tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78764872024-03-23T17:56:14.243+00:00Never Run With ScissorsLife, stitching and everything inbetweenSamanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-46184332135146223352015-08-31T11:13:00.003+01:002015-08-31T11:18:48.263+01:00Long hiatusI had a comment on a previous post this morning and I was a little ashamed to see that it has been over 2 years since my last post. The last couple of years have been filled with all sorts of things to keep me occupied, both happy and sad.<br />
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Unfortunately my dear Dad passed away in June 2014.<br />
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He'd had poor health for some time and following minor surgery in May, he never fully recovered. Dad had spent his final few years in a nursing home and had been well cared for in his time there. In his last few weeks he had been in hospital and we managed to get him back to the nursing home for his last few days. The nurses and care assistants were amazing and I couldn't have wished for better care for him. It has felt like the end of an era for me in many ways, as during Dad's last few days, I was also finishing my dissertation for my MSc. I had finished it a couple of days before he passed away and I was so glad to have been able to tell him that I'd finally finished.<br />
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I graduated in August last year and now that all my studies have finished, I've no idea how I managed to fit it in alongside working and stitching!<br />
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In stitching news, the Mirabilia retreat up in Bakewell mentioned in my previous post has become an annual event and I attended the third one in April this year. I've made so many good friends through the UK Mirabilia stitchers who all seem to try and enable me at the drop of a hat! At the Gala night awards at this years retreat, I won the award for having the largest stash of hand dyed fabric. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing!<br />
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I also went to the Crafty Kitten fabrics 5th anniversary retreat in Bideford, Devon in June this year. Another excuse to get up to mischief with my stitching gals!<br />
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I've had a few stitching finishes over the past couple of years, but as always, not as many as I would have liked! I finished Chatelaine's Taj Mahal Mandala in January, a project I'd started 7 years previously and my first Chat finish. It is stitched on Lakeside Linen's Amethyst linen (discontinued).<br />
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I finished two variations of AAN's Champagne stitched as anniversary gifts for my brother & SIL and my sister and BIL. This is one of the two stitched for a Ruby wedding anniversary.<br />
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I finished my Rose of Sharon conversion and added a silk ribbon rose to her hair and beads to the top of her bodice.<br />
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And earlier this month I started a SAL with 3 stitching friends. We are stitching Ink Circle's Bramble and the Rose. I'm stitching 1 over 1 full cross using 'Galaxy' silk by Thread Pickerz on Crafty Kitten's Sept 2014 Limited Edition jazlyn fabric.<br />
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The design is monochromatic but the silk has shades of yellow, orange, purple and teal in, offset by a deep grey/black. I love how it is stitching up so far and have nearly finished page 1 of 9.<br />
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It's absolutely pouring down with rain here today, unlike yesterday when although it was cloudy, it was still quite warm. We went on a trip to Amberley Working Museum near Arundel, West Sussex and had a great day looking at the exhibits.<br />
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They have all sorts there - displays of old electronics, machines, woodworking, masonry and we got to have a trip on the steam train too.<br />
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The weather seems pretty much set in for the day I think. A good day to be cosy in front of a film or two with some stitching for me! Happy stitching.Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-73999899775139712682013-04-23T09:33:00.000+01:002013-04-23T09:34:17.898+01:00Stitchers and squealers!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've just come back from an amazing weekend with some lovely new friends I've made through an offshoot of the Mirabilia board on Facebook. Around 20 of us got together in Bakewell to stitch, chat, eat, drink and add to our stash at the first annual Mirabilia UK stitcher's retreat (now named the UK Mirabilia Stitchers & Squealers due to all the squeals of excitement)! There were so many talented stitchers and we all took our Mirabilia finishes along with us to display, so there was a gorgeous gallery at the top of the Bakewell Town Hall stairs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Kate from Sparklies was there with her boxes of hand dyed fabric and Zarina from Hawkins Hobbies with Mirabilia kits. I have been making scissor fobs recently and had a few requests for fobs over the weekend, so didn't get a great deal of stitching done!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We also had fun with mystery boxes (10 cryptic items gathered from a list provided) and enjoyed some delicious cakes we had baked or brought with us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm feeling very enabled at the moment and want to start stitching about a dozen or so designs! I am looking forward to next year's retreat already.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've been stitching away on Nora's letter S, which I finished:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And more recently I've started on Rose of Sharon which is my own colour conversion:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love Nora's new Gypsy Mermaid design as well, so think there may be another start on that in the not too distant future ;o)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have oodles of uni work to do at the moment, though year 2 should be finished in about 6 weeks, so if I've passed everything I need to, hopefully I will have a summer of stitching to look forward to. Can't wait!!</span>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-63631398946941535022013-02-02T08:14:00.003+00:002013-02-02T08:18:36.761+00:00Got the bug...The stitchy bug that is! I seem to have become re-obsessed with stitching, though it could be a bit of a distraction to keep me away from my studies ;o)<br />
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I've got a couple of happy dances to share, so this post is a little photo heavy. The first is Forest Goddess, who I finished early in the new year:<br />
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I love her bling! She's stitched on Silkweaver's Tranquility Belfast linen with skin stitched over 1.<br />
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My other happy dance is a framing happy dance. This is the first project in all my 20 years of cross stitching that I've ever had framed for myself - all other framed finishes have been gifts for others, so I am pleased to share photos of framed Midnight Hunting with you:<br />
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The frame looks grey, but is brushed with metallic silver and goes well with the silver inner mount inbetween the two blue mounts. I thought my dragon was handsome anyway and now he looks magnificent! ;o)<br />
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I've even had a new start and bought the chart & Crescent Colours for Nora Corbett's Letter S with some Christmas money. As Nora's chart says that S is for Samantha, I just couldn't resist!<br />
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This was taken a couple of weeks ago and I've done a bit more since then. The fabric is an old PTP colour - Fantasia on Belfast linen.<br />
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I've not done as much stitching as I'd like recently due to uni work - during Jan, Feb and March there seems to be around six things I have to work on and submit. I like to try and relax in the evening with a little stitching though, even if I only get a dozen or so stitches in. Today I need to work on my assignment on Performance Management, for which I did lots of research yesterday and need to get typing today. I'd best get on with it now, so I can get to do some stitching later!Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-1809015146304319232012-11-05T19:23:00.002+00:002012-11-05T19:23:54.955+00:00Long awaited happy dance!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hello folks. It's been quite a while - I've been studying hard and managed to get through the first year of my degree ok without anything being referred. To my amazement, I even passed both exams! Year two is rather more intense, but I enjoyed my summer break and managed to pick up my stitching for the first time in ages. I have to limit my stitching time as I get frequent neck/shoulder problems which seem to be exacerbated by stitching. Nonetheless, I endured and managed to celebrate my first happy dance in a very long time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Isn't he lovely?! It seems such a long time ago that I started this one - 2005, so a mere 7 years to finish! He is stitched on SMF's Shimmering Aphrodite jazlyn fabric. I would never ever use jazlyn again - it has to be the most appalling fabric and so difficult to establish where the holes to put your needle through are. The design incorporates more quarter stitches than I have ever stitched in my entire stitching history of 20 years, which is why I think it's taken me so long to finish. He's one gorgeous dragon though and I love the finished design.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm on a mini mission (inbetween uni assignments) to rack up some more finishes, so Forest Goddess who hasn't seen the light of day for a while is currently on the Q-Snaps. I promised myself one new start for each two finishes I achieve and as she is probably the closest to being finished of all my other WIPs, maybe I'll have the excitement of a new start soon!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've become a bit of a baker alongside everything else and have enjoyed savouring The Great British Bake Off over the last couple of months. I picked up a couple of the books when it finished and have poured through each and every last page. I can't wait to try some of the recipes! I've been on a calorie controlled diet the last two months though, so cake is off the menu for a while ;o) I've managed to lose 21lbs so far and am hoping to keep going to lose a fair bit more. I'd never tried calorie counting in all my years of dieting and it seems to be working for me. I was inspired by the Hairy Bikers/Dieters programme in the summer and thought they did so well, losing 3 stone each in 3 months and considered perhaps calorie counting was worth a try. So far, so good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Best get back to the Q-Snaps now as Forest Goddess is shouting at me....</span>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-63457942443054822942011-10-24T21:21:00.005+01:002011-10-24T21:53:52.344+01:00Jammin', no stitching and studying!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Oh dear. It's been an absolute age since I last blogged. Following Heather's comment earlier on my last post over a year ago, I thought it was time to pop in & say hi.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I've not stitched in ages for many reasons - a) I've had very limited free time and b) I've developed problems with my neck and shoulder as well as having RSI in my wrist and elbow. I've had two very painful flare ups of my neck/shoulder problem this year and had some physio which didn't help much. The doctor said it's just something I will have to put up with and I need to try and minimise the activities that are the cause, which unfortunately seems to be using the computer (not so good for work!) or stitching. I have picked up my stitching a few times, though can't work on it for the amount of hours that I used to and so over the last year have sold off about half of my stash as I know I'm never going to be able to stitch it all. When I get my stitching mojo back, I want to concentrate in short bursts on the pieces I really love rather than pieces I only like.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Heather, yes, I've been busy making lots of jams, jellies and chutneys again this autumn. My favourites so far are Spiced apple & cider jelly, quince jelly and caramelised red onion chutney. We also have several different fruit gins/vodkas on the go - blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, cherry and black/redcurrant. These need to be bottled up soon as they've been steeping for a few months so will be just in time for Christmas gifts. Earlier in the year I made marmalades and lemon curd too. We gave most of our home made goodies away last Christmas - this was most of what we made:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-soLA6JEHF8qOZNIJDzjdiay0vzQUr5F9b4_ySbOmhucv-5UmdbxqTGwyzEkhfvM41i-v8OoKz_eQw01o5U2XkxTv5qIF-loAfn6lyFZiUzwSnUa5wkc9jPG9xWIC9nEtZgUWA/s1600/IMG_0549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-soLA6JEHF8qOZNIJDzjdiay0vzQUr5F9b4_ySbOmhucv-5UmdbxqTGwyzEkhfvM41i-v8OoKz_eQw01o5U2XkxTv5qIF-loAfn6lyFZiUzwSnUa5wkc9jPG9xWIC9nEtZgUWA/s320/IMG_0549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667159815681503010" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >We made lots of different things last year - pickled onions, mulled pears, sloe gin, elderberry vinegar, jams, jellies, chutneys... but I guess the piece de resistence was 'Notella' - we attempted a version of Nutella made from foraged hazelnuts which we dubbed Notella! It saw off my 30 year old food processor in the process and was a lot of hard work for one jar of produce. This year we've concentrated on chutneys as I have grown my own veg in the garden and jellies. Last weekend we picked the last crop of quinces and cooking apples. The quinces need to be used quickly, though the apples will store for a few months. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >We grew veg in the garden for the first time this year. I made the mistake of sowing 15 courgette plants and of course, all of them grew! I don't even like courgettes and didn't enjoy the resulting glut so gave lots away. We also had tomatoes, peppers, chillies, onions, squash, sweetcorn, beetroot, French beans and lettuces along with the fruit from the trees in the garden too. Lots of things to learn for next year and we need to work on feeding our crops as sadly some of the produce was very small indeed!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Other than my burgeoning farmer's market, my other big news is that I started studying part time on day release at uni 5 weeks ago, which is being supported by my employers. I have enrolled on the Personnel & Development MSc, which is a three year course. I've worked within HR for most of my working life, though without the industry's recognised qualification and now the time is right for me to fit this in with my life. It may only be 5 weeks in, but I'm enjoying it so far, despite having homework and two assignments to complete over the next few months. I'm dreading the exams at the end of May/beginning of June mind you...!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Hope everyone is ok out there. I promise not to leave it so long next time ;o)</span><br /></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-1685627046903118222010-09-23T21:24:00.005+01:002010-09-23T21:41:17.976+01:00Stitchy update<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hi everyone! Just dropped in for a little stitchy update. In the last few months I've worked a little on Snow Princess:</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiebrmo1EZqRwiyHBbHk0CI4AkShTj7kyzsAkKLC057ZTGDtEyH9IPw23Cn93GfJ0WWUCbQxgJxnrERhhBTwCuzB2j3fpM16gkRLKIdJWBg1ihz1KtgAjDsSCNpW_8uHFMimczg/s1600/P1000163.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiebrmo1EZqRwiyHBbHk0CI4AkShTj7kyzsAkKLC057ZTGDtEyH9IPw23Cn93GfJ0WWUCbQxgJxnrERhhBTwCuzB2j3fpM16gkRLKIdJWBg1ihz1KtgAjDsSCNpW_8uHFMimczg/s400/P1000163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520208226422014226" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Look - she has a hand! I've also worked a little on Watergarden:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L8XZ7Xx6D7_914xfvVlfltep6LLNlkWaqDM1WJfY9hOwVcFD1RhfGFDMTfNKtdd_3IS9rtRJaVpT_rYkpYRQRAaPjTCmsBLPmWq_ICQ1KQTTFyq1xiTcFcS9u2vv4eBWBBxWkw/s1600/P1000160.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L8XZ7Xx6D7_914xfvVlfltep6LLNlkWaqDM1WJfY9hOwVcFD1RhfGFDMTfNKtdd_3IS9rtRJaVpT_rYkpYRQRAaPjTCmsBLPmWq_ICQ1KQTTFyq1xiTcFcS9u2vv4eBWBBxWkw/s400/P1000160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520208915431541346" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">My time has been occupied with a new interest in foraging and preserve making. I am lucky enough to live close-by to areas that have wild fruit trees/bushes. So, we have been busy making jams, fresh fruit pies, cordials, pickled beetroot, pickled shallots, cheese, hazelnut nougat, Nutella (we call ours Notella).... quite a production line! This weekend we are making chilli oil, quince jelly and two types of chutney. We're planning to do little Christmas boxes of home-made preserves for friends and family, though we will probably manage to keep a few jars of goodies to see us through until next year ;o)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Zc2vsLRlOEqsKZN29odWOi5qA03Gc0SJa2989Yq53tDSxSJWoJ7DTrjLHQtwSgjn2xOqdWrOTB48L6YMJi9I4VXyldUfq-40wY8x2GL1E9_o0gphbXGg3Ob4Vw_0pK_HdcR7fQ/s1600/P1000147.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Zc2vsLRlOEqsKZN29odWOi5qA03Gc0SJa2989Yq53tDSxSJWoJ7DTrjLHQtwSgjn2xOqdWrOTB48L6YMJi9I4VXyldUfq-40wY8x2GL1E9_o0gphbXGg3Ob4Vw_0pK_HdcR7fQ/s400/P1000147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520210821331696578" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">I'm enjoying my culinary adventures so much, I'm considering starting a foody blog... watch this space!</span></span>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-90786107612589840182010-06-16T13:31:00.004+01:002010-06-16T13:37:27.855+01:00More progress on The Guardian<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mocxUZuYpA9ne88G4vVJxgxOwVfd_NCjBW86amjwc45xpKp5XMalSB5z3G1oR3waNARZifNYdlPrKtJbrsoJpDPpFLbqC0WVI9PiDxJ7Au_VSsfsrrRFn8FUAUkUn1K1-RFBtQ/s1600/16.06.10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 426px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mocxUZuYpA9ne88G4vVJxgxOwVfd_NCjBW86amjwc45xpKp5XMalSB5z3G1oR3waNARZifNYdlPrKtJbrsoJpDPpFLbqC0WVI9PiDxJ7Au_VSsfsrrRFn8FUAUkUn1K1-RFBtQ/s400/16.06.10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483349065063804546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yes, I'm still around, honest! Just not been in a blogging frame of mind.<br /><br />I've made a little more progress on The Guardian, though I have to admit that I've not stitched on this one for at least a month. Snow Princess went back on the Q-Snaps a couple of weeks ago, but it's very slow progress indeed. Never mind - Wimbledon is just around the corner and I'm very excited to be going up to Centre Court on Monday where we are in the 3rd row, right behind where the players & umpire sits... at least I think we are! Either that, or we're opposite them. We shall see. Happy stitching everyone :o)</span></span>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-17618682872669845352010-02-14T21:35:00.002+00:002010-02-14T21:38:10.727+00:00The Guardian update<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">As promised, here is an up to date photo of my progress on The Guardian:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGj7uqsvPZf-_yRYCSIRBfC2FNCpE8MvEb7wEEThLaMLDbpHYKpyyQGPhzznUW2OeDhP4MujMOoV9c3BoPg10eyJmPpJ3foykLJoibg1Pysja8t2yml_wZgfCe2SyiD9wO3uWgQ/s1600-h/P2140337.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGj7uqsvPZf-_yRYCSIRBfC2FNCpE8MvEb7wEEThLaMLDbpHYKpyyQGPhzznUW2OeDhP4MujMOoV9c3BoPg10eyJmPpJ3foykLJoibg1Pysja8t2yml_wZgfCe2SyiD9wO3uWgQ/s400/P2140337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438216210074352610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Isn't he looking magnificent! I'm working on his chest area at the moment and then most of the rest is half stitch. I'm stitching this for Dad to accompany his African Lions I stitched a few years ago, but I think he could be waiting a while yet....! Happy stitching folks :o)</span></span>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-91141036840139406842010-02-01T18:58:00.003+00:002010-02-01T19:13:18.810+00:00Hello!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's been, er, a bit of a long time hasn't it! Sorry folks - busy life both at work and also at home. Happy Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy February!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">All is still going well with Mr X. He has been my absolute knight in shining armour by trekking on foot into town when we had all that snow (a 20 min walk either way on a good day) to get groceries for not only me, but my two neighbours as well. He has also climbed into my loft space to set mouse traps and then removed what was caught (euch - one of the down sides of living in the countryside!). He has equipped me with his snow boots so that I could walk without falling over in the snow and when I did manage to slip over on some evil ice, landing on my elbow he looked after me. He has repaired everything in my little flat that has broken or not been working properly, and in my car too. He even narrowly missed being flung through a full length window at dad's a couple of weeks ago by the heavy wardrobe he was trying to move down the stairs on his own. The wardrobe decided it wanted to fall on its side & speed down the stairs. Thankfully Mr X is very quick on his feet and although he caught the full brunt of the wardrobe, he managed to move quick enough to stay upright and towards the window frame, avoiding the window. I asked him the next day if I was worth all the hassle, all the ups and downs (literally!) and without a second's thought he said yes. Awwww :o))) This is us on New Year's Eve. I think he looks very cheeky in this one! </span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1_JiAAqn4no81fSw-35h4P31qCIZyP1IyxdGJJgSDldrlF7W6a1sg-n22pobqgmCZyZkPADXC7SpJu7RkDtjDzSDDcrMLO9ZEo4ZpSdewlGwG3UrVk3aeOrH37ojxrvUBDcGrQ/s1600-h/P1010324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1_JiAAqn4no81fSw-35h4P31qCIZyP1IyxdGJJgSDldrlF7W6a1sg-n22pobqgmCZyZkPADXC7SpJu7RkDtjDzSDDcrMLO9ZEo4ZpSdewlGwG3UrVk3aeOrH37ojxrvUBDcGrQ/s320/P1010324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433353135641904386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">I've also lost a stone in weight since we met, which can only be a good thing. We've discovered we both like walking in the countryside so I've now got a fine pair of walking boots & when life isn't quite so busy, we hope to get lots of walking in. Lots of exercise and I'm sure another stone will drop off before too long ;o)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">There has even been a bit of stitching going on! I've been working on The Guardian and will share my progress soon. Happy stitching everyone!</span></span>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-66654916887899013642009-12-14T13:16:00.004+00:002009-12-14T13:31:08.409+00:00Drum roll please.....<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I guess I should share a couple of photos of me with my wonderful man. I don't want to parade him in the, er... limelight though, so he shall henceforth be known as 'Mr X' - there is an X in his name somewhere, so I thought it appropriate ;o)</span></strong> <div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415080680092256130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJQe1ZT-5HP07vgKNta35TDsWcOZ3MUVouk3Q0SO7ucRHj8jAgmzaT5Cxmag5iqK_eYlYjy1So6f_FGFrDAN12AvSYthrSUpmrwEQMj81Ost5AJ3q4qOqDvJP5Dmgd7Om2txI9A/s320/Windmill%5B1%5D.jpg" /></span></strong> <div></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">This was us (and a windmill!) just a couple of weeks after we met. He's doing his best Indiana Jones impression I think.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415081273855285794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LdNRd0HZn8Z4ENWSIWLD09EaRfYlUB2AF6eaTZIgttY259oTAHZmetB1b0pVQDvxuSnaep4ZFzJEmhfxlgCiF9iFQ5BB8WuFmf0ucHpISTxelcEDEHQoeH3mbUo5IzsvZIodcw/s320/PC130307.JPG" /></span></strong></div><br /><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">And this was us last night at a Christmas classical concert - an annual charity event at church by the King's Chamber Orchestra. It was magical, romantic and we both enjoyed it thoroughly! Mr X looked very smart in his suit, but is also sporting a beanie hat due to shaving all his hair off!! Not really the right time of year for such a dramatic new hair style, so we have to make sure his head keeps warm and snug :o)</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">We went to visit Dad at the home on Saturday & he told me that the staff have asked him to be Father Christmas for the residents Christmas party! He has got lots of very white hair and a large tummy, so I think he could be a very good choice indeed. As I can't get to the Christmas party at the home myself, I'm hoping they will be able to send me lots of photos afterwards.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Still no stitching being done I'm afraid. I'm hoping that I will get an evening to myself before long so I can sit, stitch and totally relax. I have many more Christmas cards to write out first though.... Happy stitching everyone! :o)</span></strong></p>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-19261193563564803252009-12-06T22:25:00.002+00:002009-12-06T22:31:57.262+00:00Sssshhhh!<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">It's all been quiet on the blog front recently I'm afraid. There has been zero amount of stitching going on as life is pretty hectic at the moment. We're spending every Saturday at Dad's house, trying to sort through 4 decades of rubbish and junk and it's taking much longer than first expected. I'm hoping to be finished by Christmas and then will get the house onto the market first thing in the new year. It's proving to be very emotional, as expected, but my wonderful man has been through my side throughout, helping me every step of the way. How fab is that?!!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Yes, the romance is still going very well indeed. I'm extremely happy and even my brother in law, when we went to my sister's for dinner last night said he was a nice young man and that he was a good catch!! We are looking forward to spending our first Christmas together and plan to go fossil hunting on Boxing day. Yes, fossil hunting!! I couldn't have hoped for anyone better to spend my days with really :o)</span></strong>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-24809423206280582842009-10-30T17:57:00.002+00:002009-10-30T18:02:51.162+00:00Wow!<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I have a few things to say wow about at the moment.....</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Firstly wow - what wonderful friends I have in cyber space. Thank you all for such lovely comments on my Titania finish and also your comments regarding the difficult situation with Dad and the sale of the house.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Secondly wow - what wonderful family I have. They have been so supportive and especially this year. They are going to be helping me next weekend to do a mass sort of the house and I'm very thankful for them.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Thirdly WOW - it's a fantastic wow indeed. There's a new man in my life :o)))))) It's not been long, but he makes me so happy and as a result, I'm a very lucky girl indeed.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Have a great weekend folks! xx</span></strong>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-52122792750358677232009-10-06T22:26:00.004+01:002009-10-07T07:51:23.672+01:00Titania - finished at long last!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXsYGIxdZ2ZnoTPDoTgrw7eWQtKzp9syA7d1WZcVPVqyy02kKnxmW_O0UUzef_GRETCKEyKCvkpLqcE09kmlNanTVriRD3Nnq5UsDcaIl5-n3ZMMBFBW-zKSrU4wComDMRVWDaw/s1600-h/PA020274.JPG"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389604480665718114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXsYGIxdZ2ZnoTPDoTgrw7eWQtKzp9syA7d1WZcVPVqyy02kKnxmW_O0UUzef_GRETCKEyKCvkpLqcE09kmlNanTVriRD3Nnq5UsDcaIl5-n3ZMMBFBW-zKSrU4wComDMRVWDaw/s400/PA020274.JPG" /></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></strong><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Finished! I'm very pleased with how she's turned out. I put the final stitch in on 30th September. My only finish so far this year! She was stitched on SMF's Winter Meadow Belfast linen, skin stitched over 1. I also used metallic pink and silver beads to go with the wing conversion. Somehow I have another 8 WIPs on the go and all of them are BAPs, so not sure that I'll be able to finish anything else this year.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Dad is now quite settled in the nursing home. We had a review last week & it looks as if he will be staying on a permanent basis. The next step is to continue clearing and then sell the house which will be very hard. I'm going through a tough time emotionally at the moment, which is why I'm not blogging much right now - haven't got the heart to really. But I'm getting a bit of stitching in each day now though - little and often and I WILL see off those other WIPs eventually! Happy stitches everyone xx</span></strong></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-64327694740480573632009-09-06T12:24:00.004+01:002009-09-06T12:40:54.015+01:00Just one more wing.....<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">.... and the beads, and a bit of backstitching, but I finally feel that I'm on the home straight with Titania:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378316477018586354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRI7250pXC8za4uAarlUGNPMjfC5RANNPWoeMfAJuYMC4BSBnowem1hy6JrUWsJPUzrJ2i3kzZoaU2CIT-BJM_7R-fmXEeiU8O0ZkoFzCXY7l61BEi3GBqUvxXvne4DYSiyI74Q/s400/Titania+06.09.09.JPG" /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Apologies for the fabric creases! I'm hoping to have a finish by the next time I post.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Dad is a bit more settled in the home, but doesn't seem overtly happy. He knows that he can't go home as his mobility problems mean he can hardly walk from the bed to the chair some days. He is looking much healthier than he has done for a long time though and I think this is down to them feeding him the right diet and the correct amount of fluid on his daily fluid restriction (due to dialysis).</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Short and sweet today folks - sorry I've not been able to get round to many blogs recently, hopefully I'll have a bit more time to do that very soon. Happy stitching! :o)</span></strong>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-37130855987039949702009-08-15T08:10:00.006+01:002009-08-15T08:38:52.889+01:00Winging it!<div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Hoorah - I have finally finished Titania's first wing:</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370091612068341218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDbrQjab7kzBCrj417yWu5rzb_E5oSdfMHGrCoTq65AX7GKC0duj5rKjse_pxKQA09pblJ5lSElI_TUWzSBZzoFbwFU8No4TVJ4_5Bg2AHhJ4_muAckxZicq2_M2qx_DHE1zMhw/s400/Titania+15.08.09+2.JPG" /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370090482099306530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcZlq4VzgzSvoEW9_E4AAwUfwlYkhpcG6bgY8MTp6QeKs345ceFN8cweS9InVrhviYshaNkK-085cWI8KEdaFaGWOZg-Cs1Aeo1ZrWTs5E-S5qqCrj_5NJAR4oGcl_wcoFoQnYw/s320/Titania+15.08.09.JPG" /> <div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I hope she doesn't start to fly as she'll be going round in circles! I love the delicate look of the wings and am pleased with how my conversion's come out so far. I started to add one of the ribbons next to her knee as I'm a bit silvered out for a while! So many other things are calling me at the moment, but if I put her down now, she may not see the light of day again for a while. I managed only three finishes last year and so far this year I have NONE! I have no small projects at all amongst my WIPs, so will have to keep on stitching to get at least one finish...</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Thank you for all your kind comments and hugs. Dad finally moved to the nursing home this week after being in hospital for nearly 5 months. I visited him on Wednesday and he wasn't quite sure if he liked it, but I know it'll take a while for him to settle in properly. I've got a nice new flatscreen tv/dvd/freeview combo to take over to him today that we chose for him. He's got a tiny tv provided by the home, but can only receive terrestrial channels on it, so now he'll be able to watch all his favourite programmes and dvds too.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Hope everyone has a happy stitchy weekend! :o)</span></strong></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-54771735789272944462009-07-28T18:40:00.005+01:002009-07-28T18:58:50.821+01:00Silver wings<div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I've been stitching Titania's long anticipated silver wings. I've had lots of frogs where the colour or type of thread hasn't been right, but I've finally found what I think I'm happy with (which is a mixture of Petite Treasure Braid, Kreinik and Anchor Lame thread!) and the wings are entirely stitched in metallics:</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363567928741828274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVizfWwWBZuAlt6UtnCKZVcjIlUAwmUlFztLV318WiKp3YiyvcyGT7W1cgZypHeTudbJFMLSDMRaOTjvElQygla0MvqvePwoZ9xcVGk6nxzoU0RFl5rLk8z-reupdhNnjrzUWKnw/s400/P7270258.JPG" /></span></strong> <div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The effect is very subtle, but definitely silver! They will look more defined once the backstitch has been done. There are infact 7 shades of silver, which isn't very apparent, but I know they are all there. Here is a photo of the whole piece:</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div></div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 370px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363568922650600418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgkxLEARLHrDuaK_SrJS09NAuzQyRUMA8T1HBkN-piJNr05a6GWLPOSoTBzUurLZK3u5B0m15qWYr3f5O1nDblmE2k3BrcOdpCCqK6bPYZrrdKxHT93JQWwCWVeGtqZ_vLNkRmw/s320/P7270256.JPG" /></span></strong><br /><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Both photos seem to have come out with quite a bluish tint. The fabric is greener IRL.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Life is pretty tough at the moment, which is why I'm not blogging much and have not commented on many other blogs - I do keep updated though through Google Reader which is the best blog tool ever! It's all pretty complicated, but Dad has to go into a nursing home and the arguing about funding has been going on and on for many weeks now. I think we've finally found somewhere for him and they're assessing whether or not they can cater for his needs at the moment. It means that I have to sell his house, which was my home all my life until 4 years ago and the house that Dad wanted me to inherit. That will be especially hard for me as so many memories are tied up with that house, including many of my long passed on and much missed Mum. There's so much sorting and things to do and I'm especially thankful for my sister in law Sally, who has been supportive in so many ways. I'm relishing my stitching at the moment, which helps me to escape and unwind for a while. Keep on stitching folks - I'm enjoying all of your beautiful projects.</span></strong></p>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-9261892416720378092009-07-01T16:28:00.015+01:002009-07-01T17:12:53.540+01:00Feeling fruity!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMbE3eFt8jXF5IM97XW16gHtYulEpLvOGV80-RBSggUnbwXW38y_RzfF_tODUV0iTEuN_rM8yhd7qvWlOk4hxK0CKSVqJBMNF1kT_cHxri83yv6dm4NqH8k3trFtLBUFVA-7vhQ/s1600-h/P7010248.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353524922381493506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMbE3eFt8jXF5IM97XW16gHtYulEpLvOGV80-RBSggUnbwXW38y_RzfF_tODUV0iTEuN_rM8yhd7qvWlOk4hxK0CKSVqJBMNF1kT_cHxri83yv6dm4NqH8k3trFtLBUFVA-7vhQ/s320/P7010248.JPG" /></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I'm astonished at the abundant amount of fruit in my garden. I remember my landlady mentio</span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTH1yVLWoYFoxGwReikC6cHPlRZQXpq0132HMMdVeJUmtGN5es7hoGkjKpiJRJtcVZ6j6pPTJSMsDwHuhyphenhyphenso59ta7n414ZCrm8CKrzsRN3G2IvYHFfV_ejK3zS_MxR3wZU2vLjg/s1600-h/P7010242.JPG"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353518428334209906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTH1yVLWoYFoxGwReikC6cHPlRZQXpq0132HMMdVeJUmtGN5es7hoGkjKpiJRJtcVZ6j6pPTJSMsDwHuhyphenhyphenso59ta7n414ZCrm8CKrzsRN3G2IvYHFfV_ejK3zS_MxR3wZU2vLjg/s200/P7010242.JPG" /></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">ning before she went back to Madagascar that I would be inundated with apples and that there were pears, rhubarb and blackberries, but I've also found wild strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, artichokes and potatoes! I'm also growing tomatoes, peppers and aubergines in the greenhouse and the tomato vines have little green babies that have j</span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FwVJHijd-YsM0aomJ1Eef1U-FYJ5EU9_51qCfYeFu9RYYuEkCsZMbH4YbzR_juDBTGh8Bwn3wR1rBn-UN60qdcBCHMG6VwaQ5fLT4UGIUT5h2XZ9hCWvqYJXfuI8-UglYEuoGQ/s1600-h/P7010243.JPG"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353519659873738434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FwVJHijd-YsM0aomJ1Eef1U-FYJ5EU9_51qCfYeFu9RYYuEkCsZMbH4YbzR_juDBTGh8Bwn3wR1rBn-UN60qdcBCHMG6VwaQ5fLT4UGIUT5h2XZ9hCWvqYJXfuI8-UglYEuoGQ/s200/P7010243.JPG" /></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">ust appeared so I'm very excited about those too!<br /></span></strong><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I'm not a lover of goosegogs as we like to call them, so my sister relieved me of a huge tub of them this morning, but I'm going to pick some raspberries later to go with some strawberries I already have in my </span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMmEobAkJYV6CD-0yb5EpJePXCzaNzWI6uvt1ZXanf-XHUUGJ7SiZccqkH_Dk51AonTImJo8UY9SYEOj1M67iCdRoerqFkgLiVa3PjdMy2tIxeAI_RKWFy20ijV6BwF3GrfUVOw/s1600-h/P7010244.JPG"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 172px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353520053463522786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMmEobAkJYV6CD-0yb5EpJePXCzaNzWI6uvt1ZXanf-XHUUGJ7SiZccqkH_Dk51AonTImJo8UY9SYEOj1M67iCdRoerqFkgLiVa3PjdMy2tIxeAI_RKWFy20ijV6BwF3GrfUVOw/s200/P7010244.JPG" /></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">fridge.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The cooking apple tree is absolutely smothered with delicious looking fruit and I can't wait for the blackberries to </span></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwawYchsSfSXNDNcZRrFe1etNkhdkp3DyoxDEAyeFVvH6uMOQsPkR73HybfSQQanqvTPPG6mMjhSW_xXVISAp80T3bWu47SnMlxylZi9ur0dpIUP9aNWy2bXqig_hu-m8TC9-fuw/s1600-h/P7010245.JPG"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353520693325445938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwawYchsSfSXNDNcZRrFe1etNkhdkp3DyoxDEAyeFVvH6uMOQsPkR73HybfSQQanqvTPPG6mMjhSW_xXVISAp80T3bWu47SnMlxylZi9ur0dpIUP9aNWy2bXqig_hu-m8TC9-fuw/s200/P7010245.JPG" /></span></strong></a></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">ripen so I can make my favourite pud - apple and blackberry crumble. ;o)</span></strong></div><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I've been avidly watching Andy Murray's progress through Wimbledon and he has just this very sec</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">ond beat</span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqOir295XJSQpDaAd4pa2mDdPF8KCpDNpSdPLMZwha-uqfcCLszCt-6AnmLb6QC-l3F3D-Un6sxhJWhWodVSBawBU3WIsl1XYczbCgles_UtSn-qo61M7YFIKXqZ5e0c7fa23IQ/s1600-h/P6300235.JPG"></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">en Ferrera in the quarter finals, so is on his way to the semi's! I went up yesterday to see the ladies quarter finals on Centre Court and we were very thankful that we had shady seats as the temperature was unbearably hot yesterday. </span></strong></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-X8B06clyFzO10KU7SwY5d9vPX65_NDGgYYwlrVcoT5fOnlSnqmRKAzSRvkCLVwnf0GJ09fQklDKB6i8PeULUGUMVFErvzhe3YfJK1GSty5M1NYbqRhlBCQs-LAVlLVjZQWBaA/s1600-h/P6300235.JPG"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353522634893060738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-X8B06clyFzO10KU7SwY5d9vPX65_NDGgYYwlrVcoT5fOnlSnqmRKAzSRvkCLVwnf0GJ09fQklDKB6i8PeULUGUMVFErvzhe3YfJK1GSty5M1NYbqRhlBCQs-LAVlLVjZQWBaA/s200/P6300235.JPG" /></span></strong></a>I always go with my SIL who has been going for many many years and is very adept at spotting tennis players and famous faces, well I managed to spot one of my own yesterday - Ainsley Harriott was sitting 5 rows in front of me. I did toy with the idea of giving him the contents of my picnic bag and asking what he could do with it in 20 minutes, but decided to resist that particular urge!! For those readers outside the UK, Ainsley is a celebrity chef/presenter on Ready Steady Cook. I couldn't get a photo of his face, but did get the back of his (very shiny) head!</span></strong> </span></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div><br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353523822026940930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpsDMVcgBhFAIYLb7Xb4VH4lHTzg0k0feQaZ_-Cr41AuPy9FZ83reJ7aWoFKQFWKzn8pdU-KIPj47b2q-3ADM-Wbo6Gj8obxu43gWA8HxGmE7WQmwlUtb2h-esyFihZv1mDK8YQ/s320/P6300239.JPG" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-88111843362015693102009-06-25T11:07:00.005+01:002009-06-25T11:25:08.380+01:00Time for strawberries, cream and a drop of Pimms<div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Yes, Wimbledon is here once more and I'm enjoying a couple of weeks away from work. I'm going up on Tuesday with Sally, my SIL, to Centre Court. Our seats are right at the back, but at least we'll be in the shade and we will still have a great view. We always take a picnic with us and I always try and pack in something extra special, so I'll be scouring Sainsburys on Monday for something nice.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Dad has been in the rehab centre at the hospital now for a few weeks and it is simply awful. I'm sure it's made his level of confusion worse and even the move itself hasn't helped matters. They put him to bed at 7.30pm and for a man who has problems sleeping, this isn't good. It has been agreed that Dad needs to go for some care for a while. Initially we thought it would be residential, but at the meeting we had to discuss his case, they thought nursing care would probably be better. There's a chance if it's nursing care, that he will get full funding. Otherwise, I will have to sell his house (and my home for 35 years) to meet the costs if it turns into a long term placement. I'm really not sure whether or not he will ever be well enough to go home, but all we can do is hope and pray. I'm still waiting to hear about the funding and as soon as I know, we will be able to view places that have vacancies.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I've been doing some stitching and have actually been working on a Mirabilia! I really reached burnout a couple of years ago with my Miras and haven't really wanted to pick any of them up for a long time. But I had an urge to work to Titania and here's what I've been doing:</span></strong></div><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351207122944471234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg-LKSud9h_YVaXoUyttWrmBqCGcHwJPkukglDQZoFuSrharpV6GKWH43kUkBa72rZK1Krnz8Ckdzd1VdZRZpz7HfVcWcLf0iVjqMWqmLnGfzsMUqEGl2u8fXbfNcfItXTw-45A/s320/Titania+24.06.09.JPG" border="0" />I've stitched most of the coral sash and have just started the bottom part of the dress. You may remember that I wanted to stitch her with silver wings and have been looking at silver metallics that might be suitable for this. I noticed that someone else recently stitched a purple Titania with silver wings, however, those wings had some blue in and I wanted purely silver. I'm not sure whether using purely metallics will be a little overpowering or not, so I'm playing with a few ideas at the moment. The fabric looks a little bluer than IRL. It's SMF's Winter Meadow Belfast linen.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I've also been doing a spot of baking and as it was my friend's birthday, yesterday I baked a Cherry Bakewell cake:</span></strong></p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351208312847580322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5BUt3eHja72zVAxYf6wr-rZZLgrZg1I7OABb8bGjsK9I4KdUZf5-PxMaRjnAPCJFrixH8C33lZhJ5EwLWWkWr4hyphenhyphen1aNRiBdXA1VbWJEQ5NMvWd_zF0x1XIARBuhNrgiDZQJ-UQ/s320/P6240227.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">And delicious it was too! I got the recipe from Rosie's blog - Baking Cakes Galore, which has lots of mouth watering recipes on offer. Happy stitching everyone!</span></strong>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-25263361415922194702009-06-07T17:59:00.006+01:002009-06-07T18:49:14.571+01:00Wildlife<div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Yes, I caved and let Catkin outside after a week and since then we've had a live baby rabbit (who was very cute!), who Catkin dropped and then it hopped into my trainer to hide! I took it back outside in my trainer and released it again. Then yesterday and today, we have had shrews. Yesterdays didn't survive and the one today doesn't look too healthy, but I guess it's to be expected living in the countryside and keeping a cat.</span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344640850940611026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfKhi9OS2qQCT-OOy5aMM4IhmJed8fN5mCYsSDKE8uCtSXUqr3-D29SG-S7LGbnX3Ce7rnK148-fFks9JerWb8UyBfENCfwxITK4Z2eH7Nstotr4T0vXatjzErZisOkuhHxxZ-w/s320/P6070216.JPG" border="0" /><br /></span></strong><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Dad is still in hospital. He's now not going to the rehab centre, but is going to a rehab unit at another hospital, which is closer to his house. They're just waiting for a bed to become available, so hopefully it won't be too long now. I saw him yesterday and he seemed quite well.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Not any stitching to share, but I will share a few piccies. These are some gorgeous flowers my DB and SIL bought over last week, when we had a lovely walk out in the sunny weather and then they came back for some delicious homemade fishcakes!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344641247160380178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMtHNFrX-Yu_eP6NguYipwGXyOPEXY4p18LTz9-er9S6OUvrE5zvrkpxOMT3kghTGTklNymEMVr8lRaV-3kqO5DHieWOw0jmN80KOKqd2HYzuQgLc3nz9iGUZO3JISQR-H_b8-A/s320/P6010214.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></div><br /></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">This was the view we had on our lovely walk into town - I honestly believe there's no better walk into town anywhere else!</span></strong></div><p align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344642514954837970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR7J2DU3PDmKh0N54RRoYEW3PvR1ARO5UHkPxbzsRDN9dhehVLoMF7F7aTWrBulZzZ9HWGcKICKPJBc0PX4tFE6guMRjfNUxdU7ftVX_yRSzcnn-SEA_kInrqtB7wjJ_rbYohtQ/s320/P5310208.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">And this is one of the pretty poppies growing in my garden - I love them and have never seen any like it before.</span></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344641873823327106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYKuEvnZ5Cix8uMPsMhseNBjhYG9lmGrJHKNTEU-UKRDbFgeoSQ9kYvS3S6FFqnixr8LX2rkAPY-pVvvHqyKLvt-xSqb7SSFox4cstQx1fC03AqtGPRXu7PGb-p6g0RNEB2VwPg/s320/P6070219.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Happy stitching everyone!</span></strong></p>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-41059187166103557062009-05-25T15:25:00.009+01:002009-05-25T18:03:12.275+01:00Thank you<div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Thank you so very much for all your lovely, caring messages. We truly have a fantastic support network of stitchers in cyberspace.<br /><br />I’m still feeling sad about Bobbi, but I now have my other gorgeous girl Catkin here with me. Dad is still in hospital and it’s been agreed that he’s going to go into a residential rehabilitation centre for several weeks, so I didn’t think it fair on Catkin to be left alone, with just the neighbour popping in to feed her twice a day. She’s a people cat and would get very lonely, so I have bought her back with me. I’m going to try and keep her in for two weeks and then only let her out when she’s hungry. I’m right in the middle of the countryside, so it wouldn’t take much for her to get herself lost! We’re on day 2 of incarceration and she’s already tried to escape through the inch gap I left with the top window open for ventilation! She seems to have made herself very much at home already though and the area is a wonderful place for a cat to explore.... I just hope she doesn’t try and catch too many rabbits or birds :o(<br /><br />Dad is going to receive intense physiotherapy in the rehab centre and the occupational therapists will also work with him so that he can regain some mobility. The idea is to encourage and support him to be able to do more for himself, so that he is less worried about returning home as he will be able to look after himself more. We’re meeting at the hospital tomorrow to discuss when and how it will happen. Andy and I went over to look at the place on Saturday and I was pleasantly surprised. Very clean, nice accommodation with very friendly staff. There’s also a large lounge/diner with an enormous TV which I know Dad will like very much! There’s only a dozen residents of the rehab centre which seems to indicate they receive plenty of care and attention. I’m sure that it’s going to be a really good experience for Dad and I hope that he will be able to return home afterwards.<br /><br />I have been doing a little stitching, so will share some piccies with you. Firstly The Guardian:</span></strong><br /><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339796525694475778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4JMyVv2Msg9l-AraDpTqVjRngAnhz5Ymm8gbDV8xaXJO9QqXxd0W6WdA67fLiAAQ0T8J_LPF2AP5Z2dsznW9lmfFeLsTVgshnTCgK2wqJIedVE_zaeGO1iDM44yBPbnEr8Hzzg/s400/P5230193.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I've also been working on Taj:</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339804946487701554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrDLchbeiuy0CBkK70Jmh5ARWP_SXC-rW8G_uEF870kt6TyzQ292gn5zWlboRsTpkl2b4aLl18XWY53XTuAUZvd-ZMmhFeTN9yTsEhtLFEvIRGSp8Tjhc7ueFUy6Pr7aO59ZbiA/s400/P5250199.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong> <div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">And here's how the whole thing looks right now:</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339807314610360626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFxFfI_Wvk78NsuzTdfylIcnnM57HTW4MUFA-OY6m8_TDKgF78YFs3TW_X4ZKR2FUvfvIZBiF1DzUuQzD8OAO-7BSzDHEEOIQAL0hyXbgSroWdHcY4CkFXrpI272L-aBkZL47ug/s400/P5250197.JPG" border="0" />I'm hoping to finish my first Taj side soon! Happy stitching everyone :o)</span></strong></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-5273334658291170042009-05-16T17:50:00.003+01:002009-05-16T20:22:24.289+01:00<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>Hi everyone. Life has not been good recently in any shape or form, so I’m afraid this isn’t going to be a particularly happy post and I apologise now.<br /><br />Dad had a nasty fall at home at the end of March. He fell and hit his head on the wall, losing a lot of blood (which I had to try scrubbing out of the carpet for days without success) and ending up with a 3” cut at the back of his head, requiring stitches. Thankfully the neighbour popped in to see him and found him sitting on the sofa with blood pouring out of his head. Had he not come in to see Dad that evening, I really think he could have bled to death. He had amnesia and has had memory problems ever since. He was in hospital for 3 weeks and for the last few days was in a ward where he received appalling treatment (my subsequent complaint is currently being investigated) and so he discharged himself. He now receives care 3 times a day and the district nurses also come in daily to monitor his blood sugar levels. But here we are 3 weeks later and he is back in hospital. He’s had a really nasty bout of gastroenteritis and the doctors have been very worried about him, but today they seem to think he’s on the mend and should be home within a few days. Work have been very understanding and I’ve been able to take a few days leave when I’ve needed to. I’m also now working flexi hours, enabling me to have every other Friday off, so I can go and visit Dad weekly, rather than every other week. It’s been a very worrying time and Dad is far from well. His brother, who had similar health problems, passed away a few days after Dad went into hospital, two weeks after I’d taken Dad to see him – they hadn’t seen each other for nearly 20 years. Needless to say, we’re very glad that we went when we did. He went rapidly downhill in the last few days, poor thing, as he’d seemed in reasonably good health when we saw him. I also lost a good friend I'd met at my last job around the same time, who was terminally ill with cancer. She’d fought a brave battle and was a fighter right until the end.<br /><br />It’s also not been a good time for kitties. Joy – the cat I’ve been looking after at my accommodation – was blind in one eye and last week, it suddenly went from being gungy one day to very sore and bleeding the next. Poor thing had an eye tumour. I contacted her ‘mum’, Becky, who is studying at uni, and she returned home and took her to the vet. She was 18 and it was likely that the tumour had spread to the area behind her eye, so Becky made the brave decision to have her put to sleep. The same week, my sister had to have her cat Bertie put to sleep as she had suddenly developed a large mass inside her.<br /><br />Then today, I had to say goodbye to my beautiful baby girl, Bobbi. She’d not been eating and was drinking lots of water. She was skin and bones, poor thing, which happened very very quickly. So I made the best, but difficult decision to have her put to sleep. I feel so sad. I knew her from when she was a week old. She sat in the palm of my hand and mewed at me, before her eyes were even open, her beautiful golden eyes. She loved sitting in the garden in the sun and in the wintertime, loved to be curled up next to the fire. When she was happy and contented she would purr deeply, curl her tail around her legs and suck the end till it was soggy, like a child sucks its thumb for comfort. I will never forget her.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong><br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336465640311751010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 312px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NKSsYVvLFlOqnHDPepe-Nbr8Lfzqb3tvh8KXpyOxcVA1EQWVpGohHwOrrVzylZp3GRzcgISDCDGz9APQxTzAvcAGFpx-t2A-HJdzBJAhaP21gL9Cd5ZcvONt5N8U-gREpuT3sg/s320/Bobbi.jpg" border="0" /></strong></span>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-11970049018648895802009-03-15T19:02:00.006+00:002009-03-15T19:26:24.294+00:00A lovely afternoon<div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">It's been a beautiful day here in England today, well, down in the south anyway! I've had a house warming shared lunch with most of my immediate family today - 2 of my sisters, their children / husbands / wives / partners. 14 of us squeezed into my little house, but thankfully I also share the garden and am able to use the large conservatory at the back of the cottage. It was lovely to share lunch together - everyone contributed something and I was busy baking lemon & lime cupcakes at 10pm last night in preparation...</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313494471370337282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZfWJZ1o0cPqWIJOU-1OjDwfwXvg2yGl_oehj-t6vQPWzHmzXxQKu5q122xk_kp6UKcZVyenrL9PeTRryQtrc4F8J2FyBaI5vO46bzMNPqx1AFP7RSh0UB85TSp8s7NqWQNWEUQ/s320/P3150103.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong> <div></div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0X2frhC0OaF54ii6CLqCq7HL6o9R9z_3KK5euhQy-_x2tgMvgqzIR3FbbSuzko-iSCvwaMKRO3c1ChwOHgCjL9wC1XQxfaO2pPh_Jfxw5BuCk06yUky8uuU5gGc2xEnSYNc0NQ/s1600-h/P3150107.JPG"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313495399720113378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0X2frhC0OaF54ii6CLqCq7HL6o9R9z_3KK5euhQy-_x2tgMvgqzIR3FbbSuzko-iSCvwaMKRO3c1ChwOHgCjL9wC1XQxfaO2pPh_Jfxw5BuCk06yUky8uuU5gGc2xEnSYNc0NQ/s200/P3150107.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIDjDFwzQ0TPBzFD9pw0AH04hjLAW8zhheuJFAef3KtBilpMU2oNPMm04v_MCJa5fHs9ngFHlA5PY2bJsb9FPXzPElLwhl1Xj5AaELMey1OS8fMkvkTGMofnIIZ2X-MnwIrxNxg/s1600-h/P3150104.JPG"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313495388949408898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIDjDFwzQ0TPBzFD9pw0AH04hjLAW8zhheuJFAef3KtBilpMU2oNPMm04v_MCJa5fHs9ngFHlA5PY2bJsb9FPXzPElLwhl1Xj5AaELMey1OS8fMkvkTGMofnIIZ2X-MnwIrxNxg/s200/P3150104.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></a></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Then my niece Ellie (you can tell we like baking!) made a beautiful 'Country Cake' decorated with cows, sheep and flowers! She is such a clever girl. I love all the little details, the fence, the flower stems, everything! :o) It tasted pretty good too. We polished off most of the food, but there's still a little cake left over which I may take into work with me tomorrow. </span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I seem to have lost my stitchy vibe at the moment. It could be that I can't see the tv from my only armchair in my little house (I like to stitch and semi-watch films). I can't site the tv anywhere else and don't think I can move the chair anywhere close by. I can see the tv from my bed, so may stitch temporarily sitting on my bed for now. In the summer I'm looking forward to sitting in the conservatory and stitching there. I have an urge to pick up my neglected Taj Mahal WIP at the mo.... Have a great week folks!</span></strong></div></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-61488060330698433152009-03-07T08:01:00.007+00:002009-03-07T08:33:01.229+00:00A long hiatus<div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>Yes, it's been longer than I can even think about since I last blogged. My life has taken another turn of events and I apologise now that this post may be a little long, a little rambly and there may even be a healthy smattering of photos!</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>I left my old job at the end of January and much as I was sad to say goodbye to the people, I wasn't sad to leave the company - it was definitely time to move on. I started my new job at the hospital on the first day that the UK was covered by its worst snow in 20 years! I think it took me nearly 2hrs to get to work for my induction and they were very kind to us and let us go by about 2.30 in the afternoon. I've been there for 5 weeks now and am working with a great team - the other HR Advisors are all very experienced and have much knowledge between them. I'm sure I'm going to learn lots from working alongside them. I've been involved with a few of their cases and eventually I will have casework of my own. I think I'm going to like it :o)</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>About 3 or 4 weeks ago, my sister, who works as an administrator in our church office, emailed me at work to tell me about some accommodation that was going to be advertised in the weekly church bulletin and that she thought it might be suitable for me. It was a little further from work than I had wanted, but looked nice from the photos my sister sent and she arranged for us to go and see it that evening. It's an unusual setup, to say the least. The owner, Mary and her husband, spend most of the year out in Madagascar, working for a Christian organisation and are abroad for 4-6 months at a time. They own a big cottage in the Sussex countryside, in a very quiet and peaceful village. Mary's husband (a builder) has extensively renovated the cottage in the 20yrs they have been there. Next to the cottage is a large building, which was originally some outhouses and a few years ago, they totally renovated them into a studio house for their daughter to live in, who subsequently went off to uni 200 miles away and decided she didn't want to live in it. They then began letting it to help pay the bills whilst they were out in Madagascar. The deal is that all bills are included in the very reasonable rent and the tenant also feeds their elderly cat - Joy. Joy is 18, going blind and deaf and is very sweet. The tenant also needs to make the main cottage look lived in - turning lights on & off etc. I went to view it and fell in love with the place, so just a few days ago, I moved in and here I am!</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dlaF_O7OaGdJglweptJ0Vizo37myhyBnLv3Un65_A49usNxvrK_r15TuSHqorXz32T-bWxZk_T7L458D_YHU-RNAvRm8vy8lJs5b_avCCy9aCbipItttV_swdjoz_DI9w8mEeQ/s1600-h/P2210075.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310357429880045410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dlaF_O7OaGdJglweptJ0Vizo37myhyBnLv3Un65_A49usNxvrK_r15TuSHqorXz32T-bWxZk_T7L458D_YHU-RNAvRm8vy8lJs5b_avCCy9aCbipItttV_swdjoz_DI9w8mEeQ/s200/P2210075.JPG" border="0" /></strong></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>This (l) is the studio (the taller part at the front is a garage) and the strange black stuff on the ground is covering vegetable patches. There are many fruit trees in the garden (which I also get to use) and I can help myself to as many fruit and vegetables as I like!</strong></span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsypo3K5fwkM1EtNW5dzlMoURxGCZfe84YpHlE4BH6eABbfhfP9P92pH3FAFTWyfPNTlzNHXiWCHw2GyduqtCPW8Np-dXBHv0kYibBG6TgphRlz_CGT8pw90zXhz_U5urB2J_ehg/s1600-h/P3060084.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310358463906466370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsypo3K5fwkM1EtNW5dzlMoURxGCZfe84YpHlE4BH6eABbfhfP9P92pH3FAFTWyfPNTlzNHXiWCHw2GyduqtCPW8Np-dXBHv0kYibBG6TgphRlz_CGT8pw90zXhz_U5urB2J_ehg/s200/P3060084.JPG" border="0" /></strong></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>(r) An inside main view. There's also a separate bathroom and LOTS of storage areas, even for all my stitching stash! The pink and blue throw on the chair is made by the villagers Mary teaches crafts to in Madagascar.</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>So at long last, I have a beautiful little home of my own. It's early days yet and I'm still settling in, but I'm looking forward to being here all through the lovely summer days coming up.</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>There has been a smidgeon of stitching going on, but hopefully when I'm more settled, there will be much more! I finished another page on Snow Princess & the Polar Bear:</strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310359594834336834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkdtSIKHDRPpfrWU67Ol_nffLb_gllmMtbkUuOiIfYKxfMk0t8-sOokzw_6n_ZJiY7jX8R9HPDSGDeu9mba-bDL-bNlxAG5aZ-tTOvmEztTu0V0sxr_8CUP-jYBoJzczwoAnjYQ/s320/P3060095.JPG" border="0" />and there's even been a tiny bit of progress on Midnight Hunting (I finished off the lower part of his wing):</strong></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310360020842710146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubuX74U30nBy-Viu_7EroblD8VoRmnIyF9sKNLvW-XvFHnohj_z4KfC3qrbnEqAFIbi-K58sGqLdJZdd-Bu1gqvFJfLeaKpBQYEmIJiNvgG_8U4ibjEGL28CMO_tvsEjxetKtNw/s320/P3060097.JPG" border="0" />That's it for the moment I think! I will attempt to catch up with blogs over the next few days and my apologies if I haven't visited yours in a while. Have a great weekend folks!</strong></span> <div></div></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-6583750182883610682009-01-21T17:16:00.006+00:002009-01-21T17:29:54.582+00:00New wheels<div>Yay! I finally picked up my new wheels and took them out for a spin today. I didn't get very far as the garage had put probably around a cup of petrol (gas) in the car, so it promptly ground to a hault, nowhere near a petrol station, but thankfully my good friend was off work today and drove over to pick me up and took me to get some petrol. Thank goodness for friends!<br /><div><div><div></div><br /><div>Welcome to the new look blog by the way - hope that it is as clear to read as the old layout, I just fancied brightening it up a bit :o)</div><div></div><br /><div>I'm spending a few days at Dad's as he had a cataract operation on Monday. All has gone well and I'm trying to teach him how to administer his eye drops, which is no easy task at all.... he seems to have managed to swallow (yes, swallow!) more than he's got in his eye so far!</div><div></div><br /><div>I've nearly finished the page of Snow Princess I've been working on, so won't add any photos until I've got there. I can't not add any photos at all though, so let's see what I can find.... here's a pic of two of my sister's cats Bertie (l) and Kitten (r). Kitten is Bertie's mother, though is absolutely tiny. They both seem to like sleeping on my bed and snuggle up together, washing each other and helping me on my laptop ;o)</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293799863214783330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_TyKXJNX7mtl2e43jQi_qV9t6miJCMmhmcq7uSPtM3sIgTFit0WU_rv5HTHWIbd884XdIMfpH3qrEnAY42aXF7oUkM1ZT74AIZxnOAUxTvpVgNMihFj2iGrwdphqM5XHZyI6EQ/s320/PB230025.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7876487.post-15736072710537351232009-01-16T19:07:00.006+00:002009-01-21T17:16:26.757+00:00Frrrrrrosty!<strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291970952970896498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8dShFdzBvEHEd593N-mvR4xq2RsOhHp-wAeWjfax7FCU2FcewYeumLv-LA7Q9xrzHoNaTTdA6lIgx-GIg4swdfSUHituY3eHSQTBpgsotFL4Bl346kcugEOO5VHeKkLFgyl_QA/s320/P1100069.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong> <div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">It's been a bit nippy down here lately and last Saturday there was such a lovely layer of frost in the garden, that I took a few photos.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291970946222356626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 305px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGvUGmj7UjtbMOqSB5dTMQ4ADMI2RdAZBR8mHEOnZyi3LxGbRdySB0UEXZfI7Xhx_BA06lmhi_Vhm1oGmZ_obTDljuyVblY4po4zWqHscOw4H63R_UXpXfKb0u-byH-6xT81-5Q/s320/Frost+1.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291970951035337890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxD7MTiCLLrvr8czVfnAF-i2_8E5nUzM9lu98u6Lok8PtC_QV1lRUVDTyFk6hY7gOJDQ5W7K5BGV1eXyAWskh8rHG4WCGT5o_ItV1V3eghn8-h2B-eabliXJRDlifzxzmsNsVZg/s320/P1100066.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></div><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Everything looked so pretty as if it had been covered in icing sugar! It's been a bit milder this week but it's gonna rain pretty soon I think.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Thank you all for your lovely messages following my car accident. Would love to hug you all! My bruises are healing nicely now (had some nasty black ones for a while). I managed to find a little runaround car on Weds to get me mobile again and I pick it up next week after they've finished servicing it for me. I've been relying on friends, family and the bus to get about. I don't like travelling by bus as it makes me feel quite ill, but it's been very efficient in getting me to and from work.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I've also resigned from my old job. I leave in 2 weeks time on 30th Jan and start my new one straight after, on 2nd Feb. They asked me to start then as there's an induction scheduled for that day and half of the next, so it'll be good to get the induction done and out of the way and then crack on with the new job.</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">It was my sister's birthday yesterday, so we all went out for a delicious Italian meal last night on my BIL. I had tagliatelle with salmon which I really enjoyed and even managed to squeeze in some Italian ice cream for dessert. Have a good weekend folks ;o)</span></strong></p>Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02625204522695798558noreply@blogger.com7