Heating on - in May!!!!!!

I don't know about you but it is really cold here and I have resorted to putting the heating on - virtually unheard of in May!  Still, I have tried to keep busy again - firstly by doing some dreaded housework and bed changing, followed by preparation for some applique later on my Lynette Anderson scissor keeper.  I used her appliquick tools which helps the process (until you run out of glue of course) and listened to the Archers as I worked - very relaxing.





Next up was some cutting out of fabric for a forthcoming project before setting to and sorting out the wardrobe -my aim is to "Throw" away 20 items every day until it is sorted - some in a charity bag and some in a rubbish bag.  Mum's move, and the decluttering that goes with such a move, must be rubbing off on me!


Then it was back to fabric cutting and preparation for the Tuesday night sewing class.  I had to take a piece of fabric, rearrange it to simulate a sunset type theme, sew a border around and then sort out some wadding and backing.  Oh, and that's not forgetting the cutting out of 9 swallows and a variety of plant life - phew!

By now I could not put the dreaded deed off any longer and braved the cold weather to walk the dogs - with a promise of being able to batten down the hatches when I returned.  I had a date planned with the sewing machine in the conservatory, a warming cup of coffee and a table runner that desperately needs to be quilted and bound - however 40 winks prevailed (it would have been 80 - but the neighbours were having a "discussion" and woke me!)

Tonight I am looking forward to the drama about Barbara Windsor and will enjoy the LA applique.  I use Superior Thread's Bottom Line - but now need the needle threader more and more!  Ah, the difficulties of old age!

Not for the squeamish!

Today was, as I said the other day, a Scamblesby day.  We were light on numbers which lead to a lovely day full of conversation between us all rather than in our small groups.  Mind you Pat should be kept on a leash - really, those conversation topics!  I will say no more!!

You may recall that I had earmarked today to finish the bag off from Thursday - so here it is!








I have even bound all of the raw edges to make it neater









and then sewed a smaller bag which can be clipped in for toiletries, undies etc. When Mum and Dad move up I plan to keep an overnight bag there for "sleepovers" - maybe this will be the one!







With an hour or so to go I also rustled up this pencil case - maybe it will be a Christmas box filler for a certain someone!







So, you may be forgiven for thinking that I feel satisfied with the day - coming home with finished items and having a good laugh?  Well, indeed I do - BUT - there has emerged a new pattern that may just have to be made - a rather gorgeous bag pattern - did I really say another bag - help!!!!!!!  Well, i will need a new one for the cruise I suppose!




Foodwise I was prepared and took low fat sausages to resist the lure of sausage rolls.  I did resist Louise's lovely birthday cake (note the wallace and gromit candles Phil) but will admit to bringing a piece of cake home to enjoy after weigh in on Monday!  Instead Pat gave me a rather nice shoulder massage!

The sun has got its hat on ......

What a difference a day makes - yesterday was cold and grey, today is slightly warmer and sunny - I know which one I prefer!




My day started with a lovely, unexpected cuppa and chat with Wendy - although I will confess that we probably chatted for far too long!  However that was then followed by a blustery walk with the dogs which cleared the cobwebs away.





Next up was some preparation for tomorrow's Scamblesby sewing day - I love these days with like minded friends but they are only successful if everything is prepared and cut out - and, of course, these are extra projects to do when the bag we started yesterday is finished - you can't say that I am not optimistic!





Then it was onto some church admin and bill paying

before receiving a very welcome parcel of Lynette Anderson fabrics from the postie.






By mid afternoon it was then time for my swim - at least it was open this time!It was a harder slog than normal - don't know why - but I persevered and did 84 widths - 1km!!!  Home and it was then time to mow the lawn with my superduper new lawn mower - I lurve it - before sorting out tea and collapsing in a darkened room!

Foodwise all is bang on track - fruit salad and yoghurt for breakfast, poached salmon and salad for lunch and "Cowboy stew" with a jacket potato and veg for dinner, along with some carefully counted treats along the way.  There was another small fall on the scales this morning so all is positive (although I am painfully aware that they can shoot back up for no apparent reason before Monday!).

Another workshop, another bag!

Today Terry and I went to a sewing workshop in Lincoln to make a bag - hardly earth shattering news I know!  We like this venue because its a small group and a very reasonable price.  However  must admit to being appalled at the state of some of the exemplar work on the wall.  This quilt, for example, was poorly bound and demonstrated the most appalling of stitches - yet this was the teacher's work and was being used to advertise the class.  I will stop my rant right now - but really!

Anyway -back to today's workshop.  This was what we were supposed to make,

and this is how far I got!!

Truthfully I am nearly there - nothing that a Scamblesby day on Saturday won't sort!



Tonight, and hence the reason for such a short blog since time is somewhat limited, is the WI meeting.  As well as sorting the raffle prizes, my competition entry and the birthday gifts I have to give a short presentation about "plastic soup" - ah well!

I'm getting forgetful!

Before

After

Today dawned (I'd like to say bright and cheerful but it's been cold and grey all day) with the promise of several tasks ahead of me.  First up was taking Daisy to the groomers -as you can see from the pictures there was not much to cut off but at least you can see her eyes now.  As we came out of the groomers she met Tilly - the dog owned by my sewing teacher.  This bossy, confident pup just hid behind my legs - what a wimp!



Next up was a final check of the fabric pieces for my sewing workshop tomorrow - why do I always panic about leaving something behind?  Still, the bag is now packed and I am ready to go!

Then it was time to walk the dogs (brrrrrr), before sorting the lounge out and finishing the mound of ironing that has amassed - before getting changed and setting off for a swim.  As I approached the pool I thought - fantastic, there's no cars, the pool will be empty.  Err - yep, I had totally forgotten that the pool was closed today - they had some electrical work in.  Ah well, back home then.

With the extra time on my hands, I sorted the WI birthday presents out, sorted the raffle prizes out and then set to making some scotch eggs to take to the WI supper tomorrow night.  Being on a diet I can't have the traditional scotch eggs (deep fried as they are) -instead I use low fat sausages, scan bran for the outer casing and then bake them in the oven.  Since the oven was on I also made a scan bran cake.  As the name suggests scan bran is pure bran and so too much could have unfortunate effects IYKWIM!!  However it is also very nice if used appropriately.

Foodwise everything is back on track after my mini-melt down on Monday.  The scales are going down again (I know you shouldn't get on them every day but ....) and I am enjoying the variety of meals (Fruit salad and yoghurt for breakfast, steamed salmon and salad for lunch and stuffed chicken thigh for tea).  Mind you I now have another incentive - Trish wants to go quad bike riding on the cruise-help!!

May I finish by congratulating my niece who passed her driving test today -well done Jenny x

From Elvis to Hitler in under an hour!

Today, being Tuesday, we headed off to the Senior Screen to watch "Denial".  We took Mandy, Jean's daughter with us and it was interesting to watch someone experience the Senior screen for the first time - offering to buy the free coffees, enjoying the free biscuits and not knowing where to get the free raffle tickets from (there aren't any tickets - if you are sat in the seat and row then you win).  The actual film was really good, all the more so since I can remember the court case and not understanding why someone would deny that the holocaust had actually happened.

After the film, it was the weekly supermarket visit and then home - or so I thought.  On the way home Carine rang me (darn that phone in the car) asking when a meeting about the Lincolnshire show was.  I thought that it was tomorrow but someone had turned up today.  Cue no lunch and a detour to Carine's house!  We were charged with coming up with an idea to depict an Elvis Presley song title - the display has to include an item of food, a craft item and a floral arrangement.  After much scratching of heads and google searches of lyrics and song titles, we have come up with a couple of ideas which we will pitch to the others on our small committee who couldn't make it today - before we decide.  As ever conversation flowed and I told them about the film - hence the blog title.

Home, a quick turn around to take the dogs out, and shopping unpacked all meant that we were fast approaching tea time and so today's lunch was abandoned.  Not to be recommended as a lifestyle but it won't hurt just this once.  Last night was spent cutting silhouettes out for my Tuesday night project so I feel the need for some embroidery tonight!

Stuck at second base!

With no textile group this morning (Bank Holiday) it felt like a waiting game until the weigh in this afternoon.  What's a girl to do with all this free time?  Why - cut fabric out for the next sewing workshop on Thursday of course - he he, did you really imagine that I would do some housework - tut tut - do you not know me at all?  Well, to be honest, I did then hoover around and tidy up (well, it has to be done - but so did the fabric!).

I don't know about you but Bank Holidays don't seem so important when your life is one big bank holiday, so - like any other regular Monday - next up was a dog walk.  It's nice to enjoy some calmer weather than we have had lately.

Once 2:15pm came around it was time to head for the dreaded weigh in.  I say dreaded - as for the last 4 weeks I have been bang on track - I made some really good choices at the pub on Friday and didn't have the fresh cream cakes that I baked yesterday.  I even took my own lunch to Meadowhall! I can honestly say, hand on heart, that everything has been followed to the letter of the SW law and have been written down - yet my home scales indicated that I could look forward to another 1/2lb loss - at most.  I accept that a loss is a loss yet, at my weight, it should not be as small a loss two weeks running.  I might as well have cheated!!  At the class the 1/2lb weight loss was confirmed   and I am not convinced that the leader believed me- but she is going to look through my food plan to see if she can help pinpoint the problem.  In the meantime I will just soldier on!                                                                                                                                                                                                           Tonight I should start to think about this month's WI competition - a decorated gardening hat.  Time is running out for that one!