Happy 2021

Hi My Friends

 

 

I just wanted to wish you all a much better 2021, as for all of us in varying degrees 2020 has not been a good one and one I really want to forget.

Fingers crossed the latest vaccine can bring us all a better quality of life and get all our really wanted/ needed hugs that we have all been deprived of. I for one will have my running shoes on to collect my hugs.

So at Midnight tonight I will raise a glass to you all and wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Love & Hugs to you all

Tina XX

MERRY CHRISTMAS

                                                                                       MERRY CHRISTMAS                                                                                             

 

Well My Friends

What an incredible year, one that will definitely go down in history, and one that lots of us will want to put behind us for all sorts of reasons. If nothing else this year has made me realise the amount of hugs I have missed out on from my Son Craig my Daughter Claire and of course my little man Phoenix and how much I have really missed just spending time with them, and I intend to make up for that ASAP.

I only hope that 2021 will also go down in history as the year we conquered the war called Covid19 and regain something more like normality.

I would like to take this time to Thank all of you that have popped in from time to time, and for my loyal ones that come in to leave a message a really big heartfelt Thank you.

I know on the last blog I said I would put a video of the outside decorations but Paul & I said the outside lights will stay up for when we have a big family get together in the new year, so I will share them with you as a garden Bar-b-q celebration for feeling safe enough to mingle again. 

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas however you spend your Christmas day, whether it's with family in your home or a Skype or WhatsApp Christmas.

Most of all I wish you a Healthy Christmas and one of great expectations for the New Year.

Love & Sanitized Hugs, Stay Safe

Tina XX

YET ANOTHER SCAM

Hi my friends

I've just been contacted by a scammer saying that she was from M&S and that I had won a washing machine and all I had to do is say if I wanted an Indesit or a Hotpoint. I laughed and said this is a scam, she tried to reassure me that she she wasn't going to ask for any card details and that I had won so just choose. She seemed a bit pushy so I cut her off. She then rang me back saying this was a genuine phone call and that I had won and just choose which make washing machine I wanted so that they could arrange delivery. I gave some excuse and asked her to call me back in five minutes, and SHE DID so it just goes to show the desperation. I did google this and there is a scam out there for M&S giveaway. So just a warning be very aware, there are such awful people out there trying to scam innocent people out of goodness knows what, As if we don't have enough to worry about.

Take care everyone, stay alert and stay safe most of all.

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Christmas cards & door wreath

Hi My Friends

Thank you to everyone who looks in to see what I have been up to and an even bigger thank you when you leave me a message.

How has the latest lock down been for you. I have to say that I found this one a lot harder, weather doesn't help either. I know we're not as bad as a lot of people further up country so I really shouldn't complain, but it's hard not to.

Are you all ready for the big day, and are you even going to have one. I would rather put Christmas off until the new year as still experiencing side effects of covid, but Claire asked the other day if they could come over for Boxing day dinner. I immediately said yes but I'm seriously having second thoughts. I know I will feel so sad for Craig being on his own over the festive period if we don't do Boxing day, at least Claire has Phoenix & Toby,but I really don't want to be part of the spreading covid crew. The only thing I have up my sleeve is, if it's sunny and on dry Boxing day is to wrap up warm and Christen our new patio and have turkey sarnies cold meats and party food.

Hoping to get the dec's up over the weekend, outside at least, so will take a photo of the finished patio with Christmas lights to boot.

Anyway onto My Christmas cards for this year. You can see more 0f the 3d effect in real life or if under a light. See what you think?

Here Goes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dawn Bibby Wreath. I thoroughly enjoyed making this.
 

 

 

 

Well that's it Folks!

I hope you like what you see. I will put a picture of the new patio with outside dec's in a couple of days.

Stay Safe everyone

Lots of Love & Hugs

Tina XX

LEST WE FORGET

 

                                                                  LEST WE FORGET

 
                                                             WE WILL REMEMBER THEM                                                    

What a beautiful yet emotional and moving tribute the Royal British Legion Festival gave Saturday evening on BBC1. 

PHOENIX is 3 Today

Hi My Friends

I  can't believe Phoenix is 3 today, and we can't celebrate it with him because of the pandemic. We spent the day with him last Sunday and he was on top form, we laughed from the time we got there and until we left. he is so into Disney films, and they all start with the castle, hence the birthday card.

He was so enthusiastic to show us his newly decorated bedroom and I was so impressed with the decorators work I've asked Rob ( Robin ) as Phoenix calls him, to do some rooms in our house. He's stained all the beams in their cottage and they look stunning. He's still got to do Claire & Toby's bedroom, the guest room and their kitchen so I can't see me having our rooms done until 2021, but if he's good you don't mind waiting.

 Hopefully I will get to speak or Skype to wish the little light in my life a very Happy 3rd Birthday. XX

Well here we are again in our second lock down. It really doesn't change my lifestyle much other than it takes away my choice to just get in the car and go to see my Craig, Claire & Phoenix.

 Paul usually does the shopping on the way home from work if we need anything and I've stocked up freezers and cupboards from the wholesalers. I've stocked up with the bird food, the cats food and of course Half Pints food too, so I'm ready but, Paul still has to work. Sadly he has to travel to London often and I think the infection numbers are quite high there. I've said to him that if he has to cover London more often then he will be residing in the caravan meals provided of course but no menu offered though.

After picking up Covid at my last hospital appointment back in March I am so scared of getting it again or the Flu as I'm still experiencing the after effects in my chest & my back, I would not wish Covid on my worst enemy. 

 On a happier note.

Andrea Jenkins, if you look in please wish your hubby Ged a very happy lock down birthday today. Love from Drakes Field.

Please take care of yourselves and Stay Safe especially those that have to self isolate. 

I guess this will be a good time to make my Special Christmas cards, so watch this space.

Again Happy Birthday Phoenix & Ged.

 

Here Goes! 

Well that's it for this post. I hope you like Phoenix's 3rd Birthday card.

See you soon with Christmas cards.

Lots of Love & Hugs. Stay Safe everyone.

Tina XX

Wave of Light around the world

Hi my friends

 

Tonight was Wave of Light around the world night where we light candles to remember all our special babies that were taken too soon.

God bless you my angel, and all your special little friends

 

 

A Thank you Card

Hi My Friends

 

I hope you are all well. We have been really busy helping Claire & Toby in their new/old cottage, digging dead trees out ready for new fencing to all around the property. Paul was doing the hard labour & I was making lunches before going over and playing with Phoenix. I think I got the better jobs. Then it was back home to do the hard labour in our own garden. I've not been that much help as my knee is so painful now and am shouting out with the pain sometimes, Hey Ho! and it's no help when the pratt of a doctor says it's wear & tear love, patronizing woman.

I needed to make a quick Thank You card and an IOU card inside for a big take away for our lovely neighbours. Jim has been amazing. He has saved us an awful lot of money and has saved Paul's back several times as well while Paul has been building our new patio. Jim is a builder and at the time we started our build Jim was demolishing a house, we needed rubble and hardcore and Jim needed to get rid of it, so a portion of the demolished house is now under our patio.

When we first moved here we  built 2 raiand also for security reasons.sed decking areas and over time they became unsafe and as Paul said as he gets older he didn't want the headache of constant repair, so we took down the 2 deck's  and pulled out shrubs and a couple of trees ( which will be replaced )We decided that our property was too over grown and really needed to be opened up again. So many shrubs had taken over and we were losing our view down to the lawn  so fast  that if we had left it for another year we would be totally enclosed. and also for security reasons. I will put some photo's of before and after when it is finished. We still have a way to go as I've decided to move the pond from outside the summer house in the back garden to the front of the property incorporating it in the new patio with a shallow waterfall feature, so as you come up the steps to the front door you can look over and see the pond and also when we are sat in the summer room we will be able to see the fish and hear the trickle of the water. By the time we have finished Paul would have laid 275 slabs

As I say it is a massive Thank You card to Jim & to his wife for allowing Jim to spend his time and the use of his digger, trailer and whacker plate machine to help us out. 

Here Goes.

 

 Hope you like it.

Please stay safe as this awful virus takes hold again. See you all again soon.

Lots of Love & Hugs

 Tina XX

 

 

It's a Boy

Congratulations Georgi & Hartley

We are all so relieved that the new member to the family arrived safe & sound. He's been named Brody Andrew and weighed in at a whopping 9bls, ouch!. I've seen a couple of photo's of him from his proud grandparents, and he is just adorable, but we still won't be able to have a cuddle because of this bloody covid.

I made Brody's card and door tag before I knew what flavour our new family member was going to be. I know it's a cop out doing a non gender colour card but he was a week late so thought I would just get on and make something. So ended up making the CE Rocking horse and a door hanging for the nursery.

Going over to see  my own gorgeous little man tomorrow. He hurt his fingers in the door of the play house we bought him, and after Claire had calmed him down he ran indoors and went on his pretend phone to call me to tell me he was in pain. My heart melted andIjust wanted to give him a big hug. When he got no answer from his toy phone he said to mummy to call Grandma on her phone. I told him I will kiss it better tomorrow and that I have made him some cakes. That seemed to work for now, so watch this space tomorrow.

I hope you are all well & have managed to stay safe from this really persistent virus. It's still very scary, and although I've had it, I'm still wary of going out as they can't say for sure if you can get it again and the 1st time round was really bad.

Lots of Love & Hugs to you all

Tina XX

New Home Card

 Hi my Friends

Hope you are all still managing to stay safe. Paul & I went out to do a big freezer buy so other than potatoes, egg, bread & milk we should be ok for quite a while. I wanted to fill the freezer as I'm not good with the masks, I'll wear it when I have to but my goodness doesn't send your temperature up.

Did anyone else see the most spectacular show from the comet Neowise, It was visible for nearly 2 wks, It was an amazing sight and never to be seen again for many generations to come in fact 6,800 yrs, it makes you realise just how short our time is here. You could see it very clearly with the naked eye but with the telescope or even binoculars it was amazing.

My card today is one I have made for Claire & Toby as they moved into their cottage last Monday. They sold their house back in December and got close to moving in March, then the pandemic occurred and everything was put on hold. They have finally moved and it is such a beautiful place and such a privilege to be the next keepers of such a gorgeous home. I wouldn't say I was envious,  because of all the work they need to do, but just the ambience their new home is going to create will definitely be a forever home.

The patio is still on going. The hardcore is down and tampered only to find we are still short so more hardcore is being delivered today. We will then be waiting for the delivery of our slabs. Hopefully in a few weeks it will be finished and we will be laying out on our new pool loungers in our sleeping bags with half pint tucked inside with a glass of wine ( not half pint with the wine that's just wasteful ) watching the night sky, can't wait!!!

Other than that we have nothing else to report as lock down has put paid to family/ friend get togethers, but it has been lovely to see Phoenix running in his new garden and throwing the fallen apples. Luckily his shots are not very good Phew!!

Here Goes !

Hope you like what you see. See you all again with a baby card as my niece is due to have her baby in August. We have no idea if it's a boy or girl but after losing their first born like Claire & Toby we are awaiting a new arrival with great anticipation.

See you again with baby card.

Love & Hugs but most of all please stay safe.

Tina XX

Birthday card

Hi my Friends

I've been absent for a while, Sorry!

The reason being we have taken a chain saw to 8 trees, had loads of bonfires, pulled 2 lots of decking down and transplanted loads of plants into Evelyn's garden. ( All the trees will be replaced ) but they were in the way of making a new patio. Paul has worked so hard the last 3 weeks and I feel really guilty as I have only been on drinks and food duty because of my fall down the last few stairs a few weeks ago I'm finding it hard to walk, so have felt really useless but he has eaten well and has kept hydrated.

We have still got a long job ahead of us. The hardcore is being delivered then we have some chalk based rubble and then sand, finally we have 200 slabs being delivered for the patio. When it's all finished we are hoping to get away in the caravan. I thinks we are going to look like two knackered old farts sat on our sun loungers snoring our heads off. Sounds good to me, cant wait! That's if we're brave enough to leave the safety of our garden with Covid19 still lurking. We personally think it's way too soon to open up so quickly. I know Paul & Claire have had to work throughout this pandemic but I have made sure that Paul changes and showers and washes his clothes as does Claire before hugging Phoenix.

In all this chaos I hate to say that my sister-in-laws birthday came around faster than I thought and didn't have enough time to make her a card, so I went into my boxes of cards and chose this one. I made this card back in September 2015. Where has that time gone?

I chose this one as her daughter is due to have a baby in 5 weeks after they lost their 1st child too. I know Liz is really looking forward to the big day and also dreams about doing lots of adventures with her new grand child.

Here Goes!

 

I really hope you don't mind that I cheated and used one of my older creations.

Take care everyone & stay safe

Lots of Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Friends birthday card

Hi my friends

It's been a while I'm really sorry. I think my creative brain has been on lock down too. I have reorganized my room to make things more accessible like my dies. They used to be the other side of my workroom but I have moved things around and they are now on a unit right next to my work space, all in their zipped containers which has made the unit very heavy to move but at least they are near to where I work. It still needs a little tweaking but lock down will give me all the time I need.

Like all of you I am really needing time with my family. My life feels empty without hugs from the ones I really love and need to see and just tell then face to face. Zoom is not the same. We had a lovely zoom session last Sunday with Claire Craig and Phoenix. Phoenix had just had his bath and was running about in Claire's yoga room with not a care in the world and decided to do ballet moves, Well it just made us fall about laughing and the more we laughed the more he posed. The innocents is so precious.

How are you all coping with the lock down?

 Other than Paul taking me to the wholesalers 2 wks ago I have not been out since 12th march. He is going to take me again later this week as my knee has got so bad I'm now walking with a limp and pulling the trolley makes walking for the next couple of days very painful. That was going to be my job next after getting my neck sorted, but there is no way that I'm going to go to a hospital until this pandemic is totally under control, so It's just a case of grin and bare it. Oh I hate this growing old/er gracefully! I always intended to to do it disgracefully. There's still time though, right!!!!

Anyway enough now. I have made a birthday card for a friend we go to see every year to celebrate her birthday in June, but because of the you know what we have had to postpone the trip. Even if the campsites open we don't know if she would be happy to socialise even though Paul & I have had Covid19 ( not tested just our Dr's diagnosis over the phone ). So this year she is just going to get her card and a Bloom & Wild letterbox bouquet this year and we'll celebrate  her birthday later in the year covid19 permiitted.

Anyway here goes!

 

Well that's it.

I really hope you are all staying safe. Please take care and I hope to see you here again soon.

Love & hugs to you all

Tina XX

FELL FOR IT

Hi my Friends

Well what a lockdown! Paul & I are slowly getting over the covid19 ( even though the doctor confirmed it, no testing ). I still can't take a full breath in without coughing so breathing is shallow sometimes but, hey we are so getting over this. I hope you and your families are all staying safe. This is such a scary time in our lives when we are fighting something that we can't see and is taking our loved ones away from us. I'm worried about the front line workers. I know Steph has a good friend that is on the front line and my sister is working in a care home with 3 definite covid19 without proper PPE. As Paul said today it's like sending our troops into battle without riffles. My sister lives in part of our home, we worry about her, but also for ourselves as we don't fully know how this bloody virus works. She lives in a self contained part of the house that is divided by a door and a little hall. We haven't opened the door between us for at least five weeks and only talk at a distance in the garden. Bless her she does our shopping once a week and she knocks on our kitchen doors to let us know our food is outside on the patio. Last week I made her a Thank you card but I forgot to take a photo, Sorry!

Please stay safe, I know it's easy to say but I really mean it. X



On a lighter note. This is what lockdown did to my OH Paul and I fell for it hook line & sinker.

Also Paul went out today for a bike ride around the lanes for his 1hr exercise and I asked him to go through Cowsfield. It's a beautiful lane beside our village, there are stunning woodlands that display their beauty every year of bluebells at this time no matter what is happening in our lives. Nature carries on Thank goodness.

 We have a lot to learn from mother nature," Why aren't we listening". I don't want to go back to vapour trails in the sky, or sit in the garden and hear the traffic in the distance or see the greediness of people in the supermarkets. I Just want to sit in the garden and hear nature at it's most musical, It's amazing. Selfish I know! and life has to return to some kind of normality but I don't think as a human race we would have listened hard enough, and because of this pandemic and pandemics to come, the worry about our little ones looking to the future with an innocents and naivety of our greed this is what we have left them as our legacy, It's so sad. Goodness that was heavy, I'm really sorry.

Hopefully Mother Nature will give us all another chance. I just hope we don't Ball's it up again!!

Thank you all for looking in, I hope I haven't put you off coming back because of my language.

Take care & stay safe

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

How Are You All

Hi my Friends

Now as I am writing this message I really don't know what to say. The news is so frightening as the number passing away due to Covid19 had doubled here in the south. Like all of you I'm worried about my Children and my grandson who I miss so much. I talk to Claire and Craig everyday and Phoenix talks to me in his very special way. He'll say "Grandma" and then he goes off on a babble that he thinks I know and understand, Maybe the odd word in between but it's just lovely to hear his voice.

Claire has been poorly with an ear infection and a really bad cold and Phoenix has had a cold & a really chesty cough. Craig, fingers crossed has been feeling fine while isolating at home.

One of the main reasons I wrote this blog today is to thank Steph Cotterill. She has been an absolute God send to me over the past week or more. I contracted the Covid19 virus after a visit to the hospital or the wholesaler in Salisbury. My appointment at the hospital was the same day as the 1st person to die in Salisbury hospital. While I was having my pre doctor checks the nurse said then that we'll all get this virus but just in different degrees, which made me just want to run for the hills. Although they were wiping the self check in monitor and door handles I did notice that it was with the same wipe. People were coughing all around us but at that time we didn't know as much as we do now. I began to feel unwell a couple of day later, it just started with a silly cough which I didn't think anything about as I always start my colds with a cough. By the Monday I said to Paul would you ring the doctor as I think I have a chest infection. I've never had a chest infection before but the feeling in my chest was worrying me and Paul. I had a feeling way down in my chest of something that I couldn't move no matter how much I coughed. I was wheezing so much at night Half Pint woke me as it was so loud, I don't know if she was worried or just trying to tell me I was too loud and keeping her awake. My kidney's hurt my whole body hurt and my head was particularly painful. The doctor heard me coughing and asked Paul to put the phone on speaker so that he could ask me some questions. He asked a whole list of questions, I answered more yes than no and said that I had no sense of taste or smell. He then asked Paul how he was feeling so Paul said his symptoms and the Dr then said I'm sorry but both of you are showing signs of Covid19 and you now have to isolate yourselves and if I got worse to ring for an ambulance. I also had slapped cheek

Steph kept in contact with me everyday. That's the second time Steph has been there for me at a time I needed a shoulder and I just want to say the biggest "THANK YOU" so much Steph .

Luckily Paul & myself are out the other side of awful virus and just have a cough, but we are still not going out as we are still feeling really tired all the time, so I have definitely slept a lot. Even though the doctor said we had the virus, we were not tested and I'm scared if Paul goes out he will bring something else back. His company thankfully are not letting him go back to work as they said with that cough no one will let you into their premises.

So again for always being there for me a heartfelt thank you.

Thank You again dear Steph XXXX

Evelyn's Card

Hi My Friends

Well!. We had a lovely afternoon over Claire's to celebrate what would have been Evelyn's 4th Birthday. Claire had ordered a lovely spread of food from M&S and it was yummy. She asked if I would do some savoury goodies which I was more than happy to do, then I said  would you like me to do a plate of your favourites which is cheese & pineapple ( how 70's ). It was just the Grandparents and my son Craig there today as we were the only people that got to meet and hold Evelyn ,but it wasn't a sad it's more a bittersweet day but we really did celebrated the day. I know Claire was sad and I made sure she wasn't left alone but I also noted that Claire didn't leave me too much either bless her.

I saw this sentiment stamp on a show on Hochanda a few ago and thought this is just perfect for Evelyn's birthday card and I love the little die of the hands as Toby took a photo of Evelyn's hand in Claire just after Evelyn was born. I think the die was 95p and free delivery from Wish.




Right, Here Goes!

To those that pop in to visit Thank you.

See you again soon XX

Love & Hugs

Tina XX