Lilys House

interesting times

Such a lot and such a little seems to have gone on since I last wrote a post.  Weird.  I know I’ve felt busy, busy on one hand but have also spent quite a bit of time taking it easy and feeling sorry for myself.

You may recall that I mentioned gallstones last time?  Well, I’ve had a scan and yep, I’ve got a few – and one is nicely stuck in the neck of the gallbladder. Sorry to any of you eating breakfast right now :)

I’ve had a few episodes of super intense pain, lasting for hours, which really threw a spanner in the works as far as dyeing goes.  I just felt wiped out. Frustrating, I hate anything that slows me down.

We also had a trip planned – to New York, for Nicks birthday and I was told I couldn’t fly.  I actually cried in the docs surgery!

Anyway to cut a long story short, I have really settled things down with antibiotics and sticking to a completely fat free diet (skimmed milk, ugh!) and have got the all clear from my GP. So, insured up to the hilt, we fly tomorrow morning!  I’m so excited, having never been to the States before.  It’s just a flying visit, 4 days.  I’m going to make up for lack of food with yarn or perfume, or both :)

Other news…

We had a royal visit and the official opening of Hannah’s at Seale Hayne, where I have my workroom/studio. Actually studio is a bit grand, it’s teeny and I could do with it being twice the size, but as you can see the surroundings are stunning and there is such a  supportive community there.  Some of my artist friends are in that little gaggle above.  When I open the door to my room, a sense of peace and satisfaction washes over me, I love it there.

In the future I will be running dyeing workshops and there will be the opportunity to do all sorts of things with the other artists too, who cover a wide range of disciplines.  I’m not always there but if you’d like to visit me send me an email and  I can make sure I’m in!

Well, I’d better get motivated, bags to pack and house to clean before Mum gets here to take over the girls for a few days.  They are being looked after by Grandparents, aunties, uncles, having sleepovers with cousins – it should be all fun for them too.

PS Just to say that the shop will be closed whilst I’m away, so listings won’t be visible.

PPS. New solid and semisolid  Buffy yarn in repeatable colour ways coming very soon, more on that when  I get back….x

weekend snapshot

Life is busy at the moment.  There are so many things I’ve not blogged about.

Like getting a studio/workroom

Like leaving my job to concentrate on Juno Fibre Arts

I’ve not purposely been keeping things back, it was more like too many changes happening at once, I couldn’t make sense of them.

I’m still settling in to these changes, finding the routine and getting ready to tighten my belt as the last proper pay check comes in.  It’s all good though.  I feel a freedom, albeit scary, I didn’t have before.

Anyway that’s enough of that for now, I’ll get back to it another time I’m sure.

  So, here’s me trying to get my blogging mojo jump started – I’ve missed it, but once you have a break, it’s oh so hard to jump back in.

So short and sweet…here is a lovely shot of an oasis in the storm…

 

Music, yarn labelling, tea, candles, home made thank you cards. Guess who just turned 13!

glorious

It is the most beautiful Spring day here.  We have just come back from a long walk in the woods.  It was balmy, breezy and full of life and promise.

The poor hounds didn’t get out yesterday for various reasons and were going a bit stir crazy and manic this morning.  They pelted round, enjoying the warmth and will no doubt not shift from the sofa all day now.

It rained recently and everything was covered with little shimmering droplets.

green, green all around…go on, let me share some more ;)

and despite looking half dead……a rare one of yours truly…

in my uniform.  I think every photo of me I’ve posted shows me wearing the same clothes.  What can I say, I love my green cords and cardy.  Soon I’ll move into the summer uniform of black linen baggies, black vest top and black cardy if needed !  Live life on the edge, that’s what I say ;)

The rest of the day will be quiet hopefully.  I’m working tonight and have got a lot of odd jobs to do this afternoon.  I’ve had a massive wool order arrive so I’m busy splitting  roving into 100g lots ready for dyeing.  Any spinners out there, be sure to check the shop soon.  There will be luxury fibres in there by the end of next week hopefully with some beautiful, soft, silky blends.  Baby alpaca, extra fine merino, soybean fibre, baby camel, angora, tussah silk…you name it.  When the box arrived I squealed, seriously.

I’ll also be adding some alpaca / merino and some merino / silk lace weight yarn. So – lots to do…better get off and get motivated.

Have a marvellous and sunny weekend !

taking stock

Things are a changin’ here.  Mostly my job…..and it’s all a bit unsettling.  Without boring you all senseless, the large organisation that I work for has decided that instead of working the evening and then going home to be ‘on call’, we are now to work waking nights based at the hospital.  To make matters worse, the proposed new hours are totally unsuitable for those of us with young families.  An 8.30 am finish, when our partners leave for work at 7.30 am – I think not.

Anyway to cut a long story short, I have  got to accept that I am going to be more tired. The thought of going back to full nights fills me with dread.  Me + no sleep = evil bitch queen, seriously.  I took this job to get out of all that.  I work part time but even so, this change is enough to tip the balance from ok to bloody awful.  Unfortunately we can’t afford for me to give it all up and concentrate on yaarrrnn!  Wonderful though that may be :)

We get the feeling that we will have to go along with what has already been decided…..and it sucks.

Typepad has not been my best friend either, with multiple browser crashes when typing.  I was ready to throw in the blog towel, I tell you. 15 attempts and 2 days of exasperation to get a post up does not make for happy blogging !  I’m using Windows Writer right now, so hopefully I can get back to stress free posting.  Fingers crossed.

So amongst all this doom and gloom (it’s not really that bad, I’m just totally looking at it from a half glass empty perspective…..hey, there will be more knitting time overnight, even if I am a zombie…) I am keen to point out some great things around here.  Things that are small and silly but important and life enhancing none the less.

Looking through my recent pics I came across these…and they remind me how lucky we are to live in this beautiful place, with fresh air and ……..cows………

They are a  frequent blockage on our way to school……the girls get all excited and lean out of the car to touch them..

(told you they were silly things, but they make me smile anyway)

Living near to my Grandparents is another source of happiness.  I am very close to them and it makes me feel very complete knowing that they are just a few miles away.   Mama busies herself around me, treating me like royalty, with tea and biscuits and toast, even though I tell her to just sit down ! They are lovely people and I always feel better after a visit and a wander round the garden..

I’ve spent a bit of time in Papas ‘shed’ too, where we have been making a skein winder, me drilling holes under his supervision as his eyesight is very poor now.  He is very gifted with his hands and was a brilliant artist. 85 yrs old and still helping me out  :)

Small things….aren’t they just the most wonderful ?

Hopefully by the end of the week I’ll post some  knitting in progress (gasp !)  and a rather wonderful thrifty find that I had to rearrange a whole room for.

lightening the mood

Its all been a bit grim 'round here with all the sickness...(Lily and Nick succumbed too).  SO..here's a bit of fun, seen over at Kats.  Thought I'd play along for a bit of light relief ! Feel free to do one too :)

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says: remembering the rippling crackle of the French muskets

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can...what do you touch first? Mowzer on the kitchen chair. 

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?  honestly, I can't remember, probably something on CBeebies 

4. Without looking, what time is it? 2045

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time? 2040, not bad !   

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? Mowzer licking, the kitchen clock and the extractor fan in the downstairs loo (!)  

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? about 1930...to get Maddies moo cow from the car...

8. What are you wearing right now? green cords, green vest, cream cardie, red sheepskin slippers

9. What did you dream about last night? hmm, it was weird and involved a huge lurcher I was rescuing and a sophisticated man cooking me dinner :)

10. When did you last laugh? Maddies bedtime, playing 'fairground rides'

11. What's on the walls of the room you're in? a clock, ceramic plate and of course the kitchen cupboards!            

12. What's the most memorable experience you've ever had? Got to be the births of my lovely girls   

13. What's the last film you saw? City of Angels     

14. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first? My first thought was the house, outright...very boring. Like I wouldn't think of moving or anything.....            

15. If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change? Racism                                                                            

16. Do you like to dance? yes, but in the safety of my own house, otherwise I feel like a right idiot.     

17. Imagine your first child is a girl. What would you name her? she was, and she is Lily         

18. Boy? we liked Tom                               

 19. Would you ever consider living abroad ? No not permanently    

20. What time did you get up this morning? 0720...(no  school due to bugs)

21. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds     

22. What's your favorite TV show? I hardly watch TV

23. What did you have for breakfast this morning? cinnamon bagel and earl grey

24. What's your favorite cuisine? Thai, Italian, Indian

25. What foods do you dislike? roll mops, anything in aspic, cheap sausages, in fact any over processed goo.  

26. What is your favorite chip flavor? sea salt and vinegar kettle chips

27. What's your favorite song at the moment? no faves at the mo

28. What kind of car do you drive right now? renault scenic     

29. What was your first car? Ford Escort mark 2....colour was 'fjord' a really pale powder blue.  I loved it even though it smelt of mould and had no floor pan

30. Favorite sandwich? brie and rocket                  

31. What characteristics do you despise? lack of sense of humour, smugness, superiority complex, jobs-worths, unwillingness to 'have a go'  

32. What is your favorite article of clothing? currently, this charity shop cardy I'm wearing            

33. What color is your bathroom? cream and wood

34. What is your favorite brand of clothing? Monsoon, Laura Ashley, Zara if I had to choose brands (but give me a charity shop bargain any day)

35. Where would you/did you retire to? Rural Cornwall - preferably on a cliff top 

36. Favorite time of the day? the morning

37. What was your most memorable birthday? My 30th but not for good reasons

38. Where were you born? Canterbury Kent  

39. What fabric detergent do you use? Fairy non bio 

40.Were you named after anyone? no     

41. Do you wish on stars? sometimes.

42. When did you last cry? can't remember...but it wasn't that long ago    

43. Do you like your handwriting? Yes 

44. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? Err, I hope so...don't want to over think that one !    

45. Are you a daredevil? Only after a few drinks           

46. Do looks matter? They shouldn't but they do.  I don't let that affect me though ;)

47. How do you release anger? shouting     

48. What were your favorite toys as a child? Joey that Mama made - whatever happened to him  :(  

49. What class in high school was totally useless? Drama 

50 Favorite movies? Dangerous Liaisons, Witches of Eastwick, Bridges of Madison County, American Beauty           

51. What are your nicknames? Ast, Spume          

52. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? No 

53. Do you think that you are strong? Yes, I think so

54. What's your favorite ice cream flavor? pistachio  

55. What are your favorite colors? deep blues, greens and browns

56. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? control freak, micro managing         

57. Who do you miss the most? Kayti and Milly

58. If you were a crayon what color would you be? sea green

59. Last person you talked to on the phone? Mama

60. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? eyes 

61. Favorite drink? earl grey

62. Do you wear contacts? no

63. Favorite day of the year? Family birthdays (can't choose one)

64. Do you prefer your endings happy or sad? happy

65. Winter or summer? late autumn and winter definitely

66. What is your favorite dessert? cheesecake  

67. What book(s) are you reading? the Gormenghast Trilogy and Knitting for Peace

68. What's the furthest you've been from home? Sri Lanka