Birthday Girl

Good morning on this lazy Sunday, well I hope it to be a lazy one but who knows.

Woke up today with bigggg hands.  Both hands are affected today and apart from the usual unsteady feet, no other pain.  Starting to sound good but now I have to remember not to overdo things as this is what happens.  I feel okay so I do a lot more than I should and then tomorrow....I suffer.

We are having an early Sunday lunch today as we have another birthday party to go this afternoon.  This is Willow yesterday blowing the candle for her first birthday. 

The cake was stunning and it reminds me that I really must learn how to ice a cake which was one of my New Year resolutions. I shall try and have a go during August.

Paul is hoping to cut the hedge today as it is starting to get a little out of hand, we shall be keeping the height as it is hiding his workshop so a good tidy up is required and then he said it is a week of gardening.

Short and Sweet due to the discomfort of typing but thank you so much for nipping in for a read.  It really is appreciated.  I do see how many visitors call in, although I dont get too many comments.  Wishing you a wonderful Sunday x

Short and Sweet

Good afternoon, I am not sure where the day went.  I was up quite early but I just couldnt walk.  One step in front of the other was not possible, I was in so much pain.  I gave up after a while and Paul put cream on the affected areas and gave me painkillers.  I am sure he overdosed me as I then went back to sleep for two hours, woke up and the pain was a lot easier.  I am using a walking stick to aid me all day today as my legs and feet just wont do as they are told but, I have been to sainsburys and I have been to another nieces daughters birthday party, she was 1.  I had to purchase the card as the occasion wasn't marked on the calendar and I had nothing ready... opps

I thought I would share some cards made by my friends this week

 

Thank you ladies for your company.

SU order going in tomorrow lunch time, if you would like anything, please let me know as soon as possible.  Thanks for having a read and have a wonderful Saturday night x

Happy Birthday Charleigh

Last night I thought mmm, I feel a bit better, I will see if I can drive into work tomorrow.  I woke up at 1.30am in pain with my right hand, it is so big, red and yakky looking.  As I tried to get out of bed (tried is the word), my left ankle was awful as was my right hip.  What a to do.  Hence to say I didnt try to drive and here I am soldiering on....sigh

It is Charleighs birthday today and she is 2 years old (my niece's daughter).  This is the card and matching envelope and tag set I made for her....when I was able to.

She hasnt got them yet but as non of my family know I have a blog, never mind about reading it, (apart from Sophia, Katerina, Christiana and Paul), no one is likely to see the card.  Paul is on his way home today yippee so life will become a little easier.
I shall be putting in another SU order this weekend (or Paul will if I cant).  If you would like anything, please do let me know.  Postage will be 50p when collected from Alvaston.

It is really with a sad heart to let you know that I will no longer be having a crafty week after this evening.  I just can not get kits prepared for so many people so I have decided to give it a miss in August and hopefully I can get my medication sorted out.  As soon as I am able to do these again, I will let everyone know.  In the meantime, there will still be Christmas card club and Magazine Make monday as well as other bits and pieces.  Of course the kettle will always be on and everyone is welcome to call in as often as you wish, even bringing your crafty bits with you to do at the same time.  It has been suggested that now that I have decided to call my crafty space Homemade, I should call it Homemade Drop In Center lol.

Enough from me today, thank you so much for having a read and I wish you a wonderful Friday x

Spring

Good morning and again, it is a stay at home day.  My neck is a little easier but not so much that I can drive or walk many steps.  I have woken up with a very swollen and painful left knee to go with the neck, shoulder and arm pain.....not so good.  So I will potter as much as possible and continue to stay positive.

I got the camera out yesterday and, as promised a few photos of outside.

These are photos of the laurels that we added last June.  They have worked out perfectly and have grown very busy and strong.  A lot nicer and a lot cheaper than the brick wall we were going to put in.

 This years tubs, I love how we have over filled them.  We weren't sure to start with but now we know we made the right decision.

 My sweet pea has started to get flowers.  Last year this all died back and didnt do too well at all.  I have paid a little extra care to it this year and fingers crossed it should get a few more flowers.

 The cucumbers (Cactus Sophia thinks).  They are a bit strange but I will monitor their progress

 Tomatoes, lots and lots of them.  I do hope they go red though.

So that is a little bit of the outside and the greenhouse.  Here is the first of the samples with the new Grateful Branches Die Set.

I would like to say a big thank you to the lady that has just purchased the embossing folder via my shop.  If you would like to pop over anytime for a cuppa and a crafty chat, you are most welcome, as are all my friends.

Have a lovely day and thanks for having a read x

Midweek Musing

Damp out there this morning but it has done the gardens a world of good. I have lots of new flowers today which I shall see if I can capture on camera later.

It was crafty night last night and I have to say a big THANKS to everyone that came along and for all your help.  There is another crafty night this Friday with a couple of spaces free so, if you fancy coming along, please do get in touch.

Here is a wedding card that I didnt share with you last month

Sally and Matt got married whilst we were away so I dropped card and pressie off before we went, trust me, always 11th hour.  The photographs of the big day on facebook were wonderful and I was sad not to be part of such a special day but by all accounts, it was a lovely wedding.

I made the card using the stunning heart die, an embossing folder and ribbon from Stampin' Up!  If you would like more details, let me know.

No work today.  I haven't had a lot of sleep as my neck started to hurt yesterday and by the time bedtime came around, it was very painful.  It has slowly progressed into the top of my spine and around my neck so that I can not move my head, shoulders or my arms. What with my feet hurting  and my neck I am good for nothing today.  But I am trying to stay positive, the tablets will kick in soon and I wont be like this forever, fingers crossed.

I shall be placing a Stampin' Up! order over the weekend.  There is still the bonus days event until the end of the month

 I am also taking pre orders for the new Stamp and Die bundle called Thoughtful Branches.  This is only available whilst stocks last.  It it a smashing set and hopefully I can show you some samples in a day or two. You can purchase it as a bundle or just the dies or just the stamps, the choice is yours.

Thanks for having a read today and I hope you have a wonderful day x

Monday.....

Good morning and here we go again, another wonderful week to look forward to.  One good thing is that with the schools going on holiday later this week (well my grand children break up this week), the roads will be easier for me to get to work, phew.  How did we all manage with the heat in the UK over the weekend?  I was okay and hubby went out and got me a stand up fan for the craft room as he knows how much time I will spend in there this week, bless him.  A high of 21 today, so it will be cooler than last week.

Saturday was a painful day with the RA attacking my right knee, ouch.  Yesterday was a little easier, I could hobble around and today I am the same, hobbling. It is also in my left hand today too so I will have to take it a little easy.

It was our 5th Wedding Anniversary last Saturday and here is the card that I made Paul

He loved it but with limited ability, it was the best I could do.  I really should try to get into this habbit of getting everything done a lot earlier when my hands are not in pain.....she says.  I got him a sprinkler for the garden as we are trying to get the lawn looking nice.  He was over the moon with it.

I pulled my very first tomoatoes off the tumbling tomato plant last night whiip whooo. 
 
I shall be having them on my beef salad sandwich, when I get in the kitchen to make it.  Very proud of myself.

If anyone is free this evening to cut out some card, do pop round.  I shall be in craft room from 6ish.  It is crafty week this week and whilst Tuesday is fully booked, there are 3 places available on Friday night.  If you would like to book a place, just get in touch for more details.

Off to work this morning which is going to be a bit diffucult but I will be home after 4 hours.  Thanks for having a read and have a magical Monday.  Tracey x

SU Party

Good morning on this wonderful Friday.  I think rain is forecast so I shall have to take a raincoat with me today.

Off to work this morning although I am struggling today with both of my feet and my right hand.  I hope I can drive. I have never had this in both of my legs, at the same time so it is going to be a challenge.

We had a wonderful Stampin' Up! party last night.  It was Jayne's party which was held here as I have a room all set up and ready to craft in.  9 lovely ladies, 3 lovely hours and 2 cards, lots of chatter and laughter.

Here are a few photos of the cards that the ladies made

We used new colours as well as old colours, new ribbon and twine,  thick whisper white as well as the normal, Kinda Eclectic, Wild about Flowers, the new banner punch and sentiments as well as lots more.  Thank you to everyone for making it a lovely evening.

If you would like to host your own SU party, as mentioned, I do have a room that can accommodate 12 and I would be happy to put this together for you.  Just get in touch to find out more.

Wishing you a wonderful Friday and thanks for having a read Tracey x

Cooler.....

Good morning on this warm day, again.  The weather man has said it is going to be 15 degrees today which is rather cooler than previous days but I can cope with that. 

I have been busy the last few days with life so no posts on the blog and my hands/wrists have needed a bit of a rest in the afternoons.

Monday night was magazine make Monday and this is what I made.

 I really enjoyed the evening and look forward to the next one.  If you fancy coming along please let me know, it really is a relaxing night.

I have also been busy with the greenhouse and garden and it is looking quite good.  We still have a long way to go but it is all in the right direction.  I have been trying to grow some flowers around the bottom of the tree on the drive and this is what we have so far. 

The yellow flowers are very unusual as they have long tall spikes in the middle of them.
I shall be saving some poppy seeds to put some poppies here next year as well as I hope that by then we will have had the drive re tarmaced and looking a lot nicer.

It is crafty week next week.  There are 2 places left on Tuesday night and 3 places left on Friday night.  The price is £8 and if you would like to come along to make a couple of cards, a box have coffee and cake please let me know.

Off to get ready for a morning in the office before an afternoon and evening of crafting.  Have a wonderful day and thanks for having a read.  Tracey x

Sunny Sunday

Good morning, I just saw the weather forecast and it says 26 degrees for Derby?? it would be nice if that was the case but I am not sure.

My right hand is now back to normal YEAH.  My left hand is slightly swollen and gives a little pain so that is improving.  Today my right shoulder/arm is playing up, it feels as though I have pulled a muscle oh oh.

Yesterday Paul took me out to look at new beds, oh my.  We went to Kingsway Shopping Center quite early in the morning to Bensons for Beds.  Walked in and said we wanted to have a wander, okay said the assistant, couple of minutes later assistant came back, "can I tell you...." we said thanks, we just want to have a look.  Off he went, a couple of minutes later a lady assistant came over, "can I show you...." and we were not really left alone to look.  After half an hour we left only to join a queue to get out of the car park.  We were in said queue for over an hour and a half so we shall not be going back to Kingsway any time soon.  It seems that there are new traffic lights in the area but personally, I think it is the way the car park is laid out too.  I have since discovered that lots of people have had problems there and the trick is to either park in Sainsburys opposite the center or in the 'top' car park where currys is. 

Paul and I downloaded an app last Monday so that we can monitor our food intake and hopefully cut back a bit and lose a couple of pounds each week.  Last week I managed to shed two and half pounds which I am really pleased about.  Not sure what Paul has done yet.

Just look at these home grown beauties

 I cant believe the taste of these wonderful potatoes.  We are going to start to grow some more very soon because now I have been spoilt.  Mind you, whilst the cost of the actual potato seed was cheap, the price of the earth to keep topping the bags up was quite expensive tut tut.

Paul helped for a while in the greenhouse last night and we sorted out tomatoes and the mint and strawberries and the smell from everything is just devine.  I wish I could bottle it up as it is nothing that I have experienced before.

It was Amy's birthday whilst we were away and here is the card I made for her

I loved doing this.... as usual.

Well enough from me for today.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a wonderful Sunday, whatever you are up to.

More cards without ink pads

 Bed hunting today.  As I am struggling to get out of bed when I get my flare ups we have decided to go and get a new, higher bed, to see if it helps, wish us luck.

As promised, here is another notelett that we made during our first pen club get together.

This time we used the pens directly onto the stamps, rather than using an ink pad.  We used the smudge from the perpetual calendar stamp

 We scribbled on it in soft sky and pear pizzaz all over the stamp and gave it a big huff before stamping it out on to the notelett

We used the two flowers from the Cottage Garden stamp set

 We coloured in the stems with Old Olive pen and the flower in pink

 A little huff on the stamps and viola, this is what we have

An image of the cards once finished....again, not an ink pad in sight.

 Wishing you all a wonderful Saturday and thanks for nipping in for a read