Where has it gone?

This month that is. It's flying by and leaving me floundering. I seem to be doing a lot but getting nowhere fast. I haven't been on the computer for days..I've just been so tired. Got on today and spent a lot of time catching up with emails. I've decided that the next few days are going to be for me. The housework, except for the essentials, are just going to have to take a back seat. I'm going to do some crafting and perhaps a little bit of cross stitching. There are a few small UFOs to do. Also going to sort out my Christmas crafting stuff and see what I've got, and decide what I'm going to do.
The plasterer still hasn't been about my ceiling. Three phone calls have now been made and they have put it on the urgent list. At this rate I might get the living room decorated for Christmas.
Just a short post..my hearing aids are bleeping at me....time for a battery change. Got to find the manual to make sure I get it right. I'm so used to them now I can't be without them.

I got a brand new...

...lawnmower. It's bigger than I thought it would be but it does collect the grass cuttings so no more raking, and it does have four cutting heights, which can only be good as far as I'm concerned. Haven't had a chance to use it yet. Was at the hospital yesterday and shopping today. Hopefully the weather will hold for the next few days. Also got my hearing aids fitted yesterday. Wow..what a difference they make. I'm hearing things that I haven't heard properly for a long time..eg the cats purring. I thought I was hearing the purr but I wasn't...I was only feeling it as I stroked them. I can now hear the phone even when I'm not in the same room, I can now tell which direction traffic is coming from when I'm outside and it has made a considerable difference to the tv and stereo volume. The big difference for me is the fact that I no longer feel so isolated when out in a crowd..I can hear what's going on around me. They are taking a bit of getting used to  and there is one downside for me. When I'm upstairs at my craft space (my bedroom) I can hear the traffic outside with the windows open. I can turn them off though so perhaps it wont be a problem. It was my birthday yesterday so beside the lovely cards, flowers, chocolates, candle set and other gifts, being able to hear as I can now for probably the first time in my life made it extra special.

Sod's law again..

...and I'm sure this house has a jinks. Son had 5 days off work last week and promised to get on with the decorating and get the living room finished. Second coat of paint on the ceiling and walls, door frames and skirting boards glossed and the chimney breast wallpapered. Easy. (He did train as a painter and decorator)Not to be though. Started the ceiling ok then a shout....Muuuumm......What? The plaster was coming off! Anyway..got in touch with housing and they said that someone would be in touch within 10 days...still waiting. Will phone them tomorrow but as it is a bank holiday nothing will be done anytime soon.  With any luck the living room might get done in time for Christmas.....not holding my breath though.
 I wanted to make a start on the front garden which has been sadly neglected while the new fencing was being erected. Yesterday decided that I had an hour and made a start. Got halfway through cutting the lawn and then disaster.....the lawnmower started smoking and then cut out. The motor is burned out. That means a new one and more expense. ...AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!! Will anything ever go right in this house?...I think not.

I got piccies...

...of Milly and Molly. I managed to get these while sitting out on the back step on Sunday evening. They like to sit out there with me in the sun while I have a cuppa. 13 weeks old and full of energy.

What's this way...?

Shall we try this way..?

I'm Milly......

...and I'm Molly.

Doesn't Molly just love to pose!..unlike Milly who's more interested in that little black box that I'm holding. (My camera phone) 

I also managed to get ATC's done for this month and a birthday card for DIL's birthday which was yesterday.  Finally got a pic ..blogger didn't want to play nice.
I've used Fred's flowers and my butterfly punch..a bit of stickles glitter glue, gems, brads and a Woodware border punch.

Been sooo busy...

..with Molly and Milly. Constant cleaning up after them, but at last, after trial and error food wise they  are funtioning normally. It's like having twin toddlers about the house..they are into everything and are now setting their sites higher..as in... "what can we climb now that we are bigger." They are great free runners as well. You have to be careful when they are in full flight so to speak...stay still or get run over. Love 'em to bits though and they are such a joy to have. I've tried to take some pics of them awake but no chance. Awake means active.  During this time I've not had the energy to do much housework..but it had to be done.I made myself a list and slowly got through the jobs. I even managed some crafting yesterday (tidied my craft space !) and a bit of gardening today. Not had much time or energy for the computer and I have a long list of emails as well as trying to keep up with everything thats happening forum and blog wise. I will make some time to catch up with it all. The girls have an afternoon nap so I can leave them quite safely while I get on with things. They still have to be in the kitchen when no one is with them for their own safety. A lot less hazards in the kitchen ..up to now.....they have learnt how to get on to the dining table.  Still quite a bit to be done in the garden. The weeds have flourished in the recent rain, as they do.....hopefully I will be able to get more done during the next few days if the weather stays reasonably fine...so now I'm off to bed in the hope that I can actually get to sleep before dawn.

If anything can go wrong....

......it will. Sod's law...and it has.  It's been a busy and very tiring week. Having to get up very early......7 o'clock.... for delivery of my new freezer. A hospital appointment that was over an hour long and took an hour and a half travelling time each way. Shopping on Thursday that wore me out due to extra shopping to fill the new freezer..and finally my little fur babies have the runs. I'm not too worried at the moment as they are eating well and drinking water....are as boisterous as ever, but they are tiny and any weight loss is not good at their age..9 weeks. I've been taking extra precautions hygiene wise and I'm exhausted. To top it all off my kettle is broken, the element has burnt out. Not a major thing but it adds to the pressure. Can't grumble though, it only cost a fiver and I've had it 2 years. Had a problem with my digital phone..that went kaput ..or so I thought...until I tried it in another socket. Was working fine. Anway, I've tried it again in it's original socket and it's working fine now. Technology! As you can probably imagine I haven't managed to do any crafting. I had to pull out of an ATC swap which I hate doing when I've signed up for one. I will have to find time to spend in my craft space this week as it's my youngest's 21st birthday next week, and he will expect a special card.
On the hospital front, they have decided that they are going to give me two hearing aids instead of the one. This is because although my left ear hasn't much hearing loss I find it difficult sometimes because of background noise and the tinnitus. I will be able to use that one when I need it. I go back in 6 weeks time to have them fitted. While I'm on the subject of hearing....I've become more aware of an annoying situation. Because I have some hearing loss it does not mean that I am stupid..... and I can read and write.  If you speak clearly and look at me I can usually lip read any words that I miss.  I am sick of having to say.. "pardon" or "sorry?".. when someone talks to me and doesn't look at me while speaking. Perhaps this will not be necessary when I have my hearing aids. I think though that I will still lip read as I've done all my life....habits die hard.

I tought I taw a puddy cat...

...I did! I taw ........2 puddy cats!!  My new little additions to the family.  M&M...Molly and Milly. Just 8 weeks old and tiny.
(Sorry about the picture quality)

They came to me via a friend of DIL. The lady lives in sheltered accomodation and tenants are allowed a cat or small dog as long as they have been spayed/neutered. She bought her cat with assurances that it had been spayed/neutered. Well obviously it hadn't and 5 kittens arrived. She managed to rehome 3 and had promised me one. Last week she was worried about them as they had gone off their food, and the council were on her back to rehome the remaining two kittens. She called in the RSPCA and they said that as the kittens were so tiny another week with mom would be ideal. That shut the council up. As there was one kitten without a home and destined to the RSPCA, I said that if the last one hadn't been homed I would take it. The  RSPCA were happy with that and gave the all clear for them on Friday. So now I have 2 tiny beautiful tabby kittens.
Aren't they gorgeous! They've settled in and are eating, playing and sleeping as normal.

Another pic taken by my son on his phone...better quality.

Started out with good intentions....

...but I got side tracked. I was hoping to give the front garden a little bit of TLC this week but the rain has put paid to that.  Instead I took the vacuum cleaner upstairs today with the intention of doing my bedroom.  Finished off 2 ATCs that should have been in today...all ready for the post now though....and then went on to make some more for another swap. Guess what..the bedroom didn't get done.  Don't care though...I enjoyed myself playing with a stamp that I've had for ages and not used (got a few like that)..and the bedroom will have to wait 'til the weekend. ( My craft spac is in my bedroom). I've got things to do tomorrow. Pay some bills..go to the bank....library.... and the surgery for an ear check. My appointment for the hospital came through and it's for a mould to be taken of my ear (for the hearing aid)...and I have to have an ear check to make sure that there is no build up of wax or any infection.  So much fun....NOT!!!  Perhaps the weather will brighten up for the weekend, and then that will be another excuse not to do housework.

Blimey..

...it's been so long since I last posted! I'm stil here and trying to enjoy the beautiful weather that we have been having.  I say trying because the heat really doesn't do me any favours. It makes my joints swell more and so they become more painful....and trying to get some sleep is a no goer. I've got through quite a few library books lately. Well what else can you do in the we small hours when every one else is sleeping soundly?  Last week I went to the hospital for my hearing test and assessment. The travelling alone wore me out. One hour to get there and an hour and a half back. Anyway...I am almost totally deaf in my right ear (no surprise) and I need a hearing aid. I have lost some hearing in my left ear but not as much as they first thought. The loss is due mainly to having tinnitus which blocks out a lot of the everyday sounds. Anyone who suffers with this will know what I mean...I've lived with it for many years but at times it can be a real pain in the proverbial. The hospital phoned me today and I have another appointment to have my hearing aid fitted in a couple of weeks time. Perhaps then my kids wont complain that the TV/Radio is too loud.
I've not been able to do as much as I wanted in the garden..it's just been too hot. We have had a litle rain today and the temperature has lowered slightly....but the forecast is for it to rise again over the weekend. More reading for me then. I'm still waiting for son to get a move on withthe decorating. His last bout of days off was spent watching the footie....but he has 5 days off starting Thursday and he has promised to get a lot done...not holding my breath.  Just want the living room finished, then I can get my curtains up and my ornaments/pictures etc. out of their boxes...which in turn will give me more storage in the cupboards.
I haven't done a lot of crafting except for ATCs..which can be found on my Picasa....link on the right, and a bit of cross stitching.  Still only small pieces of cross stitch but I will make them into cards I thnk.

Do you like the new look?

Thought I would give the new template designs a go. I've gone all summery....matches the beautiful weather we are having at the moment.  Might change my mind yet..but there is plenty to choose from.
Most of my fencing has been erected....just waiting for the metal fence and gate on the front and then it will all be finished. All the paths have been newly tarmaced. I've got some tidying in the garden to do with the digging that had to be done for the fencing posts...and some plants to re-site that I had to move. It's been either too wet or too hot to do a lot in the garden. I'm slowly getting back into crafting again. Done 3 lots of ATC's this month and I've just got to get them posted.  I've also sorted out all my received ATCs ready to go into and album....and located  on the computer, piccies of the ones I received early in the year and will be updating my Picasa album in the near future. Not that I've been totally idle craft wise....I've started doing cross stitching and am enjoying it. It's mostly small pieces that I'm doing, but I do have my eye on a couple of larger projects for when my confidence grows. I did a cross stitch and framed it for my friend Anne's birthday and was pleased at the way it turned out..but I forgot to take a picture of it...DOH!!