Long time no talk. We have been quite busy here this past month converting Claire's bedroom into a self contained bedsit for my sister. We hope to have it completely finished in a month or so. We have replaced a window and put in french doors and little kitchen with solid oak surface. We are doing a new shower room for me & Paul and we are putting a brand new bath/shower suite in the old bathroom for Chicky (my sister). When all the work is finished we will put up a stud wall in the inner hall, this will then give us our privacy back again as for the past year Chick has been living in our caravan and although it has a shower we thought it would be easier for her to shower and do laundry in the house. We also have her bird in the house so she has had to come across the house to clean & feed pansy. You are probably reading this and thinking I am heartless not letting my sister move into the house but, I like my house as it is and my sister has a way of rearranging things and can make things a little difficult. This new arrangement should be temporary and when she has some money behind her she will look for a place of her own. She wants to furnish the room herself so that she can take it with her when she leaves. I've put a few pictures up to show you the progress so far. So just waiting for the plumber to do his bit with the sink and the the bathrooms, get the carpet cleaned and then fingers crossed life can get back to some kind of normality. What ever that is!!
Also I have made Craig's B'day card. It's his birthday today 4th Feb but we are all celebrating it tomorrow (Sunday) 5th. He's asked for his favorite, Lasagne, with a side salad and cake. Claire & Toby are coming too, so it will be a lovely get together. I have another card to make for Paul for the 11th Feb, one for Claire for the 16th Feb and one for my sister Chicky on the 18th. If I get around to making them all I will post them here if you like. Here's Craig's anyway. Not 100% pleased with it, I am just brain dead for design at the moment, especially for man cards. When I had finished Craig's card I found the Burgundy layer that should have been added, WHOOPS, never mind there's always next year or for Paul's!!
Here Goes!
I hope he likes it. I know he'll like whats inside though.
Claire is getting very anxious as this is yet another 1st milestone for her with her birthday, then the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of March. We will be very reflective at this time and I dare say tears will be had by all of us. Claire & Toby have decided to go away for a break, as we all feel they need some time away and just spend some quality time together away from all the memories.
Thank you all for your comments on my last blog, and for checking to see I'm OK. I must get back into answering you all again. I promise I will this time.
Thank you all for being here for us as a family. Lots of love and mega big hugs to you all.
Tina XX
Good morning Tina. I'm glad you're keeping busy. What a lovely thing you're doing for your sister. It's important to look after one another. I love the card you've made for Craig. The balloons are really Nobby. Yes please post the other cards you have to make. I've really missed seeing all your wonderful creations. Keep your pecker up. Best wishes Loraine Jefferis xx
ReplyDeleteHi Loraine
DeleteI'm taking 5 to have a cup of tea before making the lasagne. I know my sister is very happy with the room and how it's progressing and I know she can't wait to move in but she said she will be so sad to lose the coziness of the caravan and that the housework was quick too.
The balloons were little metal shapes I bought on ebay a couple of years ago, there's quite a varied selection.
Thank you for your lovely comment about my creations.
I erected scaffolding up to help keep my pecker up,it helps! We just need March out of the way and all our 1st's are done, I don't say it will be any easier but at least we have all climbed that 1st year hill and all made it to the top.
I'll post again next week with Paul's card, see you there.
Big Hugs, Love
Tina XX
Morning Tina, lovely to hear from you and yes quite understand why. You certainly have been busy with getting the place ready for your Sister, how lucky she is to have you all. It is hard work but it will be worth it in the end.
ReplyDeleteLove Craig's card and I am sure he will too. Don't worry about your mojo designing it will come back to you, we just love to hear that you are all OK.
Stay safe, healthy and happy, hugs, June Smith xxx
Hi June
DeleteIt's lovely to hear from you again too June.
It has been hard and Paul has worked like a Trojan doing his normal job then working evenings and weekends, nearly there though!
I'm glad you like Craig's card. Like I said before every day I sit in my work room and look at all my stock but the brain lets me down, still by having to make all these cards it might just be the help I need.
How's your knee coming along?
You take care, talk soon.
Love
Tina XX
Hi Tina.
ReplyDeleteNice to see u blogging again.
I love ur card might need to pinch that idea I'm useless at guys cards.
That project for ur sister looks amazing. I can't wait to see it when I hopefully come in sept:oct.
Hope ur well and I'll call u real soon. All my love xx
Hi Tracy
DeleteLovely to see you too.
You pinch all you like, you are more than welcome.
Thank you Tracy, I know Chicky is looking forward to moving in, I think when the bathroom is done she is going to have a lovely place to squat. I hope too that you get to see it in Sept, look forward to speaking soon. I hope you & Graeme are ok. How's work going?
Love & Hugs
Tina XX
Hi Tina, It's lovely to here from you again - I've missed you so much.When I see how busy you have all been I feel ashamed that I have been just relaxing during this cold weather.Take care and hope you don't overdo things. Love from Mary - Durham
ReplyDeleteHi Mary
DeleteIt's lovely to see you here too Mary. I have really missed speaking to you all. My goodness Mary don't feel ashamed of relaxing, because trust me when the work is finished that's all we're going to do. It has been cold this year and very grey. I don't mind the heavy rain at least you can see an end to it, but grey misty days are so depressing, Hey Ho spring is well and truly on it's way, our snowdrops are out and the Bluebells & Daffodils are waking up too.
You take care Mary, talk soon.
Love
Tina XX
Even though you have not posted for "awhile", I have continued my prayers of all of you. I like Craig's birthday card. It's a nice man's card. Men cards are a challenge for me. I'm such a flower card maker. Big things are happening at your house with the all the construction going on there. You will love the changes. Take care my friend, thanks for staying in touch.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzzie
DeleteThank you for your prayers Suzzie they really do help and it's lovely to think you are still here and thinking of us all.
I'm glad you like Craig's card, I'll see if he does in a couple of hours.
I'm with you on the flower cards. One man card to go then I can get cracking on some flower cards YAY!!
It has been full on here and I won't be sorry when it's all finished and peace reigns over the Eldridge home again. I hope my sister is not a noisy neighbour or she'll be evicted sooner than she thought. ( Only joking, I think!! )
You take care too, and thanks for being here.
Love
Tina XX
Well Hello !!
ReplyDeleteOh Tina it's so nice to hear from you again and your home alterations look lovely! Lots of hard work and more than a little dust I would think!! I'm sure your sister will be really comfortable there and everything looks lovely!
I like Craig's card too! My younger son has a birthday this month too and I'm thinking of one of Sue's Shadow Box cards! A bit lazy maybe !
You do have a lot of "Firsts" coming up and like you I do hope that after they are over your life and that of each family member will take a brighter turn!
Please give my love to Claire! I do think of her often.
I too would love to see your cards as you make them! I thought of you when Sue launched her lovely butterflies!
Lots of love, Myra xx
PS! It's been a long day - been trying to teach a friend how to use an iPhone she got for Christmas! She has taken lovely photos of her lap - she was wearing a black skirt! Just black squares! Things can only get better! Cant they? Xx
Hi My friend
DeleteI have to admit I have just woken up from a little snooze in my comfy workroom chair. After everyone had gone home and things tidied away I came in to think of Paul's b'day card. The only thing I came up with was a black mass and a loss of 2 hours thinking, I never thought the inside of my eyelids looked so good. I only woke up because Half Pint needed her pee & woo, which she dutifully did and will be seen to in the morning. I really can't deal with that at 1 am in the morning with my torch, gloves a kitchen roll and a doggy doo bag. Luckily that all happened in her part of the garden known as poo corner. Bet you're glad you visited tonight eh!
Myra, you wouldn't believe the dust, I've given up, I just seem to chase my tail. Paul bless him did put a dust sheet up for the filling in and sanding down, but always came out into the hall looking like a yeti to clean off.
Glad you like Craig's card too, and if I had Sue's shadow box cards I would have made one. I think they are a beautiful way of making a man card and definitely not lazy at all. I might just have to treat myself to Sue's butterfly die though. Another one to go to my collection to use when I get that proverbial kick up the backside.
It will be my pleasure to pass on your love to Claire, Thank you. X
Good Luck with your friend and the iPhone and the lovely black pictures of he skirt, sounds a bit like the inside of my eyelids. I'm sure she'll make good progress, but maybe you need to use some match sticks to keep your eyes open. Teaching a friend new technology can be very tiring. Well done you!
Although I had a snooze I'm not tired now, so will watch four in a bed I recorded this afternoon probably repeats but hey ho!. So I'll good morning, sleep tight.
Lovely to talk to you Myra
Love
Tina XX
Morning Tin
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see you back in blogland
The bed sit looks wonderful.
I'm just in the middle of creating a card for my daughter's boyfriend, why do I struggle so with male cards.
Thanks for your inspiration xxx
Hi Maria
DeleteIt's nice to be back here talking to my friends. Glad you like the bed sit. I think we all struggle with man cards, why can't they be happy with a flower card it would make our creative live so much easier. Good luck with with the boyfriends card, I would love to see it!
Take Care
Love
Tina XX
Hi Tina,
ReplyDeleteIt's so lovely to hear from you again, as I have missed you Tina and your beautiful cards,I always look forward to seeing your amazing work.Hope your creative juices are coming back soon , maybe the many cards you are making for all the birthdays might set it off .I hope so!
Craig,s card is very nice, love the balloons too, I'm sure that he liked it.
The work you are doing for your sister looks great, hope she appreciate it and is content with living with you , as you are helping her out aren't you?!
And when it's all done, you and Paul need a well deserved rest!
Give my love to Claire and Toby and wish them anow enjoying break away from it all.
Hard to believe that a year has gone by as we are nearly a year in our new home.
I think of you all very often and am looking forward to seeing the card you make for Paul's birthday.
Take care Tina, big hug from me .Jane B xxxx
Hi Jane
DeleteI have been meaning to call you but have always been called to measure something or hold something or to check something is straight. I will be in touch soon.
Thank you Jane for saying you like Craig's card, It actually looked better in real life. I'm hoping
that all these cards will spur me on to do more. I do have a special thing I'm making for Evelyn's birthday, something to mark her arrival.
Paul & I are planning so many breaks this year, we are not just physically knackered we are mentally knackered too. Half pint is going to start her Rabies jabs so then we can take her abroad, watch this space!
I will take pleasure in passing on your love to Claire & Toby it's another excuse to have a cuddle. I can't believe you have been in your new house for a year nearly either, where has that time gone. Have you got back into painting, if so I'd love to see some more of your work. Your present still has pride of place in our lounge.
You take care too Jane, sending love & hugs to you & Henk
Love
Tina XX
Hi Tina so nice to hear from you again and to see that you are making cards. Craig's card is great and I am sure he loved it, hopefully we will see lots more cards from you in the not to distant future, they are always so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWow Tina you have been busy but the results are looking great and I am sure your sister will love it, she may not even want to move. Perhaps you and Paul can have a break when you have finished all your alterations.
I am sure it will do you good as I am sure Claire and Toby break away will help them in their healing process.
Take care Tina and I look forward to hearing from you again whenever you feel able
Hugs Wendyx
Hi Wendy
DeleteSo sorry it has taken me time to come back to you as I've been trying to make Paul's b'day card. I finished it today thank goodness., 2 down 2 to go.
Thank you Wendy, Craig did like his card but liked what was inside more. I know he will have fun spending it on himself and buying items for his home.
We are going to see my friend sometime in June. She lost her partner in May last year. We talk most every night and she is doing remarkably well. She has rescued a black Labrador dog but I wonder who tales who out for a walk every day. I hear over the phone this young pup playing and poor Ingrid is sounding exhausted, but I think they definitely needed each other and I can't wait to meet Poppy.
Toby has booked a surprise break for Claire's Birthday so we hope they will have a chill out time and get ready for their more memorable break in March.
Take Care of yourself too Wendy, and I will be back soon.
Love
Tina XX