« March 2008 | Main | May 2008 »
The weekend bought the first 'proper' sunny and warm day yet (chilly in the wind though...)
Dad had his shorts on for the first time this year.....this usually brings on lashing rain....
one of many personal 'jumping rocks'...
.
It was good to get out :)
He's a big dog and it's a cat basket. He was protesting at the removal of his bed whilst I was painting the back room...............................
This is the view from my sleeping position.....trouble is I'm not sleeping. I hate that clock and its mocking neon digits. At 0226 I turn it round. It gets to the point where I don't want to know the bloody time. Maddie waking at approx 0630 if I'm lucky......hmmm, that gives me 4 hrs then. Great. And that's if I get to sleep right now.
This happens quite a bit, this sleepless phase. I've felt it coming for a few weeks. Usually starts with a couple of later nights due to work or just general 'going to bed later that I should'. Feeling wide awake at bedtime. Feeling energised, on an upswing in a creative way, be it with sewing or house decorating or tackling the garden. I ride this a bit, averaging 6 ish hours. Then bang...a night like last night. My brain would not switch off. It seems the more tired I am, the harder it is to get to sleep. And I'm a woman who is a very grumpy and intolerant moo on too little sleep (more so than usual, before all those that know me say it ;). And I stress about everything when I'm tired, including blogging! It's amazing how it alters my perspective.
I'm doing the usual, milky drinks, lavender oil, concentrating on the breath, no computer just before bed, etc, etc. My mind just laughs at such efforts and gets back to incessant churning. I know the way out is forcing myself to go to bed ridiculously early one night and breaking the chain, but I've got two nights on call to get through first.
So here I am.......zombie woman this morning. Huge shop to do, dog to walk and toddler group to attend. I may scratch the shop and the poor doggy and hope that the playgroup tires Maddie out enough for a sleep this afternoon - fingers crossed.
Going to try and spend minimal time on here and concentrate on not being evil to everyone, looking after myself, not feeling bad about not posting much (just pictures for a while I think - promise they'll be pretty, unlike the one above!) and getting the old sleep back on track.
I'll still be checking out my faves but may be a bit on the quiet side, hope you understand ....x
From this....new storage on the landing by the way...
to this...the entire contents of the airing cupboard relocated. A mere snippet shown here I hasten to add..
the airing cupboard now contains fabric and wool and all sorts of nice stuff, forgot to take a 'pre' photo but I can assure you it wasn't pretty...The cupboard that contained the fabric is now cleared (erm, not quite but it's getting there) to make way for the girls art supplies, Maddies wooden bricks and assorted other good things they've been unable to get at.
and look what I found.......fantastic vintage sheets (thanks Annabel!)...cool and crisp for the summer. If I can bear to take the wrapping off that is...
Now I've 'only' got this...
to fold and put away....(ironing doesn't even come into the equation)
I'm just chasing my tail here.........more in the machine and on the line too. Those piles look small but don't be fooled. I can cram a ton of laundry in that basket.
Help.
The loveliness of the weekend was tinged with illness unfortunately. Trips to the out of hours GP. Temp of 39 plus for four days previous , peaking at a nice 40 (104) on Sunday night. Maddie by the way. She rallied for a couple of hours at the christening, heavily dosed up but spent the rest of the time snuggled up close. Totally still, very un - Maddie like.
She's got a nasty ear infection in both and tonsillitis. Antibiotics, her first ever dose.....and Manuka honey. I must say I prefer the natural treatments but it's just got to be knocked on the head. She's still miserable to be honest and that's hard on everyone as I know you know ;)... I'm pretty tired.
Just been having some down time which is pretty much all you can do with a little poorly limpet at your side.
making 'birthday cakes' with her magnets
colouring under the 'snug' (blanket)
May or may not see you tomorrow...........
This little dress used to be mine and I couldn't wait to put it on Maddie. It's so 70's, made of cheesecloth I think and consists of an underdress and a little petticoat over the top. A 'pretty dress' occasion presented itself this weekend with the christening of my little niece and nephew. It was a lovely day.
Family from here and overseas, a beautiful ceremony and last and by no means least - a super lunch !
Definitely a warm and fuzzy event :)
Trousers are the norm here most of the time. Dog walks, mud and ('til recently) cold, all cry out for warm and cosy legs. Maddie has a couple of favourite skirts, of the full and twirly variety and these are always brought out hopefully and laid before me. She is just such a nature girl and loves getting her legs and feet out.
Since discovering trouser making I've made a couple of pairs for the warmer weather (not finished off yet so no show and tell for now.) Remembering the skirt preference and halting myself before too many pairs of trousers flew off the machine, I decided to make her this from the only pattern book I own (are you getting bored with this book yet ?) to balance it out a bit. Lovely and full and a bit more challenging to make.
The bizarre thing is, I get on better not being able to read the instructions. The diagrams are good and if I'm not sure I just look more carefully and logically and the way becomes clear. Previous dressmaking adventures using normal paper patterns just confused me. It's like I didn't understand the language. Give me a diagram anytime.
I was hoping to get some pics of it being worn but that is just not going to happen today. Maddie has to be in the right mood to 'model'......as I said, not today ;)
(she just saw me previewing this post and shouted and pointed "my pretty skirt again".....so I know it will be worn......the seal of approval - phew!)
looks uneven but it's just the way it's hanging
pocket detail
I'm off for a few days from tomorrow, visiting family, so see you next week!
A lot of you have enquired about me - I'm very flattered. I can't help being so handsome...
When I was about 12 weeks old my master saw me being loaded into a dog wardens van in Exeter. I don't know how I got there and had been wandering for a while. Seeing as I was very cute and pointy and tiny and skinny (just the sort of hound Mum liked) he found out where I was being taken and reported back to her. Now she wasn't that keen at first, being 8 wks pregnant and coping with half the house being knocked down and rebuilt. A puppy was not the first thing on her must get list. Still, he worked on her and she agreed very reservedly to just come and look at me. Well of course one look into her eyes and her heart melted - the rest is history. I'm definitely 'her' dog.
I'm now 4 years old, no longer tiny (they should have known by the size of my paws) but still skinny. No one is sure of my ancestry apart from the greyhound bit , maybe some collie, maybe some deerhound....everyone has a guess but we shall never know.
I really landed on my feet with this family. They soon gave in on the 'no sofa' rule, I'm just too darn cute ! I still get on laps for a super cuddle but at 25kg it's not a popular move.
You may have noticed the cats around here..........they seem to love me with all their nuzzling and rubbing. I pretend not to like it , got to remain aloof. Seeing as I should be chasing and shaking little fluffy creatures I think I'm doing rather well controlling my instincts. Actually I can't be bothered. After a few bursts around the field I'm barely bothered to get off the couch for food. It's a hard life.
I've had the odd moment of trouble though. There was the unfortunate incident with the animal behaviourist after my incessant bin emptying and strewing the minute I was left alone. Separation anxiety....I'm such a sensitive soul. Got over that now you'll be pleased to know. I keep my sensitivity for the vets where I like to do my speciality howling to make them feel really bad..(they don't seem to care. I was called a drama queen last time).
Right , I'm making myself look bad so I'll leave you with some action shots of me in my prime, doing what I love best. Nice to meet you!
Springing into action...watch out....
Look at me go - impressed yet ?
Can't believe they gave me this pink squeaky ball to play with. Thank gawd there were no other dogs around.
I tried to make the best of it...
A tad tired..give me a drink
Those pesky kids hogging the limelight..
It's been lovely the last few days. Routine out of the window, the kids and I getting dressed later in the morning, leisurely breakfasts and generally slowing the pace. They need it - I need it. After all the poorliness we feel we're getting back on top a bit. A bit of sunshine tends to do that.
(I have unfortunately managed to catch another cold/throat/head combo but we'll just forget about that for now......anything seems tolerable after the back incident).
More of this over the weekend I think.........
Have a peaceful weekend .... x
Jellies with a raspberry middle layer and drinks outside on the bench.....lovely and warm in the sun, making the most of it.
Back to work tonight after a little break and I feel throaty and a bit coldy....going to have to think positive and just ride it out .... there is no way I'm letting this one get a grip....
