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-

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-

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-