Finally managed it !!

Well I've finally managed to master the heel turning after changing the pattern. This is my first sock, knitted in Jarol New Arrival DK Randoms. I'm really pleased with it for a first go. I've unpicked the other sock back to the bottom of the leg and will finish it the same way as this one. DH put it on for me because I can't get down there! He was in a very precarious position and it was not wise to say that all I needed now was a one legged multi coloured sock lover to wear it.............I will of course knit the other one asap. The heel was really easy on this one so I'm wondering if the other pattern is not correct.
I did have some help from the lovely ladies on Crafty Threads 'N' yarns they were great, thank you ladies.

Getting ready to quilt

I still have a way to go yet, I've more cut and ready to sew together. When they're all ready I'll make them into blocks and then see how I want to place them on the quilt. I'm being realistic and making a lap quilt first. I think I may put sashing in am not sure yet. Right I'm off to see if I can knit this sock correctly. If you hear a loud yeeaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh don't panic it's just me getting it right at last :o)

Productive weekend

Friday was spent cutting long strips of fabric joining them then cutting them again to make into 9 square blocks. Pics of those in a min. I went to Hobbycraft on Saturday, they hadn't any sock wool but did have some fabric on sale so purchased the 7 mtrs in the picture. From our wool shop in town I purchased some more wool for a crochet blanket plus the only sock pattern they had and one of a choice of two Regia sock wools. This is my progress so far, I've frogged it once due to it not turning out right. I joined a crafters forum and hopefully the advise will help me with it. I also surfed the net and found Royea's site which has pictures so will follow that as well, fingers crossed this works, watch this space!

A great place for baby products

I don't have any babies but seem to be surrounded by soon to be Mums, our very own stitchgroup owner Tanya is patiently awaiting delivery of her new baby, can't wait to see this little one. I checked out a sight earlier after being sent a link, the store of course is in the States but the items which really grabbed me were the assortment of bibs and the lovely fireman baby gift basket. If you'd like to check them out Kangaroodle is the place. I first learned of this site from 5minutesformom have fun and browse away.

Party invite

Hi folks you're all invited to a BIG blog party, click on the button and join in. Put on your red dress, high heels, spritz the hair and prepare to meet new friends. Come on it'll be great fun, I'll bring the green salad and homemade Honey & mustard baked ham. Looking forward to seeing you there.
hugs Peg

Trying again

Blogger seems to be behaving itself today so I'm going to try again to do the short link 'thing' again.

I love the blogs which have a nostalgic theme, they bring back so many precious memories of my childhood holidays with my grandparents. Blogs with houses like Niki are just like the cottages we used to stay in.

When Neils Mum passed away along with other things we inherited boxes of 'trinkets' and such which she'd treasured, before reading these blogs I would probably just have put them on oneside. Now I know there are people out there who love these items I'll have to go through the boxes and with Neils permission see if I can find them a good loving home.

Well I'll publish this and see if my link works....fingers crossed!! Yeah it works, it isn't underlined but if you click on Niki you will be taken to her blog and onto a journey of pure joy :o)

Not a good day!

The munchkins drove me crackers today, it takes me awhile to get going in the mornings and I have to do a little, sit a little and so on. What would normally take someone a couple of hrs takes me twice as long.
I wanted to get on with tidying so I could finally start cutting out for a quilt I have in mind so after sweeping the floors, running the mop over I then used my floor polisher which is a dream to use even a child could do it. All finished downstairs, kitchen tidy, dishwasher emptied, beds made; I slipped into the dining room to put my wool basket out of Paddingtons reach as he has a tendency to try and wrap wool around the rooms.
The site which met my eyes made me want to scream, which I must say I held back, the sitting room, hall and kitchen floors had what looked like a million muddy paw marks over them. The back door was open and I'm sure they'd had a mud party out there. I sat on the bottom of the stairs fantasizing about hanging them from the kitchen beams by their tails but decided it would be just my luck to have visitors who would call the rspca so shut them in the kitchen and started again.

I finally came upstairs around 12 noon, had just decided what fabric to use got everything out then DH decided he needed to print out some pages for the accountant tomorrow, he pays tax & national insurance on his earnings from being a power seller on ebay. Now this room is mine and I thought I would have predominance over it. His computer is the mother one networked to mine and I forgot he can send items to print out. Well where is the printer......at the side of the cutting table so each time I started he came in for the next lot of papers. I gave up he was printing for 2 1/2 hrs and used all my black ink. This didn't bode well for my state of mind I can tell you!

After he'd finished I thought I'd leave the cutting until he'd gone back to work so decided to cut the king sized duvet into dog bed sizes and stitch them. Whilst I'm stitching the first one I felt it tugging back, next I hear a growl and on looking down see Zebedee sitting on the duvet bottom with a sizable chunck in his mouth. After risking life & limb I removed the offending munchkin to his bed and continued.

In the middle of this DH came home from work saying he was dying, couldn't stop sneezing, nose running, sore throat......you know the way men describe a common cold. I then had to go out to get him some Night Nurse which he isn't really supposed to have because it has a decongestant in it but he insisted it was the only thing to save him. He then went back to work for the remainder of the afternoon.

I have to admit by now I was almost at the stage of steam coming out of the ears, have you ever noticed when men are doing something you must not disturb them, when we are we're fair game for interuptions.

Don't get me wrong I love the bones of him and am lost when he's away climbing but somedays...........

Now though I feel really awful for the way I've been a bit sharp, he came home about 10 mins ago and presented me with a box of 24 pks of quilting templates!

I hang my head in shame and will whip myself with 4 lengths of wet thread for 20 mins later this evening for punishment.

A new headmaster has joined the school and insists, politely, that each teacher sorts out their areas and throws out anything which they haven't used for at least a yr. They were a bit bolshy about it at first, he said the school was one of the cleanest he'd ever seen but it had some health & safety issues with, in his words.....'unnecessary clutter'.

He's right Neil's been trying for yrs to make life easier for his cleaning staff. Now there's a very large skip on the school drive and Neil got the chance to use his new electric saw which name escapes me at the moment but it cuts metal and concrete. He chopped up old desks and chairs no longer needed.

The templates were in the science cupboard along with a few sewing magazines, Neil remembered the original Headmaster, Hew (who was Welsh and believed in teaching kids crafts) ordering them for the children to learn but they haven't been used in double figure yrs so the new head said I could have them if I could put them to good use.

I will probably sooth his fevered brow for him later, Neils not Paul the Headmasters......lol

Well off to try and get some cutting out done...........fingers crossed !!!

hugs Peg

Just trying ........

.......to get my head around some technicalities of blogger. A while ago someone kindly told me how to put a short cut link into my posts but I forget what she told me. I've searched blogger help and found the info but blogger is messing with me tonight because when I post and put the link in whatever I write after the link is not showing so I've deleted my posts several times now and am getting really wound up with it. I'm going to try one more time, if this doesn't work I'm giving in and asking someone to show me how again..........lol so please bear with me with this test post.
I did try but to no avail, if you are a whiz kid and can help please email me, link in my side bar. Thanks in advance

Zebedee update

Last Wednesday I took Zebedee to the vets to, as I thought, have his long hair cut back whilst under sedation. Apparently they had to give him extra because he was fighting it so it cost me and extra £15. I dropped him off in the morning at 9.20am and collected him at 4pm. To say I was shocked is an understatement, instead of cutting his body hair they had spent time brushing and cutting out the lugs, which was ok but he wont let us brush him so I'm still faced with the problem of grooming. The main shock was seeing his face, they have shaved his face hair off completely to just above his eyebrows and infront of his ears. He looked horrendous and to be honest scarey. I could have cried why oh why didn't they do as I asked and paid for and cut his coat to about 1" all over.
He's not forgiven me and since then has been even more aggressive. Yesterday he was looking up at me and I noticed a few spots of blood on his bedding, I looked under his chin and they must have started 'hacking' this is the only word to describe it, away at his coat and had cut into his skin. He looks so sore just like a child when they fall and scrape their knees. Of course he won't let me bathe it or put anything on it. I'll have to take him back but how on earth they're going to treat it I don't know. He will not let anyone near his face, he just attacks you. I took a pic of him when I collected him and will post it when I'm back on my own commi. I don't know how we're going to get him to be less aggressive.
I'm beginning to wonder if he's older than we were told when we first adopted him last March. He's like a grumpy old doormouse and sleeps most of the time and hates being disturbed. Any helpful suggestions accepted apart from having him put to sleep ! Believe me when he bites and draws blood I feel like using a rubber mallet on his head.

Megan and Paddington went on Friday for their bath and cut and were both running around like lunatics when they got home showing off their new short hairdos. Trouble is they're both feeling the cold so have an extra blanket to wrap up in in their beds.
I was doing some sorting out in my new sewing room the other day and of course all 4 munchkins were in the midst of it all. I have a spare kingsize duvet which I'm going to cut up and make into large cushion beds for them so I put it on the floor whilst I sorted a box out. Ten minutes later Deeber was flat out on it snoring away, Zebedee near her, Megan and Paddington had pummelled and twirled until they'd formed a nice little nest the other end to accommodate them both and snuggled up together fast asleep! I got a lot more done in the next 2hrs whilst they all slept, it's like having small children when they get in their playing mood :o)

Speaking of playing moods, I think I mentioned in an earlier post I had started crochet and am making a large throw. I keep the wool and my progress panel in a lovely basket I bought from Ikea. Twice now I've come into the room to find the wool trailed around the room and the ball in Paddingtons bed with him sat on it looking for all the world as pleased as punch with his achievement. I now have to put it where he can't get at it and whilst I'm doing the crocheting I keep the wool in a project envelope so he can't get at it or he's worse than a cat ............lol.

Deeber's now ready for a bath which is a mamoth task in itself, she loves water and grooming but she's soooo heavy and I can't help Neil lift her into the bath and she won't waste any energy jumping in!

Well am now off to surf a little more then going to bed, need to get some more work done on my room and hopefully may be able to start some cutting out for a quilt this weekend.

Take care
hugs Peg

Popping in again

We've managed to put Neil's computer online for a short time tonight so I am making the most of it whilst he's at work :o)
I've been surfing through some wonderful new blogs and have enjoyed every minute of it thank you ladies. When the computers are up and running fully I'll post the links in my list as I know I'll go back regularly. We're hoping next Monday morning is d-day for the computers.

I've had disappointment and a wonderful surprise this week, just before Christmas I sent a package off to a fellow stitcher it never arrived so sent another one and am hoping this gets to it's destination this time. I purchased 3 lots of fabric in Oct from a seller on ebay, I'm still waiting for one of the items to arrive, before I knew I would have a problem I purchased several more yards and FQ's from the same seller, this time it was 6mtrs short. I've emailed several times and it wasn't until I contacted ebay that I got a response. I can't go behind peoples backs so I sent the seller a copy of the email I'd sent to ebay explaining it wasn't my wish to spoil her feedback rating so could we please sort this out. It took this to get a response, she say's the package is 1 of 25 being looked for at the depot of the courier. I'm still waiting, it's a shame because her fabric is beautiful quality.

My wonderful surprise was from one of my long time online friends in the US who when she find out I was starting to quilt said as she used to teach quilting anything I needed to know just ask. She said she was having a clear out and to expect a little package in the new year. Well the package turned out to be a box and inside was 6 large rolls of themed 6.5" x 18.5" gorgeous fabrics. The shipping was in double figures, it never ceases to amaze me the way xstitchers and quilters so graciously share their goodies. I'm now waiting for her lists of wants so I can return the wonderful favour.
I'm determined to keep my posts shorter so will end this now and post again.
hugs Peg

Mmm saw this on a blog and did it for the fun of it :o) You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal.A good listener, you excell at helping others in practical ways.In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music.You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist.

What's" Your Personality Type?

Not around

Hi everyone
Sorry I'm not around at the moment, we're having some work done on the house so the computers are off for the time being. We're hoping to be up and running sometime late next week. It's surprising how you miss something when it's not there! I'm having to post this from my daughters computer.

We had a nice peaceful Christmas, sharing Christmas lunch with my daughter and family. I will upload some pics when I'm on my computer.

I've managed to stitch some more on one of my Chatelaine samplers and have also started to crochet a throw in beiges, cream and browns. I bought a 'learn to crochet' book so am only doing it in the basic treble st. I hope to expand my knowledge of stitches in due course. BWG

I hope you're all having a great start to the new year. I'll be back as soon as I can to bore you to sleep lol. I miss visiting the blogs I enjoy reading so am champing at the bit so to speak to get back online.

Take care everyone
hugs
Peg

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