The One Minute Writer

I was reading my friend Cherrys blog today & through her blog found the One Minute Writer blog, so I thought I would give it a go.
Todays prompt is: What do you wish you liked...but you don't?
I wish I liked homemaking as much that I dream I do in my head...But, I don't?
My thoughts have ideas of how my rooms would look, with the furniture chosen, the colours, the fabrics & accessories used to enhance my living space, but it just never ever ends up looking like it does in my mind.
Yes, I do produce a comfortable, clean & tidy home, but there is always that mild dissatisfaction at the end product.
I always seem to be tweeking it here & another little accessory there, to try & to achieve that final look, but nope, it just won't come to a satisfactory completion.

Oops where did I go & December is here again!!!

I have had my bum kicked into getting this blog up and running again.. So being one that does as she is told {yeah right} here I am :)

I have been slack, there is no getting away from the fact & I am not paying for it by working through a stack of CJs, when all I want to do is have some fun Christmas craft time. I completed a CJ last night & intend to do another 2 today, I can then get them back in the post & on there way to the next person.

Since writing last time another child has been born into the family, she was born on November 12th & her name is Erin Paige......My 2nd grandaughter & she is such a tiny little thing.
I really am blessed, by not only having 4 wonderful sons that I am extremely proud of, but having 7 gorgeous grandchildren too.
Plus, I am expecting an 8th in June '10.

The year 2009 did not start out as a very good year for me, I was in poor health both physically & mentally with lots on my mind, living away from my family who all reside in Wiltshire where I was born & bred. I was living in Shropshire with Alex so that he could be near his children, the flat we lived in was run down & in a place where I was afraid to venture out on my own due to drug & drink abuse in the location then, the marriage of one of my sons breaking down after 10yrs. Alex coming to the end of his Uni coarse & not knowing where in the country he would get work as he works with the blind.
It then all started to turn around at the beginning of June, Alex went for an interview for a job in Bath, I held my breathe for a couple of days because the location couldn't have been better. Then we heard from housing association that we had been offered a bungalow in Wiltshire in Lacock! I was over the moon, especially when later that same day Alex got his email to say that he had got the post he applied for in Bath..
I now live in my little bungalow, with my own contained garden & Ozzie my little Bichon loves the freedom too, Alex works for Deaf & Vision Plus overseeing the Vision side of things, my sons all live within driving distance to pop in and out for a coffee etc. new grandies what more could a girl want, I am so settled here now & life is good again, my mental health is definately so much better. My physical health is the same, but I didn't expect any change there & as usual I am more mobile in the summer months but, the winter months will always bring the pain & lack of mobility, but, thats fine I am used to that now & know how to cope.

The morale to this tale is.....
The grass is definately not always greener on the other side!
You don't know what you got til it's gone.
It's one mistake that I will not be making again!!

Hark at me rabbiting on here........
Anyway that's me brought up to speed & I will get something crafty done to post soon
I am also going to put a blog candy together as well, just to get me used to coming here on a daily basis......So watch this space if you dare

Feeling Poorly......

I am feeling low today, not sure if its the makings of a cold coming on or if it's a side effect of this huge {well feels it anyway} cold sore on my top lip & my mouth feels claggy.
I was supposed to be spending a few hours at my sons today, but rang to cancel, as I didn't think I should be around the baby like this *sigh*
Alex is away in Shropshire this weekend visiting his children, so I am all alone until tomorrow afternoon, well apart from Ozzie, whose coat is yet again full of 'hook seeds'! He is a Bichon Frise for heavens sake, does he not know that he is not designed for rummaging in hedges & shrubs :) The last 2 days I have spent hours removing them, but look around & he has a coat full of them again. I just wish I knew from which shrub they were coming from, I would dig the thing up, I'm frightened to bits they they will grow into his skin, they are frightful things.
I will photograph them tomorrow, maybe, somebody could identify them for me...
Ah well... I'm off to watch Casualty on TV.

Meet baby Mason

This is me with my brand new grandson...he is just the dearest little boy

My grandson Mason gently watched over by his proud Mummy Leona

I'm a Nan Again :)

My son has just rang me to tell me that my latest grandson has just been born and mother and baby are doing well..... OMG, life don't get much better than this. I am going to visit tomorrow and will take my camera ;)

Waiting for News

I had a text from my youngest son early hours this morning to inform me that his partners waters had broken. I am now excited & anxiously waiting for more news, this is their 1st child so I do know that I could be in for a long wait. They are expecting a son, which will be my 6th grandchild & 5th grandson. Poor Leona has had a few false starts over the past 8 days, so she is very tired now & very bulky :) They visited last night so that Paul could watch his team Arsenal play on Sky & I told her then, that I suspected baby would be born this evening.........watch this space to see if I am right :))

Blog Drought Over........But, been a sad day!

Well, what can I say, it's been a long time since I visited my blog & even longer since I posted!!!
A lot has happened in the months since my last post, including me moving home. I have left Shropshire & moved back home to Wiltshire. I now live in the beautiful village of Lacock & in a more rural location, I can now look out of my windows at fields & hedge rows instead of boring blocks of red brick flats & littered walk ways.
I haven't managed any serious crafting since my last LO posted on here, but I am determined that is now going to change. I really do miss playing with lovely patterned paper & glue .... not to mention buttons, ribbons & other pretty embellishments.

It is a very sad day today, because my beloved & very faithful German Shephard Dog 'Murphy' died, with the assistance of a very kind vet & his nurse. I asked them to come to our home instead of adding stress to Murphy, by taking him to the surgery. He went off peacefully to sleep in the company of those he loved most, knowing that he was loved to the end. He was 12.5yrs old & was such a special dog.....a gentle giant, who will be missed for a very long time. I had owned him since he was a 5 week old puppy, still to young to leave him mother. I still remember that day when I went to see the litter of pups, the 4 pups that hadn't been reserved were put in the middle of the owners lounge floor while we talked. The next thing I knew was that a bundle of fluffy fur & huge paws had waddled over & laid down to sleep on my feet....... he had chosen me, so I purchased him there & then LOL What a lucky day that was, that puppy grew up to be the most beautiful dog, whith impecable manners & was so gentle, loyal & loving.
My murphy
RIP <3

Couple of recent LOs

This LO has been created using the March kit from Scrapagogo. Unusually for me, I used a patterned paper as my background page, I chose to do this because the pattern on the paper enhanced the patterned lace on the upper sleeves of my wedding dress. The title speaks for itself I think, I was fine in front of the camera in the group photos, but when I was stood alone as the bride, I was extremely shy. I was the tender age of 16 years old when I married my childhood sweetheart back in 1976, I was a gymslip girl and was 7 months pregnant in these photos. My dad, chosse my dress for me very carefully, he was influenced by the 'bell' shaped sleeves.......bless him.

I was married for just over 20 years and we had 4 wonderful sons together. We have now both moved on, but remain friends to this day!

This LO was created using the April Kit, I knew that I wanted a garden theme and loved this photo of the Rose Arbour.

The journaling reads
"My fondness for the rose goes back to childhood. Spending time watching my grandad in his garden, caring for his roses. Clipping, preening & pinching off dead flowers to make sure that thier pretty heads stayed the whole summer through!!"

3 recent pages

The above page has a photo of my son Paul & his gorgeous partner Leona, it is a picture taken in 2008 while they were holidaying in the Dominican Republic!


The above page is of my grandsons school year, don't he look smart in his uniform

The above page is of myself & my Dad on my wedding day back in 1976

I remember how vunerable & shy I felt standing on those huge stone steps in front of County Hall Trowbridge. I was just 16 years old & was just the beginning of an amazing adventure.

I am not sure if it shows, but I chose the backing paper because the pattern mimicked the lace on the sleeves of my dress.

All materials used for the 3 pages all came from the March Scrapagogo kit!

We are on the road again with GoGo Storyteller

Due to popular demand we are pleased to announce

GoGo Storyteller!

Open to Members & non members alike, on a first come first serve basisThis event includes all the materials you need to complete 5 classes, infact the products alone total in excess of £35 so this is a great value event with the usual GoGo appeal & one not to be missed!
The event will be held on Saturday September 19th 9.30am - 7.00pm.
Hanham Folk Centre

118-124 High St

Hanham

Bristol

BS15 3EJMember discount of 10% can be redeemed on this event if you are currently a subscribed member to GoGo Create or GoGo Greetings. Please note that the discount is applicable to members tickets only and not for purchasing guest tickets.

The discount code for subscribers is STORY
To keep ticket prices as low as possible NO meals are included, however refreshments will be included such as tea, coffee and biscuits. You are advised to bring along a packed lunch and any nibbles you fancy.
The event is a timetabled event and will include 5 structured classes.

Each delegate will have ample classroom table space to work on the classes.

Please note that GoGo Storyteller has been designed to teach 5 fun classes and therefore there will not be time for general cropping.
Please be advised that the classes for GoGo Storyteller may contain some past kit products as well as other items.

If you have any questions relating to this please email us at mail@scrapagogo.co.uk and we will be more than happy to help with your questions.

Classes have been specifically designed for this event & have not been taught or showcased before.
The classes are all designed & taught by GoGo Design Team Members.
Full class details will be emailed to all those that have purchased a ticket to the event in time for photo preparation etc.
In the eventuality of GoGo Storyteller being unable to take place for reasons beyond our control, a full refund will be given before the event is due to take place.

Sorry now sold out!