06.11.09

Despite the threats of fireworks and bonfires,

it was more of a damp whimper than a bang

But I didn't care,

I sat on the floor surrounded by yarns and friends

and we' knattered'

we 'knittered'

we crocheted

and we were just....

us.

Today, after a stern talking to myself

About the state of my 'WIP'* drawer

I opened it with trepidation

I opened it slowly

for the contents tend to spring out joyfully

And

instead of tidying the said "WIP" drawer

I toyed with the colours

I painted with yarn

I colour coded and

I

Played.

It felt good.

* WIP = Work In Progress - I have a fair bit of WIP

This it is necessary - despite what he says

I need variety in my life.

05.11.09

I find that if you have to pay for something,
you tend to keep it well.
But if you are handed things on a plate without much effort on your part,
then it is of very little consequence to you.

40 million pounds worth (that is US $66.16800) of medication is thrown away yearly here in the UK.

THAT IS 40 MILLION POUNDS...................

Approximately 609 tonnes (609,000 kg or 1342 615, 18 lbs) is incinerated per annum.

And it is increasing year on year -

That money - could it be spent else where?

Schools? Hospitals?

Those tablets - were they actually needed?

What? All of them?

Only to be thrown away?

On a lighter note - I am still on the tea and toast - for medicinal reasons only of course.

And tonight is 'knit n knatter'

We meet, we chat, we knit, we crochet, we sew and we eat cake

and I love it!

Such a hotch potch of souls

Grannies

Aunties

Divorcees

Mothers

Friends

Us

04.11.09

We, as a household,

are at various stages of some form of sniffles

Eldest is passed the worst and feeling chipper

He is giving no sympathy to his fellow sufferers

Youngest and I have just started

We feel like we shouldn't be made to go to school/work.....

And himself has manfully dragged himself through the week, very bravely.

Why is it the weather has joined in too?

Where is that warm sunshine when you need it?

So - I have resorted to some serious comfort food - tea and toast

Can't get more serious than that!

A Friend

02.11.09

I met her in the autumn of 2004.

I misheard her name in my nervousness and for the first hour kept referring to her wrongly.

But from that Thursday, we became friends.

At first just a weekly meeting whilst at college,

but then we met for children's birthday parties and weekend get togethers, then she moved into our village.

Although we are so different, we are so alike.

We can both say things like - Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' and know what we are talking about.

We can both lose ourselves in a plant nursery and love it.

We can both plan next season's colour or vegetables this season and have them sown and ready in our greenhouses

We both love the allure of yarn and beads and threads and material

We have been on holiday together

We look after each other's fur-babies when the other is away

I have dragged her hill and dale, through thick and thin, through mud and water

She drags me shopping................

I get her to join in our madcap themed parties where she has to make costumes and get dressed up,

she has taught me that matching china looks good, colour co-ordinated cushions actually do make the room and that our friendship is strong............

She looks fantastic in pink - I don't

She wears jeans and looks slim - I don't

She wears heels - I fall out of them......

She has long elegant nails - I have gardener's hands

She will leave a hole in my heart and in my life when she leaves - but I understand and agree why she is returning to her beloved island.

Happy birthday my dear dear friend - I love you.

Celebrate!

02.11.09
No sooner than the monsters and ghouls have faded into the crisp cold night and the cobwebs and spiders are put away safely for next year, when we be 'aving a pirate convenin' of the likes not held beforrrrrrre - not for the lily-livered - aarrgh.

On Saturday be wenches and pirates with yo-ho-ho's aplenty, with cutlasses 'n eye patches galore.

We be 'olding a pirate gatherin' of all pirate gatherin's ...  argh............. and I haven't finished making the costumes yet.

Oh dear - or I should be sayin' I be a scallywag and me boys be thinkin' of keelhaulin' me!

Good grief - it's exhausting talking like a pirate, so I'll give up, and reach for the crafting pile.

 For when the youngest pirate and his slightly more savvy older brother come home tonight, they will want to see some progress in the costume making department.

Or it will be the plank for me................................... (I have been warned!)

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I still have to go to work and finish my course work that has to be posted off by Friday...... now where do I start?

Thank you.

I wanted to say to Jan of bobbypinsboardwalk, 

that I am overwhelmed by her generous spirit

and her kind words.

Thank you.

Please go over to her site and see why she has been put in my inspirations list  :)x

01.11.09

With a change of month, a change in the weather.

Autumn's benign mood changed to one more unkind.

She has been hell bent on tearing off all the leaves,

making the trees bare.

Their twig fingers rake the grey sky as clouds hurry by.

Bark is wet and glistening and boughs creak and groan as they are ripped clean.

Leaves flurry and whirl on the wet roads,

clumping up on corners as if trying to hide from the winds.

Through rain spattered windows

we have watched and marvelled at her fickle moods,

yesterday she was feeling benevolent.

Today Autumn is definitely feeling 'under the weather'