WOYWW #600

 So we finally made it!!!

Well done Julia, with a nod to Jan . . . I am so pleased that I found you.  

I blame that MaryAnne and her Blog . . . Thank you MaryAnne

So many laughs and so many tears of happiness and sometimes sadness but so much friendship.

My Desk

As you can see, not a lot going on . . . 

I am downstairs trying to set up our Christmas Village.  It used to take Peter and me a couple of days to get this up and running to our satisfaction . . .  I am hoping to do it in a week . . .  I have the help of incredible Dx to do the fiddly things and the girls are also helping so we shall see.

The tree is up and the railway is running, two 'houses' are unpacked so we are on our way.  The line across the picture is the tram, which was added last year, as you can tell this is only the central third.  Lots more to do . . . . 

Happy WOYWW #600 everyone, enjoy your visits.

WOYWW #598

WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top of the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

The desk . . . .

Yep!  I'm crafting!  

I decided to take a couple of days away from sorting out paperwork etc.  I know time goes on but I have to craft . . . . . it's me!

I am making all the swaps for this month and shall continue until they are finished . . . . some stamping and now diecutting . . . .whoopee!!

The decs and the tree are going to appear downstairs later in the week and I will need a couple of days to set up our Christmas 'corner', thankfully Dx has agreed to help me.  He always helps at Christmas, makes sure the tree is erected correctly (we'll have to put the lights on ourselves this year but he's ok with that), the baubles and tinsel is added.  Then we have to set up the train which usually needs some 'exercise' to make sure it is running right!!!

As DDC says "Happy Days".

Stay warm, stay safe, stay crafting . . . .

Chicken fun!

I have had a bit of excitement round here this morning!!!

I went up the garden to feed the birds, Tom is still here, and let the chickens out to play.

After they had all come out and were busy foraging for the seed etc.  I went into the ranch to collect the eggs, check the food and water . . . .funny noises . . . . Checking the water,very cold water, I found Petunia having swimming lessons!!

I fished her out quickly and placed inside the coop.  She was soaking and shivering, I had no idea how long she had been in there . . . .

I fetched a nice thick bath towel and then scooped her up in it and gave her a good rubbing (heavy stroking) to get her circulation going, her bare bits were quite blue.  She just let me do whatever, I don't know whether it was shock or cold, poor thing.

Eventually I unwrapped her and put her back in the coop, added lots of bedding round her and some corn (corn keeps them warm - I don't know, it's something Peter said).

I checked the water container which was filthy, them chickens have had themselves a mud bath with all this rain!!  After I had washed it out, I then left it to fill up with fresh water!

I went back after a couple of hours with the last pumpkin half and lo!  there she was at the front of the queue.

Nothing wrong with her now, thank goodness.

WOYWW #597

 WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top of the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

Look very carefully at this photo . . . . . what is missing?

NO List!!!

I have given up keeping one as more 'schtuff' keeps arriving as I cross things off my list!  lol

I have taken up my knitting again and just started the sleeves to little small item . . . . .

We, Flump and me, had a visitor in the garden yesterday . . . .

Certainly enjoyed the seeds that were out for the birds, I thought it was a dove or something as it had such a pretty face.  Looked it up and Mr G seems to think it's a pigeon!!  I think it's the red stockings that give it away!!

Short and sweet today as I have to clear out the chicken ranch and fill up the feeders, it's all go round here you know!!  Can't leave it too late or it is too dark, such fun!!  lol

Off to put the wellies on . . . . 

Happenings on a Friday . . . .

Friday 6th November 2020

The Funeral went without a hitch, the family and a few friends attended.

The music for the Celebration was chosen with care by myself and the girls.  The songs were different from the usual Christian music but each one played a significant part in Peter's life and therefore also in ours.

We had Ralph McTell singing 'The Streets of London' for the entry song, one that Peter always played when practising on his guitar.  He busked on the London streets when he was a student and then, a few years ago, met up with Ralph and they swapped stories of the early days.

Our next choice was not exactly a song, more a story, but was really BIG in our house.  Back in the 80's when we all came to know God in a personal way, a young guy came to our Church and performed some mime.  He became our friend and we had some really good times so we chose The Champion as the music but in our mind's eye we were all watching this . . . . .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7oZKXIVkWE

The next song was by Don Fransisco.  It held resonance for two reasons:

1 - Our first date was to go to a Don Fransisco concert.

2 - When we journeyed out to Nigeria, Peter always included this song in his repertoire . . . .I'll Never Let Go of Your Hand.  

I saw him playing his guitar out the front of the Church, happy memories for me and our Nigerian brother and sister.  

After the blessing, the strains of Acker Bilk could be heard as we left the chapel.  When asked if he could play his clarinet, Peter always played this tune. 

I don't think it was the sort of celebration folk expected but then we are not the usual kind of family.  Peter and I travelled all over Europe, into America and Africa.  We made friends wherever we went and always, always managed to find a local Church . . . . in Africa there were lots!

To celebrate a life is to rejoice for the honour of knowing the man.  One friend said it all when she said:  It was a privilege to know such a character as Peter.

 . . .  and it was . . . 

Anniversary

Remembrance Sunday 

So many memories come flooding back but today is also the Anniversary of my First Blog Post, November 8th 2008.

I started out just recording the family history and stories so they would not be lost to time in my first Blog - My Recollections . . . . .

Then I added another Blog so that I could record my cards which I so enjoy making and swapping - Cardius Bloggus . . . . . 

Then along came another Blog, recording the ATCs that I had discovered and started to make and swap - Artful Thoughts and Colours. . . .

Gradually my paid employment became quite stressful as I climbed the ladder of success, so I closed the first two blogs and continued filing my life more or less as it happened.

I love Blogging, I love looking back for the memories, to check when I did something . . . .

I am grateful for this Blog at this sad time. . . . . .  so many happy memories to relive . . . . so many new adventures to record . . . . .

Happy Anniversary little Blog. . . . . long may you bring happiness to all who share these jottings, amazement to those who discover you for family history purposes. . . . 

WOYWW #596

WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top of the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

Still chasing my tail here .. .. . .  

No cards being made as yet . . . .  printouts, new lists, phonecalls etc. etc. etc.

Next week WILL be different, how do I know that you ask?  

Peter's funeral is on Friday at 11.00hrs.

I hope to catch up with my life, which will be different and just as exciting!  Lockdown means nothing to me as we spent most of this year on our own, except for my glorious girls, so I will fill the time with sewing, knitting, painting  . . . . .oh! you know how it is . . . . .

I must say that Friends of Vintage Trains have been very good in allowing me to continue with Peter's work as Membership Secretary.  There are days when I can shut myself away, just reconcile accounts and pretend I am Credit Control again!!  

No, I don't want to go back to paid employment, thank you!!

Have a good week everyone and I hope the sun shines on you all.