Would you like

Would you like to win some crafting blog candy?.......of course you would!! Silly question really. Take a look here and find out how.

Sunshine and butterflies

After Wednesday's deluge today has been an absolutely beautiful sunny day...until the early evening when the rain started again. I managed to get to my hospital appointment even though I hadn't slept much last night. The mammogram didn't take long, well it never does, and all that travelling when I only live a short bus ride from my local hospital. Just my luck that the specialists I need to see are at a hospital at the other side of the city.

I arrived home to find post....and crafty post at that...not a bill in sight! Since our regular post lady has been away the post has been getting later and later......4 o'clock yesterday!! I digress...the postie brought me this month's crafting mag..and 2 beautiful ATC's from the CB forum May swap....and here they are. Thank you Silvercustard and Shada. Oh if you hadn't guessed the theme was butterflies.

Wet Wet Wednesday

After a dry but very windy bank holiday weekend the rain has arrived. Yesterday was dull and overcast with a very fine drizzle of rain that lasted most of the day. Today though it has rained...and rained.....and rained with no sign of a let up as yet. Now I don't know if it is the M.E. or the suspected arthritis but my joints are so painful today. The painkillers are not helping much and I'm struggling to find ways to take my mind off the pain. I went to the local shop this morning hoping the walk would help...it sometimes does, especially if I haven't been out of the house for a few days..but it hasn't made any difference. Now I'm facing the prospect of a pain ridden, sleepless night. Tomorrow I have my appointment at the hospital for my mammogram. It isn't until the afternoon so hopefully the pain may have subsided a little. If not I will have to postpone. The prospect of 2 long bus journeys there, and then 2 back is not at all appealing.

Adrian needs your support...

Adrian Sudbury is a young man who has been diagnosed with 2 types of leukaemia. His bone marrow transplant has failed but it hasn't stopped him trying to get more people to sign up for bone marrow donation. He has a Downing Street petition running at the moment. Please click HERE to read his blog. Regular readers of my blog will know that this is a subject very close to my heart after losing my son to leukaemia 18 years ago.

Blog candy alert!!...and more

Glenda has some blog candy!! To be in with a chance to win go to her Artylicious blog.

La Pashe... "Remember When".......Series 2 is due out very soon. Jak will be giving sneak previews on her blog....keep visiting to find out more!!

More Blog Candy!!!!

There are some really generous bloggers out there. Check out Lil'Deb for the chance to win some fabulous blog candy!!!

Will I ever learn...

The last 2 days have been spent gardening. I know I have overdone it....yet again....will I ever learn!! Yesterday I wasn't feeling too good but I had to go to the bank....only a short bus journey but boy was I glad to get back home. I felt shaky and nauseous. I decided that another restful day was needed....ha ha. Did I rest?....no I didn't. The garden needed attending to, so I thought that as the weather was nice..not to hot but very pleasant....I would try and do half an hour or so...just to keep on top of it you understand. Well......4 hours later, feeling totally exhausted but very pleased with myself at what I had achieved, I finally put away the gardening tools. I had mowed the lawn, weeded the flower beds watered the new seedlings and swept the back yard....and I did feel better in myself. Gardening always has this effect on me. I love being out there...I get totally engrossed in my own little world. This morning...hands and feet still swollen from yesterdays efforts...I decided that I would make a start on the front. Made a mental note not to do too much. What did I do? Yep...did the whole front. It took me 6 hours! I didn't dig out Lily....that is another job for later....but I did cut her off as far down as I could. She will be back no doubt. I am really tired now and finding it hard to concentrate.....but the garden does look lovely....a riot of colour. In a way though I am a tad annoyed with my neighbours. Don't get me wrong, they are very nice people, but they seem to think that the shared path is totally my responsibility. It does need re-surfacing, but as I am a tenant and not a home owner, as they are, I can do nothing about it. They don't do any maintenance on it, such as keeping it as weed and rubbish free as possible. They have their house up for sale and admit they are not too keen on the gardening...but you would think that a tidy garden and paths would be paramount to attracting any potential buyers.

I've had quite a bit of "good news" post the last couple of days. I have my appointment for the rheumatology clinic on the 10th June. I received another letter from the same hospital, different department, for my regular 2 yearly mammogram, the 9th June...a letter informing me that the condition management programme starts on the 13th June..and I am spending the 14th June with 3 of my grandchildren. There is no way that I will be able to manage all of that in one week. I have been able to change the mammogram appointment though. I phoned the appointments clerk and she said that they have had a cancellation so that will be next week on the 29th May. Now I need to get in touch with the CAB as I also received my appeal submission paperwork for DLA. Another hurdle to get over. It's exhausting just thinking about all this. Hopefully the next few days will see me taking it easy and recovering....although I am hoping to see my great neice...Shania. My SIL and niece have promised to try and get over to see me this weekend as I haven't seen Shania at all yet and she's already turned 2. My health and their commitments work wise have always got in the way. I'm off to bed now....I feel as if I could sleep for a week.....it has taken me over an hour to type this post...my hands and brain are slowly seizing up.

Blog candy!!

Heidi has some fabulous blog candy.....check it out here...

I'm drained....

The weather has turned decidedly chilly over the weekend. We haven't had too much rain though.....cold and rain are definitely not amongst my favourite things. I was hoping to get out into the garden but I feel so drained. I hope I pick up or the grass and weeds will have overtaken the garden and the work I have put in so far will have been to no avail. I'm paying for doing too much last week. Although I didn't overdo the gardening or housework , I did end up going over to son and DIL's 4 times in 7 days. I go for Sunday lunch every week and that journey leaves me tired...so an extra 3 trips has really took it's toll. When the weather is nice it is very hard to remember to pace yourself.....you just want to be out there enjoying the sun. My two at home have made our evening meal tonight...they can be very helpful and understanding when the need arises, even though they don't always appear to take notice of my health. Luckily they are quite capable of fending for themselves....well they aren't kids anymore....and I have taught all 5 of my boys to be reasonably competent with domestic chores.

Spaced out...

What an awful day I had health wise yesterday. I couldn't understand at first why I felt so drained and weak. Then it dawned on me. I had taken my evening medication by mistake in the morning. Not too drastic but it meant that I had slightly overdosed. I usually keep my medications separate but for some reason I had left my evening ones with my morning ones. Put it down to a senior moment. I will certainly be more careful in the future. It does go to show though how easy it is to overdose when taking multiple medications......and I still feel a bit "spaced out." Went shopping this morning to the freezer shop. My 2 boys at home certainly know how to get through food, think they must have hollow legs! We usually go on Thursday as it is quieter, and today it was very busy with badly behaved children and a parent who just didn't seem to care. I was glad to get out of there and home to some peace and quiet.

Well I'm not sure if the weed and feed that I put on my garden has worked sufficiently. The moss.....which there is a lot of..... is turning brown but it doesn't seem to have affected Lily. It looks as if I will have to resort to digging it out again.....ggrrrrrrr! We had some rain last night and I had hoped that it might have sped up the process. Today has been very overcast with a few light showers and it is decidedly cooler. I am hoping to get out into the front garden this week, and the back lawn needs cutting again.

I've succumbed...

I've succumbed to using some sort of weedkiller in the front garden. Not strictly a full weed killer but I'm hoping it might get rid of some Lily. It's weed and feed that I've used so I'm hoping it won't do much damage to anything else. It does mean that I can't cut the lawn for 3 days though...and the cuttings can't go on the compost for the next 3 cuts. If it makes getting rid of Lily a bit easier I won't feel too guilty. I'm itching to get out there and do some gardening but I'll have to be patient for a few days....patience is not one of my best qualities.

I tried something new last night and I'm really pleased that it turned out OK. My local surgery has introduced prescription ordering online. I received an email this morning confirming that my prescription will be ready for collection tomorrow. It's so much easier than having to go to the surgery or phoning it in. We can only phone between 10 and 12 in the morning and sometimes I forget or the line is constantly engaged...this means having to wait another 24 hours for the prescription, not good if you have run out of medication. The scheme is still on trial but it has a thumbs up from me.

Another day....

Another day of doing very little. I'm not sleeping very well at all the last few nights even though I am so very tired. The weather has been a little kinder today...still plenty of sun, but with a breeze which cooled things down a little. I keep looking at my front garden and dreading the thought of having to start on it. Lily is threatening to run amok again. If you ignore Lily it is abundant with bluebells at the moment. Last Thursday my eldest gave me a few stock seeds which he had left over. I planted them on Friday, just a couple of rows in front of the roses, and expected to see some signs in about 2 weeks...well that's what it said on the packet. Walking round the garden today I noticed that they have already began to show!! I'm just hoping that we don't get any heavy rain which could wash them out.....that has happened before.

I've made my 2 ATC's for the imag-e-nation swap already, ( they don't have to be in until the 9th June) and have joined another swap! I have yet to make a start on the Crafts Beautiful ones....when I get the stamp I want to use back from DIL's! These ATC's are beginning to get so addictive..but I do enjoy doing them. The latest group I have joined is Foggy Friends. I have been a member of the site for a while but didn't realize that they had an ATC swap group. So that's 3 groups now.....6 ATC's a month to make..and 6 to receive. Receiving them is I think is a real joy. You get to see first hand other people's work, which can be so inspiring to try new techniques. You never really stop learning in any sort of craft.

I don't know if it is my computer or blogger....but it's taking forever to load and my counter has gone missing....again!...hopefully another glitch which will sort itself out.

A quick post...

A quick post today...all that gardening last week has really done me in.

Today... May 12th .....is M.E. Awareness Day.

I got music..

I lost my music earlier....but it's back now....with another playlist added. So now you have a choice of 2 playlists. Not to every one's taste..but I like it. Enjoy!

Where's the music....?

Ok...where's the music gone? Just when everything is starting to go right something else happens. First my counter went missing..then my card slide show and now my music. Perhaps it's just another of those annoying little glitches. It's been another scorching hot day and I've finally finished the back garden. All I need now is some plants to put in the beds I have been digging....a bit less lawn to cut. I'm going for some heathers I think...very pretty, hardy and easy maintenance. The next big task is the front garden. I'm not going to change much in there as my house is due to be modernized within the next 18 months, and they may have to dig out part of my garden for a boundary wall or fence. From what I've seen of the work already done they do make a bit of a mess of the gardens. Woe betide if they cause any damage in the back after all my hard work. I'm off to son and DIL's tomorrow for a well earned easy day.

More sunshine and ATC's

After another glorious day spent in the garden I am really feeling the effects now. Yes, I know, I am my own worst enemy. I should stop and give myself a few days to recover; but ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I am just about the most stubborn person they know. To get my garden more manageable for the future there is work that has to be done now....and I'm doing it. I have windows that need cleaning, ironing that needs doing and curtains that need changing. As far as I'm concerned these things can wait. 3 years ago I would have done it all in a couple of days..not now though. I have to prioritise. My priorities are doing the garden....which I love.....while the weather holds. After all, the good weather lifts my mood, and it can only be good to be out and enjoying while I have the chance. Sometimes we have to take opportunities when they arise and think about consequences later.

This morning the postie brought me 2 lovely ATC's from the Imag-e-nation swap for this month. Good weather, a day spent doing something I love and goodies in the post.....what could be better?
Here they are......the theme was "Stitched up"
The first one is from Pat....."Pink Stitched"..and the second from Peridot Poppy...."Bad Hair Day"

Thank you to both ladies. I'm now awaiting 2 from the Crafts Beautiful swap and have already signed up for next months swaps on Imag-e-nation and Crafts Beautiful. ATC's are really addictive. My problem now is how to store them. I could put them in a box, but I don't really want to hide them away. I want to be able to see them!!..after all they are works of art and should be on display.

Heatwave...?

Another hot day....how long is it going to last I wonder. I know I'm going to sound as if I'm grumbling....and I suppose I am in a way...but those of you who have any arthritic condition will know that it is not just cold weather that causes problems with swollen and painful joints. Hot weather has the same effect as well, and don't I just know it! Today has been hard to do anything with my hands and my feet seem to have grown.....from a size 3 to a 5. Thank goodness for oversized trainers, without them I would have been totally housebound today. I must get a new pair though.....the ones I have are definitely past their best.

The postman brought me my awaited appointment for the rheumatology clinic. Quicker than I thought it would be. I must remeber to pin the letter up or I know I will forget all about it until it's too late and will have to wait months for another one.

I still haven't managed to get out into the front garden to tackle the problem of Lily..but I will get her!! I saw some seeds on sale in a shop when I was in town last week, and I thought I would read the info on the packet to see if it gave any warning about it spreading. Not a word..there should be a warning in big bold lettering!!

WOW!!!!!!

In a previous post I mentioned the La Pashe design team and project..... well the site is open and running and the sheets are available to buy. Absolutely stunning work!!! Check it out... here

Glorious sun....

I've had a really good day. I know I'm going to suffer for it though in a couple of days...my hands are already swollen and very painful. My day has been spent gardening. I just couldn't let the chance pass me by. It's been a gloriously sunny day.....perfect gardening weather.... the weeds have been easy to lift out as the soil is still quite damp under the surface. It has taken me all day whereas at one time it would have only taken me a couple of hours. I've also done a load of washing.....sunny with a light wind is perfect drying weather as well...and I do love the feel and smell of towels and bedding when they have been dried outside. I'm hoping that the weather will hold and hopefully be able to tackle the front garden. It's a good job I haven't anything planned for the rest of the week. I'm going to be absolutely shattered in a few days. My battle with the Lily of the valley continues. I've noticed that the Irises in the front are not doing as well as they should. At first I thought this was due to the battering they had from the inconsiderate window fitters (November posting)...but no....having looked more closely I see that Lily has made her way to them and is proceeding to strangle them out. The only remedy is to dig the Irises out. I'm not happy about having to do that, but I do have quite a large patch of them in the back garden, so I can replensh the stock later in the year. Beware Lily.....I'm on the warpath now!!!!

Busy busy......and irony

It's been a hectic few days for me. Thursday saw me not doing a lot....recovering from my afternoon out with my friend. If anyone had told me 3 years ago that I would find an afternoon of lunch and a wander round the shops totally exhausting, I would have said that they were off the planet. Not now though...it is totally exhausting when you have M.E. as many will know. Saturday was another exhausting but thoroughly enjoyable day. My eldest son and DIL commandeered me to help with a card making session at their local community centre. They were holding an open day and we asked if we could go along and help the.... children especially... make a card for father's day. my son had made a few samples up and also made kits so the children could easily put them together. The kids were bit reluctant at first but as soon as one had done it we had a bit of a queue. The youngest was an 8 month old little girl. She sat on her gran's knee and "helped" to stick down the components of the card. Her gran was pleased and I'm sure her daddy will be when he receives the card. Some of the adults had a go as well, and it wasn't just Father's day cards they made. The concentration on the kids faces was amazing....and the sheer look of pleasure with what they had achieved was a joy to see. All in all it was a very pleasant and enjoyable day with the forecast rain not making an appearance. The organiser of the event asked if we would be able to run the occasional card making class. My son immediately said of course...not really thinking what it might involve!!! Hmm..we will have to think about this one I think. Today saw me having a long lie in and finally managing to get some dreaded housework done. I was tempted to get out into the garden....but there are times when the housework just cannot wait any longer. I'm hoping that the weather stays fine for the rest of the week so that I can get out there.

Last week I spent about an hour in the front garden digging out more Lily of the valley plants, hoping to stem their flow. I know I won't be able to get rid of all of them as they have started sprouting up between the cracks in the path and have spread into the lawn. My youngest suggested weedkiller on them. I am loathe to use weedkillers....they can destroy more than just plant life that we don't want. There is no way I am digging out the whole lawn so I will have to keep chopping them down with the lawnmower and hoping that I win. The irony of all this? My name..Susan...means.... LILY!!!! Is someone trying to tell me something??