A Merry Christmas Wave!!!

 I have been away a lot longer than I planned to be and really I am not quite ready to be back just now but I couldn't let Christmas go by without wishing you the very best Christmas you can have...in the circumstances....and hopes for a better year to come.

Peace, Joy and Love to you all.

Sheila-x-x-x-

Friday!!!

Another Friday and another new month.....I honestly can't believe how the time is passing.

The girls are back at school thank goodness....Ruby back to the school she started last September and Marlowe into reception class at a new school which she has been super excited about. I catch up with them this weekend and see how they have gone on.

Andy has been very busy in the garden for the last few weeks. He has moved a shed out of the main garden to the side of a shed at the bottom of the garden and painted them both the same colour....they look very smart.
He's creosoted all of the fence, painted the trim and handrails on the steps and added a large piece of trellis at the end of the oil tank to disguise it a bit.
What an absolute star he's been.

I've been mainly inside thankful for the slightly cooler weather to be able to get on with some scrubbing jobs in the kitchen.

This weekend Andy is helping his brother to move some furniture so DD and I have decided to have a morning out at Trentham.....depending on the weather.
We are so desperate for a change of scenery and to do something different to just going out to the supermarket.

How will you be spending your weekend?

Sheila-x-

Bad Blogger!!!

I don't seem to be able to get back into blogging (nearly)  everyday as I used to before my stroke. A lot of it is down to the fact that I have to correct so many typing errors that it takes me twice as long to write a post as it used to and it puts me off. I hope it gets better.

Last week we had a wonderful week with Ruby here for sleepover. We had a ride up to the garden centre for a few crafty bits for her and then spent most of the rest of week at home. It really cheered me up and I was sad when she went home on Friday.
She'll be here for tea tomorrow and I will have to get my cooking head on as she wants Cottage Pie.

I must thank you all for your lovely comments on my finished cross stitch pieces.

This is a new Christmas craft I have finished over the weekend

I bought the glass dome last year from a charity shop for £2.59 which I thought was a bargain.
The tree has been decorated with beads and a star,the tiny sledge has had some logs added and some lights have been placed in the little tin house and they have all been placed on top of some nice freshly fallen snow made of wood filler, acrylic paint and glitter.
It will be a lovely addition to the decorations on the dresser this year.

Well it's wet, a little windy and chilly here which is bliss after being so warm for so long. Tonight will be a simple tea of filled baguettes with some fruit, Line Of Duty on dvd and if it's still chilly....a snuggle under a blanket. My favourite kind of evening.

What are you all up to?

Sheila-x-

Crafty Things At Last!!!

It feels so good to sharing some crafty things at last and I have started by doing finishes on some cross stitch pieces I did right at the start of my renewed love of it last year.

This was my first attempt at finishing in this style. It's wobbly in places but I love it.
Just need some little spiders to hang from the twigs when Poundland get their spooky stuff in.
The frame is twelve and a half inches square and a bargain from Poundland. It's sold as an album frame for framing album covers.

Two small Christmas pieces.
Joy was a pattern from Just Cross Stitch magazine and is embellished with a metal charm from my stash and some tiny pom pom trim. Ribbons and foliage are from stash.
Jingle Bells was a free pattern from the internet and is mounted on a little clipboard from The Range with more ribbon and foliage from stash.

I really have to thank Priscilla for the finishing inspiration.
Take a look at her blog......she is brilliant.

Well finally we had a storm last night and it seems to have cleared the air for a while at least. It is much cooler today and no blazing sun beating down. I am very happy.

Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

The Week That Was!!!

Honestly....I can't believe it's over a week since I posted.
Thank you for comments on my last post. I had fully intended to come back and reply to them but the week just slipped away.

OMG....hasn't it been hot? 
The fans are on nearly all day just to keep us comfortable and I have got a cold drink in my hand permanently at the moment. 
There are certainly no meals that involve a cooker unless I just boil eggs to have with some cold meat and salad.

On the crafty front I have been finishing some cross stitch pieces into decorative objects for the house at Christmas and I am really pleased with them so when I get the camera charged up I'll take some pics to share.

Until then...stay safe.
Lots of hugs to you all.
Sheila-x-

Oh Heck!!!

Thank you all for such lovely comments on my last post.

Well I feel like I have woken up in a blast furnace this morning it's so bloomin' hot. There were plans to wash down the cupboards in the kitchen but blow that for game of soldiers.......I think it will be a day in the sewing room with the fan on.

I have spent a lot of time in there the past few days and I think I can now say I am a crafter again with hot glue burns to prove it....lol. I had best stick to Hi Tack glue until my hands are less clumsy.

Trying to avoid going out as much as I can unless the stir crazies get bad. Shopping in a mask isn't for me....I've tried it and I feel so sick by the time I've done that there is no pleasure in it at all. I did go out the other day and I am sure you will be disgusted to know that I bought a Christmas present!!! It was a bargain too good to be missed and something we had planned on getting for Ruby. 

I am not planning on doing any more for a while.

Oh heck.......how are you all getting on with the new Blogger? I went on this morning and I have reverted to the old version until I have the patience to work it out. I do wish they would leave things alone.

The Doodles have been away on holiday for the last week and I am looking forward to a bit of Facetime tonight or tomorrow to hear all about it as connection hasn't been good while they have been away.

Right I shall go and get something done.

Bye for now.

Sheila-x-

Hello!!!

Well...it's been a long time since I managed a post.
What with one thing and another I haven't really felt up to either sharing the health problems I've been having or the boredom that has been lockdown.
That is slowly changing now that I have found myself able to sew again....not my cross stitch which is still beyond me but I have been sewing masks, tea towels. shopping bags and Christmas gift bag sets for all the family. 
I am so chuffed I've been able to do it without sewing my fingers together or cutting them off.

What have you all been doing to keep busy during lockdown?
Have you discovered new crafts to try or gone back to old favorites?

I must say that I am thoroughly sick of cooking and am looking forward to being confident enough to go out for a meal.
....and talking of cooking I had better go and check out the casserole we are having today....it smells just about ready.

I'll speak to you soon.
Sheila-x-

Still Here!!!

I'm still here.
Struggling a little with a touch of the black dog but I am not going to complain about that as I am so much better off than those who are suffering elsewhere here and across the world.

How are you all? How are you all coping with the lockdown?
I must admit that I am ready for everything to get back to normal as I have mostly been stuck at home since I came out of hospital at the beginning of March but it doesn't look like that is going to be anytime soon.

DD's office has been split into two groups working two days on and two days off and I can't get my head round it so when she is off I think it's the weekend. I just never know what day it is.....lol.

Sadly I can't do my cross stitch at the moment (I have tried and managed five stitches so far) so after a walk around the block I seem to spend much of the time watching ccokery and DIY programmes on Freeview. I think soon though I shall have to find something else to do as I am now starting to see repeats.

I wish you all a Happy Easter.
Sheila-x-

Good Morning!!!

Thank you all for such a warm welcome when I posted last week.

I had intended to post every couple of days but that proved to be a little harder than I expected. Who knew that just sitting at the computer typing would be so difficult? But a week on and I am still improving slowly....still a bit woolly headed and still weak on my right side but I have managed to cook with Andy's help and have managed to use a knife without injuring myself so that is something.

Anyway enough about me........how are you all coping being on lockdown? Are you all managing to get everything you need?
It's very scary isn't it. I hate not being able to see The Doodles but we talk on the phone regularly. I dread the phone bill when it next comes.

Right well I'll try not to leave it so long next time.
Stay safe.
Sheila-x-

Hello!!!

Good morning all my lovely blogging friends.
I just wanted to come on here to thank you all for your lovely messages when I was taken ill. 
I am getting better every day and can now walk again and have regained much of the use of my right hand side.
My speech is still affected and I still can't write but at least I can type....albeit it slowly.

I'm trying to read blogs but I can only manage one or two a day as find reading very tiring but I'll get there.

Anyway...I hope you are all staying safe and well in this crises and that you have everything you need.

Be back soon.
Sheila-x-

Good Morning to my Mum's blogger friends.

Just to let you all know that my Mum suffered a small stroke on Sunday evening and has spent the last couple of days and nights in hospital.  She is now at home and being looked after by us.  She is having some difficulty with speech and has some paralysis on her right side so will not be blogging for a little while.  I will try and keep you informed as best I can inbetween caring for Mum and work.  She is improving in tiny amounts each day but tires quickly but other than that is in generally good spirits and her sense of humour is fully intact.  She tells me the highlight of her stay in hospital was that the nurse who gave her a bed bath was fairly good looking chap and the food wasn't too bad either.

Kindest Regards

Roz AKA DD

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-

Just A Quickie!!!

Just a quick post today as I have quite a busy day getting ready for Ruby's sleepover.
I'm playing catch up with myself as I overslept this morning and then as soon as I set foot in the kitchen the phone rang and it was Brother in Law so I was on the phone for over half an hour. 
I should have got more done yesterday but got sidetracked by choosing and starting project number two for my Twenty For 2020 which I will show next week.

Now I have an appointment with the hoover.....upstairs and down, a bolognese sauce to make for tomorrow and a weekend case to unpack for my gorgeous girl.

I may not get back here until Monday so I hope you all have a fabulous weekend doing fun things.
Sheila-x-

First Finish!!!

.....and it's done.....

My first finish of Twenty For 2020.
It just needs trimming up and steam ironing and then I can choose my next project.

I think I may be on the verge of getting my cooking mojo back at last.
Last night I made a very frugal pork and root veg tray bake with some yellow sticker thin cut loin chops I had lurking in the freezer. Nothing groundbreaking there but I served it up with steamed broccoli and a pork and cider gravy and it was absolutely delicious.
While I was in the kitchen I thought I would get ahead with tea for today and poached some chicken ready to make a chicken and leek pie with a crispy crumb topping instead of pastry. I hope Ruby likes it as she is a huge fan of my normal chicken pie. It will be served with Parmentier potatoes (ooooh get me.....lol), carrots.......and the obligatory gravy.

Nothing much going on here today apart from a bit of tidying and some hoovering when Andy has done tramping in and out so I will make myself a coffee and have a look through my charts for my next project.

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

Surely It Can't Be.......!!!

.....coming up to the end of January already!!!
Although it's a pretty boring month and usually drags it has flown by this year.
We've had one milestone birthday as DD turned forty and we have another one coming up in a couple of weeks when Ruby ticks over into double figures and turns ten. She is mighty excited about that....Ganma just feels old.....lol.
She's coming to stay this weekend and DD and I are taking her birthday shopping so that she can choose what she wants. She is into so many collectible things and has so many that we just don't know where to start anymore and I prefer her to have something she wants.

It's a pretty decent day out today although not fit for drying as there is hardly any breeze so looks like I will be using the tumble dryer again. At least that means I should get everything finished today and it will be out of the way so that Andy and I can go out tomorrow.
The forecast is cloudy with some sun and just a small chance of rain so we are off to Carsington again to try and do a longer walk than we did last week. No lunch out this time just a cuppa at the cafe when we are done.

In between laundry loads today I will be finishing off my cross stitch project (hopefully). The row of houses and trees and the top border are finished and I am just working on the snowflakes and confetti stitching before I  add backstitch to the lettering. The pattern didn't have backstitch on it but my personal preference is for solid looking text so that is another change I have made.
There needs to be some chalk painting and distressing done before it's a completely finished piece and I am thinking I may leave that until I have two or three pieces to do so that I don't have to get the paints out after every piece.

Time for coffee 😀

Hope you have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Filthy Friday!!!

It's horrible outside today....dull, grey, cold and drizzly. I had thought I might go into town this morning but I didn't fancy it much and what we need can wait until tomorrow.
Andy and I are watching his box set of Foyles War so now that the few bits of jobs have been done I might make a nice cup of tea and we'll sit and watch an episode until it's time to make the tea.

Ruby and Marlowe are both recovered from their ailments and back at school thank goodness.

I'm starting to get notifications for the Quilt Village at the racecourse but I am thinking I might give it a miss this year. I still have masses of fabric so don't really need any more. 
The NEC was also considered but I think I'll just take a break from it all and concentrate on my cross stitch for now.
Anybody got any plans to visit a craft show this year?

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Poorly Girl!!!

We didn't get to see Ruby yesterday. On Tuesday she had been taken poorly at school so she stayed home yesterday to recover. The good news is that she is a lot better today and has gone to school so we will see her later for about an hour and a half before we have to take her to Brownies.
Marlowe is also poorly and has been off school all week the poor little sausage.

Not much going on here today just jobs and maybe some stitching if I have time before we fetch Miss Doodle.

I hope you are having a bit more exciting day.
Sheila-x-

Cobwebs Blown Away!!!

We made it to Carsington Water yesterday and I am so glad we did. It was really lovely up there. The sky was blue, there was frost on the ground, the sun did actually shine and there was some warmth in it. Not enough to take my coat off but very nearly.
We had a good walk and a cup of tea and I bagged a couple of lovely bargains from the RSPB shop in their sale....a gorgeous notebook and a matching pen to use as a journal type thing for my cross stitch.
By the time we got back to the car the coat had to come off and then we took a leisurely ride back to our local for a carvery lunch which was absolutely delicious.
It felt so good to get rid of some of those cobwebs and we are going to try and make it a weekly thing....not always with lunch out but at least for a good walk.

Today I will be in the kitchen cooking ready for my Ruby. She had asked for tomato soup for today but she is coming to us tomorrow too which will a quick turnaround.....pick her up from school, give her tea and then deliver her to Brownies in the little town. I will save the soup for that and tonight she will have lamb meatballs in gravy.

A progress report on my first project of Twenty for 2020.....

I've not done too bad for saying I had those two days out last week and I didn't do any yesterday. I would have liked to have been finished with the houses and onto all of the snowflakes and confetti stitching but never mind....it's getting there.
I hope these progress reports won't bore you. They are really just for me to keep a check on how far I get each week.

Right....I am off to brown meatballs.
Thanks so much for visiting and the comments left on Monday's post.
Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

Monday!!!

Another gloriously sunny and frosty day and I am wishing Andy and I had discussed earlier what we want to do this week.
He has suggested a ride up to Carsington Water to blow some cobwebs away which would have been perfect for today. It is planned for tomorrow and although it should be dry.....it doesn't look like it's going be sunny.
Today I'll get all the laundry done and dusted and any other jobs that need doing and then we can go out and not worry about getting back. DD is off tomorrow so she can either come with us or stay home and have a bit of peace and quiet.
There is an offer of lunch out.....I am up for that as I am in a bit of a rut at the moment with meals. A day off from planning and cooking could be just what I need.

The cross stitch I am working on is coming along very well despite having had two non stitching days at the end of last week. Once the jobs are finished today I will be stitching in between washing and drying loads.

.....and that's about it for today. Andy has just nipped out for a walk around the fields at the back of us and once he gets back I'll make coffee and then get back to the jobs.

Have a wonderful day.
Sheila-x-

Two Sunny Days In A Row!!!

We woke up to quite a heavy frost this morning but the sky has been the most amazing blue and the sun has shone so we can't complain at that.

This morning I have roasted a lovely piece of lamb and served it up with all the traditional stuff. Andy and I have had ours but DD's is plated up ready to be heated when she gets in from work at 5:30pm.
She is absolutely loving her new job but I am not loving her new shift pattern very much. It's messy with three different shifts within a week, odd days off, early finishes and late finishes....I just don't know where I am but as long as she is happy then it's fine.

Pots are washed and I just have to run the hoover round then I am back to my stitching which I made good progress on yesterday.

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

Over The Weather And Under The Weather!!!

Thank you for comments on my last post.
Ruby enjoyed her sausages very much and we had a lovely couple of hours together.
Unfortunately on the way back from taking her home I started to feel unwell and by the time we got in the house I had the aura that signals a migraine is coming. Sometimes I don't get the headache after it but this time I did and it was nasty. 
Pretty much most of Thursday and Friday was spent on the sofa. I slept so much that I don't think I'll need any more until the end of the month.
It's about gone now.....I just feel wiped out and totally lacking in energy so an easy weekend is on the cards for me apart from cooking a Sunday lunch tomorrow.
If my eyes will let me I shall have a good stitching session today after missing out for the last couple of days.

It's a beautiful day here today so I hope it is where you are.
Have a lovely weekend.
Sheila-x-

It's Doodle Day!!!

I do get quite excited when I wake up and realise that it is Wednesday and Ruby Doodle will be coming for tea.....then I have to poke about in my brain and try to drag up what it was she had asked for for tea. Luckily today there will just be veg prep to do as she has asked for sausages and mash with stuffing and gravy. She does love dinners with gravy does Miss Doodle.

This morning I have got as much done in the house as I can as DD has a day off tomorrow and we may be having a trip to Derby. I'd like to have a wander round the market as there are some ribbons I need and some particular fabric I would like to find. On the way back we will probably call in at Hobbycraft as we are passing.....it would be rude not to....lol.
As I am fairly up to date with the jobs I feel a bit of sneaky stitching is in order until Ruby arrives.

Today would have been a nice day to go out and do a bit of tidying up in the garden but the lawn is like a mud bath after all the rain we have had so I think it will have to be left until things dry out a bit.

Kettle on and coffee though before I do anything else.
Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

My Start On Twenty For 2020!!!

I keep rabbiting on about my cross stitch so I though it might be a good idea to share with you what I am up to.
I have been very inspired by Priscilla Blain  and her daughter Chelsea who also put out a video on Facebook at Flosstube-Stitching with The Housewives every Saturday and would really love to have some Christmas pieces I can bring out every year to decorate with.
My challenge to myself is to complete twenty pieces large and small this year in time for Christmas 2020
My first piece is this one which I am currently stitching....

This was purchased from Etsy as a PDF download and I love it.

This is my version and I have made changes such as using 14 count Yorkshire Aida rather than struggling to use an evenweave fabric which kills my eyes. I also wanted the background to be grey to be in keeping with my decor and this fabric is just gorgeous. If I can find some more I would like to use it for all of my projects.

Other changes made are using green for the tree branches instead of doing them all brown and adding a pale yellow into the windows as light.

I am also using different threads to those called for as I was lucky enough to buy a good stash of Anchor threads last year when Hobbycraft were selling them off at 50p each. I chose lots of reds and greens specifically for doing Christmas projects.

I won't be finishing this piece like the cover photo either. I'm not sure yet how it will be done but it will be different....not because I don't like it but I just don't want it to be the same.

I am absolutely loving doing cross stitch again although my tastes have changed greatly since I used to do it over twenty years ago. Then I used to like doing the huge Mirabilia charts with beads and metallic threads. Not sure my eyes would like those now though.

Now I am all about the Christmas charts and there are thousands out there to choose from so I won't be short of things to stitch anytime soon.

Cupboard sorting has been done over the last couple of days but I still have two to go.

Household jobs have been done this morning so I am going to have a bit of stitching time now until I have to go and chop veg for the chicken tray bake I am making for tea.

Hope you are having a wonderful day.

Sheila-x-

It's A Grey Old Day!!!

I wish the weather would do something other than sit there looking blah. I'd love a bit of snow just for a change from everywhere looking brown and muddy. Just a couple of days would do 😁

It's rather chilly this morning so the heating is on and I am back in the kitchen tackling the cupboards where we keep the foodstuff.....taking everything out, cleaning the cupboards and checking for out of date things as I put them back. There shouldn't be anything to throw away as I am usually quite careful to use things up but you never know.

I didn't do a meal plan for this week so today I'll have a ferret in the freezer and pull out something quick for tonight and then sit and make my plan for the rest of the week before I nip out for top up shopping later.

.....and that is about as exciting as it gets at Tea Towel Mansion for today....lol. There may be time for some stitchy stuff later for an hour or so if I'm lucky.

What are you up to today?
Sheila-x-

A Fabulous Night!!!

We had a really fabulous night at the Chinese last night.
The food was....as always....amazing and the company of The Doodles such fun. DS bought along a giant balloon for the table which was lovely of him and the cake delivered to the table at the end of the meal was beautiful. It even had one of those huge roman candle things on and the staff who bought it sang Happy Birthday. Just before we left DD was presented with a lovely photo of her with her cake in a frame which I thought was a lovely touch.

Today we will be staying home. There is a joint of beef in the oven for our lunch and once that has been eaten and tidied away I will start on some laundry and do some cross stitching between loads then at 6pm everything will stop for the usual Sunday evening tv.

Hope you have a wonderful day.
Sheila-x-

One Small Hole And Miles Of Traffic!!!

There was cause to go into the big town today. The road we have to travel isn't great at any time but this morning it was horrendous. Some work requiring a very small hole with traffic lights three ways and the road was at a standstill....well apart from the idiots who thought it was OK to overtake and try to get further up the queue. There was a lot of shouting, car horns blaring and bad words going on.
I was glad to get home.

I managed to visit a huge charity shop which I spotted when in town the other week but didn't have time to go in. I came away with a couple of bargains......a wooden base with a tall glass dome ripe for a Christmas scene (I know it's early but I couldn't leave it behind), a couple of books and a lovely pashmina for putting round my shoulders when I am reading in bed at night. I spent six pounds so I was very happy with that.

Just a bit of pottering going on now we are home as we are off out to the Chinese tonight for DD's birthday meal with The Doodles. The table is booked for 6:30pm so that we are not out too late for the girls. Ruby will be so excited as it's her most favourite place to eat which I think has more to do with the chocolate fountain than anything else...lol.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend.
Sheila-x-

The Best Laid Plans And All That!!!

I had a pretty good idea of how my day was going to be today.....empty the indoor freezer into the outdoor one, empty the fridge, switch them off and give them both a really good clean and refill them. Then I was going to make soup for tea with any stray veg lurking at the bottom of the fridge drawers.
Erm....no. Andy has decided that we are going out and that we are having burgers for tea. He is now on his way to the butchers to buy some. Burgers are not on my list of things I like to eat unless I really fancy one which is very rarely. I might just pick up some fresh salad and have that instead.

Didn't get much done yesterday as I did myself a bit of a mischief on Tuesday.....over reaching when I was cleaning the window in the kitchen. My shoulder was so sore but it seems fine this morning after a good soak in a hot bath last night so no excuse for shirking when we get back from wherever we are going this morning.

It was absolute bliss to have some time to get some cross stitching done yesterday in actual daylight rather than squeezing it in at the end of the day and using my bright LED light. I  don't usually start until after Andy has gone to bed so that I can stitch in peace and quiet and not have to listen to the dreadful programmes he watches.

Right I had better go and get myself ready for going out.
Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

I've Made A Start!!!

At last I have made a start on cleaning the kitchen.
Today under the sink got a good sort out and scrub and the inside of the window and frame now looks sparkling.
I have also cleared a lot of stuff from the worktops so there is now room to move.
I'll carry on over the week doing a bit at a time.

No time for crafty stuff today because as soon as I finished cleaning it was time to start on tea....marinated pork chops with roasted baby potatoes and salad....it is smelling good and should just about be ready to serve up.

Hope you've all had a good day.
Sheila-x-

Hello To Another Week!!!

I didn't post yesterday as I didn't want to put you all into a boredom coma...lol.
If I had of done it would have just read....got up, had breakfast, made pastry, assembled a pie with the filling I made on Saturday, ate lunch and pottered about until it was time for Dancing on Ice and Call The Midwife,went to bed.
As I say.....boring.

Today I have no laundry to do and no cooking as we are just having beans on toast for tea....so Andy and I are going for a wander up to the garden centre. I still have a little Christmas money and need a couple of things from the craft shop.
When we get back I am going to sort out some of my fabric to store upstairs in the spare boxes we have after a good sort out of Christmas stuff. If I can empty two boxes down here I shall be very happy as then I can put all of my ribbons in one large box and all of my picks and greenery in another. They will all be at hand then for when I feel in the mood do some finishing on my cross stitch projects.
If there is any spare time after that I want to have another go at dyeing some cross stitch fabric. I have a lot of white and cream and I don't much like either so I am going to grunge it up a bit.

I hope you are all doing something fun today.
Sheila-x-

A Quiet Friday!!!

We had a lovely day yesterday with DD for her birthday.
The Doodles came to visit for tea and cake and then it was just us, a simple tea and Game of Thrones....smashing.

I did the laundry instead of the planned kitchen scrub which I will make time for this next week.
Today will be mostly spent in the kitchen cooking for today and tomorrow and then we'll have another quiet evening.

Once DD is back at work on Monday I really need to try and establish some kind of routine. With Andy at home all the time and her new hours I seem to have to gone all to pot and need to get back on track with things. I am really missing having the house to myself for several hours at a time.

Anyhoo....I hope you all have a good weekend.
Sheila-x-

Right....Let's Get Cracking!!!

We've had a lot of lazy days over the last week or so and now I am ready to start getting my teeth into some jobs around the house. The kitchen never did get it's proper deep clean before Christmas so I will be starting in there tomorrow and I fully expect to wear me Marigolds out.....lol.
I would have started today but Andy has just gone to pick Ruby up as she is desperate for a visit and all housework stops when she is here so that I can give her my full attention.

One of my aims over the next few months is to find Andy some jobs that he can get his teeth into. He has been retired for three months now and he is getting bored and snappy. He doesn't have much in the way of patience and his DIY skills aren't up to much but I'm sure I'll be able to find him something to occupy him.

Tomorrow we have a big birthday in the house....DD is turning forty. She doesn't want a big party so we are booking a meal out for us and The Doodles at the Chinese buffet next weekend with the added embarrassment of a birthday cake delivered by waitresses in daft hats just to make it a bit more fun. Andy, Ruby and I will be off into town to book it and choose the cake once she gets here.

I hope you are all having a good start to this new year.
Sheila-x-

2020!!!

Wishing you all

the very happiest

2020

Sheila

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