Wet Wet and more wet but light at the end of the tunnel!

One rather wet Ollie , plus 3 rather wet children and grandad. This was taken last Saturday when we had 3 of the grandchildren over. They had a whale (scuse the pun) of a time .
This is in a country lane that leads to the firing ranges, Alfie wanted to go up to the fields but we couldn't face mud and wet.

They all arrived back very giggly, absolutely soaked but had had a great time and it did not cost a penny.

It rained so much that the car park that is earmarked for the Olympic visitors to Weymouth was under 3ft of water - hope it stops soon , Martin keeps saying he will have to get more wood!! He has an idea of building an ark

 However talking of Olympics ,I know that seems to be all we hear these days,but yesterday the torch arrived in Weymouth and although we got half drowned it was worth it to see this just outside our front garden . You will have to excuse pic of the boys it was raining so hard.

This was one of the ladies that made sure that all was well with the crowd and gave us information.I actually got Kate the daughter in it too. I felt sorry for the poor lady as she was not dressed for the weather. Then of course the flag seller came along so the boys had to have a flag.

We did have a bit of a wait in the rain,as you can see by the lack of people.There were a few more by the end. However we had someone to keep us in hand lol.

Not only that you can see our house in the background too. The next to arrive were the police on their motorbikes.

There were more in front of this one lol. Next was a golden BMW and various sponsor lorries.

The bus that carries the next runners  unloaded  right in front of us.

Well almost in front of us.

Excitement was building as we could hear the cheers.

Meantime 2 rather damp boys were having their pic taken with the torch bearer.

Here came the man that taught Kate maths.

Then the "kissing"of the torches.

So who would have thought, all that going on on our doorstep. We came in and then I cooked dinner. Today I am suffering for it but it was worth it. The British spirit prevailed despite the weather. We could have gone to the beach and seen the torch arrive there by sea, and watched the cauldron being lit but I feel we were wet enough. This morning Caitlin had to be at the lighthouse at Portland Bill by 5.30 to see the first torch of the day being lit and be in the guard of honour.So we are all torched out here.
Enough of all that now ,how are you all out there, your comments as always keep this blog of mine going.Thankyou so much for leaving me a word or two.  I have been stitching but I am afraid that I cannot show you it as it is a secret for the moment. I have been knitting too and I am afraid it has been a rather bad time of wailing and gnashing of teeth (need false ones soon.) I get to row 43 and have taken it back to row 37x 3 times  , I am now back again at 37 and have put it to one side until I am in the right frame of mind to tackle it again. With 250 stitches on the needle, it aint funny taking it back stitch by stitch. Oh well perseverance .

Retail therapy since last time ,well just a little . The July wordplay has arrived from the States and added to the others to be done.

This, was something for us both as we do like Barbara Erskines books and this one was released on the 5th July.

The blurb on the back says. An anglo saxon burial mound protected by an ancient curse. A Victorian tragedy of forbidden love.The evil power of the past which grows ever stronger.  OOOER!!!

Anyway all ,sorry this has been a photo post but just have to show you that the rain does not always rain on my parade.This sky looked as if it had been painted on.

.How about these beauties ,not mine they belong to the garden centre.

This is mine though and if you sniff you may smell it. I am off now hope you managed to stay until the end. Next time I will show you Martins latest creation.
Take care my friends and I will see you in a while .
Hugs n stuff
Barb

Consider the lilies

Did you wonder if you were in for a sermon there,well it is Sunday,but no I just had to show you the bird vase and lilies.

Aren't these simply gorgeous, and the smell .  Martin bought me the vase and the lilies on a trip out a week ago. A lot of people think the scent is overpowering but I suppose working in a florists I got used to it. I cannot smell the more delicate flowers like freesia ,again one of the hazards of the job.You can click on any of the pictures to see more detail. So how have you all been, I have had good days and bad ,but I count  my blessings as I am a lot better than many and on bad days I just succumb and try and deal with the pain. Not sure if my dear other half would agree with me there, as he gets the brunt of the moaning and groaning.

We are trying to get out once a week just us two and sometimes a dog, but I cannot walk far so it is usually a short walk and maybe some retail therapy as above. This week we parked the car on a hill just coming into Weymouth, unfortunately it was a grey day ,as so many have been lately . This was the view from the hill looking across Weymouth Bay. One day we shall have some sunshine, and I shall take one just to prove the sun really does shine here. Whilst walking on the hill without Ollie I may add, I managed to get a pic of these again a bit blurry but it was an awwww moment.

The little one was just so cute ,they did not seem bothered there were people and dogs about , if anyone or thing got too close a blur of a white tail and they were off into the undergrowth.I think if Ollie was with us he would have joined them in the undergrowth .Martin went and had a look at this whilst I was occupied sitting on a bench watching the world pass by .

All that remains of the Roman Temple.

I have also been busy on the stitching (well a little bit busy ) and knitting front. Also I can show you what I stitched for Clare over at Needlecraft Haven Forum in the Summer Exchange and the gift I received from Kate http://katesflossbox.blogspot.co.uk/

An unopened parcel and in it was this.A Sampler Girl design and because I like these colours and flowers this is why she chose this. Isn't it pretty.

 This is the back ,love that blowsy peony fabric.Thanks Kate.

My Summer Exchange to Clare was a sewing tin. I must have had the telepathic head on or she did as she has just stitched the Travelling Stitcher by LHN on a sewing bag ,and this Summer Splendour design by LHN she said would sit in it ready for her stitching.

The inside-

I stitched it over one on 28 count fabric if you are interested. 

Also to show you is another shawlette ,the Stonechat colour I showed you last time.So proof I have knitted 2. I have not started Damask shawl yet but I am going to use the natural of these colours I have since purchased. 

Ooooh yummy scummy colours of wool.So the knitting also continues. I am stitching things that cannot be shown so for a while so my blog may be featuring some of my older pieces ,just to keep you reading ..

You may remember my friend Angela who is out in Spain at the moment, gave me a list of books pertaining to Jane Austen ,well I gave in and ordered this one. Last week I also noticed on www.thehappyhoneybee.blogspot.com  that you could download some Jane Austen bookmarks, so if you want one of your own ,go take a look.Martin laminated mine and I think they look rather fine.

Another globe trotting friend Michelle sent me a little gift this week, a little coaster from France,again she must have been practising telepathy as I have just ordered Cherries by LHN. Thinking head on how I can incorporate the two.Thanks again  Michelle.

The roses are loving the wet weather.

I am going to leave you with some flowery pics and some feathered friends we met,I think they were hoping for bread rather than coming to see us.

Sorry this a little blurred I was hoping for a close up and got too close! I will not make a photographer .

Just like the ducks ,I want to thank you all for coming to visit (next time bring bread!) and I hope this has not gone on too long. I am looking forward to reading the comments , and thankyou for taking a little time to leave me one. So I will speak to you again in a little while ,when no doubt it will be another chapter and verse.

Hugs to all 

Barb 

A basket of happiness

Well that is what Mother in law thought when she was presented with this  on her 87th birthday.Well folks I am so sorry it has been so long since I have been in touch. Just not felt up to doing much at all the last few weeks.Poor Martin had a very uneventful birthday on the 5th of June,we were due to go to Graemes for a birthday barbecue with Kate and her tribe too. He decided he wanted to share the bug I had and spent most of the day in the loo. Also it rained just for a change so plans were changed to a Rib of beef roast indoors. Anyway outcome being we are still not 100% so maybe a trip to Dr next week. I put it down at first to change of meds so me being me stopped the lot. Been told by number one nurse Kate that I should go back on some and go and see the Dr again. Oh my trials and tribulations.

Well despite me saying I had not done anything I do have a finish to show you,this is the Holden Shawlette a free download on Ravelry ,I knitted it in the Malbrigo wool that was called for ,and let me tell you it is just so lovely to knit with, it took one skein and I have almost lost it twice.DD liked it and a friend  I have just ordered another skein to try another pattern , think the stitching is taking a back seat at the moment.

 This is the colour of the next one although I am wavering as to doing another of these in it and ordering more for the other one. Can you see another addiction happening here. Anyway this is Stonechat.

I also was in possession of this magazine ,which I got from Scottish Fibres ,it is American though and most of the lace patterns ask you to follow a chart,which does not appeal to me at all , write it down and I can follow it . I am not a  very neat knitter but even Martin was impressed  . My friend liked it so much (she is very neat) and so she has ordered the wool to do it and her friend also. Sally has also finished it and so we are now sisters in knitting too eh Sally. Had to have this did I not, I mean anything Jane and those mitts are lovely.

Whilst I was poorly my Julie friend celebrated her grand daughters 1st birthday and sent me some pics ,on the same day I had from the same Julie friend a box of flowers which although a week old look as good as when I received them . Thanks Julie ,Martin said thanks for birthday wishes too , you are becoming so special to us. You are like an adopted family.

Well I expect you are thinking I have done no stitching , well I did finish Mrs Darcy a couple of weeks ago and here she is on the wall.Sorry about the flash spot, Martin framed her for me and She is now hanging with the others. I had a where are you,message from my Jane friend Angela ,and so this is a Jane fix for her. She did give me titles of Jane books she has been reading ,so I will be browsing Amazon at some point soon. Oh dear poor Martin will have to carry on doing his two days a week me thinks.
Excuse the bits and bobs underneath ,photo of Ella ,Julies flowers, button box and paperweight rose ,but please do not look at the dust!!

I have finished a couple of bits for birthdays,an exchange and I have stitched a little of Quaker Diamonds.

The latest diamond done is this one. Just loved the deep colours of this one.
I have also been stitching with Sally our Shepherds Bush on Mondays but it cannot be named or shown as it is an exchange piece .
Otherwise no stitching able to show, Poor Elizabeth is crying in the unloved box as she has not seen the light of day for ages now,
I keep looking at the ball of wool I have now wound , with Martin saying as he wound and I held wool, how long is this are we nearly there yet!! Oh I have not wound wool since before I was married when I used to hold the skein for Mum when she knitted. I remember saying or thinking the same thing.

Well on Thursday feeling a little better ,I cajoled Martin into taking me over to the place of my birth and see if we could see any of the Olympic sailing boats. So this is overlooking the Portland Harbour Sailing Academy.

 Sorry for the photo it was a fine but grey day.See the little white dots hmmm they are the yachts. We also saw this ,which was rather pretty , I love Honeysuckle.

.

Also saw some of my dads favourite flower "kiss me quick" , Valerian being the proper name. He used to pick a piece and hold it up and say kiss me quick. It grows wild on Portland as in many other places so not and endangered species. Not sure where it got its local name from,but perhaps you know it as something different. He also used to call a little yellow flower ,Fingers ,thumbs ,bellies and bums. Won't discuss that one though.lol.
This island  holds so many memories for me and I feel my dad is so close when we are over there.
So my dears, I think my tale is told for this time but may I just quickly thank those who mailed me to see if all was well, I really think you are the "cats whiskers" , to my friend Angela (no blog) enjoy your time with Margaret of Solstitches , I am sure you are in for a treat and I hope to hear all about it when you get back.
Martin has met up with Graeme and they are going to see the new Alien film (the prequel) in 3d for his fathers day present after they have been out for lunch. Not my cup of tea , I did see Alien but ooooohh no, I would rather stay home and watch Elizabeth Bennet etc.
So maybe Pride and Prejudice will be on the cards.
 Kate went back to work after 9 months this week. One of the nurses said well where is it?. a puzzled Kate asked what, she said well everytime you have 9 months or so off , there is a baby to cuddle. !!!You can imagine the answer.!!!

Sam has now got a camaflouge plaster on his arm and it is improving. Just remembered another pic.
Him and a grandad painting.
Take care all and from me its thanks for joining me and if you could leave me a little comment (if you were not too bored) if I do not get any I shall know you were and will have to improve !!!
I will try not to leave it too long next time, meanwhile whatever you do -enjoy!
Hugs n stuff
Barb.