Swirly Bird in a swirly time of life

Good morning. It is very cold outside this morning.  A right nip in the air so if you are going out, wrap up warm.

Last week we made this card at George's MIND crafting afternoon (pinched this image from a friends card that she made on the day)

Both samples that I made for the day got rather ink splattered as they were passed around and couldn't be rescued but, because I liked them so much, I made another couple.

Life is a little hectic again at the moment.

Mum was diagnosed with Cancer a few weeks ago.  She has had lots of tests, xrays and scans.  Last Friday she was admitted into hospital to have the tumor removed.  The operation was done by keyhole and we are now waiting to ensure that all is well.  In the meantime, mum has got pneumonia and has been in Intensive Care for 6 days.  We are all hoping that she will be moved to Step Down later today.  The doctors are pleased with the op side of things and of course the antibiotics are kicking in to help with the pneumonia.  I haven't been able to get to the hospital to see her every day as I am not too well, I havent been driving and Paul has been away but yesterday we took a taxi to the hospital and back, where there is a will, there is a way.  I feel so much better having seen her.

Today Paul is home and he has already taken me to see the work doc this morning.  I have to see this chappie every couple of months as work are trying their best to look after me to make sure that I can get back to work as soon as I am able, which is very good of them.  The methotrexate injections are not kicking in as should be as the dose I am on is still quite small so this will be increased very soon.  In the meantime I have had to have another Steroid injection to help me move again, really, I am like a 90 year old, unable to dress, not able to cook and not really be able to do much for me or Christiana.  I have been living off the tablets to get through each day but hopefully, now that I have had the injection things should improve.

On a more positive note, I have been having lots of fresh air out in the garden, doing some dead heading, a little cleaning and some watering, all with a little help of course.  Here are the plants at the front of the house, some were presents, some were off Sue R, some from Yvonne and some we got from the poorly corner and are bringing them back to life.  Please excuse my finger on some of the images,

  

  

Stampin' Up! are bringing out 2 new bundles on 1st May whoop whoop.  All the details are below.

If you would be interested in either of these please, do get in touch.  There are already lots of samples that demonstrators have put on Pinterest.

Tuesday Twitter

Good morning and whoop whoop, the sun is out. It feels lovely and fresh outside but you will need a coat as it is very chilly.

I received some very happy post yesterday, thank you Helen.

I received this card and it reminded me of how nice it is for the postman to bring something I wasn't expecting.

Lots and lots of items have been added to the clearance rack on the  SU website.  If you do order something please remember to use hostess code 4BUQM2WF and I will make sure you are sent a little thank you. It can be quite frustrating to get online as it seems that every crafter is aware of the sale but dont give up

Only 1 place left for the next series of Stamperettes.  If you would like to find out more about this please get in touch.

The garden is starting to look very nice, here are just a few of the spring flowers near to my car parking space and by the craft room

I shall try and take more from the garden at the back of the house and the greenhouse for you to have a look tomorrow.

Today I hope to do a little sorting of the craft room so, if you are out and about please, do pop in for a cuppa.

Thanks for having a read and have a smashing day. X

A new week begins

Good morning.  Not the best weather wise today especially as Monday is my wash day but it does mean that this drizzle and rain will water the plants, which is a good job.  The garden is starting to look wonderful.  I do have to try and do a little with the hoe while Paul is away, yikes.

Saturday was a day at George's, she held a whole day of events in aid of MIND a very worthwhile cause.  The morning was taken up with a cake and coffee morning.  Lots and lots of folk nipped in and ate wonderful cake, had a go on the tombola, a raffle as well as purchasing hand made jewellery and hand made cards.  Then in the afternoon there were a group of lovely ladies all there to make a few cards, again for MIND.

It was a great success and so nice to spend time out seeing lots of friends and making new ones too.

This is one of the three cards made, using the Stampin' Up! Swirly Bird stamp set and dies which, I am pleased to say, are still available to purchase and will be available in the new catalogue too.  The colours used are Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler and some of the waves are Marina Mist.  Please get in touch if you would like a little more information about this card.

Yesterday was a bitting and bobbing kind of day. Trying to keep busy and catch up with lots of things before Paul goes away today.  I will be so pleased when our house is all finished and everything has a home so we know where to put things and more importantly, where to find them.

Today Christiana and I are going to try and spend a little time on a pamper session for her, wish us luck as we will need it.

Thanks for having a read and wishing you a lovely day x

Mushrooms, dead trees and brick walls.

Well what a dull day outside but never a dull day at the Anthony's.  Quite a few chores and catching up to do today before pottering in the craft room and greenhouse.

Early this week we had the slabs outside the kitchen dug up as they were all higgeldy piggeldy and a serious trip hazard.  I had stumbled a couple of times and its hard to regain my balance and then I get a bit shaken up.  Anyway, up the slabs came and this is just one of the things we discovered.  A very old tree trunk which has died but lots and lots of mushrooms growing up it.  The mushrooms had pushed the slabs up where the dead tree trunk had begun to rot so the slabs were sinking.

On top of this, we also discovered a brick wall buried just under the slabs, phew, glad it is all sorted out for now.  It is only a temporary fix as we hope to have the garden done towards the end of Summer.

We visited kitchen shop No. 3 and we are very impressed with the designs.  We knew exactly what design we wanted but actually seeing it, printed out is quite amazing.  I adore the kitchens at No. 3 but the indicated price is very expensive, yikes.

Just a reminder for roofers if anyone knows anyone.

I had a play with this jar of love stamp set.

I am in love with these stamps and dies and this is my favourite for this week.  I do hope to get more time to play later on in the day and, hands permitting.

Tomorrow evening is the Christmas Card and Chatter night as well as dropping by for a cuppa and everything else that we do in the craft room. Please feel free to pop in with or without Christmas/projects to do.  Thank you for having a read and I hope you have a lovely day x

Cheep Cheep

Good morning and weatherwise, it really is good.

We had a visit out to Kitchen Shop No. 3 yesterday.  We are going back later to get drawings, plans and ideas.  This is all very exciting.

We are trying so hard to find someone to take down our chimney stack and put tiles on the roof when the chimney is removed.  Not one person we have contacted has come back to us.  Should you know of anyone that does this type of work please, do let me know.

Christiana didnt have a traditional Easter Egg, she got a few packets of different chocolate sweets that she likes but Paul found this and put it on the top of her bag.

It is so so cute.

Healthwise I am not the best but soldiering on as you do.  I am back on 10th May to the hospital and I believe my jab will be increased to help with all the joint pains.  Let's hope they work.

Right, off to make a cuppa for the chappie sorting out the patio at the back of the house.

Thanks for having a read and wishing you a wonderful Tuesday x

Happy Easter

Good morning and Happy Easter.  Easter is a rather special event in our household especially when we have one or more of the girls with us.  We were not up for a church visit but we do still celebrate.  I got up this morning to receive the little chick you see above.  Paul had purchased it some time ago and it goes wonderfully on my little tree.  I did get a massive egg too which we shall share in the evenings.

We shall do a little pottering in the garden today.  The weatherman says frost tomorrow night so we will have to cover a few of our plants up ooopss.  Mum did say to wait a while before planting out, I will listen next time.  The gardens are looking a lot better and Paul has plans to get quite a few more flowers which is good.  Not so good in the greenhouse though but I we have tried to rescue a few bits and pieces, some we have done well with but others, no chance.

Here is a card that was part of a kit that was made recently. 

I cant wait for you to see the whole suite of these items, they are so wonderful. 

Stamperettes No. 17 is due to start in less than 2 weeks and there are still a couple of places left.  If you would like more information please do let me know.  Right, off to enjoy the day.

Thanks for having a read and once again, Happy Easter

A very Good Friday

Good morning, a cloudy and damp one but that is okay.  As I type this Christiana is feeding her zoo and farm??  dont ask.

Here are the last of the card samples which are still out in my craft room.

 


I was very lucky to get so many.

Would you like some ribbon at a discounted price.  I have so much ribbon that I am not using so it is being sold and I will purchase more ribbon that I can use.  Just call in to see what is on the shelves. When it is gone, it is gone.

Well yesterday I ended up having emergency blood tests oops.  My swollen ankles, feet, face and body could be a side effect to the RA medication.  I have to wait for results which will come from a duty doctor somewhere at the hospital.  Just what I dont need but in the meantime, I shall continue to potter.

Last night a few of us got together to do some crafting, which was lovely.  I managed to get a few half finished cards finished and, if all goes well, I can get some more done today inbetween doing other bits.

Off to the greenhouse now.  Wishing you a wonderful day.

Birthday Card night tonight

Good morning, the sun has got his hat on, hip hip hip horray.  I am not sure how long for though, fingers crossed we dont get more rain today.  So who got wet yesterday?

We had a drive to East Midlands Airport last night as Christiana came home.  I cant believe the car parking charges at the airport, really, £2 for 10 minutes and then £1 per minute after that.  Paul is wise to the charges so he dropped me off at the petrol station and I had to take a slow walk up to the arrivals lounge.  As soon as Tana came through the doors I rang him and he parked in the half an hour space (blue badge) and paid £3 for 6 minutes.  At least she is home safe and sound. 

I am cleaning the craft room this morning, did I have burglars? It is so untidy with everything everywhere oops.    It is birthday card get together tonight and I have quite a few cards that need to be finished off, so that is what I will be doing.  If you fancy gathering a few crafty bits, come round and join me.  Bring a friend with you as well if you want.  I still have all the crafting items I received at the weekend on show.   Speaking of which, here are a few more photographs

Right then, cuppa had, time to get pinny on and make room on the chairs in the craft room so that  everyone has somewhere to sit tonight.

Midweek Musing

Good morning, Mr weather man tells me it is going to rain today so I had best stay indoors.  It still feels quite warm outside though.
Lots of hype about the new Stampin' Up! catalogue, which is lovely and lots of sadness about the things that are retiring but, change is good.  If you are trying to place orders on line and find that products have sold out, please remember that I shall be parting with lots of retiring card, stamps and other items so if you are in need of anything please do let me know.

Fingers, hands etc. are still not the best today, it is a good job I am at the docs tomorrow. 

Here are a few more items that I was lucky enough to be given.  These are now all laid out in the craft room mind you, it does look like someone had a party in there, oops.

I will go and have a potter.  Thanks for having a read and I hope you have a lovely day.

Tuesday Twitter

Yes, this has really sprung upon us.  The retiring list is out, the discounts are there and lots of things are going as quick as I can try to order them.  Why not order yourself using the hostess code to the right hand side of my blog.  For all orders placed on line, I shall send out a little thank you.

It was Pauls Birthday yesterday and we went out for a drive to Lea Gardens (thank you Alison for recommending it).  We had a lovely time and Paul got a 12 year old Rhododendron from me for his birthday.  This is already planted up and the colour is stunning.

I am not the best today, very swollen legs, feet, fingers etc. etc so will just plod along the best I can. 

I was really lucky to be able to go to Amsterdam last weekend, with the help of Alison.  It was wonderful to meet so many other crafters and spend time with them.  I have come back full of inspiration and cant wait for my fingers to allow me to get crafting again.  I received lots of wonderful cards, gifts etc. and here are just a few.

These will be laid out in the craft room if you would like to come for a closer look over the next week.

I have a copy of the new catalogue and wow, it is wonderful.  However, there are still lots and lots in the current catalogues that can be purchased.  If you would like to place an order or have a conversation about items that are in either catalogue, please let me know.


Thanks for having a read and wishing you a wonderful day x