The best photograph

My embroidery is growing very quickly you can see the Geisha's face and her kimono is looking elegant. Set my self the task of finishing the background at the bottom right of the Geisha and starting the botton right pattern piece by next weekend, will be starting it tomorrow.

One of the the little Orchid is now in flower took my best ever photograph of it this morning

Been down the village

On Monday went to Burnley Hospital and had steroid injections in my big toes and nearly ran afterwards! The letter I got afterwards said I have osteoarthritis which makes me feel better at least it is not bunnion.
On Wednesday I walked as far as the hairdressers. I managed until I got back to Arabesque but managed it and felt I had made a big step forward. Still taking a few painkillers but am walking without a limp

The sewing is looking good as well

Parasole is finished

Got lots of sewing finished the parasol today and started the geisha, not that you could tell as there is only a few stitches of hair and a bit of hair ornament.

accidentally managed to wear two necklaces put on the tiger eye one without taking the oval pearl on off, no one noticed.

Mum managed a walk round Silsden her first, which is a step forward.

Came in to start a scrapbook page a few minutes before the Hairy Bikers were on that was so good and they are on tomorrow.

Yesterday was a good day

Yesterday, whilst doing the weekly shopping at Morrisons I got the telephone call I have been waiting for get the cortisone injections on Monday at noon. Am so excited hope that it works as well as I want it too. The Hairy Bikers were on The one show last night so it was a good day

Today got the letter confirming it, I have to go to the day ward at Burnley and could be there for 6 hours.

We went to the Dog and Gun and as we were finishing a loud couple came in saying they had come from Lincolnshire or Brigg to be precise which was a laugh.

Done quite a bit of sewing this afternoon and have got down nearly to the post, it is looking very good. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Want to to a digital scrapbook page now on Bonnies barking

sewing

I managed to get some sewing done and think it is now right so hopefully the rest of the picture will be right. Think it is looking elegant. Will look and see how much maps cost as I want to send one to Bev for her birthday.

Thinking about each other

I managed to do a few stitches yesterday, it is so hard to stitch when you are feeling sick.

Bev and I tried Skype yesterday, and we chatted for free for an hour it was brilliant had she was online again this morning be we typed message as I did not want to disturb Mum and Dad.

Went to Boundary Mills yesterday, on the way in I wondered how Hisako is after shopping checked my e-mails she sent me on 45 min earlier, were we thinking of each other at the same time?

I got a pair of brown trousers in M&S reduced to £9.90 and an Eastex red skirt reduced from £79.99 to under £23.00 it looks so nice and fits very well.

Want to dust this morning but am feeling very sick again and need to sort out my wardrobe going to put everything I hardly wear in the shed and try and keep a capsule wardrobe.

Different days

Yesterday was an awful day, was sick and kept feeling sick. Did not know what to do with myself. Think I managed to do a few stitches in my picture but everytime I moved I felt sick. That evening spoke to Cristina in Norway and Arlene in America. At one point I felt so bad I went to get some ordinary brandy. We did not have any but even though I said I wanted a sip of whisky got what seemed like half a glass. Also joined a monthly club that you pay for with scrapgirls and bought a kit.

Today have felt much better but still not done any sewing, was going to get it out, only Aunty Susan came up which was a wonderful surprise and worth not sewing. Did manage to finish a scrapbook page. Also started another one with a photograph of Katsuko, took the photograph I took of her at Holy Family School and took a photograph of that, then have started to us my fan embroidery as part of the pattern it needs some more work on.

better than I thought

On Saturday we went to Watershed Mill at Settle for once when I had money there was lots of thing to buy. Did limit myself to a turquoise tee shirt. More importantly there were lots of decorative bowls and Mum has agreed that I can buy her one for Christmas - wow that was so easy, it was worth going for that.

On the way out saw this bird and was surprised how good a picture I got.

Sunday did a little sewing but it was difficult because I kept feeling sick. Have been worried about the amount of weight I was putting on but realised it is because of constipation so not worried any more.

woken up twice

It has been an awful day today, feeling very tired and sick. Mum has seemed much more livelly My eyes do not want to stay open.

Yesterday got a friend request on facebook from a lady from Norway. We were both on at the same time, so I introduced my self, she asked me to send a gift for her zoo and one for her daughter. That evening her daughter Cristina sent me a message to thank me which was very nice of her and we had a lovelly chat.

Fell asleep in the chair in the conservatory twice and twice Bonnie woke me up. She is a pain. They should spend less time cleaning and more time stopping her bark. Took a few photographs in the garden this morning

lemon juice

Woke up feeling much better this morning, did not go shopping with the parents but did get my tripod out to take some photographs of Dad's golf trophy before it goes back next week did not think they looked brilliant. Had trouble downloading them, for some reason could not do it with the cable but they loaded ok with the memory card in the computer and got one that looks good.

Started downloading the freebies from scrapgirls again todays was a page with an orchid design so think it will be used.

Did some stitching but started to feel sick again. Did try to sleep but Bonnie kept barking again!

Met our new neighbour she seems very friendly.

Tried some lemon juice on a baked potato and it was very delicious

getting somewhere

Once again Mum got Dad to drive her down to the doctors for her blood test. May be that is what I should do get people to run round after me.

Did a scrapbook page for candles it was not very good but enjoyed doing it.

We went to Lidle and I was bought two lots of herrings because they did not bring me anything back from Norway. Mum could walk round there a lot faster than I could! Then went onto Burnley Hospital. The doctor thinks it is arthritis and I am going to have cortisone injections. He promised me that I would have it done by the first week in July. You have read it here. After that it is more surgery. I feel as though we are getting somewhere and think there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.

phew

Yesterday in Dad's on going bid to sort the problems out with my laptop Dad deleted everything on the laptop, he managed to back up my photographs only. It was sucessful, we had been looking for a disk that came with it. Dad found one dated August 2008 and was going to distroy it thinking it was from my old computer. This laptop was bought on 13th December 2008! Phew that was lucky. Now my home page is back to yahoo, Adobe photoshop is working so well I want to do some digital scrapbook pages. I forgot which company this blog was with so thought it was the end of it. Yahoo search engine is brilliant.

This morning there was 78 updates loaded without any trouble at all!

My feet have been hurting quite a bit today even though I have taken 4 of the stronger pain killers, hope the doctor can help tomorrow, it is not nice being in pain and feeling sick. Mum's feet are still swollen but she seems more like herself and has taken the kitchen back which is a shame.

Did do some sewing today and am very pleased with the way it is growing

not sewing

Have not done any sewing for a couple of days due to feeling sick and unable to concentrate. Keep telling myself it does not matter and no one is waiting for the finished item.

Got my first birthday present a DVD on Kakadu Park from Bev, it is very interesting but showed lots of film of crocodiles.

This afternoon after putting socks on whilst wearing a skirt I said "Aunty Susan and Uncle Peter can come now I don't care if they see me like this" looked up and Uncle Peter was crossing the road on his bike.

It was wonderful to see him but found it hard to keep my eyes open, he would not mind if I had fallen asleep.

Mum has taken over the kitchen again and for the first time she managed to go shopping with Dad

calling Australia and Yorkshire accent

It has been a strange day, it started early by going into the conservatory to switch on the computer. I was expecting Bev from Australia to text me to say she was online but she came online whilst I was warming my pork pie for breakfast. We used Yahoo to make a call. It was the first time we had had a conversation, I struck by her Australian accent and she said I "sounded like her mother in law" who came from Yorkshire, so I was thrilled to be told for the first time in my life that I have a Yorkshire accent, that started the day brilliantly.

Tried taking a photograph of my embroidery which looked nice on the camera but loaded onto the computer looked to have a blue tint. Then my batteries ran out, it seemed all my batteries were flat. Finally found some that worked and re set my camera and got a good photograph.

We took a 'pack up' and went out for a ride on towards Harrogate it was beautiful but wish I had taken my coat as it was a bit cool. On the way back we called in a farm shop and got some Wilja potato's from the supplier we usually get them from for 50p more but the farm shop had to make a profit and it would have cost us that much in petrol.

Don't know how long it is since I have not done one stitch in a day but will make up for it tomorrow.

My feet have been very very painful today, will have to go back to the doctors am thinking that another operation might be the only answer

tee shirt tucked in

Mum looked better this morning and was driven to the doctors. He said her liver is bad, it could be because of her colitis or the tablets she was taking and if she had not been any better today she would have been in Airedale. Mum has not had a sleep today which is a good sign along with the fact she has been wanting to eat.

Wore a red tee shirt and cardigan with my jeans today, the tee shirt looked better tucked in which makes me feel slimmer so that is another step forward.

After doing some washing and polishing settled down for some serious sewing the picture is growing and am thrilled with it.

Not so thrilled with the result of the general election, how much longer will we have to put up with all the talk of the election, am sick of it.

This is my first blog without one spelling mistake which is brilliant

A better day

Today has been better, Mum has got up and looked a lot better and managed to sit to the table. My feet have been slightly better today as well but they are killing me now.

Not done much sewing but there is plenty of time to finish it.

I know how old I am

Got on okay at hospital, had a blood test, they got it at first attempt. Don't have to go back for another year.

Mum has been very ill today spending the day in bed and not looking at all well. My feet have been bad all day, they were not helped by talking to Aunty Lillian for so long on the phone.

She told me it would have been more convenient if Mum and Dad celebrated their golden wedding anniversary this year rather than next year. At one point she asked me if I was sure I am not going to be 49 next month as I am the same age as Nick. It is her that is that has it wrong not me!

nearly mock goose

Made a mock mock goose today, the two apples we had left from the tree, had gone off, so made a mock goose without the apple and I fried the sausage meat with bacon fat. It was so nice we did not miss the apple at all. Enjoyed it so much that the scales will show how much I enjoyed it in the morning.

Got on well with the embroidery the parasol is coming on nicely. It is fun to do started to look at the Maia sight there are lots more kits that would look nice in the house.

Ordered some more tablets via e-mail which is a brilliant way to do it. Going to the para thyroid clinic in the morning

This is the first post I have done without a spelling mistake!

silence is golden

How can I tell Mum and Dad that for my birthday this year I want them to go away for a few days. Mum is driving me up the wall with talking, I want to sit quietly, it was so nice whilst they were in Norway and not speaking to anyone for days. Am really not bothered about planes in the sky and really don't want to tell her what I am doing every time I move.

Bonnie has been barking all day as well, it is so nice to be in my room with silence.

This is the first embroidery where I have finished a quarter and it looks like a complete picture thought the parasol would not be blue but still it is using other colours.

My feet are very painful I want to cry and chop them off. Do doctors ever cure anyone?

so tired

I did not get to sleep until after 2 am this morning and am so tired. Uncle Peter came up and I found it hard to keep awake, how embarassing.

Got a little sewing done, decided not to do any this evening. The target is to finish the first quarter by next weekend, so it will probably be done on Wednesday. Then will work across the top.

Cooked some new potatoes in the actifry for 25 minutes, took them out to keep warm and cooked chicken thigh quarters in it for 25 minutes adding 4 large garlic cloves for the last 18 minutes. It was very nice but if Dad had had his way, the chicken would have been cooked for longer. I would have prefered them to have been cooked for less. As ever he wants food cooked to cremation and I want mine raw but hot.

Feet have been fine at times and bad at times. Think I have decided to go back to the hospital and see if I can have another operation rather than wait to see if special shoes work because the pain is getting worse. It has been over two years since the first operation and I have had enough of the pain

Not done much

Have not done much of anything today and don't know why.

Dad's golf tolley came, it was funny I was looking out of the window when the delivery man pulled up outside Cobbydale court, the driver saw me and gave me the thumbs up sign before driving off to turn round. I went to open the gate just before Ken opened his gate, so it was good timing.

Checking the Actifry cook book found that you can heat up spring rolls in it, so will be trying that soon

Offered Laura Mason last night via text to make Laura a sampler when she gets married, she did not know what a sampler is so don't know if I will be doing one and when

your my customer

Offered to wait in for Dad's golf trolley to be delivered if he would collect my embroidery. Whilst washing up he rang to say there had been a problem with the mount, would I ring M J Framers. Julie answered the call and said when she saw the picture she knew it belonged to 'her customer' I said I was happy for her to choose and a mount as she has always come up with good suggestions. She did offer that Manny could deliver it for me but I said I would go and collect it. It was due to be ready by 3.30 but got a message before 11am to say it was ready.

The picture is brilliant and they chose a double mount, it is far better than anything I could have chosen and they did not charge extra for the extra mount so think I came off very well. After seeing it I am more excited about finishing the one I am working on.

Mum seemed much better today and my feet have not been as painful as yesterday, thank God.

Dad checked up and his trolly is not due until tomorrow

Took some photographs of flowers in the garden and realised I had been so busy looking at a large tree that I hadn't noticed the small pear tree in the garden was in blossom

Utterly butterless ears

I woke up saying "utterly butterless ears" really don't think I was fancying 'Utterly Butterly' as I don't like any sort of butter but it made me smile.

My feet have been very bad today and have been fed up of them.

The sewing is looking very good and think the photographs I am taking of it are improving. Get the last one back from the framers in the morning hope it looks good.

liked you better when you were in Norway

My feet have not hurt as much as yesterday, which is a blessing.

Was going to do some washing but Dad beat me to it, which upset me, especially as I was rushing to get dressed to do it and he left it for me to hang out, the worst job in the world. He was also out when it was time to bring it in.

Mum is certainly feeling better as she wanted to take over the cooking and started snapping at me, I did tell her that I liked her better when she was in Norway but we are okay now.

My sewing is looking really good and am very pleased with the way it is looking

cheese pie and missing a book out

What a horrible day it has been with my feet it is 8pm and have already taken 6 pain killers and they are hurting so much. Am sorry to say I snapped at Mum when she joked about getting me to do something for her.

Have not done much sewing but what has been done looks good.

We had Quiche Lorraine for our meal we had it at school only it was called cheese pie have always liked it, shame we dont have it very often.

Finished valley of horses, started to read the first page of the next book only to find out I was missing a book out, it was so nice to find that there are three more books to read in the series, it is like reading about old friends.

Looked out of the kitchen window and notice that the forsythia is coming out but only part way up and thought it made an interesting photograph

looking ahead

Mum is still suffering with her gout and having Dad and I running after her. It is hard to be patient when I am in pain too.

Got lots of sewing done today, the picture really is looking good, the colours are beautiful and think it will be an elegant picture when finished. Part of me want to work hard to get the picture finished another part of me wants to make the kit last as long as possible

Been thinking of my next project, it was all sorted was going to do a picture of the 'Northern Lights' for a Christmas present but Mum seems to have gone off the picture. So it might be the Victorian Sampler next I want to have one with a large boarder full of colour think I have gone off the idea of a verse and would rather have an alphabet.

Time to e-mail Hisako

first attempt/gout

Got an e-mail from Japan this morning, Hisako replied to the e-mail I was going to send before I woke up to send it. She asked me who has cereal for lunch on suggestions for her pack up, the reply could be interesting.

Finding it hard to deal with Mum's gout, am sure she is in lots of pain, but it is only one foot. If I had stayed in bed every time my feet hurt would have been in bed for over 2 years now, the fact she is feeling sick with the tablets is something I have been dealing with am just having to get on with life - moan over with

Went with Uncle Peter to see a steam train, don't know which one it was but Uncle Peter was trying to tell me which settings to use on my camera, I did not understand what he was saying but took some practice shots and apart from taking the first shot too soon so only got a couple of shots with the aid of the crop tool they have come out well, what do you think?

On the way back we passed Mum's cousin Michael and the lady I presume is wife No 3 or 4 He was looking like a rougher version of his dad.

Time to get back to sewing

it is growing

The picture is growing really well, starting to work down to the bottom now before going to work to the top.

Mum's foot has been bad again today, she went to the doctor and has gout. She just sits there and expects Dad and I to run after her. It makes me feel better that I am not giving into the pain in my feet which is getting worse.

dentist

Whilst getting the car out, I saw Sally's Mum who said she had wanted to see me to see how I am as I have had one thing after another!

Mum's foot was hurting today, so they did not go shopping.

I went to Keighley parking in Morrisons car park. I took my last embroidery to be framed it will take a week and will cost £42.00 which is good value for money, looking forward to seeing it. After going there, I went to the dentist only had the usual scrape and polish so that is it for another 6 months.

I am fed up of feeling sick and being in pain

enjoying it

Spent the day stitching the Japanese Garden, it has been so nice using lots of colour and tiny stitches bliss.

Shame I am feeling so sick, even the Indian Brandee did not work today.

Got a text from my dentist this morning to remind me of my appointment tomorrow. I had forgotten so the technology worked

Finished

The sepia toned picture was finished at 8.30 last night it would have been finished earlier but as it is a tradition to watch Hairy Bikers whilst putting the last few stitches in decided to wait and watch them on TV rather than Youtube. Took the picture upto Pam and Brian's they seemed to like it. Showed Brian how to change the sky on some photographs. This is something I have been finding it hard to do before yet it was easy.

Brian pulled my beautiful plait which made me smile, how long have I waited for a plait that was long enough to be pulled

It is good to be back doing something with small stitches and lots of colour and where I can actually say what I am stitching in this case Mount Fuji.

Hairy Bikers

Had a wonderful day today, drove to Skipton to meet Liz and Dawn at Morrisons, we had a drink there, I had a croissant which was delicious. We then had a walk round Focus and Tesco.

Took a walk up to the bridge to look at the statue of Freddy Trueman the photographs I took have come out very well, shame my feet were too painful to go and have a closer look. It is something I want to do soon.

Driving through Kildwick was listening to John Denver who started singing 'Take me home country roads' which I thought was appropriate.

At the moment waiting for the Hairy Bikers as Hairy Bakers to come on so that I can keep the tradition up of finishing a sewing project whilst watching them. Have only got 3 stitches to put in

another first

Had another very painful day feeling sick. Mum and Dad went walking with Aunty Susan and Uncle Peter, enjoyed having the house to myself again.

Got a bit of sewing done and can see the end in sight was surprised how well the horse looked without much work.

Achieved another ambition by being able to wring my hair a simple thing but it gave me pleasure. Looking forward to plaiting my hair again in the morning

settling down

Things have settled down now, and we are getting back into a routine, although Mum should not be sleeping as much as she is.

Had an awful day with my feet hurting, think they are getting worse instead of better.

Was going to spend the evening doing more sewing but Aunty Susand and Uncle Peter came over so spending the evening playing on the computer

settling down

Things are settling down at home now but I miss having the house to my self and the quietness

It has been so warm today, it is strange seeing Mum in a thick jumper and me in a summer skirt and top, which of us is ill.

The sewing for Pam and Brian is growing but am impatient to get back to working with colour given myself two weeks to finish it, which is achievable

volcano and lodging

Picked my parents up at the airport without any trouble, only had about 30 minutes to wait for them, not bad when you consider I left home 5 minutes before they were due to leave Amsterdam!

We had fish and chips in Murgatroyd's car park which was very nice although we were a bit cramped. It was midnight when I got ready to settle down.

They have only been back a day and I feel like a lodger in my own home, I want to scream and shout why are you buying things with tomato in and if you are going to fall asleep go to bed to do it, so I can at least move without fear of waking you, feel all the good of their holiday has gone

All flights into the UK today have been cancelled because of ash from a volcano in Iceland. First thing this morning we were relieved now am regretting it.

2 minutes to spare

Saw Mum and Dad in Bergen on a web cam which was quite exciting, then they go through on the webcam from the hotel which was very nice.

Watching Great British Menue last night I realised that we did not have any bread, so put that on this morning before going to meet Joan in Skipton. It took me 20 minutes to get from the bridge by the hospital to the Tesco garage, as there was a person laying in the road outside the hospital.

We looked round some charity shops after having a coffee. I got home two minutes before the bread was ready.

My Plait looks tidier than yesterdays and is still making me smile.

It is nearly 2pm and I have yet to pick up a needle and as you can see hardly did any yester will have to go and do some now

decisions made and foot spa

got all the sewing problems sorted yesterday, it should be straigh forward now.

was just getting ready for a bath when Pam text me to say they were on there way up. They brought me a foot spa to try so I am sitting here with my feet being vibrated and a cross stitch kit that they want me to do for them so there will be two pictures on the go for a while.

Had a dream last night that I was looking for Dad I knew he was about because I could hear his computer, then realised it was my computer that I could hear. I am obviously ready for them to come home, hope I have got the right day that it is tomorrow and not today.

In the post this morning came a brochure for Norway, which made me laugh, they could at least let them leave the country before sending it

For the first time in my life I have my hair in a plat, it is so exciting, it is not the neatest of plats but it is mine and I love it

end of holiday feeling

Of course I exceeded my target for yesterday finishing the panel I was working on, so the target for today is to set a distinct area of 20 stitches and see how high up I can get to think most of it will be in half stitch so it should not be too difficult to do.

My memory is very bad so this morning after deciding to cook pea pancakes for lunch I was amazed to find I could remember the book the recipe is in and the page number! Of course when it came to making it found that we have no milk, it really was not worth buying any milk as non of us drink it, so trying it with flat fizzy water, watch this space to see how it works.

On holiday I always get that end of holiday feeling usually after two or three days when I am ready for home, it does not matter how much there is to see or do, I just want to go home. Three days left of my stay cation and I really do not want it to end, it will be really nice to see my parents but at this moment in time, I don't want to take another holiday away but would like them to have many. Really don't feel the need to go out shopping and feel very very content!

broken scissors

Yesterday wa another quiet day have finally sorted out where I went wrong with my cross stitch and it is growing nicely nearly ready to start the sky.

I ventured out to the local co-op to buy some lemonade and was shocked when asking a young lad where it was to be taken straight to it. This was a big improvement as usually they are most un helpful there, so the youth of today can show some of the older employees how things should be done. I no longer feel that I don't want to go back there, and might even go and buy more than two packets of crisps and two bottles of pop.

The weather is warming up nicely I even sat on the bench reading yesterday the first of the year as it is only 10th April think that is doing very well.

Back to it, want to put at least one stitch of sky in today.

up and down

Today I will get the pattern of the cross stitch correct such a simple mistake glad I have finally seen the light.

Yesterday was very up and down, up because I realised that when downloading photographs I don't have to make a new folder download them to that then transfer them, all is needed is to use the same folder name and it puts the new photographs at the end easy! Down because my feet were very painful, first time have taken 8 tablets in a day. Up because Pam and Brian came we had a good chat up because I managed to plat my hair for the first time an ambition achieved, will do it and wear it for the first time on Thursday

Now is the time to finally get this sewing right!

Getting there

How can I call myself an expert stitcher when I am having so many problems with what is really a very basic pattern lots of half stitches with no distinct pattern, that is the problem. There is not a shape you can see to work to like the shape of an elephant, there are no quarter or three quarter stitches, no French knots. The biggest problem has been sorting it out, am getting there but will be very glad to get onto things like bridges. Will continue without jumping to where it will be more fun and where you can see things take shape.

The lack of conversation has now got exhilarating to the point of not wanting to go out and talk. It looks like in my future there will be no going on buses to Keighley just to talk to someone for me.

Put my pasta in a pan of boiling water last night with the lid on so it will just need heating up with the fish and mushroom sauce for lunch today