Summer is a comming in....................

At last it seems summer has arrived. I love the drying weather, but not the heat (unless I was on some beach paddling), but I shouldn't complain, we've had yukky weather long enough now.

It's been a while since my last post and since then I've received an award

Thank you to the lovely Lace Threads, I don't get many of these and it's lovely of you to think of me. I think I have to nominate more blogs for the award now,
so I need to think.
Of course I have to say my beautiful daughter at Nine Fruits Pie,
and the lovely Raspberry Grace.
The Fabulously Funny blog of Shabby Angel.
Fifties Girl too, a lovely fresh look at vintage through young eyes,
I can't think of anymore that haven't been nominated yet, though some of these may have been.
If I do I'll come back and post more.

We spent a lovely few hours going through old photos at my mam's yesterday, so many wonderful memories. I've brought most of the albums home to re-do them, lots of the photos are getting tatty, some, sadly, may be beyond repair. The plan is to make a scrap book for her 8oth birthday later this year, it will be my first so I hope I do a good job.

This is one of my favourite photos of me, aged about 2 and a half.

I loved that pushchair, It was blue with creamy-white vinyl seat and back. The "baby" is Debbie, and she's wearing a pink wool knitted outfit my mam made for her, She was, and is, my first big baby doll, and very much loved. She sits in my bedroom now, and looks a little worse for wear, but I still love her.

This is my beloved dad

He is in his early 20's here, about 10 years before I was born. He died in 1985, just an hour after my birthday ended. I still miss him so much.

Anyway, enough of me waffling, now I have to inform all those lovely people they have an award too.

Love and Blessings in Christ
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

July Sunshine

This lovely photo of the penstemon in our garden actually belies 2 facts.

While it looks lovely and sunny, it has been raining and we are promised more over the next few days, in fact if you see anyone walking around looking nicely tanned just take a closer look, it's probably rust!

The other lie is that we have a garden. We do have a space outside, indeed space may not even describe it. The "space" is around 11' wide by 80' long. Some may call that a garden, but it's not really anything at the moment. We have a border that just a few years ago sported some beautiful plants, but now only has a few (though thankfully the penstemon is very big and hides the emptiness well).

We have a patio of sorts, but has so much junk dotted around it's unusable.

We have a rockery area that has been in the making for 2 years, but not quite made it yet.

We have a shed, with a mini-tip in front of it. It might even be a second patio one day, when it grows up.

Behind the shed was a lovely paved area that has sprouted more junk, mostly wood. and beyond that we have a mini woodland. The birds love this area which is just as well because we can't use it (too over grown).

Why so much space yet so little you might ask? Husband. He's the answer.
I used to be the gardener until I damaged my neck a few years back, now I have to rely on DH. But DH has other ideas. So if anyone has any (clean) suggestions as how I can get my garden back please let me know. Thank you.

On a lighter note, here is my bargains from last week.



DH actually pointed out this lovely tea set in the Heart Foundation, and I was pleasantly surprised at the price. There are 4 cups and saucers and a little sugar bowl, but sadly no milk jug or teapot.



and these lovely glass candlesticks came from the local hospice shop.

I did get a few more goodies too, but I'm saving those for another rainy day!

Love and blessings in Christ,

Elaine
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Long summer days...........................

Where are they? It's almost midsummer's day, the longest day of the year. Where?

So far I haven't really even noticed the lighter nights. And, so far, I can almost count the t-shirt days on the fingers of 2 hands. I suppose once July and August get here the weather may pick up.

I don't like very hot weather, I'm just not built for it, but I do love the smell of washing fresh from the line. Yesterday was a good drying day, quite warm and windy, but today is miserable, and according to the weather reports things are not looking good for the weekend.

Unless I'm on a beach, splashing around, the best thing about fine weather is hanging out the washing and being able to walk places without getting wet. I'm not a sun-seeker, hate wearing dark glasses, but I do like a straw hat. I get some funny looks when I wear my straw hat, but I like it.
It has seen better days mind, it's looking a bit tatty, but I love it.

We aren't having a holiday this year, but our plan is to strip the living/dining room of the yukky paper that's been on for years, then re-line and paint the walls. It won't be easy but it has to be done. I'm hoping to persuade my other half to refresh the kitchen and bathroom too, but shhh it's a secret. I've sort of approached the subject of the kitchen, but I haven't mentioned the bathroom at all yet. I thought I'd surprise him LOL.

I made some more Smelly Cats last week but only just got around to taking photos of them.




I love the beige one with the blue trims. The colours go much better than I thought they would. Now I have to crack on with more, and bunnies too, thanks to my lovely, dear friend Angel.

So, for now, I bid you all a fond farewell, while I go off a-sewing.

Love and blessings in Christ

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How long !!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a quick reminder........................ It's now less than 6 months until I put my Christmas decs up!

Hope that's cheered everyone up!

Love and Blessings in Christ
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Say "Cheese"

Hope you like the new family photo. Everyone has gathered for baby Moll's Christening, even the family's dog are included!



Love and Blessings
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Me !!!!!!!!! Tagged ????????

I've just been told by my lovely friend Raspberry Grace that I've been tagged!
I can't see any tags........................ oh Bloggie-type Tag (doh!)

Ooo dear, now lots of questions, I'm no good at questions, can I have multiple choice? no? oh well here goes.

I have to answer 6 questions about myself, then tag 6 more people, right?

Question 1; What was I doing 10 years ago?

Ooo, eerrrmmmm, I'm not sure. I no I certainly wasn't on the internet, no blogs back then.
I lived in the same house with the same people (scratches head trying to come up with something) I suppose, in my personal life a few things have changed. Back then I was deeply involved in my local church. I sang with the music group, worked with the children on Sundays and in the week, cleaned the church hall, was involved with the PCC (elected governing body).
I don't do any of those things now, but I am involved in other things.

Question 2; 5 things on my "to do" list for today.

Well that has changed several times today already. I was going to go shopping, but decided to wait until my other half came home from work.

I decided to wash my hair, but that went out the window as the tester-blokes came to check the gas fires.

I decided to do a bit of sewing, but haven't yet because the tester-blokes were here so long.

I decided to look through my stash (that's still waiting to be re-housed in the cubbyhole) for fabric for my rabbits (you'll know what I'm talking about in a few days) but haven't yet because I had to move stuff for the testers-blokes.

I decided to do the washing up, and I have.............well almost.

I decided that making "to do" lists are just a waste of time in this house LOL

Question 3; What snacks do I enjoy?

That's easy. FOOD hehehe

Question 4; What would I do if I were a millionaire?

First, I would have a house where I could have a spare bedroom, and a craft room.

Next, I would open a real Mustard Seed Gift Shop (but actually pay someone to run it while I made things)

Then, of course give some money to my favourite charities and ministries.

Of course, while I was so busy doing all this my fabric stash would have run so low I would have to buy lots more lovely fabric !

Question 5; Places I have lived?

That's easy too. I'm a local girl and have never moved around much. I have only ever lived in 5 different houses, all within a 10 miles radius, so basically boring but I like it and have never been bothered by it.

Question 6; Ermmmmmmmmm Is there a question 6?

Tag 6 other people? That's probably the hardest of all

Shabby Angel?, no she's been done.

Lace threads?, no she's been done too.

Raspberry Grace? no, she tagged me!

Now this is one I am going to give some thought to....................hey I have a new "to do" for my list LOL

Love and Blessings
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It's finished !

After almost 20 years (at a rough guess) I have finished my blanket!

Well, I say mine but originally it was supposed to be bedspread size for my daughters bed, and she is 23 soon (I know, I know, you're all wondering how I managed to do it so quickly LOL)

It was started as a way of using up even the smallest bits of yarn, I sort of made it up as I went along but basically settled for a square (ish) middle, then 7 rows on each side, so each time I completed a side it grew quite quickly.



That was the theory. It grew quickly for a few months, then less quickly for a couple of years, then hardly at all for at least 10 years, but I have been having a major sort out last weekend (still doing it too) (why does sorting out make so much mess ???), anyway I found it in the cubbyhole, decided to complete the side in progress and wash it. And here it is;



I was a bit worried that after so long it might have dropped into holes (yes I know crochet has holes anyway but I mean bigger ones (slaps forehead)) But it washed fine, and I'm quite pleased with it. I think it will live over the back of the sofa now, but be used wherever it is needed, especially useful for those little afternoon snoozes.

With love and Blessings in Christ

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