MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

A very merry Christmas to everyone and may your Christmas be happy, peaceful and blessed. As the above says your friends are worth more than jewels, your family are even more precious, treasure both. Let past differences be just that 'in' the past, friends this year has proved to me that life is to short to bear grudges and put off contacting that friend or loved one until tomorrow, do it today.

A few years ago I rang what I thought was my local council office but the person who answered was my husbands cousin in law. Somehow I'd dialled his number which isn't even remotely like the council one. He didn't sound right and when he knew who it was he broke down and cried, because he was at a very low point in his life and said he'd needed to speak to someone but couldn't pick up the phone to ring anyone as he didn't want to be a bother . We talked for a while and when I rang off I called his MIL and straight away she went over to be with him. Through a misdialled phone call he got the help he needed.

God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform and in this case I feel very humble and priviliged He chose to use me to help another one of His children in need.

God showed us the supreme sacrifice when He gave His Beloved Son to die in our stead. During this time of celebration with our families and friends lets not forget the wonderful gift God sent to be amongst us.

Have a wonderful time and for those of you who don't have family to physically share Christmas with please remember you have a vast army of friends here online who care about you and are only an email away.

Also a BIG thank you to all our armed forces who put their lives on the line daily to keep us safe. To the firefighters, ambulance crews and policemen and women thank you also where would we be without your dedication?

hugs Peg

Yeeaahhhh she's done it!!

Our gorgeous little munchkin Megan, in the foreground, has finally done it, she went downstairs on her own!! Now I know you will be thinking yeah so what but this little girl spent the first 3.1/2 yrs of her life shut in a small cage, she couldn't stand up in, abused, starved and bred until she was no longer profitable.

I am so proud of her, she had never encounted stairs until she came to us. As I use a stair lift she is usually the regal queen riding up with Mum whilst the others all have to walk. Over the past few weeks I've had little goes at trying to get her to climb a few stairs at a time. The others will run up in front so she has managed to climb a few and is getting the general idea.

As I mentioned yesterday I've been shopping with my daughter, I rang Neil to see if all was ok and he proudly said I had missed the big event. He was working on the computer so all 4 munchkins were upstairs with him. Apparently Paddington and Zebedee went downstairs and a while later he wondered where Megan was, she wasn't asleep in her bed. He shouted, she barked back.........from downstairs!! She must have followed the others down and managed it well because Neil didn't hear any loud bangs to suggest she'd fallen.

Yeah I know to some of you she's just a dog but as my gorgeous human babes have fled the nest and now have babes of their own these munchkins are my babies. Oooh knowing how far she's progressed is the best Christmas present I could have.

We awoke this morning to a winter wonderland outside, I sadly didn't think to pick up my camera. The sun was shining but everywhere was covered by a very heavy frost. Our roads were dangerous for driving on and the temperature hasn't lifted much all day. Looking from the window now I can see the cars covered with ice and the roads are glazing over. A travel warning has been given over the radio, it doesn't take much to bring England to a standstill weather wise :o)

It upsets me to think there will be people who are not as fortunate as we are and they will be sleeping out. How on this earth do they manage? I was really saddened last year whilst at my stitch club, new bus shelters had been built in a large area in the town and some of the ladies were complaining that 'these people' dared to bring blankets under the shelters around teatime and were getting ready to bed down. With respect to them all these ladies all have good, warm homes to go to with families who care about them. Yes I know some people are on the streets by choice but it must be a darned horrible alternative to make them want to live their lives like this. The temperature at the moment is at -2 degrees and will get colder as the night wears on. I thank the Lord daily for what I have and know it's only by His grace and not because I of anything I've done.

The shops as predicted were manic, I'm sure people think the world ends at Christmas the way they buy, buy, buy, shopping baskets full to overflowing when probably half of the goodies will be wasted. We'll be sharing Christmas lunch with our daughter and her family, the dogs will come with us so that will be 6 humans and 5 dogs as they have a gorgeous young lady called Lucy who is a Black/Tan Cocker spaniel who has a wonderful character and is able to keep Zebedee under control even though she's only 1yr old :o)

Well that's it for now, I'm off to have something to eat, enjoy your evening and if you need to travel please do be careful. Please spare a thought for my SIL in this pic, he works for Green Flag rescue and is on call tonight after a full day at work.

Warm hugs to you all

Peg

A world of wonder

I was really busy this morning catching up on jobs until fatique took over again so I spent a little time studying the inside of my eyelids ;o)

For the past couple of hours I've been surfing through other blogs and I've spent a great time in a world of wonder! I have found some amazing new ones, some I came across are lovers of all things vintage and it was so wonderful being transported to past times. Some of these ladies are young enough to be my daughters and I'm not that old but seeing things from the past I thought were lost has been so pleasurable, thank you ladies for sharing. I will add them to blogs I like to visit later so you also may share in the pleasure too.

I'm dreading tomorrow, I'm going shopping with my daughter, I really do hate it at this time of year. Everyone panic buys, the shops are only closed for 1 day and nothing in them is going out of style I find it too stressing and will probably come home with a huge headache.

Two of our little munchkins are going to love me this Friday, Megan and Paddington are booked in for a bath and haircut, they're both good but neither like their beards or legs being done.
Zebedee will be going Saturday.......good luck to them, he hates being combed, having his coat cut and doing his face is like facing Attilla the Hun on a bad day! We may end up having the vet sedate him and letting them cut around his eyes and mouth. I bear the scars of trying to wipe his mouth never mind cut his fur. He hates scissors and he hates the clippers, he's an angry little munchkin in general, people who ill treat these dogs don't just cause them agony whilst they have them but scar them for life. No matter how much we show him he'll never be ill treated again he's a dog and just doesn't understand.

Well I'm off to surf some more of these great blogs, have a great Thursday
hugs Peg

Our School website

A few years ago Neil designed a website for the school he works at,

the sight has now been updated and he's asked me if readers of my blog would kindly visit the site and sign the guest book so the children can see they've had visitors from around the world. When I put out this request on stitching groups I was on the children were amazed at the places people had taken time to visit from. Would you like to make their day? If so please visit Holmehall Primary school The photo is of the school entrance in Autumn of this year. Thank you in advance :o)

Goodness I think we're in for a cold night......time to wrap up warm with a cup of hot chocolate!

hugs Peg

Just trying this out

Good morning to one and all, today I'm feeling good, the fatique seems to have gone, my flare up has calmed ...yeahhhh.

I've been trying to get myself more technical minded and have enlisted the help of two lovely ladies I've already used the advice of Melissa to enable me to put the banner in the corner of my blog. Also Beth very kindly helped me to make these 'quick' links, thank you ladies for explaining in simple english and making it so easy, you are both real treasures. Plus they both have great blogs folks :o)

hugs Peg

Another new week

Goodness I think if the weeks go by any quicker I'll be meeting myself coming back! I thought I'd just post a recent pic of myself.............huh I wish....lol. Isn't she pretty, she is by curtesy of http://www.glitter-graphics.com they have a miriad of free downloadable graphics and blinkies etc.
I was still suffering with fatique after breakfast but knew if I sat I'd soon be back asleep. I decided to do a little more in my sewing room after I'd done a little tidying. DD had taken my ironing to do for me so I needed to put that away. I changed the bedding and oh boy did I make a hash of it. It took me almost 40 mins to get the fresh duvet cover on, roll on the time when I've made a quilt for the bed.

I had a delivery of two gorgeous fabrics today, one is a dark blue fleece and the other is a tartan fabric. Both are soft and great quality. I'm still awaiting delivery of more fabric, once it's in I can decide which I will use for the bed. I want to make Mums lap quilt out of homespun checks, she's not a flowery fabric person but loves earthy tones.

Thankfully we may see an end to the senseless killing of the young ladies of the night in Ipswich, it's been announced that police have a man in custody. They've named him which is unusual if he's not an almost certain suspect. I know the young girls live a life surrounded by violence and degregation but they are still human and someone's daughter. God doesn't like what they do but He still loves them and His Son died for them too. My heart goes out to the families of these girls.

It was also in the news tonight that 2 people have died of the MRSA bug at the hospital our son Paul was taken to and spent many months in after his accident. I feel for the families of these people too but can't help feeling relieved he isn't still a patient there. He caught the bug whilst in intensive care there and contacted it again at the spinal unit. Whilst he was there and the spinal unit he was isolated in a room of his own and barrier nursing put into operation at all times.

I've found some new blogs today, I love reading about other peoples daily life, does that make me a people person or just plain nosey??

have a good week
hugs Peg

As promised, the pics are of our youngest grandson Jacob, he's a real cutie and very much knows his own mind! The one on the right is just before he started school, the left one shows him on the righthand side taking the part of the Inn Keeper, looking at us in the audience.

This one is of the reindeer, all the children are in their first year of school and did amazingly well to remember all their lines.

His Daddy is taking him to a wonderful world of magic today, we have a garden center about 8 miles away which transforms into a Christmas winter wonderland complete with decorations and real reindeer at this time of year. It's a delight for both children and adults.

Enjoy your Sunday, may it bring you all your heart desires

hugs Peg

So much to do so little time!!

I think I may need the help of my fairy friends this week, I'm so tired again and yesterday wasn't to busy really. I think it's a few of my health issues rearing their ugly heads again.
I need to get myself organised but I have neither the energy nor the motivation at the moment. That sounds awful doesn't it but I think honesty is the best policy...lol

During this morning quite a large group of people gathered outside our home, next thing the most beautiful sound of a Christmas carol came across the breeze, it was totally unexpected but so nice. They're from a local church near us, whilst they were singing young ladies went from door to door with baskets of chocolate and leaflets advertising this evenings carol service.

I rang Philly, DIL, earlier to see how they all were and Paul isn't well today, he's having a lot of pain in his back. I know most of this week he's had problems getting up and about with being so stiff, at the moment it's 2 steps forward and 1 step back. The physio was pleased with him on Tuesday though he's able to lift his arm to 120% now which is a vast improvement. Like all Mums it breaks my heart to see him in pain and I want to take it away from him.

hugs

Peg

Only 9 more days to Christmas!

Gosh, where does the time go? This has been another busy week of activities, tiring me out completely. I haven't seen much of Neil, this time of year he is busy with school concerts and plays.

Last Saturday evening we went out for a meal as I said we would. We had a great time with friends and the whole evening was relaxing. The meal was everything you'd want it to be and the company was just as good. I think I over did it a little though, I spent Sunday and Monday sleeping the days and nights away. I felt exhausted, the little munchkins kept trying to poke me whilst I slept but even their comical antics couldn't get me going. Zebedee thought it most amusing to 'steal' my slippers each time I took them off. He's not one to argue with either as I have proved many times. Megan rushes to my defence each time like a warrior princess!

Tuesday I felt a little better so managed to finish a couple of small projects off. The Token of love motif is from the Ackworth Quaker School book.

The Sarah Smithfield quaker pinkeep is from Carriage house samplings. Both these will hopefully be made into pinkeeps this week.

The picture at the top are of my Christmas Mantle. We haven't decorated at Christmas for the past few years just because we're not usually here but this year after seeing the beautiful blogs etc of others and the wonderful decorations gave me the urge to just decorate a little...lol. Our sitting room isn't large since the renovations so we can't have a large free standing tree so a small one is sufficient for us. I made the cloth which covers the mantle shelf on Tuesday, now my daughter wants a table runner for her coffee table!

I'm sorry if the pics are out of sinc I have problems putting them in the right place but to coin a phrase I'm sure you get the picture!!!

Wednesday I enjoyed seeing our youngest grandson Jacob in his nativity play at school, the children were great! I'll post some pics tomorrow. For a couple of hours in the evening I babysat whilst Mum and Dad were at a golf club meal. This again shattered me so Thursday and Friday were rest days again. Today has been busy with shopping and visiting the library, I ordered some Meg Evans books, I saw these beautiful books on ebay of her lovely work and fancy having a go in the new year. I've never stitched on plastic canvas before so watch this space BWG!

I also had some more gorgeous fabrics from ebay, they are mainly checked which I want to make into a lap quilt but they were all bargains and I will probably have enough for at least 3 lap quilts.

Neil finishes work on Wednesday next so his health permitting he may be able to put the flooring down in the front bedroom and finish off my sewing room. I will of course let him have Christmas and the next day off lol.

Enjoy your week

Peg

Another week gone !

Well another week has gone by and I'm another year older! This week has been a very busy week for birthdays in our family, Jacob started the week off on Sunday with his 5th birthday, Molly was 10yrs old on Monday and my birthday was on Wednesday. I celebrated mine with Diazapam and Dehydrocodiene plus my usual meds. I didn't bother adding a little alchohol to the mixture as it doesn't suit me with my cocktail of prescription drugs.....lol

I can fall down without the effects of drink as I proved on Monday, breaking my specs in the process. I should at the time have been resting anyway but didn't do as I was told. Because of breaking my specs my enforced rest was not as usual spent stitching which drove me crackers!! I didn't get them back until today so will make up for it over the next week. One of the yahoo groups I belong to are stitching pinkeeps I have 3 stitched pieces made up but need to finish them.

Tomorrow evening we will be joining friends for their church's Christmas meal at an inn in the Peak district. They're a small gathering but made up of really sweet, dedicated christians who's company we always enjoy whenever Neil ministers there.

Our room swap over hasn't got much nearer completion, this term is really busy for Neil so it's a case of doing a little at a time. DD was coming to help out but couldn't get so that blew that idea :o) Her youngest son Sam won a certificate yesterday at school, they had a 'dress as the Victorians' day, he borrowed a flat cap, braces and waistcoat from Grandad, old trousers from James and some old boots. They had to behave as Victorian children for the whole day, he came home with the award for best dressed boy. He's also earned 3 well behaved certificates this week too.

Our weather has been very changeable this week, we are now minus a fence down one side of the garden due to the strong winds which knocked it down and 'smashed' it to pieces. Poor Neil the moths will be flying out of the bank book and seeing daylight We can't leave it because of the dogs. He'll really pass out when I remind him we have to go and pay for the new bed tomorrow as the shop rang today to say it's now back in store.............poor old Neil.

One thing I have been able to do this week is increase my quilt fabric stash, I won some fantastic bargains on ebay. The postman who delivers packages asked me this morning if I was starting a shop! As soon as my room is ready I can make my lap quilt, I have the picture in my mind of how I want it to look and am hoping I can import that onto the fabric !

Deeber our retriever has felt very pleased with herself this week, she has finally learned how to lift the foot plate on my stairlift enabling her to come upstairs. She trots into the room with tail wagging and head held high. Megan has also achieved a goal this week, she managed to walk upstairs from halfway, actually she was going one step at a time, Neil dropped a book and made her jump so she 'flew' the rest of the way....lol.

Well I need to get my fix of other peoples blogs so am off to read through a few and take a peek into their lives.

Enjoy your weekend, I hope it's peaceful and your achieve goals you never thought you would

hugs Peg