Thursday 31 December 2009

Happy New Year...

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year...

Hope 2010 brings you all what you want it to...

Wednesday 30 December 2009

Refection on 2009

On a down note, as you all know I lost my dad after a short illness at the age of 68, four of Stevens friends aged between 15 and 21... and a few other friends or friends of friends, in all not a very good year for loosing loves ones and friends. So what I would say to you all, is appreciate life and make the most of having your friends, family and love ones around you, as you never know what is waiting round the corner...

On a 'UP' note, my daughter got engaged to Matt, Steven turned 18 and had a lovely party with family, friends and even he's school teachers and assistants came along... and he went on a couple of holidays with he's school friends over the Island of Wight and Butlins in Bognor Regis... we did a couple of short breaks away to Wales and Dublin.... and of course Sam and Matt sneaked getting their house in, just before the end of the year...

Now what were my aims for 2009 that I set in January? well I think one was to (try) find time for a relaxing bath at least once a month, well I only got to about March with that one, BUT things have looked up the last few months as hubby has been working local, so have managed, drum roll please..... 4 baths in the last 2 months, da dah...

and as for the 52 Q&A, well, did cut a load of tags out, but got to be honest and only got to week 8...

As for Gina's Christmas challenge, that one started OK and which also got to March, so got 3 gifts made, but again other things took priority, like my family...

...but when I actually did some crafting I did use up some old stash like CC blog challenge.... OK OK and I have bought new stash to replace it...

So what are my aims for 2010? well you're just have to watch this space........

Tuesday 29 December 2009

What have I been working on....

and it's not crafting...






Well it's all done and dusted, my daughter and fiance have

a house....


We all viewed it on Friday 20th November...

then while Clive was away in Birmingham at a train exhibit on Saturday 21st, I made an offer for the house, and after a little bit of haggling they accepted... (well that will teach Clive to leave me alone for the day, lol)...

But of course Clive, Sam and Matt have been working, so who's been left sorting out the solicitor's, estate agents, financial adviser, getting a survey, people in to check things out but on the 22nd December, it was all worth it, as Steven and I collected the keys, yes while the other were working...

To say I was in state of shock was an understatement, as I had hoped to push it through quickly as wanted to save on stamp duty that is due to go up on the 1st January 2010, but was also frightened they would back out the sale, as already lost 2 in the last 12 months.... but to do it all in 32 days, WOW no wonder I had a sore throat with all the phone calls...

It needs a bit of work on it, like replacing the NAVY bathroom suite and tiles, and the kitchen are the original cupboards.... the decor is not too bad, but Sam and Matt can sort that out, it will take time, (and money) but will make them appreciate things and make it their home, rather than just a house...

The kids didn't know I had picked the keys up, in fact they didn't even know we had exchanged let alone completed. (one advantage of Steven not being able to talk and spill the beans)...Clive and I decided, we would tell them when we were all together, and the earliest that would be would be Christmas Day in the afternoon, so that what we did. We put the keys in a cracker (it was just making sure they had the right cracker) and watched their faces when they pulled the cracker for the keys to fall out, they were speechless, lol...



Matt was in shock and Sam just said 'does that mean we've actually got it, it's really ours?'......



and yes it is....

Saturday 26 December 2009

from my daughter....

she knows me so well, lol.....

but I soon let her off, as she had arranged with my auntie who had been visiting her son in Americas to buy me some stash, (and as you all know I'm in need of more, lol)...



I had some lovely presents, rose wine, (oh dear cannot use rose for cooking, oh well will have to drink it), bubble bath, body lotions, lots of sweets and chocolates, a family photo shoot, money, new jarmys saying 'grumpy but gorgeous' (another from my darling daughter!) DVD's and CD's to name a few, so had a fab but busy time...

It did feel funny sitting down to Christmas lunch without dad, and making and writing a Christmas card to just my mum. She wasn't too bad, had her moments which was understandable, but we would remember the good times of Christmas's pass, of when dad climbed in the box of steven's see saw one year, and it collapsed with him ended up lying in fits of laughter on the floor, yes it's good to remember the happy times...

I hope you all had a good Christmas and those without their love ones, can remember the good times of when they were around..

Friday 25 December 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS

sorry if I've not round to saying it to everyone,

MERRY CHRISTMAS

hope you all have a fab day and Christmas...

sparkles and hugs to all....

Thursday 24 December 2009

Saturday 19 December 2009

OH MY GOODNESS....

I've got a FAT book, on my goodness, what a shock, I don't know what to say, for once I'm speechless... I don't feel I deserve one of these..

For those that don't know what a FAT book is, it's made up of pages from lots of different people and bound together into a book, I cannot believe it, I've even got a page from Sophie, Alyson's lovely daughter...

I will do a slide show of it, but still cannot believe it, I want to say a BIG FAT THANK YOU Alma, Alyson, Ann, Carole, Donna, Gill, Jackie, Jan, Jenni, Margaret, Sall, Sue, Susiej, Suzie, Valeria and a extra special thank you to Sophie, Alyson's daughter, and of course Gina, who I guess organized it (seeing it was her that posted it to me, lol)...

Thank you so much ladies, I still cannot believe it, hopefully I've thanked you all personally through emails and PM via do-crafts, as I wanted to know how shocked and pleased I am, thank you all so much, I will treasure it, thank you...

Thursday 17 December 2009

hooray....

As I've not only made, but wrote and posted my Christmas cards...

Well the ones that had to be posted, OK expect one, sorry Susan and Graham, but look on the bright side at least I realized I had forgot to put a stamp on it before Steven put it in the box, otherwise you would have had to fork out to get to see it, saying that it would be worth it, lol...

But don't panic it will be posted tomorrow, as came home and put a stamp on it ready (sorry)....

The house is all clean and tidy, so maybe think about the decorations over the weekend, but need help to get them out the eaves of our attic, as the little door is at the top of Sam's attic stairs. So will need someone to pass the boxes too, and as the eaves are not that wide, need to slide in and pull the boxes towards me and pass them out to someone, lol... now you know why I have not rushed to do them, lol...

I've still got close family cards to make, but am hoping to do them over the next few evening, saying that, not tomorrow as out with the girls, 4 of 'us' mums go out for a Christmas meal, (it's normally 6 of us, but the others are unable to make it), and to be honest am looking forward to it, as could do with some eating, chatting and the odd glass or two of wine....

Sue, hope you get your decorations sorted this weekend too, maybe get your son to get them down from the loft, and sack your hubby, lol...

Can I slip in a little moan, why is when you've been in all day sorting out the housework and seeing a plumber about the shower in the wet room, (it stopped working earlier in the week), I pop out for half an hour to collect Steven off the school bus, to have a couple of parcels delivered or should I say not delivered as I was not here, so now have to go and collect them tomorrow, arhhhh for having to venture into town... OK, sorry moan over.....

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Only 9 days....

arhh I'm sure my blog Christmas tree is counting down in double quick time, is anyone else finding this?

I've still got cards to make, write and post, presents are all bought, but not wrapped or delivered to people, no decorations are up and as my blog tree tells me it's only 9 days to go...

It's been busy here with one thing and another, had Steven's Christmas show today, which was lovely, tomorrow he has he's Christmas dinner, pantomime and on Friday the Christmas party and finishes at 1pm, trouble is he came home sneezing and with a runny nose today, so not sure if he will even be going to school tomorrow... I've dosed him up with calpol and am keeping my finger crossed for him, as it will be a shame for him to miss out on all the fun...

Yesterday was another sad day, as I was at yet another funeral of one of Stevens friends, she was only 15, that is 4 friends we've lost this year, it seems so wrong, that I'm worried about making and writing Christmas cards, yet these young people will not be here to celebrate it, why is life so cruel...

On a happier note, I hope everyone are keeping well, and are all up on all the preparations of this festive time, (wish I was, lol)...

Sunday 13 December 2009

Motorbike Action Group...

Well it was that time of year again yesterday, when the bikers come together and have a big ride along Portsdown Hill and down the Eastern Road to the Mary Rose school, bringing money and presents for the children of our school...

We had a total of 141 bikes turn up and I lost count of all the Santa's and reindeer's, it was a sight to be be seen, all those gleaming noisy bikes and my poor fingers, Steven would not let go of me. I had to prise us apart so I could take a few photos, trying to explain I cannot take he's photo while I'm standing next to him holding he's hand, lol...

Here are the pictures I managed to take...






and as you can see, he managed to grab hold of a few friends hands for security, including a man in red, (think he was hoping he was going to be given the present Santa was holding), lol...

A BIG THANK TO ALL INVOLVED, as it was little emotional yesterday, as it was Steven last official MAGS Christmas visit, we will be most welcome next year, as guests, because of course Steven would have left the Mary Rose school and he'll be doing something completely different (of which I'm still working on)...

but on the brighter side, we hopefully have their Easter run to look forward too, if they are kind enough to carry on....

Sunday 6 December 2009

Pinched from....

susiej...

sorry hope you don't mind Sue, I loved your 'count down to Christmas' tree so much that...

I pinched the idea...... from Sue's blog here

hope you don't mind, lol...

Saturday 5 December 2009

Cannot believe

how fast this year is going...

Right update on my Christmas preparations...well I (thought) I had coloured all my stamped Christmas images, but I was wrong, as when I was trying to finish the matting and layering of them onto mirror card, came across some that I had forgotten to colour, lol but I looked on the bright side, and I now have some stamped images ready for next Christmas, hahaha

But the ones that were coloured are all matted and layered now and have chosen some card blanks (yikes didn't realized just how many I had, 2 draws full) some of the colours are not Christmas colour, but will aim to use them up next year, as hope you make a box of general cards, so have some spares all the time...

Tonight am hoping to finish some of Christmas cards, as really must think about the ones that have to be posted, and of course as tomorrow is Sunday, and as you know I usually spend that evening doing the weekly ironing, menus and shopping list for Mondays trip to Asda...

Christmas presents, well have started them, last Tuesday went shopping with my daughter to Southampton, (also took my mum and auntie along for the ride), we did pretty well, splitting up, then meeting up for lunch, then splitting up again. I managed to get all that was on the list for there.
Then Wednesday took an hour off doing the business bookwork, and popped to Makro's and Salisbury's... then on Thursday, met up with my daughter in North End in her extended lunch break, (as they owned her an hour) and we did a little more shopping then...
Yesterday Steven had an inset day off school, so took him out to buy Sam's, Matts and he's nana's Christmas presents, and of course, stopping off at a Swiss Pattisserie for a well deserved cake and coffee...

I think a quick trip to Chichester next week, (lakelands) should mean all the present are sorted... I still need to get in the loft well the 'eves' as have had an attic conversion, so we have no loft storage space left, only some in the eves, and see what wrapping paper I have left from last year, and if I need to makes some tags...

Yearly Newsletter, well did write a few notes down for Clive to start to make into a Newsletter, (he's one and only job for Christmas, lol) as some of them will need to go with the cards that I plan to post next week, (IF finished, lol)...

Food Shopping, not even thought about yet, let alone started...

So in all, I feel as if I've actually done quite well seeing this time last week, had not even finished colouring the stamped images (OK not counting the ones for next year, lol), and had not even thought about what presents I needed to buy, let alone buying them...

Tuesday 1 December 2009

Blog award....



I am lucky enough to get this lovely blog award from sue bubbles who was pass it by Donna...

This is what she said about me, lol... Not forgetting the lovely Maria (who taught me how to do these natty hyperlinks!), a good friend and a great mother, and above all......a BRILLIANT stash shopper... ha ha ha!
thank you Sue, it's a privileged to except it...

All you have to do to accept the award is to copy and paste it onto your blog and pass it on to 5 bloggers who make you smile :)"

So here is my list in alphabetical order...

Alyson as I just love looking at her lovely mini books and challenges, she's an inspiration to me, also the work of her daughter...

Diane who's layouts are fab, also did you see her stall she did for Hearing Dogs for deaf people, it was out of this world...

Donna who for a New Years Resolution is going to be a better blogger, not that she know that yet, lol...

Gill another cuttlebug owner, I love looking at her work and reading about her family and that special boy of hers...

Sue C I love seeing and reading about the antics of her scrapbook club Scrappkatz

Sunday 29 November 2009

Bad blogger....

Sorry been awol again, had loads on for Steven and he's transition again, and something else which I think is classed as one of the most stressful things in life, but I cannot any anything about it just yet, as don't want to tempt fate, but hopefully can tell you all about it very soon...

We had a phone call from our Doctor the other evening, that was a bit of a surprise at him phoning us and didn't know why, but to cut a long story short he wanted Steven to have the swine flu jab, which was then booked in for yesterday...

and yes he had it and the regular flu jab to, one in each arm, poor love, then the Doctor said as I was Stevens carer I should have it too as wouldn't be any help to Steven or the rest of the family if I went down bad... so had a jab in each arm too, on the plus side I had given Steven some calpol before we left home but on the down side I had not taken anything, but to be honest it didn't hurt, I think when I donate blood every few months is more of a discomfort that the jabs,..



Oh what is wrong with our weather, we have the sun shinning one minute, yet the next it's pouring down with rain, you just don't know if you're coming or going with this weather... and never know when it's safe to put the washing out on the line, so end up hanging it all round the house to dry...but saying that I should be greatful I've got a house to dry things in, not like the poor people up in Cumbria, who have been effected by the recent floods... It does make you appreciate what you have...

As for crafting, I am still colouring in the Christmas stamped images I stamped months ago... had hoped to start making them into cards by now, but no, lol...
they're is still hope, that they will be made into Christmas cards for this year, lol...

Sunday 15 November 2009

Well, what a busy few days....

On the plus side, all the meetings and appointments have paid off... as we've got the hours we wanted for Steven for when he leaves school next July, we have the funding for him to have a 1 to 1, five days a week, and some extra hours of a 1 to 1 for the evenings and weekends, so he can also have a social life too...

All we need to do now is to decide what we want him to do, might tap into the odd hour or two at college (was told they would not except him on their courses though, as it seems Stevens ability is too low for them, even though he goes there one day a week with school and has been for the past year)... not sure, will start looking more into that next week, have loads of paperwork to read up on and will make appointments with some private day care centres to have a look round...

On Saturday, hubby, daughter and I went to the NEC in Birmingham to a dental showcase, as our daughter has to attend certain things to get her CPD quotation, as we thought it would be unfair on Steven, we booked him into Russets (adult respite), in which he made Christmas decorations (as the weather was too bad to go out)...

Well what a day that was, not only the weather was horrid, fallen trees and branches everywhere, and the rain was so fierce, we had trouble seeing out through the window screen.... but to me the showcase was like a torture chamber...

It was full of stands with drills, knives, scrapers etc. there were demos of rotten teeth, I even found one woman trying to tell me about implants and if you've not got enough bone in your jaw you can have it taken off your hip, oh my god, hubby could see I was trying to get away, so he said, that's really interesting, so she then went on to show us the screws they use, the different lengths......... arhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm sure it was human torture..... they're were lucky they didn't give me nightmares....

Oh the up side, today I actually did some crafting, yes and in daylight too, cannot remember the last time I did that, lol... Steven went out with he's sessional worker for lunch, so in between sorting and doing a few loads of washing...I did a couple of secret projects and started a few maze books, it was a fab feeling....

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Wonderer returned....

Well Steven came home just after 8 yesterday, in good form, by all accounts he was loud to start off with, especially when he saw the friend that has since left school... They made it to the gym, in which I was told Steven was not to keen on the bike, but did do 5 minutes on the tread mill and kept going back to the punch bag, lol... they then went onto pizza hut and had tea....
I had a word with school today and they are going to get a programme sorted between them and the OT, so will be interesting what they recommend for him...

When Sam got in from work yesterday, I had to laugh as she ask where Steven was, so I explained he had gone out with he's friends, anyway within an hour, she was pacing around staying, now what time does he call this, it's a school night, he should be at home by now...

something we never thought we would be thinking let alone saying, lol....

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Things are looking up....

As some of you may know, I have been busy with meetings over last few months for Steven with he's transition in mind, (D-Day for that is tomorrow)....

But some of the meetings have already paid off, as tonight Steven has gone out with he's new sessional worker Charlotte, they are off to meet up with 2 of Steven's friends (one who has already left school) and their sessional workers... They are going to the gym for a bit (not sure how Seven will take to that, lol, that reminds me, must phone the OT for a programme as Steven has low muscle tone)... then afterwards they are going out for tea, not sure where, I know one of the mums has a voucher for pizza hut, so maybe they're end up there...

Steven was a bit confused with Charlotte coming this evening, as all new to him, I did ask him if he wanted to go out with her and meeting up with he's friends and have dinner with them, he then got quite excited, think it was the thought of food, lol... (notice I never mentioned the gym, Steven wouldn't know what one was anyway)...

So I have hubby make us a lovely hot chilli for tea, why I'm chilling out writing this lol... haven't really got time to do any crafting as Steven will only be gone a couple of hours, but today I was naughty as when I was tidying the house (and it needed it, as have had Steven home sick from school 2 days last week, hubby poorly on Sunday and yes then daughter went down bad Sunday, so had her home sick from work yesterday), anyway I dug out some double sided card, it's very rare I even think about crafting through the day, as just haven't got the time, so this was so unusual for me, and guess what, 'I don't even feel guilty', lol...

Well the reason I wanted the card, was because I want to have a go at a maze book like the one gina made me and I saw in Val's gallery on do-crafts yesterday, as it's my friends 50th next month and thought I might have a go at making her one...

so watch this space, I might actually do some crafting one evening this week, lol....

(forgot to say, Steven knew Charlotte from the summer play scheme, as people that know me, won't let my boy just go out with anyone, lol)....

Friday 30 October 2009

Dublin part two...


As I said in part one, we had decided we wanted walk round to the lighthouse, but by the time we got round there the wind had picked up a bit more, but it was lovely seeing all the sea spray, hitting the walls, we got some fab photos just waiting to be scrapped...

It hit the outer walls...

then if the waves were strong enough, would cascaded over onto the inner wall...

But we decided to still go for it, as not dangerous, more trying not to get wet from the spray, as we walked down on the lower wall, (not next to the sea) which was fine, but of course you couldn't see the spray coming...
It was fun though, trying to work out when was the best time to make a run for it, would we get caught by the spray and how wet would we get... but we made it, AND without getting caught out once, and was so please we did, it was a lovely little light house...

On the way back we were watching to see if there was a pattern with the waves, but typical with nature, there was not...

this bit was not so exciting, as I knew there was no other way back, lol, we just had to go for it... and we did....

I wasn't quite quick enough at one point, but with a bit of quick thinking, pulled myself up onto the railings and swung there till the water had subsided (well didn't want my boots get wet, did I?), but on the downside, hubby had the camera, but notice how far away he is taking the photo, yes such a gentleman, didn't wait for me, lol.......


It was fun though, to be honest, I really enjoyed it, as it was something we would not have normally been able to do if we had had Steven with us, so while Steven was enjoying he's time at Butlins with he's friends, (and he did as we was getting emails and photos everyday from them), we done something that we enjoyed...

Was a shame about the weather, as would have loved to have done a trip into the mountains, but that's the trouble, that's one thing you cannot book, 'the weather'... and it was over all to quick and we had to come home, as hubby was off to Bracknell on the Friday working...

...while I went to pick Steven up from school after he's week away, but he had such a fab time, that he didn't want to come home, when asked if he wanted to, he just gave me a kiss on the cheek and walked off with he's friends while waving goodbye to me, lol...

kids, don't you just love them, lol...

Thursday 29 October 2009

Dublin Part one...

Last week hubby and I popped over to Dublin for a few days, as Steven was away for the week with school to Butlins...

It rained nearly the whole time we were there, but it was still a nice break, not exactly relaxing, more fun... We stayed in a place called Rathmines, which was north of the River Liffy, I just love the locks, it reminded me of a holiday we did years ago on the Norfolk boards in a narrow boat,....


We did a tour round Dublin and visited the Guinness Storehouse, which we found very interesting, especially the pint of Guinness you get given at the end of the tour...


trouble is after a pint, it goes to my head...


We visited Howth by train, where we had a portion of chips (and a hot cup of coffee, lol) while walking round the sea wall, it was wet and windy, but lovely seeing all the fishing boats... also hubby nearly stood in the footprints of King George IV who was there in 12th August 1821...


oh and we liked the look of the lighthouse so much that we decided to walk round to it...


but the wind started picking up by then so.....

part two to follow....

Thursday 22 October 2009

I can tell the world now...

that my daughter is in engaged....

I got a couple of texts from her while she was away on her cruise with her boyfriend, saying they were fine and having a lovely time (the weather was lush and they had been swimming and were having cocktails by the pool, nothing like rubbing it in, with our weather, lol) but last week hubby and I got a phone call, as she wanted us to be the first to know, she was engaged, lol...

I'm not really surprised, as a mum you know these things (in fact Gina and I were only discussing before they went, would they come home engaged, lol)...

It's been hard not telling people, but she wanted to do that when she got back, OK she did say I could tell my crafty friends, but thinking about it, I couldn't put it on my blog or on do-crafts, as I'm not sure who knows who, and it might have got back to my mum or Matt's family before they got home, and I felt it was for Sam and Matt to make the big announcement...

Hence the rush in getting a card done, as I wanted her to have it upon they're return, but of course we would be away in Dublin then, (we put up a few balloons, banners and left a bottle of bubbly for them before we left)...

Just a shame the house fell through before they went on holiday...
oh well...we'll have to start looking again, I've all the time in the world, what with planning a wedding, house hunting and of course Stevens transition year, lol... (at least it will keep me out of trouble, lol)


The card is Linen card, used the Divine swirl cuttlebug embossing folder, sizzix double heart and think the purl slider was from lakelands and the ribbon and mirror card form my stash... (would have like some crystals or stones in some of the swirls, but would you believe it, I have every colour except clear, lol... looks like I'm going to have to go shopping)...

Well we got back from out little break in Ireland a few hours ago, we're shattered, done lots of walking and come home for a rest and hopefully some dry weather, as it rained the whole time we were there, lol...

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Spinner album...



I first saw and heard about this on do-crafts, Jackie had got her hubby to help her make one, and Sue b had made one out of toilet rolls, so with the help of Jackie with the dimensions, I thought I'd have a go...

I cheated as I bought a wooden kitchen roll holder (from Asda for £2.50), well I let hubby off as he's busy painting my chicken shed and bits in the evening, lol...


Then set about cutting loads of card, chipboard and papers (using the K&Co pad I got off QVC)...


I covered the card and chipboard with the paper I cut, they're were either 4" square, or the ones with tabs on, were 4"x4.5".. I also inked the edges with my cats eyes chalk inks....


I cut holes with my BIA, using the spacer bar, so I could put the holes nearer the edge... and joined together using a 1 1/4" wire...


but when putting it together, felt I could put more pages in by not using the chipboard and tab chipboard pages, the card I had used and covered were strong enough, (oh well, you learn by your mistakes)...

I then place the whole book over the kitchen holder to see where I had to cut it down (OK hubby cut it down for me, as me and saws don't go together that well)....


A wooden knob was screwed on top, (bought from Homebase for £2.59 for a pack of 2)...


and there you have it, one spinner album with 70 pages in it, so 140 sides to decorate... think it will take me a time to fill, but plan on using old and up to date photos in it...

Friday 16 October 2009

What a nice way to end the week...

This morning we had Harvest festival at Steven's school... I had a few phone calls and bills to pay first before picking mum up (which was nice as it was the first time she came to anything at school since dad died)...

Well they were doing a raffle, thinking about it, I never asked what the prize is, but how much they are, so I can see how many I can afford, lol...

The service was lovely, they had 4 really pretty flower arrangements in autumn colours, and some of the donations already on display, we sang/signed songs and pupils from each class took some of their harvest goodies up to add to the display...They did a slide show of where the donations were going to, which were for the local homeless and a special school in Ghana...

The head then announced the prize winners of the 4 flower displays and I was one of the lucky people, lol...so here are my lovely flowers that now look fab on my fire grate



Did offer them to my mum, but she declined as she still has some carnations I bought her last week... also she was catching a bus to see my sister, (I couldn't give her a lift as I had yet another meeting at the school after the harvest festival), but guess what I've got 2 weeks free of appointments, hooray, next week because Steven is off to Butlins at Bognor Regis with the school and the following week is half term...

So bliss..... till he goes back on the 2nd November when they all start again, starting with 3 college visits in that first week with the connexions officer...

Thursday 15 October 2009

My wheelbarrow....

Here's one of the kits I bought when we went to Welshpool, hubby's been working on it for me, I'm not one of those people that everything has to be kept looking new (stop laughing Gina, I will use all my craft kits up, it's just getting the time, honest), lol..

well here it is made up...



and painted...



and finally looking nice and weathered, in fact like the one my dad lent me years ago, lol... (we bought some real rust when we were at the show in Welshpool to make it look that way)...





the chicken shed is coming along slowly, but I'm fighting for hubby's time at the moment, as he's also working on a policeman and horse figure for someone else...I know, I know, he should get he's priorities right... 'ME'

OK maybe I should mention, he's getting paid to do the other figure (we don't actually get the money, the person donates money to our son school fund raising group, which they've done with all the figures my hubby makes for other people, he have raised £148 so far and some of the figures are living in as far away as France)...

Not got my little shed yet, so will adding that to my list tomorrow, a phone call to find out where it is...

Saturday 26 September 2009

yee-hah...

At school yesterday, they did a sponsored walk in aid of their sensory garden, and the 6th form theme was The Wild Wild West.

So nipped out and bought a hat, sheriffs badge and bandanna from a fancy dress shop, and some material to knocked up a waistcoat, my mum gave me one of my dads shirts and hey presto one cowboy outfit.

Throw in a pair of jeans, a handsome young man and you've got a cowboy who wins first prize (again) for he's fancy dress...



Here's Steven with a one of he's friends doing a lap round the school, Steven managed 7 laps in total, I joined him for 3 of those, but left him to have fun with he's friends, as what 18 year old wants their mum hanging around all the time, lol (and I had shopping to do)...



and for those that don't remember what he won first prize wearing last year, click here, lol...

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Been awol....

Sorry not been around, been a little busy with it being school holidays, and last week we decided to go away for a few days, just hubby, Steven and me... We went up to Lacock to visit my SIL as we've not visited her there since she moved there last year.. (where Harry Potter was filmed in Lacock Abby and the Christmas special of Cranford in the village, my SIL was pointing out how they changed the red pillar box into a petrol pump and where the jail was placed)...

We then stayed in a hotel at Tenbury Wells and then the next day onto Weshpool for the Weshpool & Llanfair light Railway ...

We had a fab day on the steam trains (photos to follow), and stayed a couple of nights in a Premier Inn in Oswestry, then the next day back to Llanfair for a model railway exhibit, by the way did I tell you that hubby and Steven like trains, lol...

Me, well I'll enjoy them to a certain extent, but think they beat me to loving them...

...my love is for looking and stroking paper, lol...

I didn't look for any craft shops, as not really the time, but did buy at the model railway exhibit, bought a chicken shed and some chickens, as I managed to persuade hubby that one of the train stations tenants looked after chickens for fresh eggs...



Oh and grow he's own veg, so needed a wheelbarrow, roller, trug with tools, flower pots, watering can, garden fork and spade and some rabbits...hehehe



Sorry not brilliant photos, as didn't want to take them out the bags for fear of losing the little pieces, will show you them again when hubby has made then up and painted them for me, lol... well got to keep him out of trouble in the winter evenings...


On Monday of this week, my baby started back at school, trouble is he's in he's final year, cannot believe where the time had gone, when he started school at the age of 4 and half, the thought of him being there till he was 19 seem so far away, but it's nearly here as Steven will be 19 next March, so making this he's last educational year....

He was a little agitated getting on the bus as the council have changed the transport firms, so not only a different colour bus, but different driver, escort and children on the bus, but he seems to get through he's first day OK, but time will tell, with Steven it's probably 'the calm before the storm' lol...

Well, have caught up with the holiday washing as lovely weather for drying, and the housework been done... so am taking tomorrow off, going to nip to the gym first thing, (as not been for a few weeks as Steven around), then going to pick my mum up, probably do some shopping and then we're hoping to meet my daughter for lunch and have a BBQ in the evening, courtesy of hubby, lol...

...and celebrate my daughter getting a permanent contract in her new job, (her 3 months trial was up last week, and her appraisal went well, resulting in a permanent contract)....
also her boyfriend has got another full time job, after being laid off last month, he starts work tomorrow...

So celebrations all round I think...

OH yes and I've ordered a little shed for the station tenant's garden...

Monday 31 August 2009

Another week bites the dust..

Well another week of the school holidays gone...

We went bowling, swimming, hospital appointment, picnic, drives in the car, out for pub lunches, to a small music festival and on a long bus ride to Chichester (took my mum on that one)... and to top it all, it was a 'double decker' bus, the first ever that Steven had been on, so we just HAD to go upstairs and sit in the front... (as usually the local buses are just single decker)....

Sitting at the front and being so high was novelty to Steven (and me), as Steven loved looking down on people but and for me it was the not driving, and having time looking at all the lovely houses and gardens and chat to my mum on the way.
It was a number 700 that goes from Portsmouth to Brighton, along the scenic route, (where I usually drive on the main roads for quickness) but we stopped at Chichester, as felt a an hour and half ride each way was enough, lol....

and guess who forgot not only her camera, but her mobile as well, doh....

On the way back we stuck to the downstairs, as not sure Steven would have made it back up the stairs as we had pottered around Chichester just stopping for a jacket potato for lunch, so he was rather tired...

On another day we went for a drive to Southampton as last time I was there I saw a craft shop, so wanted to take my auntie and mum to have a nose... we also popped into Ikea as I wanted to have a look at the 'expedit' units in real life, as thought about getting some for Stevens room when we re-do it...

I was good and didn't buy too much stash, lol...


and we had a picnic in the park....


We had fun at the music festival, but it bought the worse out in hubby... LOL


and they did a quiz, in which we won first prise, it was a team effort, hubby knew the answers, daughter wrote them down and and I collected the prize...
but hubby soon pinched it off me. when he realised what the prize was, lol...


So it all, another busy week, and cannot yet again believe how quickly these summer school holidays are going, BUT as usual, am finding them very tiring, and am looking forward to getting back in a routine though and some energy back too...

Oh yes and we had football yesterday afternoon and came a close 2nd again..... enough said about that, lol....

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Pinched from Donna, lol...

Highlight the ones you've done


Thought I'd have a go at doing this!

1. Started your own blog


2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Been lost for words when answering a child's question

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a soppy girly film and cried all the way through

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Made snow angels

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelos David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favourite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviare

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Been on the television

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

Sunday 23 August 2009

The Lady Maria

Not sure if you remember a few post back we had to name 10 facts that others didn't know about you, well one of the things I said, was I had a steam train named after me, by my hubby...

Well thought as I've not done any crafting since the cards, that I would show share a couple of pictures of The Lady Maria...



It's in the fab colour of 'Pompey' blue of course, and was named on my 43rd Birthday.... hence the number on the name plate too.....



Also not sure if I said, it was in 'G' scale and proudly rides round our garden....

Friday 21 August 2009

World's apart....

While others we're wondering how they're son and daughters did in their A levels and if they got into uni that they wanted... I was worried about my son, who was going under a general anaesthetic to have a couple of teeth removed..

It seems this time of the year, wherever you look, you read or hear news saying about what people are hoping for so they can get into uni.... and it goes on for days.... but sometimes it's like a knife going through me, as it reminds me, that I have a child with Severe Learning Difficulties, that has never called me 'mum' let alone be able to read or write...

Don't get me wrong, I wish everyone luck and hope they get the results they need, so they can go on, to do what they want, and I know some have had to struggle harder than others, also I remember how I felt waiting for our daughters results a few years back, to see if she could do what she wanted...

but some days when you feel down, it hurts, but I try and look on the bright side of life and remember how lucky I am to have him, and think of all the things my son has achieved in he's 18 years... which I know is world's apart from them attending college and uni... and I know he always will be, but that is what makes him extra special, lol... and I know there are lots of other mum's who have extra special children out there too, that also know how I am feeling....


Oh yes Steven was fine with having he's teeth out, I was very proud of him as he wasn't as distressed as I thought he would be when they put the mask over he's mouth... the next few days will be fun and games making sure he doesn't put thing in he's mouth, which I know he will do even the more once he knows I don't want him doing it, lol...
Thanks to all the emails, text's and sparkles we received, I think they helped me a lot, thanks...

I hope all those waiting for results, have got what they wanted and wish them luck in whatever path they have chosen...

Monday 17 August 2009

hooray some crafting at last.....

Well a couple of cards and a secret project...

The card below was for my daughters birthday last week...



I used 'diamonds in the rough' cuttlebug embossing folder twice, straight onto the card, sizzix vine die, sizzlit flower die, (the pink ones were doubled up and curled up a bit, and the middles were swapped over to add depth)...the dragonfly and butterfly's were peel off's put onto coloured paper, cut round and stuck on with DST to give it a 3d look... and lollipop upper-case alphabet...

Then the 2nd one was for my hubby for our 24th wedding Anniversary yesterday...



I used the heart cuttlebug embossing folder again straight onto the card... I put a heart peel off onto acetate and coloured in the heart using a red Galaxy Marker, then backed onto gold mirror card, cut round and used 3d foam pads to stick on the card. The wording was printed off the computer, backed onto mirror card and finished off with some red ribbon placed behind, which was stuck on with DST...

and the secret project, well you will just have to wait,..... but can show you a couple of cards Steven made for he's sister's birthday last week, the first was from a Brenda Pinnick kit and the 2nd was made while at play scheme...