT! This year I am getting out my sandwich board and going on a protest march! Why? Because each year that goes by, I despair at how it has all become so materialistic and driven by commercialism. People run about like headless chickens spending money that they can ill afford, and instead of getting the desired Christmas that we are told we should be getting by the media, all that a lot of us get is worry and one huge headache and painful bills to match!

I yelled out last year that I longed for a long ago type of Christmas, the sort where people happily exchange a gift that has been lovingly hand-made. You know the sort, like in 'Little Women', where a face would light up at an embroidered handkerchief, as if it were a precious treasure they were looking upon. Eyes filled with the wonder of each stitch being sewn by someone who loved them.

SO! This year I have made a vow to myself, that where ever possible, I will be making gifts for my much loved family and friends with fabric and materials which I already have in the house. After all, I am a hoarder, and after last weeks post where I was confined to my workroom (what a hardship!), I started to look through all those pretty fabrics which I have been collecting over time, and thought....hmmmmmm!? Obviously this is not a completely achievable goal, as I don't think my brother would be too excited about a pretty smelly heart or bird, etc! Although it is good for men to let their feminine side loose sometimes!

This week, whilst confined to my sewing room, I started on some of these, which I will loosely stuff and fill with lavender nearer to Christmas, and of course finish them off with bright beady button eyes! .......

I personally would be extremely happy and content, and filled with sheer warm happiness if I pulled off the chrissie wrapping paper to discover a handmade with love gift! That would mean more to me than any expensive shop bought gift. I would rather have something unique and loved than any diamond or trinket that has no substance other than cost. This is to me what Christmas should be about. Simple but true comforts and love.

Oh, and before I go, I am so daft sometimes! Last week I announced the winner of my drawing, ( who was chosen randomly by drawing numbers out of a hat) and then completely forgot to tell you the name of Aunt Spicy's beautiful scottie doglet! What am I like? Well the little dogs name is Fred (Freddie)! Thank you Mummy Boo Bear for your suggestion! Fred (Freddie is liking his new name very much! Mind you I have still not decided whether said dog is a girl or a boy yet. What do you think Aunty Spicy, after all, you created this gorgeous pooch! Either way, tis all good..... Fred, Freddie , Fredrica!

Getting back to christmas, what are your opinions on it these days, and if you are handcrafting gifts, what will/are you making? I would love to know, it would give me inspiration. Here is a difficult one... well it is for me! Anyone have any good ideas for handmade gifts for men? If you do, let me know PLEASE!!! ;0)

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Susie xxxx :0))))

AND THE WINNER IS .........................TA DAH..........

2010-09-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday Peeps!

This one certainly crept up on me! This week has seen more work being done on the house, and it feels as if it is never-ending sometimes! The new french doors are now installed and performing their new task of framing and inviting the back garden into the sitting room with a gusto. I will take another shot of them opened another time, as I am not allowed to open them yet. Have to let it all set.

Isn't everything all Autumny all of a sudden? I have been gathering in the harvest!

There are still lots of apple to pick!..... No there are not only two apples!

Take a look at all those red hot chili peppers! This is the last batch, we have about 4 bags stored now, and they may be tiny, but they are hot. George loves hot food, I mean really hot, bring me that fire extinguisher hot, hot!

There is also a tiny new window in the shower room. This being our very impatient shower room, which wants a makeover too, and in protest of waiting too long, has now sprung a leak which has caused me to trot up and down stairs every hour to empty the bucket. Obviously I have forgotten a few times, which results in the utility room beneath flooding. In fact I think it is a while since I last did it! Ooops, back in a mo!

Oh dear!

Another glimpse of the kitchen, which now has the floor down, and a rather large hairy dog in it too!

At the moment though, I am confined to my work room with the dogs, this is the only place left to hide! I have music playing (The Eels, I love them! Got every cd of theirs I think!) so the dogs can't hear the banging, and the curtains shut so they can't see the man on the ladder! I hope the man on the ladder doesn't think me rude! In this room sits my PC, and so I am writing my blog this week on there instead of on my laptop. So this week I have my 'Z' back.. yippee I can be Suzie again! I wonder what I could do... hmmmmm, maybe have a mess on my sewing machine?

This is my lovely naughty, indulgence, it was expensive, but I treated myself to it when my Mum died, with some money that she left me. However it is ages since I did any sewing, with all the work and upsets over the last few months. But I seriously think is time to get sewing again, after all I am called itch2stitch aren't I!

I have a confession... I am Suzie and I am a gadgetholic! I simply cannot resist the urge to collect little gadgets for sewing, strange feet for my sewing machine, objects which promise to make the job easier or more professional......elastic guides, jean-a-jumps, measuring gauges... I view these objects as vital, magic, essential when I buy them, and then I simply put them in here.....

And then rarely use them!

I love the idea of patchwork and quilting, but I have only ever taken baby steps with it so far. This, which is so basic it is not true, was going to be a bed cover, but never got finished. It is made from dresses which my daughters wore when they were little, some shop bought dresses and some which I made for them. So each square holds special memories.

Whilst rooting about in my room I came across this embroidery which surprise, surprise, is also unfinished. It is a tablecloth, or should I say it will be one day if it ever gets finished!

How about this for some sewing inspiration? I took some pics in the V&A on our hols in London, Iranian fabric I think. Isn't it beautiful? Can you see how you could use this design (and the gorgeous colours too!) in an embroidery or some quilting, etc.? Or, Sarah if you are reading, don't they remind you of colourful doilies?

It is amazing how much inspiration you can find by just looking at things that little bit closer.

Ooooh and I love this fireplace! I would love to have one like this, perhaps in a garden room, with white furniture and lots of comfy colourful pretty cushions? Oooh yes please!

Now to the winner of one of my drawings.......

The winner is........ Mummy Boo Bear! Congratulations! Let me know your posting details and also what colour you prefer, as you didn't mention that in your comment and I shall get on to it as soon as possible! I can just do it in the colours you saw on my last post if you wish, it is entirely up to you. If I ever emerge from my work room that is!

Thank you all for joining in the fun, and there may be another chance for you to win again in a few weeks, if you would like too. And may I say a big thank you to all my new followers too (and my old ones!), it cheers me, and makes me feel happy inside to 'meet' you here! Thank you for taking the time to visit me and leave your lovely comments. :)

Until next week, I wish you all good things. I am off to empty that darn bucket again!

Suzie xxxxx

Who would like to win one of my drawings?

2010-09-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Hello all you lovely peeps!

Well I am back from my travels, and since I got back I have been so busy, and I have a sore throat and feel so achey, so I am sorry for not keeping up with your blogs, tis not like me at all, to stay away from you all for so long. I do apologise, but I will be trying to catch up with all your news as soon as I can. I have been thinking of you though! You are never far from my thoughts..... get out of my head! No, only joking!

Would you like to win one of my drawings? Perhaps like this one? Maybe even choose what colours you would like? Read on to find out more!

You will be happy to know that George and I had a jolly spiffing time in London, and I shall be giving you little snippets in the coming weeks, as I have so many things to tell you, it would be far too long a post! Needless to say there were many funny times! I, for instance, got chastised while in The Tate Modern. Yes! I did! I spotted a very interesting sculpture which was arched in shape and hollow in the middle with refective surfaces. A woman had walked into the centre of it, and I of a curious nature, waited for her to leave and then I too explored the inner world of this piece of interesting art. Hmmm, it was a bit like a surreal hall of mirrors. Fascinating, lets wave our arms a little.... oooh how funny. OIIIIIHHHHH! I was startled by the sound, and I looked around to see an irate attendant staring at me and gesticulating. HUH? Duh? Me? Do you mean me? He pointed towards the floor at the wire barrier.... which I should not have crossed! (well I hadn't even seen it! I had gone in from the side) Oooops, sorry! I really had to overcome the urge to point to the woman who had first ventured into said sculpture, and shout out "Well, she did it first!".

Some pics.....

I love the hustle and bustle of London!

And the really unexpected and interesting places which you find when you venture off the main roads!

I loved this wondeful wacky wonderland!

Isn't this fab!

Isn't this yummy!

Just before I left for my hols, lovely Alex sent me this award, Thank you so much Alex, you are lovely!

Please go and visit Alex at Pink feather paradise
She has a wonderful and very enjoyable blog, you feel like you are home there! Well worth the visit if you haven't already done so!

I have been so lucky with oodles of kindness being bestowed on me lately! Tracey at Tracey's crafty scraps sent me a lovely parcel filled with goodies, beautifully sewn and made by herself. Also, she sent George a wonderful knitted willy warmer too ;) . George seems somehow a tad reluctant to model the article however! But of course he is over the moon about it and awaits the colder weather with a relish! Honestly he laughed so much when I gave him his little (very little!) gift! Ha ha ha! Tracey is a lovely friend, she is funny, talented and one of the kind of people who I admire greatly for her ability to laugh in the face of adversity and always remember others... like little old me! (hey! Less of the old!) Thank you Tracey!

Ha ha ha ha ha! George is still smiling ove this one! Brilliant!

Lovely goodies all lovingly made for me!

A gor-gee-ous pin cushion too!

And then, if that wasn't enough to find in my porch... more kindness! Look at what arrived in the post!

How wonderful is this? This lovely little scottie doglet is from the very kind and talented Aunt Spicy. I was filled with tears at the note too.. this little dog has come to cheer me up after the loss of my little dog Archie, how absolutely kind! My friend had popped around for a cup of tea, and I read the note out to her, but couldn't get the words out properly for tears! Now I have to think of a name. Any suggestions? I would love to hear them! I will get my thinking cap on too! I tell you what, why don't I put your suggestions into a hat and whoever's name I pull out will win one of my drawings. How about that? Are you all up for it?

Beautiful, sweet little doglet, beautifully stitched and such wonderful fabrics too! What more could a dog loving peep want!

Back to the London trip! On the second day we were in London, there was a tube strike! So it made getting about a bit more difficult and took longer. Well we did it the way George does it... by walking everywhere! I tell you I need another holiday to recover, I was so exhausted, and my feet and legs just about gave way! I think my shoes have actually given up the ghost now too. We walked for hours and hours! When we left London to go and stay in Tewkesbury, I was quite ready for a quieter pace.Tewkesbury is an old Cotswold town at the meeting of the rivers Avon and Severn. Such a lovely walk along the river looking at all the boats. The wetherspoons there has the most attractive beer garden, which of course we just had to try out and sample!

The Tewkesbury Wetherspoons beer garden

Our hotel in Tewkesbury.

You will no doubt not be surprised that my dogs Ralph and Bertie were very happy to come home from the kennels! We walked them home and it absolutely hammered down with rain, so we all arrived at the house looking like drowned rats. I love seeing how happy they are to be back, running about to see if everything is still as they left it! Of course Ralph had to wait in the kitchen until he dryed off before being let out into the rest of the house. That dog knots up for fun, and he looked a bit ragged after the kennel and the rain! Oooh and that wet dog smell! Nothing quite like it is there!?

Oh gosh, I am happy to be home Ralph!

Me too Bertie!

Oh... hes conked, it must be all that barking he did at the kennel. Its worn him out!

I shall tell you all a bit more next week, like about the loony on the bus (why do they always sit next to me?!), but in the mean time don't forget to think of those names for Aunty Spicey's lovely scottie dog, and you could win one of my drawings (if you want one that is! ha ha ha!). So just leave a comment telling me your suggestion for a name for my new little doglet and tell me what colour you would like in your drawing/painting and we will go from there!

Happy days to you all Susie xxxxxxxxxxx :))))

A Peek at my kitchen Makeover! Come and have a gander!

2010-08-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Well its been a long time coming, but our kitchen makeover is nearly, very nearly finished! Hurray! hoorah! Dippy do-dah! (Backward flip somersault!) At last I can prepare a meal once again without searching the rooms downstairs to find a vital implement, to return to said kitchen to find a burnt offering! Do you remember what it was like before?

Well heres a peek.....

So? What do you think? This has been a very low budget production. The Kitchen cupboards and sink were all bought second hand from my Friend Karen (hello Karen if you are reading this! Big hugs!) for £200! Of course you have to add on the price for fitting, worktop, tiles, cooker, hob and flooring, but it was done with very tight purse strings! It just needs some shelves putting up, for my bits and bobs (you know, all those pretty finishing off touches!) and the kicker boards.

What other news? More kindness in blogland! A surprise envelope in the post from Jacqueline at Once upon a Fairyland. An envelope filled with kindness and love from a very special lady and friend. Lots of owlishness just for me. Words which thank me for being real, and putting out what is in my heart. Thank you Jacqueline, your words mean more than I can say. In the beautiful note Jacqueline suggest that I put one of the owl stickers onto George's head while he sleeps for good luck! So funny! It will complete his new look of wearing odd shoes! So glad that that gave so many of you a good laugh in last weeks post!

And hey! I won a giveaway. Yes I did! The very lovely Joe at Josie-Mary has sent me these lovely goodies! How lucky am I? Very, I'd say. How wonderful to think of an owl for me Joe! It is filled with lavender, and smells delish! The brooch is divine and the photograph really does not do it justice. You are so talented and clever Joe! I love each and every one of your gifts! Thank you! Do visit her, if you haven't all ready, she makes the most beautifully (and skillfully made) gorgeous goodies!

Some sweeties too, yum! What a sweet shopping bag with dashhounds on and some lovely Emma Bridgewater tissues which I will keep in my handbag. Ahh the Union Jack! .........and talking of union Jacks.... there is more to report....

The lovely George and I have decided that 4 years without a holiday is quite enough! So we are going to London for a few days! And then a two night stay in the cotswolds on the way home. I love London, all those museums and art galleries to explore. I shall be letting you all know how it goes! So the Tissues will be going with me Joe, in my little Cath Kidson Handbag to see all the very Englishnessness of London! All those red Double deckers!

This reminded me, that as a child, after watching Cliff Richard's film, Summer Holiday, I announced to my long suffering Mum, that when I grew up I was going to live in a double decker bus (red... it just has to be red!), adopt some children and have an Old English Sheepdog. Well, I did adopt some children (3), and I did get my Old English (4 so far!) but as of yet I have not lived in a bus! If I had done, it would look have looked something like this inside!

Ha ha, I somehow don't think I will get my bus! But stranger things have happened. Oooh Cath Kidston, squeal, squeal! I must go to the London branch (one of them!), I shall be like a child on E-numbers let loose in a sweetie shop! Watch this space girls! (and any boys too!)

Ta ta old beans until next week! Have a jolly spiffing weekend and week!

Susie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :)

Walk a mile in my shoes............!!!

2010-08-20T02:43:00.000-07:00

Who keeps nicking the time? Where did the last week go? Just a really, really short post this week. Thank gawd I hear you all shouting out with glee!

Do you remember this design which I did a while ago? Well, I still haven't sewn it! I think I need a big kick up the beep beep beep! :)

On monday, we, that be the wonderful George and I, decided to go for a stroll to our local hostelry. This was indeed very naughty, as we don't do this in the week usually. So off we trotted. It was a lovely evening as we ambled along, wordless, deep in thought. "OH NO!" says the incredible George, " we have to go back to the house right now!". We were almost at the pub for goodness sake, so obviously I was curious to know why, but George was laughing too much to answer me. In fact he laughed all the way home.

Are you just a tinsy winsy bit curious to know .........................................................................................................................................................

Why? ........................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................

Ha ha ha ha! Oh you are sooooo funny sometimes George!

Have a wonderful weekend and a smashing week too.

Lots of love to you all. Susie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Farewell for now Peeps!

2010-07-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovely friends!

How the jolly heck are you all? Good and spiffing tip-top I hope.

Oh, I have been naughty this week letting myself loose around the shops! Obviously, ( no, really! Obviously!) it was necessary to buy some items with which to dress the house. Well thats my excuse and I am sticking to it! It is all part of the makeover George! Wink wink!

I couldn't resist these little birdies! Now could I?!!!

And I couldn't resist this ever so cute set of hooks!

The picture doesn't do this candle holder justice, I can't wait to see the lovely warm red glow!

Ahhhh, there it is!

Finally, this gorgeous natural heart... I love hearts! I was actually going to put this one away for my friend Susan for Christmas, but when I went around to her house for a coffee I saw that she already has two!

Another expense , this one very necessary indeed, was a trip to the opticians to finally have an eye test, and be fitted with some much needed new glasses. Well, I have been very fretful about going to the opticians since the optician last time (over 2 1/2 years ago) told me that the reason why he was taking an awfully long time looking at the back of my eyes, was because I had had cancer, and you can sometimes see things! Oh dear! The absolutely worst thing he could have said. I am supposed to go quite often as the chemotherapy has made eyes deteriorate quicker, but I haven't been because of what he said!

Anyhow, I was a bit nervous, and hated the back of the eye photographs etc! You can imagine what I felt like then when she told me that one of the bits at the back of my eyes (can't remember what it was called!) was bigger than the other and I needed further tests! Yikes! I actually felt like leaving! Errrr no, running! Anyway, it was all fine, and I now await my glasses so that I can actually see to sew and draw properly again! Phew!

On a lighter note, the lady behind the counter asked George if we were together, to which George replied... "yes,..... unfortunately!" Ha ha ha! Funny man!

I have spent another busy bee week with paint brushes a painting! The stable door has had numerous coats, and yet still remains, well frankly, not so good. I think I need to go and get some more paint! I got a cheaper make you see, which has now turned into a more expensive one!

My invisible horse was not impressed at all, as he couldn't look out of his door whilst I was heavily armed with wet paint brush! He did offer to help by using his tail, but it would have been far too messy to have been of any real help. :o) Sooooo.... we stopped for a bite to eat instead. By the way, I'm the one with the moustache!

No sewing done, no art work either.... just too darn busy I am afraid. At night I have found, as the light fails, so does my eyesight, and I can no longer (maybe I will be able to when my new glasses arrive) enjoy the delights of embroidery or cross-stitch of an evening watching TV, as I used to do. However, I can knit! I can actually knit without my glasses on, and only really need them on to read the pattern, so I have been making a cardie in the evenings!

I can do basic knitting really, and so far have done the back, and front sides, and half a sleeve, but I couldn't say at all if I will manage the collar, edges and button holes! I have never actually knitted anything like this before! So wish me luck!

Do you want to hear something funny? Well, you may remember a while ago, me telling you that post cancer, I have been trying to find insurance. Do you remember? Well, not being one to give up easily, I had yet another shot at it. I recieved my quote the other day.... ho ho ha hee ha ho hee ha ha hee haw hee haw! Are they mad???? £230 a month just for moi! Not a chance on earth! George's is about £25, or something like that! I shall therefore continue to remain just as useless dead, as I am alive! Huh-hum, moneywise that is! Shhhh -shhhhush George! No one asked for you opinion!!

This week I received these beautiful felts which I won in a giveaway from Annie at The Felt Fairy. They are in such soft gorgeous pastels, and I had been hoping to show Annie, and you, something which I had made with them, but no... nothing at all to show yet! Sorry, maybe soon though! Thank you so much Annie!

Next week the ever suffering George is off work and we should at last (!) be having the kitchen installed. So over the weekend we will be tearing out cupboards, pulling up the flooring and ripping off the tiles. It will be all go here for quite some time to come, so I may or may not be taking a blog break for a short while. If I do, I will still try to find some time to catch up on your blogs! If I am not a round for a couple of weeks you won't forget all about little old me will you?!! Promise?

Love to you all, goodbye for now.... won't be away long I hope!

Suzie xxxx

Cloudy Angels and home grown veggies!

2010-07-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

Yippeeeeeeeeeeee peeps its Friday again. Yes again!

I have been really enjoying reading all your blogs and finding out what you have all been getting up to! You are all so busy. it makes my head spin, it really does. For all the readers who haven't got a blog, I hope you have had a wonderful week, hopefully enjoying some good weather. Although frankly, our garden was gagging for a good long drink, and I was tiring of lugging a heavy watering can to all the poor thirsty pretties! So was glad of the spot of rain we enjoyed this week! Me, me, me they were all shouting..... oh dear, I know, the plants are talking to me now. No hope at all for me,is there?! Or was it all the Faeries and Angels which flitter and flutter about in our garden?

Another one of my stitcheries, a reminder to myself that just because we can't see some things.. they are still there!

And speaking of clouds......isn't it amazing when you take the time to look up, just what you may see? Ha ha ha! I wish I had seen the plane do this!

Do you think that the pilot had changed his mind, or do you think that he was turning back so he could take another look at this!?

An angel! And who is she chatting with?

Could it be tinkerbell?!!! Can you see her? Can you make out her hair and her wings? She is kneeling down. Or am I really losing it completely? :) I used to love laying on the grass as a child and looking at all the pictures in the clouds. We really should try to take the time to do that sometimes, it is so magical! Yes, look up! You may just miss that elephant that is about to fall on you!

This song really sums me up! There is even a reference to Tinkerbell in it too, so apt hey! It was one of my favourites when I was a confused teenager, and I really haven't changed that much at all! As long as I don't look in the mirror!

Anyway! Earth calling! Woo hoo! Do you know, I found myself at the bottom of the garden yesterday, smiling at my trees. Yikes. Don't worrry, I did intend to go down there, I really didn't just find myself there, and not know how I got there... and it wasn't in the middle of the night either! Phew! Just thought I would clear that up! The little white van, complete with hug me jacket is on the way!

So! What have I been up to? Well, more house painting. Its awful, it just goes on and on...and on and on.... I mean painting the rendering, not me! Have you ever painted rendering.... Gawd! Painful! Remind me never to get another fully rendered house please!

Oh, goodness me, I would much rather do this kind of painting. I finally managed to finish these this week....

And I would definitely rather be doing this....

This is a kit I started quite some time ago (not one of my designs... I wish! ) She is lovely isn't she?

And of course I would rather spend my time tending these.....

Awhhhh! A baby aubergine!

Obviously, I would much rather be skipping about the garden rummaging amongst the beautiful bountiful blooms looking for faeries. Well Obviously!

Is there one here?

No...... Here?.......

Nope......

What about here?....

Ahhhh, yes look! A little wish fairy hiding in the roses! Sweet!

Now before I go, another big thank you! Thank you Jackie for sending me these wonderful goodies! You know I love them as I have already sent you an email, but of course I had to show them to all! A while back I won Jackies giveaway at her lovely blog, you can go and visit her HERE.

I couldn't believe how much you sent me Jackie, I was bowled over! look at all these! There was so much I couldn't fit it all on a couple of photos... so.....!

Lovely owl bottle stoppers, ( their heads nod!), Notelets with thread flowers on them!, a tiny little dolly who's eyes actually open and close!, a little hoose too. Can you see Pinocchio? He is one of my favourite disney characters, a little gnome who will live with the pixies, and some chamomile tea for me to slurp with George!

A lovely card covered in gnomes, a really cute gnome bookmark, a tinsy sweet christmas decoration, some rather fetching flower garlands and a gorgeous wabbit frame! Rabbits are featuring a lot in my life this week! Also a box which I thought had olive soap in it, but it actually had this little chap hiding in it......

And I wonder what is in this beautiful hand painted box and little present? Hmmmmm......

Gosh, how did all these goodies fit in that box! Even little tiny shells, and tiny star fish!

Some lovely golden lily body cream in a fairy bottle!

And finally this absolutely adorable stitchery, with such a warm and touching saying! Thank you Jackie and I hope I haven't missed anything out.... there was so much of it!

Thank you for visiting me, and until next Friday, I will send you all a sprinkling of fairy dust! Oh, and if any of you get the urge, you can pop here and help me with the painting, Ok? , No, I don't care if you live in another country, that is no excuse! Ha ha ha!

Love to you all, and don't forget to look up!

Suzie xxxxxxxxxxxxx :)

Flowers, invisible horses and sadness too.

2010-06-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hey! Thank you so much for your get well wishes... I think it worked too, as I do feel much better now!

What have I been up to this week? Oh, you didn't ask did you? Well I will tell you anyway! Despite feeling lousy, I got quite busy once I recovered a bit. Now lets see. Oh yes! on Tuesday my bottom made a quick telephone call! Yes, it did... It rang George's car phone, but remained silent.. thank goodness! Ha ha ha, I had sat on my phone!

I have been doing a bit more on my secret project...

Have been busy making lots of flowers....

And I finally had a go at making a brooch, as I have had some brooch pins for some time now! Does anyone else find themselves on occasion buying things, thinking that you will make lots and sell them or at least give as presents, but never get around to doing it?

I felted the wool onto the under felt, and attached beads, and of course a brooch pin too!

Now, you may not be aware of this, but I have an invisible horse. Those of you who are friends with me on facebook will already know! Obviously, this door was absolutely no use whatsoever for an inquisitive horse now was it?

Let us out! Let us out!

So as part of the grand makeover which has just begun, we just had to have this door fitted.......

So now my beautiful invisible appaloosa horse (brown and white markings for anyone interested! ;o), can trot to the door anytime he likes and gaze out of the window at the flowers, butterfies and bees!

Paula the lady who bred ralph our Old English Sheepdog, breeds these beautiful natured horses as well! Click on this link If you like to ooohhhh and awhhhhh at puppies and horses!

And it looks so much cosier from the inside too! I can't wait for a rainy day all snuggled up in the kitchen with a warming bowl of homemade soup, watching the rain pitter pattering down that little cutie window!

It really feels now, like we are finally starting to get somewhere with all thes jobs that need doing on this house!

Two thank yous this week and one sadness I am afraid.

Thank you Jacqueline for another one of your beautiful tags! Look at the cute owls peeps! You are a star, so kind thinking of little old me here in Lancashire with my dotty dogs and invisible horse!

Thank you too, to Star, who sent me these lovely mags for a giveaway I recently won at her lovely blog. I shall have a good look through them as soon as I get a mo! I have only managed to skim through them as yet!

I still haven't got around to reading your book Jen, which I am sorry for! I haven't even answered your question about it yet... sorry! I am sure I will enjoy it and will report back to you when I have read it. I noticed that you have done a wonderful post about 'four', which I will try and read later! X

I would like give a mention here to a lovely blog friend of mine Mollye, who suddenly and tragically lost her son Jake just over a week ago. It is at times like these when we need to show our love, support and care so much. I like Mollye very much, and often think of her, and send my love to her often, but right now I am sending her every ounce that I can squeeze out of me. Words are just inadequate really. He sounded a truly amazing man, and you can read Mollye's beautiful tribute to him here. It made me cry.

It just makes me think once again, how every moment on this earth is precious, and how, when we are lucky enough to have people to love, we must love them with all we have got. We all take too many things for granted sometimes.

Love to you all. Suzie xxxxxxxxxx

The laughing Hyena Strikes Again!!!

2010-06-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely peeps!

Short post this week, as I am over run with work on the house, and I am feeling lousy with a cold too. So I apologise if I haven't been visiting as many blogs as I usually do! This week we have had a joiner here, sawing, whirring and hammering! Let the grand makeover begin! We have bought paint for a few rooms, and I have been planning colour schemes. These little birds I made from a pattern in the Cath Kidston book 'Sew!' will give you an idea of the colours of the 'new' room, along with the buttons in my cake stand which will be stood on the dressing table,... the room that we are presently using as a dining room, will be transformed into a bedroom. Before and after pics coming soon!

It was gala week last week, and the procession went past our house last Saturday. You will be pleased to know that I was reduced to tears with giggling again, on my own in the front garden with an audience of people watching me from across the road. The culprit? Well it was a float going by, with the warbling tones of what I can only describe as chipmunks on speed siniging a disco song! I staggered back to the front door, unable to see through the tears. I was shaking and was no longer able to make any noise..

Anyway, I pulled myself together and went back out to stand by the Owl Tree again... I am a grown-up, I am a grown-up, repeat seven times.. I am a grown-up ....Another float, with horns a blowing, aaahhh-haaaa, ahhhh-haaaa, like the kind that Harpo Marx from the Marx brothers always hooted as he ran about wildly. Well the image of Harpo in my head was too much, so I am afraid it set me off again! George was stood in the front room window watching me with disdain, which quite frankly just made me all the worse. "How old are you?" he asked me, when I went back in the house!

For those who don't already know, the Cath Kidston book featured above, has everything you need to make this handbag! Amazing value for money! I added the gingham lining though, and replaced the white button supplied with my own gingham covered one. It is easy to make too!

Well thats it! Yep, I mean it! No doubt you are all in a deep state of shock at my short post, but I really do feel yuk, and really just want to curl up in a ball somewhere. You know that feeling when you feel as if someone has taken all the bones out of your body? As my Mum used to say, I am only useful to be chopped up for fire wood! An expression she would always use when I was a good for nothing!

Blessings and giggles to you all!

Update! I have put my owls back on...... I missed them!!!

Suzie xxxx

Kindness, magic, faith and a spot of laughter!

2010-06-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

Hippy Happy Friday!

I think that the crazy as a loon fairy has been fluttering about in our home lately! Oh yes, that little fairy has definitely been visiting.

I did this one yesterday, my latest little fairy, not looking particularily crazy, but a fairy nonetheless! The little creature hasn't been living with me long enough yet... give it time!

In the past when we have decided to move house, I start out by looking at potential properties on rightmove, and then usually get daydreams of a particular house stuck firmly in my head. It is a kin to falling in love, you just can't stop thinking of the object of your affection, and basically long to get your mitts on the blighter!

Well, this time, I have spotted a house that I really, really, (think!) I want to live in. I say think, because I actually haven't been to view it. The fact of the matter is... that it is not even up for sale! Yes, you heard that right, NOT FOR SALE! Put that together with the fact that we are not even up for sale yet either, and the fact that even if we were and we had a buyer, there is no reason to believe that said object of my affections would even be up for sale when we are, or even for years! I know, the crazy fairy has me smitten with its's madness!

One of my applique cross stitch designs, very simple... like the creator of it!

It is a sweet old cottagey type house, with original stained glass windows and the sweetest 1920's original front door! We have walked past it several times now, and no, sorry, I haven't got a photo, as I may well be arrested soon for stalking a house anyway, without standing at the front of it wildly snapping pictures as well! It needs a lot of work (well, from the outside, it looks so!), It has a good sized garden (good old google bird's eye view maps!) So, we could still grow some of this.....

Some of our veggies grownig happily in the veggie plot!

And this.......

Ahhhh, Aubergines!

And these.....

Oh pretty flowers! Such beauty!

I love a cottage garden, wild and full of wildlife, mysterious and magical. Oooh err and slightly rambling like me!

YES! I do, do , DO believe in magic, I believe that what ever we can imagine is utterly and completely possible! SO, I have been doing a spot of cosmic ordering! George says that if we end up living there, he will have me burnt at the stake for being a witch!

Talking of George, ha ha ha, he did make me laugh yesterday morning! George, I am telling you, you are so funny! You ought to be bottled up and sold as a tonic!

I woke up and noticed that it was 8.30am, so I nudged George and said "GEORGE! Its 8.30!" He opened one eye and replied "SO!". I gave him a shake " GEORGE! Its 8.30!" He wasn't too happy, in fact he was coming accross a tad grumpy here. Another nudge, a shove in the ribs, another "GEE-ORGE"......reply- "WHAT????" he was not happy....he squints at me irritated and says.." ITS SATURDAY FOR GAWDS SAKE" ...... "Errr, no George," I reply "its Thursday!" ... Silence....then.... "ITS THURSDAY???!!!". Ha ha ha, I have never seen him jump out of bed so quick..."BLOODY HELL!, Why didn't you tell me" He says as he scurries around getting ready for work!!!

Now another, yes another big thank you, for a big huge dollop of kindness! Look what the postman delivered yesterday!
Kay! You are such a love, it was wonderful surprise! This is what I love about kindness! Kindness can lift your spirits, cheer you, make you feel cared for and loved. Kindness is infectious like a smile it sends out ripples of good feeling, and makes the world a nicer place to live in. Kay, made this lovely hanging for me, and recently did a post featuring this (you can read the post here).

Look at the gorgeous charms, I love them!

Yummy goodies too!

The parcel had lots of goodies in as well as the hanging, and the sweetest enchanted garden card, with lovely words from Kay, which I will treasure with all my heart. Thank you so much Kay! You are one of those special people here on blogger (and Facebook!) who I feel a real connection with, and now consider a very good friend, and who make all of this waffling that I do, worthwhile!

As a matter of fact, I am so very lucky to have so many kind and wonderful friends in this huge and unseen blogland and facebook too.... thank you all!

I will leave you with this photo of my clematis.... now if thats not magic, I would like to know what is!

Every time I see this, my I gasp, and my eyes pop out! That conjures up a picture... gasping for breath, with my eyes a bulging. Ha ha, I had wanted it to sound a bit more romantic than that! I was aiming for more of a Wuthering Heights effect than the Hunch Back of Notre Dame!

I wish you all happiness and love, and hope that that darn crazy fairy stays well away from you. Its too late for me I am afraid! Now where did I put that book of spells.... hmmmmm? :o)

Suzie xxxxxxxxx

....With Silver Bells and Cockle Shells.....

2010-06-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

Hello!
Thank you for all your warm comments and kind wishes over the last week, I really do a happy dance when I hear from you!

One of my stitcheries (and my verse too! Oh dear!) Sorry it is not a very good photo!

I am sure many of you like me will have been out in your gardens busying yourselves. There is something about being outside, breathing in the air, communing with nature and being close to the earth which really relaxes, refreshs and grounds me. I always feel better for it, whether it is just being in the garden or going on a lovely country walk. It never fails to inspire me and touch my soul.

Kind hearts are gardens,
Kind thoughts are roots,
Kind words are blossoms,
Kind deeds are fruits.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This week the lovely George and I have been .....

Planting babies!

This is way down at the bottom of the garden, the meadow grass, natural bit! We planted plum, apple, pear and morello cherry trees, I hope they will be ok!

I have been tidying borders....

Bertram Butterbean Barker (Bertie!) had the very important job as executive supervisor!

I have been admiring our beautiful Owl Tree.....

Magnificent..No? I will miss this wise old tree when we move. Sometimes on a moonlit night, when caught in the silvery moonbeams, Mr. Owl tree has a face!

We have been finishing off our alpine rockery. I really wanted George to wear a Sound of Music little number while planting, but he wasn't having it!

Oooh, what else have I been doing? Hmmmmm......

Baking bread. There were two loaves.. I wonder what happened to the other one???

Now then Ralph Le Puff MacDuff! Don't you look all sweet and innocent in your 1920's hat.. you are not fooling anyone you thief you! Was it tasty you blighter!?

And baking these, (keeping them well away from a certain big black twitching nose!)

And drinking this!

I had to buy this bottle of cider. No really, I did! Look at the lovely 1950's style label, I just couldn't resist!

You will be pleased to hear that the christening went very well. It was a lovely sunny day, if a little windy! Lily, the star of the show, after all it was her day, performed a fabulous party piece! She grabbed hold of, and pulled off the vicar's glasses as he was holding her at the font, and she would not let go! It was so funny, the whole congregation were laughing! Not good for a serial giggler like me. George got that slightly alarmed look flit across his face, as he saw me laughing... Is she going to be able to stop? Yes, you will be pleased to know (or bitterly disappointed!) to hear that I managed to hold on to my dignity, for a change!

Lastly, I am quite shocked and so deeply saddened at the news of the shooting in Cumbria. I have been to Whitehaven a few times, once to visit the Maritime festival, and it really is unbelievable that such a thing can hapen there.

It truly is dreadful, and once again a reminder to me to enjoy each day and to always be grateful. When I heard it on the news, the gunman had just finished his shooting rampage and had run off. I just went in the house and locked the door. Silly I know, as Whitehaven is over an hours journey from where I live, but with going to Cumbria a lot, it felt so close! I feel so sorry for all involved in this tragedy, remembering too all of the emergency services and nursing staff who have had to witness such trauma. It is all unimaginable.

Til next week all you sweetpeas, go forth and enjoy... everything! Sun and rain!

I love to search for the joy in each day!

Another one of my stitcheries, I love this one (even though I shouldn't say so myself!) So I have it hanging from the french doors!

You may have noticed that I have changed my background on the blog, now what do you think, this one or the overload of owls? You can decide... if you want to that is!

Beautiful blessing to you all.... Suzie xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Twenties, Flappers and bedknobs and broomsticks!

2010-05-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

Good day to you all!

I hope you have all had the lovely weather we have been having here in Lancashire, although some of it was sooo hot, It rendered me quite useless at times!

I just adore this print of an illustration by Charles Robinson... Indian Summer.

I love the 1920's , absolutely adore the furniture, fashions, dances, haircuts... everything about the roaring 20's brings a smile to my simple face!

George and I live in a 1920's home - it was built in 1923, and luckily still holds many of it's original features.

Oh doodle of mine....

A number of years ago I treated myself, or should I say my Mum treated me to this coat. I spotted it in a local shop and thought it had a certain 20's air about it. I just fell head over heels with it! It still looks just as good as it did back then, shame I can't say the same for me!!!

What do you think? (please note, it has artificial fur!) I adore it, and when George nearly passed out at how much it was, I reminded him, that I would wear it forever, and when I come to the end of my road, hey, he can bury me in it too! It is not at all trendy, it is timeless, so it will see me out! The drawing above is based on it.

I have popped this video on again for all you flappers out there!

Talking of clothes, we are going to a christening this Sunday and so I have been throwing my outfit together ( literally!)...Here is the recipe.....

Take one old long skirt and ruthlessly take a pair of scissors to it....

One plain long jacket ....

Several wooden and coconut buttons....

The final result.....

Sorry for the poor quality, it is hard trying to take your own photo! The first pic shows the colours much better!

Well, I think it looks ok.....Or have I lost my marbles completely???!!! Too late! That's what I shall be wearing, rain or shine, good or bad!

This week I would like to thank the very lovely Mrs. P For this award! Thank you so, so much for thinking of me! Please go and pay her a visit, If you already haven't.. she has a very interesting blog, and is such a sweetie!

Now, I am to tell you 10 things about myself ( I don't think I can think of anything else, not anything that I can tell anyway... Blush!) and 5 things I just don't like! So here we go!

1. I can't swim... yup, just flail about and then sink.
2. I once did an Open University course in Social welfare (or something like that!) I love writing essays!
3. I loathed and detested school.
4. I have bent little fingers.
5. As a child I was a tom-boy and girlie, depending on how I felt at the time. Up a tree one minute and gazing at my shiny shoes the next. I am still the same! I can be dressed beautifully one minute and like a scruff the next! A bit like my musical tastes, all the extremes and the bits in the middle too.
6. I am still 10! (In my head anyway!)
7. I believe in spirits, ghosts and all things unseen.
8. And she shall have music wherever she goes, I have 6 stereos.
9. I am useless at all sports.
10. The words economy and anatomy very often get said as economonomy and anatomonomy... I find it hard to say them!

Five things I dislike immensely.....

1. Rudeness and bad manners.
2, Bigotry, ignorance, predjudice and closed-mindedness.
3. Lack of humour and unfriendliness.
4. Injustice
and drumroll here......
5. Porridge.

I am so excited this week, as the Sroka household has had a delivery! I have wanted one for a long time, and the price was slashed, and we really need one as the one we have is about 12 years old now. Also as I said to George, this will see us out, we won't ever need to buy another (now, where have we heard this before, hmmmmm!!!)

Tis this bed....

This is the pic on the Laura Ashley site, as we haven't got it put together, or even in the bedroom as yet, ... we need to decorate the bedroom first!

I can not wait to snuggle up in my new cosy bed, and hopefully get some much needed sleep too! Like Bedknobs and Broomsticks, I hope to be engaged in many exciting adventures in Dreamland! Oh and enjoy my early morning pots of tea too!

Anyway peeps! I hope you all enjoy a jolly good weekend!

Lots of love to all of you! Suie Juan tit! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :)))) Tryed to keep it shorter! You don't know how hard it was! Did I fail? Duh yeah... miserably! I kept adding to it...sorry! He he! x

Hello All You Silly Sausages! Silly Sad!

2010-05-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hellooooooooooo!

Happy Friday! PARF...... OOOOh Pardon me! Sorry, I am feeling a bit silly this week, more than usual, so its one big silly fest here!

One of my stitcheries

No! I am not sorry actually... being silly is extremely good for the soul. Nothing makes me feel better than to have a mad half hour or two. I adore laughing and can be rendered completely helpless by just hearing someone else laughing, even if I don't know what they are laughing at. I am perhaps a slightly split personality kind of character, as like all things in life, everything has a dark side and a light side. For all of my silly side that is, there is also a very serious thinking side too. Sometimes I can get utterly lost in deep thoughts and examine everything in minute detail. Life to me is indeed a tragi-comedy, and so I seem to have the sometimes unfortunate ability to see both at once!

Ralphus Le Puff Mac Duff, being very silly indeed donning a hoodie!

Have you ever been truly crying and truly laughing at the same time. A slightly alarming feeling, but strangely illuminating too! To see the humour in a dark situation I feel is a blessing. To me it is anway. I had such an experience whilst in hospital just after having my masectomy. I had woken up in such pain which was radiating all through my body. there didn't seem to be one bit of me that wasn't left out! Also, I was desperate for a wee, but I couldn't seem to get up. Me being me, I didn't want to disturb a nurse, so eventually, I decided I had 3 choices... 1, force myself to get up and know it was going to be agony, 2, wet the bed, 3 ring for a nurse, get some more pain killers, wait for the painkillers to work , and still wet the bed! So I chose 1, and struggling I made it to the bathroom. At that moment in time I was feeling very sorry for myself. No sorry isn't the correct description, it doesn't even come close, I was is the darkest despair I had ever encountered. I had had many problems in my life leading up to that moment, and that was franlkly this was the last straw, I was in the darkest dark night of the soul. I was crying, no not crying.. weeping, sobbing.

Ahhh, yes, I looked just like Robert Smith from the Cure, One of my all time favourites! I love Robert Smith!

No, actually, probably more like this. Alice Cooper, I love him, very warped lyrics... I can't help it... I love them and him! I also love classical music..go figure! Then again I love all music.. why? Because I am greedy thats why!

I lifted my head and spotted this strange creature in the mirror, wild and unkempt, face so pale the creature looked as if it had been buried for 6 weeks and dug up again! Red eyes, staring back at me, it's hair was so wild and was sticking up in the air like the scene from Something About Mary.
For a second everything was suspended in time, as still weeping I told my reflection in the mirror " you ARE pathetic!" . Next thing I knew I was shaking with laughter and weeping all at the same time, I could see the irony, the absolute funny side of the whole hideous affair! Oh how the mighty have fallen I thought to myself! You would really have to know what else was going on in my life at the time of my diagnosis to truly understand how far I had fallen. But I'm not telling... Na Na, Na Na NA!

Yes just like that, but not that pretty!

Isn't humour, after all, a way of trying to make sense of the world, helping us to see the other side of the coin, helping us to cope with the not so happy parts of life which we all face in life. Gawd knows there are enough tears, so certainly we should welcome laughter with out stretched arms whenever we get the chance! So, I do do! I find that humour can appear in our darkest moments and we shouldn't be ashamed or frightened of it, it comes only as an aid to soften the situation and to bring understanding, strength of spirit, tolerance and humility. It helps us to cope, and sometimes even to fight back with passion. Humour is the reflection of sadness, I believe it is all connected. It is the other side of the coin.

Sometimes things just don't make any sense at all, but if you study it all hard and long enough, really give it all your full attention you can often, if not always, see the funny side!

This gate doesn't make any sense at all! Please keep this gate shut at all times! I laugh everytime I walk past it! No wonder I get odd looks around here. Walking on my own laughing at gates!

In those first few years of trying to come to terms with it all, I used to get very depressed sometimes, and actually used to say to George that I felt that I could cry and cry and never be done with it. It was a deep and sorrowful mourning, but it was tangled up with twenty odd years (No!, make that 30!) of other sorrows, that all seemed to be coming flooding back to the surface demanding for me to face them. Don't believe for one minute, that if you ignore/bury your feelings that they go away... They don't! They will come back out one way or another! My buried and ignored emotions, hurts, etc. marched right in and sat down facing me full on and demanded some much needed attention. They had escaped in a weak moment, when my strength was low, and my door was wide open. The flood gates had literally opened! So I reflected daily during the long months I sat undergoing the chemotherapy....

A drawing of mine, how I felt at the time!

If I needed to cry.. I finally gave my self permission, instead of thinking that it is my job in life to keep going and look cheerful! I cryed buckets and buckets. Totally indulgent! How can that many tears come out of one person, have I got a damn ocean in there?! I came to the conclusion that keeping things bottled up was useless and probably the reason I was sat there in that state, with only one boob! Of course, when I got so deep in the mire that I didn't even want to get out of bed, or go outside, I knew it was time to give myself a large kick up the....So I developed a technique.... I would force myself ( very hard some days!) to stand up and wave my arms wildly around in the air. Well actually one arm wildly, I couldn't move the other one much due to my lacerated armpit! I defy anyone not to start to at least smile at how silly they look! The first time I tryed it, I cryed laughing. George! This works! Poor George, he used to have to put up with my silly cheer myself up routine quite often! I gave myself a nick-name.... Juanita Juan-tit .... to call myself when I got too serious about it all. Hey Juan-tit, get up, pull yourself together, and go wave those arms, err that arm! He he!

I think that what I am trying to say here, is that I just refuse point blank to lose my humour, and spend nearly everyday, polishing it, crafting it, and displaying it with love! When life throws S**t, humour is always hiding in the corner somewhere! It just needs spotting. Humour is the child within.

One of my favourite songs! Tis wonderful sung by the great Judy Garland!

Before I trot off to my vegetable patch ( what am I, a horse?), I have another thank you! Thank you Jaqueline for this lovely, lovely tag and ever so cute fairyland stickers! They certainly are gorgeous and in your wonderful words Jaqueline... groovey! , and how kind is this magical lady, who you can visit here, this is the nicest surprise Jacqueline! The inside of the envelope had polka dots! I shall go a merry sticker stickering!

Go forth and giggle, it is our duty to spread mirth! Ta ta old beans (hey less of the old!) Sorry for waffling again, I just can't seem to say anything in one sentence! I will try harder next week. Short post, short post......
But then I do only post once a week.. I don't say boo or a moo all week and then I get on here and I just can't a shuta me trap!

Much love Suzie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Vintage stitchery, a bit of Cath and a helping of kindness!

2010-05-13T16:42:00.000-07:00

Hello you lovelies!

How is life treating you all... very well I hope!

I love this time of the year, don't you? All changes.... buds bursting forth and gardens and widlife springing to life. You just can't help but to feel brighter on a spring day pregnant with hope and promise! That is the spring day being pregnant... not me! Now that would be a blooming miracle!!!!

This is one of my cross stitch designs ... my take on spring, and my own verse too I may add. Yes I know, I will never make it as a poet! Ha ha ha!

Even the country is standing at the starting line of new beginnings, changes are afoot, and no matter what our individual views on it all are, it is a very interesting time to come. A little scary perhaps, and unsure, but this last week has been a historical one in politics! I am finding all a little scary I must say! I wait with baited breath to see the future unfold..... People have been getting bees in their bonnets about it all, and we will wait and see now what is to come!

One of my stitchery designs... Think I may have put this one on before, so sorry if I have! Losing track!

I seem to have been drifting away from stitching lately and filling my blog with my drawing. There is good reason for this of course, and that is that all my stitcheries originate from my drawings and paintings, so they are close cousins! So here are some charity shop finds for all you lovers of vintage stitching! These are not my designs, I found them in my local CS s.

Lovely spring inspiring beauties.....

I love this one, it is a table cloth, but it is badly marked in places, so it may be a job for the scissors maybe!I quite fancy using the pieces in a patchwork quilt for the bed , maybe!

I was rooting about upstairs trying to find something, when I heard some giggling coming from a box in the cupboard. Guess what? It was these two impish little girls and their cat who have been stuffed in a box in a very undignified way since we moved. I had forgotten all about my attempts at making ragdolls!

The top girlie has been embellished with some of my stitchery and my handmade buttons!

While I am still in the sewing theme... I am thinking of making a throw for a very tatty embarassing chair out of these fabrics and some embroidery... what do you think hey?

Ok! I can hear you! "Where is the Cath Kidston bit?"..... Oh ok! Here it is. I spotted this tote on the front of a magazine a week or two ago. My eyes nearly stood out on stalks! I actually let out a little squeal of delight right there in the middle of a crowded supermarket, much to poor George's despair! A free, yes FREE Cath Kidston tote bag! Straight to the till with that!

So cheerful, it brightens up my hallway! Off to the shops I will go!

Before I go again, I must tell you all about a parcel that landed on my porch floor on wednesday. My lovely friend Jen at Themadhouse sent me these lovely gifts. I sometimes just can not get over the kindness of you wonderful peeps! Jen thank you soooooo much! I really must get my finger out to repay these kindnesses, as I have had a few so far, and I am going to see to it that I give some kindness back! You know who you are! So! Thank you so much Jen, you are a very kind and special person!

A beautiful pin cushion, such a lovely fabric and a little label which says sewing! A very interesting book, which I just know I will love! Also a lovely thoughtful note, which I have partly covered to hide the address, of course!

Right then folks! Cheery bye for another week. I am off to water my seedlings and veggies now!

Suzie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :)

Kitchen makeover..............On a shoestring. Watch this space!

2010-05-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

Gosh!! Is it really Friday again! Hello all.. happy Friday! Thank you for your kind wishes for George's poor back, It is much better now thank you! Sorry to all of ny bloggy friends who I may have neglected a bit this week, but I have been so busy drawing and painting for my secret project, and when I get going hours can simply fly by, I get a headache from all the close work (must get new glasses!) and the housework and all else goes out of the window! Here is another little glimpse of what I am up to! Maybe I should rename this blog Itch2draw!

Anyone for cake? Not quite finished yet!And not good reproduction as I took a photo instead of scanning!

Yes! As a matter of fact I forget to do housework, the dinner, to get dressed.... I become like some hermit creature busily engrossed in my little make believe world! Then I remember all the other things that need doing and I have to whirl about like a whirling dervish trying to catch up!

Archibald Peabody-Smythe, being the attention seeker of the Sroka household is not at all impressed with being ignored!

No! I am not talking to you!

It is no use hiding behind those flowers you know. We can see you! HELLO-O!

Now, on to something else! What is your dream kitchen? Country, modern and sleek, traditional.....?

I love this kitchen... this is my dream kitchen.....

Come to think of it,....... that is my kitchen, or rather it WAS my kitchen in my last house. This picture does not do it justice, it was not orangey at all. Made from reclaimed pine, with a belfast sink and granite tops and a chinese slate floor.....

This picture shows the colour of the cupboards much better! The top pic was the one taken by the Estate agent, and don't they take awful pics?! If we had stayed, I was going to paint the cupboards cream.

Is it at all decent to miss a kitchen so much??? Well I do! I even left my range cooker behind... boo hoo!

Anyway, We are soon to do a kitchen makeover. This is my kitchen here......

A single oven , with the grill in it! A fridge that literally fills up with water and a white cushion floor! I mean... white, and me with 3 dogs! Mopping doesn't work, you literally have to scrub, and life is toooooo short!

So stay tuned, as I am about to shake this baby by the neck! On a very, very tight budget, I intend to make it look as good as I can. This is my challenge. A vert strict budget as all of our money was all spent up in the last house! We have the 'new' cupboards in the garage. My friend has just had her kitchen done, so we have bought her old cupboards, which look as good as new. How much? £200. That includes the sink too (and taps) Yes, cheap! Not bad I think. You will have to wait to see them in to decide whether I have pulled off my hoped for transformation!

In fact we have the whole house to do on a tight budget... as we want to move back to Poulton soon, we have found that we really miss our old town! SO! If you would like to share our journey, I will keep you up to date! The challenge in our home is to make the house look as beautiful as possible, as cheaply as possible!

A thank you now before I go for another week. Thank you Angel for these lovely awards!

You are such a kind lady, and I am really so happy that you picked me! I award these awards to all the lovely talented bloggers that I follow... thats why I follow you.... because you are all sooooo darn good!

Now, at the risk of boring you, here are 7 things about me that you may not know. I have decided to tell you funny things!

1: I went through a spell of falling over. Hey! I had a lot on my mind at the time! Once, I fell at the feet of a very, very old lady. She bent down to pick me up and said " shouldn't this be the other way round?" Another time I slipped and fell into a very large puddle, which resembled a small pond! This would have been fine if I was the only one in the car park, but a man was stood watching me, and didn't have the decency to look the other way, or to stop smiling to himself! To make it worse, one of my shoes had flown off, and I was flailing about in the water trying to find it! He stayed for the whole show by the way!

2: I hated sewing at school...I loathed it!

Now anything involving a sewing needle is just heaven to me..This is one of my drawings which I made into a cross stitch!

3: At school I got in detention.. a lot... usually for laughing. One term I got in detention 22 times and some of the detentions were given to me while standing in detention, for giggling! The boys in physics used to knock me off those very high stools That they always have in those classrooms, and the teacher would stop writing on the blackboard, not even look around, and would say " Get off the floor Calderbank"... he just knew it would be me! Mum was not impressed... being a teacher!

4: I was once a hoffman presser at a dry cleaners. Very hot and steamy! And very smelly too! Yuk! The dry cleaning does not remove BO, pee or other smells. the steam released them... straight into my face!
I once forgot to take my thumb out before closing the lid, and then actually pressed the steam jet... OUCH!

5: When I was 12/13/14 ish I used to make my Dad howl laughing by shouting at the top of my voice in a very silly accent.."WELL SLAP MY ASS" and by shouting "CHARGE" as I ran down the stairs very fast, (inspired by the film with Cary Grant, Arsenic and Old Lace!)

6: About the same age, I discovered a Rugby song book in my brother's bedroom... I had heard him singing them quietly in his room, but Mum didn't know he had them. So I snook into his room when he was out and swiped the offending item. Being aqauinted with the tunes.. I quickly put together a fine collection and memorised the songs. Then I hid the book. At first I sang them quietly, and then began to get a bit louder! When at last the melodic notes of Dinah, dinah show us your leg, (and others which are way too rude to be repeated here) finally reached my big brother's lugholes, he came flying in to try and retrieve the book. Ha ha what fun I had watching him trying to stop me! I had to get him back somehow for constantly dead legging me, stuffing his dirty socks in my mouth and hanging me over the stairs! You would never believe it of him, he is a respectable member of society now.. a solicitor! He he!

7: Years ago I was walking my first Old English Sheepdog Dylan, when he decided that he wanted to go one way, while I wished to go another. Hey! He was bigger than me! He had seen something so interesting that he actually knocked me over and proceeded to drag me along the ground and then to my dismay.. through a bush! At that point I let go of the lead, stood up and frustrated and rather sore shouted to him " you can go to hell and back". Then I noticed a woman and her very well behaved Chow dog stood across the road, both looking at me with disdain!

I often used to come home after taking him onto the fields with cowpats and dyke slime on me and him, after trying to.. a) stop him eating the pats, and b) having to jump in the dyke to get him out! I have had 4 of these comical, loving, soft creatures!

Oooops I did it again! I meant to write only a short post today, and still have managed to waffle on and on! I hope I haven't bored you too much... can I hear someone snoring?!!!

Have a rather jolly weekend all! Lots of love Suzie.xxxx

The monster under the bed! I am losing my zzzzzzzzzzz s!

2010-04-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hello!

What have you all been doing since last week? Anything exciting? Mr. Owl tree, here at owl tree cottage is beginning to spring forth with leaf!

Mine has been a mixed week... poor George has gone all bent on me again, he is not straight at all! He got in the car on Monday, stretched his leg on the clutch and did his back in again. Yes, he suffers from back trouble occasionally, and the strangest things can set it off! Once he was reaching for his toothbrush and it went on him big time! Poor George (big ahhhhhh here!), he has been in pain, and I have been in fits of laughter. I know, I know, thats awful, but he understands me after all these years, and my very strange sense of humour by now, and he deliberately trys to make me laugh by making comments!

I, very sadly have always been afflicted with inappropiate giggling! I think it is nerves or something! For instance, when he came in from the car he told me that there were some children waiting for the bus across the road watching him struggle to get out of the car and then hobble to the house looking like he had had an accident in his pants! Then later on when he was coming down the stairs, very slowly and all hunched over, and I was trying so hard to contain myself, he just had to say to me that I can laugh if I want, to which I reply... of course I won't laugh! Followed of course by the giggles and many apologies! Talking about apologies... what about Gordon Brown this week? Oh dear!

I on the other hand have had quite a good week on the back of it (sorry for the pun!). For one thing I have had his company for a few days, which is lovely! And on wednesday night, he felt a lot better and ready to go back to work the next day ( he is so rarely off work sick, infact I always tease him and say that he schedules his flus, colds, etc., for weekends and holidays!) and we had a steak and wine, which we don't usually do mid-week! So I have enjoyed him being home and eating earlier in the evenings, having more time together...the weekends are so short and flash by so quickly... heavy sigh! Last weekend we enjoyed yet another BBQ! The fresh sardine fillets were wonderful!

These veggie kebabs with the fresh prawns were delish!

Anyway, on the Monday night he could not get in the bed at all, and he slept on the armchair downstairs. He can sleep absolutely anywhere at all! (more George stories there! ), where as I on the other hand, can not! I have trouble with my sleep quite often. I am losing my zzzzzzzzzzzz s! In more ways than one! .... the z on my computer is on it's way out and I have to press really hard to get one, so soon I may be called Suie! Bertie jumped on the keyboard and sent my little z a flying! I was reading THIS post (by a very lovely lady!) and it struck a cord with me. Also a lovely , lovely sweet friend on Facebook (if you are reading this, you know who you are! KAY!) has trouble with the night time too. During the day, mostly, I am a very positve and optimistic person... but when I go to bed there is a monster under my bed! I toss and turn, worrying myself to bits. Every single niggle or worry comes crashing in at night time, and my mind will not be still at all! Does this happen to any of you lovely readers? It is awful, and of course.. very very tiring!

I love Dali!

I have always had the night terrors though, and when I do sleep.. I have very vivid and peculiar dreams. Recently, the lack of sleep is becoming more prominent. Of course once you get it in your head, it is very hard to stop the cycle! But by gawd, isn't that bedroom ceiling so interesting! NOT!

During the day though I have been busy though! I have been making a start on the garden and have got some veggies ready for planting ( I have only raised a few seeds this year and the rest have had to be ready to plant plants, due to work being done in the house). Room makeovers coming soon! I must remember to take before pictures! I shall be doing a complete kitchen makeover on a very, very tight budget!

Been painting again.............

Also I have been finishing off this cross stitch that I started sewing several years ago, and haven't touched since. It is not one of mine.. I wish it was...tis beautiful indeed and really is wasted stuck in a draw all scrumpled up! It really does not need much work to finish it, so I really should do! So I have been sewing this along side a few other sewing projects too.

Before I go I would like to give a mention to another Kay, who I know from facebook too! She is a lovely person and I really like her a lot, so please go and visit her on her blog HERE. On her recent post she has said the most lovely things about me, I was truly touched by her words! She has done some lovely creations and said that one of her pieces featured in her post were inspired by me! Gosh Kay you are so kind and wonderful, I wish you lived near by! I would give you a big hug! Thank you.
Anyway Enough! Enough for this week folks, Let me know what you all have been up to, I am so awfully nosey you know!

Happy days to you all! Suzie xxxxxxxxxxx

When you wish upon a star.......

2010-04-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday All!

Many thanks to those whose wished me and the lovely George a happy Anniversary... it was great! Also thank you to all my new friends (followers? Readers and friends, I like those descriptions way more!) I appreciate each and every one of you, and do send you my bestest thanks! Yes, I did just say bestest! I am regressing and have decided to cooperate!

One of my Angel Angst stitcheries!

We spent our anniversary weekend relaxing and lolling about mainly. On Friday we had an Indian takeaway, which was one of the best I have tasted for a long time indeed! And... cover your ears all of you of a delicate disposition!......I ate the left overs for breakfast on Saturday morning, it was divine, it just tastes so much better the next morning! You will be pleased to hear that I did not have a beer with it though... not this time anyway ..ha ha!

In the evening on Saturday we ate in with candles and cava, music and smiles, and on the Sunday we ate out at a local Italian restaurant, which was reasonably good. I say reasonably, because being married to a undiscovered Michelin chef (No, he is not really, he is a computer manager!) we are quite fussy about our food! I haven't come across anyone who cooks as well as Chef George as of yet!

So, we had a lovely weekend, and you know it is good, when you really feel sad it is over and can't wait for the next time to celebrate. Mind you I don't need much excuse to celebrate, I would celebrate an ant walking across the floor if I got the chance! Hey, don't knock it.. that ant has a life too you know! Sometimes I just celebrate waking up in the morning!

Now it is St. George's Day sooo.......................!...................

Now, how did I meet George? Hmmmm... well, I was in a very unhappy state at the time, lost and pitiful... married, but the marriage had broken down and could not get back up, no matter how hard I had tryed. My husband then, without going into details, had caused me a lot of grief and heartache, and had a couple of times hit me. Anyway, lets just say, without any ill feeling, that the twenty year old me that married him, was ever so slightly disillusioned, and had found out the hard way that my marriage was not the Doris Day film I had hoped for!

It started with a kiss. NO it started with a slap across the chops (him to me I may add!) on our wedding night, on the honeymoon ( when we got to our honeymoon destination, he hadn't booked anywhere to stay... it was 10pm ! And I cryed, then got slapped for crying!) and quite frankly it was a journey all the way down the slippery hill after that! I stuck it out for 6yrs, even though my Mum and Dad wanted me to leave him from the beginning, in fact they begged me not to marry him in the first place. It must have hurt like hell..... paying for a white wedding with top hats and tails, when you can't stand the groom of your daughter! But you know how it is.. I thought that nobody knew him the way I did! He was nearly 10 years older than me, and I hung on his every word!

Anyway, it was a Friday night, and in a moment of true despair, I wished upon a star... Please help me to know what to do I asked, please help me to be strong, please send someone or something to help me!

I adore Walt Disney's Pinocchio!

Well, on the Tuesday night my good friend Susan (of many, many years!) rang me up and asked me to go out with her for a drink. I didn't want to, I was too depressed, but she insisted, and off we went. It was February, a couple of days after my birthday, and it was snowing, and we rolled down some hills, being silly and giddy, laughing and throwing snowballs at each other. Suddenly my spirits lifted! I was young and full of boundless energy.

After we had had a couple of drinks, Susan decided to buy some chips, but that would mean using all the taxi fare, but being hungry, we went to get some. We started to walk back to my house, when she spotted some people getting into a car in the car park, and to my alarm she shouted out to them "Are you going to Carleton?". I looked at her amazed. " No, but he is" they shouted back pointing at some poor unsuspecting man fumbling with his keys. Next thing I knew Susan had run over to him, and before I knew it she was clambering into the car! So naturally ( he-hum, have you never been told not to get into a strangers car? Yoohoo! What are you doing?) I got in too.

This was me then, in THOSE dungarees with my first Old English Sheepdog Dylan, gosh I loved that dog!

The strange man drove us to Carleton and stopped by an avenue telling us that he lived down here, in other words, you can both get out now! Susan, who must have lost her sanity completely that evening asked if he would like to come to MY! house (Hello!) for a coffee. Anyway he did, and after our coffees, Susan went upstairs to go to bed, and I sat with the strange man talking, and talking and talking, telling him all, and he me, and at 8 in the morning, we were still talking. At 8 at night we were still talking, and into the night we were still talking, and talking! we talked for two whole days! Then I thought perhaps I had better ask him to leave. For the records, there was nothing other than talking taking place here! Nothing but talking! No eating either, except for a bit of marmite on some scraggy crusty bread I had. I had no money in those days! Come to think about it....

I was as thin as a stick (no food!), dressed in second hand (Susan's) scruffy old dungarees, with walking socks and a DIY haircut, psoriasis ridden, and stressed out. What a pitiful state I was and he still wanted to talk some more!

Yes, the strange man was George, and my wishing upon that star must have worked as we have been together ever since, and luckily he didn't turn out to be an axe man! That is how I met George! I didn't need a husband, or a traditional relationship. I needed a soul mate,and that is exactly what I got on the 7th February 1984!

Infact the day after I met George, one of our daughters who we were to adopt a few years later was born! Fate! All fate Sometimes, no all times, I really believe we have help from real angels/forces! Of course, I don't make a habit out of getting into strangers cars, not usually anyway!, and certainly don't recommend it, but gosh, am I glad I did do that night!

So, thats all for another week, Go and wish upon a star... you never know!

Lots of love and good wishes Suzie xxx

A sneak preview of my secret project!

2010-04-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

Gosh is it time to say hello to you all again! Yes, it is! Thank you for your comments since last friday, I have enjoyed reading them so much. It seems that generally we women are all singing from the same page! What was very interesting was how many of you agreed with me that these days women can certainly have it all..... ...... children, careers...........Oh yes they can! ....And they can also have all the housework too, all the shopping, all the responsibility of sorting out everybodys birthdays, christmasses, organising holidays, school holidays, ironing and luandry chores, clothes shopping, lunchboxes,...... do I need to go on? because they generally do so much more than this list...and mostly alone. Yes, they certainly do have it all these days! Hmmmm! Equality! What a laaarf!

Here is my drawing/painting from last week, a bit more finished off, gosh she looks relaxed and peaceful!

She has had more layers of paint now and looks a bit clearer. Here is a preview of something to do with my secret project too! This one has only just been very lightly started, so it is only as yet in the first stages!

Click on the pic to see it better, if you like. Next week it will look so much clearer! The little girl really does have a body to go with that head... honest! It looks a bit squashed too, and is not at all in real life!

Well, I dont' know about you, but I have been out in the garden this week, making the most of this glorious weather.

Even though I am at home all day, I find it hard to keep up with all I have to do, and while I am outside, I am thinking of all the chores and pressing matters (like my secret project!) that I should be getting on with in the house, but while I am in the house I am thinking.. gosh that garden needs doing... and that garden is 150ft long! However I spend time busying myself I am always thinking that I should be doing something else!

We had a lovely BBQ on Sunday, it was wonderful getting to eat al fresco again after that long and cold winter!

It was seriously yummy folks!

This week I was very lucky, TheGirl sent me this lovely award! Tis pretty I think! Thank you so much! xxx Please go and visit her.. she is just so wonderful and interesting, and has a brilliant slant on things... I love her humour!

This award is for looking on the bright side. Crikey! I really do try to do just that as often as I can! Now I really hate choosing people, so I won't (well I will!) , because last time I did I just spent ages worrying about all the lovely bloggy friends that I didn't choose! But two people in particular do pop to mind when thinking of someone who despite life throwing manure at them, keeps smiling regardless! I admire this lady greatly, so I will award this award to Tracey . Not only does she keep herself going, she cheers us often with her wonderful and funny nature! She is one of lifes fighters! Go and see for yourself! I appreciate her humour, as I too use humour to help me get through lifes trials..

Heres to all the mushrooms amongst us... you know who you are!.... Kept in the dark , and every now and then someone comes and throws s**t at you!

One of my cross stitch designs, note ... she is sat on a mushroom! Ha ha!

The other Mushroom, ooops I mean bloggy friend is Mummymad, she certainly has had her fair share of mushroom food being thrown at her! But she carries on regardless, and where, a lot of people would crumble to the ground in despair, she picks her self up and may I say too, that she is a jolly good Mum too! Go and pay this fabulus lady a visit!

To all the other mushrooms out there, carry on, stay focused, don't drown in your own tears!
The rules of this award are to list 10 things which make me happy, but I would just be repeating myself! Also to list 5 trivia facts about me so!.....

1: I have to wear this darn sleeve every day for ever! But the funny part is that occasionally while trying to get the damned thing on (it is elasticated, but stiff!) I punch myself in the face! It hurts. OUCH! What did you do that for.. I ask myself!

I was going to show my other arm for comparison purposes, but figured out I needed it to hold the camera! DUH! It is now 30% bigger than my right arm, an improvement of 10%, but If I don't wear it, it will expand to giganticous proportions! I do sometimes wonder what would happen if all the lymph fluid suddenly left my arm, would I suddenly have a huge head, or foot or something?!!!

2: Once when I was little, My Dad took me to work with him on a trawler (he was an engineer and it was in Canada). He left me in the room with all the controls (first mistake!) and told me not to touch anything (second mistake!). Hmmmm I wonder what this button does???? It was the fog horn! Oh dear, he was not pleased!

3: I apologise to lamp posts when I bump into them, and I apologise to people when they bump into me!

4: I love buddhism, and have been on a retreat, and got many books on this philoshophy. I try to live in this simple, but difficult way of this thinking, and constantly question my thinking and way of looking at life. I truly believe I can alter the way I view events in life and therefore learn to accept all with grace. But at the moment I think I need to read those books again and do some serious meditating, as I am starting to have murderous thoughts towards Aunty chaos! Maybe this is my latest test in life! :o)

5: I get goosebumps watching the red arrows, fireworks and thunder and lightening. They all make me quite tearful and emotional!

Also I really must thank Jaqueline , she send me a gorgeous token of friendship through the post this week! Isn't she such a kind lady! Thank you my friend! xxx

Look at the Owl! Thank you!

What will you all be doing this weekend I wonder? It is mine and George's 24th (say it quick!) anniversary on Sunday, so we shall be doing something lovely I should think, whether it is a meal out, or in, there will definitely be food and some vino involved! Heres to the man I met in a car park 26 years ago! ( A funny tale, too long for now, and maybe a tad inexplicable!) Raise your glasses ladies to my lovely husband George! To a man who actually does help out round the house and cooks like a michelin star chef! Oh yes! He does!

The poor, long suffering George! Thank you blorb for putting up with me all these years!

Have a happy weekend all you sweetpeas!

Suzie xxx :)

Equality for women? Undervalued Mums?

2010-04-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

Another Friday! Where does the time go? I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Easter and had the lovely weather which we had in Lancashire.... It was so spring like! In fact so spring like, it inspired me to draw and paint this little creature!

She is unfinished as yet.............!

Of those of us who are Mums, is there anyone who feels like society undervalues the role of Motherhood? Out of the Mums who go out to work, I wonder how many of them actually feel that time has moved on in the way it is claimed to have done? Have we women really got the equality that we have been told we have?

Too often the truth is, that, yes women now have the opportunity to study and achieve jobs that they could have only dreamed of years ago, but it seems to me that a high percentage of women who now work full time are still also carrying out all the 'traditional' chores that they always have done! Ok, a lot of men do help out more, and spend more time with the children, etc., still it would appear that women are multi-tasking big time these days! In fact, what fantastic multi-taskers we women are! I only have to read all the wonderful blogs out there to see what mammoth acheivements are under our noses everyday! Working, selling, crafting, baking, bringing up a new generation...... the list is so long!

Not one of mine! Sourced from the internet

Some women who work are reported to be suffering a great deal of stress, and can feel guilty that they can not spend more time with their children. Other women who are stay at home Mums often say that they feel under-valued. I know that when I was bringing up the children at home all day, when I did venture out to some adult occasion, one of the first question I was always asked was " and what do you do?" Once I had replied that I was a housewife and looked after children all day, more often than not, they were visibally unimpressed, and could barely stop themselves from yawning!

OOOH, what do you do? I stay at home and look after the children.......

My sister- in-law agreed with me, telling me that she felt like people suspected that she must be the most uninteresting person in the world. Believe me, she is not, and never will be! Why is such importance put on title and salary, and why does someone have to be making money to be considered worthwhile to others? After all even Mums who don't go out to work are still working...hard!

Sourced from the internet!

Besides being very hard work, bringing up children, in my opinion, whether you work or not, is the most important and rewarding job you could possibly do, so why is it not regarded more highly. What could be more wonderful than nurturing a tiny child into an adult, giving them as good an experience as we can, making sure that they have a childhood to look back on with warmth. I have mentioned before, but George and I adopted our three children, and from the start, due their ages and other issues, the social worker preferred me to be a stay at home Mum, so that is what I did. I enjoyed all the domesticity and cosiness of home, but I do understand that not all of us are the same. Some women love their jobs, and others go to work through necessity. A lot of women work these days, perhaps most, so taking into the consideration the fact that a lot of women do go out to work.............

.................What about the media? Why are we still being bombarded with adverts on the TV which show women dusting, and hoovering, and carrying out all the 'traditional' domesticated tasks. Why not men? Little girls are still bombarded by the media with images of domesticity, and boys still with guns, fighting and action!

In my first marriage, I had no children but worked full time, and yet I was still expected to wash, iron, cook, clean, shop, etc. One of the things that would really grate on me was that although we both worked full time, and on occasion, I often worked longer hours, It was I who had to tend to the household management and when things were not done, eyes did not look toward my husband as the rather shabby housekeeper, oh no! They looked towards me! His Mother would have looked down on me, but my Mother would have encouraged me to go on strike!

How True!.......................................................

He could always get away with lolling inert on the sofa! Have things really changed that much since I wonder? I would like to say yes, but have they? What do you think? Some men now really do take on a more hands on approach to the children and home.... but how many stragglers are there still out there? Quite a few I suspect! For the women who have a straggler in their lives and who also work, they now have more workload than their pre-women's movement ladies! As they now have a full-time job too, as well as all those chores! Yes, we do now have labour saving devices, but even so ! .........

One of my stitcheries

Whatever we choose to do, or have no choice, work, stay at home or a mix of the two, society should value our mothers so much more! I really should have posted this for Mother's Day!

Before I go again, I would like to thank Tracey, my lovely friend and partner in laughing out loud at what life throws us for this very happily recieved award!

I am supposed to tell you all seven things about me that you may not already know. Hmmmm, there are some, but I think I will not! Ha ha!

Ok then!
1: I still suck my thumb! Yup!
2: I am double-jointed and can get in a lotus position, but these days... I may not get out of it again!
3: My wolf whistles, which I learnt from the boy next door when I was 14, can echo for what seems like miles across hill and dale.
4: I like eating left over takeaway curry for breakfast... Oh yes, I do.
5: When I was little I wanted a monkey as a pet so much that I made up a story to my Mum, that the man next door had one... and she told everybody that he had. Then I had to go and tell them all that he did not!
6: When I was little I used to make friends with children who nobody wanted to be friends with. One little girl smelled so bad, but I persevered and tryed to pretend I couldn't smell anything! But it was awful! It was dire! But I wanted her to feel loved, so I sat listening to her and trying not to inhale!
7: I am actually a real loner, and can go for long periods of time without seeking out any ones company at all, but heres the twist... I am a really friendly person and love people! I even suspect that there are people who have known me for years who don't realise I could actually become a real recluse or hermit, and be happy!

Here are my nominees! I really almost didn't choose anyone as I find it so hard! I don't like to at all!

The Girl
Mummy mad
Valerie
Dee
MMB
Jacqueline

And everyone else too..Please take this award!

Also a big thank you to my lovely, and caring friend Jacqueline who has dedicated this lovely post to me! All about the fight to survive the dreadful disease that breast cancer is. Thank you so much, you are such a warm and beautiful soul!

Anyway all you lovelies, have a wonderful and happy weekend, and I shall be catching up with you as soon as I can do!

Lots of love Suzie xxx

April Fool! And a happy Easter you you all!

2010-04-01T03:11:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody!

How the devil are you all chaps? Well and happy I hope! Its Friday! Gosh How did that happen! No I am just April fooling... I know you are not all chaps, and this is not Friday! Yes, this is thursday.... due to the holidays and other plans and obligations I shall be occupied with many goings on over the break, so if you don't hear from me, please don't think I have forgotten you. You are all always in my thoughts!

A spring time stitchery, with one of my handmade buttons. And yes I really do believe that there are fairies at the bottom of my garden!

I love making the table spring like and cheery for Easter time!

Can you believe it is Easter already!???

Well it is April Fool's Day today isn't it? Have any of you been playing Tricks on anybody? I can be a bit of a practical joker at times... Once I dressed up an artist easel, complete with face, wig, boots, and even wavering fingers, and placed it behind My Mother's bedroom door, ready for her to come in from my Aunts in the evening. It had taken me all evening creating my fiend, I whiled away the hours humming to myself like an insane frankinstein, while occasionally giving out a little chuckle! I kept giving it practice runs by pretending to be the 'victim' and rushing in to the bedroom to see the ghostly face and the fluttering fingers emerge from the darkness. By the time she came home, I couldn't attend the 'show' because I was on my bed in a helpless fit of hysterical giggles! .....When she finally got up from her bed, after recovering from the shock, she did see the funny side of my antics!

Carrying on from last weeks post, the next day after my operation ( when I was just about coming around) was April fools day, and looking at poor George's despairing face by my bed, (his body was actually there too!) I decided to try to bring some humour into the situation (it was hard though!)... I said, after he had tryed to cheer me up by telling me of an April fools played at work, "well, I have had a right old one played on me this year" "What?? what was it?" he asked looking slightly confused.... "Well!" I said ......."someone has nicked me boob!" His face brightened quickly, and the awkwardness of the situtaion was lifted, as he realised that I was still my daft old self! I was thinking of him really, because he must have felt so useless and helpless, and obviously didn't know how to, or whether to talk about the whole hideous affair! I couldn't bear to see him so lost and worried about me! I have always used humour to deal with lifes traumas, and when I stop you all have my permission to hunt me down and shoot me! I now am reconstructed, and secretly give myself the nickname of patchwork Frankie, as I am a mass of scars... my proud war wounds! (Frankie after my creator.. Frankinstein, and patchwork I think is quite apt and actually rather amusing... as the stitcher has been stitched!)

One of my stitcheries with alittle bit of Patchwork Frankie thrown into the mix!

Anyway folks, I really have been mad busy, what with Aunty Chaos (oops, sorry! But honestly, she really is!), home and my secret project! What will you all be up to at Easter? Rolling eggs? Flying a kite maybe? Hmmmm.......

Whatever you may all be doing... I wish you all a lovely Easter.

Awhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! !!!!!!!

Good egg! Love and blessings to you all! Suzie xxx

My 6th birthday in my second life! Springing in!

2010-03-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of you, my friends!

Spring is here at last. Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! It makes me want to re-decorate the house and air out all the rooms. Pretty up the surroundings! Oh how I would love a bit of this!

A beautiful Cath Kidston Spring bedroom....yummy girls!

Doesn't it just fill our hearts up with hope and cheer when we see the beautiful bright bobbing heads of daffodils? Every spring I love filling the house with them. They bring a certain life to each room, and sunshine each day.

Now I don't know about you, but It just isn't the start of spring at all until I have held a daffodil up and said into its bewildered bloom...."Calling all cars, calling all cars" Hee hee! Yes, I do. I do it every year! Poor George!

Well it is now six years since my breast cancer diagnosis! And the start of my second life! Hey hey, its good to give myself two birthdays! I had my biopsy on the 9th March and my first operation (a masectomy) on the 31st of March 2004. In fact, I got out of hospital just in time for Easter, and still remember the mix of fear (I hadn't got my pathology report back yet) and pure wonder at the way everything was painted more brightly, scents were keener, the breezes softer.

Many hours were spent while recovering from my op, and then going almost straight onto the chemotherapy (4 weeks after my op) watching the birds going about their busy days and reflecting on life and the importance of being in the moment. I sat gazing out onto the garden from my armchair, wondering how I had never noticed before... so vividly, so real, so intensely.... just how beautiful this world is! Of course I thought I did know. But I wasn't really awake! But I woke up fully that Easter! I found the beauty almost unbearable, it was so intense.

I wanted to hold it all in my eyes , my heart, my soul, I never wanted to let it go, I did not want to leave this earth so young (just turned 46 then). My heart ached at the thought of leaving my loved ones, friends and such beauty, and even all the long term problems that I had had before the diagnosis, somehow now didn't seem all that bad! I just wanted to live! I ached for life.

This is the blessing, the gift that I was given. Because from that day to this, I have never forgotten how lucky I am to still be here. To be here to enjoy another spring, another Easter.

sourced from the internet!

I had such pain, mentally and physically back then, but such joy too! So spring and Easter mean so much to me! Spring... a time of renewal, new starts, energy and hope! That is when my second life began!

All these photos of the churchyard were taken by me on Wednesday in Poulton le fylde, On a rainy spring day. Usually the flowering is much more profuse, it is a little sparce this year. People travel here every year to take photos, it is such a gorgeous display (photos not doing justice) and they buy postcards which are for sale in St. Chads church (where my Mum's funeral was, and where I was married to my first husband in 1978!)

I am looking forward to Easter!

sourced from internet

These look like they could be full of good ideas for Easter......

Bright and cheerful, cosy and welcoming, Cath Kidston again..... slurp! Sheer eye candy!

Now a thank you to the very lovely Martha who you can visit here, please do go and see her! She sent me this gorgeous little owl pin and card all the way from America! Thank you so much Martha, you are a star!

Lovely isn't it?

Anyhow, I must dash (to bed!) I have taken to posting my posts after midnight on Friday, but yet it still says that I have posted on Thursday!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Lots of love Suzie xxx

I forget to pray for the angels, and then the angels forget to pray for us...

2010-03-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! (again date says thursday, but its Friday morning after midnight)

Do you ever get the feeling that you sometimes get a little helping hand from somewhere? Some may believe it is from Angels, some feel it is from God, others from the universe, or from the source... Others may believe that it is just from coincidence or chance. I think anyone who knows me well enough by now, from reading my ramblings, will probably be pretty sure which side of the fence I am sitting on! I feel that there is always someone or something looking out for you!

A glimpse of one of my stitcheries with a handmade button, which I made from fimo clay. It is good fun making buttons!

Yup! I believe ( by choice and by experience too) that there are forces at work behind the scenes, which we can only imagine. I say choose, because, lets face it, it is so much more exciting that way. Well, to me it is! Also, through life I have had way too many experiences which to me have shown that there is more to it all than just what we can see in front of us with our two earthly eyes!

My title today comes from Leonard Cohen's wonderful song, So Long Marianne. ( I adore him!) Some think him depressing. Not so, to me he writes the most deep and beautiful poetry and sets it to music. In fact, I see the humour in it, which many overlook. He is brilliant, and I am sad that I have not managed to see him in concert yet.

What do we do when, by whatever reason, we are given a helping hand from out of the blue? Well I know what I do! I say thank you! Out loud sometimes! Just imagine for a moment, if the coincidences and the synchronisities of our lives were really, really, actually something else, something magical? Wouldn't it be rather rude of us not to say a big thanks? If we forget our Angels ( or the forces of nature, God, etc.) then they may just decide to take the day off!

One of my Angel Angst stitchery designs.... Angels need some care and attention too!

It sometimes is an eerily strange experience that may happen, and we may feel a strong sense of wonder at how such a thing could be. On the other hand it could be much more subtle, and it would rely on us to be much more observant. For instance, as I am writing this, I stopped to pour myself a cup of tea, and the bubbles on the top of the tea formed an absolutely perfect heart! What a shame I didn't have my camera to hand to show you all! So I found this picture on the internet to illustrate my point!

In fact, Not long ago, when I was feeling a bit down, I seemed to see hearts all over the place! Is it grasping at straws? I don't 'feel' it is. Some times we get signs.... When we were buying our home, I kept seeing things to do with owls, and everytime the sale was going well (it dragged on!) owls kept popping up. We thought we had lost it for the 3rd time, and I had all but resigned myself to forget the house all together. But, one night I dreamt about the large tree in the front garden.

Mr. Owl Tree!

In the dream it was in the park across the road from where we lived then, and it kept coming closer and closer. when It was very close, I could see about 6 owls sat in the tree looking at me! That is why our home is called Owl Tree Cottage! The next day, we got a viewer and then another offer and moved soon after. Just another coincidence?

Yes I say thank you out loud, and I also salute magpies! Poor George, what does he live with? And speaking of magpies.........

Sometimes we may be helped by being given a warning. I am a little superstitious for some reason, when it comes to magpies, well why take a chance?! So I do salute them. I think one is unlucky (sorrow) , 2 for joy, etc.

So when I saw a single very dead magpie lying in the middle of my lawn, I was not feeling happy, it made me very unsettled. Put that together with a horrible dream which George, the next night, had had about someone stabbing me in the chest (left side), I began to worry that something was afoot. Maybe that was why, shortly after a few more strange 'signs' (?), I examined myself thoroughly in the bath..... and found the lump in my left breast. Another coincidence? A series of events, which maybe in the singular I would have ignored, but in the plural pushed me to feel that something was amiss, that needed my urgent attention.

I could actually write pages on some very strange events and experiences... but thankfully for you all... I won't!

SO! That is why I always remember to say thank you. We don't like to be taken for granted after all, do we?

This week I have been to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D......I loved it! Some have said that it is too dark a story, but lets face it, the original story was a dark tale, so this is a follow on from there with a Tim Burton treatment, which I thought has worked very well indeed..

I have been drawing again this week too, practising for a project, which I shall divulge at a later date, if it all goes well. A sudden and unexpected opportunty has arisen, and I have decided for once in my life, to not think, but just do! If I think, I will bolt off like a frightened rabbit! When I was made, they forgot to fill the confidence container! That, is why again, I have not attended to blogland as much as I would like too at the moment. Here is a practice doodle/ painted thingy (not related, just messing!) I often draw, but I haven't picked up a paint brush for a long, long time! So I rustily and gingerly had a quick dabble. They are not finished yet either!

Kitty M at Dolliedaydreams is hosting a lovely cheery Easter giveaway. Please pop along to visit her!

Anyway folks, have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to shout out thank you very loudly if you feel like you have been helped in some way!

Love to you all Suzie xxx

Off Yer Trolley!

2010-03-11T17:09:00.000-08:00

Hello dear friends,

And how does this lovely Friday find you all? It may say Thursday on the date, but it is now 1.08 am on Friday! Have you all had a fruitful and productive week? I often think of you all, all friends I know here in blogland, all the readers of my blog, some just passing through... what lives you lead, what books you read, all the things you do, and what wonderful mixture of events, memories and loves that makes each one of you so unique! I think of you all with each word I write and thank you all for visiting me. You make me feel all happy inside!

HAPPY!

Thank you too for all your lovely warm and kind words about my Dad's cousin too! I really appreciate you kindness and concern. I loved hearing your funny comments too, you have made me laugh out loud! And I absolutely love laughing out loud, it is the best tonic! :)

What have I been doing this week? Well I have been busy as usual, but actually don't seem to be getting far! I have been considering what to do with this gorgeous Cath Kidston fabric. What do think?

On the design front I have been working on a couple of new stitcheries, but I am not ready to show them just yet!
On the home front, I have made another pair of curtains for my workroom, an inspirational pair, to remind me of why I sit in that room in the first place! here they are.... Do you like?

Please excuse the miserably weeping window! Not very pretty is it!??

On a relaxing front (whats that then?) ha ha, this is the book I am trying to read at the moment. I have started the first few pages several times now, over the last few weeks, as I spend so long between picking the book up again, that I feel I need to start again! I will let you know what I think of it when I finally get it read! I haven't seen the film yet. I love something a bit deep, and I feel that although it most certainly will be harrowing, it will nevertheless be an enriching experience.

What do you all do to relax? I love sudoku, crosswords, (and of course crafting!, goes without saying!) and now promise you won't laugh, I love video games, yes I do! Especially the ones in which there is plenty of puzzle solving. I also love the Sims, because I like building houses, furnishing and decorating them and giving the families daft names! You can go mad decorating, as you can change all the patterns and colours!

Pictures sourced from the internet.

I can't cope at all with games which are against the clock,or fighting/action ones, as I get in a complete state, and my heart starts to race! You should have seen me trying to play Tomb raider, every one in the room was in hysterics as I shouted at Lara Croft for running wildly around in circles when there was a predator after her! I just could not co-ordinate ....... I was in such an agitated state!

Now then! Shall I give you all one last funny tale? Shall I? One more George story, and this one too, displays what a wonderfully well humoured man he is! Oh, ok, you have twisted my arm, here goes....

George you are so amusing sometimes! He loves playing tricks on me! He once lifted me up in a supermarket car-park and plonked me in a shopping trolley! Oh yes he did, and then he walked off and left me there, with my legs hanging out over the front. Could I get out...no! The more I tryed the more the trolley moved about, and the more I struggled the more I began to laugh, I was dangerously teetering on hysterial giggling!

What I must have looked like to the other bewildered shoppers, (who, by the way, were giving me a rather wide birth!) probably thinking that I had put myself there, and was now laughing like a complete loon on my own! (George had very kindly removed himself to another part of the car park, enjoying the spectacle from afar) You know that giddy panicky giggly feeling..... yes thats the one! Eventually, after enjoying himself immensely, he took pity on me and came to lift me out! He has a bad back these days, so thankfully he hasn't been able to do such a thing again! Or is that sad, that he hasn't? It is a memory I treasure, because although a tad embarassing at the time, it was also an absolutely silly and childish experience. And isn't a lovely thing sometimes to act carefree and unhindered, to feel like a giddy child again. Just to be silly for the sake of being silly! Wonderful!!!

Now, before I go for another week, I would like to thank RosieP at Roses and Peonies and Emma at Em's Shabby Shack for giving me one each of this lovely award! Thank you so much RosieP and Emma! You are so kind to have thought of me! I am going to award this award to all of you who read my blog as a thank you for your friendship! Take it with you please!

Also the very lovely martha at Martha's Favorites has told me she has found an owl pin and is sending it to me! Isn't that kind of her. I will let you all see it when it gets here! Thank you Martha!

Look what has arrived in the post everyone! I have been the very lucky winner of this wonderful giveaway from the immensely talented and creative Corinne Phillips, Aren't these brooches just magical! I hope my photographs could really catch the beauty in each of these pieces of art! The fairys even have little necklaces and accessories! And each has a little description! Corinne I am just bowled over by them... I love each one, you are fab! Thank you so much! Please go and visit her!

Right then, that is all for another week! One more thing though.....Hello Lynne! If you are reading this week, then HELLOOOOO!

Have a lovely sunny (I hope!) weekend! Love and laughter to you all!

Suzie xxx

Happy Friday! The Ides of March! George is happy to give out free smiles!

2010-03-05T00:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday!

Another week flown by! Make that another month! March has marched in with the promise of spring, how wonderful is that? Very!

The eyes of March! ha ha, Oh ok, the ides of March! Hey, I get the feeling that we are being watched! I don't always do cuties you know, and maybe this one is a little strange- just one of my mind doodles! This drawing demonstrates my love of eyes! The mirror to the soul! Every time I draw I always start with the eyes, a darn good place to start I think.

This week has been hectic, as I have been helping my Dad's cousin after her hip operation. we have had to get her from hospital and doing shopping etc., so I have not had much time to get on with anything else really. We did manage to go to the pictures on wednesday evening to see Avatar in 3D, using the Orange wednesday offer of 2 tickets for the price of one. I loved it! It was a feast for the eyes... beautiful special effects, a wonderful fantasy of other worlds. Unashamed escapist fantasy and just what I needed this week!

Also, a reminder of how mankind seeks out to destroy anything that it does not understand, .... through ignorance, fear, power, greed or religion! I found myself starting (a little bit too loudly!) to protest at the screen in front of me at the cruelty and injustice of the treatment of these soulful and spiritual indigenous people, George had to jab me in the ribs and remind me that I was not at home! I was getting quite involved and emotional for their plight, which although of course is just a film, I was reminded of the terrible atrocities which mankind has committed on their fellow men, the abuse of others cultures, beliefs, customs and rights.

I am now looking forward to watching the wonderful, multi-talented Johnny Depp in Alice in Wonderland. I can't wait!

Now for something completely different! Ta dah!.........

THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF GEORGE!

Now, remember no George has been harmed in the making of this production! (I still have his permission!)

Are we all sitting comfortably? Then I will begin....

A few years ago while we were away on holiday in Herefordshire, after an afternoon of driving to various beautyspots, we stopped off at a petrol station. George got out of the car and as you do at petrol stations, filled the tank. He then went into the garage to pay. Where is he? Ahh here is is now! Tom and I watched him walk towards our car, and then veer off in another direction. Tom looked a bit puzzled and asked me where the heck he was going? We both watched in amazement as he went towards a car which was a similar colour and style. What?!!!...... He got in the car, tryed to put the key in the ignition, shook his head, looked at the keys, tryed again. You could see the confusion on his face... why won't my keys work. We saw him lift his head slightly to look in the rear view mirror, and saw the look of horror on his face as he looked at the two bewildered children sat in the back seat looking at him!

By this time, Tom was crying with laughter, so was I, it was like watching something from the wonderful One foot in the grave. George had turned into Mr. Meldrew! What was really hysterical though was how casually he got out of the car, like it was the most normal situation in the world, and how he strolled (maintaining a casual stance) back to our car and got in, put the keys in the ignition, drove out of the garage and stopped a little further up the road to regain his decorum! Obviously, he was a more than a little skaken, as like he said, what if the driver and parent of the children had come out of the garage sooner and seen him apparently abducting their children!

I am afraid that neither Tom nor I were any comfort to him, as we were still in fits of giggles, even though it was a little scary too, as it did not look too good at all! But everytime we thought about it or the subject came up again, we collapsed into fits of laughter. Poor George never did live that one down! he said when he looked into the mirror and saw the children, it took a minute for his brain to register that they were not the right children! Or that they weren't those ages either! You would have thought he would remember what our children looked like!

Our children, many moons ago!

Coming soon ... (next week.)....at a blog near you..... George and the curious incident of the shopping trolley!

Hey everybody pop over to see Theresa at Faery Moon Creations, she is hosting a wonderful Alice giveaway! Its Fab!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! What will you all be doing I wonder?

Love from Suzie. xxx

I have a confession!......

2010-02-26T00:03:00.000-08:00

Hello all you rather wonderful peeps!

Hope you all have had a good week, and I am so sorry if I have not been commenting as much, but I have been helping, visiting and getting my Dad's 80year old cousin to hospital for a hip op. It has turned itnto quite a chaotic affair, thus adding to stress levels here at Owl tree cottage! To be polite... lets just say, to quote one of the nurses, she is an extremely strong minded woman. Enough said! Also, I have been recovering from my last bout of incredible red expanding armitis!

Before I get onto my confession, here is a little drawing I have done this week, tis about the only thing I have managed to do all week on the old creative side! I will probably be turning her into a stitchery at some point in the future!

A confession I hear you ask, what could it be? Oooh I feel so quilty! Ok, here goes.... I am so far from perfect, and have been guilty of showing you all the best bits, the pretty bits. Just as I like soft gentle music and then the next minute I am listening to ear drum shattering heavy music, or wearing a pretty monsoon number and the next donning my scruffs, or worse still ... my pyjamas (oh yes!), I tend to live life in a constant state of everything!

I aspire to the idea of living in a gorgeous beautiful world, but sometimes it just doesn't happen, partly due to lack of money and deifnitely due to my personality! In my home, there is a huge pile of ironing, jobs that need finishing, jobs that need starting! Messy corners. It is a mix, just like me! I also have a wonderful Job Creation Team (see facebook!). You see, the handbag I showed in my show us your handbag post, was my newest , most prettiest one. And as I have only just made it, I have filled it with pretty things. It just hasn't been contaminated by my haphazardness yet!

I would love all my handbags to be filled with interesting, lovely bits and bobs like these.....

My little compact mirror, sparkly earrings and an owl charm (which has fallen off my mobile phone!) and a sweet rose quartz heart!

But the reality is most of my other handbags are filled with this!.....

Yum, those minstrels were good! loose change, receipts, and free pen! Even an old poppy!

Oooh nice! Pooper scooper bags, now thats more like it! nice pen though! Old tickets...

Tickets to grand designs show (3 years ago!) , a small tube of toothpaste, an old ticket and some tissiues...probably so that I can wipe that dog's nose that I keep in my handbag too! hee hee!

Now! I feel cleansed of my blogging sins! Ha ha, I am sat in my pyjamas right now!

Each week, for a few weeks, I have decided that I shall share a George story with you all to cheer your days!

PUBLIC WARNING: No Georges were harmed in the telling of this tale! (I have his permission!)

This little tale is told to illustrate how at times I can be a bit daft and well, frankly, askew!

A few years ago, George was awaiting an important phone call from a possible future employer. He told me to expect the call and stressed how excited he was about the possibility of another interview.

Anyway, the phone rang, I picked it up and the man at the other end of the receiver, after a short introduction, asked for George. I replied in my very best and polite voice ....." I'm sorry, I'm not here at the moment". There was a silence, followed by a small giggle from me, followed by another stifled giggle, followed by a full on wholehearted guffaw. I just COULD not stop! I manged to force out "I'm sorry", but he put the phone down. He was obviously not amoosed!

I think I have had this stitchery on before , so if I have... sorry!

George never heard from him again, he told me that he may have had the chance of an second interview, but the man had obviously decided that his wife was a complete nutter! Well, you know what they say... behind every successful man....sorry George, you have a buffon behind you!

He didn't mind really though, as it would have meant moving away, and we were not at all sure of doing that.

Coming soon.... George's hilarious car story! Its a good one, so stay tuned!

Until next week, a big thank you to all of you who read my silly blog, those who leave such wonderful comments, (some even comment every week!), no fail, and to all my followers too (I really don't like that expression, it is a bit weird! like I either have a line of people trailing behind me, or I am some type of head of a loopy cult!) Anyway, I really, really do appreciate you all so much! Thank you!

Suzie. xxx

What kind of driver are you? And.. has your car got a name?

2010-02-19T01:55:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

What a week! You get them sometimes don't you? I know I do. I have been a bit stressed this week, but the trouble is I don't always know that I am stressed until I feel ill! For reasons that I feel I can't share, several different very personal situations have arisen these past few weeks which have been a bit of a strain.

(Sometimes we just need some quiet time to reflect on everything. A time for inner inspection! A time to nurture the inner child.)

Then after feeling like I have been juggling my emotions and my time, I went and got my first parking fine! I simply forgot to put my residents parking permit on show in the car park. Of course it was because my brain was crammed full with people, emotions, etc., and I just wasn't thinking.

One of my stitcheries..Miss Happ. Very apt this week I think!

When I got home I found that Ralph the Old English Sheepie had stolen the pie which I had left on the side to defrost for tea, smashed a bowl and had attempted to eat the contents of the bin!

Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth!

Again, my fault, as 1.) I know Ralph is a thief and therefore we never leave anything out and 2.) I usually turn the bin round the other way when I go out. In the evening I got one of my very sudden feeling ill sessions. boiling hot, bright red painful arm, temperature, and aching all over. I was giving off so much heat, that George got all happy, thinking we would get free heating from now on! Finally, I realise that it must be when I am stressed, because the last time it happened was just before Christmas when I got stressed over getting my orders out on time, stockings, etc! It must cause a reaction in my Lymphodoema arm, (maybe because I get low and over-tired), as each time I get infection symptoms, but if I rest as soon as I get the first signs, it seems to correct itself without having to take the two weeks of penicillin! I am a bit naughty, because If It happens and I get a temperature, and my arm goes red, I am supposed to go to the docs or the hospital, but I don't. Of course I would if the symptoms persisted though! I think I have to start being a bit stronger in myself when it comes to certain situations and people! Anyway, getting a parking ticket got me thinking about the relationships we have with our cars!

One of my drawings, beep beep!

I am not the kind of person who's personality changes once they find themselves behind the wheel of a car. Ok, there have been occasional times when I may mumble under my breath... you could get a tank through there, or get out of the way! Generally though, no. What kind of of driver are you.... calm, cheery, grumpy, fast ....slow?

I hate driving on the motorway, and every time I tell myself that I can stay in the slow lane if I want to, but every time I find myself over-taking everyone! I do like driving a bit too fast (nothing illegal!) and to have quite loud music on as I go along. Is it just me, but doesn't music sound really good in the car?

Yes, I have to admit, I have named my car, she is called Poppy. Anyone one else going to own up?!!! I bought this big daisy for her the other day, to brighten her (and my!) day.

I love her, I really do, but I am thinking of selling her soon. I don't really drive her enough at all, and I am seriously thinking I would be better with a bicycle! If I can still remember how to ride one that is! Why have a car you hardly use sitting in the driveway, when you could have some much needed money for the house? Or what about this form of transport? Much more fun I think......although purely seasonal!

My brother and I in Nova Scotia, Canada.

At night, George won't allow me to drive, as I become as blind as a bat! Move over Mr. Maggoo! The on-coming head-lamps just dazzle me and make it so hard to judge widths, etc. Quite handy though when going out to an occasion though, as I get to be the one who can have that glass of vino or two! George wonders if I have been putting it on all these years!

I have done some pretty silly things over the years too on the old driving front! Have you ever parked the car, and then on your return, have you got into the passengers seat? I have! And I had to do it when there was a man parked in front of me watching my every move! Hmmmm I thought, this isn't going to work at all! He was visibly amused as he watched me casually getting back out of the car and getting into the drivers seat. I felt a right twit! Another time I drove off after doing some shopping, and as I slowed down to leave the car park, a policeman rushed up to the car and knocked on my window. Oh no I thought, what have I done now? He smiled at me like I was a simpleton...." Do you know you have a cabbage on top of your car?" he asked me!

What about you? Any funnies or car names out there? I would love to hear them!

It is interesting how so many things now seem to be status symbols.....what type of car, mobile phone, label on clothes, seems to be so important these days to so many people. How sad. What happened to the worth of a person being dependent on character, actions and love, and not on silly superficial nonsenses! Yet, we see people more and more competing to have the latest fad!

What difference does it make to the person what kind of car they own, after all they are all still only pieces of metal on wheels, and one day will be rotting in some junk heap.

I love my car because it is cute, but a bicycle or a small runaround will do me fine!

Before I go this week I want to thank Jacqueline at Once upon a Fairyland for sending me this beautiful card, pretty valentine token and a lovely tag. Pleas visit Jacqueline..she is a wonderful imaginative story teller. You really should write a book Jacqueline! Thank you so much, you made the end of a trying week turn into a more happy one... you can not imagine how you have cheered me up. It is so nice to find such kindness pop through your letter box!

AND! I was just about to publish this post when I have found out that I have been tagged by the very lovely Tracey at Tracey's crafty scraps to show the contents of my handbag, so I have just rushed to grab my camera! Thank you Tracey for thinking of me! Probably not very exciting , but here goes!

Umbrella, purse, lip shine, stamps,,cd (listened to in the car), bus ticket, perfume, a button that had fallen off my jacket and of course a tissue!

Now I tag Ro at Bitchin' Witch

Valerie at For the love of Pete

Kay at Finding My Way

Sharon at My passport To Style

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Huge big smiles and big servings of belly laughs to each of you!

Suzie. xxx

Valentines Day! Can you remember your first love?

2010-02-12T01:05:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, Valentine's Day! Love is in the air!

One of my cross stitch designs!

It is only a few days ago that it was 26 years since I met my husband George. Where did you meet him, people often ask me. Was it at a pub? At a family do, or a friend's? Or was it at the ideal place to meet your future partner (according to my Mother's advice!!!), at the library!? No, it was not..... It was in fact in a car-park. I know ... how romantic! ahhhh!

Ahhh somebody loves me!

Bertie!

Do you remember your first love? I most certainly do remember the mix of torture and love! I do believe being in love (or infatuated, Mum's words again!) is akin to mental derangement!! You can't eat, or sleep and the object of your attention, said spotty boy, has taken possession of your mind like a whirling devil that will not get out of your head! Your head is crammed full of this obsession, until you think you can see him everywhere and when you do.. legs go to jelly, your heart skips a beat and you feel slightly eurthoric!

Ah, my first love was 3 years older than me, I was fifteen , and by todays standards I was very innocent and naive. I day-dreamed constantly of what the first kiss would be like and how it would be to go out with him. Oh yes, in my head it was going to be perfect, he would be my knight in shining armour, and with his magic sword he would cut through my terrible shyness to uncage and free my true spirit and personality.

At last! He asked me to go to his works do with him. Panic! Panic!, "Mum what can I wear to such a grown-up function, and what about my feet???" No I haven't got some terrible foot odour! You see, he was so short! I am not over tall at just under 5' 4", but he was shorter than me! Yes, I do wonder now, how he, the knight ever got on that snorting steed! Don't worry says Mum, we will go shopping! And shopping we went! My lovely Mum bought me a gorgeous long black velvet dress, very simple with a princess bodice, and we searched and searched for some flat shoes that were suitable.

The big much dreamed of night finally arrived, and he pulled up in his mini to whisk me away in his strong and confident arms. What fun we would have! .....What fun? No really, what fun? ........Errrrr none!

It turned out that he was as painfully shy as I was, and all the way to the venue (which started to feel like the longest journey of my life!) not a word was spoken. At the dance, the conversation really began to flow. "Would you like a drink" ... "yes please"... "thank you". What witty company we were! On the way back, I desparately tryed to look interesting, but failed miserably. I kept thinking to myself, "say something, for gawds sake act like you have a brain!" We pulled into my driveway, he leaned towards me. Oh my goodness I thought, the kiss! The kiss is surely on its way. He hasn't gone off me after all, my shy boringness has not put him off! He looked at me, tilting his head, he gave a small peck, and then just as he was about to deliver the much longed for kiss.......I ducked! Yes, you heard me right, I ducked right out of the way! He said goodbye, I said goodbye. then trying so hard to keep my decorum I walked into the house, shut the door behind me and then burst into tears, ran upstairs and cryed myself to sleep! I felt such a fool! It had turned out to be a painful experience and in no way did the evening match all those old romantic films that I loved so much, such as Doris Day and Cary grant!

Years later I bumped into him, I nearly walked past, not recognising him at all. After I had finished talking to him and was walking away, I really could not see what I had seen in him at all!

Was your first love a wonderful experience or a painful affair? Is anyone doing anything exciting for Valentine's Day? Do you get flowers and roses, or nothing at all!!! We don't get each other anything, but we will have a special meal in. Any excuse for a celebration hey! You bet!

One thing that I don't love is doing the ironing! So Look what I bought to entice myself to the board.....

Gosh! It does make me feel much better about the ironing ...... A bit of an unashamed pretty extravagance, a Cath Kidston ironing board cover, but it was part of my birthday money, so....!

I have been busy trying it out, once I had climbed to the top of Ironing Mountain that is!

Anyone care for a sweet? No not you Ralph! Look at that beautiful big black nose!

Have a wonderful weekend all you lovely Peeps! If you are doing anything nice for Valentine's, have a lovey dovey time! Thank you to all of you too for taking time to visit me and leave all those wonderful comments, I really, really enjoy reading them all!

Oooooh something else is happening this weekend too! Happy Birthday Penny for Sunday! Hope it is a lovely, lovely day for you! xxxxx

Lots of love to you all, Suzie xxx :)

My birthday week! Whats your perfect birthday?

2010-02-05T03:01:00.000-08:00

Greetings Earthlings!

What a lovely birthday week I have had! Thank you to all of you who have sent me birthday wishes! George has had a few days off this week, so it seems like my birthday every day, so I am sorry if I haven't been keeping up to date with all your wonderful blogs! How would you like to spend a dream birthday?

This week though I have squeezed in enough time to make something for Lissylou's good cause. You can find further info about this here! I hope this is the kind of thing she was thinking of, I designed it specially for her, so she will be receiving the prototype!

Now then, what have I been up too? Oh yes! One evening we decided that we would go for a drink at a local pub and then try out a new Thai takeaway..... so I set the table with a Thai (ish!) theme, well more Chinese really! Our brother in-law is chinese mandarin, and our niece brought us the lovely chopsticks.......

....... but the Thai was closed, so we drove to Blackpool (4 miles away) to look for a Thai, but the one we found looked a bit iffy! What to do? Well go for greek of course! So Greek we had, on a thai table and very nice it was too!

My birthday was lovely, one of the nicest ever, lots of birthday wishes, this lovely card from Penny at The hen house, isn't it gorgeous? Penny made it, she is so clever!

Next to it you can see a card from my lovely friend Ro ( I can't leave a link, as her blog is acting up, well it is for me anyway! sorry Ro, I have tryed to read it a few times now!) who also sent me a wonderful scrapbook made about 27 years ago, about me and her and our time working in the Civil service.

I was a very lucky birthday girl and got these beautiful flowers off one friend....

And from another friend this fab cushion.....

This book and cd too ......

Very good cd!

While George has been off we have been attempting to sort out insurance.... so George was on the phone answering some ( a lot!) of questions about his health, after which he was accepted on the spot. He was giving me the thumbs up from across the room. Next was my turn for the interrogation! Now, since my diagnosis I have not really had any insurance because a) It is almost impossible to get any company to insure me ( I remember being told that after five years you can be, not sure though!) and b) the ones that are willing are ridiculously expensive. I am considered a high risk. so, George smiling to himself as he hears me saying no, I haven't had that, and no not that either. Question, cancer, erhhhh yes, hmmmm, any breathing problems, or chest complaints, errrr yes, very mild asthma....hmmmmm, any heart conditions? Errrrr..... a heart murmur, but! I say in a jolly voice, only when I lie down! Hmmmmmm.....have any of your parents died before the age of 65? Errrr.... yes both, from cancer. Hmmmmmm.....! By this time George is trying to hide his laughter, and stands up and gives me a ......

What a wonderful likeness George!

Needless to say I was not accepted on the spot, I will be getting more forms and questions! And then an expensive quate, no doubt!

Quite funny really! I think I will concentrate on something much more pretty and pleasant!

Ahhhh thats better! Back in La la land where I belong! The land of sweet imaginings, and beauty!

Well, I am off now, to enjoy the rest of my birthday week. How greedy is that, to make your birthday go on all week! I don't mind being one year older at all, I am just so happy to be allowed to get older!

What is your perfect birthday, how would be your ideal way to spend it?

I will try so hard to catch up with all of the blogs this weekend!

Have a wonderful happy weekend everyone! Love to you all. Suzie. xxx

Oh where did you get that hat, where did you get that hat!

2010-01-29T01:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday to you all!

How are you all, did you have a good week? I hope so! What have you all been up to since last Friday? I have been quite busy, thanks for asking!! I know you all really want to know! Hmmm... maybe not, but I am going to tell you anyway! Ha ha! You can't escape that easily.

Hmmmmmm....... what's this then I wonder?

I have been thinking of what to make for LissyLou for her Red for Heart day which is on the 26th February. Some of us, like myself are helping Lissy by making or giving red items for her to sell on the day. This is a worthy cause, so if any of you are interested , then pop over to Lissy's blog and take a look! I was thinking that I may make something like this heart. What do you think?

This week I have been busy creating. No, not creating havoc! Oh, ok then, maybe just a bit! First of all I made some curtains for my bedroom. I made them out of a sheet and used the lining from the old curtains. What do you think hey?

An open and shut case really!

I made some curtains for the living room last week, but they are not finished yet, so you are not allowed to see them yet! They are actually up at the window.... unhemmed and unkempt, and may stay that way for quite some time, until I find the drive to finish them off! Remind me not to attempt curtains for large windows again! I was worn out hoisting all of that material around!

Also this week, I picked up my knitting needles to attempt to knit myself a hat. Yes I know, I am not the most experienced knitter in the world, but I though, hey! Why not? I rooted out some yarn which I have had since the year dot and found a pattern, and off I went, clickety clack, clickety clack all evening until I made this.....

So sorry about the model! I tryed to get one of the dogs to don my creation, but they weren't having any of it! Just ignore the bit underneath, avert your eyes people! Aghhhhhhh! Wrinkles! No, not wrinkles... lets call them laugh lines! I know, I know, I have done an awful lot of laughing! Hmmm, maybe a little too much! I don't know why it surprised me that I can knit a hat, I did, after all, knit a tea cosy. Actually I could have used that pattern! If I kept the slits at each side for the handle and the spout, I could have had my ears sticking out of the hat! Now then everybody... do you think it needs a bobble?

Before I say Ta ta for another week I must say thank you for two lovely sunshine awards from two wonderful bloggy friends! One of them is from the lovely Sharon at Bliss Knits. Thank you so much Sharon , you are so kind! Go and visit her, she has a wondeful blog.

The other is from The Girl, who was worried on her blog, that I may mind her thinking of me as her blog Mum! I actually think that is lovely, and at least she doesn't think of me as her Blog Gran! Phew! Mind you after seeing the photo... well! Please go and check out her blog, it really is well worth the visit!

I am hoping that all who visit will take the award and pop it onto your blogs. Many of the blogs I follow now have this award, but I wish them all to have it, as I love them all! I hate having to choose! I really don't like it, they are all so good, that is after all why I follow them. Also I have made a few lists lately about my loves and my happys too!

Finally, please go and look at these two blogs, Dolliedaydreams and My Passport to Style, they are both having a virtual Tea Dance fundraiser for Haiti aid. Get your dancing shoes on and head over to join in the fun!

Thank you for visiting me today at my humble blog! Until next week, have a happy weekend and enjoy whatever it is you are going to be doing! It is my birthday on wednesday next week, so I shall tell you what I have been doing next week!

Love and hugs Suzie. xxx

Haiti, It could have been any one of us!!

2010-01-22T02:42:00.000-08:00

Halo again!

No that wasn't a typo..... Yesterday morning I was sipping my warming early morning cup of tea, tucked up in my cosy bed, safe and sound, when on the radio I heard a man telling of a rescue he had carried out in Haiti, He heard a noise coming from underneath the rubble of people' s homes and lives, and he quickly set about digging and pulling the debris out of the way... he saw a hand of a woman reaching out to him, and he said when he grabbed hold of her hand it was like holding the hand of God.

A woman who has just been rescued from a collapsed building is smiling and joyful to be found alive!

In amongst the grief and the suffering comes a miracle to show us once again how precious the gift of life really is. It is a reminder of how we are all so vunerable and no one is ever promised an easy time of it. Those of us who are tucked safe and sound in countries which are not prone (yet) to natural disasters or severe poverty, or any kind of extreme hardship or suffering are truly very lucky to have been born in such a fortunate place. Any one of us could have been born elsewhere and could be right at this moment undergoing the emotional and physical agony which has befallen the people of Haiti.

So it cheers me greatly to know that there are living angels in this world of ours, people reaching out at times like these to help others in need. Hence my greeting to you all! I know that not enough is getting to Haiti, but still there are many people donating and trying in many ways to help. There are even tiny ways that can help, like on Ebay for instance, when making a payment at the moment there is an option to add £1 to your payment for Haiti. Ok! It doesn't seem much, and some may think well I can't give enough so it won't make any difference. But just imagine if everyone using Ebay added that £1 each, that would amount to quite a sizeable sum!

I have copied and pasted this from Theresa at Faerie Moon Creations, such a good idea for such a good cause!
"In case anyone is interested, there is a lovely group on etsy~http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartsforHaiti~which is a collaborative of etsy sellers who have donated items to be sold with 100% of the funds going to Doctors without Borders. Over $10,000 has been raised so far! I posted about it recently:
http://faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com/2010/01/heart-for-haiti.html"

Can any of us imagine suddenly losing everything, relatives, homes, community? The only slight understanding that I have of it, is from George's family's story. His parents came over during the war from Poland. But before they arrived here they had had to leave their homes, land, possessions... just leave... families split up for ever. Georg'es Mum had to travel across Siberia, she watched her Mother and Sister starve to death, and her other Sister went to America. So who can even contemplate the plight of the poor souls in Haiti right now as I write this.

Yes, we can become very complacent when all seems to be ticking along nicely! People moan and complain about the most ridiculous things, like being stuck in a queue ( I think.. you are lucky to be able to stand in a queue! Look at the looting going on in Haiti!), at least they are not in a hospital waiting for some awful procedure! Can you imagine the terror of being buried in the rubble of a building? It makes the plane being late a little trivial doesn't it? The times I have seen impatience and rudeness because people are in such a rush, no smiles for anyone, just grumpiness and unpleasantness. Thank goodness that there are many, many lovely, pleasant , kind and patient people out there too! The trouble is I am afraid to say, that many people now are just plain spoilt! We in the west generally have everything we need, sometimes to abundance... too much food, too many possessions, and yet people don't seem to be very happy about it do they?!

I am a extremely lucky person! Yes, I know like many people I have had many, many sadnesses in my life, (many I can't even bring myself to talk of),... but gosh I am darn lucky! Do you know why? Because so far in my life, my home hasn't been destroyed in a natural disaster, I haven't been through a world war, or tortured, nor have I been without food or water, clothes..... or love. I wasn't born in Haiti...but I could so easily have been. If that isn't lucky, then I don't know what is!

Watch out for angels! They don't always have wings.

Sorry, not a very cutesy post this week (except for that adorable kitten pic!), but a post to reflect on my blessings and all those angels without any wings, wearing their halos and walking this earth. Can we have some more please!

Until next Friday lots of love and blessings to you all.

Suzie. xxx

Tag you are IT again!

2010-01-15T01:36:00.000-08:00

Gosh is it Friday again already? Yes, apparently it is! It will be time to get the chrissy decorations out again before you know it!

I have been busy sewing as usual, and have just been drawing a set of seasons stitcheries. But first I will finally get around to sewing this design which I drew a while ago now.

Also I started sewing some curtains for my living room,but then a my friend gave me some that she didn't want anymore so now I have half a curtain and a proper pair! Like waiting for that bus hey, waiting for ages ,not a one in sight and then two come at once!

Since my unexpected post on Tuesday I have been tagged again, this time by the very lovely, interesting and highly readable blogger The Girl at Living with a Boy. Honestly a blog well worth the visit, such a unique talent for writing darn good stuff! Anyway I have to list 10 things which make me happy, so (some are the same as my last list) here goes!:

1. My home-- I may be the most boring person in the world, but there is nowhere I love being more than my home. I love making it into a cosy little nest, and this house is an ongoing project, but bit by bit it is getting there! Anything associated with home makes me all warm and fuzzy inside- baking, cooking.....Watching my veggies grow in the patch is excruciatingly happy making!

We are actually trying to keep growing the odd edible delight during the winter too!

2. The long suffering George who has put up with me all this time and been there through some very dark times. He is like a still water in a stormy night, calm, unruffled, deep and re-assuring. I love his nature, his outlook on life, oooh errrr.... and his cooking! He is tolerant, understanding, forgiving and a truly good and wise soul.

3. Like The girl, I love marmite! You either love it or hate it, well I love, love love it! YUM. But what happens is that you start off by spreading it rather thinly, but then an addiction takes place and the spreading goes on thicker and thicker! Ooooh marmite on a big crust of bread, because I also love crusts and sometimes in our house there is just the middle bit of the loaf left, and a rather guilty looking me sat in the corner with marmite round my chops!

4. Well obviously being able to create, thats a no-brainer! I love making things! I only wish I had at least 12 arms so that I could be faster at it and get more done!

5. Nature, which includes animals, walking, gardening and anything that involves getting close to the nitty gritty of life and getting dirt on you!

My children when they were younger on one of our many hikes!

6. I have to say again music! To me it is like a medicine for my soul, I could not imagine a life without it!

7. Anything 1920's, I love the flappers, the fabulous clothes, the furniture, architecture, the dancing and just the general atmosphere of that era!

This is a drawing of a coat which I have, It is very 1920's! Well the real coat is more so than this drawing!

8. Eccentricity and observation- I love eccentric people, like my all time favourite- Quentin crisp! He was a natural observationalist with a wonderful slant on life! Also I really enjoy Alan Bennett's wonderful writings, especially the Talking Heads series, but all of his wonderful observational works will make me happy!

Quentin Crisp, now sadly has left this earth, what a wonderfully original man he was!

9. Watching lots of movies, especially the older ones - Doris Day, Cary grant, Bobe Hope (fantastic one-liners!) James Stewart, etc. I just adore them! Like music though, I enjoy a varied choice - new and old alike.

10. Finally all types of comunication.... anything that makes me laugh, as I so do love a good laugh. Sometimes when things are not so funny, I am lucky enough to be able to seek out the funny side and still smile. I also love nothing more than a deep and meaningful conversation about the universe, the paranormal and all that is mysterious, this fascinates me... like where does space end?

Also People with a good attitude and a sense of humour are treasures, and if that goes side by side with a tolerant nature and openess and compassion to all things, then I admire them hugely and, yes, knowing that there are people just like that in our world today makes me fill up with happiness!

Now I will tag ---

Penny from The Hen House
Mummy boo bear from Stitcherypockery
Mummy Mad from The Madhouse
Julie at KC's Court
Aunt Spicy
Florence and Mary
Jacqueline at Auntie Jacquelines
Coco Rose
Valerie at For The Love Of Pete
Lavender Dreamer
Carolyn at Love Stitching Red
Sharon at My Passport to Style

Tag you're it! If I didn't get you this time watch out! I can't wait to read everyone's lists! Now where did I put that marmite?

Until next Friday have a jolly spiffing week chaps!

Suzie. xxx

Tagged for a MeMe and a special thank you to an Angel!

2010-01-12T04:18:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Anyone who knows me, knows I only ever post on a Friday but I have been tagged by the very lovely Mummy Mad at TheMadHouse to tell of ten things that I enjoy doing that are free! Thank you so much Mad Mummy for thinking of me! Go over and visit her, her blog is wonderful and you really will feel like you have popped home for a cup of tea and a chat. Very warm and cosy! I love the Mad Mummy! In fact I would choose to tag her but that would just be plain silly!

So here goes!

1: Breathing! I wouldn't be without it! But seriously, I love smelling wood smoke, autumn leaves and the subtle changes in the air when the seasons change. Smells can work on the emotions sometimes, they can bring back someone who has gone from this earth and rekindle childhood memories too.

2: Daydreaming! I love going off in my mind in a story, or just drifting through meandering thoughts!

3: Drawing (ok, I need a pencil and paper!) , but being able to draw has always been present in my life and especially when I was younger, I used to escape with my pencil quite often!

One of my drawings.

4: Dreaming- when I sleep I have very vivd dreams, and sometimes I remember 3 or 4 in a night. I used to write them down, but for some reason during my chemotherapy, I seemed to stop dreaming, or rather I couldn't remember them. They are beginning to re-emerge now after nearly 6 years, and I am so happy about that. I must say though that my dreams are very strange mostly, but it is like going on an adventure or sitting through a surreal movie for free!

5: Being brought a pot of tea every morning by my husband! Yes every morning he delivers a steamy hot pot of tea, complete with a china mug, jug of milk and tea cosy too! That is one of those pleasures in life which I never tire of and always appreciate with a relish!

6: Stroking my dogs- there is something very cosy and calming about stroking a beast! To develop a special, warm and loving relationship with what in effect is just that- a beast- is just wonderful and precious. Anyone who owns a dog will tell you that their ability for understanding and communicating with you is amazing! Nature right here in my own home!

Ralph! The beast!

7: Nature and walking - I love walking and I love nature, so bliss! The two go so well together, and it is very uplifting and mending to walk through trees and beautiful landscapes. When I feel low, George forces me out! And it really is like a tonic for the soul! Just as I love watching the nature in my garden, feeding the birds and watching all the miraculous goings on! Is it just me (I think not!) but after I have spent time digging about in the soil I feel almost spiritual, grounded and part of something huge! I also enjoy watching my friend's chickens... what characters!

8: I would like to say sewing, but of course like drawing , it is not completely free! I love being creative, using my hands to make something that was not there before appear into the world! I also enjoy turning something that has outlived it's use into something usable.

9: Singing! - Now! I am not a singer. The sound which dances, or rather stumbles from my chops is probably not a pretty sound! In fact I think I saw one of the dogs put their paw over their ears once! But I love music, all types, really everything! Loud, quiet, rock, folk, jazz, clasical... the list goes on. So, natuarally or not, singing kind of goes with it! I love good lyrics, and I love singing them too! That may be why I like my music so loud so that even I can't hear my racket!

10: Improving my mind, learning about other people's ways, beliefs, customs. I really can't stand ignorance, racism or intolerance and I enjoy to find out what makes other people tick. It is fascinating! I actually really do wish for a huge melting pot! I particularily love the buddhist way of living and thinking, and I have said before that it is more of a philosophy than a religion. I dream of a day when I am as serene and together as this.....!

When I was little I used to whisper my secrets into his ears! His ears are long, so I figured they would hold more information!

Right! Now I will tag some peeps:

Tracey at Tracey- crafty scraps, she is so funny and lovely, always brings a smile to our faces even though, it must be hard for her sometimes. A true star!

Ro at Bitchin Witch She is one on her own, and a friend of many years too. She is imaginative, fun and not your norm, which I really love!

Kay at Finding my way. Kay has become one of my bloggie and facebook friends, I love her attitude and enjoy visiting her blog to read her wonderful words on life! I also enjoy poking her on facebook daily too! Yes, I really like Kay!

I would like to tag Penny at the hen house, but she already has been tagged!

Michela at Little secrets from my garden - Michela is a truly lovely soul, generous and caring. Everybody loves Michela!

Mollye at Mizmollye, another lady who I have come to think of as a friend! Her stories are amazing, witty and charming. Mollye is lovely!

Pomona at Little Cottage Comforts- Pomona is just so wonderful with words! I enjoy reding her very thoughtful posts. I would love to hear what she writes about this!

Finally but not at all least! I would like to thank Angel at Kissed by an Angel for recieving her lovely giveaway in the post the other day. She has just been in hospital and so I have hung off thanking her as she was computerless in there! And probably a bit groggy too! I have just had a quick peek on her blog and she is back home! so welcome home Angel hope you see this thank you!

Look at these goodies!

Now how did you know that I hadn't bought a calendar yet for this year! You must be a mind reader Angel! Also a yummy recipe book! Hmmmmm, making me hungry!

Take a look at this wonderful aborigine art magnet! wonderful!

And , oh yes! scrumptious treats, The whole bag of clinkers is now in my tum! Not the bag of course though! I did stop to open it first! Those clinnkers were addictive Angel!

Thank you so much Angel, you are so kind! I wish you a speedy recovery!

See you all on Friday, if you can take me twice in one week that is!

Love to you all Suzie. xxx :)

The north wind doth blow and we shall have snow angels!

2010-01-08T03:06:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Old Man Winter is definitely taking hold this year, snow, snow and more snow! I love it of course, because it reminds me of my childhood in Canada.

One of my drawings, a little tatty I'm afraid!

It is beautiful, magical and does not happen too often in Lancashire, so I am enjoying it. Then again, I do have the benefit of working from home, and so far the snow which is affecting many parts of the country badly, is not causing a great problem where I live, so luckily has not stopped me from doing anything as yet! It just looks incredibly pretty! Jack frost has been a busy little man!

Isn't this gorgeous, I found it on the internet. It is not one of mine.... sadly!

Winter to many people is a bleak time, the season where all seems dormant and, some may say... dead. The ground is frozen, autumns leaves lie moulding, leafless twigs and branches waver in the cold icy winds. Gardens appear so sad compared to their full and lush appearance in the summer months. Yes, it all looks a bit sad don't you think? Nothing is happening out there at all. But wait, what is this?

Buds all over the place... waiting for the spring!

No, it is only slumbering, and as our bodies do when asleep, replenishing and preparing for the next adventure. At each turn of a moment all is changing... ever moving, turning in endless circles, soon to be re-born again into what appears to resemble a replica of last years glory, but yet completely different ... new leaves, fresh flowers.

A view of my home from halfway down the garden.

Change is an inevitable and inescapable presence in all of our lives. We can not hide from it. I could sit in a room all day and refuse to come out, ignoring the world, and still change will manifest all around me and to me! Just like the seasons coming and going, just as our cells in our bodies are not the same ones that we used to have, we are constantly changing. This is scary, but fascinating at the same time.

Now, I am no spring chicken any more, and like the winter garden, perhaps I look like I need some attention! Sometimes I am feeling quite ancient like my old Owl Tree! Wisdom to follow I hope!

However, I sometimes feel like I am swapping my ever disappearing youth with an ever growing mind and spirit. I am nurturing my creativity and zest for life into a bursting flower. This to me, is how winter is. Underneath and behind what appears to be a faded vista, is a hive of activity and life, busy in preparation for a new refreshed world ready to burst out in the spring. Winter is a time of hidden miracles!

Winter fills me to the brim with excitement for the year to come... planning my garden, looking forward to watching it waken slowly from its wintery sleep, getting my home decorated and sorted out, and inventing new projects to craft and sew! Cosy times at home spent next to a roaring fire eating heart-warming stews. I love the changing of the seasons, and their constant reminder for me to accept gracefully the changes that life brings each day.

Time to enjoy our homes and cosy comforts! One of my cross stitch designs.

Life is a journey and an adventure, one which should be embraced, bad times as well as good. All of our joys, trials and tribulations are what make up our Auto-biographies. Wouldn't our books make rather boring reading if every day our lives just plodded on and on? Our books are more likely to be stuffed full with the richness of life... our sadnesses, success and failure, our loves, our work, talents...laughter and tears. Each day our individual history, unique and precious is constructed. Once a page is written, it is there for all time in our book for better or for worse.

One of my Angel Angst stitcheries! Hmmm, my halo has slipped on occasions too!

We may not always hold control of every word printed onto the pages of our life-story but we can decide whether we are the hero or the villian, whether we wish to reflect on events with bitterness or with grace. In other words, how we wish to react to each of our pages. We do have that choice at least.

So my New Years resolution for 2010 is to write a new chapter, one which has had some thought put into it!
This chapter will be about making the most of each moment, being aware of the hidden magic that is very much there even if we forget to look for it sometimes! I intend to laugh a lot and jump in puddles much more often! Whatever life throws! One of my favourite sayings is "Life is a tragi-comedy..... and you are the star!"

What are your New Years resolutions? Tell me!

Before I wander off for another week, go and have a look at Theresa's fantastic January Jubilee giveaway at Faerie Moon Creations! It is well worth a look believe me, this lady is so talented!

Well until next week I wish you all to be allocated at least one snowman or lady, and I hope that the weather is not causing you any headaches. Oh and don't forget, if you get the chance.... have a snowball fight, make a snow-angel and laugh until you cry!

Love and blessings to you all!

Suzie. xxx :)

Happy New Year! A thank you to Michela too!

2009-12-31T18:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New year everyone! I am back, and I hope that you all had a warm and wonderful Christmas! I can't wait to catch up with all your news, and start commenting again on all those brilliant posts that you all write!

I start this post with a special thank you to a very special lady, who many of us know and adore - Michela at Little Secrets From My Garden. This very kind soul has sent me a parcel as a thank you for winning my giveaway! So kind!

Take a look at all these goodies!

Gorgeous goodies! Munch, munch! Chocs away! I had already eaten some, and then had to remind myself to take a photo before complete gluttony took over!

A closer look! Yummy! Included with all of these scrumptious delights was this lovely Italian christmas card, with lovely thoughts from Michela. The champas bottle filled with chocs was wrapped in Italian newspaper, and George and I really enjoyed looking at it and trying to work out what it said!

Thank you so much Michela, it was such a fantastic surprise and has cheered me up tremendously. More kindness from a person whom I have never met, but I consider a true friend. Bloggy people are brilliant and kind!

I don't know about all of you, but every year as soon as christmas day is over with, I get an overwelming urge to start afresh. I start planning the garden, thinking of decorating the house, and generally look forward to the new year and spring! Do you too? But before we jump merrily into this new year with a gusto I will share some of my christmas with you all! We had a white christmas here in Lancashire... lovely!!!

Oh Christmas tree!

Candle light and sparkle

Getting the christmas table ready! Can you spot Ralph the dog?

Yum... Homemade cranberry jelly!

Christmas Eve dinner for two! Bertie waiting for the food to arrive! We had a polish christmas eve ... rollmops (pickled dill herrings), borsch (beetroot soup) and goumki (not correct spelling!.. rice and meat in cabbage parcels with a creamy mushroom sauce). I love, love, love polish food!

Our son Tom, always happy when there is food around!

Sharing food, wine and good conversation with some of our lovely family!

Here are two more stockings which I sewed too in reds and greens.........

It is good to be back! I have missed you all. Heres to a new year full of love and happiness. This is what I wish for all of you, my lovely friends!

May the newness and excitement of this new year stay with us throughout 2010 and into the new decade!

Lots of joy, love and hugs to you all,

Suzie. xxx

Just popping back to thank Penny, my little christmas fairy!

2009-12-21T05:37:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I know, I know I am not supposed to be on here until after christmas! But, I could not let a little fairy of kindness go unmentioned now could I? A lovely kind soul has sent me a parcel, and that lovely kind soul is Bad Penny at the Hen House. Penny you are a true twinkling star in a dark sky! You have lit up my face with a sprinkling of stardust and left a big huge grin on my face!

The snow has finally made its way to Lancashire! Believe it or not, it actually thundered at the same time!

I have been having a bit of an emotional time at the moment with certain circumstances/people in my life, and sadnesses from the past have left a huge deep gash in my soul. Nothing to worry about, I will be fine, and I can't really tell all, as it is too personal. I always manage to laugh though, and I will most certainly carry on with my giggling nature! You know how it is, even the silliest of us have sadnesses that we carry around inside of us, and usually we keep them hidden from the world. Sometimes though, especially when you are low, tired or have been feeling off colour, it just gets to you more than usual, and christmas seems to play on the emotions and pull on those old heart strings! But .... this is a happy post!!!

So you can imagine how Penny has lifted my spirits right up to the sky! I am so lucky to have made so many good friends from blogland, and some like Penny give me more care than certain people who should do! No, don't worry, its not George! He is a truly wonderful man, kind and loving and I am so lucky to have had him in my life for the past 25 years! He has stood by me through thick and thin, quite alot of thin!!!

It was just starting to snow on this photo, it got a lot thicker just after this!

Look at these lovely goodies sent from my invisible friend Penny!

They were all wrapped so beautifully, so as I ripped the wrapping off in my eagerness to see what was inside, I suddenly thought "oh no! I should have taken a picture before I opened them!" And what am I doing opening my presents before christmas, how naughty! So I tryed to re-wrap the bigger one, look at the lovely ribbon and decoration on the top!

So! .....There was this gorgeous bookmark and the the saying is so apt from a friend who I have never seen in the 'real' world!

And this very pretty card in a cellophane wrapper all ready for me to use, but it is so pretty I will keep it all to myself! Bekki at The Ramblings of an everyday Mummy made it, isn't it so lovely?!

Look at these rather sweet guest soaps too! They smell divine! The guests won't get a look in! I shall be using these a lot over christmas, aren't they wonderful?!

And last but not least...... a really gorg-geee-ous handmade card from Penny! It is so special, I shall keep it to bring out with my decorations every year and give it pride of place.

Bad Penny... you are a darn good Penny! You have made me want to do the christmas jig of happy! Thank you so much for brightening my christmas and reminding me to be grateful for all the wonderful people I do have in my life who give me care and warmth!

'See' you again in the new year, and I wish each and everyone of you a fantastic Christmas and a wonderful new decade! Merry Christmas to Penny and her family! This post is just for you today Penny! Kindness is like the ripples on a pond, spreading outwards on and on! Your kindness has been recieved by me and truly appreciated! There are still tears in my eyes!

Lots of hugs and love, suzie. xxx :)

Ding Dong merrily on high!

2009-12-18T03:54:00.000-08:00

Hello all you little christmas elves out there! Thank you to all who wished my arm well! It is a lot better now thank you! Although I do still feel a bit achey, with a sore throat, but nothing too bad!

Well, I don't know about you but I don't think that it harms sometimes to do a good spot of self mocking! It is good for the soul I think to have a darn good laugh at one's self. For instance, a couple of weeks ago, I dyed my hair orange! Yes, you did read that right, orange! Satuma surprise! No, the hair dye wasn't called that! I have toned it down a bit now, but when will I learn to take my glasses with me when I go to the shops!? It was supposed to be light brown, but it actually said light auburn. When I put it on, it must have reacted with my blonde highlights. (that I also self appy)

I bought these little angels (there are two!) without my glasses on too, the price tag to my Mr. Maggoo eyes read £9.99 for the pair, the price tag to eyes that can actually see read £19.99. So it was a good job that I had enough money in my purse when I plonked them on the counter!

This week I thought I would bring you all some festive cheer by sharing some of my christmas with you all. Last weeks post hit a nerve with me and this week after years of buying a real tree I have gone and bought this artificial one. I always feel sad for the trees, and I know that they are grown specially for the purpose, but after the story I told last week I just couldn't! Silly, I know!

This tree skirt is over 40 years old and has travelled back and forwards to Canada!

Note how I have changed the fire surround by painting it cream, much better I think!

I have been so lucky and have been given these awards. The first by Tracey at Tracey's crafty scraps and Mummy mad at The Madhouse. Thank you so much to you both, you have made my week! I was so excited when I found out that You had chosen me!

The other one is from Theresa at Faerie Moon Creations, Thank you so much Theresa, I am really bowled over that you have given me this award!

For both awards I am to list a few things that you may not know about me, and some things I like to do. Oh dear! Soooo.......

1. I love listening to music, any type more or less.
2. I enjoy puzzles, cross words, sudoku, etc.
3. Having a special meal with George, with candles and music, lovely
4. Being at home, all cozy toasting marshmallows by the fire.
5. I love laughing!

Things you may not know about me;

1. I can lead and cut glass.
2. I can walk for miles and miles, but not too good with hills!
3. I get full quick, but my eyes are bigger than my belly!
4. I can do a hilarious rendition of 'oh my darling clementine' on the piano, it can make dogs howl!
5. I can be a bit of a practical joker. Last weet I put cling film over the top of George's bottle of becks, and the confused look on his face when he couldn't get any beer out, just made me crack up into hysterics!
6. I am a serial giggler, and apparently laugh at anything!
7. I could never have my own children, so all three of our children we have adopted.

I am not going to pass this award on at the moment, as a lot of the people who I would like to give it to, have just got one the same, so in the new year I will make one and give some out to all my lovely friends that I have made here in blogland!
I am going to have a blogging break over Christmas as I feel a little frazzled and I have friends and family visiting, and visits to be made. You know, the usual Christmas activities. So I won't be blogging or commenting until January now, (if I can resist the urge to peek, that is!). I don't want any of my lovely blogging pals to think that I am ignoring them, but I have to have a complete break from the computer, work and sewing! Then again, next friday, posting day is actually christmas day, so I wouldn't be posting then anyway would I!? Hmmmmmm!

Ralphus Le- puff Macduff (Ralph) says Merry Christmas!

Archibald Peabody Smythe (Archie) says Jolly merry festitvities! More like Bah humbug! Don't you think he looks more like scrooge? He has got the saddest face I have ever seen on a dog. Probably just can't take another one of my jokes!

Bertram Butterbean Barker (Bertie to his friends) says Happy New Year!

So I will be off now until the new year and I wish you all a wonderful, laughter filled christmas and a very Happy new year. New decade that is!!!

May fairy dust land on the tips of your noses and make you giggle out loud!

Love Suzie. xxx

Christmas is nearly here! And all that glitters....

2009-12-11T02:13:00.000-08:00

Hello to all! Since last week I am pleased to say, I have managed to very nearly get up to scratch again for Christmas, hence my lack of commenting on all your blogs! Sorry, I will make a real effort to catch up! In fact I almost missed these lovely awards, the first is from Tracey at Tracey's crafty scraps! http://tracey-craftyscraps.blogspot.com/ .

The second one is from Teresa at Faerie Moon Creations. Thank you so much Teresa! These are the rules:

Copy the Kreativ Blogger picture and post it on your page

Thank the person who gave it to you and link back to their blog

Write seven things about you that we don’t know

Choose seven other bloggers that you would like to give the award to

Link to the bloggers that you choose

Let the winners know that they have the lovely award.

I would be mortified if people thought that I was ignoring them! Thank you so much Tracey and Teresa!!! It was really lovely of you to think of me! For Tracey's award, am to give it to 5 people and tell you all 5 things that I love doing, but I will post the awards again the next time I post as I just can't seem to think at the moment with my arm the way it is! ( I have just added this since I posted before, if that makes any sense!)

My cards are written and my sewing nearly done, and have just posted off some hearts which I hope will make it there on time!

Little pixie!

Little fairy

The back of one heart.

My presents are still unwrapped (but at least I have bought them!) and the house is so definitely not decorated yet and in need of a clean. Still though, I feel more in control, and what the hell Hey?! At some point we all have to just stop and let it all happen regardless don't we? One worry though is that as I sit here writing this, I am achey all over and feel like I am about to come down with something. The real worry being that my arm that I have Lymphodoema in (swelling of the arm due to the lymph nodes being removed during my breast cancer operation ... hence no drainage!), has gone bright red and hurts all the way up to the armpit , like a chinese burn and painful to the touch. I only hope that I am not getting another infection in it. Last time I got an infection in said elephants trunk, I could not stay awake, and anyone who knows me will tell you that I do not nap, ever! Also, if I have, it will mean two weeks on penicillin, and then I will spend the whole of Christmas on the wagon!!! Oh NO!! Not now!!!

One of our christmas dinners in Canada. Look at my Mum, all dressed up and sparkling too!

I love Christmas, I really do. Maybe because it evokes memories of chilhood festivities.

A childhood Christmas, and me sporting the gift of a new dressing gown!

Christmas for me as a child was all about the giving, we were taught to be kind and grateful for all of the goodness in our lives.
What is your definition or memories of Christmas? Of course, it is many things ... tinsel, sparkling lights, good food laid on a welcoming table, sat beside a roaring fire with a warming glass of mulled wine. Being with loved ones, family and friends and the joy of seeing someone's face as they open the gift you have wrapped for them. It really does conjure up so many lovely images doesn't it? Snow ball fights, Doris day! And all those wonderful oldie Chiristmas films - Cary Grant in the bishop's wife and its a wonderful life for instance. How I love those films! I have to admit that I am unashamedly soppy and starry eyed about Christmas!

The one thing about it all I don't like, however, is that, for my liking there is a little too much emphasise on the glitter and sparkle. Oh, no-one loves sparkling lights and the whole Christmas magical package more than me! My eyes just go wide at all the gorgeous Christmasy goodies! No,my bug-bear is the over commercialism and materialism. Too much emphasise is put on the price tag, instead of the love that goes into a gift from the heart. Simple giving is almost laughed at by some, but Kirsty Allsopp has been doing a homemade Christmas program, so maybe....! Although, her idea of homemade is rather ridiculously expensive! I don't think the rest of us will be making that sort of homemade! Take a look at Mummy mad's wonderful post on Kirsty's program, I have to agree with her, Kirsty has left the planet!

One of my precious childhood memories is of my brother and I going up into the forest to get our own Christmas tree. We would take the sleigh and a saw, and off we would go. Grahame would pull me along on the way there and the tree would be pulled on the way back!

Me with my brother... brrrrrrr!

I am reminded of a story I used to like although it is very sad! It was about a little tree growing in the forest, and every year it watched as the other trees were sent off to faraway places, to live in houses to be dressed up with pride of place. The little tree had heard many a story of the sparkling lights, candy canes and colourful baubles that were festooned on its many pals from the forest. "And! said one, apparently you will be the focal point and every one will love you, they will sing and dance at the delight of you! No more will you stand out in the cold, you will be warm...and special!"
How tree wished to be picked!!! Little tree did not have to wait too long and one day he was uprooted and sent on his journey.

Little tree found that it was just as he had heard... his family were so pleased to welcome him into their home, they ooohed and awhhed over him and made such a fuss dressing him. He looked the perfect picture!
He had never, ever had such a splendid time!

After only a short time though, his needles started to drop off and he felt a bit droopy, so droopy that the beautiful decorations began to drop to the floor. Oh no, whats happening thought little tree, even the children don't seem to be interested in me anymore. Tree felt very sad indeed, but suddenly his world became even worse, a big person came in and took all his decorations off, even his lights and the pretty fairy on his head, lifted him up and threw him out with all the rubbish in the wind and the sleet. Poor little tree was so sad and felt rather foolish that he had let all the glitter blind him to what really matters in life, and he missed the big forest, where the only sparkle there was was the twinkle of ice and snow! He felt ashamed that he had been so vain, and for thinking that all the finery had made him a more superior tree. No, he was just a tree, and he had found out too late that just being him was enough!

So, I will be enjoying the sparkle and magic for what it is, ( I will be rolling in it and eating it for breakfast!!!) but I will enjoy most what I feel is important about Christmas even more ....friends, family, health, love, giving, because we all need those so much more than something expensive that eventually wears out or tarnishes! I shall also be giving thoughts to all the people in the world for whom christmas feels more like the little tree's Christmas, and I will remind myself to be so grateful that my lovely Christmas is a blessing, not a right.

Who else feels that Christmas has become a time when people feel pressured to spend money that they can ill afford! I can't help but feel aware that for some people it is not a happy time at all, but one filled with loneliness and worry!

Still I can't help enjoying Christmas and all I associate with it too! I love it!!! Hopefully I shall start getting my decorations out next week!

Until next week, love and Christmas cheer to you all! Ho Ho Ho!

Suzie. xxx