HAPPy NEW YEAR

 Hi my friends

To all of those who just pop in, may I wish you all good things for 2023.

Hugs

Tina XX

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hi My Friends

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY & HEALTHY 2023

Love, Peace & Hugs

Tina XX

 

Christmas makes

Hi My Friends

 

Well what a hectic build up to Christmas. Well not so much for me, but Paul has had to do the Christmas shopping if I haven't been able to get it online and he still has the food shopping to do. I hope you are all ready for the big day.

I would love to have been able to go and join in all the festivities but I still can't walk without at least one crutch or on uneven ground I need both crutches so still unable to drive and if Paul takes me out I can't go out for long as I can't use the facilities. Earlier this week I was put on Morphine patches along with some stronger meds to help with the pain in my knee. At least the morphine is giving me a chance to catch up on some sleep.

So I have been in my workroom making a new table centre and the Christmas crackers Each cracker contains a snap, a hat, a joke, a wind up jumping toy and a Lego character and finally a lottery ticket will be added. I've had a lot of fun making these I just hope they all snap. I really recommend Anna Marie's Christmas ready cut crackers and paper/card for decoration.

Well here Goes!

Well that's it. I made 11 crackers and one new table centre.

I  will hopefully be laying the table on Friday after physio.

I hope you all who look in have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy & Healthy New Year.

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Phoenix's 5th Birthday

 Hello My Friends

 How can it be that Phoenix is 5 today. Yesterday afternoon I watched some videos with Claire today of Phoenix at just a few days old. Oh my word was he tiny and and beautiful little bundle, and here he is now playing with Lego monsters, Darth Vader & This birthday we bought him  a Thanos outfit? which he loved and we had to be all under his spell. Last Christmas we bought him the Dart Vader costume and in the summer Claire took him to a Haskins and he was quite clear he was going out for the day as Darth Vader. She took a photo of him in one of the swinging whicker rocking chairs, with made me laugh. Claire said most people joined in with his unusual attire, but she said the older generation were surprised that Claire let him go out that way. I found the photo's hilarious and proud that Claire allows his funny little personality to be seen and not smothered.

 

At this point I would like to say a big Happy Birthday also to Ged, Andrea's husband, Yay I got your name right this year Andrea. I hope you have a lovely day Ged! 

On a more boring subject my knee is not doing so well. I'm doing my exercises but I'm in agonies everyday. I'm riding the exercise bike and managing 20 revolutions 4 times a day and can hardly walk when I get off. I can only go down stairs one at a time, but I can walk upstairs as long as I throw my leg out to the side but have to rely on both bannister rails, and I'm still needing crutches on uneven ground as it's just so painful. I had an appointment to see my surgeon the beginning of December for another useless review, but I've had a letter saying it's now in January. Anyway it is what it is, and I'm going to be working so hard on my knee as I'm taking all the family to Disney in May and I'm sure Phoenix will be running my arse ragged, I can't wait.

Anyway here goes!

The Card Box

Well that's the end of my exhausting Sunday afternoon with Phoenix, but well worth every ache and wonderful cuddles, and next weekends party with all his new school mates wiil definitely end with a brandy and babycham on a drip, hik!.

Until next time, Take Care

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Wave Of Light. For baby Loss

Hello dear friends

 

Sending lots of love and gentle hugs to all the Mum's, Dad's. Brother's, Sister's Grandma's, Granddad's Auntie's, uncle's and for all the members of the family that have been touched by the loss of a baby of any age in the family, they'll always be our babies and remembered with so much love.

This is for you my sweet Evelyn, I'll remember my hugs with you forever.

 

Love and Hugs

Tina XX

40th Birthday Card

 Hi My Friends.

 

I can't believe that my niece is 40. I remember when she came around to play with Claire & Craig and came for tea so many times. Claire & Viki used to get on their swings and try and swing high enough to talk over the garden fences. It was so cute.

Happy Birthday Viki. XX

 

Here goes!

I Hope you liked it.

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Wedding card

 Hello my friends

I'm so sorry it's been so long since my last blog.

 

 Firstly I would like to say how profoundly sad we are as a family to hear the passing of our much beloved Queen Elizabeth II . I've watched  everything I can to follow her homeward bound travel to Windsor Castle . I think her passing was a surprise to a lot of us. As her acceptance the demise of a prime minister & then accepting our new PM must have been a very strenuous task for her, but she did it with all the grace & dignity that we have always known from her  Then two day's later hearing how fragile she had become and within hours of hearing that she had passed away, it's just so incredibly sad. My heart goes out to all of her family here and over seas. May God grant you to rest in peace with Phillip at your side once again. RIP.

 

As I said earlier it has been quite a long time since my last post, mainly due to pain after my knee operation that hasn't gone as smoothly as I'd hoped. At times I felt It has been worse after having the op and wished I hadn't had it done, and I'm still in that mind set 11wks down the line. I'm working hard at my exercises and hope to feel the benefit soon.and I know there's no gain without pain but having the haematoma is definitely holding back my recovery.

 

Anyway, I had a couple of cards I was asked to make. One was a wedding card and a 40th birthday card. I'll start with the wedding card now and I'll post the birthday card on Saturday.

Here Goes!

Well that's all folks!

Be back Saturday for the 40th birthday card. Hope you like the wedding card.

Take Care

Love & Big Hugs

Tina XX

Operation Knee Done

 Hi My Friends

Glad to report that the op on my knee was not cancelled again and went ahead on the 23rd June.

I had my op at 10.30am and was then taken to my room at 12.30pm, which I shared with a lovely lady called Sue. I only saw her twice in all the time I was there as she had to stay flat on the bed as her back was broken. For all the pain we were in we had a good laugh at silly things (toilet mainly). I saw her once when I went for physio and the second time I waved her goodbye as I went home Saturday afternoon. I'm still in contact with her but she is having a rough time at the moment.

I hit my brick wall of pain tolerance mid week and rang the doctor. I had been sent home with paracetamol, Ibuprofen & codeine phosphate. By this time I was missing the morphine. Anyway spoke to a young lady who asked how I was getting on with my meds and I said That I wasn't sleeping as the pain just kept me awake and had no relief during the day and I said that Paracetamol wasn't helping the pain at all. She said try leaving the Paracetamol out and you'll soon realise how good they are. Basically that was the end of the conversation. That night my sister gave me a pain killer she had when she broke her rib and I had a relatively good night.By that weekend I was in so much pain we had to ring 111, this was at 2.30pm Saturday afternoon a week after my op. They said someone will be with you in 2 hours as a house call, 7.40pm we rang again, they took my details again and said within 2 hours someone will be visiting you. my leg was so swollen and was bright red and very hot to touch, we waited until 2.30 am and no one had arrived. Paul said could I stand the pain till morning and we'd ring the doctor which he did and I went to our surgery to be told I had a Haematoma and to elevate the leg and gave me antibiotics just in case it got infected but not to take until I show signs of infection.

 Paul & I did laugh the morning I went in. Although I was NHS I had the op at a private hospital. We were sat in the reception after checking in and I was given 2 forms to fill in regarding a light evening meal ie:- sandwich and a form for breakfast the next day, which I chose egg mayo sandwich & cornflakes, toast & marmalade. Sat opposite me was a well to do gentleman that was waiting to be shown to his single occupancy room. A man in a chef uniform came out and asked the gentleman what sandwich would you like for the afternoon, you can choose roast beef & horseradish or mustard, chicken with some fancy dressing or smoked salmon & cucumber. Although we had masks on I could see Paul's eyes were creased with laughing, but then they changed when he re read my choice which was egg mayo, ham or cheese.I remember being called to go and Paul looked quite emotional and couldn't really talk, he hugged me tight said I love you and I hobbled away. When all said and done I'm glad I had a shared room as Sue was a great roomie and no matter what posh nosh you have it couldn't replace the laughing. Thanks Sue X

I went for my first NHS physio last Wednesday and he was quite brutal. He said I wasn't on enough pain control and suggested I contacted my GP that day which I did and she upt the dose of codeine to 60ml along with the ibuprofen & paracetamol.WOW! I've never slept so much.I hope all of this makes sense.

Anyway, long and short of things I'm still in a lot of pain especially after doing my exercises especially trying to get my leg to 90 degrees, but that's due to the haematoma, I hope the physio realises this when I see him again in 9 day's time. I know it is a different kind of pain that will get better, I'm disappointed in my own progress so I could do without him telling me again I should be doing more.

Andrea, I really hope Ged is making a full recovery after his op too.

I have a couple of cards to make, a 70th and a baby card, so hoping to get up into my workroom to make a start this weekend. That's if I can stay awake.

Sorry if there is too much waffle.

Take Care & wear your Masks

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

 

Friend's Birthday Card

 Hi my Friends

I'm sorry it's been such a long time since my last blog. I'd like to say that I have been recovering from my knee replacement operation, but that too was cancelled again. I now have a date for the 23rd June, I've had my pre op assessment already and have a blood test on the 16th June and maybe the op on the following Thursday, but I'm not holding my breath. So I have been feeling a bit low and in a lot of pain, hence no cards, but I gave myself a good talking to and made two cards. One for my brother-in-law and one for my friend up north  We always try to get up to Yorkshire to celebrate our friend's birthday but with the pandemic and isolating because of my operation we won't be seeing her again until later this year, knee permitting. Anyway enough of that, how are you all?

We are at the moment recovering from dog & cat sitting for Claire while they went on holiday with the outlaws! We collected them from Claire last Thursday when we looked after Phoenix as Claire had a day trip to a farm with her class. Then on Saturday Craig said could we have his dog Bentley over night as he had an early start for a bike ride around London as all the roads were going to be closed. So Saturday we had 3 dogs & 4 cats in the house. Our three cats have not ventured out of my work room. Figaro ( Claire's cat ) is no problem she was living in the dining room and was enjoying lots of attention. Half Pint has been stuck to me like glue as the other dogs are bigger than her, well anything is bigger than Half Pint, even the cats. The 2 boy dogs have been quite enthusiastic in their play together and have on occasions got quite excited and have peed on the rugs in the hall, so we went on line Sunday and bought a Vax carpet cleaner. Things have become a lot calmer now that Bentley has gone home. PHEW! what a weekend. Indiana Jones & Figaro went back home on Saturday and peace has reigned at Drakes Field once again. Having a manic weekend/ week it makes you realise just how quiet your own pets are. It was good been fun, don't get me wrong and I loved having them stay but I don't think we'll do all of them together again.and I can now get up in the morning without 2 more excitable dogs saying good morning. In a funny way I miss them.. My three cats are now enjoying the run of the house, so happy pets all round.

 

 

 Here goes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Well that's all for now.
•  
• The next card I need to make is for my sister-in-law for a special birthday, so thinking cap on. I don't envy Paul as I will be making this card post op and won't be able to climb the stairs so he will probably be running up & down stairs with things i have forgotten for her card. I must try and die cut and have the mat & layers, the sentiments, inserts & box ready so I can have that to work on when I get home.
  

 

 

           

Evelyn

Hi My Friends.

 

6 years ago today 03-03-16 at 22.22pm our beautiful Evelyn was born sleeping. The past 3 days have been a challenge.

1st March was Evelyn's due date, overnight 1st-2nd Evelyn passed away and that was confirmed after a frantic drive to get Claire to the hospital. Evelyn was born sleeping on the 3rd March.

I've been in contact with Claire all week not only because of the dreaded 3 days but Claire also has Covid, even though she has been triple jabbed she is really poorly. I can't go over to see her as I'm not driving because of my knee and she won't let me in case I catch it and jeopardize a cancellation for an earlier op. So it's only phone hugs. 

I also found out today from Craig that he is also positive with Covid. It's the 1st day of him knowing he's positive and is feeling achy, a very sore throat and generally unwell and exhausted, he is also triple jabbed. So no visits from my family for a while 😢.

I made Evelyn this card today. I love the concept of the card but I was so disappointed with the fairy stamp. My 1st attempt was yesterday only to find out that my stamp had a fault. It has a fault by the arm and legs, it has a slight dent. So when I tried again today I had to ink the stamp on the plastic sheet it came on and press into the dent lightly with my fingers which erased most of the white line on her arm and leg and left white spaces that I had to colour in with black ink ink. After several attempts this was the best one. I've never done this kind of blending to create an atmospheric back ground but Thanks to Tracy at Lavinia stamps I am quite pleased with this finished card ( except for the faulty stamp. ) Anyway I hope you like it too, and I really must that new camera I keep talking about too.

XX Evelyn

Well that's all my very special cards made for February & March.

Take care of yourselves and try and stay Safe

Love & Big Hugs

Tina XX

My Daughter's 40th Birthday Card ❤

 Hi My Friends

 

I hope that you all have all managed to stay safe through the storm Eunice. The storm is meant to come back tonight with a vengeance. We have had some damage. Our beautiful Linen ( Handkerchief ) tree is leaning over our lawn, we have 2 pine trees hanging over my car, I went out to try and move the car but it was flat as I haven't been able to drive for months. A heavy wooden chair was lifted over to the pond and the weighted netting on the pond was blown away and my new bird feeder is a battered ground feeder now.. The garden furniture in the back garden was trying to escape across the path in front of the kitchen, and Paul's green house is destroyed. So I think we have got off lightly, but it's meant to be back again tonight, What can you do when mother nature decides to fight back, just gird your loins and fingers crossed.

Well this is my second to last card for February. I thoroughly enjoyed making this one for Claire as I could just make a really girly card. Then during the week I heard that my son's girlfriend had gone down with Covid and that she was really poorly, bless her. The last time I spoke to her we agreed that she was too poorly to make Claire's. With ideas from Dawn I decided that a chocolate cake was the way to go. 1st I made the sponge cake with Bourneville chocolate. The filling is morello cherry and chocolate cheese frosting. I've covered the cake with the frosting and piped 12 swirl's on the top, then dark chocolate will be sprinkled on top of the cake and then each swirl will have a ferrero rocher on top. I just hope it doesn't look too homemade, Time will tell. I have a Fabulous at 40 cake topper and pink sparklers to go on the cake too. I have also bought Claire a crown & sach to wear at the restaurant. She doesn't know that yet!  We're having a surprise lunch for Claire.

I felt so sorry for my sister today 18th Feb as it is her birthday today. I did make her a chocolate cup cake with a candle a card and a glass of wine and said we'd celebrate her birthday on Sunday with a prawn curry & extra's as I have been so occupied with Claire's 40th, not good I know but she had to work over night of her birthday anyway.

I have to say that I'm pleased my Feb birthday's are almost over and I know that a lot of you are still making quite a few more cards for this month, keep going you'll get there 😊. I'm on bed rest as from Monday! 👍

Take care everyone!

Here Goes!

 

 

 

 

Well that it folks for this time. I hope you like the card as much as I loved making it. See you soon.

Take Care & Stay Safe

Love And Hugs

Tina XX

2nd Card for February

 Hi My Friends

Well I just about came up with an idea for Paul's birthday card, cutting it really fine, and just finishing it and taking photos at 1.55am today. Later today Paul has asked for dinner, shepherds pie, apple fritters & a home made coffee cake with morello cherry filling with coffee cream cheese frosting. So a busy day tomorrow. IBM give their employees the day off on their birthday,. so the weather in Wiltshire is meant to be sunny, nippy but dry so Paul is planning a long walk. He'll be driving and parking the the car goodness knows where, catching a train to goodness knows where, then walking back to the car. Itinerary to be left for me tomorrow. I would have loved to do that with him but maybe post knee op I can next year. 

I have a busy week next week as it's Claire's 40th on the 16th Feb so another card to make, YAY! a girly one.

I hope you are all well and still staying safe.

Here Goes!

I curved the Happy Birthday die cuts.

Well that's Paul's card, I hope you like it.

Take Care & Stay Safe

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRAIG. 1st card of February

Hi My Friends

 

Firstly, Happy Birthday to my amazing son. Happy Birthday Sonshine!! ( that's just my way of spelling sonshine. ). Craig has been amazing over the year's. Overcoming bullying and a serious eating disorder, or should I say managing it, and also Anxiety. He joined MIND, who helped him so much and has since become an ambassador for MIND. He does lectures about the problems he has had and encourages people with the same problems to TALK. Talk to Mum, Dad, family, friends, wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends Just talk. He's been amazing and I don't know how he has had the strength to get up on a stage and be filmed and open up about his issues and have listened to other people going through what he has. He is just My amazing Wonderful Sonshine XX.

 

Secondly, you know how we all struggle with a man card. Well this is all I could come up with. Hope you approve. Paul's card I've decided to regress as he gets older and I'm going to make it pretty childish ( I think? ). Hey Ho! at this stage he'll be lucky to get one!

 

Here Goes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Well that's it for this week. Paul's card next Friday.

Take Care & Stay Safe.

Love & Hugs

Tina XX