Still Trying........!!!

............to fit everything into my new storage units. However did I collect so much stuff?
One huge bag of ridiculous stuff has been burned. You know the kind of stuff I mean........'oooh I can make something out of that instead of chucking it away'. The pile builds and builds until you really have to question your own sanity. That has all gone now.
One huge bag of stuff is sitting in the back of hubby's van ready to go to the charity shop and I still have more stuff than will fit into the units...to the tune of three storage boxes and two very large shopping bags. To be fair though I do have quilt batting and backings plus wadding and filling which takes up a lot of space. The rest can be worked at to reduce it down a bit.
I do finally have a very tidy decluttered corner in the kitchen which used to house the plastic drawers that stored my fabric. They have gone to DS for use as storage in their attic and I just need to find space to store but keep accessible Ruby's craft stuff now.

Nipped out this morning with hubby for a bit of fresh air and a look round the new Waitrose. It's nice but I won't be shopping there I'm afraid. I nearly dropped dead of shock at some of the prices although I was very impressed by the quality of the fruit and veg and the staff were lovely.

As it's a nice sunny day today (very cold though) we are having a ham salad for tea with crusty rolls. I do love a good salad.

Right off to finish up the last bit of sorting.
Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Team Work!!!

Hubby has bought me an early birthday present. 
I can no longer live with the mish mash of units that are storing my sewing and craft stuff so he has got me two four drawer filing cabinets and a stationery cupboard.
He is building and I am sorting out.
We need to get a shuffle on as Ruby will be here later this afternoon for her tea. Even though she is on half term break she still likes to come to ganma's on a Wednesday.
If I don't get eaten by 'stuff' I will be back tomorrow.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Well Cushioned!!!

Yesterday I wanted something simple to sew where I didn't have to alter patterns or do any fiddly fitting. This fabric has been in my stash for a little while so out it came and within an hour there were two cushions to brighten up our very tired looking sofa. Today I will see what other fabric I have and make a couple more.
The fabric was two offcuts at £1 each from Derby market. I have been looking for new cushion covers but I doubt I would get two for £2 from anywhere.

I managed to get out for a short while this morning. We went to the garden centre and purchased a new plant for the garden using a 50% voucher. We chose a beautiful Hydrangea in lime green with a dark pink edging to the flowers. It should have been £18.99 but we got it for £9.50.......bargain. Just need to find the right spot for it now.

This thing which I have been calling a cold I no longer believe is a cold. It's more like hay fever or an allergy. My eyes are gritty and sore, my nose is constantly running and my cough dry and tickly so I think I will see if I can get in to see the doctor for advice about anything I can take to relieve it. I daren't buy over the counter stuff as I am on other medication and am not sure what I can take with it.
I need some solution as I am exhausted now.

With hubby being off this week I didn't make a meal plan as such. There was just a loose idea that we would use stuff up out of the freezer where we could. Today hubby will be having faggots.....and he is quite welcome to them. DD and I will probably use up the last of the sausages with some tinned tomatoes and crusty bread and that's about as creative as I shall get in the kitchen today.....lol.

Funny weather today. One minute it's dark and thrashing it down with rain and the next bright and sunny but it's very cold. We've just driven past Sudbury Hall and seen several people braving the cold to eat their picnics at the tables near the car park. I hope they have some hot drinks with them.

Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Wet & Wild!!!

No visit to Carsington Water today. We have our own mini reservoir going on just down the road where it has flooded worse than we have seen for a good while. Not surprising seeing as how it has thrashed it down all night with no let up and hubby says it was snowing this morning too.
It is now drizzly, windy and cold so as hubby is off all week we'll see if we get a better day later on. There is also the possibility of a visit to a garden centre who have kindly sent us a voucher for 50% off any plant. We are in need of a plant or two for the back garden so we'll go and see what they have.

DD and I have exhausted our collection of tv series on dvd now so goodness knows what we will watch in the evenings. Last night hubby chose Gladiator which I do love but have seen so many times that I just couldn't bear to watch it again so I ended up surfing the net for a while.

I did some sewing yesterday but have nothing to show for it as the fabric I was using was horrible to sew with and it all ended up in the bin. No great loss as it was a piece from one of the scrap bags.
Onwards and upwards......I will have a go at something else today.

Hubby wanted some kind of jacket potatoes for his evening meal today so I am doing our favourite Hash Jackets filled with corned beef and onions and flavoured with horseradish and mustard. I shall serve them with some salad.

Right.....it's time for coffee so I'll go and make us one.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Sheila-x-



 

Of BabyThings!!!

Simple little dresses

Dress and legging sets

Cute little vest set

T shirts and leggings

I gave in and went out yesterday. It was rather dull and dreary but the rain kept off for a while. We popped into Peacocks and picked up these next size clothes for Marlowe......just simple everyday things for now and not so expensive that you have a heart attack if she spits up on anything.
Afterwards we decided to have a walk down the High Street and I am so glad that we did as there was a beautiful Makers Market going on. There was some very, very gorgeous stuff but the highlight of my visit was the flower stall. It wasn't just any old flower stall but had been made to look like a vintage garden shed. It was stunning. Next time we go (last Saturday of every month) I will take my camera so that I can show it to you.

I am still full of this cold and this morning my eyes were glued together with some disgusting gunk. They had to be gently wiped with damp cotton wool to get them apart.
I am seriously sick of being out of sorts now and am getting quite bad tempered which isn't like me at all. I might get hubby to take me a ride to Carsington Water tomorrow to see if I can blow some of the germs away. I don't fancy going today, it will be heaving with people as there is very little else to do today with everywhere being closed.

The roast lamb is roasting away and smelling delicious and the roast potatoes are just about to go in so I shall get off and do that. Once lunch is over I shall be sewing......again...lol.

Thanks for your visit today.
Sheila-x-

No Surprise There Then!!!

Yesterday my old bones welcomed the warmth of a beautiful Spring day. Today we are back to heavy grey skies....of course we are......it's Bank Holiday weekend. I won't be going anywhere. I've done my share of grinning and bearing it on wet and soggy days out so I am staying in and snuggling up with my sewing machine and a pile of scrap fabric to turn into doll clothes. I was going to Derby but I haven't got the energy.
Another easy tea today. We are just having sausages in crusty rolls as tomorrow I will be doing a hubby pleaser and cooking roast lamb.
I hope the rain holds off for you if you are out and about.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Trousers!!!

The dolls now have a selection of trousers, crops and shorts in white and I have other colours which I am going to start on shortly.
The fabric for the whites came from one of the scrap bags I buy from Minerva Crafts for £4.99. From this one piece of fabric I got all of the bottoms, four pairs of knickers and still have a piece left that is big enough to make something else. It's a great way to get quality fabrics without having to buy yardage.
There is another new addition to the doll family. I thought it would be nice for Ruby to have one of each of the hair colours so we have now added a blonde girl called Charlotte. She is pretty spectacular with nearly ankle length hair and she will make an appearance as a model once I have made her some suitable clothing as I really dislike the clothes she came with.

It's a beautiful day here today. Plenty of sunshine so DD is out tidying the back garden for me. I was hoping to go out myself but the cold has come back and I am feeling like a wrung out dishrag so I have fajita'ed up some turkey mince and chopped peppers and onions ready for the tortillas we are having for tea. I know we should be having fish really but I am not a huge fan.

London grandma and grandad are arriving today to meet Marlowe for the first time and Brighton aunty will arrive Sunday. I am so excited for them.

If I can stop coughing and blowing my nose for long enough I am off to Derby tomorrow to do some baby clothes shopping for Marlowe. She is in need of some next size up outfits for when she grows out of her 0-3 months clothes and I do so love shopping for babies.

Hope you all have a good weekend.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

Easily Sidetracked!!!

Little Miss Marlowe

My plan last night was to go with DD to drop Ruby off after tea and then swing by Lidl and T***o to do a small top up shop for bread, milk and veg.........unfortunately I got sidetracked by a snuggly little bundle called Marlowe and sat cuddling her for over two hours.....it was bliss. It gave her mummy and daddy chance to eat their tea in peace and we were treated to Ruby dancing, singing, reading and showing us her karate moves.
We will just about scrape by for bread and milk until I go shopping tonight....lol!!!

After I had done a few jobs yesterday I set to and cut out lots of long and cropped trousers and shorts for the dolls so they are all ready to be sewn up today. I also made some knickers for them as the ones they come with are so shoddily made. One pair was unpicked and I made a pattern from them and cut out four pairs. There was time to make one pair up and the rest will get done today.

I hear the weather is going to be bad at the weekend which has scuppered the plans I had for us all to get out in the garden and make a start on digging out the area where I want a patio. Still we can play it by ear......it might miss us if we are lucky.

Just one lot of laundry to do today and while that is whizzing round I will tidy away the piles of fabric covering the dining table ready to start my sewing session.....I am such a messy crafter.

Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Sad!!!

I don't have the tv or the radio on during the day when hubby is on nights so I didn't hear the news about Brussels until late in the day.
I am saddened and sickened.
My thoughts go out to everyone involved.

Sheila-x-

Meet Lucy!!!

Getting ready for Summer

Lucy is our model for today and she is wearing the latest outfit I have made. I altered and remade the pattern and the top now goes together a lot easier and looks much nicer. It's not hanging very well at the moment as I sprayed the fabric with starch.....it sews so much better.....and it needs to be washed.
Although the fabric I used for the cropped trousers came in a fat quarter stack with the fabric I used for the top I don't think it's a fabulous match so I am going to make more trousers with some other blue fabric I have. In fact I am going to make a whole heap of trousers in different colours as they only take about ten minutes to make and then there will be a colour to go with almost anything.

Marlowe had her checks done at the hospital yesterday and everything is fine. DDIL also had the feeding nurse going in to see her but little munchkin doesn't seem to be having any problems at all.

Another simple tea tonight.....garlic and herb chicken with some of the salad left over from last night. Hubby wants a few chips with his but DD and I will just have a crusty roll.

I've not done much but sew this morning while waiting for laundry to wash and dry. I just need to run the hoover over the lounge now hubby is up then sweep and mop the kitchen floor after tea and that is me done for housey jobs today. Tomorrow I plan on baking so I expect the floor will need doing again...lol.

It's a bit dull and dreary here and again not a breath of wind so all the laundry being towels, tea towels etc they have been tumble dried after a good long spin to reduce the drying time. Come on sunshine it's about time you got your hat on and came out to play.

Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Cuddles!!!

We paid a flying visit to see Marlowe yesterday afternoon. Dropped off cards, flowers and the most important thing.....Sunday lunch for a hungry mummy, daddy and Ruby. We didn't stay too long as they were all tired and despite having a new baby in the house there was still the matter of everyday life to be getting on with.....getting Ruby bathed and prepared for school this morning and we didn't want to overwhelm them by rushing in and posing them all for photographs so the photo I added to yesterday's post is one from the hospital.
Grandad and I got our first cuddle though and got to see Ruby holding her.......which funnily enough is something I desperately wanted to see. She was so gentle and DDIL says she has been so helpful.
We are lucky enough to be only fifteen minutes away from them so offers of help in any form have been left and they know we are just at the end of the phone should they need us. For now we will just let them all settle in together and get into their routine. We will see lots of them in the coming weeks and Ruby will still be here for tea on Wednesdays.

Today we have the man coming to measure up for our roofline work. We've had the quote which made our eyes water a bit but it is a job that needs doing. It may have to be done in two parts as we have a three storey building and one part may need to have scaffolding which will add £800 to the bill so the dormer may be done seperately in a couple of months.

I have a few jobs to get done and then I am going to be sewing. Ruby loved the new dress for dolly and while she was here on Saturday she chose some fabric for a shorter version of it and another fabric for cropped trousers to go with it so ganma needs to get busy and try and get it done for Wednesday.
Hubby has chosen tea for tonight so we are having corned beef, salad and new potatoes which is one of his favourites so that is nice and easy.

Think I'll treat myself to a coffee before I start doing anything.
Thanks for dropping by today.
Sheila-x-

It's All In The Detail!!! (Picture Added).

Welcome to our world

Marlowe Nicole

Born at 13:34pm

Saturday 19th March

Weighing 7lbs 12ozs

I will add a picture later today when we have met her.

We couldn't visit the hospital last night as they had not been moved to a ward and in the end they decided to come home and got back around midnight.

Ruby has been collected early this morning wearing the Big Sister t shirt that Marlowe bought for her and has gone off to meet her little sister.

We will visit later as we are cooking a Sunday lunch to take down to them.

There have been photos but not suitable for showing here and I have to say she is the spitting image of Ruby when she was born although her birth weight is lighter and she hasn't got quite so much hair. She's very cute and I am aching for a cuddle.

So there we go........very proud ganma to two beautiful grandaughters.......I am over the flippin' moon.......and then some.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments.

Sheila-x-

A New Arrival!!!

So happy to announce that we have a new little grandaughter.
Other details will follow once we know them and I have checked on the spelling of the name.......I would hate to get wrong.
Mother and baby are doing well and Ruby is beside herself with excitement.

Bye for now.
Sheila

We May Have Lift Off!!!

Late night and early morning phonecalls from DS. One little munchkin delivered to my door in her pyjamas at 7am clutching her dolls and looking slightly nervous as mummy has tummy ache.
It looks like grandbaby No 2 is on it's way.
I am off to dispense kisses and cuddles to Ruby and see what she wants to do today.

I'll let you know when he/she arrives.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Dolly's New Dress!!!

All In Green

At last the dress I was working on is finished. The pattern has had to be drastically altered to fit the DesignAFriend body size but I got there in the end and along the way have worked out more improvements that can be made to make the dress less fiddly to make in future.......some of these doll patterns are unecessarily complicated.
There will be a pair of cropped trousers to go with this when I find some fabric to go with it. This was from a Hobbycraft fat quarter stack and I don't feel inclined to buy any more as it wasn't very nice to work with. You have to sew and be done. If you unpick anything it turns into a ragged mess.
Chloe is modelling again today as Miss Ruby fell in love with the the new doll Lucy and decided to take her home for a while.

The migraine had gone by this morning which I was very glad about. I couldn't face having another one that lasted for days on end.

I planned to make a start on washing the dining room curtains today but it was very gloomy when I got up and not a breath of wind so they are another job on the back burner as I don't want to dry them in the tumble dryer in case they shrink.

A simple tea for DD and I tonight.......grilled bacon with hash browns, baked beans and toast. Mind you I could go for salad again which I had for tea last night. It was absolutely lush. Just a plain salad of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and cress with a small slice of roast beef, a small slice of ham, a tiny bit of grated cheese and some of the plain cooked beetroot with no vinegar that I love so much.
Hubby gets in at just after 7pm tonight so I have to start all over again and cook for him when he gets in as he is having pulled pork in crusty rolls........eeewwww.......I don't like pulled pork. Actually it's the sauce I don't like. It smells horrible.

Well that's me for today. I need to go and sort out a bit of recycling and then it will be just about time for DD to get in.
Bye for now....and thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Give Me Strength!!!

I've had enough now of not feeling on top form. Weeks of headaches followed by nearly three weeks with a cold and now another migraine. When will it flippin' end?
I have no intention of giving in to this latest blip and will plod on as usual until it decides to go away. That could be anything from a day to over a week. At the moment it's just about bearable.

Another supermarket for little town has opened this morning in the form of a Waitrose and I've heard that there is an Aldi opening at some point too. How many more do we need?
Hubby went to have a look round but I don't think I will be doing much shopping there.

DD will be coming home to change and going straight out again tonight so there will only be me for tea. If I am hungry I will have cold meat and salad if not just some toast and tea.

Seven days to baby's due date and DDIL is in mega nesting mode and having a huge declutter. Ruby is super excited now and that baby is going to be getting lots of big sister kisses when it comes. She especially wants to kiss it's little cheeks and it's teeny, tiny feet so she tells me........but she is not going anywhere near it's nappies without a peg on her nose. Oh my darling girl is going to be such a fab big sister.

Well I'll go and have a tidy up in the kitchen now hubby has gone and then decide what I will do for the rest of the day.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Up & At It!!!

I was awake and in the shower at 7am this morning knowing that I had to get some jobs done before the man came to have a look at the outside work we want doing. By the time he came I had flung the duster and hoover round, washed all the pots and done some part baked baguettes for hubby's packing up so I am now twiddling my thumbs until it's time to feed him before he goes to work. Not enough time to start anything for the minute but once he has gone I shall have a couple or so hours before Ruby arrives for tea. I think I shall spend the time baking as hubby and DD have had no homemade cake for their pack ups for a little while with me not feeling like it.

Lovely and sunny today. I've had the windows thrown open but have had to close them now as it is very cold but it's freshened the air inside.

Time to feed the hubster so I'll go and sort him out.
Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

I'm Me Again!!!

I was overjoyed to wake up this morning and feel well again. Such bliss. My nose is still a little runny but at least I am not blowing it every two seconds as I have been. There is no headache and no other aches or pains to deal with so today is going to be a good day.

There is quite a bit of laundry to catch up with and I was going to put some out on the line but the bright sunshine from first thing has gone and there are some heavy clouds up there looking like they are ready to throw some rain down so I'll play safe and use the dryer.
Dolly's dress has gone in the wash to see if I can shrink it rather than have to alter it. If not then that will be my crafty job this afternoon.

Tea today will be a stir fry as I found a couple of chicken breast fillets in the freezer and I have some peppers that want using up. Quick, hot and tasty which is just what I like when meat and two veg man isn't here for an evening meal.
I need to find something quick for our meal tomorrow as we have a busy day. Someone is coming to give us a quote for some roof line work on the house.....new guttering, soffits, fascias and barge boards etc and then Ruby will be here after school.

If the rain stays off I will go and take Smudge for a short walk. He doesn't like to go far these days....poor old man.
I forgot to say that his tests for Cushings Disease came back negative. I am so happy.

Laundry load number one is done so I'll go and sort that out.
Bye for now.
Sheila-x- 

A New Day!!!

I don't normally do feeling sorry for myself but goodness me I was pathetic yesterday. This cold was getting me down, the nightmare really frightened me and my energy levels had sunk way below zero. Even thinking was an effort so the garden centre trip didn't happen and in the end I spent the whole day in my pyjamas watching catch up tv on the computer. Hubby cooked a wonderful roast chicken lunch and did the washing up while I sat about like a wilted lettuce. Obviously switching off for the day did me some good as I do feel much better today. Head is still a little fuzzy and my nose is still running but on the whole I seem to have a bit more get up and go and may actually do something today even if it is only preparing and cooking tea.

There was a lonely pack of turkey mince in the freezer so that has come out. I will season it with fajita style spices and dry fry it and will serve it in tortilla wraps with sauteed peppers and onions and a homemade salsa which DD and I will eat while we watch a couple of episodes of Lark Rise To Candleford. What a nice evening to look forward to.

Ten days to due date for my new little grandchild. Bump has grown enormously in the last couple of weeks since DDIL finished work. I can't wait to meet him/her.

Well I'll go and do a bit of chopping and mixing so that the turkey can marinate for a few hours.
Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

 

Going Out!!!

I've had a bloody awful night. One of the medications I take has a side effect of nightmares. Not every night but often enough. Last night's was particularly horrible and upset me very much so I'm not feeling too great this morning.
I think I will get hubby to take me for a ride out to the garden centre to have a look at what we might like to put in the garden this year. I need some fresh air and some different scenery.

Back tomorrow in a better frame of mind hopefully.
Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Sunny Saturday!!!

I'm thinking that Spring might have arrived. It's sunny today and I can hear lots of sounds of people doing gardening and outdoor things.
Hubby has cut both of our lawns and is out there doing other tidying up jobs. He loves being outside. He grew up as a farmers grandson and he has never lost his love of the great outdoors.
I should be out there too but I'm reserving the little bit of energy I have for cooking tea later.

A doll dress was made yesterday but I need to do some alterations on it to make it fit better so I'll show it to you when it is finished.

Saturday here has become known as Stir Fry Saturday as that is what hubby seems to want every week. A lot of prep as I refuse to buy the packs of ready chopped stir fry stuff. I did it once but never again.
Today we are having chicken with noodles and veg in a lime, ginger and chilli sauce. My taste buds are still in hiding so I don't suppose I will taste anything but the chilli like last week.

Right I will go and make a cup of coffee for my outdoor man and see if he wants any lunch.

Bye for now.
Sheila-x-

 

Energy...What Energy?!!!

This cold is taking some very strange twists and turns and is starting to get on my last nerve now. Just as I think it is clearing up back it all comes along with an added symptom. Last night after tea my legs were so wobbly that I had to take to the sofa again, my nose which had started to clear became blocked again and the cough came back with a vengeance. There is one good thing though......despite all the blowing and hacking and coughing.....my headache has gone at last.

Hubby is fancying fish and chips from the chip shop today so he and DD can have that. I don't have much of an appetite at the moment so I will probably go with soup or something on toast. That means no cooking today so I am going to have a gentle crafty day and do some sewing. I can't face finishing the bigger projects or the cushion covers as I just don't have the energy so I have pulled out a very pretty fat quarter stack and a pattern to make some summer clothes for the dolls.

Smudge dog has had to go the vets this morning. We have been worried that he may have developed diabetes as he has been drinking huge amounts of water just lately.....up to two bowls a day which is a lot for him. The vet says he doesn't have diabetes but he has taken a blood test to see if he has something called Cushings Disease. Having Googled it I can see that he does have some of the symptoms but less than half of them so I am hopeful that he doesn't have it. It can be treated with medication which would probably be for the rest of his life but I really don't want to have the trauma of getting him to take tablets. Anyway we will know later today. My poor little scrumplet....I do love him so.

Well that's me for today. If I get anything finished I'll post some pictures tomorrow.
Thanks for dropping by to see me today.
Sheila-x-

Good Morning!!!

How polite we are when we say 'good morning' when in reality the view from my window tells a completely different story.
Heavy dark grey clouds tinged with yellow are threatening some kind of downpour. I can't hear many birds chirping so they are obviously tucked away somewhere cosy to sit out whatever is coming and to keep warm. It is very cold this morning.

It was good to get out of the house last night and stock up on some shopping. No bargains to be had in T***o at all unless you wanted nasty little donuts with pink icing and sprinkles. I was hoping for veg and meat but both sections were empty.
DD treated me to a hot chocolate in Costa while we were there. Couldn't taste a thing but it was nice to put my hands around a warm cup before we did the rounds of the shop.

Another day when DD will be cold from being out all day and hubby will be working over night so something rib sticking and comforting for tea in the shape of a beef casserole. Hubby will want big fluffy dumplings and DD and I will have tiny crispy ones. Mmmm.....looking forward to that.

We have a new addition to Ruby's doll family. I have had some money in my purse for ages which wasn't housekeeping money so I spent some of it on Lucy. She is another DesignAFriend doll. I thought it would be nice for her to have two dolls here so that we can play games together when she is here.

Oh well there's a surprise....I don't think. Those clouds are rain clouds and it is now thrashing it down. Much as I love winter even I am ready for some sunshine and warmth now. I'll have to make do with the heat from the cooker for now.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Wet Wednesday!!!

It's been raining all night and it looks like it is set for the day so another day the windows won't get done but they are not going anywhere so I'm not too bothered.

Despite not being able to taste or smell anything yesterday all of the meals I cooked turned out well and I didn't kill anybody...lol.
I was shattered by the time I had done though and the headache returned and I had to retire to the sofa so my lovely hubby did tea for me and we ended up having some of the savoury mince with chips and mushy peas. They said it was lovely......me......couldn't tell you.

Today I am just going to have a quick tidy up and a hoover round once hubby gets up. Ruby has requested eggy bread for her tea so I am going to do a quick tea for the rest of us.....oven baked sausages with tomatoes and crusty bread. Hubby may get mushrooms with his if there are any left in the fridge.
I'm going to nip and do a bit of shopping tonight when we take Doodle Bird home. There are things we need but most of all I need to get out and see something other than my own four walls. I am going stir crazy as the only place I have been since last Friday is the two and a bit hours I spent at DDIL's on Sunday.

Hope you all manage to stay dry today.
Thanks for your visit.
Sheila-x-

On The Road To Normal!!!

The cold/flu/lurgy thing seems to be easing. I started to feel a little better last night. The earache and sore throat went quite quickly and I am just left with a slight cough and bunged up nose. For the first time since hubby got back from South Africa I have woken up without a headache which is absolute bliss.
DD started with the lurgy yesterday. I didn't see her this morning so I hope she is OK.

I think I feel like cooking today so I have pulled some minced beef and minced lamb out of the freezer. I'll make a couple of shepherds pies, some savoury mince and a minced beef and onion pie or two. Some will go to DDIL so that they have meals for after she has had baby and some will go back into our freezer.
I could do with doing a freezer shop but I want to use up all the odds and ends first so I'll have a look to see if there are any things that I can cook to put into lunch boxes for hubby and DD.
Depending on time I also have another job on my list which has been there for some weeks.........the storage/lunch box cupboard is desperate for a tidy out. I have way too many and they need culling before they take over the house.

The making of the serape hasn't moved on at all while I have been unwell so if I get all my jobs done today I will have time to do that either tonight or tomorrow. There are two more unfinished projects plus a set of four cushion covers I want to get done and then I am going back into doll clothes making which I am really looking forward to.

It's cold here today with thick clouds although there is a little bit of sunshine getting through.
The kitchen will soon be nice and warm though once I start cooking.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Lazy Monday!!!

This cold/flu/lurgy type thing is really kicking my bottom and I don't think there was one of us at the gathering yesterday that felt 100%. I think Ruby may be coming down with it as she had a temperature and wasn't her usual self.
I have now developed earache, a sore throat and my ribs are sprained with all the coughing. There won't be much housework done today and tea will be a roast dinner....which hubby missed yesterday.....(quiche isn't Sunday lunch to him).....lol. Leftover beef which was frozen in gravy. roast potatoes and Yorkshires with some veg and that's about all I can cope with.

Hubby's van is in for a service today so we can't go out for a wander as we sometimes do which is probably a good thing as I don't want to be spreading germs about.

This afternoon when hubby has gone for a sleep before he goes on nightshift I think I will snuggle on the sofa for a while and either watch some tv or sleep depending on what I feel like. It's quite sunny here today and by this afternoon it will be shining through the living room window and it will be lovely and warm in there.

Hope you are all managing to dodge the germs.
Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Trying To Smile!!!

Last night I slept in New York......thanks to my new duvet cover. A teal and white map of my most favourite place in the world. Until I can visit there again it will help me to dream.

I am trying very hard to be upbeat and smiley this morning but to be honest I feel awful. I can't smell anything, I can't taste anything and I really don't feel like being sociable at our gathering today. Today I want to veg on the sofa. DDIL has kindly said that they won't be offended if we leave early so once hubby and DD have had their lunch I think we may well come home and that is what I will be doing. DD has taken delivery of the whole set of Larkrise To Candleford so we'll make a start on that.

I hope you are all having a better Mother's Day and that you are being spoiled rotten.

Thanks for dropping by.
Sheila-x-

Still Down....But Not Out Yet!!!

Thanks so much for the get well wishes yesterday. So kind.

I feel disgusting this morning but not bad enough to sprawl on the sofa so I am just going to crack on and get the baking done for tomorrow. If I am still germy I will stay away as I don't want to pass this on to DS who has had enough illness to last him a good while, DDIL who is pregnant or Ruby......I hate it when she is ill.
Hubby is getting to the end of his and DD is so far germ free and let's hope it stays that way.

Made a start on the serape yesterday but didn't have the energy I was born with to carry on so all that's done is the split up the front of the folded piece of fabric and a little shaping up to the neck.

Well I have rather a lot of onions to peel and prepare for various dishes so I will go and get started. Maybe the fumes will chase this cold away.
Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Down She Goes!!!

I have succumed to the germs that have been surrounding me for what seems like weeks. A hacking cough that feels like my throat is being ripped out, gritty eyes, a throbbing swollen nose and a head that feels like it's been kicked by a horse. I am down but I am not out. I will carry on until I have to give in and take to the sofa.

The bath time wrap was made yesterday and I love it. It's very simple being just a tube with elastic around the top and the bottom has been edged with homemade pink candy stripe bias binding. I think it has cost me about a pound in total. I've never sewn stretch towelling before so I spent some time with an offcut trying out stitches to find the best one for the job which paid off but I don't think I would buy any for a repeat performance.
No time to start on the serape so I may start that today.

Hubby has just left for work so I have a nice long afternoon until DD comes home and we go shopping. I have baking to do for the weekend as we are having a Mother's Day get together at my daughter in laws house. Her mum is coming up from London and there will be quite a houseful so we are having a cold buffet. I will make a couple of quiches, a bowl of coleslaw and a huge bowl of my famous potato and frankfurter salad and DDIL is adding green salad, assorted meats, crusty bread and pickles. Something sweet to have with a cuppa is a must so I will be making more of the lemon meringue cupcakes which went down very well at the baby shower. I expect the shopping bill will be slightly higher this week with the extras I have to get but not too bad I hope.

I have seen snow this morning.....not a lot but they do say the Midlands will be getting some.
Thanks for visiting today.
Sheila-x-

Putting On A Show!!!

Well Mother Nature was certainly in show off mood yesterday. I thought we were just in for a wet day but we got.....thrashing down rain, rain with a little bit of snow, rain with a lot of snow, rain, bright sunshine and blue sky and to top it all she ended the day with very strong winds which had me cowering under the bedclothes certain that something was going to come crashing through the window. It was very noisy and scary.

This morning I woke up with sore ears and a nasty throat....oh joy.
My son has been ill for a while, first with the tonsilitis and now he has an ear and throat infection which has knocked him for six. I saw him on Sunday and gave him a hug which as a mother you just do don't you? I thought I had perhaps caught it off him but now I have had my breakfast cuppa I feel a lot better so here's hoping.

When DDIL dropped Ruby off yesterday she was in some pain at the top of her legs and looking at her I could see that her bump had dropped quite a lot. I think baby may be getting ready to launch itself. She is worried that with DS being ill that he won't be able to be with her and so she has asked that if that was the case would I be her birth partner. What an honour. I do hope DS is well enough to do it but I would be happy to if he can't.

The two and a half hours I spent with Ruby last night were so full of joy. I am immensely proud of the beautiful girl she is growing into. I admit that in her early years I was worried as she was a very unhappy baby, very screamy and high maintenance. She did have her moments in the smiles and giggles department but on the whole she was very hard work. At six she is just the nicest, kindest little girl and I love her so much.........especially when she says things like........ganma you make the best chicken pie....ever!!! Bless her.

No big jobs to do today....just a bit of laundry to finish off and then I am going to do some sewing. In the last scrap bags I bought there was a huge piece of white stretch towelling type fabric which I am going to make into a bath time wrap. I won't ever use it if I don't do something with it straight away so that is my project for today and if I get that finished I will start on a serape with the two metres of black fleece that I have stashed away leaving me lots of room to store more fabric....yay!!!

Off to make a start then.
Thanks for dropping by today.
Sheila-x-

Storage Sorted!!!

Well I got some storage for my sewing stuff and I didn't leave the house or spend any money so I am well chuffed.
There were two six drawer Ikea units hanging about with their drawers full of things that could be redistributed to other places so I snaffled them. They need some tlc in the way of painting which will get done at some point but for now they will do.
All my sewing paraphenalia is now pretty much to hand and a lot tidier.

Thrashing down with rain here so no window cleaning again. I'll do the baking I should have done yesterday......I got distracted by the sorting but I did get the chicken done for the pie.

Hubby is just making me a cooked breakfast. I haven't had one for ages as I usually just have toast and tea but I really fancy one with it being so cold, wet and miserable.

Thanks for your visit today.
Sheila-x-

Scuppered!!!

I could have cleaned the outside of the windows yesterday....instead I put them on my list for today.....today it is thrashing it down with rain so that has put the kybosh on getting that job done. Oh well....I will just play it by ear and do it when I can.

Today then will probably be spent baking as I have been nagged by DD for a coconut cake and Ruby has asked for chicken pie for her tea tomorrow so I will get the filling made for that. Our tea tonight is just simple chicken tacos with salad and either chipotle mayo or a homemade salsa if I have a lime in the fridge.

I may have a quick trip out to B&M tonight as I am looking for a storage unit to bring my sewing stuff into some kind of order. The fabrics are all sorted....ish although I do still have a pile that needs squishing in somewhere. Now it's things like trims and threads that need to be organised. I am hoping that I will then be able to keep the dining table a bit tidier...........and other crafters out there will know that that is the biggest lie ever....lol!!! It is impossible to keep anywhere tidy when you are crafting.

Anyhoo I am off to crank up the oven and grab some chicken out of the freezer.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-