Just Stop It Now!!!

Woke up to an absolutely vile morning this morning.
Thrashing it down with rain and snow at the same time and unfortunately we had got to go into town.
The road there....although very wet was fine but coming back the flood water was starting to close over the road. We managed to get through but as the rain has continued to lash down since we got in I should imagine that it's now completely flooded and will be in another couple of places too.
We were so cold when we got in that the heating went on and comfort food was needed to warm us up. Slices of sourdough bread were filled with cheese and rhubarb and ginger chutney and toasted until golden brown and oozing. Oh my word it was so good. Not something to be eaten every day but jolly good as a reward for braving that weather.
I'll be glad when it all stops and we get some decent days for a change.

Worked towards the end of my cross stitch project last night but didn't quite finish as my fingers were getting achy. Just the bottom border to finish which will get done shortly and I can then kit up for my next one.

More comfort food for tea....Hash Jacket Potatoes with pickled beetroot and then snuggling on the sofa for season two of Last Tango In Halifax......bliss.

Hope you are all safe and warm.
Sheila-x-

Men!!!

Andy has scuppered my oven cleaning today as he has had the oven on and I need it cold to be able to do the job. I am not in the least bit bothered really as I have redesignated today as a play day and have been having some fun dying cross stitch fabrics ready for some future projects...varying results but I am pretty happy with them.
My current project is very nearly finished so I will show that and my new start in another post when it's done.

The weather is fairly nice today and has inspired me to put salad on the menu for tonight. I can't wait until it it will be on the menu every night as I am heartily sick of Winter meals now....although I am rather looking forward to using the mutton I have in the freezer to make a stew next week sometime.

Ruby came for tea last night in an absolutely brilliant mood having been given an achievement award for computer studies. She hasn't much confidence in that class and often comes home upset so it has given her a real boost.

Last night we had a lazy night in front of the tv and started our new box set of Last Tango In Halifax.
Why have I never watched it before? It is absolutely brilliant and we all love it.
We won't watch the new one on catch up as it doesn't take long for the DVD to come out usually after a series has ended.

Andy has just handed me a lovely mug of coffee so I am going to drink that while I read some blogs and then I am off to stitch for a while.

Hope you are all having a good day.
Sheila-x-

Sod's Law!!!

It's a beautiful day today.....sunny with blue skies and fluffy white clouds tinged with a tiny bit of grey. The breeze is a bit spiteful but never the less it would have been a great day to get out for a bit of fresh air except Andy's car is in for it's annual service so we couldn't go anywhere.
You watch.....it will be vile again tomorrow.
Still....I have got some jobs done this morning...two loads of laundry washed and dried and the oven doors scrubbed.....the rest of the oven will get done on Thursday as I will have to start cooking shortly.
I have also sorted out all of my crafting paints and varnishes so that they are now all in one drawer ready for when I need them.
Quite a productive morning for someone who didn't get much sleep last night due to a restless DD one floor up. All the bangs and wallops woke me up at 2am and I never did get back off properly.

Two meals to cook tonight as Andy wants braised liver which DD and I will not eat. I think we'll just have good old beans on toast with a nice cup of tea but I'll wait and see if she fancies that when she gets in.....it may all change depending on her mood.

Right....I'm off to sort out that disgusting liver.

Hope you all have sunshine today.
Sheila-x-

Another Quiet Sunday!!!

Nothing much going on here yesterday so I didn't post as I didn't want to send you all to sleep....lol.
I cooked lunch, we ate lunch, I stitched, DD read and Andy watched tv through his eyelids as usual.

The rearranging of the freezer got put off until today as the wind kept banging the shed door into my legs as I was trying to sort stuff on Saturday but that job is now done and I have no need to do a freezer shop for a good while by the looks of it although everything in the two freezers is hearty Winter meal stuff. I am ready to get it all used up and refill with lighter meals for Spring.
Looking at the weather forecast for this area for the next fortnight though there are blue raindrops nearly every day so I think Spring is a little way off yet.

Another flood has appeared on the lane into town. Buses, lorries and vans seem to be coping with it but for cars it's a little too deep so we are having to get to town along the A50. I hate the A50 even though I am only ever a passenger so I am not going out much at the moment.
This is a minor inconvenience compared to what others are having to put up with but annoying none the less.

As DD was off work last week the laundry basket is quite light today for change so it should all be done and put away before tea time and I can have some stitching time.

Hope you are all having a good day today.
Sheila-x-

A Busy Few Days!!!

Sorry for the lack of blog posts for the last couple of days. It's been busy here at Tea Towel Mansion with a sleepover and the tackling of a couple of big jobs yesterday.
I finally got round to sorting out the indoor fridge/ freezer. It got emptied into the bigger freezer outside and the fridge was emptied before the whole thing got a good clean. Shelves and drawers were scrubbed to within an inch of their lives before it all got put back together.
Today I will sort out all the stuff that got moved out and make a list of things we need ready for a freezer shop next week.
DD tackled the brick shed outside where we store all the cans and jars etc. Spider were ousted along with their webs and shelves were given a good wipe down and then reorganised. I'm ashamed to say that a couple of things had to be thrown out but it wasn't too bad. I'll do a check to see if we need anything and put that on the shopping list.

This morning started off in a rather nasty fashion with black skies and torrential rain/hail so any thoughts of nipping into town were scuppered. It has brightened up a bit now but I am not in the mood for venturing out so I will get DD to nip and get some fresh veg and milk for me.
I'm going to have a coffee and read the papers before I do the freezer stuff and then I'll spend the rest of the day catching up on my stitching which has been sadly neglected for the last few days.

I hope the weather doesn't scupper your plans for the weekend and that you have a good one.
Sheila-x-

Wednesday And Cross Stitch Progress!!!

DD and I needed to get out of the house for a while yesterday so we had a trip into the big town. We didn't dare to go too far as after watching the local news there are so many roads flooded round about that we were worried about getting stuck somewhere as it was still raining when we set off. The road to town was fine and we had a nice few hours.

Today is going to be a lovely day. I wasn't expecting Ruby but she is coming later this afternoon for her tea and an added bonus of a sleepover seeing as how it's half term.
It will be a night in with pizza for tea and then snuggling up with a film and popcorn so she will be a happy little girl.

Twenty For 2020-Progress

Not as much progress as I would have liked but there is a little.
I want to try and finish this by the end of the month if I can.
I'm currently back stitching around the lettering....not called for on the chart but I do like the chunkier look of it being outlined. Just two letters to go and then I can crack on with the rest of it.

It's quite cold here this morning so the heating has gone on to warm the house up ready for Ruby. I have jobs to do upstairs but first I am going to have coffee and catch up with some blogs.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Dennis The Menace!!!

Thank you all for your comments on my last post.

Well it's been a very nasty weekend here much as it has everywhere but I have to say we are very, very lucky. No damage to property around here as far as we can see except for a couple of neighbours fence panels and some flooding on the roads into town whichever way we go.
Andy had to visit the doctors surgery this morning and came across a car abandoned in the middle of the road so the flood must have been quite bad that way.
Such horrible pictures in the papers this morning of places that have suffered so badly. How on earth do you cope when it keeps happening?

Another day at home for us although DD has braved a journey into the big town but the weather isn't too bad this morning....just a stiff breeze and no rain so far.

The bedroom wallpaper has been pasted back down where it had peeled up behind the radiator and the new pole and curtains are up so that is a couple of jobs off the list thank goodness. Many more to go as there always is but they will get done in their turn.
For today I am just doing the laundry and stitching in between loads. I had hoped to finish Peppermint Lane at the weekend but I didn't actually do any stitching at all.

Hope you keep safe and dry this week.
Sheila-x-

The Saturday Snuggle Down!!!

Thankfully the scratchy throat and gritty eyes haven't turned into anything horrible so far. my eyes are still a bit gritty feeling but nothing I can't cope with.

Top up shopping has been done early this morning. DD went and did it for me while I stayed home and put some braising steak and onions on to simmer ready for making a steak pie for lunch tomorrow. I need to get it cooked and out of the way so that I have room for the cooking of tea tonight which will be a Chinese Fakeaway.......sweet and sour chicken with stir fried veg and noodles and vegetable spring rolls.
It's so disgusting outside that nobody would want to go and fetch a takeaway. If it rains all day the road will be flooded and a homemade meal means it's much cheaper.

So.....today we are just snuggling down and enjoying a quiet day at home all doing our own thing until after tea when we will settle down and watch some more Game of Thrones which we are working our way through again as we now have season eight to add to our collection.

I hope you all stay safe and warm in this horrible weather.
Sheila-x-

Weary!!!

There are things I should be doing today but despite having had a fairly good night of sleep I feel a bit weary and achy with a scratchy throat and gritty eyes. I hope I'm not coming down with a cold or anything. 
I'm sure some fresh air would do me good but I just can't summon up the energy to get ready and go out.
A stitchy day it is then......the jobs aren't going anywhere are they....lol.

A lovely couple of hours with Ruby last night which will have to last me for a couple of weeks as next week is half term and I think Aunty from down South is coming to spend the week with the girls and it's only fair that she gets the whole week with them both.

DD finishes work tomorrow and will be off for nine days annual leave. We need to plan some days out but I haven't the faintest idea where.....and of course a lot depends on the weather and the state of the roads with this new storm we have coming.

Hope you are all having a good week.
Sheila-x-

Wednesday And Twenty For 2020 Progress!!!

Who would have thought that a ten year old's tea party could be so much fun. We had such a lovely time and Ruby was thoroughly spoiled.....which is just as it should be on your birthday.
Now it's Wednesday and Ruby will be here for tea later. A roast pork meal today as we didn't have our usual roast on Sunday and I am really looking forward to it.

Just a pottering day today. I don't usually involve myself with big jobs on a Wednesday  with Ruby coming as I do like to finish a job once it's started so a tickle round with a duster and run round with the hoover is all that will get done today.

Twenty for 2020-Progress

Peppermint Lane by Country Cottage Needleworks

I've not managed to get as much done as I would have liked but there is at least some progress.
Really pleased with the colour changes I have used for this.
I'm hoping for a weekend at home to get lots more done.

Well it might be sunny outside but it's flippin' cold so the kettle is going on for coffee which I shall drink while I read the papers.

Have a wonderful day.
Sheila-x-

Almost Gone!!!

The surprise snow didn't last very long. It started melting as soon as it stopped falling and now we just have little pockets in sheltered corners.
It has been snowing on and off all morning but it's not laying thank goodness.

Earlier I thought I was going to be doing a Mary Poppins when I went to collect the big number balloons which we are taking for Ruby tonight. It was a fight and a half to get them back to the car safely in the wind.

Nothing much to do in the house today so I think I might treat myself to a soak in the bath and a bit of stitching time until it's time to get ready to go to The Doodles for the little tea party.

Hope you are all keeping safe and warm.
Sheila-x-

Well....I Wasn't Expecting This!!!

Weather forecast checked......sleety rain due after a period of sunshine.
It didn't say anything about this.............

It has been snowing for less than an hour and we have about two inches so far. It is still snowing heavily so goodness knows how much we will end up with.

Psssst....ya wanna build a snowman 😁

Water, Water Everywhere!!!

Good morning.

Thank you for the comments left on the post on Friday. It seems like you were all preparing to weather the dreadful storm yesterday.

Saturday wasn't too bad here until later on in the evening but Sunday lunch time it hit really bad while we were out looking after Marlowe. By the time we left the green fields we had passed on the way there were like lakes although the roads were OK until we got onto the lane leading home which was flooded in a couple of places.
I hope you all stayed safe and didn't sustain any damage. 
I've not checked our forecast yet for today so I don't know if we are in for any more.

Despite the scary weather we did have a lovely time with Marlowe although we opted to stay in rather than take her to the play barn and she was quite happy for us to be at home.
Ruby thoroughly enjoyed her day out shopping with Mummy and Daddy and came home laden with carrier bags full of exciting things....bless her.
Tomorrow is her actual birthday and we will be going to visit for tea and cake and that will be it.....she will be ten years old....wow.

Just the normal jobs to do today....laundry,  a bit of cleaning and a pan of savoury mince to put on for tea as requested by Andy.
I must try and get some more done to my cross stitch project too as I haven't put a single stitch into it since Friday.

Now I am going to make a coffee and have a catch up on some blogs while the first load of laundry is doing.

Have a wonderful day.
Sheila-x-

Shiverin'!!!

Golly I am cold this morning. The sun has been out this morning so it's been lovely and bright but there is still an icy nip in the air.

Missing in action yesterday as we had to go into the big town to get a replacement curtain pole. We were trying to be frugal and reuse one we had in the shed but couldn't find the fittings to make it work. It will get used somewhere else eventually.
While I was in W***o I found two bargains.....a reduced reusable Christmas shopping bag....50p and a desk tidy reduced from £3.50 to 90p...perfect for my cross stitch charts and journal.
A visit to a new charity shop I'd not seen before yielded the most fabulous house shaped photo frame which will be altered and used as a mount for some cross stitch...£1.25.
I came home a happy bunny.

Today is just a pottering kind of day with some little jobs done and this afternoon I will be stitching.

Tomorrow Andy is being taken out for lunch.....his Christmas gift from DS.....so he is off to Nottingham. DD and I are going to Derby for an hour or two and we may have lunch out.
No Sunday lunch to cook this week with me being at The Doodle House. We are having ham and salad instead and I'll make a roast dinner in the week.

Have you got anything nice planned for the weekend?

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

And It's Wednesday Already!!!

I feel like I have lived life on fast forward for the last couple of days and here we are at Wednesday again.
A certain little lady is due for her tea as usual and there is a requested cottage pie in the making.....it's smelling good.

My start number two is well underway for my Twenty For 2020 and this is what I am working on........

Peppermint Lane by Country Cottage Needleworks

As you can see I have changed the colours. I'm not totally averse to pink but I didn't feel it would go too well with what I already have. I've gone for more traditional colours and again it is being worked on 14 count Yorkshire Oatmeal Aida.
When finished it will be about six inches by six inches.
I can't wait to get to the lettering as it's one of my most favourite things to stitch.

Looking forward to the weekend this week as I will be off to The Doodle House to take care of Marlowe on Sunday while Mr and Mrs Doodle take Ruby out on a birthday shopping trip....her second in two weeks....lol.
We will have to gauge Marlowe's mood and if she feels like it we are going to take her to a play barn and then out for lunch.
Before then I have a few jobs I'd like to get done including replacing a curtain pole and hanging some new curtains and repasting some wallpaper that has come away from the wall behind a radiator in the bedroom. That has been driving me mad for a good while so I shall be glad to get it done.

Hope you are all having a lovely day today.
Sheila-x-

Crazy Days!!!

Thank you all so much for your comments on my last post.
We had a wonderful time with Ruby over the weekend.

I was going to write a post yesterday and then I just got so busy tidying up after the weekend and getting the laundry done that I didn't really have the time to be on the computer much. I was going to write one earlier this morning then ended up going out to do some shopping to replace supplies used over the weekend and since I got back I have been doing stuff online for Andy which has nearly driven me bonkers.
Everything is calm again now but I haven't really got much news so I think today will just have to slide away and I'll make a better effort tomorrow when I have had a chance to take a photo of my latest cross stitch start.

I hope you are all well and having a good week so far.
Sheila-x-