MY DAD CELEBRATES HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY

When I was in my teenage years and my maternal grandmother turned 90 to me, she was a very old lady. A woman who never went out without a hat, never left the house alone and actually was never left in the house alone. 

If I think back to when I was a little girl, she was even old then. She would spend hours teaching me to play cards and board games and always arrived on the doorstep when I was sick to keep me company and read me books but, I can't ever remember seeing her work in the garden, or do the housework, washing and ironing.

She was my grandma.

Last week my dad turned 90. Both he and mum are still very independent and they do a very good job of keeping each other on their toes. Despite this I do sometimes wonder if, like me when I was little, Charlotte and Jessica think Grandpa is a very old man!
 On Sunday the most horrendous wet weather didn't dampen our spirits and a family gathering of 37 met at the Lion Inn , where we had a lovely lunch and spent the afternoon celebrating his birthday. Dad and mum thoroughly enjoyed themselves as I know we all did.

Happy birthday Dad!

BLANKET STITCHING!

What a challenge for a bleak Sunday afternoon in October. I'm trying to piece together and pin  in another panel of my blanket.

As you can probably tell, I've already walked away to have a think, that's why I'm sitting here tapping away on this post.

Hopefully, I'll go back and everything will seem clearer and not such a muddle.                                          

On a positive note this is the first time since I have been writing my blog that I've managed to place a photo on the left and write by the side of it. Even though I still have no idea how I've managed it, I'm pleased with myself. 

I have at long last found my mother of the bride outfit for Kate's wedding. In the end  I've actually ended up buying it online. I am a person who likes to support small independent shops but after countless visits to different shops and towns, it just became so frustrating to find clothes that I liked but couldn't try in my size and those that were in my size, not really what I was looking for.
Ordering online was so easy. I ordered on Thursday, the parcel arrived on Friday, I tried on everything I ordered yesterday and will be sending back what I don't want on Monday. How simple is that?

I've just popped back down to the kitchen and unfortunately the blanket hasn't miraculously sewn itself together so I'm going to have to leave my blog posting for another day and give my blanket the attention it deserves. Apart from that as it's such a dismal day I've probably only got a couple of daylight hours left.

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE

As I mentioned in my last post, on Wednesday I had my first real look at outfits for "Mother of the Bride".

"I've got plenty of time", I said to the assistant in the shop.

"When's the wedding?" she asked.

"Not 'till 22nd December!" I exclaimed quite confidently.

She sighed, "that is NOT a lot of time."

I still beg to differ, I have to - I haven't found anything yet!

Anyway, first day, first shop and I chose a variety of beautiful and stunning outfits that I wanted to try, to try on. I felt I was being quite open minded and didn't want to judge anything until I'd tried it!

Standing in the tiny cubicle, my friend was ensconced outside ready to give moral support and guidance.

Remember that I said before that I wanted to try to try on. I therefore now ask the question, who do they actually make these dresses for?

I tried on a great deal but nothing wooed me and then on my last and final attempt I tried on a dress and jacket that not only came with inbuilt breast enhancers but an horrendous price tag that would undoubtedly send my husband teetering right over the edge!

" How are you getting on?" the shop assistant asked.

" I'm not very keen on this one" I replied from within the dress. At that very moment, stalemate! The dress wouldn't go on, nor would it come off. How could I tell the shop assistant that! My face was completely cocooned by the breast enhancers and it felt that the cubicle was getting smaller and warmer.

I breathed in and breathed in and breathed in and then o.m.g. I prayed. My luck was fortunately in, I managed to get it off without  it tearing into two parts. 

I exited the cubicle with an air of utter relief. Next stop on my list, the coffee shop!

I'm not giving up, well let's face it, I can't give up. Next Wednesday, we have another couple of dress shops on our list to  benefit from the pleasure of our company. Same time, but a different town!

Talking of the wedding, the four little dolls are coming along well. All the parts are knitted up now, just stuffing, sewing together, faces and hair to do. We've asked the dressmaker who's making the little bridesmaids dresses to make the dresses for the dolls. I think they'll look really good when the'yre finished, as long as I get the faces right!

We have had such a lovely weekend here, the weather has been perfect. Yesterday my husband and son took the new boat down to the river to see how it performed. Hard work they both said, but they hope with practice it will keep them fit.
It certainly looked very good in the water.
I love the next photo, paricularly the sky with the clouds and the reflection on the water. Michael is out there rowing, right in the middle of the picture.
(He's worried, unless I tell you he's there, you won't notice him.)

SKY SCARF PROGRESS

So now we're entering the month of October and the sky scarf continues to grow. The month of January is hanging over the back of the door, September is down towards my knitting basket. It certainly shows we've had a lot of grey days!

The wretched cold that I mentioned in my last post is rather like a boomerang. Three days I was completely clear of it and then back it came for the weekend. My poor mother is suffering with it  as well and exactly the same, some days much better and others not so good. Consequently today is one of the days where I've woken up full of snuffles and a head that feels like it contains cotton wool and not much else. This is not ideal when you're planning a shopping trip this afternoon to look for an outfit for Kate's wedding!

Some good news, Michael's new rowing boat arrived on Monday, all looking good. We're just hoping for some decent weather this coming weekend so he can give it a trail run.  This is definitely a single seater affair so I've no need to worry about getting my feet wet. I can just watch from the sea wall, take pictures and wave!

TRYING TO BE CHEERFUL, BUT IT'S MONDAY AND IT'S RAINING!

I really wasn't feeling that great over the weekend, a rotten cold and cough really dragged me down. We had a busy weekend planned as well, spring cleaning or should I say, autumn cleaning the garage. Michael has a new boat arriving in the next few days, not to replace the one we already have in the garage but to accompany it.

I stayed in bed on Saturday morning while Michael turfed everything out into the garden for analysis, either heading for the ebay pile or the skip. Whilst in the midst of doing this gigantic job, he also ("it won't take me a minute!") dug a brand new hole for the new washing line.

"A little more difficult than I first thought", he exclaimed when he caught my eyes peering down from an upstairs window.

Well, it was at this very point that I knew I was feeling quite ill. 

Not only did the garden look like a replica of Steptoe & Sons yard with the new line up in it's new position, but the hole that had been dug to  expose the huge concrete bolder which surrounded the old washing line hole was enormous. If I hadn't known better it could easily have been mistaken for an archeological dig  to find some old ancient castle complete with moat.

Unfortunately no photos taken, because I felt that rough, but hopefully your imagination can run riot.

As I said, I knew I was ill. " That's great, you're doing a good job!"

I went back to bed.

Today, I feel much much better and ask the question, why is that when you have had to take an enforced through illness, couple of days out that the very next day you feel that the house hasn't been cleaned for at least a 100 years and the whole country is waiting for you to catch up with the washing?

Here I am on a Monday morning, dusting, hoovering, cleaning the cooker and washing everything in sight. I can't put any of if out on the newly installed washing line because, it's raining!

I do usually try to get the washing outside so today I think the tumble dryer took it's time leaping into action, probably it was choking on it's own dust!

Mmmm, tumble dryers. Why is it, that you can peg everything out on the line, it dries and you bring it all in. Yet, to use the tumble dryer, you have to sort the washing, read the labels and ensure things that can't be tumbled don't go in there?

Big mistake this morning, new hand knitted woolly socks in, tight, shrunk socks out.  In desperation I shoved them on my feet and although the wool crackled in protest more than a bit  I do think they've stretched back to near normal size.

My new monsoon top, worn only about four times in all, didn't fare so well. Of all the things in there, old tee shirts, tea towels etc it was this particular top that clung to the door a little too tightly and came out with several holes in the front. Why?

Persevering, I now have a date with the ironing board and iron, what a treat!

I'm also going to leave you with some pictures from our holiday of kite paragliders on the great sand dune of Pyla, near Archachon. It was just 3 weeks ago, and it was sunny and hot.

Oh what a lovely thought!

(And if you're wondering what happened to the enormous hole in my garden, Michael did come to the rescue. On Sunday he returned the yard back to our garden. The hole was filled in, grass seed was bought and scattered. Thankfully, it is being well watered in today!)

AS TIME FLIES BY!

I really can't believe it's been a whole month since my last post. It's not that I haven't had anything to say because those who know me will confirm I always have plenty of old chat. Probably, it's just that I've become caught up with doing this and that.

Throughout August I've spent lots of time with my grand daughters which has been great. Also, there's been lots of arrangements being made for my daughters wedding in December. Thankfully not on the 24th of December but the 22nd!! I won't know whether I should be plucking feathers from the turkey or sticking feathers in my hat. 

Keeping calm about it all is the best course of action I feel BUT the shopping for the other great event in December has to be and will be completed, including wrapping and labels by the last day in November.

I've kept busy with my knitting, the sky scarf is now enormous. Plus, I'm continuing with the knitted blanket and crocheted granny squares which I have to say look nothing like they do on the pattern. These two projects have however had to be side stepped as I've been commissioned by Kate to make the gifts for her four little flower girls, four knitted flower girl dolls. "Oh, heck!" I throw my hands up and exclaim.

Now what else have I been doing?

 Oh yes, holidaying, we've just come back from a week in Arcachon France. It was very nice, very relaxing and the sun shone! 

The only trouble with summer holidays is that when you get home you find a few of these growing in your veg patch. Not just one but five!! We've managed to eat a little, given away a lot and Michael took this one to work today. I don't fully understand why but it's gone.

For the record it is a courgette!

THE LONDON OLYMPIC'S - 2012

Wonderful! Brilliant! Excellent! Fantastic! Superb! Amazing!Spectacular!

This is just a group of words I've used over and over again in this past fortnight to try and describe my reaction to the London Olympics 2012 and the achievements of the Great Britain team.

I've rowed with the rowers, boxed with the boxers, swum with the swimmers, held my breathe in awe of our gymnasts and held on to the saddle as our horses have jumped and danced.

Just as I thought it couldn't get any better, last night I was out of my seat yet again, knitting flying in all directions as I cheered on Mo Farrah to the gold medal in the 5000 metres and then later had to watch through my fingers  as Tom Daley dived at his best to win for himself and his dad, the bronze medal.

Even though unfortunately we weren't able to get tickets to any of the events, I had the best seat in the house for the whole fortnight at home.

I have thorough enjoyed it all, as I hope you can probably tell?

Lots of sitting, meant lots of knitting and crochet which was a very pleasant bonus.

I've completed another panel of my blanket, just two more to do. So it should be completely finished by the end of the year - ever hopeful!

I also have got to grips with my crochet and here is just a small selection of granny squares that I've done.

I also have taken onboard yet another knitting project, this time for Kate, for her wedding.
It doesn't just involve wool and stuffing but fabric, thread and needle too, so could be complicated!
Feel free to guess!
 I will tell you more about it all in my next post, after I've sent out some help signals and I've got my head round what I've got to do!