Red roses from a blue lady

Sorry, I know it's for a blue lady but thought I would change the title to a more apt one.

I am also sorry it has been a while since I last wrote and today it may be a gobbledegook as I am on my 'stupid' pills. The pain has kicked in big time and I sent Martin off to his archeology dig today feeling very much under the weather and he felt awful leaving me. Much talking to from dd, has me on the meds again ,which I admit to having dulled the pain a little. So here I am trying to spell and talk sense so if it all goes awry you will understand why.
At least I can sit and watch Wimbledon next week if it all gets too much. Hang it I shall watch it anyway lol!!!
Well I now have a other half at home (most of the time) he retired a couple of weeks ago . He is like a fish out of water poor thing and I think it will take a bit of adjusting to.

You may remember that we were off to the dogs for his leaving 'do' , I missed out as I went down with a tummy bug and really couldn't contemplate having to sit in a limo drinking Champagne with his bosses and their wives. Felt awful not supporting him ,but the children were waiting there for him when he got there, so he had some family there for him. He had a lovely night (apart from one incident which I will not go into here) one of the gifts they gave him, was an experience day ,he is torn between going for a flight in a Tiger Moth (his era !!! well almost) apparently they dress you like Biggles,THAT I would like to see. Or the other one he quite fancied was a balloon flight. So when it happens I shall hope to get pics so I can show you.
We drove up to Graemes last Sunday for fathers day dinner , we had a lovely day with them and in the afternoon we went for a walk along another part of the river. The afternoon was warm and birds were chirping away, don't know if they were swallows or swifts but they were darting about over the meadows. We had to cross like a suspension bridge, only not as big , but I hated the sensation of swaying over water with space between the planks. Graeme was hoping to find a Geocache or two and did, we walked quite a long way (for me) and when we got back to the bridge I thought I would not be able to climb the 2 high steps onto it. I shall show some pics if they don't frighten you too much . I am the short dumpy one!!! at the back and with Sue.


How did I dare show you that, I was in green not that awful colour of drab beige. Ella snaffled Ollie to walk and here they are Ollie not feeling too good, he looks an old dog now. We have had major problems with him this week due to a reaction with new meds at £230 a month these for his feet, and his epilesy pills ,we thought at one point we would be losing him as it caused him to have symptoms of an overdose . Even the vet was concerned and has been phoning us for updates. We had to stop the new ones and cut back on his normal ones. He is a lot better but still has muscle weakness and is not eating very well. Vet wants to try him on half dose of the new meds when he has recovered but I am a bit wary.His feet are so bad though ,what are we to do .

I did have a lovely present from Martin to mark His retirement and here she is.

I have named her Emily do you think it suits her. She looks rather pensive watching over my 'Mums'little patch.
Not much in the way of stitchy news as pain has been stopping me stitching, in fact the last 2 days I have done not one little x. Getting really frustrated. Anyway let me update you on the SB French Heart , hopefully if I can get my fingers to work for any length of time this may be finished in a couple of weeks.

You will have to excuse the rumpled look of the fabby as I didn't get to press it before taking photo for you.Click on it to see detail. Sally, hopefully I shall join you and Colleen tomorrow, it all depends on EB who is staying over as teachers have training days and G & S are working. Also depending on the wretched pills.
Another one is the TSG Mansfield Park that I am doing . This week I am hoping to get some sails on my boat then I shall sail away into the wide blue yonder.

A couple of Blackbird designs came this week and I have succumbed to ordering the new Loose feather designs that are being brought out . They look really pretty and I just could not resist ,also ordered Dandy Dreams as I think it may be good to stitch for grandchildren. So now have to watch those pennies.I was going through the stash the other day omg , just so much and I shall never have time to stitch it all.
These blogs and designers have a lot to answer for.

I mentioned Martin was off on a dig today ,they are digging a site on Portland and hoping it may be of Saxon origin, he is taking Ella tomorrow. Wonder what she will think of that? He took a little something to G&S last week, he did some glass fusion and made this.

I think they would like another 4 coasters.
Well dears I think I shall now have to go and get some medication or dd will be on my case and it is feeling as if I need another boost of the ditzy pills.So until next time ,when I hope to have more to show you,take great care of yourselves and yours
Hugs n stuff
Barb.x

Buzzy Buzzy Busy

Bees are a buzzing in my garden, I love bees and have been a little concerned that there did not seem to be as many this year , I have changed my mind on that, as with the heat and various flowers coming into bloom we have loads.

Sorry the mallow looks so messy with the willow behind it but the bees love it and I did not have the heart to pull it up .
Anyway enough about the busy bees, this busy B has got some wips to show you , I have a finish but it is for an exchange at the end of the month so it will be a while until I can show you.

Before I show you the wips, I have been so fortunate to "meet" some lovely ladies through this blog and NH, and this week I had 2 little packages pop through my letter box. Oh talking of things popping through letter boxes, I am so sorry if you tried to leave me a comment on my last post,about Sallys wonderful box, silly blogger has been playing up, just hope it behaves itself this time. I have tried to leave comments on various blogs too with no luck . If you manage to leave one this time oh I would be such a happy B.

I know ,I know, get on with it Barb, here is my first parcel

This was a little scissor fob ,well that is how I am using it. and oh ELISA how you knew I liked Sheep I really do not know lol. I have attached them to my Sajou scissors and it looks really good.I also had the Tailor of Gloucester card too, I like Beatrix Potter animals and Iknew when I opened it that it came from Elisa. OK i knew anyway because her name and addy was on the package ,but I think she uses the TOG as a little 'her mark'. Also in the package was some sheepie fabric and a bar of yummy chocolate, I took pic before I ate choc,which is slightly obvious as I couldnt after could I dur!!!

So how about that, Elisa said it was a little something for me as I had sent her a Rak she was delighted with, I love it this and as I use my scissors every day I shall be reminded of her.
So thankyou number one. Thankyou number 2 came this morning, a lady I met over at Stitch and Stash before we went over to Needlecraft Haven, this is from Barbara,who has not got a blog but we keep in touch every now and then and she saw this thought of me (you ladies you know me too well) and send it me.

Isn't he twee, I have not seen these sheepies so tiny so he has joined the flock and I have named him Eric. Why Eric well he just looked like an Eric! I know Barbara reads this so thankyou once again my friend and he is now part of the fold.
So am I the lucky one or what.
Ok now onwards to the wips I have to show you,although may I ask do any of you get problems with your arm joints (I am right handed ) so more pain in right wrist than left and now I have started with pain in my left inside elbow, do you know what I mean, I know the elbow is on the outside!! I have suffered tennis elbow in that arm in the past but this is on the inside and seems to be after I have been stitching of an evening . Probably holding it too tight or bad posture I guess.
I digress!!!!
Wips.

This is last week Wednesday night and this weeks progress on Mansfield Park ,another TSG Jane Austen piece. Will be pleased when the alphabet and numericals are done. I would like to know what happened to J and U though.

Now is my new start on Monday with Sally and Colleen , it does not look much but it is so pretty and I love the special stitches they put in. This is the top left hand corner.It is a kit from Shepherds Bush as it is our SAL with SB and is called French Heart.

Arent the colours so soft and Icecreamy,just yummy.
Pics are clickable for you to look closer , just don't look too close though as I had not done the weekly dust lol.
Then and I hope to get brownie points for this as T is almost finished , U start next week.

Just got more leaves to attach to more branches .I think Julie and Mr Stick will be impressed as I am now 2 letters off finishing this ufo. I really do not know why it has taken me so long as I love it. Perhaps because it is over one hmmmm don't know.
Just started is this RAK that I had from Jane ,Tilly and Oscar it is Lavender Hill by LHN ,not a lot done yet though.


So that is my stitchy news for now.
Family news is Ella went for her first Guide Camp this week and loved it but has got Wellie rash. She has a birthday next week she will be 11 and this weekend Sue and Graeme have booked into an upmarket camp site near them with swimming pool etc, for her party with a few of her friends for 2 nights . Rather them than me.it is quite warm though.
Sam went off to Cub Camp yesterday , he has not been away from home before only here for sleepovers. So wonder what he will think of the limited Sanitation !!
This Sunday is Martins 66th birthday, he will not thank me for mentioning that!! He has lots of glassy making things to open so I may have more bits for you to see next time. Then next Friday yipee the BIG day arrives and he retires (for good,we will see, I am not holding my breath here) I think he may be called on from time to time.
We are apparently going to the dogs, (ok I know what you are thinking) next Friday evening for a meal (hope its not dog) and then the dogs as a leaving do . This will be a first for us both, we are being collected in a stretch limo Oh my goodness !along with the 2 bosses and their wives ,the workers are coming in a mini bus. I think it will be a mixed reaction with Martin as when you have worked all your life since leaving school it will be hard not going back to work .
Well my friends I am now off to get dinner for the worker and this weekend we may get some work done on the garden .The Royal 'we' you understand.
Ollie is well by the way as I have not mentioned the hairy one of the family.
I will leave you with a pic of a busy in the Thrift.

Take care all and BEE busy stitching. Take care
Hugs n stuff
Barb x

All by myself- for you to see

Well I think this deserves a post all to itself. I had a package from Dear Sally this morning, I had sent her another SB kit (well got to keep her busy) lol. Anyway this morning," as a thankyou", she said and for our friendship, she sent me this.
Gulping here!!


I could not believe my eyes when I saw this gorgeous box that Sally had painted and then mounted her beautiful stitching on. Upon opening, it was not all ,inside was the little cushion that matched it. I know it is out of the Stitchers Journey book and thought you may like to see it against the original.

Isn't it just perfect,Sally knows my tastes so well,and I have a little Sallys basket with all the little gifties she has sent me since knowing her which sits at my bedside. This will not go in there it will sit beside the stitching chair. I know you would like to see inside so here you go,

I am just blown away by this (can you tell) and would like to say a big THANKYOU Sally, you are the best!!
I did try and take a closer one so on that note ,I will be back in a few days with an update.Just had to post this though.

Take care all and hugs n stuff from me
Barb

All along the backwater among the rushes tall,

Ducks are a dabbling ,up tails all.


This was taken last weekend ,we went to Graemes at Wimborne and had a walk with Ollie down by the river. As well as the speedy ducks, gliding along all serene was this
and following a discreet distance behind (no not Ollie although he desperately wanted to join them) was her mate.

Anyway my little swanducks how are you all, I have to say I am a lot better this week, apart from the back which I will not go into here ,just saying I am sitting here with a bottle(not gin) tucked firmly on it and not moving a lot.
Thankyou all so much for my welcome back comments, was I gone that long ! Hope your weekend is as good as ours last weekend. We spent Saturday with Graeme Sue and Ella as I said earlier. Graeme cooked a 30minute recipe from Jamie Olivers book and it was so yummy. I did try and get a pic for you but got his hand instead and when it was dished up we were so intent an just eating it I forgot. Here is the scrummy chicken dish complete with Graemes hand.

Then on Sunday ,Martin and I spent all day in the kitchen cooking for Kate and her family and mil. Phew at the end but it was nice.
It is a bit of a birdy theme post this time, as we started with water birds, how about another one-

Just had to take a few of him - I think he has a split personality he thinks he is a garden bird.

I think the birds are desperate for water ,apart from the ducks etc of course, and so is our garden ,the front needs sorting so don't look too close. Another visitor in for a drink with the sun showing all his wonderful colours in his feathers was Mr Magpie.

continuing with my birdie theme I visited Christines blog ,Alchemey Stitchcraft and she had a mention and pics of some fabulous fabric she had ordered. So as you do, I went and had a look at Fabric Inspirations website and WOW!!! HAVE they got some fabulous designs. I only succumbed to 2 one of which I cannot show as it is for an exchange piece. However I can show you this

What do you think ,isnt it gorgeous , I can see some cushions in that and even Martin liked it. I may even have to think redecorating around this just love the colours- so Christine thanks for the link ,will let you know if Martin thanks you too when I show him the paintbrush .
I have had a little stash too this week ,one I cannot show that exchange again, but I ordered this yesterday and got it this morning and it had only arrived in the shop at 3 yesterday afternoon. This was from Chris at The Nimble Thimble she is so brilliant for SB designs.

Now do I do one of these or French Heart for the SB sal with Sally and Colleen , think it will be French Heart first,so that is next Monday sorted. Speaking of Shepherds Bush and the Sal this week saw yet another happy dance (wonder if that is how I did the back ,just too much dancing !)with Sophies Roses ,will show you front and back.


As I have lost my tame framer and am running out of wall space I thought another little cushion was in order.
As well as the SB sal ,I am also doing a sal with Jane Austen and The Sampler Girl designs over at Needlecraft Haven as many of you know and this week I finished my other bedpost design a TSG design but changed the colours. This is the letter from Darcy to Elizabeth.

What do you think?
I am not the only one who has been busy Martin has been busy with his glass fusion, and I am delighted with these two that he finished, first a votive holder for a lovely lavender /lemon yankee candle, it stands about 3 inches tall.


I hope to have more to show you of his work when he retires -if you want to see- but the other one he did was this little dish .The dragonflies are copper sheet punched out with a dragonfly punch . Brass sheet and little wire coil.All sandwiched in between 2 sheets of glass and fired in his kiln.

I think that is all my news for now, so I will wish you all a very good weekend, we are hoping to get in the garden this weekend ,and so I shall end with a pic of our Rhodendron that is not going to last too much longer.

Take care all and we will talk again soon. Please leave me a comment I do like seeing who is reading this waffle!
Hugs n stuff
Barb

Did you miss me?

I am sorry I have not been about for a while, and thanks for the Big hug Julie I can tell you it has been needed. I am not sure what is going on as the hands and wrists have been so painful just wish they could make up there mind if its RA or not. However the main reason for the quiet period is due to hands not much stitching has been done so not a great deal to show you. Also,feeling sorry for myself here ,I have had the lurgy back scratchy throat cold cough (again!!) so not felt much like doing anything, HOWEVER now I am back and feeling much better now the cold thing has gone and I have been forced to stay away from doing much .So I have been perusing your blogs and havent you all been busy. Sally has been as prolific as usual and I hear I may have to get the clogs out for a happy dance, well got to make a noise havent you when dancing. lol.Tonight is a visit to hers for tea with Colleen, who has found her sheep and now has to stop them escaping by stitching a shepherdess.
I did get some done on Sophie and hope to get another border finished tonight. Here is progress so far girls, I think French Heart is next on the SB list.

Really loving this one . Not sure if it will be a framed or pillow finish. What do you think ?
I have 2 finishes to show you one is a companion piece to A spot of Spring which I showed you last time ,this is a Spot of Summer .

As I did not have a sun charm suitable I found this Sunflower in my box of many things and it seems to go. I also put the ribbon again around the design as I did with spring as I need them to go next or at least close to each other. I found some fabby too that went well for the back.

I bought this for a backing for Daisy Cottage a design from LHN ,or it may be Country Cottage one of them anyway ,I still have it to do ho hum so much to do.
I bought a new magazine or should I say Martin bought it for me when I was not up to much, called Simply Homemade, I am impressed as I am knitting a scarf from it, and Martin has made a fused glass piece from it. How many times have I bought magazines and not done anything from them ,for us both to get something out of the same mag well I think that is a result.

Progress so far.
Martin has been playing with glass and he fired up the kiln to fuse some glass to make a plate. This is the design before it went in the kiln.


It took hours to 'cook' but disaster when he opened the lid it had cracked which turned into broke as he picked it up. Such a shame as it was really pretty. This week he had a go at a fused candle holder but cannot take pic of that until he makes the base.
I know its not stitchy but it is crafty and thought you may like a look at our other stuff. I have got another stitchy finish to show you which is A Sampler Girl freebie, this I have been doing with my Wednesday night girls . I think I told you I was doing something for the 'bedpost' and this is it.


I did this on 28count fabby over one with Dmc threads. What do you think , I think it looks so pretty hanging there. Won't tell you what the other half said about the second line , I will leave it to your imagination!
So that is my two little finishes ,I know have to decide which SG I am starting this Wednesday.
Post before last I think I asked if you knew what design I had started ,got the crystal ball out, here is another update are you any the wiser?

We have had terrific thunderstorms here in Dorset over the weekend we even featured in The Daily Telegraph today with a lightning strike taken over the Chesil Beach .
My dear Martin bought me this when he bought his paper today ,oooohhh Colin Firth shall be watching this soon.

Our daughter Kate (Catherine) she was there first lol. has a birthday tomorrow, she had the big one last year, so we will probably go out for lunch and see what I can treat her to as a pressie.
Jack had his prom last Friday ,he phoned me to say he was on his way to pick up Camilla (the ex) he sounded so happy, I was a very choked up Nanny here I can tell you. He had a wonderful time and then they had a after prom party that went on until the small hours. He said he had a slight hangover the next day,he is not used to drinking unlike some of the youngsters these days.
Anyway that is all my news for now so I hope I can get some stitching done quickly, so it is not such long a wait for you.
I have an exchange piece to stitch so don't hold your breath , this is being run by Lainey and as I enjoyed the last one so much I thought I would do it again. I think I have chosen a design for a finish that will take a while , and I cannot show it so I may be a while!!!
Take care all and keep well.
Hugs n stuff
Barb x












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