It's going...

..but very slowly. The snow that is. The weather forcast is for slightly higher temperatures over the weekend but then back to the arctic conditions next week. I finally managed to get my guttering reported properly....they will be sending someone out but don't know when.....and the guttering on the back of the house is coming away now. It's all the weight of the snow and ice. Went into town today with eldest son and did the last of my Christmas shopping..only a couple of presents I needed to get and of course deposit money in the bank. I'm back in the black..but only just. Bought myself a few crafting goodies..necessities...card, ribbon, lace, glitter...you got to have glitter at Christmas!..and I bought myself a hat. I never wear a hat normally but if we are to have more of this cold weather I've decided that it would be sensible. Wasn't sure about it but I am getting used to the idea. I was going to venture out on my own but son advised against it, and I'm glad he was with me. (He was the one that persuade me about the hat). The madness that overtakes some people when Christmas shopping is unbelievable....they become blinkered to anyone around them .....and manners are simply non-existent. Thank goodness for internet shopping. I must just say a very well done to Tesco. They've had a lot of flack lately due to the weather causing problems, and I did wonder if my shopping order would be delayed and/or incomplete. But no.....it all arrived well within the 2 hour delivery slot, and with a smile. My freezer and cupboards are now well stocked and will only need fresh provisions from now until Christmas. Sorted. Just got to get the cards made now.

Snow on snow on snow....

...on snow. A foot and half of snow here and it looks as if more is on the way. Can't go any where 'cos there's no buses....at least on this estate. We have a couple of fairly steep hills that keep the buses off. (Sheffield is built on hills ) We can get a bus if we are prepared to walk a mile. Youngest son had to do that to sign on at the jobcentre. They told him that if he didn't he would not get anybenefit. On top of all this I had a snowfall off the roof this morning. It has almost brought down the guttering ...it's hanging very precariously and is likely to bring down my phone line and neighbours satellite dish...... and cannot get it repaired very soon. The repair line is only answering emergency calls. Well I've reported it and if any damage is caused to property or persons, not my problem.....I reported it! Can't get to the bank so now I'm overdrawn and will have charges to pay...great..NOT!  Can't the powers that be understand that it is sometimes impossible for a disabled person to get to a branch. There was a small branch a short bus ride away but that closed last month, so now I have to travel to the city centre. I am considering changing my bank to one that is more local. The charges are higher but at least it is more local. Will have to have a good long think about it though..pros and cons for both.

I can show you the card that I made for the Crafters Re-United forum challenge. I didn't win it..never expect to as the standard is always very high.

The image is from Pink Petticoat and I've coloured it with chalks and a bit of clear sparkle from Sakura. I have decoupaged the pears and the partridge but it's not easy to see on the pic.

Now I really must get cracking on my Christmas cards. Got most of them ready to assemble so shouldn't take me too long.....ha ha....will probably change my mind on some of them half way through. What will really hold me up is envelopes. Have some on order and still waiting 3 weeks later. Got to order some more but can't tell when they will arrive with the weather situation. Ho hum.

Oh.....sugar!!!

That card I made for a challenge?.....I should have read the instructions properly. Never mind though cos I have made another one...and I really enjoyed making it...got a little bit inky. Proper crafting!.....only kidding, I just love getting messy with the inks. The challenge calls for an easel card with some element of decoupage and embelishments of choice.....and....this is the bit I missed....depict a Christmas song. Anyway I can put it on here now..the first card that is..not the actual challenge one.
The decoupage image is from FSS....added glitter and flower soft. The pink backing paper is by Kate Knight. Everything else from stash. Not a good quality pic..very bad light ..and glitter doesn't photograph well.

It's not been a good week for me. I've felt more tired than usual and feels as though I've had a cold coming on but it's not quite developed into one...got the sneezes and the shivering but that's about all. I think it's starting to get better now though, but it's a slow proccess.  The real downside is that I've not been able to do the crafting that I wanted. Done some though....and.....(drum roll) ..I've actualy made a Christmas card!! Can't show it yet though cos it's for a challenge. With any luck I will be able to do the ATCs for this month. Did make a birthday card for my coming up 14yr old grand-daughter. Had it all worked out and then disaster...I spilt tea on the image I'd coloured. I did have another one ready printed to colour but  I was running out of time. It just didn't turn out right at all. The colours of the card and papers didn't go together and I ended up making something totally different than what I had planned. Not very happy about the end result.....and my colouring definitely hasn't got any better. (Really need to practise with colouring....just can't get it right)  Anyhow...here it is. The image is by KennyK. Just hope Rebecca will like it, and not think that it's too girly..she's a bit of a tomboy at heart.

Think I'm invisible...

.....not really, just feels that way at the moment. I am a member of a forum and I stay logged in 'cos if I don't it's a pain getting logged back on. I don't participate much but do like to do the monthly ATCs when I can. Well this month's swap is running and I can't join in. Every time I try to post it keeps logging me out!  Another forum has just moved provider and it requires us to register..I applied but have not heard anything back so I am locked out. I can read posts in some catergories, but not all, and I can't post. Seems like I'm "Billy no mates" at the moment. Can't go and make a start on my Christmas cards yet either. The card stock I ordered Should have been here Friday...but the postie went before I had time to get to the door....I was in the shower.... I've got to wait while Monday now to have it re-delivered. I just hate these times when things just don't go right.

Nearly a month.....

..since I last posted on here. Time is flying by and Christmas will soon be upon us. It may be the seasonal change weather wise but I've just been so tired....too tired to do anything much....and not sleeping well. After doing the essential chores I haven't had the energy to do much crafting or spend time on the computer. When I have been on the computer my brain goes into shut down mode and I can't take anything in. I've not made a start on making my Christmas cards yet but all is in hand. I'm making little notes and sorting through my stuff and have a reasonably good idea on what I'm making. Of course things could change...and some ideas will probably go out of the window.....that's the way it is with crafters. We start with one idea and it ends up being something completely different. Christmas shopping wise I'm almost sorted...just a couple of pressies to buy. Of course I have a very restricted budget...don't most of us these days?.....but I think I'm on track with it all. Most of it has been done online or by mail order. Good realy because I hate shopping (except craft shopping) and love receiving parcels.
Create and Craft/Ideal World has done it again..or rather haven't. I need card stock.....just good quality basic white....you can't make a card without a base. Saw some on there with a reasonable price so went to order it. I'd forgotten my password so requested a new one. Email duly arrived and went to type it into the login box.... it wouldn't accept.  Phoned customer service and was left on hold for 10 minutes before I hung up. That's the second time that I've gone elsewhere. 3rd time lucky?..I don't think so.
My girls (Milly and Molly) are keeping me on my toes. They are so adorable and at times so mischievous..they are growing so fast and exploring. Places that were safe from them aren't any longer. They are both good climbers. It's like having a couple of naughty kids around the place. I'm beginning to dread putting the Christmas tree up...boy are they gonna have fun!

It's been a good couple of weeks....

....well sort of. Having ordered my shopping online and it being delivered promptly I feel a lot less stressed. I've not done a lot really..been chillin' and taking things easy. Last Wednesday went to lunch and the theatre(Crucible), with my friend Anne to see Hamlet. She got the tickets as a birthday present to me. Must say it was brilliant. Guess who forgot to turn their phone off?.....and guess who's phone rang twice because it wouldn't turn off?....yes me. I did manage to turn it off eventually..thankfully. What makes it worse is my ring tone....the theme to "Danger Mouse." Had visions off being escorted out. Ah well..all makes for an interesting day. The day was wonderful....thank you Anne. It's taken it's toll though.....have been so tired and am only just starting to come round...wouldn't have missed it for anything though.

I'm still waiting for something to be done about my ceiling. The last time I phoned about it, I was promised that it would be sorted by Friday the 8th. Well Friday the 8th came and went. Phoned again and was told that someone would be here on Monday without fail. Not sure if that is just to look at what needs doing or if the job is going to get done. Can't see the latter really as no one has been to see it.  Well I do know that if it isn't done very soon, I might just tell them that if it isn't done I will have to get someone in to do it, and send them the bill. Perhaps that will give'em a kick up the proverbial. I'm totally p****d off now.

Milly and Molly are 5 months old now, growing fast and are just as adorable and boisterous as ever. They certainly keep me on my toes. Here are some pics of them on a sunny kitchen window sill taken a couple of weeks ago. Molly is a bit terriatorial (sp) and seems to think that that place is hers. One of the gloriously sunny days that we are still getting..alternating with wind and almost torrential rain. Myself I think we might be in for a wet winter

  

Autumn has arrived..

....cold winds are making it very autumnal here. We have had some gloriously sunny starts to the days followed by some torrential rain. Wanted to get into the garden but not had much chance....I've been so very tired lately. Got up this morning to a right mess in the kitchen. Molly wasn't well during the night and today she has vomited most of what she has eaten. I've tried her with a very small amount of food this evening and she seems to be keeping it down.  Hopefully it's just an upset tum thats she's had . She seemsa lot brighter now, and is playing with Milly. I think she might have eaten some leaves of one of my plants. Will have to find somewhere to put the plants out of their reach, now that they can get onto all surfaces....nothing is safe!
I've spent the last couple of hours comparing prices for shopping online. My usual fortnightly shopping trips are beginning to get too much for me, so I will have to start shopping online again. I used to do this when I worked...I didn't want to spend my days off food shopping. Well the prices seem to compare favourably and I think an order will be put in this week. The only thing I will have to remeber is to go to the bank to put the money in. Not a great chore though as I can combine that with a library visit. If I pick my delivery slot carefully it will cost me no more than it does at present. don't know what son and DIL will have to say about it, but it can't be helped.....it just takes too much out of me and takes me a few days to recover.This will give me more time and energy to do my crafting.....something I love and has been somewhat neglected the last few weeks.  Christmas is coming and I want to get a head start so that I wont be playing catch-up at the last minute. My 5 grandchildren all have their birthdays around Christmas, so that is even more to do. I could buy cards for them but they have come to expect hand made cards, and I know that they look forward to them. I think they like the fact that they are personal to them...makes them feel a bit more special.

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.