Another Day in The Garden.

I know I have been abit down, I think its becuase I miss my hubby. He hasn't gone or anything he is just working exceptionally long hours. Anyway we chat, even after 23 years together we still chat and there has been very little of that going on recently.

Anyway he managed to get home a little bit earlier last night about 9pm (thats from 7am in the morning) and he had a lovely surprise for me




aren't they the most beautiful colours? Bless him. love him to pieces!

Anyway as it was due to be a dry day yesterday, and it had been dry for the few days before I decided after hanging out the washing I needed to mow the lawn, one last time. So here is before



and this is after!



There is a difference honest!!!

Having decided that the end of the world was nigh, with reference to gardening. I gave myself a good talking too. I have coped and live with M.E. I'm sure I can cope and live with a bad back! I just have to manage my time better so I don't overdo it. So with this in mind I decided to do a little bit!
The other day I showed you behind the green house, do you remember





it was in a bit of state.

Well I decided to have a go and tidy just this small area up. So all the plant pots got put into here



I shall wash them in the spring, all the rubbish got bagged up, all broken plastic pots etc also got bagged up as they can now go to the tip for recycling.

I brush tidied and moved stuff around





It was only an hours work and to be honest, not a good height for my back! I probably did too much but at least I stopped at an hour and that one area is now alot tidier than before! I am relatively happy, but you know me. Taking little steps is very hard!

Groan, Moan! Chuckle!

I went to the garage with the car as we had a tyre problem and ended up buying two new tyres!
We (K & I) then went for my accupuncture appointment in Swindon, parked the car in the hospital carpark and realised we where losing diesel, lots!!! Went in had appointment, came out phoned the breakdown, went and saw the Caretaker guy and explained about the diesel spill which he said he would sort!
Got picked up by the breakdown guy, after an hours wait, who said, as soon as the car was on the back of the lorry, that he had to take a 1/2 hour break as he was on Tachygraph. So he went off to find a cafe and we sat out in the cold!!!!!
Eventually got back to the garage, who fixed the problem and we got home.
By now my hands are in agony, the accupuncturist, stuck needles in my feet, stomach and hands. My hands are by far the most sensitive and I could hardly grip anything, I could not have opened a jar! I was totally and utterley exhausted!
This morning after a goodnights sleep, my thumb joints are still quite stiff! I have loads to do, T has gone to college, Hubby to work to earn the 'crusty bread' and K is off to Worcester to do some filming. They will all be back tonight!!!

Fortunately I finished the bag I had been knitting the idea I got from Rooks Nest

I had fun knitting it, as you know I am a recent returner to knitting and was gaily knitting away following the pattern when it said 'ssk, yo' so taking it as it said I slipped 2 stitches, knitted the next and put the yarn over the needle and then carried on!! This bag seemed to be getting bigger and bigger and I couldn't understand why, I knew something was wrong but what??? So I re-read the pattern, got out my trusty new to me 'Knitters Bible' ah ha! So that was where I was going wrong! What ssk,yo roughly means is, slip two stitches onto one needle knit them together and then put yarn over!!!! Why the heck didn't they say that in the first place. So I had to undo the whole bag and start again! But I think you will agree not bad for the cost of some nice cotton yarn! Fun to do to!



These are on Ebay, you heard it first here on my way to Brugmansia domination of the world I am selling some cuttings, well one actually! You have to start somewhere!

My chickens


not that one!

Have laid all these in just 3 days


which is a relief as we thought they may have been for the chop this year!!!

Hrmph!

Having been so positive about my last op,my positive vibes are rapidly running out! I sadly have still got the lower abdominal pain which at times can be unbearable, then bearable, due to the policy that runs at my GP surgery it is nigh on impossible to see the same GP each time I go, so we are having 'communication' and 'understanding' problems anyway I have at long last managed to get an appointment for next Monday with 'MY' GP! It will be interesting to see what he says!!!

Anyway on a positive note of other things going on around my house..... I have been spending money! Well what better way to perk you up!


This book cost me 1p plus postage from Amazon Marketplace. I bought it specifically for one item that I saw inside it, but, when I had a good look through I found quite a few other things I liked, especially one in particular which I have to keep secret!

Then yesterday I recieved another parcel in the post full of



Red Banana's!
As my greenhouse had been hit so badly by the cold especially as the heaters had decided not to work! I treated myself to some new plants, but of course they have been in the post during this very cold spell. Although they looked good and healthy and had a good root ball, I was a bit concerned, but I warmed up the soil watered with warm water and kept them in the house and this morning they look alot better

They shall be staying inside with me!
The greenhouse heaters, are, after much monitering doing the job I bought them for. The frost stat setting was a load of rubbish, for 2 very cold nights starting at 6pm I went down and adjusted the setting to get the temp in the greenhouse I required. I went down again at 7pm, then 8pm and finally 9pm each night re-adjusting as necessary. I think we have cracked it as so far the temps are holding at about 5C.

Home Again!

My op last Thursday was a success, rather painful afterwards but the surgeon believes that one of my ovaries had been twisting, which would have been causing the pain!
Everyone says I look really well, far better than I have after all my previous ops. I must admit I am very positive that this is it! No more ops! Although still, slightly uncomfortable.
What I have to be careful about is not over doing it! I should be laid back like Tango


Before I went into hospital I was involved in a swop. A dishcloth swop, simple and inexpensive. I recieved a lovely one

isn't it lovely! I can't find the pic of the one I made?

Back again soon!

I'm All Alone!

I have a day to myself, everyone is out! Its the first time on my own since well before Christmas. I thought I would be lost but to be honest its been quite nice. I did a ton of housework, now don't fall over in shock, I know 'housework' and 'me' are two words that don't go together. But it was nice to clear, dust, hoover, wipe, bleach and generally find the floor, without it being covered again 10 mins later.
I have stopped now, well can't spoil to much of a good thing!!!!!
I intend to catch up with everyone here, then craft, or buy seeds or veg and watch a movie or whatever.
But first, I shall decorate the blog!
Oh by the way I still have the Red car as the garage haven't been able to get a door yet and will let us know as soon as they have one.

Know Me Inside and Out!

I saw both specialists last week, one for my rear end which sadly after all the ops is still itchy!! She is a dermatologist and I now have pills and creams and washing stuff to using for 28 days, to see if we can break the cycle!! Hhmmm! not sure!

Then I saw the gynacologist, if you recall the 'bum' man said after all his poking prodding and varying ops, that the pain I was getting was nothing to do with the bowel! After the laparoscopy he believed it was my ovaries, now if your squeamish I suggest you go no further as I am going to post the pics that they took whilst inside my body!!! I find them quite fascinating and you can truely answer that you know me inside and out!!!!!!!!!!



It is has four seperate pics but they are all on one photo. Maybe you can see why the bum man thought the ovaries ought to go. They are the white lumpy looking things!
Anyway the gyni-bloke said he would not necessarily rush in and operate and that he may give me an injection that killed the ovaries for 3 months and see if the pain went, if it does he would then take them out! He then did what all us ladies dread and asked me to assume 'the' position and proceeded to squeeze and squash (well thats what it felt like)my ovaries especially the right one which was exceptionally painful and since then I have been in agony!
So back into hospital on Friday with full bladder for another scan followed by an appointment with him after to find out what is to be done!!!

Some assemblance of order shall return to our household next week as hubby returns to work after his hol, its gone fast hasn't it! I gave up trying to do housework with everyone around, so I shall get back ontop of it tomorrow when K and Hubby drive to Worcester so she can hand in some assignments, drop off library books and pick up some more.
The red car goes in for repairs tomorrow so we will be a one car family for about 4 days!

Well must dash, things to do, I will try and get round your blogs this week.

Sunday 9th Day

I feel I have been really neglectful (is that a word) of this blog. In some ways I treat it as a diary something to look back on. As well as sharing with you what ever it is I have been doing.
After my last op, I have as you know been pretty unwell. My energy levels out of 10 are currently about 1 or 2 max. I am just about keeping the troops fed, but much more than that has not been occurring. I don't know if I have told you that many years ago I was an M.E sufferer, I have found over those years, that if I get really ill, it will be a long slow haul back up. Hence lack of blogging, as not alot going on here.
Recently the original problem that I had the first op for, is back with avengence and I have now been referred to a dermatologist. This has not helped my frame of mind, as you know I am prone to the dreaded 'black dog'! I have had enough and have made myself an appointment with my GP!

In the meantime, you know how unsuccessful we are with cars! Well the red one has been involved in an accident!! Not our fault I hasten to add. We, Me, Hubby and Tori where all in it, no one was hurt and to be honest if you looked at the car from 10ft away, you would'nt believe me, as nothing looks amiss. But the insurance accesser says its a 'write off'!!!!!!!!Costs between £1600 and £2000 to repair. Cue the man up the road, who repaired the dent last month, he is a Body Shop not a dodgy dealer and his quote £450 - £500 big difference huh! The car has an appointment with the insurance engineer on Monday!
We only got this car September 2006, 15 months ago, as its a diesel we use this for all our long journeys, which are many, if they do write it off and we can't buy it back that will be £2500 down the drain as we certainly won't get anything like that back. I'm not sure what we will do. I will keep you posted.

Rain Stopped Play!!!

Well we had made a decision about what to do, and whixch way the greenhouse should face..............

The major disadvantage to both ways is the amount of space it takes up. But if you get a big greenhouse as reasonably as we did, then you don't look a gift horse in the mouth!!!

So its deciding which is the lesser of two evils!!!

This way.... it comes further up the garden, plus I will have to allow for access through the doors which will take more room. Add a new path and the doors will be facing north! Plus we will have to redo the ground work!


This way, you seem to see more of it, the path is already there and the doors will not need any more space for access, plus the ground work is done!!



So yes you've guessed it we stuck with the original plan (2nd pic), but sadly rain stopped play, so it remains unfinished. Next weekend the rugby is on so I doubt much will be done then either!!!!

So what did the specialist say? Well I am going in for a Laparoscopy click to find out more! He has had a look up, now he will have a look around inside to see if he can see anything that is causing the pain!! So that is another general anisthetic, so more brain cells lost!!!! I did ask if he could do a 'nip & tuck' as well as I was being so kind in allowing him to do all this to me, the least he could do was do this for me. I think thats fair don't you??
Sadly he said no!!!!

Pegged out on the Sofa!!!!!

Remember these



well they have arrived at there destination so I can now show you what I did....



all those beads where hand sewn as I had millions of them thanks to a parcel from Mrs Nesbit a while back!

Sew! I thought I would make another little lady and send it too the person closest to 9000 who comments in the chat box on the side, further down the page. So keep an eye on what number you are then tell me in the chat box, please!

The specialist has now put me on the largest dose of antibiotics I have ever been on in my life!!! I have to take 2 horse pills, 3 times a day for 2 weeks plus anti-inflammatory tablets !!!!!!!!! He believes I have an infection of Diverticulitis I have taken one full day and feel awful, so maybe good verses evil inside my body is beginning, I know one thing I will have no stomach or bowel lining left at the end of it. Anyway if the pain doesn't go, then I have to see him before my due October appointment, probably in 2 weeks time at the end of my course of tablets unless the pain gets worse.

The weather has been lovely and I have wandered down the garden a couple of times but find it too, uncomfortable to stand for too long, I even don't feel up to 'doing' anything outside which is probably just as well so I am working my way through our DVD collection, I think I have watched all the period dramas I own, and all the 'Catherine Cookson' DVD's I have which is 6, I shall have to work through all the rest now. I am knitting and will show you what in a short while! Off to curl up on the sofa again!

Quiet at the Mo!

I'm a little quite at the mo, due to 'pain' in my abdomen. Nothing to do with my op! I spoke to the specialist on Tuesday, who said I had to phone him again today if I was still in pain. I had a scan on Monday which involved an 'internal scan!!!!!!!!! They are checking out my ovaries! Which do have cysts on but nothing to worry about! Phew! Anyway this was a none invasive, none painful scan but for me it was very uncomfortable, by the end of the internal I was in agony, so something is not right!

I have been, as I said before all snuggled up in front of the fire, knitting another 'hug'.



These are so simple to do cast on about 56 stitches, on 5mm needles and then just knit until you have the required length, from wrist to wrist with arms outstretched. Then sew up from the wrist to the under arm part on both sides, then hey presto a 'hug'! We got the name from that soup advert!!!!

I need to find a wool winder, I have skeins of wool which need to be wound into balls, something that is very difficult to do on your own, so if anyone can recommend anything to me I would be grateful! My family just disappear when I get a skein out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its getting to chutney making time but sadly this year I have very little produce or inclination, to make into chutney!! For all the work involved I am beginning to wonder if my 'veg patch' is worth it? I think I will give it one more year to see. The idea of going up did work and the victorian peas and climbing french beans would, I think, have been alot better, if the weather had been better too. Lettuce was OK, beetroots none existent, potatoes and tomatoes hit by blight. I have 3 tom plants left in the greenhouse and they are so leggy its unbelieveable, I have had about 10 tomatoes so far. Butternut squash, I don't think will be big enough. The sweetcorn is small, and I have only a couple of squash. K dug up the onions the other day, and considering I lasted the whole of the last winter, through to about April/May on last years harvest, plus I gave some away, I think I will be very lucky to make it to Christmas.


Coming up to my 1st Blog Anniversary very soon, will I hit the illusive 9000!!!!!

Me!

So here we are last day of the week! Not really alot gone on here apart from all the cutting and snipping at the hospital earlier.
Oh yes, I've lost my glasses! and before you ask they are not on my head!!!!!!! I was doing a little crafting yesterday and I think I may have packed them away in one of the boxes!!!! The only problem being I don't know which one!!!!
My memory is getting worse by the minute, this is not senior moments, this is serious forgetfull moments, I am actually quite worried! So if I don't blog reguarly please forgive me I probably forgot how too!! No seriously, if I go missing my daughter knows my passwords for the blog and she will tell you if I get lost, don't forget to look for me, I look like this



no thats not right, theres not many of these around, lets try again



thats better 'big and blousy'!!!!!!!

Another Day in the Life of me and my Bum!!!!!!!

Like Ruth my Red Caster oil plant has decided to flower!



Been off to the specialist today and I now have to have a full body CT Scan on friday, I don't think he's worried I just think he's trying to get to the bottom (No pun intended!)of the problem!

Now this is no jungle plant even though its planted in the jungle, its a Jersey Walking stick



I then have to go in for another small op, on Monday 13th!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember what happened to me when they operated on me on Friday 13th!!! Should I be worried?????

This is a Echium Pininana Plant (top picture)aka Tower of Jewels and can get to 15ft



This is a Paulownia Tomentosa (foxglove tree) which will hoepfully look like this one day



then once that has healed he wants to take another look with another camera!!!!!!

I think I have had more photos of my bowel this year than I have had of me!!!!!!!!

May & April Swap!

There was a time when April was known for its showers! May was also a good time to have an early holiday! K's birthday is at the end of May and her cousin D is at the beginning! We have celebrated both of the girls birthdays with bouncy castles, parties in the garden etc etc. Last year they where both 18! So preperations went ahead, both had decided to have an adult bouncy castle at seperate locatons one at the beginning of May and the other at the end!!!
We went to D's party and it was freezing, she had a bouncy castle and bar-b-que but boy was it a miserable day weather wise!
K had opted for quite a big celebration, with a huge bouncy castle, bar-b-que etc, etc. We had arranged with the farmer to use the field at the back of the house. Watching the weather closely we realised it was going to be quite cool, so purchased fire pits, a huge marquee type tent, but the weather deteriorated so badly that nothing would have remained erected!! So the party was scaled down somewhat, the firepits and marquee where returned unused to the shops for a refund and as we had so little time to rearrange a smaller party was held at home!
I went and purchased a chocolate fountain, warned all the neighbours and it turned out to be a raving success! Especially the chocolate fountain!

We have had some fantastic holidays in May, especially when the girls where young! As I said some fantastic birthday parties too! So what on earth has happened to the weather?? We went and bought another water butt yesterday 210litre, from Wilkinsons (my favourite shop) £19.99, and set it up on the left side of the greenhouse! We now have 7 butts rigged up round the shed and greenhouse all apart from the new one are full!!!! We still need to find a really big one which doesn't require digging the patio up to fit it in,to set up next to the house!

Now the grass in our garden has reduced so much, are mower which never fails to start but has rusted so badly that I believe it is actually quite dangerous to use, we have been on the look out for another mower! Because our carbon footprint is so massive (solid fuel rayburn)we had been looking at getting a push mower. Whilst at B & Q yesterday getting bark chippings, we walked past a push mower that had been reduced from £29.99 to...............£15!!!! We bought it!Got to be good for the waistline!

I have sooooooo much to do in the garden and it is now just too wet to get out there! The new chicken run we where so pleased with, was a mud bath! Hubby and I spent yesterday afternoon sorting that out and bought some bark chippings to put down. We are going to have to rig some sort of roof, as they currently no longer have a dust bath! I have an idea on how to do one just not sure hubby will agree!!! We might have to wait until my sister and her hubby visit to give us a hand!!!

So what do you do with yourself when its wet outside???? Apart from housework and ironing? Yarnyard has had some beautiful yarn up for sale so I had a bit of a spending spree!!! With Christmas in mind of course! So I think I may get on with some knitting, try and get ahead of the game, so to speak! The only problem I have is if I sit for to long my back plays up! But... the damp weather has brought up a new problem, my poor old knees!! I was in so much pain yesterday, I actually had to take pain killers (unusual for me!) Well I can't really blame them, they have had to lug a very over weight woman around for well over 10 years, so it must have taken its toll somewhere!! Another incentive to lose more weight!

The Hat!!

Well here its is!



Just to prove I did buy one!! We had lots of trouble finding one as not many shops 'do' hats!! I'm not putting it on until the day and to be honest the pic doesn't do it justice. I could have done with a bigger brim, I'm lucky I can wear big hats!! but beggars can't be choosers!!!

Just a quicky today lots to do, people to return to Uni etc, etc. Catch up more tomorrow............. hopefully!!!!!

Yuk!

Sorry for the lack of blogging, I appear to be the only one in the family to get a nasty stomach upset!!

Happy Mothers Day!

I have been thoroughly spoilt today by my lovely daughters, I got a number of presents........... 2 plants (of course) 1 is a Bird of Paradise (tropical) and 1 a Spirea, both are now in pots and of course I forgot to take pics.

But I also got




The BBC'c period drama North & South starring Richard Armitage, he is such a dish! He was the bloke who Geraldine married in the 'Vicar of Dibley' and was also 'Guy of Gisborn' in the BBC 'Robin Hood'. Plus a 'Best of 10cc' CD! Who remembers them??? I have been playing it over and over!!
I also have a new visitor to my garden



She is so cute and I think replaces the one whose wings broke, who went away and has not been seen since?

I thought you might appreciate my youngests card as well






MMmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whilst outside my lovely hubby managed to get the big tree stump out for me, and Tori and I put up the trellis



I think you get the idea of what I'm doing now! If we don't have snow I can get on with the rest of the plan, I don't mind working in the cold as long as its not wet!!

Sadly lacking!

I am sorry that posts have been sadly lacking this week, and will probably continue until the weekend! I haven't had a moment to myself!!!

Yesterday I took my friend with MS out and I said I would take her anywhere she wanted! So she chose a garden centre!! Kathryn was with me and after touring round we sat and had a coffee, when she said ' I'm depressed now (looking at me) and its all your fault for bringing me here'!!!!!!!!!!! You can't win can you!! I must admit she used to be an avid gardener!!! and it must be hard but really!

Today I am taking Kathryn back to Uni! Tomorrow another trip to the hospital with Tori to have her eyes checked! Friday I think is free, oh! no I have a hair appointment, so it is partly free! Then I can play in the garden!! Provided it doesn't rain of course!

I will play catch up with all of you, until then {{hugs}} to you all!