Back to Normal! (I hope!)

Gosh such alot has happened since my last post! Mum has returned home and I am exhausted, she is not the easiest woman to have in your home. Don't get me wrong I do love her, just find it hard to live with her. Unfortunately being a seafarers wife she has spent a considerable time alone, Dad died in 1982 so she has been living on her own since then, and has become exceptionally selfish, expects everything to be worked around her, we drop everything to do what she wants, when she wants to do it!! I used to have to battle against it when the girls where younger, but now I grit my teeth and go with the flow! When she and B got together(if you remember he was my godfather, so we have known him all our lives, this is the girls adopted 'Gramps')she improved slightly, but my goodness she can be very critical and cutting with her remarks!!! Hence no blogging!!!!

We moved Kathryn out of halls yesterday and she took mum home as she is doing work experience with her adopted 'Gramps', he's has his own estate agency, something Kathryn has always fancied doing! So her room is returning to normal!!!!




Tori went to the hairdressers for her practice 'put up'! She wanted a period look and I think the hairdresser did a great job




that is the necklace she will be wearing, (well there had to be black somewhere!)plus she has some opera length black gloves as well! Even after she brushed her hair it still was all wavy, she loved it, because she/we have never been able to get a curl to stay in her hair!!

So now I play catch up on the washing. We where supposed to be going to dismantle the 'bargain greenhouse' today but hubby has had to go into work. Fortunately the couple who own it are in no rush to have it taken away!! So hopefully next weekend! I have been buying off Ebay again, one or two or maybe even seven plants!!!!! But all at bargain prices of course!

Right I'm off out to play catch up in the garden, it may take a while to play catch up on your blogs but I will!

See you later!

Family Visit!

My sister came to visit today! Yee Ha!!! Haven't seen her since before Christmas.



We have had a lovely time, my middle neice and her boyfriend came too, his name is Mark.....



and here is my smallest neice Emily on the Playstation with Tori...



we had lots of fun and lots of food, my sister bought cakes, heres hubby with a fruit cake he and Jay (Caro's hubby) cut in half and shared between them!!!



Now is this an undiscovered species of bee? we took pics of it today down the garden and I have never seen one before, It has a long proboscis (sp) and hovers

Lucky Me!!!

I recieved some fabulous pressies today, take a look



Ever since I knitted the bracelet for Kathryn I have been fascinated by this. I think the girls are rather keen that I continue!!



Lots of National Garden Vouchers! Which I am planning to use to buy these



BUT! When I get there I may very well change my mind!!!!!

My sister knowing me so well included in her parcel these seeds.......



she knows I like to try something a little bit different!!! So I will keep a diary of a Loofah Plant, when I get going!!!

But the bestest, bestest present of all was



I wore this necklace on my wedding day! But sadly the neurotic dog we used to have broke it along with 2 others about 6+ years ago! Kathryn said I had them out a while back (she has the memory of an elephant)anyway she pinched it when I was in hospital and she and Mark got it repaired!!!! It is a great favourite of mine and I am thrilled to bits to be wearing it again!!!!

I have had a most wonderful day, with my family. I have recieved some lovely cards, infact I have had more cards this year than I have had for a long time, thank you everyone.

I'm sorry Kathryn, for putting the pic of you and Lee on the blog, but you know what Aunty Cal is like!!!!! He seems very nice, although how you two will ever make a decision I will never know!!!!!

Birthday Meal Pics!

Today is the day when I get another year older!!! But as I am only 26, and have been 26, since I was 26, it doesn't really count!!! Anyway Kathryn and Lee travelled down from Worcester by train yesterday, bearing in mind they had only had 3 hours sleep as they had been out celebrating Lee's birthday on Friday night. I think they were suffering a little bit!
We had a lovely afternoon catching up and chatting then we went out for a lovely chinese meal at a favourite restaurant of ours in Swindon. Here are a couple of pics!

My daft but wonderful husband!!




Kathryn and Lee.



Me and Tori!



See you all later!!!

Really, really tired today!!

May not post again today sorry. We had a rather traumatic day yesterday with Tori!! Which is now all sorted (I hope!) Then I woke about 03.30 and hubby was snoring his head off and I just haven't been back to sleep since!! So will see hubby off to work, take Tori to school then come home and go back to bed!!!! I have a meeting with the school at 15.00 so have to be up to speed by then!!!

My Great Niece!

Not much happening today! Hubby & Tori are having a Lord of the Rings festival, watching them all back to back!!!!

But thought you might like to see a photo of my Great Niece born the 1st December 2006.

Visiting!

I have been out blog hopping today, and have found some of the most amazing blogs, crafty blogs, gardening blogs, wordy blogs. It has been quite an experience, I will be visiting some again and looking for some new ones too!and eventually if the other bloggers agree attaching a link!!

We as a family have also been out, I went to Waterstones to exchange a book I had been given for Christmas which I already had, I tried to find a craft book that would inspire me to try new projects! But unfortunately I could find none! If anyone has any suggestions I am looking for inspiration!!
So after a battle they agreed to give me vouchers until I could find something I liked!
We then went to the cinema to see the new James Bond film!! Entertaining!!

Boxing Day!!

Well thats Christmas over for another year! All that preperation and its over in 24 hours!!!
We had a lovely time with just the four of us, very relaxed, lovely presents, plenty to eat and drink. We bought a new game 'Articulate' it is brilliant and I recommend it to everyone.
Not sure what we have planned for today. Take it as it comes I think!

I managed to finish these for Kathryn, just!!


I got this book which has lots of different crafts in. I'm looking forward to having a go at ....


these beautiful crocus bulbs which are sat on purple crystals, they are currently in a dark place!!!



I have made some changes to my blog in colours and fonts, please let me know if you have any problems reading or whatever!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my new and old blogger friends!

We had a great meal last night with our friends from up the road joining us. We nelieve my Mum and her partner Bruce arrived safely in Guernsey!! My sister got back to her home ok and I believe is having a 'chill out' Christmas this year!
Kathryn said she would be up early as she was so excited............. I'm still waiting!!!!!
Bit busy at the mo! But will be back to updating my blog etc, in the not to distant future.

All the best, be thinking of you at mid-day

Love
Libby xxxx

Travelling Friday and Saturday!!!!!

Such alot has happened since my last post!!!
On Friday Kathryn phoned and said 'I want to come visiting too, can you come and get me please?' I laughed and laughed, this is sooooooooo Kathryn. We where due to go and get her next Tuesday or Wednesday!!! So off Mark went, he left about 2pm-ish and it took longer than usual but it helps when Kathryn does the driving on the way back!!
I collected Tori from school and she asked where the other car was when we got back, I said that 'Mark had gone Christmas shopping and I left the space by the cottage for him as I was hoping for a large present!!!' (I should be struck down by lightning!!)
Kathryn and Mark got back at about 6pm -ish! Kathryn crept up the stairs knocked on Tori's door and marched in.............. Tori's face was a picture!! She exclaimed 'why am I always the last to know?' Well sweetheart you wouldn't get such a surprise if you did know!!!!!!!

Up at 6am Saturday morning, left at 7am off for the grand tour! My sister and family in Eridge, East Sussex, Marks good friends and Kathryns Godparents, Phil & Anne in Addlestone, Surrey then on to my friends and Toris Godparents in Sutton, Surrey!

Now my sister can pick a Christmas Tree, every year she does it, they are always perfect, I don't know how she does it, because I can never find that beautiful pyramid shape that she gets, so i haven't told her but I took a picture just to show the world!!



Now her daughter did say that this year they found it in the first place they went too! Apparently they have been known to visit '8' yes 'EIGHT' garden centres!!! I think that explains why mine are always a bit odd in shape!!!!!!!

Now here are the girls


Danielle on the left, my sisters youngest daughter, she is just 3 weeks older than Kathryn and they are the best of friends! They didn't really have any chance not to be, because Cal and I used to buy 2 of everything and dress them identically!!! In those days we spent alot of time together!! Tori in the middle and Kathryn on the right. Lieing across them is Jays daughter Emily a right tinker!!!!

Meet her cats.......
this is Garfield



and yes he does live up to his name! He is a big cat and eats anything, but is soooo laid back, such a character!

His sister Roxy a real live wire


and Fliss


Cal was saying that you often find Fliss and Garfield kissing, but should anyone walk in Fliss gives Garfield a cuff round the head, and poor old Garfield has no idea waht he's done wrong and sits there looking extremely puzzled!!!!!

Anyway after an extremely enjoyable day with them all, we left to visit everyone else! It was great, a thoroughly enjoyable and extremely tiring day, but so nice to catch up with everyone.

We got home about 20mins past midnight! So I expect it will be a very lazy day today!!

Annivesary!!

http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ -

21 years ago today Mark and I met!!!! This is a picture taken for our engagement, 8 months later!! How young we look!!! No grey hairs!!



We where just saying how quickly 21 yrs has passed!!! Just not anytime really!!!

Sunny Saturday!!

Say hello to Madison. I'm sorry the picture isn't great, it was taken on a camera phone and after a lot of fiffing and faffing I managed to get it on here!!!!


Poor Zoe had a trip down to theatre today, she had a serious bleed and they think they didn't get all the placenta. But she is fine and the baby is doing well!

We decided as today was going to be a dry day it would be the ideal opportunity to completely clear out the chicken run, so took the eglu to pieces and emptyed the old aubiose out! Four barrow loads!! Which was spread on the flower beds this time!! This is Mark raking it all out!



Then put the new aubiose in and put it all back together again!!



Tango was sussing out the chickens whilst we where working!



Then I did my favourite job, putting up the outdoor Christmas lights! This is a job I usually do with Kathryn, so this year I did it all alone!!!! I borrowed an outdoor Christmas Tree from a friend 2 years ago, although it was lovely I wanted something a bit more 'tasteful' and I think I found it!

Its a Girl!!!!!!!!!

Its a girl. All those who chose the 1st December where right (me!!)
Zoe's waters broke at 11.00pm last night, my sister left from East Sussex for the Wirral straight away and arrived at the hospital at 3.00am and she was born at 5.34 this morning, weighing................................. 9lbs 11 1/2ozs ooooooooo! they have called her Madison Louise.
I'm a Great Aunty! I'm a Great Aunty! I'm a Great Aunty!

It will be a little while till we have photos, even though my sister has a digital camera, she hasn't got access to a computer at the moment!!!

I will be a Great Aunty soon!!!! Maybe I might change that and be a 'Grand' Aunty!!!!

By the way I had better mention Zoe's baby was due Wednesday 22nd November!

A Very Pregnant Zoe!!!!!!

Not long back, but I wanted to post these on here for my sister! Basically we only had one whole day with my family, so spent the morning with mum, then the afternoon with Zoe. Came back to Mums to cook a meal for everyone that evening.

Meet Zoe, my eldest niece

having laid her on her back, put her legs in the air and shouted to the baby to 'follow the light' with no reaction we then fed her curry!!!

with my Mum.....

Kathryn spent alot of time talking the baby out... to no avail!!!!!!!!!

yesterday apparently the baby was very quiet. Always a good sign. But still we wait!!!!!!!

One Month & One Day to Christmas Eve!!!!!!

Busy getting organised for my trip to the Wirral via Worcester to visit Mum! I have to pack all this

into our Peugout 306 + a bag of clothes for Tori and I, coats and shoes plus anything else I forgot!! Then off load 2 bags at Worcester and collect Kathryn. She told me this morning she has no clothes to wear as they all need washing!!!!!!! So we asked mum if she could bring some washing with her!!! Going to be a long day, I was up at 5.45am.

We have planned a family meal for Saturday night, so there will be Me, Tori, Mum, Bruce, Zoe, Andy, Amy and Mark. Now if that doesn't start Zoe into labour I don't know what will!!! So Cal! be ready!!!!!

I am rather pleased because I managed to finish these for Zoe's baby last night!

Just have to hope she has the baby girl, the scan told her she was having!

Righty Ho folks thats about it for now, I should to be blogging again on Monday with hopefully lots of pictures amd maybe even one of a baby!!!!!!!!!!!

The plan for next week is more soap, start new secret project, lots more knitting and also some cross stitch!!! Take care XXXXXX

Lots of things!

Well what have I been up to recently.......................................................

Monday I blitzed the house and even managed to find the floor of my bedroom!!!!! Our room is in the huge attic, on the 2nd floor, so no one, apart from us goes up there, which is why it is often left and left and left!!! We had a bit of a night with Tori as she had a Maths exam on Tuesday and she gave Mark and I terrible grief during the evening, unbelieveable!

Tuesday was one of those days when I had lots of little things that needed doing, so charged round like a 'whurlitzer'. By the end of the day when I looked back to see what had been achieved it looked like nothing, as they where all little insignificant bits! Mind you I did get my hair cut! The other big surprise was my young friend Tori, I think she realised how awful she had been the day before and decided to pay us back. Mark and I where having stirfry, not one of Tori's favourites, so she cooked herself Macaroni Cheese, not the most challenging recipe but for her it is one BIG achievement. She also cleared all the plates away without even being asked too!! I had to sit down for the rest of the night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I now have all the ingredients for my soapmaking challenge, both Lottie (Allotment Lady, blog on the left) and I are going to make on the same day, I'm actually quite excited about it and am not sure if I can hold of till next week when we both have a free day!!!!!!!!

So to keep me occupied I thought I would make CHRISTMAS CAKES and MINCEMEAT. I have to make 3, well actually it maybe 4 this year! One for us, one for Marks birthday in January, one as a present for Christmas and then I remembered that my sister and I where doing a hamper for Mum and Bruce for Christmas, I thought they might enjoy a small one, so thats the four! So wrote my shopping list, took Tori to school and then was going to go on and do the shopping, except getting into Chippenham at the moment is a nightmare, they have dug up the highstreet so I thought never mind I'll go to Devizes for a change.......................... ended up at Morrisons and guess what ........................................................................ NO dried fruit. Yep! NO DRIED FRUIT, I got everything else but not one currant, raisin or sultana, as a certain person says 'I dooo not believe it'!

So when I pick Tori up at 15.00 I will wend my way into Chippenham and try there... should have gone ther in the first place!!!!!!!!!!

I don't really need to go outside to get fresh air, because I have all the doors and windows wide open, its still sooooooo mild. Anyway deciding I needed the excercise I went down the garden to clean out the chickens, on the way down I nearly killed myself by slipping on the path where the chickens have been so out came the watering can and stiff broom for the path and the rake for the beds and grass, so the path amd the flowerbed went from this......

to this................

thats better now for the eglu..... the chickens are very good about bedtime and round about 17.00 hrs take themselves off to bed, I usually go and close up the Eglu about 18.00hrs. then open it in the morning between 07.00 and 07.30. So they spend a long time in the coop compared to the summer. This is what it looks like today bearing in mind it was cleaned out on Saturday

As you can see they have a favourite corner, it was funny to watch them take themselves to bed in the summer, Big Bird always goes in about 30 mins before everyone else, I think its so she can bags the best spot. Then later everyone else piles in, but they all stand on top of one another especially during the dark nights which is funny to see when you look in the egg hatch you can see abit of one, a tail of another, a head of another etc. Then when I close the door, you hear all this shuffling and clucks and oofs and gerroff and when you next open the egg hatch there in a nice neat line! Cracks me up!!!

Here it is all nice and clean takes less than 10 mins and all the poos go straight on my empty veg patch......

I'm glad I forgot to mow the lawn, I think if it was short it would look alot worse than this!!

I was just finishing this off and went to check the Rayburn, its gone out again!!!!!!!! Thats twice in 2 days. I must admit this coal is not burning as well as last years, we seem to be going through one heck of alot. Last year was quite hard coal and took a long time to burn through, this year its wooosh and then its gone. When we ordered, the coal merchant we used gets 'Welsh' coal not like the other local merchants who use 'Polish' imported coal. At least ours has less miles to travel!!! Only wish it would last longer!!!!!!!

Sassy has a new friend!

Sassy has found Tori, I was really worrying about her, she had hardly moved from K's room so I blitzed it, clean sheets, tidyed, washed windows, hoovered and nearly blocked it up, dusted etc I found 10 teaspoons, 3 of them in an old chocolate mousse pot, 1 in a Muller rice pot and the others looked like they had been in yoghurt!!! I wondered why I had been so short, altho Kathryn had brought down most of the mugs I did find a plastic cup with something growing in it???! But look I found the floor!!! and I know how long it will stay tidy for tee hee!!

After all this activity Sassy moved over to Tori's room, which I am very pleased about!

Currently one very contented cat, I hope it lasts! Doesn't Tori look cute with plaits!