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Saturday 22 November 2014

Mum's virtual blog party

Mum has invited us to hold a virtual blog party today, you can read all about it here.

***For readers of a sensitive nature, please be aware that this post is rather photo heavy***

I love parties, especially family parties, so my guest list would include all of these people, my immediate family

my cousins



plus {slightly more than} a few close friends (you know who you are - if I've seen you this year then you are on the list).

For some scintillating conversation I would also invite the gorgeous Brian Cox (this is a photo of him taken on my TV screen)


Albert Einstein (image courtesy of Wikipedia)


Richard Feynman (having problems finding a downloadable picture at the moment), and my lovely friends from Alabama, USA, Bertha and her housemate Jane Carroll


GM would love to chat with Roy Hodgson and Martin O'Neill, so they are also invited, which will give GS2 an opportunity to show them his football skills.



I really haven't decided on my wardrobe just yet, but the most important prerequisite is for comfortable shoes, and these are my latest acquisition


I've been making a few fairy cakes - these have yet to be iced - but, having licked the bowl while I was making them, I can tell you they will be delicious.


Most of the music will be courtesy of this young man (GS1) and his dad (DO),


but I have also asked the fantastic and handsome Paul Lewis to pop in with his piano to do us a quick guest spot (Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3)(another photo from my TV).


 We'll have a game or two of pass-the-parcel,


we'll wear party hats



we'll share balloons


 and we'll ask Luke to show us how to dance.


If you think this looks like fun then why not drop by for a drink, or a bite to eat, and enjoy talking to all my lovely guests, and dont forget also to pop by for a quick visit to the others who are also hosting their virtual parties today.

Thanks to Mum for organising us all. I've had a lovely time, hope you have too.

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Mum's having a party

Not my mum, but Mum at Mum's Simply Living blog. It's being held this Saturday, 22nd November. Please come along and join in the fun.

Thursday 11 September 2014

Please take a look . . .

. . . . at my other blog stationharry.blogspot.com

I'll be back soon with my next installment of Happy Days.

Thursday 24 July 2014

View from my studio . .

As GM and I were enjoying a leisurely cuppa on the deck the other morning we were rudely interrupted by what sounded like a chainsaw starting up very close by, so, hazarding a quick guess as to what was about to happen, I dashed up to my studio to take a "before" photo.


Please excuse the poor quality of the photo, it was taken through the glass of the window, which is very, very mucky (note to self : get studio windows cleaned!)

My guess was correct, our two-doors-away-round-the-corner neighbours were having their very tall and close to the house conifer felled. This is great news for us as this tree, although not a problem during the summer months when the sun is high in the sky, would cast long shadows over our garden during the winter months.

I was also excited because as a child I was a tomboy and just loved climbing trees, also my eldest son DO was a tree surgeon until he gave up work to be a fulltime SAHD, and watching a professional tree surgeon in action gives me all sorts of thrills (is that sad?). So I sat in my studio doing my stuff, and every now and again just turned to look out of the window and watch progress.







The job was done and dusted in an hour and a half, and although my view is somewhat different I'm still happy as it means that during the winter months our garden will hopefully benefit from more sunshine (that's if we have any!)


Sunday 13 July 2014

Neighbours

When we lived in Surrey we were very lucky to have Jim and Diane living next door to us for several years - do you know I cant remember how many, but I know they left in 2002 to emigrate to New Zealand. I don't think they left because of us (but you never know). However, while they were with us they were great neighbours and we had lots of fun with them, and probably consumed vast quantities of alcohol with them too.

We were quite sad to see them go, but off they went to New Zealand to make a new life for themselves. Since they left we have spoken on the phone a couple of times and exchanged emails and Christmas cards. We weren't really expecting to see them again, but quite out of the blue a couple of weeks ago we had an email, they were in UK, and would be passing almost by our front door on their way from Devon back to London, could they pop in and see us? Well of course they could, why on earth not?

So last weekend they turned up, looking exactly as they had done 12 years ago! Diane had a very slight kiwi accent but apart from that they were just as we had known them, and it was as if it was only a month or so since we had last been together. Isn't that a sign of true friendship?

They'll be heading back to NZ in two weeks time and I guess it will be at least another 12 years before we see them again. Thanks for popping in, you two, and bon voyage (again).


Saturday 21 June 2014

Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt - Midsummers Day




13. A sunrise - taken from my studio window, located about 16 miles to the west of Stonehenge at approx 5.15am on Midsummers Day.


(with apologies for the cheek of "blogger" to lighten the shot, I find it very annoying that they alter my upload without my knowledge or choice - a big boo to "blogger"). To see the shot as I would like it to be seen, please visit the facebook page.



Thursday 5 June 2014

Five on the Fifth, The Epping Ongar Railway

GM and I are post-war baby-boomers, and as such we can both remember from our childhoods the thrill and excitement of steam rail travel. I dont know if all (or any) of our contemporaries feel the same, but we have a certain nostalgic love of those days, and now we take the opportunity to visit a heritage railway whenever we can.

It just so happens that the newest of these is the Epping Ongar Railway. I was born in Epping and lived there until I was 20, then lived in the Ongar area for the next 16 years, but I can honestly say that in all that time I never once travelled on what was at that time an extension of the central line, run by London Underground. You can read a full history of the line here.

However, we recently found ourselves back in Essex on a Sunday morning with a couple of hours to spare, so what better to do than to pay a visit to the EOR. We were too early to see any actual trains running, but we enjoyed an hour or so just mooching around the station.

In the proper spirit of 5 on 5, these photos should have been taken within a five minute period, but, hey ho, rules are there to be bent (sorry Sandie), mine were taken over a leisurely hour on a lazy sunny Sunday morning.






To see the other Five on the Fifth entries, please visit Sandie's blog, itchifingers.



Monday 26 May 2014

What I am focusing on - blog hop

I was asked a couple of weeks ago by Sandie at itchifingers if I would participate in a blog-hop, so I straight away said yes, I would. However, when the time came for me to get down and write my post I wasn't feeling too well. May has been a very hectic month for me, I was exhausted, and on top of everything else I was suffering from cystitis . Over the past week I've been on a course of antibiotics, my cystitis has cleared up, I've been taking it steady and now I'm feeling a whole lot better.

I was also asked to nominate 3 people for the next leg of the blog hop, so I have chosen three of my favourite crafters, each in a totally different field, and each producing work that I love. They are Tracy, Karen B and Karen R, and I'll introduce them to you at the end of this post.

A quick word about myself, I am retired, living in Wiltshire and loving my life right now. I have four sons and 5 grandchildren. I craft for pleasure (my own) rather than for any other reason, and although in the past I have sold a few of my pieces, most of what I produce is for myself or for giving to others. I'm never shy of trying something different, and have indulged myself in all sorts of various crafting activities over the years, I've been knitting for over 60 years (gosh, gasp!), dressmaking for more than 50 and crocheting for about 45 on and off. I've dabbled in photography, drawing, painting, writing, quilting, fabric art and card-making, as well as home renovation, decorating and home furnishings.

The questions posed for me to answer are as follows:

1) What am I working on now?

Just over two years ago GM (my husband, affectionately known as the Green Man, because of his predilection for wearing green clothing) and I moved into our "forever" home. The house is just the right size for us but one or two things needed some attention, which we have slowly been sorting over the last two years. Currently, after some major plumbing works, we are in the process of installing a decent extractor fan, altering some of the electrical circuit, removing the old extractor hood, moving our gas hob and fitting some more wall cupboards in the kitchen, then that area will require painting and a bit of tiling, so thats what I'm focusing on right now - being electricians mate, painter and general gopher and cleaner-upper. At the same time I've recently bought the fabric for some new curtains for our bedroom, which I shall be making over the next month or so. I'm knitting myself a sweater for the winter months, and shortly I'll be embarking on three matching sweaters for my granddaughters aged 3.5, 1 and one month.

2) How does my work differ from others of its kind?

I think it differs from others only in that my ideas come from inside my head rather than from any sense of fashion or anything that I've seen. When I knit I follow patterns but I do make the odd change here or there. I haven't made any clothing for myself or for anyone else for a while, but when I did I became quite adept at altering patterns to fit, or making my own patterns by cutting down old clothing. My painting could be described more as paint blobbing than any attempt at illustration. I am self-taught at crochet and quilting and am still in a learning process for both of these crafts. So really, all of my work is just personal to me in whichever way I decide to go at any given time. I don't copy anyone else, but if I see something I like and want I'll have a go at producing it in my own way.

3) Why do I create what I do?

I knit and crochet to make things for myself and my family - although it's many a long year since any of the sons (aged 43, 38, 25 and 23) and grandsons (aged 16 and 12) have worn anything that I've knitted! I take photographs just because I love to, and I use them to illustrate my blog, for the last three and a half years I've participated in 365s, a photo a day, on my blogs. Home-making speaks for itself. Paint blobbing is just something I do now and again for relaxation or a change. I started quilting a couple of years ago, I made a quilt for my oldest granddaughter and I shall make a couple more for the younger two. I'm not sure if I'll make any more after that - that will very much depend on how many more grandchildren I'm given. I also often make specifics for my friends' grandchildren, I've knitted rabbits and various other toys, and crocheted cot and carrycot blankets.

4) How does my writing/creating process work?

I have no idea, I just dont like to be not doing anything, and I turn my hand to whatever needs to be done. During the summer months I create less than during the winter, as my focus is more on my garden, I grow vegetables for our own consumption and am looking forward to taking on a garden makeover once the work on the house is finished, probably next year. Every now and then, if something tickles my fancy, I might sit down and compose a limerick. I love letter writing, I have penfriends in Cornwall (Karen B, see below), Virginia U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand, I'm a member of a group in Post Circle, and also a member of Postcrossing, I write my blog, I have several friends with whom I communicate regularly by email, and last year I started to write a book - however as yet I'm stuck on chapter three and I doubt I'll be bothered to continue! Sandie (above) and I have discovered that we seem to have a great deal in common and have also been swapping letters, we hope to meet up later this year.

So, there you have it, I'm not your normal sort of crafter, I dont stick to one thing, I just flit about here, there and everywhere. A couple of years before my retirement in 2008 I started running my own business, I am a Phoenix Trader and you can visit my website here. I've always loved beautiful stationery ever since I was a child, my dad was a jobbing printer and used to bring home all sorts of bits and pieces of paper. Back in my late teens/early 20s I worked for him as a Girl Friday/van driver in central London and I am still to this day hooked on the wonderful scents of paper and printers inks.

As this is a blog-hop I would now like to introduce you to three ladies for whom I have a great deal of respect, each a wonderfully talented crafter in their chosen field.

First is Tracy, whose blog is Mad About Bags. (You can see an example of Tracy's work in my own blog header). Tracy is a 44 year old married mum with three children and lives in the rural outskirts of the newly appointed City of Essex, Chelmsford. Sewing has always been a big part of her life as her Mum was a seamstress and made all her and her sisters clothes. Tracy's passion for creating was kick-started after an accident at work meant she had a lot of time on her hands and a cross stitch shop just around the corner! This creative journey has had its peaks and troughs with the arrival of her children and a couple of building projects. With all her children now in full time education and a husband who doesn't mind her obsession with fabrics, yarns and sewing machines (she has several!) she creates individual and bespoke items in her workroom in the garden. 

Secondly we have Karen B of Me My Camera Eye who says: My main interest lies with photography but I enjoy several pastimes, which include knitting, scrapbooking, reading, gardening, writing and the dreaded exercising and spending time with my family (hubby and two girls), my big problem is that I don't have enough time to do all of them on a regular basis. I work as an enablement worker for Cornwall Council. I really enjoy challenging myself and love sharing what knowledge I have with others.

And last, but by no means least, is Karen R of Just K Jewellery who says: I live in Hampshire in the UK although I grew up and went to school in Windsor. I'm mum to an adult philosophy teacher son, mum to a sweet little rescue tabby cat and partner to Nick who's learned to live with my jewellery-making taking over our home. I started making jewellery for myself in 2005 and soon became totally addicted. I'm self taught using books from the library and lots of experimenting. I've been working with resin since 2008 after going on a silver clay workshop where I was introduced to the work of Sherri Haab. I bought her book about resin jewellery and as soon as I read it I knew this was what I wanted to do. All the resin pieces I use have been made by me in my workshop at home - and I love finding quirky and unusual items to embed in resin.

Thank you Sandie for inviting me to take part in this blog-hop, and thank you also to Tracy and the two Karens for agreeing to be the next victims participants.

Saturday 24 May 2014

Thursday 15 May 2014

Disruption at Daisy Row

As if May wasn't already busy enough, with birthdays galore, a wedding anniversary, a visit from a relative from USA, a 90th birthday party to help organise and a new baby due (who, thankfully, decided to surprise us all by arriving in late April), our faithful plumber decided that he could fit us in, and if a plumber tells you he can fit you in, you do NOT say no. So, on Monday morning promptly at 8 a.m. Baz and Dave arrived, to remove our old, inefficient boiler.


As the new boiler was destined to be fitted not in the kitchen but the utility room


a certain amount of disruption where new pipes were to be fitted was guaranteed. I had to vacate my studio for a while, and the carpet had to be pulled back to allow access under the floorboards


so the pipes could pass back to the airing cupboard, where the hot water tank was positioned.


Well, they were here for three days. The hot water tank, being surplus to requirements was removed,


as was the old boiler,


and the new boiler was fitted.


We had decided that it was not a good idea for Cassie to be around while all this work was going on, so she's had a nice little holiday in a luxury apartment in Clearwood Cattery (highly recommended) and will be back home this afternoon, after we've cleared all the dust.

Thanks Baz and Dave, a good job well done. Watch this space, next on the list of improvements is some work to make good the kitchen.

Tuesday 6 May 2014

Look what I got!

Sandie makes books, you can read all about it on her blog itchifingers (she also does photography and various other crafts, a multi-talented lady). I was lucky enough to receive on of her lovely books as a birthday present, I love it . . . .






. . . . it already has pride of place in my current knitting bag. Thank you so much Sandie.