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!!

Such a lot has happened....

..in the last couple of weeks. Firstly the Imag-e-nation forum will be no more ...sob sob....but the online shop is still there and stocking more crafty stuff...yay!  I've not been able to get on the computer..due may I say to me being absolutely shattered... and youngest hogging it. He's found tribal wars and is totally addicted....at least it's stopping him from getting bored. He's still unemployed and the job centre has told him he can't apply to go on the scheme for the long term unemployed...why?.....he's been unemployed for too long!!!! Utter madness.
My paths and front privet hedge has been ripped out and I'm now waiting for the work to renew my paths and put in fencing to resume...the bank holiday has got in the way.  I finally made an appointment to see the doctor about my hearing. I've always had some hearing loss... I was born that way...but lately it has become a bit of a problem. When your 20 year old tells you that the tv is too loud then you know there's a problem. Any way..got a hearing test done and was told that on the preliminary results my hearing is very bad...and that I'm certainly a candidate for needing hearing aids. I just have to see the doctor on Friday for a referral to the hospital. Also had an appointment at the job centre. An appointment was made by letter telling me that a query had arisen with my claim for incapacity benefit. A couple of days before the appointment they telephoned me and changed the appointment date. I asked what the query was. Was told not to worry, it was only to check that I am in receipt of all the benefit I'm entitled to.  Attended the re-scheduled appointment..was kept waiting for 30 minutes and then was interogated.  How many bank accounts do I have?..How much is there in my bank account?..Do I have any savings?..Do I own any property?.....Have I ever done any work, paid or unpaid, while claiming benefit?.... Who else lives with me?  I asked why all the questions.  Was told ...and I quote.."that it has been suggested to this department that I am not as ill as I make out and that my claim is therefore no longer valid." In other words some malicious person (and I have a good idea who) has contacted the department with this claim. I was fuming to say the least. Anyway..signed my statement and was told that it probably wouldn't be going any further as I have been assessed by a medical examiner within the last 12 months and been accepted as too ill to work. Wouldn't mind so much.....know that they have to act on information received....but they already know what date my asessment was...they have it on file.  Change of subject now. I've managed to get most of my crafting goodies unpacked. I might be able to get down to more crafting now that I have a good idea where to find most of my stash. I've missed a few ATC swaps and lots of challenges...got a lot of catching up to do.

Still a lot to do...

.on the decorating front. I've so many jobs that need doing in the garden and house.... but not the energy to do them as quickly as I would like.  Bought myself a new bed.....when I realised that I'd had my old one for....32 YEARS!!!!!    Needed a wardrobe as well but I couldn't afford the one I really wanted as well as the bed....so as a quick fix to that problem I bought one of those self assembly wooden ones with a canvas cover. When it was delivered.... nearly 3 weeks ago....the screws to put it together were missing.  Have been in touch with the suppliers and twice now they have said that they have been despatched. Not happy about this...I've got a wardrobe in pieces that I can't use yet, and my clothes in cardboard boxes taking up valuable crafting space....gggrrrr!!! I'm  still trying to catch up on the computer as well. Took piccies of a card and some ATC's made and swapped but not had the time to upload them yet.  It's another lovely day outside so now I'm off to have a potter in the garden.

I'm still here..

..and still trying to get organized. There are stil a lot of boxes to unpack...and most of them are in my bedroom making it an obstacle course. Some of my craft stuff is unpacked but not all. It's not worth unpacking untill the decorating is done. A start has been made on that front. Just have to wait for son to have a day off work when he can do it. In the meantime....Monday was my friend Anne's birthday...and although we have chatted on the phone we haven't met up since before Christmas!!..so it had to be a ladies wot lunch day.  I made her a card and although I say it myself it has been one of the best one's I have done in a long time..was really chuffed with it, I even made a box as well.

I used FSS flowers, embossed them with a large ball tool for dimension, stickles glitter glue for the centres....my butterfly dimension punch.   Sponged the edges of the card and butterflies with blue ink pad and added a few self adhesive gems.....and although it doesn't show up on the pic, Sakura clear glitter pen. The text is computer generated.

I still have a lot of catching up to do on the computer but I'm slowly getting there. There are so many blogs that I have not had much chance to visit as yet..but I have made a start...there's so much that I've missed!!