General Chat

Evening All

A message for Sandra Dear Sandra ,thank very much for your special card you sent me.It is so pretty and it has cheered me up so much <3

Thanks too AnnG for your card that also came today :-D.

I got the slippers and also a fleecy throw that I am thinking may be very handy in weeks to come.I have had soup tonight and James is cooking dinner for the rest of them.I have to say it does smell good. I havent felt like much at all today but will have a hot chocolate in about an hour. I am ready to settle down and watch some tv on the laptop.

Well i never got out into the garden as it started raining and then turned to a drizzle so i found some inside jobs .

I should think little and often would be best way for you to eat Jane ,is it better if you have more of a puree of your food rather than any thing that's a bit lumpy or would repeat more ?
Hope you managed to get some slippers from next ,i never seem to be able to have slippers very long before the bottoms get thin ,mind you i do tend to nip out to the bin in them which doesn't help.

Oh not a very nice job to have to do Ann ,i hope you've cleared it ok now .
When our drain got blocked outside under the kitchen window Colin bought some stuff that you pour down .... well it goes off with a bang and a puff and clears it lovely ,it did make us jump though as we we're both leaning over to see what it would do :-D
I had a google at the Stumpwork ,it does look like it would take quite a while to do as it is very fine work but all the bits i saw did look lovely .

Mel the pencils look nice they will sell well i should think and the ball is nice too with lots inside which i should think smell lovely
When you mentioned shopping i thought you'd decided to change your day going out .

How long is Biggles with you Frank i must have missed you saying he was coming again .
Do you have a patch over the eye ? it might rest the eye better if you had one .

It must have been funny watching the squirrels tying to get the food on the feeder Gill
Hope the knee is feeling better ,perhaps you turned funny in bed and strained it some how .

Your OH has had a sort out of his clothes for the wash AnnG ,Colin usually finds some thing that needs washing just after i've turned the machine on which is annoying .
Hope your knee is feeling better too .

Gill don't cut your penstemons down till April.

It been sunshine and very heavy showers here today and just before lunch we had a huge double rainbowover to the north east. I tried to get a pic but don't think the reflection one came out.

Not sure if the witch balls would sell at the craft fair for the children in the village but they may sell in the shop in Torrington along with other things I have made sort of witchy and pagan. I just need to get there with some things.

Anng its not pot pouri in the ball its mostly things out of the garden. Yarrow, sage, bay lavender,rose petals, sprigs of lavender and cinnamon sticks and dried mistletoe leaves. I may make a Yule one next without the crystals in it.

Frank, it sounds as if you are straining your good eye because it is having to work twice as hard so it is better if you can just rest. At least Biggles entertains you.

Gill My knee hurts today as well. I think I slept awkwardly with it although it is a bit iffy and does hurt sometimes. however that is partly expected at my age but not at yours, look after it it has to last you a long time yet.

Well I got up fairly early and put the bedding in the washing machine, It was all dried by 1pm and in the airing cupboard. Then OH comes in with muddy trousers from playing golf, puts a large load of outer trousers, thick sweaters, ordinary golf trousers, thick socks, even a cap into the washing machine and didn't take it out until I went downstairs to check. So now at 3pm we have another 2 loads for the tumble drier. This time I showed him how to run the washing machine (he always ran the old one but had not tried this fairly new one, and now I have showed him how to run the drier as well. Noy that I hold out any hope that he will remember next time :-D

Afternoon all

Sunny here today, they forecast rain, so I was surprised we had nice weather, having said that it's starting to get a bit cloudy, so I expect we'll have the predicted rain soon.

We had a laugh yesterday, there were a few squirrels in our garden trying their best to get to the bird food on the feeder, so we put lots of vaseline over the top of the feeder and moved the dish with the water in closer to the one with the food, we even put a bit of vaseline around the rim of the water dish. It did the trick and the squirrels kept sliding off the feeder, it was so funny to see. We weren't sure if the birds would be able to get to the food with the water dish being so close, but they managed okay, much to Sandra's delight. So that's that problem sorted for now.

The squirrels had managed to chew their way through the other feeders we had hanging up so we're hoping to find some squirrel proof ones to replace them with. OH said a squirrel jumped onto our living room window sill this morning, but then fell off and ran away.

I'm hoping we can still go to the Garden centre this week for the Christmas event, but somehow I've managed to hurt my knee last night. I don't remember doing anything but walk from one room to another so I don't know how I've hurt myself. OH thinks I've twisted it somehow, but like I said I don't remember doing anything like that. So last night and today I've not been able to bend my knee properly, which is making walking quite painful, I hope it doesn't stop me going to the Christmas do as I've been looking forward to it for ages. OH will take Sandra on their own if I can't make it. To top that all off I've got a sore throat, so I'm feeling a bit fed up at the moment. At least I can do some more of OH's tree with not being able to walk around, so it's not all bad.

I hope you've managed to eat something Jane. How nice of Hannah to try and sort out food you can cope with. Little and often is the best way by the sounds of it.

Love the pics you sent Mel, are they for the craft fair? You are making quite a variety of things lately, so should have a good display when they're all finished. It sounds like your OH is busy in the garden again. I haven't done much actual gardening this year. After doing so much these past few years I just wanted to potter in the garden for a change.

We're still brushing up the leaves, they're mainly off our own plants, but very soon they'll be a lot more once the leaves start falling off the neighbours trees, they are around 40 foot tall so plenty of leaves to blow off yet. I've taken some cutting of Penstemon's which are growing nicely on the kitchen window sill. We bought a pink one for Sandra and somehow one of the branches broke off so I cut it up into a few pieces and potted them up a few weeks ago, hopefully we'll have some more plants by next spring/summer.

I re-potted two of my conifers the other month, they were cuttings off one my sister gave me 5 years ago and now I have 6 good sized trees, I love making new plants from cuttings and it helps fill the borders and of course they are free.

I'll let you know when "Home is where the Art is" is on Ann, I think it's on next spring and my aunt is the 10th one on the show, at least I think that's what my mum said. I watched it when it was on last and OH and I think it's a brilliant show. It's about people who want some sort of art in their homes and there are three artists making things, then the people choose which one they want to buy. It's very good and well worth watching. It sounds like you're learning lots of new arts and crafts lately, I'd love to see some pictures of the things you make when they're finished.

Afternoon all,

I see you have all been busy chatting. lol

I was awake again at 4.00 am Couldn't get back to sleep so got up around 5.30.. I had my Aspirin and tablets with a COT. Ros came out around 8.00, made her own tea and got my cereal for me. "Biggles" was round with us at 10.30. At 11.00 a woman called JENNY came to take him for a walk. Ann had arranged it with her, to walk Biggles twice a day.

He's geen in and out as Ros is gardening in the back. Cutting back bushes etc.

I have prepared dinner for tonight. Cold sliced lo in an onion grave, Swede and carrot mash, sweetheart cabbage, with roasties, and parsnips.

Glad that Hannah is looking after you well Jane. Did you get the card from Sandra this morning.

Blocked loo, Better you than me, sorting that out. That's a good old method Mel, It seems that lots of old remedies are better than the modern ones. Mum always rubbed Camphorated oil on our chest and feet when we had a cold. I don't know what modern Mums do now. lol lol

I am finding the EYE is affecting the vision in my other eye. I seem to be spending more time with my eyes closed. Roll on Wednesday week. !!!

Pleased to see you are all getting out and about, shopping, eating and visiting family and friends.

I'm off to rest my eyes, see you later. Nothing happening here for me to report on. xxxx

Thanks for pics Mel, you are building up a lot of stuff for the sale. When is it? I do like the ball, is it pot pourri inside it?

Sent the pics.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I have just realized its MONDAY and I don't have to go shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What am I like I never know what day it is....................................... :-S :-D :-D

Morning all,

Slept late again!! I do wish he would wake me and I am cross with myself because I looked at my watch at 25 to 9 and then fell asleep again.

Lovely bright sunny morning today with lts of blue sky. Oh has been sucking all the leaves out of his pond with the pond vac but has now come in for a coffee. Its very hard to move the long pole around in the water so he does it in stages.

I of course have shopping day and it always falls on a lovely day and then when I want to do some craft work later in the week its always dull and dreary. Makes me so cross. :-| :-| :-|

Hope you find your new slippers girls. I don't where slippers as such but shower shoes most of the year unless its really cold and then I wear my fluffy boot type slippers oh bought me last Christmas they keep my ankles nice and warm.

If our loo is blocked I never use a plunger but mix a bucket of washing soda up with boiling water and bleach chuck that down it and it will clear its self. you need about half a packet of the washing soda and a good sqeeze of bleach but put them into the boiling water and give it a good stir with something then let it do its job!!!!!!!! (pun)

You can also do all your drains with it and they will smell as fresh as a daisy.

I have taken pics of the pencil wands, well 4 of them I still have to silver the last one yet, also a pic of the witch ball.

Glad to see Hannah is trying to build you up Jane and hope she is suceeding. Little and often is good so keep it up. Sending you love and wishes again this morning.XX <3 <3

You have all been good doing tidying in your gardens but I hav'nt done any here, well I jhave put a couple of bits away that oh left out like the strimmer and some tools but no actual gardening. Everywhere is so wet you just can't work in the soil.

Morning All,

Sunshine at the mo, but I expect it will rain later.

You have been busy! My first job was to unblock the ensuite toilet.....nice!! OH offered but I like to rinse the plunger well in a few flushes after.....not sure OH would. We are off to the Sunday carvery later as it will be far less busy today so the change of day has thrown me out already. I think I will be doing the same as you later AnnG although I need to go back to the village shop with my wire ring and get the one with room for pompoms instead.

Some of the work the teacher showed us (not sure if it was stump work or another skill!) was a small pot of flowers and not flat. The flower petals were made of wire with embroidery silk wrapped round them and the middles of the petals were caught between the edges with stem stitch. Such fine tiny stitches I know I would struggle to do. I look forward to seeing your latest makes Mel and I bet the Witch's ball makes a lovely smell. Did he manage to mend the pump?

Thanks Mandy I have recorded both now! I enjoy them too like Mel. You have reminded me I need to plant up my pots with the violas so I might get on with that later.

Jane Hannah is very disciplined to keep up with the gym while she stays with you. Does she pay per session or is it part of the same group she usually uses? I expect Hannah noticed a change with not seeing you every day and is trying to get you to eat more as you say. I suppose you are being bombarded with ideas, but OH has found his nights have been good since he stopped eating much after teatime, so that might be a help. I hope you find some nice slippers at Next. I think mine are beginning to fall apart. I must go and get a nice thin Kimono in Primark that I saw in a magazine. It would be good as a thin dressing gown for me.

Better get cracking and get showered now.

Mandy, sounds as if you are busy in your house. I could do with turning our airing cupboard out I am sure there are things in there I haven't seen for a few years!!

Jane, nice to spend time with Hannah We were looking at mattresses in Next the other day, nice but maybe a bit more expensive than some. That is going to have to wait until after Christmas.

Well done Hannah if she is managing to get you to eat little and often. Not too much so that you suffer discomfort but I feel you should try and build up your strength a little now. Hope you find the slippers you need I took ages to find some for me and ended up getting them in a garden centre!!

Morning AnnG , Mandy and all

The sun is shining now .It started off really dark and dreary,so I think washing needs to go in and out on the line today.
Hannah is going to the gym and when she gets back we are going to Next to get some slippers.
I had a bit of an uncomfortable night .I think Hannah tried to feed me too much yesterday. She is coming up with all sorts of things to try and get me to eat more!!!.

I wll be waiting for the post this morning Gill :-D

Morning Ann morning all,

Snap Ann I have the bedding in too ,bit dull here but dry so I will see if I can do a bit more outside in the garden ,I have some cyclamen to plant in my boxes and some Violas so I hope I can get those in too.
Colin is going to put some emulsion round the walls in the airing cupboard to freshen that up so I have cleared that out this morning .
Washer has just finished so I'd better get them out and the next lot in .

Good morning all. fairly bright here so far. Looks cold though. OH gone to golf I have the bedding in the washing machine. Not a good nights sleep for me, too much veg with the roast I think my stomach was very tender all night. I slept in one to two hour sessions.

Not sure what I am doing today, bit of Hwork, a bit of book keeping and a bit of sorting C cards and presents I suspect.

I like Our Yorkshire Farm too Mandy and the Chateau program. I hav'nt watched them all yet.

Thanks for the idea of the wand pencils but I have already done 5 and have another 5 to do with rubbers on the end and they are not wooden pencils. I will send a pic when I have taken one. Also the witch ball. Its a thing to protect the house and family and you should hang them in an east window. My glass one is in the north facing window of the kitchen. These I am making are plastic balls filled with cinnamon sticks, sage, lavender, rose petals and yarrow, bay leaves and sprigs of lavender etc.

Stump work is raised embrodery. Its very interesting and nice to do but takes a long while. We started some of it at school and I really enjoyed it.

Evening all,

It hasn't been a bad day here today we even saw some sun shine ,i have now got all the Begonia's out of the wall boxes ,just got two more to take out of the hanging baskets and two Geraniums to bring in .

Jane that's nice that Hannah is home with you for a few days just it's what you need having the family there <3

Mel that Ivy necklace is really unusual and will look really good on , looking forward to seeing this witch's ball i've no idea what it is going to look like
I was thinking the other day about things for your stall and wondered if you could decorate some pencils like the wands you made ,they would be nice little pocket money buys for the children ,i'm sure they would sell well.

Oh AnnG that moon must have been a sight to see ,it looked huge didn't it and you could even see all the craters on it too ,it must look a picture all lit up in the dark .
I see you are still buying lots you don't need :-D
What a bargain on the boots ,it's a nice surprise when that happens .

That was a good night for you last night then Frank lets hope you can do it again tonight ,glad your pleased with the new Dyson ,some of them are quite pricey ,i saw one advertised at nearly five hundred pounds !!! i don't think i'd ever pay that much for a hoover .

Ann it sounds as if that new lot of beading is a bit tricky to do but you've done well to get eight inches done .
I shall have to have a google for this Stumpwork i've never heard of it ,it will be interesting to see what it is like .
It was a good job OH was there to move kitty on ,they do seem to lay down in the most unusual places some of them ,if you had gone over him you'd never forgive yourself .

I see Sandra is still in the pink mode !! :-D
Give your self plenty of breaks from doing the tree Gill you don't another bad head .

Safe journey home Vera it sounds like you have had a nice weekend with the family .
Looking forward to The Chateau tonight ,also next week there's a new lot of Our Yorkshire Farm it's on Tuesday channel 5 eight o'clock .

Afternoon All,

We have had patchy sunshine but no rain as yet. It did get windy last night though.

I hope your OH can mend the pump Mel. He is good at doing things like that, so if it can be mended he is sure to fix it. :-) Otherwise it's MORE EXPENSE as you say or as Frank would say. I look forward to seeing your witch's ball! you make some interesting things.

Gill I see you are doing well on your tree again! I bet Sandra is loving it now with Christmas films to see and her PINK lights as well!

We ate at home today, Barnsley lamb chops, slow cooked, just with cabbage, swede, carrots and some mash for OH. It was a last minute decision, so I used up what veg we had. We watched a recorded episode of Open All Hours Again while we ate and I do love Mr Newbold and Delphine! OH gave the bath a good clean this morning and found room to put the garden chairs in the garage. I cut his hair and this afternoon he watched footie on the telly while I went out and took some autumn tree photos. Hello Kitty was in extra friendly mode and came up our drive miaowing away, so I expect his owners were out! Then after a few chin rubs and ear tickles he decided to sit right behind my car where I would be driving out. OH had to come and lure him away till I'd gone.

It must have been great to see and hear your grandaughter sing Vera. My word she did well to get through all those costume changes!

AnnG I think Garden Centres are so diverse now in what they sell, there will always be something to buy that we don't need! lol. :-)

Hurrah! A good night's sleep at last Frank! I bet you feel so much better for it, :-) That eye must be a nuisance, but not much longer to wait now,

Frank I was going to say the same as Mel, you should have felt better if you'd had a good sleep. It sounds as if your body is lacking something. I don't remember if you have had a recent bllod test, if so what about iron levels? Maybe you need some vitamin tablets or something. How about trying an occasional Mackeson.stout? That is supposed to build you up.

Vera, safe journey home. Glad you enjoyed the performance last night.

Gill I meant to say that the moon was made and mapped in conjunction with NASA.

Mel, not much craft done if you were playing cards on the computer then. Never mind a change is as good as a rest. I have made two birthday cards this afternoon, Christmas is all done!! Roast chicken tonight with roast pots, cauliflower, broccoli, roast carrots, courgette and roast red pepper.

Safe journey home Vera.

It turned cloudy late morning and is now raining AGAIN. When willit ever stop and the winds up a bit now too. This time it seems to be coming from the east.

Have finished a witch ball this morning and am going to do some more things after I have washed up as I have been playing cards on the pc.

Glad you had a better night last night Frank. You should feel more alive this mroning not knackered. :-0 I suppose the eye is still the same and won't be better till they do something to it to clear it out. Not long to wait now though.