Planning, spending, waiting

My title says it all....

Mr postman come as soon as you can, I have purchased 

Fabrics, all 100% cotton from So crafty Ltd, none of them expensive, 5 different designs. I am not expecting the quality to be high, adding to my stash, it will be interesting to see what I get.

Yarn, Drops Alpaca, in 3 shades of brown and off white for a jumper, I really fancy making some fairisle, which I have not knitted for years. I wanted a design which I can knit on circular needles, with a yoke top.  I did look at shades of blue, but decided to stick with the browns.

Savings

Our shower looks new, just the new screen and doors to go back on, hubby has worked so very hard, he replaced all the stained grout and silicone from the tiles, it was hard work removing all the old grout, he has painted the ceiling and the walls. This work has saved us loads, we thought we would have to replace all the tiles. We repainted the same colour, the room is small and we have loads of paint from the original work we did. All the chrome has been cleaned and polished, this towel rail is a pig to clean, but there is nothing wrong with it, so it won't be replaced.  Just the skirting boards, door frame and door to gloss, that will be done next week. Then we can replace the old sink with our new modern sink with cupboard below. 

We had another pie and mash night in last night, the pies we purchased from Cook are brilliant, we have used all of our recent purchases, and will pop and get some more, I was very happy with the flavours I had, I think hubby will change one of his. I used a £1 stew pack and made soup, enough for lunch for us both yesterday and today, with a fresh baked roll. 

Yesterday was cold, we had snow falling for hours, but none of it settled. This morning......

Young snow

First snow is always a great photo

 Will at home with mummy and daddy

 Finn at home, his 1st snowball. 

We don't get photo's of all our grandsons, but it is nice to see the younger ones enjoying their first taste of snow. Finn and Logan had a wonderful trip together on a plastic sledge, daddy pulling them both along, lot's of laughter and fun for them. Will was taken along his street on his sledge, huge grins for all our grand sons. 

Most of the snow here is gone, a small temperature rise and some rain does a good clearance job. 

Both cats have got the all clear from the vet's, Grace blood test came back clear, but at a cost of £211.18 for both, it was not cheap. I am very pleased to know again they are both well, Purdy has lost some weight, which pleased the vet, we will continue watching how much she eats.  

I am almost finished reading ' It's always the husband', I'm at the point where a few people are in the frame, I think the end will have to be really good for me to read another of her books. 

I have done no craft, the last few days I have enjoyed sitting with a blanket over my knee's watching the snow fall and the wild life in our garden, with a book to read, we are also drinking more hot chocolate drinks, I dread to think what is happening to my waist line. 

I am hoping to stay inside this weekend, we require nothing, but not sure how hubby will feel. 

Snug and warm

Thursday morning

 Thursday afternoon

 This morning

Our cats have been out

 Warm and cosy now

Library books 

Yesterday morning was a dull clear time, the small amount of snow from the night before was frozen on the ground.
Yesterday afternoon, the skies went white and snow fell, no where near the amounts seen on TV from around the UK, but for us it was the most we have seen since 2013.
We had no snow over night, but storm Emma is due, we have no reason to go out, all of our young families are safe, all spread around UK and southern Ireland.
We live in a good community, already on facebook people with 4x4 vehicles are asking who requires help, and our local page is collecting people to do shopping trips, ect for local elderly, we are not going to add our names, best we stay inside unless really required. 
Our cats did manage to go out, they did their business and came back in, I am pleased I was thinking of getting some cat litter, but prefer not to have it in the house.
Grace went for her checkup and injections, she is now 14 years old, the vet is pleased with her, Grace has always been a tiny cat, so we keep an close eye on her health, she has had a blood test, just checking.  Purdy will be taken to the vets tonight for her injection and check up. The vet is just around the corner, so we can walk there.
I have finished reading Friend Request, 1st book by Laura Marshall, I enjoyed the story line and the believable plot, I would read the next book once it is out.
Nothing planned for today, had my lovely porridge for breakfast, we have home made soup and bread for lunch, tonight I am making Paella with chicken for tea. 
Hope you are all safe and warm inside, it's not a day for outside.

In between

Our snow fall on Tuesday night - Wednesday Morning

Just a sprinkle

 All my bulbs are growing.

We are again at the time in between celebrations, I like this time of year, home together, no excuse to have to go out, relaxing, catching up on TV, family time. Hubby and I have nothing to do, the place is tidy. 

The snow was all gone by 10am on Wednesday morning, and most of the standing water has gone as well.

My brother drove home to Somerset this morning, and is now safely warm in his own house, it has been a cold sunny day, so perfect for his drive home, traffic was busy, but no problems. 

We have only been to our local Co-op for bread and milk, we have no desire to shop in the sales. On a really sad note our local Co-op had  filled their Christmas Isle with Easter eggs, a tad bit early for me. Having said that we do not buy our grandsons Easter eggs, I rather give them a book each, they have far too much chocolate at Easter. 

For tea tonight we will use the last of the roast beef from Christmas lunch. Tomorrow I am using the last of the turkey in a pie, it's made and in the fridge. We have vegetable soups for lunches for the rest of this week. 

As I am not planning to go shopping this week I have sorted my final end of year figures for my stash list, I managed a no spend December and ended up spending £226.16 less than last year. I had not planned to save any money it just happened, I have not done much cross stitching this year, so a £30 spend was very low. I will keep my list going next year, it's fun to see where I spend my cash. 

Throughout January we are going to have a low spend, our freezer and cupboards are full, so the plan is to use as much as we can, we will have to shop, we do like our fresh vegetable soups for lunch, and if something we use is on a very low price we will stock up. We also have a good supply of cleaning and toiletries.

Cards

The snow arrived this morning

 Just a sprinkling

and now it's all gone

 My new dies arrived yesterday

Just a few using old Christmas cards

These are going to be useful

 I love the fine lace designs,

I have been busy this morning, sorting out my large drawer with my craft cards in, I had loads of hand made cards, which I made years ago, they are now to basic for me to send, so some are ready for the charity shops and the rest have been binned. So instead of every thing being packed tightly into the drawer, now it's all sorted and neat. I will be able to find loads of different cards to use as the base for my home made cards.
It's better than Christmas, I have cards I forgot I had! I will not need to buy any more this year.
I had a couple of comments about how green my fingers are, but I only show you the healthy plants, I have loads of sick looking plants as well. With regards to growing the lemon and lime pips, I read a tip which said if you wash the pip until it is clean, and then plant on top of the soil in a warm sunny spot. it worked for me.
I'm picking both Josh and Sam up from school this afternoon, so loads of laughter soon.
Keep warm if you can.

Snow day

 It has snowed all day, dry fine snow, and all we have left is this, it has been windy and as fast as it fell it blew away, tonight is really cold, but we are all warm inside. Our tree looks fantastic with the pink buds and the snow on the branches. Both cats have been inside all day, what a life, I will come back as a much loved cat.

My Mothers day cards, from daughters and grandson, Nana is as important on the card as mum, my memory box is full of such cards, but I keep them all each year, one day I will do something with them.

 Sweet dreams is off the frame, I have done this section, can I count it as my second finish this year,

 It is just so colourful, I now have to wait until April 10th for the next section. 

so Grand Marquoir is back read to stitch page 3. 

Night in tonight, it's so very cold out side typical of March, to promise spring and then throw snow at us.

Yesterday  we did not go any where, Kev wanted to go out but it was so dull and cold, I stayed in and worked on my 2012 book, which is almost finished. I have one other book Somerset House, which I would like to have as a keepsake. We did go to the KFC drive in for tea, very naughty but very tasty.

Paula, St David is the Saint for Wales, like England has St George and Ireland has St Patrick, so 1st March all of Wales celebrate and wears either a daffodil or a leak.

Keep warm and dry.

At it again

 Sammy's 1st time in snow

 Josh having great fun

 Not so pretty now, still very cold but it's going fast, more fore caste on Sunday, 

Paula here in UK any small amount of snow stops us, we are not used to it. 

I did loads of stitching yesterday, it's coming along well, 

but I have not decided what colours to use in the flowers,

I felt they looked a bit dull. Watch this space.

I have stared another blog site called one day in the lens each day I plan to post one photo taken by me, sometimes to show how my day has gone or just something amusing I have seen, please pop over there and see what you think, I am hoping to have some fun!

It's arrived

 We woke up to snow this morning, it's about 3" at the moment, and it is still snowing but only lightly

 Don't you just love the photo's, our back garden.

The beautiful tree below was taken from the passengers seat on the way home this lunch time, our boss has sent all staff who live more than a couple miles from the office home. Driving was tricky, but done slowly we were OK. I am now snug at home for the afternoon, all plans for this evening postponed.

I am getting on well with my stitching, it's moving along well, with no plans this weekend I can see loads of stitching time.

 I love this pattern and it's quick to stitch.

I hope you all have a safe and warm weekend, and time for a bit of fun in the snow, it only last for a few days!!

Late to the party

Last night the snow arrived, our garden looks just great, all our bird feeders are full with loads of different treats, we are snug and warm inside.

Most of the country is snow bound, we are lucky, here along the south coast and normally miss most of the snow.
Our street looks magical, shame it's three weeks early, would have been perfect for Christmas, the weather forecaste is for it to get warmer over the weekend, so I expect most of it to be gone.

Family are all well, Sammy is growing each time I see him.

I have just had my 6th session of radiotherapthy and I am feeling OK, just another 8 to go. Still not done much craft, but I am looking for something to stitch, and I must start wrapping my christmas pressies.