A new chapter?

This morning I went to a WI meeting - not my usual committee meeting but the group meeting covering the local wi's.  I should add that our secretary is the new convener and so I wanted to give her some support - along with Carine, our president.  Five minutes into the meeting I find myself agreeing to being the group secretary - ooh help!  Will I never learn?  Apparently its only two meetings a year - although we have just agreed to insert a third one  ...........

Back home, and lulled by the lovely sunshine, I took the dogs up to  the beach.  When I encountered a totally empty car park I should have just turned around.  Geees - it was raw - when I got back into the car my eyes and nose were bright red!  Fortunately I looked like a total idiot and wore the woolly hat that Mum and Dad gave me at Christmas and my sparkly woollen mittens but!!!


After another leftovers lunch, I started writing the minutes (better whilst my memory is still fresh) and distributed them.  However I should admit that this was just procrastinating activities.  For some reason - possibly loss of mental faculties - I had decided to make the same Christmas present three times and so spent this afternoon in front of my light box tracing the design three times.  If I feel fed up after just the tracing, guess how I will feel after sewing them three times.  Ah well - it will be worth it - I hope!  And the dogs?  well, they were either shattered after their run against the wind or resigned to having a boring afternoon.  They have just spent all afternoon curled up in their beds in the craftroom - lifting their heads hopefully if I dared to stand up!!

Right - off to try and sort out WI prizes and gifts for tomorrow - there are 9 - yes, count them NINE birthday gifts to wrap and label!!  We have just heard that our speaker can't make it - so we are onto plan B - more work then!!

Paying it forward - again.

Last night I started February's bookclub book - "Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine".  I must admit that I started with some trepidation - others had started but said that  they had found it hard going.  I loved it!! So much so that I finished it in the early hours of the morning - I haven't done that for ages - maybe never!

It's just as well that today was going to be a gentle day then! Actually I spent two hours down at the church hall emptying and cleaning out cupboards in the kitchen - you wouldn't believe how many half and out of date packets of biscuits I threw away!


Back home, and after a lovely walk up at the very sunny beach (note to self - order those prescription sunglasses for your holiday!) plus some lunch made of left over boiled eggs (what else after yesterday) wrapped up with some syn free vegetarian sausages and topped with bacon - it's a culinary delight! - I then sat down to tackle something that I had promised myself for many months.  This was long overdue - I started planning my own quilt - yikes!  You know that things are getting serious when you crack open the protractor and posh rubber!  The actual quilt may never see the light of day but I will enjoy the challenge!  It even includes three way points- I know, I know - you're impressed aren't you?

Not wanting to waste the dry sunny day, I then ventured out into the garden to continue with the ivy cutting started last year.  Tomorrow is the only green refuse collection in January so I might as well take advantage of a full bin.

The final task of the day is to start the casseroles I mentioned yesterday - the slow cooked pork one for tomorrow night, and the liver and bacon casserole for tonight - dreams are made of this - right?

So, you're thinking, why the blog title.  To whom have I been kind to today.  Well, no-one actually - more of an idea.  You may recall the young lad in our SW group who has now lost over 12 stone in the year but suffered from a brain tumour that led to him being laid up in bed for the preceding year?  Well he divulged yesterday that he has to go into hospital in March to remove a tumour in his appendix. I clearly can't do anything medical but I was wracking my brains as to how I could help in any other way.  Clearly dieting is not his priority at the moment but I wanted him to know that his SW family was behind him.  Cue the lightbulb moment.  After checking it out with the SW consultant, I am going to make him a wash bag (well, I think that I have mastered those by now) but make the outside in a light cream fabric.  I will then take some fabric pens to class on Monday and others can sign the bag with their best wishes - maybe even fill the bag with sw goodies.  I would find it reassuring to know that I wasn't on my own and hope that he feels the same as well.  I guess that's my weekend sorted then?

It's a Monday so.......

..... it's Textile Group and Slimming World -gosh. I reckon that you could write this post yourselves!

We are one week away from finishing (according to the plan) our Mouse Pincushion.  Now, at this point, I should admit that I have had this pattern for a couple of years and cannot, for the life of me, understand why it has taken me so long to complete it!  Today I managed to finish it off - and love its cuteness!

Carine and Wendy have also finished theirs, whereas Ev is just starting out and Jean could not come again since she was at the fracture clinic having her wrist attended to!

Home for a couple of hours meant that I could hoover and tidy around, sort the bins out etc - all the normal domestic chores - as well as sorting out something to take to the taster session at Slimming World.  We have been asked to take syn free food in this afternoon and I have gone for the simplest one - boiled eggs!  I have a glut of eggs at the moment so it seemed apt.

Weight wise, I lost just half a pound - but, when you think of half a pound of butter gone, I have to be grateful for that!  I know that some people don't like going and staying to meetings but I am lucky to have found a really supportive group and find it very inspirational to share ideas - that's why one of the first things I do when I get home is to plan the week's menu!

Top of the list of ideas has to be liver casserole and pork casserole - having picked up these two yellow ticketed items in Mum's Spar tonight.  I have also brought home some boiled eggs (curses!) and so will defrost some Linda McCartney Sausages to make syn free scotch eggs tomorrow! 

Mission 4 1/2 stone award starts here!

Paying it forward ....

Wowee - I could have slept in really late this morning!  As it was I didn't wake up until 8:45 am -how disgusting!  I really must get myself back into a normal sleep pattern - if I wake up late then I am not tired at bedtime and so read - meaning that I go to sleep later - and then sleep in!  It's a vicious circle.  As it was I woke up to an appeal on Facebook - would anyone donate some wool and an artist's easel for an old people's home - the lady's mother has dementia and so she is trying to organise crafts and activities and we all know about funding cuts!  Well, I could help out - she came at lunchtime and said how generous people had been - the home didn't think that it was worth asking but she had been inundated!

This morning was Church - I will confess that our church was really cold this morning and it took a  good couple of hours at home to warm through! - followed by some more paperwork (well, the desk was clear again for a couple of minutes).  After lunch (and ironically warmed through) I then took the dogs out and froze again! Seriously  I think that Millie forgot that she is 11 -she was so full of energy - matching Daisy stride for stride - she will pay for that later me thinks!   I have a DAB portable radio which I listen to when I walk the dogs and so often try and time the walk to a good radio programme.  On a Sunday it's Elaine Paige and her songs from the musicals!  I have to look both ways before I dare sing along!

Back home and it was time to blitz the spare bedroom down stairs.  Since I moved upstairs, the downstairs room has become a bit of a dumping ground.  Yesterday's attack of domesticity saw the bedding stripped from this bed as well and remade - so now I needed to do a hoover and a tidyup - one of those jobs which looked like it would take longer than it actually did.

By now, my energy was somewhat flagging and so I sat down with a cuppa, put the Archers on and carried on preparing some more projects for embroidery / to take to the retreat.  Somewhere in the midst of that activity, I also managed to pack my bags ready for the Textile group -oh, and walk up and down stairs as ever!  Although I update the tracker on a Monday, I will say that I have passed the 300 sets of stairs mark.  This from a  woman who would avoid stairs like the plague - I have come a long way!

"Looks like you bought it in a shop"

After I posted last night's blog, I had a burst of energy and finished the bag that I was working n.  I took it to the pub to show Jean and got a number of admiring comments - including the one in the title of the blog!  For this bag I added the internal pockets but made them as wide as the sides and then subdivided them - so that I ended up with two large pockets and for small ones.  I think that I am keeping this one for my cruise!

Today was one of my rare "stay at home" days and I had a project in mind.  Sadly I can't say anything about it for a couple of months .... but all will be revealed.  All I can say is that I wanted to time myself making it.  With that in mind - what did I do first?  Well, naturally, I tidied the lounge, then I tidied the kitchen, then I stripped the bed etc etc - seriously - what is wrong with me?  I hope that this sudden onset of domesticity isn't catching!!

Eventually I cut all of the pieces for the project out ........ and then took the dogs for a walk- boy was it cold and wet -and the wind!!!!!!!!  Let's just say that the kettle went on as soon as I got home.

When I started the project (and the timer) I wanted to give it my full attention!  Suffice to say I am pleased with how it turned out - although, yet again, the instructions could be a lot clearer!!  As for the time - well, one hour, 18 minutes, 36 seconds (approx) plus a few minutes handsewing!  Not that I counted of course- but a girl has to check now doesn't she?



With more embroidery items to trace, and a fire to light, I think that my day is complete.  Oh no - I forgot - the bed has to be made !!  Darn this domesticity lark!

"Late to the party"

Today mum had "booked" me to go over and help sort out the second bedroom - sorting out the plastic boxes if you recall.  I had given her homework - to take all of the pictures out of the wardrobe and sort through them - then I could take the ones she didn't want anymore to the charity shop.  Imagine my surprise when I walked into the bedroom that we sorted last week and was met with this!  Had she not done her homework?  Well, yes she had - they wanted to keep all of these and just get rid of 2!!



Mum had, however, been busy with the back bedroom - this chaos was the result of pulling all of the plastic boxes from underneath the bad and sorting through them - ready to box up and put into the loft.  I was then able to use my time putting spare duvets and pillows into vacuum sealed bags - as the title of the blog suggests, I may be late to this particular party - but such fun!!  I was also able to use the new loft stairs to put the duvets away.  These bags have a lifetime guarantee and we were very impressed with them!

With 15 minutes to go before I had to leave, we decided to turn the bedroom around 180 degrees (it was worth the effort and looks much better) and found more plastic boxes under the bed - gulp!!

From then on in, it was a trip to the charity shop with a full boot (where I was "accosted" by someone else going in wanting one of the items I was donating!) shopping in Boyes /Range for my monthly sewing class and filling up with petrol.  Driving home, I was "dreaming" of a nap -which is what I did when I gt in.  Consequently there has not been any sewing done today!  I am out tonight at the book club meal so it will need to wait until tomorrow.  Mind you a tired sewing session often ends up being one featuring the ripstitcher!

Happy Burns Night x

Today, being the 25th January, Scotsmen and Women commemorate the life and poetry of Robert Burns - in particular by celebrating with Haggis.  I love Haggis - essentially it tastes like a spicy minced beef but is offal and fatty - therefore high in syns.  Instead I am trying a new SW recipe tonight - a "haggis", neeps and tatties pie - essentially a spicy shepherds pie topped with a mixture of swede and potatoes. Should be fun  - I love Shepherds pie anyway so what could possibly go wrong?

Elsewhere in Lincolnshire, this morning started with a WI meeting - always good fun (and a little long sometimes if I am honest - so we had a 12 noon guillotine!).  One of the items under discussion was the annual meeting in Skegness in March - the guest speaker is the lady who discovered Richard 111 in the Leicester Car Park - and you know how fascinated I am with anything Richard 111 related!




Back home, and after a quick slurp of my luscious home made soup, and it was back out again to the vets with Daisy - it's time for her annual booster injections.  It's a long way to drive just for that but better safe than sorry.  Once home again, we picked up Millie and popped up to the beach whilst the weather stayed dry and the sun was still out - look at those ears go!

















Back, ensconced at home - the door was locked, the fire lit and the sewing machine brought out - yes, I am giving in and making a third retreat bag!  Well, you knew I would now didn't you?  Sewingbuddy and I bought this lovely fabric a while ago so I felt compelled to use it!!  The bag should turn out a little taller than the others since I wanted to get the whole panel in, and I have added some internal pockets (I am getting adventurous with this waterproof lining now aren't I?).  Hopefully I will finish this off tomorrow / Saturday.

After wrestling with a caked on dish - the result of reheating something in the oven - sorting out & filing away some personal paperwork and preparing a mountain of embroidery items it's finally time to tackle the afore mentioned "haggis", neeps and tatties pie  - wish me luck! 

Slowly but surely!

Today was my monthly sewing class - it takes an hour and a quarter to drive there and the weather was somewhat foul!  Windy and sheeting rain!  This picture doesn't do the conditions justice but I was tired just getting there.








We had made the bottom boxes of our sewing container last time, and had some embroidery to complete for homework.  Today the aim was to construct the central tower of our container and then to start embroidering the variety of accessories that would be attached around the outside.  As you can see it is beginning to all come together.

Next month we have a list of requirements to take - such as our scissors so that we can customise our pockets.  It will also be the first time that we have to take our sewing machines - just as well, I am getting withdrawal symptoms!

Back at base, it was getting dark by the time I got home so it was just enough time to put a portion of pasta in the oven, load the washing machine and feed the dogs before settling down for the evening. Trust me - at the moment I could fall asleep standing up!!

Well, where do I start?

According to the song, I should start at the very beginning!  However, after a restless night I am not sure where the start is.  Should it be 4:55am when I woke and couldn't get back to sleep -resorting to my usual trick of turning the radio on very low and lying on my back to see if I can doze off - which I did until 5:30am, then again until 6:45am, or maybe 8:50am!  Yikes - I got up quick then!


After some general housework, I then got down to the church paperwork that I mentioned yesterday - only breaking for a visit to the invalid and a cuppa.  Jean's daughter and grandson had come up for a short stay so its good to know that she will have some help around the house.

Back home, it was off out again with the dogs before coming home to cook a ham hock and make two pans  of ham hock soup.  These were large ham hocks and very reasonably priced.  Unfortunately you can't get them all the time so I need to watch out for them - today I used my last one!


By now it was mid afternoon and I should have gone back to the paperwork - but a lovely parcel arrived full of goodies for WI raffle prizes - so it was clearly essential that I took a look through and put the things away - now wasn't it?  I also managed to make an appointment for Daisy's booster injections, and ordered some fusible wadding to be posted out from Lincoln - anyone thinking that I am procrastinating?

With just a pile of ironing exasperating me from my tea and feet up  (plus the compulsory hand sewing of course), today has sped past!  Tomorrow is my monthly sewing class so I must make sure that I take everything I need with me - honestly it's like packing for a sewing retreat - lots of "just in case" items - we never really know what we are doing exactly and therefore have to take everything with us!

Doing the supermarket trolley dash.

This blog will be short -  I apologise now.  First up was the usual Textile Group.  I had expected Jean to be late (her car was due into the garage) but didn't expect the phone call from A & E telling me that she had fractured her wrist going out yesterday to feed a blackbird!!  Jean really has been suffering recently!  I shall pop round to see her tomorrow so will know more then.  Meanwhile we got on with our mice pincushions (apart from Ev who is almost through the finishing post with her retreat bag).  I have nearly done all four sides so am hopeful of finishing next week!

Back home, a quick sort out of the dogs and then it was out again - this time to Tesco's for some shopping (I had planned the weekly menu around the contents of the freezer but there is always something that you need to add).  I had hoped to complete the shopping in Tesco's but, of all things, could not find chicken livers - and so stopped off at Morrison's (where, of course, other "essentials" jumped into the trolley!).  Then it was on to Slimming World where, as hoped for, I lost 2 pounds.  That means another 1 1/2 lbs (the weight of my clothes) is needed for the official 5 stone celebration - but I can smell it - it's that close!

Tonight I am planning on sorting out my Lynette Anderson blocks of the month ( I am way behind) to see what embroidery is required.  I also want to clear my craft room desk completely - I have some church paperwork to start tomorrow and a clear desk (which happens on VERY RARE occasions) helps the thinking process!

Dreams can come true!

After a hectic day yesterday I, err, slept n and didn't wake up until nearly 9am!!  Yikes - by the time The Archers came on at 10am I had only just got started.  Today I was determined to master my fear and make a wash bag!  I have failed miserably using a  shower curtain for the lining so, today, I used some "rip stitcher" nylon that I had bought from Amazon.  I have to say that it sewed like a dream (yes I did run a small piece under water just to test that it's waterfproof) and, by 11 am , the bag was sewn, turned through and I was about to insert the wire frames ....... when I noticed that I had sewn the zip in upside down again - what is wrong with me?  Cue naughty words, an unpicker (thank you Terry) and more work.  But, by noon, the bag was complete - I had conquered my fear of waterproof.  So - what did I do then - why, cut out a second one of course (you have to get right back on that bike now don't you?
 

Rather than stitch straight away, I sorted out the kitchen, stripped the bed etc, before heading out with the dogs to the beach.  It was a freezing 1 degree and my cheeks were red raw - it was therefore not surprising to see snow falling by the time we were on our way back to the car.  Cue an afternoon in sewing the next bag and a lit fire!  This time the zip went in fine - I think that I am finally beginning to get there! I guess that there are two inners waiting to be sewn up tonight then! Now -should I make a third?

So, what dreams you may ask - surely not sewing waterproof fabric?  Well, when I stated this dieting journey at home nearly 9 months ago, I glibly said that I wanted to lose 5 stone by the time I went on the retreat - well, we know that that didn't happen - but it has still been my first target.  My weight then, on a cold Monday morning, was something three.  Today (yes I know its not a Monday morning!) the scales said something (5 less than before) 3 - so, I guess that the dream has been achieved.  Of course I know it's not real, - and the SW scales are the better tracker - but it's a cause for celebration - yes?

"I am not going to buy anymore fabric!"

Today we set off for  new quilt show in Newark. I had been lucky enough to receive a free ticket from someone on Facebook who had won one but couldn't go.  Nevertheless, we managed to be at the front of the queue and I was the first one in!




Of course I had a short list, which was soon completed -needles, some fabric (no - that quote wasn't from me!) and a pattern (plus some impulse buys of course).  Meanwhile we admired the fantastic quilts and I was particularly impressed with the way that thread and free motion embroidery was used to colour in!  I had intended to challenge myself last year and enter a quilt into the "Journal Quilt" category but, for some reason, I didn't.  However I have now seen what they wanted and, yes you will hear it here first, I firmly intend to enter next year!




Some of the other quilts were just wonderful - I really liked this folding "postcard" - but, all too soon, we collapsed and decided it was time for home!  We had all spent up!

So - who said the blog title?  Well, let's just say that we watched as Sewingbuddy broke her resolution - bless!

Have you got a magic wardrobe?

Last night we had a lovely meal out in a nearby village - I particularly loved the liver and bacon!  Not something that I thought I would ever say!  It would be impossible to decide how many syns I ate - but at least I resisted the urge to have "Pear Bakewell Tart" for afters!  (It was really tempting though!)

This morning I tried out a new breakfast -waffles with fresh fruit and thick yoghurt - the waffles were oven baked and made out of porridge oats, an egg and yoghurt - they were gorgeous!  Definitely something that I will have again!


I had arranged to go to Mum and Dad's today to tackle the mountain of boxes that had initially been hidden under the beds when they moved in - but before I headed off I looked in the wardrobe for shoes.  I had been talking last night about the cruise and the long dresses - and how I needed to look for a pair of shoes to wear with the dresses.  Hey presto -I found two pairs that would do the job!!  I also found an envelope with cash in it - cash for our sewing retreat last November - results!  Just when I am going to a quilt show tomorrow as well!  Haven't I got a wonderful wardrobe?  Now I just need to wear the shoes around the house and get used to wearing heels again!

It wold appear that Mum has a magic wardrobe as well - she had found some clothing that I had lent her plus a long dress that we both bought some years ago but stored at hers because I couldn't fit into it!  Whilst I was relaying the story about my finds this morning, she talked about a friend who is selling her house and took the piece of carpet up from the bottom of her wardrobe - only to find £120 in old notes - which the bank have accepted.  It looks as if this concept is spreading!
 



We managed to empty four large boxes - and I now have a car full of charitable donations!  However that is only one spare bedroom - I am going back next week to sort the second one (we had to left the bed to get the boxes under that one so this should be fun!)  We celebrated with a late lunch (a bacon sandwich - no butter - for me) out at Watts for tea - it's halfway between us so made sense.


Once home, the day was nearly over, so it was  case of sorting washing, loading /unloading the dishwasher etc.  Crafting wise, I took THE bag to show Mum - and she was really pleased with it (she did say that I should leave it there but, there again, she would be afraid to use it!) - and Dad asked where I had bought it from !  Back home, I have started another gift (so no piccies) and need to get some hand sewing sorted for tonight - well, I can't do nothing now can I?  Mind you, with the craft show tomorrow, I must sort out my bag to make room for all those lovely shiny purchases!!


Whilst it was still light, I managed to find a new home for Florence - taunting the fox water can that Phil and Chris gave me at Christmas - its right up my street!










But I must share this with you - Mum spotted it today.  Anyone who knows me and my "love" of tomatoes will know that this is me (and Dad) to a T!!  I must also add - this goes for any food where someone has helpfully added tomatoes!!

Ta da - all finished - now, when do I start number 2?

Wowee - did you have the winds that we had last night?  Fortunately everything is still intact - but it sounded like touch and go in the wee small hours!  My morning started with a quick emergency dash to the shops for dog food before I settled down to the mammoth task of adding binding to THE bag.  I have added binding to many quilts and bags - but none of them were as difficult as this one -it really felt like I had gone three rounds with some wrestler - and lost!  However, once attached on one side, I could then settle down, after lunch, to hand sew the other side.  So, after many many hours of effort - here it is at last!

As with most projects, I have learned lessons along the way that would make a second bag easier - but I may need to leave a gap in time before I start again!  I am also hoping that my modified version can use the "too small" sides - so that they don't go to waste!






Elsewhere in my humdrum life I walked the dogs,  sorted some fabric out for an "Emmeline sew along" that Sewingbuddy signed me up for,  and spent some valuable time sorting out some parts (not many I will admit) of the craft room.

Tonight it's the WI supper club outing to a local hostelry - I think that I have chosen "Liver and bacon" for a change!