Phew!!

Honestly..... I didn't mean to be away so long.  Didn't  mean to loose track of all things bloggy and certainly didn't mean to get so far behind with reading what you've all been doing.   So... where have I been and what have I been up to.   Hummmm......would you believe me if I told you I'd been abducted by aliens?

No?

Not even if I showed you a photo of one....

OK... I give in.   It's a pic of Chris modelling her latest innovation.....  Kanzashi flower sleep masks for more attractive Nana Naps!  Somehow I don't think they're going to catch on.

To be fair.... Chris deserves a medal.  She's the first one of us to crack those dastardly Kanzashi flower makers from Clover.  You wouldn't believe the trouble I had trying to make one.....

I read the instructions.....

Licky Lou came to offer some moral support.... I was getting frustrated because my hands hurt so much it was hard to fiddle with the template

She thought kissing me better was the way to go!   It worked!   I love her to bits!  Sorry I can't show you the flower(!) I made... it went straight into the bin.

As I said.... Chris has making them down to a fine art....

Sally and I are going to pick her brains.... assuming we can find them!

I did manage a little applique.....  

my stash of baskets is growing..... ever so slowly but steadily.   I found some more lovely background fabrics .....

so I'm all set to keep plugging away.

Took time out to play with some little half inch hexies.....

don't know what they're going to be yet but they are so addictive.  I can see a lot more of them in my future.  Did I mention I have some quarter inch hexies papers!    I'm wondering if anyone ever tried them and didn't end up in rehab.

What else.   Sally brought her latest 'flimsy' over to show and tell....

Isn't it gorgeous!   Both she and I cut the pieces for this one while we were away on retreat.   Mine is still a WIP... well I never!    The pattern is Seville by Cluck Cluck Sew  and the fabric is 'Etchings' from Moda.   One day I'll show you mine.... just don't hold your breath.

Tina visited and showed off the progress on her hexie quilt..... she is behind there holding it... unless it is really levitating....

Remember she's sewing this with 'invisible' thread!    Personally I think the fact that she works in an operating theatre and guddles about in peoples innards beside the surgeon gives her an edge.  She knows all there is to know about suturing tricky stuff together.

What else?

One of my greatest wishes came true......

Julie at Little Cotton Rabbits has for sale patterns (and they are downloadable) to make her fabulous... wait for it... Little Cotton Rabbits.  If you've never visited her blog get on over there right now.... her bunnies and other knitted stuffies are totally gorgeous.   There's a pic of  the most gorgeous little bunny dresses you ever saw pegged on a line.   Takes 'cute' to a whole new level!  I've got my fingers crossed for an elephant pattern in the future.   

That's about it for crafty stuff.   Not a lot of progress for such a long break.

Outdoors things are progressing.....

yesterday I unearthed the caravans hard standing from under both grass and weed.  Honestly... it's been buried so long I forgot it was there!  Took me all day to dig it out.... don't tell my mum... I'm not supposed to be doing anything.  

Remember I told you she didn't like the caravan because it was 'green' (covered in algae)... well

I cleaned the front half... can you tell the difference (ha)  The rest will have to wait until my buttocks unclench. Honestly.... of all the muscles to stiffen up from overworking it had to be my  Gluteus Maximus and very maximus they are indeed.  (note to self:   must diet.... again).

This arrived today.....

it's a huge bag of Bark Mulch.  Something tells me it's not going to go very far in this garden.  Still.. I'm ever hopeful that it (along with some ground membrane) is going to go a long way towards stopping the annual invasion of the field next door into my flower bed.   Maintenance Man is coming tomorrow (along with his 13 year old son who shall be named  Mini Maintenance Man)  to spread the stuff as far as it will go.

What else?

Our staircase is now sporting this contraption......

It's a stairlift to transport Mac between floors.   He wanted one with go faster stripes... I wanted one with an ejector seat aligned with the landing window!   OK.... don't get your knickers in a twist... I'm only joking.  Besides... I'd be the one who had to climb the ladder to retrieve him from the conservatory roof! :o))  I love him really.

Do you see that dark shadow at the top of the stairs?   First time I saw it I nearly flipped.   I thought I'd caught an 'orb' in the photo.... good grief... the house is haunted!!     Further investigations revealed a blob of melted chocolate on my camera lens.    I obviously watch too many 'Most Haunted' programmes.

What else?

Last week I caved in and went to see the Dr who took no less than 12 phials of blood for testing.  I'm not holding out much hope for a diagnosis.   Mr T (Chris's husband) suggested it might be  Brucellosis  but as I'm not an old cow and haven't aborted a calf recently I think he's barking up the wrong tree.  Still... that's a farmer for you and I do appreciate the concern.

Ok... I'm finally running out of steam.  When I started writing I didn't have much to say... funny that.  I'd better go and find something to nibble before I head on up to bed..   I missed dinner tonight and don't want to wake up with the midnight munchies at 3am!

Hope you are all having fun and doing stuff that makes you happy.   I'll be very happy once I manage to catch up with all your bloggy goings on....

See ya soon

Hugs

Josie