Oh dear

It is not often that I admit to being fed up, but I am FED UP. It is about 6 weeks since my asthma kicked in. It is certainly the worst and most prolonged incidence I have had. Been back and forth to the Dr the hospital twice and thought I was on the mend. Then what happens I get a b***** cold. Now usually any asthma I get starts with a cold and the Dr kept asking have you had cold. No. Well now I have and I am not a pretty sight. Red nose, sore and cracked lips. You get the picture. What is it about colds that make us miserable? The person who finds a cure will make billions. Of course I can't take any of the cold/flu medicines which are on the market because of other problems so have to suffer through all the symptoms. Moan, moan, whinge, whinge. It has now dropped to the chest - need I say more.
Should have been at work yesterday and today but no. Not going into school. The ch is always cranked right up and all those children. No.
I am hiding away from everyone. now I am not looking for sympathy after all it is only a cold, just wanted to rant. So just ignore me. There are so many people who have real problems who never say a word and here I am going on about a cold.

Sewing day

Had a great day sewing today, though did not get as much done as I wanted to do. Made good progress on a swap project but daft me left the instructions at home so could not finish. Then decided to sew some blocks together. Now these blocks have been waiting for me to get to them for about 18 months now so am pleased could get started. Was going to take more photographs but the battery went on me. Just to show where we have our workshop.

Unfortunately today I was tempted to buy some fabric, well actually I really needed it HONEST. The blocks I was putting together today were given to me by friends for my 60th birthday and I needed matching fabric for the sashing which I just do not have at home. I will take somephotos tomorrow of the blocks which have been put together so far.

Where does the time go?

I can't believe that it is 9 days since I last posted. Where does the time go. I am pleased to say I am feeling much better now and have been to work this week. I had not intended to work quite as much as I have but it has done me good. All day monday at one school and they asked me to work both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings as they were to have an OFSTED on Thursday. I did that and of course I worked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at other schools. It gets quite confusing and it is hard to remember all the children's names.

I can now show you all what I was working on before I was unwell. I am in a wonderful internet group called C.R.A.F.T. and one of the ladies has been in hospital so I was asked if I would put together a heart quilt for her. It was my pleasure. The members were asked to send a block with a heart on. They were wonderful and looking at the finished quilt you would think we had all been together to choose the colours. There was also almost enough extra fabric sent to do both the border and the back of the quilt. It is wonderful how people from all over the world come together through the internet and how friendships grow.

Today I decided was going to be a day for myself, selfish I know but we have to do it once in a while. After a quick tidy up I decided that I was going to do the Feb bag challenge from another group BQL. I have not been a member of this group long and this is the first time I have joined in a challenge. Now the bag should have been finished today and a picture posted so no pressure there. LOL

I set to looking through my stash and found some fabric which I bought about 3 years ago and then never used. Perfect. I was so pleased to see how well the bag went together, very well designed. Also it is the first time I have used thicker thread in the bobbin, I was a bit worried about it but no problem at all. Everything went well and by 2.30 I was able to post a picture of the finished bag. Now I am looking forward to the bag for March - yes there is a new bag every month. What do I want all these bags for you may ask. Well I love to use bags to store things in I think they look great on door handles. Also I use some for holding projects which I take to groups. I have bags for different schools etc etc. Oh yes and for shopping. I think I will make another bag like this as I enjoyed it and it is an ideal size for shopping.

I am sitting here with the rain lashing against the window thinking how nice it is to be indoors and not have to go out. Even the dog hates the rain.

I am pleased that I have made some progress with sewing today and think I will do my postcards tomorrow. Oh and yes I have a table runner to finish too. No that is not all but that will do for tomorrow. Have a great weekend where ever you are.

Oh how true

Found this on another blog and just had to share

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE

1920's, 30's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes or cervical cancer.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets

and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes,

not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.



As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.


We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.



Take away food was limited to fish and chips - no pizza shops, McDonalds, KFC, or Subway.

Even though all the shops closed at 5.30pm and didn't open on the weekends, somehow we didn't starve to death!

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.


We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE -PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and cubby houses and played in ditches with matchbox cars.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms.

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were noLawsuits from these accidents.


Only girls had pierced ears!
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.



We were given airguns and sling shots for our 10th birthdays,
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!


Mum didn't have to go to work to help dad make ends meet!
Footy had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Imagine that!!


Our teachers used to belt us with big sticks and leather staps and bullies ruled the playground at school.
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!


Our parents got married before they had children and didn't invent stupid names for their kids like 'Kiora' and 'Blade'

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 70 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned
HOW TODEAL WITH IT ALL!

And YOU are one of them!CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the government regulated our lives for our own good.

Cleaning

It was a dissapointment on Saturday when the company did not turn up to do the cleaning. What is it with bussinesses it is almost as if they do not want to succeed. As it happens it has turned out great for me as a friend of mine was wanting a little job so she came yesterday and is coming again tomorrow to finish off the spring cleaning. The gardener was here yesterday too and I just sat and let them get on with it. The breating is much better now but the kidney infection has been a bit of a nuscience still the pills are kicking in now and am feeling much much better. I hope tomorrow I will be able to work with Christine and get more done. She has been here often but had not realised how big the house really is. Tomorrow I hope we can get to the garage room and the study as I want to swap over the way I use them.

One Word

One Word
A challenge ...YouCanOnlyTypeOneWord(It's not as easy as it looks!!)
1. Where is your cell phone? hiding
2. Your significant other? passed
3. Your hair? thin
4. Your mother? gone
5. Your father? dynamic
6. Your favorite thing? life
7. Your dream last night? forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? wine
9. Your dream/goal? happiness
10. The room you’re in? study
11. Your ex? WHO?
12. Your fear? failure
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? exploring
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you’re not? bored
16. Muffins? never
17. One of your wish list items? space
18. Where you grew up? home
19. The last thing you did? walk
20. What are you wearing? warms
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pet(s)? character
23. Your computer? friendships
24. Your life? overflowing
25. Your mood? thoughtful
26. Missing someone? no
27. Your car? orange
28. Something you’re not wearing? hat
29. Favorite store? fabric
30. Your summer? relaxing
31. Like someone? no
32. Your favorite color? blue
33. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
34. Last time you cried? November
35. Who will/would re-post this? ????

Cleaning

Well I have taken the plunge, this house needs a spring clean BIG TIME. It is not DIRTY but it is dusty and of course lots of hair around from Patch. I have not been able to keep on top of it with working again, quilting, walking the dog etc etc. plus have not wanted to disturb the dust while the asthma has been bad. SO have decided to get someone in to do the job. I contacted a newish company and the owner was out to see me on Wednesday evening. We talked through what I wanted and I then sat back and waited to see what she said. I have had cleaners before (I think I wear them out LOL) so I have a very good idea of what I require to be done and how long it should take. When she quoted me the hours she was within 30 minutes of my estimate so I felt that was really good. The long and short of this is that they are coming out tomorrow morning to do the job. Then I shall go on Sunday to get Patch back from my Dad's. I have been missing him so much as he really is my shaddow. He always likes to be with me or in sight.

I have a lot of tidying up to do before they come tomorrow as I just want them to concentrate on the cleaning so all my sewing material etc will have to get put away. A job in itself as I seem to have spread out over the past few weeks. I have also decided to move my sewing supplies from the 'garage room' (it was the garage but made it into a storage room) to the study. I spend much more time now sewing so it seems to be appropriate that I move into a room which can be heated and can accomodate all my fabric and my sewing machines so everything will be in one place. I guess you realise that the study is a larger room. It was the master bedroom when I moved in but I decided that I prefer to sleep at the back of the house not on the road side so it became the very large and well used study. Of course this means that all the paper work and books will have to be moved downstairs and all the fabric upstairs. Watch this space. I am looking forward to the change.

new car

Well I have now had my new car for about 10 days and am loving it. So different from my last one. It is comfortable and of course reliable. So many features which the other car did not have. Have not used everything on it yet. The only thing I miss is the remote central locking. It still has central locking but not remote. I could have waited another 2 weeks and paid more for the facility but decided against that.

This is the first time I have had a 5 door car and it is so much mor convenient, especially with the dog in the back.

It is only because I am picking up quite a bit of supply work that I was able to go for it at this time and I am so pleased I took the plunge.

slow down and rest

Well the doctor has told me to slow down and REST. so for once I am going to do as I am told. It is a pain but think I need to do this so am leaving a few of my Yahoo groups as I feel that I can just not keep up. I do hope that I do not upset anyone by doing this but it is the right thing at the moment. I just do not want to commit myself to anything else and the temptation is always there especially with postcard groups. Then I get stressed about not being able to do things in time. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I hate this. Still things can only improve.

Easter eggs

Yes Easter eggs. I know it is early yet but let me explain. I go every Thursday morning to the local hospice to do craft work with the patients. It is necessary to start early with things as not everyone is able to work at a reasonable pace, so have started to do the Easter eggs ready for the Easter tree.

Because there is no sewing in these more of the patients are able to participate.

Most of them still need the beading along the joins, but that is a job for another week.

sewing day

Sewing day
A busy day today as I had friends around for sewing. It seems like months since we last got together for a natter and sew.I was determined to get on with things and was happy with progress. The first thing I made was this round 'ironing board' I first saw it on someone else's blog so if it you are reading this and the idea came from your blog - Thank You. It is made using a 'lazy susan' covered with two layers of batting and finally material spread on the top and gathered underneath. It is for use with the small clover iron which I use fo craft work and should be very useful as I can keep it near the sewing machine.

Secondly I finished a wall hanging which just required freemotion quilting done to it. This is something I have found difficult in the past so was pleased that a little practice seems to have solved the problems I was having. Still not as smooth as I would like but a great improvement.

Lastly I finished a sewing box which has been sitting there for some time

Christmas in January

Spent today putting all the Christmas decorations back in the attic. Also between Christmas and the New Year I started to make a Christmas quilt, I have now put all the blocks together and put the final border on. Now I have the hand sewing to finish and decide how I am going to quilt it. I hope I shall be able to finish it during next week so I can move on to some of my UFOs which I want to finish this year.

Suduku Quilt

Have been busy this week. Just before christmas I joined a Yahoo group called 'stashbusters' in the hope that I would get some encouragement to reduce my stash and finish my UFOs. A New Year's Eve challenge was posted and I decided I would have a go. The challenge was to start a Suduku Quilt on New Year's eve. I think it may even have been to finish it too but I cannot sew that quickly. I liked the idea and chose some bright fat quarters that I had as I do not usually use brights.

Having cut the fabric and chosen the fabric I wanted for the sashing I set to and gave myself 'permision' to ignore everything else like ironing (easy to do) By Monday night I had all the blocks sewn and started on the sashing. New Years Day saw the sashing finished.

Then I decided to give it extra boarders. I then decided to do free motion quilting and that took time as it is something I have not done before on anything bigger than a place mat. It took a long time to get it right on the back. I am still not sure how I managed to do that (lol). Anyway here is the finished result.

bryan's wedding

My dear son finally married his long term girlfriend in November. He married on my Dad's 91st birthday. Dad was the best man.