FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK!

Slightly longer than anticipated but

A BIG HELLO

 to everyone and it feels good to be back again!

I have to start with an update on my loved ones, you were all so kind with your support and prayers back in July and I'm so pleased to say both my dear dad and mother-in-law have come through their major ops and are making excellent progress, I can't tell you the relief we all feel, it's been an emotional roller-coaster ride for most of this year but at long last we can put these ordeals behind us and concentrate on brighter days!

So am I a happy bunny?

Well, as half of my heart now lies in Bournemouth, NO!

I've dreaded counting the days down on the calendar but the day finally came on 15th September and on that day we took DD to her new life at University ~ a horrible 104 miles and 2 hours drive away :(

I know, you've all done it, gone through it, felt it, BUT you have to admit it's the most emotional time ever and some 4 weeks later, I'm still struggling ~ thank goodness for SKYPE and without our video chats and all the gossip I don't know what I'd do?  But you have to stay strong don't you?  Keep smiling, keep encouraging them and remind them what a dreadful nag you are by asking if they're eating properly, cleaning their room and keeping the washing up to date!

If ever I needed a pick-me-up then Cath  http://stitchinchicken.blogspot.co.uk was the one to do it!

Look at this pretty little cushion that popped through the letterbox last week ~ a complete surprise and a lovely card with such kind words too.

Thank you Cath from the bottom of my heart ~ such perfect timing and as I've said to you I so appreciate your friendship and if you could move nearer that would be great!!!

I bet by now you're asking 'Well, what about some stitching progress?'

and I do actually have some, not a lot but will this do for now . . .

Christmas Patches finally completed ~ WOW! there's a whole lot of backstitching to this one but it's so worth it ~ it literally comes alive as you stitch.

  

I wondered if anyone would like the Leisure Arts booklet I stitched it from? 

It does have some smaller motifs too and are all so lovely and colourful.  The booklet is a bit shabby around the edges but perfectly fine for someone else to have the pleasure of using. I don't want anything for it and am happy to send worldwide. If you are interested, let me know in a comment below and should there be more than one person, I'll pick a name and let you know in my next post!

I did start another project straight after finishing Santa but have to admit I'm struggling a bit even though it's about 75% complete!  Other than that, I'm a bit of a failure this year and my 2012 Happy Dance list proves this!  I've also been completely out of touch with my blogging friends, I just haven't had the time to spare, but hopefully it's full steam ahead now and I look forward to catching up with you all soon ~ am I forgiven?

Thanks for stopping by

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx  

TIME FOR A BREAK!

Following my last post, I'm disappointed to say things have not gone well!

After all the preparation and worry leading up to my dear Dad's major surgery yesterday, we got as far as completing the last minute pre-op assessments and changing into his surgical gown to being told that the x-ray machinery needed to assist the surgeon during the operation had broken down and the electrician was unable to repair it that same day!  He was sent back home with a new date of 8 August ~ that's an unbelievable further 5 weeks of sitting on a time bomb and hoping that the aneurysm doesn't rupture.

As you can probably imagine we are all devastated at this news and both my Mum and Dad were in pieces yesterday, my Mum especially as she knows this is a high-risk operation for him and whereas today we were hoping to be waking up to good news and the recovery process starting ~ we are back to Square 1.

I thank each and everyone of you from the bottom of my heart for the heartfelt comments you all left, your kindness, prayers and hugs have meant the world both to me and my family ~ thank you so so much xxx

I'm going to take a break from blogging for a little while, I don't have anything creative to share with you and time is so precious at the moment and needed for my loved ones.  I don't like to continually write sad posts so I'm hoping that in a few weeks or so I can come back with happy news and lots of new creations.

Thank you again for your support ~ you are true friends xxx

SO MANY WORRIES . . .

Life is full of worries at the moment and stitching time is very limited!

To update my regular readers . . .

my dear Dad has been waiting for a life-saving operation to fit stents to stop a rapidly growing aneurysm from rupturing and at long last he has been given a date for the procedure ~ 4th July ~ it's a 4-5 hour operation and high risk with his other medical conditions!

♥

 my dear MIL who has breast cancer will have a double mastectomy on July 23rd and again this is high-risk, especially for the recovery and the healing afterwards ~ we keep optimistic for both of them

♥

my DH has a dear Aunt who is now 88, unmarried and has no children.  She was diagnosed with dementia 3 months ago, although the signs have been there for very much longer.  She has been in an Assessment Unit for the last 5 weeks and the decision has been made that she now cannot return to her flat and live alone safely so last Tuesday DH and I have moved her to a Care Home where she will be constantly looked after and be comfortable.  It was a 2hour round trip to visit her before and now she is literally a 5minute car journey away ~ the home is an old convent and has been beautifully refurbished with lovely grounds and accommodation.  I have been able to visit her every day so far and although our chats together are very random and are very much from the past, she still knows who I am and this weekend we are allowed to take her to the local park where she will enjoy the greenery and flowers so so much as gardening and nature was her passion.  Going through her possessions and clearing her flat ready for re-sale is very hard and it's funny how these situations give other family members every excuse not to be able to help!  Never mind, I know that DH and I were the ones who knew her best, love her dearly and are doing everything with as much compassion and feeling as we can.

♥

a bit of good news though ~ my MRI scan came back with the 'all clear' and I have started physiotherapy ~ the first session left me in more pain then when I started but I'm told to expect a 6-8 week wait before I see any improvement in movement!!!

Oh, difficult and stressful days ahead of me, please keep your fingers crossed that my loved ones get through these ordeals without too much suffering xxx

I haven't got round to starting my new WIP, my concentration levels are not what they should be and when I do get 5 minutes at home it's a case of catching up on all the household chores and then bed!

I've picked 'A Wise Old Owl' up a couple of times and there is a little progress and another little owl has now appeared . . .

I want to pick up my crochet needle again and begin a granny blanket for our Aunt, we are allowed to decorate her room with photos and possesions and I've found some nice colours that will make a blanket and match the other room decor perfectly so IF I find a spare 5 minutes that's what I will begin next!

If you've got this far then a very big THANK YOU to you, it's rather a depressing post I know but it does help to be able to share my problems and your kind comments and support are always gratefully received and mean so much.

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx

WONDERLAND AND COCONUT

Hi everyone from a very windy 70mph South of England!
(All summer bedding, sewing threads and bunny ears secured due to the risk of take-off!!!)

I didn't realise it's been 2 weeks since my last post and in that time I've managed a new start and completion!

I fancied starting this one . . .

'Wonderland' kit by The Trilogy

BUT it turned out to be another one that I just couldn't put down and 7 days later . . .

stitched on my own choice of linen ~ 28count 'Platinum' Cashel

with some of the hand-dyed threads supplied and my choice of DMC threads for the border

If you like doing Rhodes stitches, then this design is definitely the one for you ~ there are 155 of them in total!

finished into a pillow with the chequered crimson red fabric shown in the background with snowflake embellishments

I was naughty a few weeks back and gave in to temptation when JJ's sent me an email saying they were having a Memorial Weekend Sale with a 20% discount and as there's been a kit sitting at the top of my wishlist that's just been calling my name for so long . . . I couldn't resist!  

So in the meantime, between hijacking Mr. Postie every morning and getting him to check and then double-check his delivery sack, the knitting needles have been out again . . .

Coconut and Cable Cushion

This is a 6" cable stitch cushion, really quick to knit with just a small pillow insert needed for inside and 3 buttons.  The pattern called it Rose and Cable cushion but as I didn't have any pink wool or rose oil, I used a cream fleck instead and sprayed the inside filler with coconut oil ~ good enough to eat!

Yippee, Thursday came and so did Mr. Postie with my kit.  I'll keep you waiting until I've made a start but it's gorgeous and very unusual!!!

Have a good weekend everyone

HAPPY STITCHING

xxx