The weather is glorious here

We've come down to the van until Sunday lunch time, what a palaver last night when we got here. Travelling down I was absolutely perished, northern word for extremely cold! We had Georgi girl with us and bless her she doesn't travel well, that's usually why my lovely daughter has her and Nunu whilst we're here. Said daughter is now working so is unable to have them, it's no trouble when they're all here its just the travelling. We've found giving her a Sturgeron travel pill an hour before travelling and putting a cushion in the footwell at Mr B's feet she's ok. The draw back is we have to have the heater on cool so she doesn't get to hot, hence she is fine, we're perishing cold��

When we arrived at the van the owners of the site had been having electrical work done over the past few days so a notice was up to say it would go off intermittently whilst the site was checked for safety. The problem was our electric had tripped out, no electricity, the CH is gas but needs electric. Mr B had cleaned the carpet when we left last week. So putting furniture back in place in pitch black tends to result in trapped fingers and knocked shins��. Eventually we found the outside trip switch and we were up and running it soon warmed through.

The weather today is absolutely gorgeous, a lot warmer and wonderful sunshine to brighten up the day�� travelling in the dark with alternating rain and snow shower yesterday was a downer but today is a real blessing.

I'm going to be doing some quilting shortlynd ive brought my crochet with me. I've finally found out how to crochet granny squares correctly thanks to 'verypinkknits' fantastic video tutorials check them out on YouTube. Also I can now crochet hexagons thanks to 'bobwilson123 ' she has great tutorials on YouTube also. Thank you ladies for solving a problem I've had for years, badly misshapen sq's with no clue what I was doing wrong!

Because of the arthritis I can't use plain metal hooks so a couple of years ago I invested in a set, complete with case of Clover soft touch hooks. They have an aluminium hook but the handle is soft and very comfortable enabling me to hold the hook better. They're not cheap but at least I can use them.��



Well I'm off to get started, I hope the weather is great where you are also.

Peg xx



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I feel like a character from Alice in Wonderland!

Gosh life has been so busy these past few weeks with the rescue the phone never seems to stop ringing. It's sad so many people having to give up their dogs, we're full so I've been ringing around other rescues to see if they can take the dogs we can't. 5 dogs have managed to get a space.

On a happier note not long now until the site opens up and we can go down to the caravan again. Although its double glazed and central heated I think it would be far to cold during the winter months. All the quilts, pillows, throws and bedding have been washed and ironed and packed away ready to take back to the van. I'm trying something different this year and have invested in some vac seal storage bags so hopefully they won't take up so much room in the cars. I'm having a battle with one bag that has 2 quilts, cushions, and 2 pillows in, it vacs down to a cube. Each time I do it, walk away and come back later its back to normal size! I know the valve is sealed so think there's either a hole or I'm not sealing the opening properly, the others work perfectly.

Stitching wise, I bought a few more Accuquilt dies and am looking forward to cutting out the ones I bought. I have 5 quilt tops ready to sandwich, I still haven't worked up the courage to machine quilt the quilt I finished last year�� I will do it eventually.

Well it's a quick visit, lunch to get ready and more sorting to do.

Take care and enjoy your day

Peg xx


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Gosh I didn't realise it had even so long!

Goodness me my apologies to all those who pop by, this year has been probably one of the worst up to now. My health hit an all time low and I'm so sad to say there have been some very distressful times concerning our rescue. An investigation has ensued relating to a former director, more can't be said as yet the case is still ongoing and will be carried on into the new year. Very unpleasant times, with her supporters vilifying myself because I brought it to the attention of the authorities. If I hadn't been ill and taking a back seat for a few months I would not have known about it and it would have continued. Her supporters sadly can't be told what the allegations are so think we're being malicious, when it all comes out they'll be very hurt. I know because I was, I respected, trusted and loved her like a sister.
Because of the above the number of dogs we can help has depleted enormously. This time of year we're always very busy as are all rescues but we don't have the finances to fulfil our promise of looking after the ones needing medical treatment. It's been very draining, stressful and still is.

My salvation has been the odd times I can devote to my sewing which has been very spasmodic. I have managed to get a lot of squares cut out with my Go cutter, so much quicker. I do still use a rotary cutter though. I've actually got one of my wip's pieced, sandwiched and ready for me to grow some nerve and machine quilt it.
Here it is waiting or me to get up the nerve:

We've spent as much time as possible at the coast in our holiday hideaway, we've enjoyed it so much and are glad we chose where we did. I wanted to make it as cosy as possible, couldn't get Mr B to go chinz but he does like the new armchair I found on ebay, handmade by a craftsman who has 30 yrs experience behind him. I absolutely love it, it's so comfy, here's a pic for you and it wasn't as expensive as you would imagine. The fabric is Clarke & Clarke Rose on Grey but it is just off white.

In September I changed my car, I need to have a higher one to enable me to get in and out easier. This body isn't as agile as it used to be, we looked around for ages and finally decided on a Vauxhall Antara 4x4. It's great and so comfy to drive and ride in. We chose a black like this one, good job I don't do the cleaning of it I can't reach the top of the car!

I'm not doing much driving at the moment though only if I really have to. I have torn the plantar fascia ligament and its blooming painful. This ligament goes from the bottom of the toes to the back of your heel, due to the damage caused it's inflamed. I have to wear the splint at night plus on and off during the day the splint stretches the ligament helping it to heal. Day time isn't bad, they increased my dosage of the anti inflamatories and pain meds. Night time wearing it in bed is like going to bed with motorbike boots on lol. It does help though, until I take it off. It is very sexy don't you think :0).

As you can see my ever faithful companions like to be near.

Mr B is so getting into the cooking and baking, he's stocked the freezer up, not the bread cobs on top they were bought ones he moved to the top to be used first. There are bread cobs in there that I made. His quiches are really scrumptious, the pastry melts in your mouth. He's not quite mastered making tea cakes but he'll get there.

  Photos of the pizzas he made, cooked one and it was delicious with salad.

Ready for the freezer with sweetcorn, red onion, green peppers, ham & Danish Salami

, 

He likes to keep the larder cupboard stocked and rearranges it occasionally lol.

Sorry it's photo overload just trying to catch up, I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas. We're out for Christmas lunch, we're going to my daughters and really looking forward to it.

Hugs to you all
Peg xx

If at first you don't succeed.

I was trying to be clever yesterday and post a link to some photos unfortunately that didn't work so will put the photos on instead.

I'll take you on a tour of my garden area, tea and biscuits provided free of charge.

My garden, my refuge, my small but comfy summerhouse and of course little poser Georgi. The chiminea is still under cover.



My vintage Royal Albert ornamental teapot and a magazine or two


One of my samplers and ornamental bird cage with perfumed candle & lights in, it looks really nice when lit, saving the environment too they're battery operated. The light on the back wall is solar and bright.



More magazines to peruse with a snugly vintage eiderdown if it turns chilly.


Another book or two and another snugly eiderdown, room for two, anyone want to join me?


Cd corner the player is under the table, we will paint the tables and corner shelf when we have more time later. I have the curtains ready just waiting for Mr B to have time to put the rails up, I'll share that in another post. I don't need to make them my lovely DIL Philly made them. I'll be making some cushion covers hopefully next week, I have the inserts and fabric ready and waiting.



Secluded eating corner, awaiting new chairs. We're bringing the two spare ones from the caravan they're more comfy.


Oh to swing and dream, soooo comfy, the quilted rug is necessary when little doglets decide to jump up and snooze.


My Bay tree, bistro table and lamp, again, solar. Sadly one of the globes was accidentally broken so I've ordered a replacement.




I've wanted a Japanese acre for years and love the deep coloured display, along with this my Lavender shrub and pot chrysanthemums make up this corner. That's my big man Nemo in the back ground.


From the steps, the little shed in the corner is for storage, I don't go there just incase little scurrying visitors are in residence.


Another from the steps


Looking into the house


Not a large garden but it's ours and we love it, the fence is 6' my neighbour has conifers the other side and asked if we minded her letting them grow higher, no it gives us more privacy.

So there you have it our little haven from the bustle of life.






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Isn't it nice to see some sunshine?

The links aren't working will try again ! It's been a beautiful day here in sunny Derbyshire, I awoke this morning to an unusual quietness around the house, it's usually a hive of baking and cooking by Mr B. On coming downstairs the back door was open and the contents of my grooming room were on the pavers in front of the steps.

I need to explain a little here first, I have an awful and some may say pathetic phobia about mice and their larger kin, rats. When we had the new kitchen installed and my bedroom made over we stored quite a bit of the bedroom stuff in the grooming room, these items weren't put back for a while so I wasn't able to get in there for quite some time.

To my horror when I did I noticed there was evidence of visitors, not the pleasant kind, those with 4 legs and an obscene tail the only good thing about it was they were the smaller variety! That was it, I refused to go in, childish you may think, I don't mind spiders, moths, bees etc. Luckily all bedroom contents were in large plastic storage tubs inpenetrable (sp?) from the outside by scurrying things. Everything was thoroughly washed although unnecessary, however the lidless tubs holding my grooming tools etc didn't go unscathed. The blooming monsters had been in them!!

Then this morning there was Mr B very kindly extracting the contents and scrubbing everything down for me. With the contents out it was possible to see they had not made a home in there by nesting but were literally visiting or being nosey, they must have been rather peeved at me because no food was kept in there and thankfully they didn't punish me by chewing anything.

Bless him he really went to town with the disinfecting and scrubbing, I couldn't thank him enough for what he'd done. Now the only items in there need to be and I can see all areas so am happy to go back inside and keep my munchkins tidy. Their treats box is in there now but has a strong lid, if you'd like to see the results please click on the link below.


A lovely visitor to my blog has emailed and asked if I could please share photos of my garden, this link is below if you should wish to also see. I love my garden now, it has served as a refuge from the constant ringing phone, a place I can either sit quietly or listen to classical music or catch up on my audio books with my ipod. We're very lucky in having neighbours who are out at work all day so it's nice and quite. Our garden area isn't massive but we're happy with it. It was rather large when we first moved in but we used one side of it to have a large garage built. Having the dogs mean't any grassed area would be ruined, I have 6 girls and grass doesn't fair well.

So last year we decided to have it all paved with Indian slabs, I got my longed for conservatory, summer house, grooming room and my lovely garden swing. The pics aren't fantastic, I'm not to good with the camera and a great view would have been overhead I suppose but I don't own a chopper lol.

 I have my lovely mediteranian style pots with a Japanese Maple for which I've wanted for years, they also hold my Lavender shrub, Bay tree and pot chrysanthimums. It's easier to keep clean and tidy, the slabs need a rinse down daily but that's not a problem.

I do have lovely solar lights all around in the pots, some of them are along the fence, summer house and along the edges of the paved area. Photos I take of them never come out right. The small shed beside the summerhouse is just for storage and not one I go into just in case lol.I would love extensive grounds with landscaped gardens and sitting areas but I haven't and I'm happy with what I have, it's managable.
I do love Mr B :o)

Here's the link below.

Have a wonderful weekend, we're off to my elder sons tomorrow for a bbq, I love it over there too there's often shows or festivals going on especially with LadyBower Dam being so close.

take care

Our little soldier

Whilst I've been incapacitated on enforced rest Mr B has been occupying himself with swapping cupboards around. Many of you will I'm sure salute this action but the problem is I can never find anything when he's finished lol. He will often move things around in the large larder cupboard but then I have to keep shouting to ask him where he's put things.

Anyway, he decided to rearrange the cupboard under the stairs where we keep stocks of long term storage like a few tinned goods, loo roll, kitchen roll, pasta etc. During his sorting he came across a cardboard box which gave a bit of a 'pot' rattle when he moved it. Carefully looking inside he came across this handsome fellow which we forgot we had.

 He's a cookie jar around 18" high, we knew we had the perfect place for him now. Mr B is a big fan of chocolate, I'm not, the occassional McVities chocolate wholemeal biscuit I enjoy but that's it. However I do dabble in sweets (candy to our US friends) so we have decided to take him to our peaceful holiday get away and give him the honour of guarding our 'stash' We can get quite a few packets of sweets & chocolate bars in there don't you think?  I love his cute little grin. My daughter, SIL & grandson are going down for the weekend but she'd rather not have the responsibility of taking him, she's brilliant at breaking things lol.

Im going to see if I can stand long enough to put the batting and backing fabric on my quilt top, not easy sitting down doing it and I need it to be kept straight.

If I manage it you'll be the first to know :o)

Take care

Peg x

Another change in the weather!

Yesterday, 3 of my Munchkins and I spent our time in the conservatory, me sorting the quilt out and they just watching me. from left to right is Megan my little oldie girl who recently had a stroke. Georgi girl my little flirt and Dooglebug our baby of the outfit who loves everybody whomever they are.
The weather wasn't inviting us to sunbathe and rained all day not a day for sitting on the swing.

It didn't improve any later on either as you can see in these pictures

The lovely pink bucket you can see was purposely left out to measure the amount of rain we'd had and as of yesterday in 2 wks the bucket is 3/4 full! As you can imagine we have not sat at the garden table for any meals recently lol. Thankfully we are better off than some in the UK who have horrendous floods again, it must be heart breaking because some are only just getting over last years floods.

On a lighter note I've finished the quilt top I was sewing, when we spent 10 rainy days in our get away I used the time to get on with it

I took the photo today thinking the rare appearance of the sun may give me a good picture, here's a close up so you can see the blocks and pretty border fabric. It's called Playmates quilt, designed by Pam & Nicky Lintott. The pattern calls for a jelly roll from the French General range but as this is no longer available I used my own yardage of Moda fabrics from the US. 

I have the cotton batting and backing fabric ready to complete it but I'm not able to stand long enough to pin them all together yet. I'm very happy with how it's turned out so far, I'd never made these blocks before, I made mistakes and there was quite a bit of frogging and restitching but it was worth all the work put into it.

The sun has gone back in now and it's rather overcast again, the forecast is more heavy rain yet we have hosepipe bans in force in several areas??

Take care

Peg x

.

A little renovation.

A few years ago I saw and fell in love with this quilt on ebay, I loved it on site. I finally had the winning bid and was so happy when I received it. At first I was a little disappointed that the back was bulky, there was no batting just a rather thick blanket albeit it new.



This is the blanket,


Due to being ill and not able to machine or physically walk about I decided to take off the backing and finish it properly. Once I'd removed the blanket the back was a bit of a shock







As you can see each square instead of being cut to size had the edges folded over anywhere between 1- 2" with masses of threads needing cutting off. It looked a mess, but you know I felt really annoyed with myself for being so picky. The reason for this was that on closer inspection the lady who pieced it had hand stitched each square. The stitches were so tiny evidently taking many hours to stitch the squares securely together.

I've cut the excess fabric off each square and when I put the batting, the backing fabric and binding on I will have the luxury of using my machine, this lady evidently didn't. I think the old adage of not judging a book by its cover is a lesson I learnt this week. I still love it and knowing the work she put in will make me appreciate it even more.

Just a little mention of the weather we're having, if it continues to rain much longer I think we'll all be developing webbed feet :0).

Enjoy your week and please take time to pop over to some of the blogs who's buttons are on my sidebar you'll be in for a treat!

Take care

Peg x



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