tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85041476201197875542024-03-14T07:42:33.424+00:00Tigermum's creative cornerSandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-32798101887390062782021-03-15T09:50:00.003+00:002021-03-15T09:50:29.855+00:00I'm here again<p> Decided that the time was right to make another post here. </p><p>If you took the time to read through all of my last offering and contact me - either directly or by commenting here - thank you. I did not intend to make anyone cry - it just helped me at that point in time to set it all down. Now onwards and upwards! </p><p>My stitching over the last 2 to 3 years has been varied. I created things to hang in my caravan, things for home or gifts and embarked on 2 very large Heaven and Earth designs. Today I'll concentrate on some of the smaller pieces.</p><p>A friend got me hooked on the Hootie collections of owls. I bought several patterns and have been stitching them in between other things - they were often what I took to hospital for appointments! To date I have finished 4 nautical Hooties (which are hanging in my caravan) and several of their Christmas Jumper Hooties. When I have done all of these I intend to sew them into a Christmas lap quilt. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2o7UscKnCUacPZeAKZQpNqMz-oBZ2Bi3bL13HvL3BwT0KcZ2G447hpmAyLjU_JI1Dt3LUJI9cH9ymQuAi8TpvLpbzbh-sPuXS-JAaQTj0GBGBDMhjJkkgRw15i5OYL6e7NyK5USjL1g_o/s2048/Nautical+Hooties+in+van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2o7UscKnCUacPZeAKZQpNqMz-oBZ2Bi3bL13HvL3BwT0KcZ2G447hpmAyLjU_JI1Dt3LUJI9cH9ymQuAi8TpvLpbzbh-sPuXS-JAaQTj0GBGBDMhjJkkgRw15i5OYL6e7NyK5USjL1g_o/s320/Nautical+Hooties+in+van.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nautical Hooties stuck to a cupboard door above the sink in the caravan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These I stitched onto plastic canvas instead of fabric.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNK8C-YGTjYctmp8VIBAc3Qk2y8tDXEA9d5Gc3aakpcl-Vih77tyhZvrRk1AxiuVXTNfo84ov7SJd2l2BQ2Vt3IeaMGfBc7vsxv_QwNxL-cLb9dm_VUTxH3JIQGkTvABLDW4lpqKEzY8a/s2048/Hooties+Christmas+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNK8C-YGTjYctmp8VIBAc3Qk2y8tDXEA9d5Gc3aakpcl-Vih77tyhZvrRk1AxiuVXTNfo84ov7SJd2l2BQ2Vt3IeaMGfBc7vsxv_QwNxL-cLb9dm_VUTxH3JIQGkTvABLDW4lpqKEzY8a/s320/Hooties+Christmas+finished.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The finished Christmas ones to date!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also hanging in my caravan is a canvas with a Rosina Wachmeister cat design on it. This is taken from an artist who designs these peculiar shaped cats. I have a collection of some of her small designs and a few other pieces. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtITy_Mt-CWwlM4NxEaOKVdjUH5pzVe7RKKU-YO-e7Hye_DuFxYKM1BdqfIjA16JfTR9QPdcmwuT0Wv8ZNT8mWT8mm5aFKegXcu5EDeIFA1Gpq1eZDhe63RrZdmumqALKMCsZ6sVbP9Brf/s2048/cat+house+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1832" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtITy_Mt-CWwlM4NxEaOKVdjUH5pzVe7RKKU-YO-e7Hye_DuFxYKM1BdqfIjA16JfTR9QPdcmwuT0Wv8ZNT8mWT8mm5aFKegXcu5EDeIFA1Gpq1eZDhe63RrZdmumqALKMCsZ6sVbP9Brf/s320/cat+house+01.jpg" /></a> These are <b><u>some</u></b> of my miniatures</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">and this is the finished piece before I stretched it<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXmuKZCOIsGBgPPROIkJm7hNjeVhu999rHtP7AZqa7j-P3ZMJc37eI1MORlGQIuHzZyjXuyAf3t4amN5Nwmp8ptSJ3uv_cEob4e1HqSzlnYY-0-HqM-NsUOSlS7cGlMjafe7LaBmeLIPc/s2048/Cats+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXmuKZCOIsGBgPPROIkJm7hNjeVhu999rHtP7AZqa7j-P3ZMJc37eI1MORlGQIuHzZyjXuyAf3t4amN5Nwmp8ptSJ3uv_cEob4e1HqSzlnYY-0-HqM-NsUOSlS7cGlMjafe7LaBmeLIPc/s320/Cats+finished.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADvgELqXGXxksSex2I-jfqvDilvnAYyGemQi0rMbA8VUpSov0Wh8JsHnEHCxaiGy-eVW_-1lFnS6XuyYBhCkaTXijtKKSxpDRBnyB4OJGRpdsfCCNZXwuNQP4f2aaYFmLkReou0fY8Cug/s2048/2020+11+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADvgELqXGXxksSex2I-jfqvDilvnAYyGemQi0rMbA8VUpSov0Wh8JsHnEHCxaiGy-eVW_-1lFnS6XuyYBhCkaTXijtKKSxpDRBnyB4OJGRpdsfCCNZXwuNQP4f2aaYFmLkReou0fY8Cug/s320/2020+11+13.jpg" /> </a></div></div></div><br /><p>Frog Pile - a Design Works kit I finished during our first national lockdown last year. I have to admit that I haven't yet got round to finishing this (I'm thinking maybe a cushion?)!! But the bright cheerful colours were just what I needed during those initial days when I was told to isolate because I was clinically vulnerable.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Yet another piece which was definitely destined for my caravan was Emma Congden's Beside the Sea design. I found the perfect frame to match my crossword piece, then spent some time looking for things to add to the framed picture. I made paper bunting for the top and bought some shells for the base. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINYnRzUoTis4xEybXp08BsHWPSNhgOf1-j9f6bysFxneZeD_NkA3_8pibKCwCMIo4o9myot_H8YKvo2ns8wO67jD87GfItdc86s5OMgfcilQUwZ4ro2TJ_y9A9iawvyaNtU_MsvGBqcu-/s960/Finally+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="714" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINYnRzUoTis4xEybXp08BsHWPSNhgOf1-j9f6bysFxneZeD_NkA3_8pibKCwCMIo4o9myot_H8YKvo2ns8wO67jD87GfItdc86s5OMgfcilQUwZ4ro2TJ_y9A9iawvyaNtU_MsvGBqcu-/s320/Finally+finished.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>The last piece I'll add today is my Ying Yang design which again was completed during lockdown (before I started making thousands of masks like every other crafter!)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdm0Rf0ZG-MZkdVTvwlpRrTLAw5SPYa5SUTjgFbM2wIHuhb4iwd5XJu6fI_sNs2LVYc9hyNBQ6yqux4r4mviw0Pli6E0ikQER0hOcj3juWuJM5QE7ANK8HpaMB8o3yhHDYaR-DEnw8gu3/s2048/2020+02+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdm0Rf0ZG-MZkdVTvwlpRrTLAw5SPYa5SUTjgFbM2wIHuhb4iwd5XJu6fI_sNs2LVYc9hyNBQ6yqux4r4mviw0Pli6E0ikQER0hOcj3juWuJM5QE7ANK8HpaMB8o3yhHDYaR-DEnw8gu3/s320/2020+02+17.jpg" /></a> This piece now hangs in my hallway at home, reminding me of our obligation to the environment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway enough of my waffling for today. I'd best get on and actually do something! Somehow the screen on my Samsung tablet has gone black. I've tried the recommended "fix" but still nothing. So I've located someone who will look at it and see if it can be replaced. As the shop is only about half a mile away from me, I should be alright to go there. I've had my first vaccination and always wear a mask, so precautions are still in place!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until next time - take care, and keep safe everyone.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-45327472115141394822021-03-02T08:19:00.002+00:002021-03-02T08:29:15.427+00:00Long time - no see!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">First of all I must apologise to any of you who are still trying to follow this blog! Life kind of got in the way of normal thinking as you will see if you read further! I must warn you however that it contains mentions of death and grief, so if you wish to turn away now - I <u>won't</u> be offended!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I last wrote, I was about to find out what was going to happen to me post mastectomy - what further treatments I'd be given etc. Well, I had to have 6 rounds of chemotherapy followed by 15 sessions of radiotherapy. I made it through all of the chemo sessions (including a brief stay in hospital after the first round) and came out the other side. Meanwhile I had to become the pivot of Mike's world - I was not only his carer (in effect), but his nurse too and I'm sad to say that our relationship suffered. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But <b>LIFE</b> had decided that I didn't have enough to deal with, so it threw me a real curveball and Mike died on March 2nd 2019 from his bowel cancer (which had also spread to his stomach and liver). He died 5 days before I was due to start my radiotherapy sessions, so I had that to cope with too - all the side effects, plus dealing with registering a death etc! Life was definitely throwing rotten tomatoes at me at that point. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I made it through that year, with the help of family, friends and a wonderful counsellor from Macmillan, all of whom told me how strong I was being - but the truth is I'm <u>not</u> strong - I just <u>had</u> to get on and deal with it - there <u>was</u> no-one else. Later that same year I made the decision to also remove my other breast - I wanted to be flat not lopsided. And luckily my counsellor and surgeon both agreed, so in November I went back into hospital for a second mastectomy. And I was relieved to be told that there was no evidence of cancer cells present in any tissue. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those first anniversaries are the real pits - birthdays, Christmas, wedding anniversary - everything set me off, but by the time the 2nd March 2020 came around, I felt I could just grieve his loss, and with all that has happened subsequently with the pandemic I am glad in a way that Mike didn't have to cope with that as well, as I know he'd have been classed as extremely clinically vulnerable. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">With my treatment finished too, and suddenly no hospital appointments or check ups - it felt like I'd stepped out of a plane without a parachute - there was no-one who had my back to tell me that I'd be ok and get through this in those early morning hours when I couldn't sleep. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So when we were placed into the first lockdown - here I was - alone - my daughter and her family were miles way, I was told that I was vulnerable and must shield, so my four walls became my entire world much like many others across the world. All I can say is that my crafts took an upturn in production, but I'll talk about those in a later post! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, three lockdowns later, I am going to post this on March 2nd 2021. It will be two years since Mike died, and <u>finally</u> I feel that I have some of my old self back. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For many months after Mike died, I felt resentful - I had cared for him during all of his treatments, but there was no-one here for <b><u>me</u></b> - no-one to make a cup of tea when the fatigue or pain hit me. No-one to tell me to stay in bed when I felt so bad - to bring me a sandwich for lunch or even heat a bowl of soup. Now, in lockdown, I had no-one to organise shopping - I either had to go myself or organise a home delivery. No-one apart from my daughter or friends to talk to - and that had to be by phone or text. No-one to hug! No-one to even say good night to. I have never felt so alone as I did during these two years, especially initially. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also came to the conclusion that while I still loved him (and always will), I did not like the person that cancer had turned him into - and perhaps that had been the basis of my resentfulness. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But today I feel that I can finally be grateful for the years we had together - we met in June 1973 and were married in Feb 1975, moving in to the house I still live in. We both retired in 2007 and were able to go to lots of the places we had always wanted to visit. So for the last few years we were together almost 24/7 and knew each other inside out. And now finally I can get out the photos and scrapbooks of our life together and not cry too much - remembering all the happy times we had. I have learned to be happy with my own company and the ability to eat or sleep when I want to! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For anyone who has lost a loved one during these awful times, whether through Covid or any other reason - you have my deepest sympathy. It may not sound like much, but I now know that although Mike has gone, he is still here with me - in the home we built together and in my heart. I hope you may be able to feel that same comfort when your grief finally passes. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I promise to be more upbeat and try to keep this blog going more regularly again! Until then - stay home, stay safe.</span></p>Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-82880207543143268012018-09-26T14:22:00.002+01:002021-02-28T11:56:13.648+00:00I AM here ... Somewhere!!Well the unforseen fairy struck again! I'll make this a short "lifestyle" blog, and come back later to do a crafty one. Hopefully I can keep my brain intact long enough to do that!<br />
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So many months have elapsed, but the good news is that I have had my mastectomy and my surgeon told me that he is confident he has removed everything. However he discovered 7 tumours ranging in size from 4mm to 22mm as well as 3 out of 13 lymph nodes being tested positive for cancer. Having got over the shock of that quantity, we talked over next steps, and decided that their recommended course of progress was in my best interests. So I had an appointment with an oncologist to discuss those next steps.<br />
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As a result I have a pre chemo chat due on 1st October to be followed by my first session of chemo the next day. I have been told of all the possible side effects, but probably the worst one for most breast cancer patients is the loss of hair. So I have been busy researching how to make chemo hats and caps, I've found a few patterns and hopefully today I can make a start on that.<br />
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There have been so many friends and people who have backed me in this journey - both real and virtual friends. I have been sent cards, emails, Facebook messages, heart shaped cushions (to pop under your arm when sleeping), and and knitted knockers. I even made myself a couple of those too! They look a bit like knitted pyramids, stuffed with fibrefill. And they are so comfy to wear. Then today I received a card from a friend, which mirrors the strapline from my email. "<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>When Life gives you Rain - put on your Wellies and Play in the Puddles"</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiK9hNy72-sX3hIwTRcpRXN4z5Ge13Bm2WVXMgjdNh92qb7f-CBiaSx-S1_xzvjxxbm2d0g-tHUVtvqN3slnEo4bxgJvf-1d75bTrneLrZB1YZIU-acFNBFKrYD_nV9eAERaImXm_3IwpS/s1600/2018-09-26+14.16.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1600" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiK9hNy72-sX3hIwTRcpRXN4z5Ge13Bm2WVXMgjdNh92qb7f-CBiaSx-S1_xzvjxxbm2d0g-tHUVtvqN3slnEo4bxgJvf-1d75bTrneLrZB1YZIU-acFNBFKrYD_nV9eAERaImXm_3IwpS/s400/2018-09-26+14.16.27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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He certainly lifted my spirits this morning when he arrived.</div>
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So I shall end this short update, and hopefully be back soon with a post about my "normal" crafts!<br />Until then - take care and hug the ones you love</div>
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Sandie XXX</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-8352940302231251132018-04-13T18:30:00.002+01:002021-02-28T11:55:05.567+00:00One step forward and HOW MANY back??Afternoon everyone. Finally our weather looks like it's beginning to think it might be time to warm up a bit. The daffodils and primroses on our front garden are beginning to look quite pretty, so I'll show you a photo - actually it's a photo from last year!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_Gu3R47xqbgNHlO8gwFCboP-0z6ZZhFAUTV-PDVsmmpML9L0yZkNjbyIBy4HSsmr2ZKTW3zxbFTcYfSi1PFxSlkAtyxeK-eyWWPmQM4IE73DXbszvF-wbtubaiC9CZLOqCYKnxg_me_4/s1600/20170316_094924.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_Gu3R47xqbgNHlO8gwFCboP-0z6ZZhFAUTV-PDVsmmpML9L0yZkNjbyIBy4HSsmr2ZKTW3zxbFTcYfSi1PFxSlkAtyxeK-eyWWPmQM4IE73DXbszvF-wbtubaiC9CZLOqCYKnxg_me_4/s320/20170316_094924.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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We (or rather I) decided to start with a gardener this year as I knew I wouldn't be able to keep on top of it with hospital appointments etc. So we now have a lady gardener who comes for a couple of hours once a fortnight. She came last week and made a start on the front, so next week I hope she'll get that finished. Then I might be able to see what needs to be replaced as the frost killed it!</div>
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Health wise? Well, I'm doing okay on the medications I was given, except for my night sweats and aching joints. Reminds me how I felt going through the menopause! Thought I'd finished with all that but apparently not! The extra MRI they took of my spine revealed nothing more than a degenerated spot. So my cancelled operation was really cancelled over nothing, but if the meds I am taking helps to shrink the cancer, then I'm happy to continue taking them. My next appointment will be in the beginning of June, so we shall see what the specialists suggest then. </div>
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Mike had quite a few issues over the Easter period with keeping food down, so we asked for another gastroscopy. Because of the Easter holidays that didn't happen until this week. Also this week he had an assessment for the chemotherapy cycle. We have been told it will be over 6 months, with sessions of about 2 hours every 2 weeks. And we've also been told that it's not quite as bad as some regimes, so hopefully he shouldn't suffer from it too much. He was due to start that yesterday, but because his bloods showed an issue with his kidneys, it was cancelled, with repeat bloods being taken next week to check on it again. Hopefully if they show an increase in kidney function, then the chemo will start a few days later.</div>
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Cross stitch wise? Well I decided to make a cushion for my granddaughter. She managed to fracture her arm just before Easter - not a bad break, but enough to mean it had to be put into a cast. BUT being a 7 year old, she managed to crack the cast 3 times and on the third occasion, they redid the x-rays, decided that it was in the correct position so she could just wear a tubigrip bandage. So to cheer her up I stitched a unicorn for her. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRuK0kBkxC0Si5q2foAKAJR81pP69i7_mht7yMWVd-Wr3SPsaET1e22Diu2rMe9JcKLucUFkDXYTZVbyCu_Q-wuvXcXOszLqjAgYkPa5VSRW8fcwjlp3uoOTtpajhRVtx62W3lNTjiGqy/s1600/2018-04-08+17.53.23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRuK0kBkxC0Si5q2foAKAJR81pP69i7_mht7yMWVd-Wr3SPsaET1e22Diu2rMe9JcKLucUFkDXYTZVbyCu_Q-wuvXcXOszLqjAgYkPa5VSRW8fcwjlp3uoOTtpajhRVtx62W3lNTjiGqy/s320/2018-04-08+17.53.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I found some unicorn fabric, so that's the next job - to finally finish it off for her. My HAED Storykeep was rather unloved for a few weeks, so it's not much further on that last time, although I have picked it back up again. Here's where I am now. </div>
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Sorry about the quality of the photo there, but it's under artificial light now! He's finally finished his face, and the claws, so all the rest is stocking (red) and background (brown)! So it might be slow going now!!</div>
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I also made a picture from Scrabble letters to take down to our van, to personalise it. It took ages to work out the placing of the letters! I don't think I have a future as a crossword designer!</div>
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It took ages to find small things to add to it. The mermaids were cut from a sheet of scrapbook paper, the mini shells and starfish were also scrapbook embellishments - so not real ones. The "plant life" is actually a plastic floristry product, and I found a few mini bottles with cork lids, so added one of those. I must admit it's not perfect, so I'm quite pleased with it overall. </div>
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Well I'd better get on and sort out some dinner for tonight. </div>
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Until next time - everybody please take care</div>
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Sandie XX</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-54766977995714812662018-03-05T16:19:00.002+00:002018-03-05T16:19:55.324+00:00The BEAST from the EAST in EssexAfter a week of awful weather (see photos below) today we woke up to normal weather for the time of year. Essex is normally one of the driest areas in the country - we hardly ever have sustained snow and what we get is usually turned to slush in a matter of hours because it is a wet snow. But NOT this year!!<br />
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This was Day One of the "Beast from the East".</div>
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And Day Two! It got deeper and deeper!</div>
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I never did get round to covering the patio furniture last winter! OOPS!</div>
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My Bill (or is it Ben?) acting as part of the Queen's Guard in his busby!</div>
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Finally (after 3 days of snowfall) the snow was beginning to clear. "Weed" and my small Tete a Tete narcissus pot have survived being buried under 6-8" of snow! Spring is coming after all!</div>
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The snow arrived on Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning. Typical! Mike was due to go for his gastroscopy that afternoon. But about 9.30am the hospital rang to see if he was still aiming to come. He said yes - provided we could move the car!! So after telling us that several people had cancelled because of the weather, they told him to get in and he'd be seen earlier. So we dressed for the weather - boots, scarves, gloves, hats etc took mobile phones, wallet and a broom and headed out to the car. Since we bought the Yeti we cannot get it into the garage (won't fit under the roll-up door!) so after brushing off enough to open a door, Mike sat inside with the blowers working to help clear the ice from the windscreen, while I used the broom to sweep all the snow off the rest of the vehicle! We got him to hospital about 10am, and he was there until just after 3.30pm. They discovered a second stricture just above the stent, but have dilated that and since then he has begun to eat properly again. He even had his first roast dinner yesterday in two months! This week he has an appointment with the stoma nurse on Wednesday (and we have to get blood tests done), and then on Friday we have another appointment with the oncology team. Maybe we will find out when they intend to start any chemotherapy.</div>
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Meanwhile I'm still taking the medication which was prescribed for me. So far the only side effect has been hot flushes! But they have been quite useful in the last few days to keep me warm in bed! I hope to hear sometime this week about the MRI they took of my spine. We have been almost like hermits over the last few weeks, spending plenty of time in PJ's, but as I seem to be severely lacking in energy, I'm not bothered too much by that! Hopefully over the next couple of weeks I'm going to interview a gardener who will keep my meagre patch under control. I never got to grips with it at the end of last year and so it needs a real good going over now. I don't have the energy to even consider doing that, so - I'm going to employ a gardener!!</div>
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We were going to head to our van in Caister for the opening weekend of the season, but the snow took care of that! Haven put some photos up on Facebook advising people not to go. Not only the roads were blocked, but the water pipes leading into each van were frozen, so no-one had water to flush toilets or use as drinking water! </div>
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The main building this week. </div>
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The entrance to the beach boardwalk!</div>
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Same entrance in summer! </div>
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So hopefully we are going to try and get down there this weekend. We need to open it up and air it out after being closed up for 4 months. </div>
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I did a happy dance as I managed to finish the first page of my HAED Storykeep - Magical Arrival by Anne Stokes. I'm stitching it on 18ct Aida and will probably finish it as a wallhanging for next Christmas. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPAPh94gWYo5vlK0H3UVwlViWm1bWEXmxGwN3lIYeVeH4ik8wnknbGuEBvMOjA5_rvduasGtihZnobiTqHFJQGG-TAa8HN8HAwoWyfGe2lN2h3SKP64U1ZRwSe5bUQIRhgy4k76reT5Aw/s1600/2018-03-03+18.00.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPAPh94gWYo5vlK0H3UVwlViWm1bWEXmxGwN3lIYeVeH4ik8wnknbGuEBvMOjA5_rvduasGtihZnobiTqHFJQGG-TAa8HN8HAwoWyfGe2lN2h3SKP64U1ZRwSe5bUQIRhgy4k76reT5Aw/s320/2018-03-03+18.00.27.jpg" width="180" /></a> PAGE FINISH!!!</div>
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I got so carried away with the fact I could see the top of his head, that I carried on stitching him! I can now see the outline of almost his whole head. </div>
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Anyway, better go and sort out a few more threads! As any stitcher will understand - there are always threads which need bobbinating and fabric which needs measuring. One day I'll get round to doing a bit more on my Hawaiian quilt top - so watch this space for that! </div>
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Until then - take care</div>
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Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-20095479705090252282018-02-24T14:38:00.002+00:002018-02-24T14:38:54.825+00:00Another updateSURPRISE! I'M BACK AGAIN!!!<br />
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Well, those scans I had to have done have been completed, and I was called back to see the doctor last Wednesday afternoon. It gets more complicated now! The bone scan revealed a spot of "something" on my spine! Because it did not show up on the CT scan they need an MRI to investigate that area further. As my cancer did not show fully until revealed on an MRI, they wish to do the same - just in case! However it does appear from the CT scan, that is the only other area causing concern as nothing else shows. Because of that the operation (due yesterday) has been cancelled for now. However they did start me on some medication which should start to slowly starve the cancer and make it shrink. IF the spot on my spine is the same, it should have the same effect, so I have to remain on these meds for 3 months, then have repeat MRI's to see if there is a difference in size. At that point we will re-enter the surgical discussion again. So far the only side effects from these meds are hot flushes - I thought I had left those behind me! Obviously not!!<br />
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Meanwhile Mike had his stoma refashioned and has seen the surgeon and the stoma nurse who are both happy with his progress. He has to go for a gastroscopy next Wednesday, so hopefully that might let him eat again. It's been hit and miss over the last few days - some days he is fine, others not. I will just be grateful if he can put back on the weight he has lost over the last month!<br />
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Today I got a beautiful piece of fabric for my Aveline project. <a href="https://www.chromatic-alchemy.co.uk/all-fabrics/aida/eostre-aida-2/">Eostre</a> from Chromatic Alchemy is a beautiful soft greeny blue with a slight hint of brown. It's very like the original HAED pattern background, so should look wonderful on it. I have started to grid the fabric for my sea turtle, but haven't got very far on that!<br />
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My Magical Arrival has moved on a little bit - I think I can see where the ears are supposed to be - those two pointed bits in the centre?<br />
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I am always amazed at the unlikely colours which make up the patterns -if someone had told me that the red bow was made up from browns, corals, yellow and red (of course) I'd have said they were mad - but Michele (who makes up these charts) is a genius - and the proof when you stand back is a thoroughly realistic looking bow.</div>
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Oh well, better go ad get some lunch sorted and see if Mike feels like eating today. </div>
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Take care everyone and look after yourselves</div>
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Sandie</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-62757323795408996292018-02-10T19:33:00.000+00:002018-02-10T19:44:12.177+00:00So much has happened - AGAIN!I have just looked at my blog and realised how long ago I last posted. So much has happened since then, but I will try to condense it so as not to bore you!<br />
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Mike had been to Basingstoke and we were due to return there for his op in mid December. He had to have a scan before his return, and that revealed a lot more than we had hoped for. His cancer had spread to his stomach and we were told that the liver operation was completely cancelled. It was determined to be non-operable but manageable. We have been waiting for him to put on a bit more weight before he starts his chemo (still waiting but due to start sometime in March we hope). We have also seen the surgeon who performed his original operation and she is going to operate on Friday coming (16th) to tidy up his stoma which has prolapsed badly. He is also beginning to have trouble eating and keeping food down again, so we have a clinic appointment for him with the doctor who positioned the stent for him.<br />
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As if that wasn't enough to cope with, I went for my regular mammogram mid December (on a day when we had snow too!) A week later I was recalled - something which happened before, so I wasn't unduly worried. So on the Thursday before Christmas I went back and was told there was something there. They did a biopsy on the spot, but I had to wait all over Christmas and New Year to be called back again. I was told there was lobular breast cancer on one side and they requested an MRI to double check the spread. A week later I had another appointment when I was told that it was bigger than first thought, but that a mastectomy would be recommended. After chatting over my options we decided that I would follow their advice, but accompany it with a reconstruction at the same time. My reasoning being that it would be over in a single operation - albeit a major one. That would mean that whatever happened to Mike perhaps a year down the line, I would be in a position to cope with it all.<br />
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However in our area the reconstruction would not be carried out locally, so I would have to travel to Chelmsford (about 25 miles away), so a series of appointments followed there as well as local appointments. It was decided that I would need a Sentinel Node operation to remove nodes from the armpit to discover if there was any spread. At this point everyone seemed to think there was no problem and I was told it was 95% probable that there was no spread. BUT fate strikes again. With my operation date planned for 23rd Feb, I was called back yesterday to discover that the nodes had shown cancer cells, so it <u>is</u> likely to have spread further. It may mean chemo before any operation to shrink any tumour. To say I am devastated is a bit of an understatement. I already had an appointment for a CT scan of my abdomen to enable the plastic surgeon to know the position of the blood vessels ready for the operation, and I was advised to have the procedure as requested.<br />
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I now have to have a full body bone scan (to take place on Tuesday morning) followed by a full body CT scan (due on Wednesday evening!) Once those results are in, they will review and discuss the best way to proceed. So all our plans are now up in the air, it has been a full-time job trying to dovetail both our appointments, and now instead of being on the home run, we have to start all over again. If it wasn't for family and friends (real and virtual) I'm not sure that I would have made it through the last couple of months - so thank you all for your support.<br />
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Meanwhile my stitching has again saved my sanity through all this. My concentration has been shot needless to say, so I have been working only for short periods as I don't want to end up having to frog whatever I do managed to achieve! I completed another cone Santa. This one came from a magazine I was given. I have to finish it off, but here is the sewn piece.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RYymITnsH6wB6Mb9d6sByS1obC-ssSFJftEzVrLQisL38xDQCB8KFcsOJhMId06vgDgcUTiGO05OLTYOXUdxuVlQHvdsntwJsA6a2QtA_DmZMzRsnxDSi8U4-5l1fxfHe8Ygb81_oj9x/s1600/2018-02-08+12.11.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RYymITnsH6wB6Mb9d6sByS1obC-ssSFJftEzVrLQisL38xDQCB8KFcsOJhMId06vgDgcUTiGO05OLTYOXUdxuVlQHvdsntwJsA6a2QtA_DmZMzRsnxDSi8U4-5l1fxfHe8Ygb81_oj9x/s320/2018-02-08+12.11.38.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I also completed two of the Christmas Hootie designs - the rest of these will be accompanying me once I finally get the go-ahead to go to hospital as they are quite small and easily transported. They will give me a head start on Christmas 2018 too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZa-LjQEIHo5zp2A9XjSJWMO0CwmgzxHWq81AHAdM7zkZK88sx8QGudNXd6Cy3pwKpBBjw0JwhvRXhn5-3fsa3mAPVs2JS2olvW9cEM6z7dIa4M5h07AxsL-NsB6rqVVeno61klrzGwYE/s1600/2017-12-03+15.06.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZa-LjQEIHo5zp2A9XjSJWMO0CwmgzxHWq81AHAdM7zkZK88sx8QGudNXd6Cy3pwKpBBjw0JwhvRXhn5-3fsa3mAPVs2JS2olvW9cEM6z7dIa4M5h07AxsL-NsB6rqVVeno61klrzGwYE/s320/2017-12-03+15.06.12.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ys_AlXN8M8Q3in3fpgJys2dgHlMehpkdMsdUMBA-bW4GvspBZcKjL21UIGDcdwmYaZkfvz2qQznC6j36x0Q6Lei3sSm_sVCqfNzoI1GEfWb9qQPTFETRvdpahkHKYxZTzZAtX35xnaG2/s1600/2017-12-12+14.42.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ys_AlXN8M8Q3in3fpgJys2dgHlMehpkdMsdUMBA-bW4GvspBZcKjL21UIGDcdwmYaZkfvz2qQznC6j36x0Q6Lei3sSm_sVCqfNzoI1GEfWb9qQPTFETRvdpahkHKYxZTzZAtX35xnaG2/s320/2017-12-12+14.42.53.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I have been making slow progress on my next HAED design.It is a Storykeep - Magical Arrival by Anne Stokes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIC8Y2LOoQq9yOpgTIDQn_ox1xaPcmA5FiNRenod-nx2ToMcBHS6DioPmOf2z-EEe1segIDTxf8kLv39nBnVefY4ww0fP-wi6424bXjdmTUs3YcG_JrQNI_H-ErfqrTDJq5TJbiTbp3XS/s1600/2018-02-08+20.39.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIC8Y2LOoQq9yOpgTIDQn_ox1xaPcmA5FiNRenod-nx2ToMcBHS6DioPmOf2z-EEe1segIDTxf8kLv39nBnVefY4ww0fP-wi6424bXjdmTUs3YcG_JrQNI_H-ErfqrTDJq5TJbiTbp3XS/s320/2018-02-08+20.39.34.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I have tried to use my tablet for marking off the stitches on this. I use a program called Ezpdf, which lots of people from the HAED Facebook page recommend. It's been fairly simple to use instead of marking off on a hard copy, but when it comes to a larger piece I'm not sure how it will be as I don't want to stitch a page and end up with lines showing on the finished stitching. We shall see I suppose. </div>
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I have also been busy kitting up the next couple of things I want to start. I was gifted "Sea Turtle Spirit of Serendipity" another HAED </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKj9SNh0VO22PAVazpFqgV7EPXAprPVRUiKyVhOiXM2OnNysLPkpUDe4niKwGdTFlqyKWKdFwIRIadhZclBUxWAwrp5wXQe20vS0NR4rra_8PuUgPckoCNNoLeUWVspmJ1mydh2POCxhyphenhyphen/s1600/SeaTurtle+Spirit+Of+Serendipity_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKj9SNh0VO22PAVazpFqgV7EPXAprPVRUiKyVhOiXM2OnNysLPkpUDe4niKwGdTFlqyKWKdFwIRIadhZclBUxWAwrp5wXQe20vS0NR4rra_8PuUgPckoCNNoLeUWVspmJ1mydh2POCxhyphenhyphen/s320/SeaTurtle+Spirit+Of+Serendipity_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
- as well as "Aveline".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01xfWqK60hwch3n6UihIF2upL05xPKWqDXJ4-sX0Jr_ELqEbH6ZvO2MXHkrwWio9fzNKi6MFuKAAf_sk-bRTZk1shHydsG3_fXcdS1Bu3_pX0SdFgFkfvh4vE9HLJcYKUOvxKYxba89NR/s1600/Aveline+NO+BK_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01xfWqK60hwch3n6UihIF2upL05xPKWqDXJ4-sX0Jr_ELqEbH6ZvO2MXHkrwWio9fzNKi6MFuKAAf_sk-bRTZk1shHydsG3_fXcdS1Bu3_pX0SdFgFkfvh4vE9HLJcYKUOvxKYxba89NR/s320/Aveline+NO+BK_1.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
I am busy in the evenings gridding a piece of 18ct white Aida for the sea turtle as that is full coverage, but I have ordered a piece of hand-dyed fabric for Aveline as I ordered it with no background. I have all the threads needed for both pieces, so hopefully, I will be able to start them soon.<br />
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So I had better go and see what is on tv tonight. Not into watching the Olympics, so let's find something else to watch. I'm busy knitting while watching tv, so will try and show you that next time.</div>
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Until then try and be good to each other - you never know when something unforseen will strike.</div>
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Take care</div>
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Sandie</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-41590981565257517982017-11-22T19:11:00.001+00:002017-11-22T19:11:46.073+00:00Back again - almost a record!!Well, here we are again! Hope you're all keeping well?<br />
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Mike and I took our trip down to Basingstoke as planned. We stayed in a hotel the night before he was due to go in and I had booked in for the extra 3 nights myself. I dropped him off at the requested time and found my way to a local Hobbycraft (well it seemed a shame not to!) I then got a phone call to say that as he'd had all the tests done the week before here, they didn't really want him to take up a bed that night - so I had to go back and collect him and take him back the next morning! It ended up being a four hour procedure - he had to lay very still for that whole time! They inject a kind of superglue into the vein on one side of the liver, which then forces the other side to regenerate itself. Then they cut away the cancerous half intact so that the infected cells and/or blood does not have a chance to enter the system. Basingstoke hospital seems to be a centre of excellence for dealing with this type of cancer, so our fingers are firmly crossed that the operation (scheduled for Dec 15th) will go well. Please keep us both in your thoughts and prayers for then.<br />
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Well, having reported on that - what have I been up to stitchywise?<br />
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A friend from the USA - Deb - sent me some fancy trim, which I used to finish off my Santa ornament. It came from a UK magazine at least a year ago - can't remember which one! It's stitched on vinyl aida - which I hated!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aoUtgmptNu5dxWG9eFahVQO6pCJGitGbqdT3infTFm_w1dCbKkgtbFR-_O14NUxCPsm78hRfaLmJIFxIxevxmO-Ve1EEjrf3PptwZYMGLA1ea13X_OQ6l8NQawCrXindILyczHa5v5_d/s1600/2017-11-22+16.07.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aoUtgmptNu5dxWG9eFahVQO6pCJGitGbqdT3infTFm_w1dCbKkgtbFR-_O14NUxCPsm78hRfaLmJIFxIxevxmO-Ve1EEjrf3PptwZYMGLA1ea13X_OQ6l8NQawCrXindILyczHa5v5_d/s320/2017-11-22+16.07.44.jpg" width="180" /></a> </div>
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Recently we had several cross stitch kits available in Aldi supermarkets. Many people wanted them but they had run out in several stores! I was lucky enough to get some and I finished the unicorn for a part of my granddaughter's Christmas present. The original had a pink unicorn - and although I'm a believer - I don't believe they are pink! So I altered it and added the words. I finished it in a small hoop and made a plaited ribbon to hang it with from some narrow ribbons which I had stored away. </div>
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Here's the original - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8p5X3JRjskLY8fyVoJZWEfzKb1LG4N3G6byesOZOBZkSM8xxupcYlitdi23yKO34NKdcd0CXYv2k6HfoxQXA-Ixly8zGTvxmFIBARD-L95J6UGaVNx7c-zF2I_gViPg5_TQa3LTMjeCZ/s1600/2017-11-22+18.57.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8p5X3JRjskLY8fyVoJZWEfzKb1LG4N3G6byesOZOBZkSM8xxupcYlitdi23yKO34NKdcd0CXYv2k6HfoxQXA-Ixly8zGTvxmFIBARD-L95J6UGaVNx7c-zF2I_gViPg5_TQa3LTMjeCZ/s320/2017-11-22+18.57.24.jpg" width="179" /></a><br />
And here's my version - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMdP_C0z3nQufZkJ62x-aHM6ZiThyphenhyphen8nukffqIW67qbOycm_AOeEZ_rp1F3LCwp3RYAM8yOYri2HS7Gd5OEu28i3OTNn-FF9PL9jAG-H55ekCHPUK2IIqyTHDWb5DnZoralinSbbKc6Ze7/s1600/2017-11-22+14.49.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMdP_C0z3nQufZkJ62x-aHM6ZiThyphenhyphen8nukffqIW67qbOycm_AOeEZ_rp1F3LCwp3RYAM8yOYri2HS7Gd5OEu28i3OTNn-FF9PL9jAG-H55ekCHPUK2IIqyTHDWb5DnZoralinSbbKc6Ze7/s320/2017-11-22+14.49.00.jpg" width="180" /></a> - much better I think!!<br />
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I also finished the Mrs Claus project - again not quite as Brookes' Books Publishing had it, but I'm quite happy with this one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eBx_rLd2tAgttFoJqnTUITg1YcP40p0AkUUZrly5m8dcjCfJhDui5vxjZIsdvSEug85p1UjWm-hXVgH8utC7HolKW6FeKbaNYtIj5-OkdHCKNlUQF78xW0xZujhbESCAsJP-GGwt-Zwc/s1600/2017-11-19+12.58.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eBx_rLd2tAgttFoJqnTUITg1YcP40p0AkUUZrly5m8dcjCfJhDui5vxjZIsdvSEug85p1UjWm-hXVgH8utC7HolKW6FeKbaNYtIj5-OkdHCKNlUQF78xW0xZujhbESCAsJP-GGwt-Zwc/s320/2017-11-19+12.58.48.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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We also went down to our van at Caister at then end of last week to make it ready for winter. We can go back to it in March, so we're hoping that by then Mike will be much fitter and maybe 2018 will be a better year for us both. It hardly seems like an entire year has gone by since Mike was taken in to hospital for an unknown cause. In some ways I feel a stronger person, knowing that I had the strength to cope with whatever was thrown my way. In other ways I am depressed because of so much that happened. It also made me take stock of what matters in life. Love, family and friends are what got me through it all - so if you were a small part of that - THANK YOU<br />
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Until next time<br />
SandieSandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-84552898365652024272017-10-29T15:18:00.000+00:002017-10-29T15:18:43.888+00:00Here againAfternoon all! It's been grey and dismal days here for the most part recently. And it seems to have affected my mood. I really can't be bothered to get out and tidy up the garden before the hardness of winter strikes. Dust and cleaning? Forget it! I can just about raise enthusiasm for cooking for us both.<br />
I have loads to be getting on with too.<br />
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So what have I achieved?<br />
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Turtle is finished, but not made up yet - looking for the perfect fabric to make the cushion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAfnSz6G8kIQfB_lwP87ptMHeqVzyuOhozilPCa-WnUMSd9FYTHqchC8k81Fpvo9hPRoIRczLHsRC0RuCuGrZZ0i65NtDrCfJQWbW-JKjIBz0lhJGVS9S39EzN7Y98mpnkh8a9QO_SGwz/s1600/2017-10-16+09.01.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAfnSz6G8kIQfB_lwP87ptMHeqVzyuOhozilPCa-WnUMSd9FYTHqchC8k81Fpvo9hPRoIRczLHsRC0RuCuGrZZ0i65NtDrCfJQWbW-JKjIBz0lhJGVS9S39EzN7Y98mpnkh8a9QO_SGwz/s400/2017-10-16+09.01.18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I made some of the bubbles with DMC satin threads just to give it some added texture. </div>
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I hope they wear well!</div>
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I also managed to put Moon Hare onto a canvas but have to get some more picture wire to actually get it up on the wall. Still not sure where to hang him. I want him somewhere prominent to remind me of our struggles over the last year and how we have had the strength to come through it. So I'll take a photo of that once I decide where it's going to hang.</div>
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I've now started the Spirit of Mrs Claus <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/172038766/brookes-books-spirit-of-mrs-claus-angel?ref=shop_home_active_3">(Brooke's Books)</a> - got a bit more done than this, but not much! (due to lethargy!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai1PNFGms4lbVcqUITaVwuMgcnRSpbgd_yiNpBd4nRAMujBZuijO_p5vu06HUYHRI2g5VNYvS780Lc3CCIwQLjMCXlzCs0nXMDiY_i9P58jsp6vABLvZsE6fULE-gYQ5brr1xKDzLWV7K/s1600/2017-10-24+17.45.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjai1PNFGms4lbVcqUITaVwuMgcnRSpbgd_yiNpBd4nRAMujBZuijO_p5vu06HUYHRI2g5VNYvS780Lc3CCIwQLjMCXlzCs0nXMDiY_i9P58jsp6vABLvZsE6fULE-gYQ5brr1xKDzLWV7K/s320/2017-10-24+17.45.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry about the quality of the photo!</td></tr>
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and a trip to Tesco's where I found this beauty of a colouring book!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTF0g_oa4kSlttoTfBOndPiEE9VxUFShzKWBgssIUpXm1uZYmqxfrGUe70n377UqWC-2rDO1mUT58I7XyNxns5IZMDs6SbCA4spUn888u_KjiC3qJzk1qi5LFlsPrNhoD5JhTA2ZkJFAs/s1600/2017-10-27+15.36.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTF0g_oa4kSlttoTfBOndPiEE9VxUFShzKWBgssIUpXm1uZYmqxfrGUe70n377UqWC-2rDO1mUT58I7XyNxns5IZMDs6SbCA4spUn888u_KjiC3qJzk1qi5LFlsPrNhoD5JhTA2ZkJFAs/s320/2017-10-27+15.36.04.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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We went up to see our daughter and granddaughter during half term (last week). By this time next week my little girl will be 39!! I really don't know where those years have gone - but I expect you can all relate to that sentiment! </div>
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Tomorrow I must phone Basingstoke to check if they are still expecting Mike on 7th November. He had pre-op tests done locally last week so the results should be with Basingstoke now. As we haven't had written confirmation of the appointment I want to check it's all still on before I book a hotel there for the night before. To get there we have 125 mile trip, which includes driving round London on the M25 (which we joke and call the biggest car park in the world because the traffic can be so slow!) and then onto the M3 (which is often not that much better). In theory it should take about two and a half hours - but we'll see!</div>
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Oh well - better get shifting and make a cuppa - need to get myself moving!</div>
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Til next time</div>
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Sandie</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-3727484914232897492017-10-13T18:38:00.002+01:002017-10-13T18:38:56.750+01:00Catching up again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well - the best laid plans to continue on my blog seem to have gone severely awry this year!<br />
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The main reason has been Mike's continuing ill health issues. He has had to have regular gastroscopies about every month to six weeks as he is still having issues with swallowing. Just this last week he had a stent fitted to his gullet which SHOULD last about 2 months before we see his doctor again. In the meantime he went to see the surgeon in the summer who told him that she was prepared to reverse his stoma operation at the end of August. However because his blood work showed increased levels of some indicators in his blood tests, it was postponed for two weeks. Then we saw the surgeon again, who told us that there appeared to be a cancerous lesion on his liver and that it would be more important to deal with that first. That meant an MRI which then was passed to doctors at Basingstoke hospital (they are specialists in liver cancers). This week we heard from them that they will operate on him. Hopefully we will be going down on November 7th, when they do a procedure to encourage the liver to start growing before they do the actual operation. That would follow in about a month after that.<br />
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I believe they have accommodation within the hospital for relatives who have miles to travel! So I have to make enquiries about that too. And a year down the line I am still going to be hospital visiting. At least this year Mike is in a better position to recover. His body weight has been gradually increasing so it shouldn't take him as long to recover from a serious operation.<br />
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Apart from that - what else has been happening in our life?<br />
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In June we went to the Haven Holiday site in Caister-on-Sea. We both loved it so much that we ended up purchasing a new static caravan which we got the keys for in September. Over the last month we have spent more days there than at home! And while we're there at least I don't feel guilty about not doing housework or gardening!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zlz-DQvdVTAzEnlSwpbDNUg2mSqEW0E5BmqVit_Qil3k3ba_eVwrx8OHbx2ls_jNP75UBTLgR7DHeqx2t9Pf0qE6rJJoMcaXCGqHGzT2YzHOajqJwyo3lDH2sepdYi1HS1JKOpTgHksE/s1600/2017-09-11+14.38.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zlz-DQvdVTAzEnlSwpbDNUg2mSqEW0E5BmqVit_Qil3k3ba_eVwrx8OHbx2ls_jNP75UBTLgR7DHeqx2t9Pf0qE6rJJoMcaXCGqHGzT2YzHOajqJwyo3lDH2sepdYi1HS1JKOpTgHksE/s320/2017-09-11+14.38.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of van (with our new car!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYwmwdgm4fR0ML0Q-oQXJkLonQAab22tlpwmrrgLECExwSi5MD2U2xA35G97cY8rrMvBuPhjImj10XSgNFaeFfZ5NSaJQvYGu2cgigu-3huol8mqXYeU46Xr9PypBJF5FWdSX3uX47tFN/s1600/2017-09-11+13.25.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYwmwdgm4fR0ML0Q-oQXJkLonQAab22tlpwmrrgLECExwSi5MD2U2xA35G97cY8rrMvBuPhjImj10XSgNFaeFfZ5NSaJQvYGu2cgigu-3huol8mqXYeU46Xr9PypBJF5FWdSX3uX47tFN/s320/2017-09-11+13.25.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living area</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UJvdOdrtIISySqPm_i7Yc5dWKAWKZC_X7hSrSF6Y2yLztNwY62T95M2jcdFakP2wInrlSYwTP61eEuk3MkLgHMAVXD3p9R2Wthcyx4LOhDeCEKTbBuYvyTfqglI9n7FDJ-TGGYe6a3C3/s1600/2017-09-11+13.25.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UJvdOdrtIISySqPm_i7Yc5dWKAWKZC_X7hSrSF6Y2yLztNwY62T95M2jcdFakP2wInrlSYwTP61eEuk3MkLgHMAVXD3p9R2Wthcyx4LOhDeCEKTbBuYvyTfqglI9n7FDJ-TGGYe6a3C3/s320/2017-09-11+13.25.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16fMtkawjvtYUjDn70tw7W5eKA6DQcDvt2CzubzV75bct9HtdiG1wdgoOOjwAgFICmbzq96WwBt3zWJ_P-q1bSNIaA_D3tPXlhgm9KC5-tXf8jCXL7CRZ5saydkpAmR3d50WuSrIvK32k/s1600/2017-09-11+13.25.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh16fMtkawjvtYUjDn70tw7W5eKA6DQcDvt2CzubzV75bct9HtdiG1wdgoOOjwAgFICmbzq96WwBt3zWJ_P-q1bSNIaA_D3tPXlhgm9KC5-tXf8jCXL7CRZ5saydkpAmR3d50WuSrIvK32k/s320/2017-09-11+13.25.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining area with door outside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyzP2Kl8p3i8SXz3FMUrlUxBS4Iv5kILYb3Bvfg_wMLIdobSfiN1e3O3xV9YiOR-tSlaXKpIiLTX-_iLqkfK-O7DFT9KV5E1H33KSrb-WrKLl5IMDvb7ME_TQOJqI-R5MoMQWPWUb0fg1/s1600/2017-09-11+13.26.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyzP2Kl8p3i8SXz3FMUrlUxBS4Iv5kILYb3Bvfg_wMLIdobSfiN1e3O3xV9YiOR-tSlaXKpIiLTX-_iLqkfK-O7DFT9KV5E1H33KSrb-WrKLl5IMDvb7ME_TQOJqI-R5MoMQWPWUb0fg1/s320/2017-09-11+13.26.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main bedroom<br /></td></tr>
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There are two other twin bedrooms as well as a family shower room and an en suite toilet in the main bedroom. We are really looking forward to getting down there many times next year. It's about a two hour drive from home (less if traffic is light) so far enough away to be a holiday, yet near enough to drive up there if we just fancy a day away. We are also going to let it out for part of the year, so that would help with the site fees.<div>
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And my stitching has also been slow progress since Mike came home - at least I blame him!</div>
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I finished stitching my Moon Hare - but have yet to actually to make him into a FFO. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg6wgZAuveNVtG8xMYL-aROFVwu9CM6KfJb-ZjUe-ggOY2UwlXlJySvzo9KoNgWRxadIQ9C2e22BvXqoR89rFRYA-dUm3mG4T338-odtPlZXTjXGqG_8NIcM2S1tRVH_6fSmg2oVqAHO7/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1204" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKg6wgZAuveNVtG8xMYL-aROFVwu9CM6KfJb-ZjUe-ggOY2UwlXlJySvzo9KoNgWRxadIQ9C2e22BvXqoR89rFRYA-dUm3mG4T338-odtPlZXTjXGqG_8NIcM2S1tRVH_6fSmg2oVqAHO7/s400/33.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally completed - but beautiful!<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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Then I worked on this - a pattern I bought in a shop called the Twisted Turtle in Nawiliwili on Kaui during one of our Hawaiian cruises. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFCn1ZnHp87RHB3HKhSR9wB4NKerCvrGTRY47H1durupGHCIuC3n-IMIwco4shTBQKlNu0IAaksY6odQtdwSWh4qRjcESVXLz7F4fbts6aTZmjjb2yN-_ZBiD9SjABKu9_F3fkKuMHkz1/s1600/2017-09-04+16.56.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFCn1ZnHp87RHB3HKhSR9wB4NKerCvrGTRY47H1durupGHCIuC3n-IMIwco4shTBQKlNu0IAaksY6odQtdwSWh4qRjcESVXLz7F4fbts6aTZmjjb2yN-_ZBiD9SjABKu9_F3fkKuMHkz1/s320/2017-09-04+16.56.11.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Currently I have almost completed him as I have been stitching on him while we've been up to Caister. Here is where he stands today - another weekend should see him completed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD_VSSjUa1FWnw1fb4K_r3eDV1wbjLK418MBuQIR8e0PeggG1-wHW324gbfoc6aBrpm1H_JnvlX8FO9UjWzeAaZHWQinMBLz-yKEymfKe3BN5HXssgC6mbfFnJOj6lIIcSyukJcrYYT0o/s1600/2017-10-11+20.57.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvD_VSSjUa1FWnw1fb4K_r3eDV1wbjLK418MBuQIR8e0PeggG1-wHW324gbfoc6aBrpm1H_JnvlX8FO9UjWzeAaZHWQinMBLz-yKEymfKe3BN5HXssgC6mbfFnJOj6lIIcSyukJcrYYT0o/s320/2017-10-11+20.57.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have been busy buying several Heaven and Earth designs and kitting some of them up to do. I've also been gifted a few RAK patterns from them over the last year - so watch out for the next "BAP" to hit the frame!!</div>
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Better sign off and go and get some dinner for tonight. Not sure what I fancy! Might just have to raid the fridge!<br /><br />Until next time - take care</div>
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Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-39243405823504749302017-04-21T18:07:00.005+01:002017-04-21T18:07:58.047+01:00Missing In Action!Well hello there! I know - it's been almost a year since I last posted. For those of you who may know me from other areas of the web - I apologise - skip the next 2 paragraphs as you already know what I'm going to say!!<br />
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Last July my husband started to be sick - not normal vomiting - but it looked like coffee grounds. The next day he was fine and shrugged it off. A month later - same thing! So the following day (which happened to be a Bank Holiday in the UK), I <strike>forced</strike> took him to A&E in our local hospital. They took at look and ordered a gastroscopy which he took 2 weeks later. They prescribed medication and a repeat gastroscopy in 6 weeks. By the time that date arrived, he was so weak that he could hardly get out of bed, let alone get to the hospital. Finally on Nov 2nd, he collapsed in the early hours of the morning and I had to call an ambulance to get him into hospital. Once there, after rehydrating and undergoing several more CAT scans and tests, it was discovered he had bowel cancer. We met a wonderful surgeon at that point, who said that she would operate to give him a stoma, which would allow him time to recover enough to undergo the operation to remove the cancerous part of the bowel. However when she operated, the tissue was felt to be too friable, so she removed about 65cm of bowel then and there.<br />
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Following a few days in the Intensive Care Unit, he was moved back to a main ward, where he started to recover, until he was unable to keep any kind of food or drink down. He was released from hospital on Feb 5th, after 12 weeks in hospital, still unable to keep anything down, but they were ordering gastroscopies and dilatations which they hoped would work. Three procedures later, we had a meeting with the oncologist - NO MORE CANCER!! So that was a positive step. Then we met the surgeon. Provided Mike was able to put on weight and start to heal properly, she would be prepared to offer a reversal to the stoma in about 6 months. We have an appointment booked for early July to discuss that. Finally a fortnight ago, just before Easter, Mike went in for another gastroscopy and this time it appears to have worked! He is eating and drinking a little more every day. And he is beginning to put on weight again.<br />
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So my life has virtually been ON HOLD for the last 6 months. I have had the support of friends and ex-colleagues. People I have never met - friends through the power of the Internet - have supported Mike and I in prayer or healing thoughts - and I want to thank each and every one of those people.<br />
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But of course my stitching and craft have been the mainstay of my personal battle during this time. When I felt like coming home and screaming about the unfairness of life - my little xxxxx's helped to keep me sane enough to function as a relatively normal human being!<br />
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As I can't go into more details here - I'll just post the pictures of things which I have worked on in these last months of pain and despair. (WARNING - lots of photos here!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmq0Aj0IjnpRSeJV5HVulYzIoUUGT2fDysaMY0hkmyGE8zvZ89_W-ys_LHhtU0r4YaO_VA2fTh_K2eC9ejzGFVb2oeAXSJTccKfXKaNJruwfE9IkP2_4jbYVjoS-aWdRwtRllKgMfBiXF/s1600/Gnome+cushion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmq0Aj0IjnpRSeJV5HVulYzIoUUGT2fDysaMY0hkmyGE8zvZ89_W-ys_LHhtU0r4YaO_VA2fTh_K2eC9ejzGFVb2oeAXSJTccKfXKaNJruwfE9IkP2_4jbYVjoS-aWdRwtRllKgMfBiXF/s320/Gnome+cushion.JPG" width="320" /></a> Gnome cushion from magazine</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvZLfRw8DLKfpgVhh65TTYcw5-1gMbDLHBVNdjBRqyG1u2QRNT4bnYEt8SPb4dkfHFQNcz_hazst70dnQrxbLCrYU8RBaYmiLqrfIA9viFW0-WgGyKGhaDyOKSNg-RDWGeoefpDeKJS6d/s1600/DSC00381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvZLfRw8DLKfpgVhh65TTYcw5-1gMbDLHBVNdjBRqyG1u2QRNT4bnYEt8SPb4dkfHFQNcz_hazst70dnQrxbLCrYU8RBaYmiLqrfIA9viFW0-WgGyKGhaDyOKSNg-RDWGeoefpDeKJS6d/s320/DSC00381.JPG" width="155" /></a> Brooke's Books Advent Animals finished and given to my granddaughter in time for Christmas 2017.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_acG9WvCghuMd_CfQ-7yxg9ixKfnmLgTfxYE8csz7TIeo3B7AEHWKpt7vyRB6XLUfxfRGE7_CeMQC3UYUaUkmCzlJGDZMuYV5Bcac5j1RE9BAP3-dm-n0YnMFpTdAH26oP2c48V6GKeE/s1600/2017-02-19+13.50.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_acG9WvCghuMd_CfQ-7yxg9ixKfnmLgTfxYE8csz7TIeo3B7AEHWKpt7vyRB6XLUfxfRGE7_CeMQC3UYUaUkmCzlJGDZMuYV5Bcac5j1RE9BAP3-dm-n0YnMFpTdAH26oP2c48V6GKeE/s320/2017-02-19+13.50.14.jpg" width="180" /></a> Keyring for my Granddaughter - they studied pirates at school!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajKqSApH_qV_fUmSO6NSQ-FDJDNZua_tnaPgQb8r2jCHcfSfYXtUhUoyJydv9L5zkllyFNpVtkglDpFL4Rm48dgxpjzH-p-86Q0C0iTtypy3Lh4CR56rcnJ1Yg6EISdKOhzNOJXHl8DH5/s1600/Barry+cushion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajKqSApH_qV_fUmSO6NSQ-FDJDNZua_tnaPgQb8r2jCHcfSfYXtUhUoyJydv9L5zkllyFNpVtkglDpFL4Rm48dgxpjzH-p-86Q0C0iTtypy3Lh4CR56rcnJ1Yg6EISdKOhzNOJXHl8DH5/s320/Barry+cushion.JPG" width="320" /></a> Camper van from magazine - lettering added myself. A present for a good friend who has held my hand through all of this. </div>
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Fairy Grandmother - finished and hung - L&Lace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybrW3Mx-IH_Q4OU-OcKYaDYPBpBjvsOXTruFjhTMyemOsi7R0Mjh9k87foBIsCowNjKrUoz5SbHPVGQj1mddIUSqg5pxENV5Tv6vv9BWIYp9DS0dUJw9GosQ9bJCxIPtMJQCeahC1bn1l/s1600/Restart+11+completed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybrW3Mx-IH_Q4OU-OcKYaDYPBpBjvsOXTruFjhTMyemOsi7R0Mjh9k87foBIsCowNjKrUoz5SbHPVGQj1mddIUSqg5pxENV5Tv6vv9BWIYp9DS0dUJw9GosQ9bJCxIPtMJQCeahC1bn1l/s320/Restart+11+completed.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Current WIP - HAED pattern from WOCS <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTzVRX6Bt9QYQUIPm4DIHdXLlw-GJv3crtQcZZ_VSJV3OPJwGvRnBTUts1OM0mK9cZHkqJwfW02Zp6wkeQKrptXLQ2bGVixcrXBY_ZDuO1fqSx7BaIQZeJ1NLAuzgN0gcxOkXq4vAYos7/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTzVRX6Bt9QYQUIPm4DIHdXLlw-GJv3crtQcZZ_VSJV3OPJwGvRnBTUts1OM0mK9cZHkqJwfW02Zp6wkeQKrptXLQ2bGVixcrXBY_ZDuO1fqSx7BaIQZeJ1NLAuzgN0gcxOkXq4vAYos7/s320/01.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighy5Xjd9dGXnT-wwGmrwsHMx7Kmr4QKOsndBE0IcaYyW95EwwAn8KJoneTROPUJcY96lYWmZY757d-2W25d5g-1Hz80BzgyKuGqmOonJN6Ce0A0iYy6z0GN2XmkYnbiKTEDCHVOltA0Z7/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighy5Xjd9dGXnT-wwGmrwsHMx7Kmr4QKOsndBE0IcaYyW95EwwAn8KJoneTROPUJcY96lYWmZY757d-2W25d5g-1Hz80BzgyKuGqmOonJN6Ce0A0iYy6z0GN2XmkYnbiKTEDCHVOltA0Z7/s320/17.jpg" width="320" /></a> Progress on Moon Hare to date</div>
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Christmas 2017 for my Granddaughter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC51qG47BiZ2SkYUw9TNNqGFL-6evap9HWl-U5UmLJctz0OqzmfGKbzJx_uNTyZR9NbDwX3lUe4yd3n-ID9ehI4ti_HmC_4u-qbcpDQVGKOptGs1IvEjExEcg5DWuGpxjxP2XV5u5qb8Z6/s1600/Christmas+fairy+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC51qG47BiZ2SkYUw9TNNqGFL-6evap9HWl-U5UmLJctz0OqzmfGKbzJx_uNTyZR9NbDwX3lUe4yd3n-ID9ehI4ti_HmC_4u-qbcpDQVGKOptGs1IvEjExEcg5DWuGpxjxP2XV5u5qb8Z6/s320/Christmas+fairy+2016.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIQ6O8wON-GgrHxQ2NLwGfAOJ7JDQLq70Ud0S1PC8F-kurtuCZtsjQ3kDqog2-SMsJRkyOFXKwCEoOUn8JX9zd0gsqN_kg5UyGbyMuG6ZhPIniYzVJidbyhmhVY0Y5Lpwy7yTnmzYohUJ/s1600/DSC00299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqIQ6O8wON-GgrHxQ2NLwGfAOJ7JDQLq70Ud0S1PC8F-kurtuCZtsjQ3kDqog2-SMsJRkyOFXKwCEoOUn8JX9zd0gsqN_kg5UyGbyMuG6ZhPIniYzVJidbyhmhVY0Y5Lpwy7yTnmzYohUJ/s320/DSC00299.JPG" width="320" /></a> House for the tooth fairy - Jess lost her first teeth this year! I made the whole thing from a box and felt!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk63MyJERLzESoSV9Jh0Fhu9LWwV1atve1kQhm5Qg5mOigDa-cZOBAvCDVrvXOjlu9CNPtvQD4Ty2esexRESmGiTwsuDSB8AiCleAVBqMS-GUuOd-d2jfwMtmHMv574jpdpS_JRSnWZ28E/s1600/DSC00298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk63MyJERLzESoSV9Jh0Fhu9LWwV1atve1kQhm5Qg5mOigDa-cZOBAvCDVrvXOjlu9CNPtvQD4Ty2esexRESmGiTwsuDSB8AiCleAVBqMS-GUuOd-d2jfwMtmHMv574jpdpS_JRSnWZ28E/s320/DSC00298.JPG" width="320" /></a> Back wall of the house!</div>
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And a bit of knitting - mermaid tail for Jess<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IqNL8Wl1mSlzAxwXJtoxLvj2R34Vhwn9eo3kfJEChoWezbogy6oXaKqZJWeesbLxp2fNX9sDabHP7V7nyUCT8vV2cj51ARm_UprYN9qdV2KBFTQIc3Buo0upq_6oqWiLQta3uJNr1HLa/s1600/2017-02-21+16.13.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IqNL8Wl1mSlzAxwXJtoxLvj2R34Vhwn9eo3kfJEChoWezbogy6oXaKqZJWeesbLxp2fNX9sDabHP7V7nyUCT8vV2cj51ARm_UprYN9qdV2KBFTQIc3Buo0upq_6oqWiLQta3uJNr1HLa/s320/2017-02-21+16.13.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnaSSxbgx0bvS6UjtIjtFTRI95p9z2pg6PeJvkyF74v6o0guJEJ0QPWy_xHvxoO56oZtWSEpLHBM-CNbaG4gokoCp6XknlI9FAqNJSiGkj4h4sT-2T1Z08JU4xaaL813odaFRcLOv6ovG/s1600/mermaid+tail+erika.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnaSSxbgx0bvS6UjtIjtFTRI95p9z2pg6PeJvkyF74v6o0guJEJ0QPWy_xHvxoO56oZtWSEpLHBM-CNbaG4gokoCp6XknlI9FAqNJSiGkj4h4sT-2T1Z08JU4xaaL813odaFRcLOv6ovG/s320/mermaid+tail+erika.jpg" width="320" /></a> And a larger one for my daughter!!</div>
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Finished today! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjpTOhwcpE7UPgIxup0mNvukIK049wXngWPkvGyymf_eJWTOp6q8YaDgH0WWWKJhZfBHC6AqmeCVNRc6jTOvgnFv93AzW7eA_7zo_aVfdsoKzJ9Q_9wdMVdn05ubP-h86U5iWNQI2JPRU/s1600/2017-04-21+12.41.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjpTOhwcpE7UPgIxup0mNvukIK049wXngWPkvGyymf_eJWTOp6q8YaDgH0WWWKJhZfBHC6AqmeCVNRc6jTOvgnFv93AzW7eA_7zo_aVfdsoKzJ9Q_9wdMVdn05ubP-h86U5iWNQI2JPRU/s320/2017-04-21+12.41.09.jpg" width="180" /></a> Pompom rug for my granddaughter! If I'd planned it out I would have moved the J down a row, but hey - I didn't so it will have to be like this. Hopefully she will like it as it's in her favourite colours. She can put it beside her bed to wriggle her toes in as she gets up!</div>
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Right - well after so long away I'd better let you go and do something else instead! Hope you've all been busy. I will try to catch up on reading your blogs again. So I hope to see you again SOON!</div>
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Until then - take care and remember - you never know just when a family member or loved one will be hospitalised or worse - so talk to them often and always tell them that you love them.</div>
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Sandie</div>
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<br />Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-85608453799041283932016-06-13T18:05:00.000+01:002016-06-13T18:05:32.815+01:00Summer - where?Afternoon all!<br />
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As I write this it's a grey and dismal day here - we're in June for ****s sake! Where is that summer weather we were promised? I was watching a tv program this morning, where they were interviewing an amateur weather forecaster. He was saying that the weather at Christmas determines the weather for the following summer. Therefore this year we would have about 2 or 3 weeks of summer weather in July/August! The rest would be wet and dismal. Just as well I've got plenty of stitching to keep me going then I suppose. Still he did forecast that Christmas this year should be frosty, but not deep snow, which should then herald a summer 2017 that we could be happy with. Long while to wait though!<br />
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Hopefully on Wednesday, we should be getting out garden patio sorted. Not sure if I elaborated before but we bought some artificial grass earlier this year, which we were going to lay on top of our existing patio outside the back door. Anyway - long story short - the original gardener we hired to do the job eventually didn't want to do it, and we had to find another. This time, the job is on to be done this week. My peony has just begun to come into flower and provides a bright splash of colour in the drabness.<br />
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Meanwhile, in the few summery days we have had, I have been out weeding our front garden, I'm leaving it almost bare this year, in an attempt to try and find/kill all the weeds which have been springing up there. One side seems to be a dandelion heaven and the other is a bindweed hotspot! I know that weeds are only flowers in the wrong place, but I really don't want them, so each time one springs up I try to dig it out and hopefully by next year I might have less to contend with.<br />
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DH is busy watching these Euro 2016 matches. I don't think he's missed one live yet! Still he did tape the second half of one match last night so that I could watch the season finale episode of Hawaii 5-0! And I do have my stitching to keep me company while he sits in front of the tv.<br />
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Better do a stitchy report now I suppose. While we were on our cruise, I managed to catch up with the Brooke's Books Advent Animals. (Although Brooke has just released number 24 in the series which I do have to stitch).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNT_Q3Anihmu0ZHa4W2Z82Isag4Itg7IJF_efbT7ByY_SHD3_hTKDo5gPyBQ4fPx6P68aZNTT8huGrCI1m4_NBeYBU-6GFSzs0D8ofgboTYupySrzl4BjE3FAx9oTBxK_kv4Ca5VX-LrXZ/s1600/Brooke+20-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNT_Q3Anihmu0ZHa4W2Z82Isag4Itg7IJF_efbT7ByY_SHD3_hTKDo5gPyBQ4fPx6P68aZNTT8huGrCI1m4_NBeYBU-6GFSzs0D8ofgboTYupySrzl4BjE3FAx9oTBxK_kv4Ca5VX-LrXZ/s400/Brooke+20-21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9Ih6_LaMnZAMYygcLWMVHqQJa5jwlSSLhV3B36qS8JUajHYc0-3WmJyiFmQvQk6b8CQAHzDgtZBAuHUYHXHHlrgcDDQE6QWxIvLpyuZjRRBi1uzrLuTKSa0o4xMI3jQVTlSk4QcOc912/s1600/Brooke+22-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9Ih6_LaMnZAMYygcLWMVHqQJa5jwlSSLhV3B36qS8JUajHYc0-3WmJyiFmQvQk6b8CQAHzDgtZBAuHUYHXHHlrgcDDQE6QWxIvLpyuZjRRBi1uzrLuTKSa0o4xMI3jQVTlSk4QcOc912/s400/Brooke+22-23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I decided that I'm stitching the name above each animal as I think they are a part of their charm. I've stitched them on long strips of Aida, and the first 2 strips (1-8 and 9-16) have already been part finished ready for assembly. I am going to make them into small pockets on a backcloth, which will hang from a kind of dowel rod. I've got Grumpy Kitty (again Brooke's pattern) to head up the hanging, so my plan is <strike>kind of</strike> coming together in my mind. </div>
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I also managed to do a quick finish of a cover kit from a magazine (I think it was Cross Stitch Collection or possibly Cross Stitcher). This one will be a small hanging for the Christmas tree this year. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM7DtuvGE-G2qCKS6izwwdfbepgTbNZMmgCD_8b-UYD7g2JT3zQYpRr29OctC5UD4A9MNuDq5_ll28L0nZ9A12XbatpWcfddnpRQjSvKG50zRT4_ct5U66J8zUA1OR-7aJEyVkMd7PagN/s1600/Little+house+decoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWM7DtuvGE-G2qCKS6izwwdfbepgTbNZMmgCD_8b-UYD7g2JT3zQYpRr29OctC5UD4A9MNuDq5_ll28L0nZ9A12XbatpWcfddnpRQjSvKG50zRT4_ct5U66J8zUA1OR-7aJEyVkMd7PagN/s400/Little+house+decoration.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Finally on to my Fairy Grandmother. I can finally say that I have restitched all that I had done before I had to frog everything, and have started to make more progress on it. This was how it looked a week or so ago - </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kpU409J0EYWSJZwnn_5EYNU80Go1am9u3Em1ZSkDT8LqLRpkb7hpRV4AH2IuF-ZasPk3Q-n2CJg-dH4Q99mRGlL_m5D8uq2qcFQRkpPpozEbbNzJ4obLHfdiwKdkZCt8c321hyphenhyphen5SeCxW/s1600/Fairy+grandmother+restart+02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kpU409J0EYWSJZwnn_5EYNU80Go1am9u3Em1ZSkDT8LqLRpkb7hpRV4AH2IuF-ZasPk3Q-n2CJg-dH4Q99mRGlL_m5D8uq2qcFQRkpPpozEbbNzJ4obLHfdiwKdkZCt8c321hyphenhyphen5SeCxW/s320/Fairy+grandmother+restart+02.png" width="180" /></a> This was not quite duplicating all I had done before. </div>
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This was the start of some progress last week.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTEP-qZs4KvPvggqiXuDf83Zk_Q8U6BEAtn95EXOvmozIbrAmXvcoeDvuZSRlh42BmCC-KP5XNoWRnwf9SwR2kDMTYH1e35ztaTJMjLx64aw-iswWjId_rsa_i6-mXaSwxE_YRl0HmqCQ/s1600/Fairy+grandmother+restart+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTEP-qZs4KvPvggqiXuDf83Zk_Q8U6BEAtn95EXOvmozIbrAmXvcoeDvuZSRlh42BmCC-KP5XNoWRnwf9SwR2kDMTYH1e35ztaTJMjLx64aw-iswWjId_rsa_i6-mXaSwxE_YRl0HmqCQ/s320/Fairy+grandmother+restart+03.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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And this is where I've got to earlier today! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMrJTYQAMMgCOzfJ8y8kE8mb6Q_KelhPxiAyTpsqwGKNahzfhK4wvvDHV4H3T6jtzI1ASJHDJ-_u541H-gbtYFw7UeGyXavgbsLv617XuLVZ7MjXxpjR1w81dOH6bKmA0NMcqZnzWUeR6/s1600/Fairy+grandmother+restart+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMrJTYQAMMgCOzfJ8y8kE8mb6Q_KelhPxiAyTpsqwGKNahzfhK4wvvDHV4H3T6jtzI1ASJHDJ-_u541H-gbtYFw7UeGyXavgbsLv617XuLVZ7MjXxpjR1w81dOH6bKmA0NMcqZnzWUeR6/s320/Fairy+grandmother+restart+04.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I've decided to do her face 1 over 1 (it's 32 count), so I did the same for her hands as a test. I discovered that I can see the threads clearer if I peer over the top of my glasses! So I think that once we have had the garden settled, I must get round to making an opticians' appointment! I'm really not sure about the size of the beads against the rest, but it was what the pattern required, so I soldiered on with them. Also I couldn't make out the gold area just above the stripes on the bodice. It wasn't clear from the pattern. So after asking on Facebook and not getting a definitive answer from anyone who had already stitched this, I contacted Told In A Garden by email, explaining my plight. I had a reply from them in under 2 hours! They explained exactly what I should be stitching, and I was so happy with their prompt reply. It's always worth going back to the pattern maker if you have a query I've found.</div>
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Last of all I've acquired 2 new patterns (via 123.com) from swapping a couple of my completed patterns. </div>
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Hawaii Life!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxL7FM1BLMRON1U5C0fwYo-Gb4kApF5-b9bhxLMl0pECUDLz_CgmFegy8yeNL31J8_z58cugaz-wzX_WE1dGMkhCeN22IF7orXrFg7VZzSETAanNEXEUkdjiIgTk9EzEAbXuL58YpAFLg/s1600/2016-06-13+17.49.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxL7FM1BLMRON1U5C0fwYo-Gb4kApF5-b9bhxLMl0pECUDLz_CgmFegy8yeNL31J8_z58cugaz-wzX_WE1dGMkhCeN22IF7orXrFg7VZzSETAanNEXEUkdjiIgTk9EzEAbXuL58YpAFLg/s320/2016-06-13+17.49.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqsMqdO8sPOG15IeWGdTS20XyRv_bCjA-c1tq1CR9dArQQOQWAZoUsesKe_8zrwzD2Wy5OfiwgeJpwxeylDGYhT_K6EnMC-qqY5O8pE441JCIYcD4K_gyG5MzTLyQYx-0QGHA0iWNtLgr/s1600/2016-06-13+17.49.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqsMqdO8sPOG15IeWGdTS20XyRv_bCjA-c1tq1CR9dArQQOQWAZoUsesKe_8zrwzD2Wy5OfiwgeJpwxeylDGYhT_K6EnMC-qqY5O8pE441JCIYcD4K_gyG5MzTLyQYx-0QGHA0iWNtLgr/s320/2016-06-13+17.49.58.jpg" width="320" /></a> Christmas Friends.</div>
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This will go with the other Vickery Collection pattern I got a couple of years ago - </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF83N0NRhOZt09mX2yKfBBp1tZj2uFehZjzh1vUE7_XHX2fy_fOY_q8JcyrtSfTbxzpaA2w3yyWuwM88ulquwOgo9QRuW12b7rRMxxiKYoyDa97u7xlTsl4Y7tRLhS0z3bNDZmX1daw6Ev/s1600/Nutcracker+seasons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF83N0NRhOZt09mX2yKfBBp1tZj2uFehZjzh1vUE7_XHX2fy_fOY_q8JcyrtSfTbxzpaA2w3yyWuwM88ulquwOgo9QRuW12b7rRMxxiKYoyDa97u7xlTsl4Y7tRLhS0z3bNDZmX1daw6Ev/s320/Nutcracker+seasons.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I also managed to reframe a picture which I gave to my daughter some years ago. When we visited them last time, she have me a collection of broken frame pieces - it had dropped from it's hook and smashed. So I managed to reglue it back together, washed and restretched the picture and gave it back to her when we visited them last week. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo3iFPcZ9aktFMh1ewghvG4AS26Ij6fwoguj36rHqESUzxjvIjb7jbjnlo0ynR7WySSPev4belSS8HcWA6sEOsrbrHlapYkqcQ4OADXJ2AMNGux83SOjXExZ8RIOSFSc0dU7apwQ7bUAr/s1600/Valentino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo3iFPcZ9aktFMh1ewghvG4AS26Ij6fwoguj36rHqESUzxjvIjb7jbjnlo0ynR7WySSPev4belSS8HcWA6sEOsrbrHlapYkqcQ4OADXJ2AMNGux83SOjXExZ8RIOSFSc0dU7apwQ7bUAr/s320/Valentino.jpg" width="320" /></a>Meet Valentino Rossi (Lyndisfarne Needlework kit) - freshly washed and reframed.</div>
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Well it's half time in the latest match, so I can get an answer if I ask DH what he wants for dinner! So I'd better go and turn on the oven!</div>
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Until next time - take care - and if you see the sun please remind it to come and shine over my way please?</div>
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Sandie</div>
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Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-25859733564334180932016-05-31T16:45:00.000+01:002016-05-31T16:45:06.476+01:00Catching up with life!Hi again everyone.<br />
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We returned safely from our cruise at the beginning of the month, but I came home with an added extra - a terrible cough which took weeks to shift! Still I feel better now, so thought I'd better get back to posting - this one will be about our holiday so I'll be posting lots of photos.<br />
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WARNING - THIS POST IS VERY PHOTO HEAVY!<br />
We left Heathrow Airport early afternoon and landed in Los Angeles in time for dinner! We managed a quick meal and then almost straight away hit the bed, as we were tired out! We'd been up from about 6am to get the taxi to the airport, and with an 11 hour flight it felt like we'd been awake for ever. Luckily we were in a hotel we'd stayed in before, so we knew that the food was good, and we didn't have to go out hunting for a restaurant!<br />
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The next morning we were being collected just after 1pm and taken to our ship - the Ruby Princess, so we had plenty of time to sit outside and relax for an hour or so! As soon as we could see the bridge at San Pedro we began to feel like it was going to be a good trip!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1u6zJmRE0pGUNH4ppc_XZUTIIq2mDOCNtsqo2XI_ojdJnK4bQ8XveFCrt_k7ZGjSIroeDW5t6m-9L59X_dyyOInnPcnhBAvqPq1eS4GFzQyiCYq5YdkZLNcULEN8naGLWJfXsZrwqAPQ/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1u6zJmRE0pGUNH4ppc_XZUTIIq2mDOCNtsqo2XI_ojdJnK4bQ8XveFCrt_k7ZGjSIroeDW5t6m-9L59X_dyyOInnPcnhBAvqPq1eS4GFzQyiCYq5YdkZLNcULEN8naGLWJfXsZrwqAPQ/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a> Outside the Marriott Airport hotel - watching planes landing on the other side of the road! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLIOJ6vKts5qtnrJp9VCaLzxbG6hcp5rFNK5-BpsxKXJw5OXlzE-TbCsR1kpWw-TaX6R6FErZIPs8fva9Mg9T5ZjjlR57uq2npQRN9JMyHJKUTebaNshr5onINbTsh-xHFivtrGH88GLV/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLIOJ6vKts5qtnrJp9VCaLzxbG6hcp5rFNK5-BpsxKXJw5OXlzE-TbCsR1kpWw-TaX6R6FErZIPs8fva9Mg9T5ZjjlR57uq2npQRN9JMyHJKUTebaNshr5onINbTsh-xHFivtrGH88GLV/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a> Ruby Princess parks next to the bridge, so you know you've arrived when you spot the bridge from the coach!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkXAeGpRXUr9kyaBSG_djWaUJanSPknHypID6kfjeFKYp9hMTvZoFBqRwTbRSPkRxZVHHpb4f4Sq3rRqYAE6zJZmNnG3_tRtUAqXSNtT55W-lbVi6KVEiVWK-hu5ROtQuSI8Q0fI4dhCq/s1600/Ship+Exterior_RU_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkXAeGpRXUr9kyaBSG_djWaUJanSPknHypID6kfjeFKYp9hMTvZoFBqRwTbRSPkRxZVHHpb4f4Sq3rRqYAE6zJZmNnG3_tRtUAqXSNtT55W-lbVi6KVEiVWK-hu5ROtQuSI8Q0fI4dhCq/s400/Ship+Exterior_RU_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm4Wp74q2Rsxlx8Y8BNwa0Gsq6UtqNqASmFHKE9hn5BqjR9SRGXvFZYWm-v0TY1FqYOiCU0U0KPfMRZecx8CrEq6jf85z1NLOkHGxckJu9HTN-8PKd_8Hy1srgj4tHhQvhIgKg8-KE6Zy/s1600/DSCF2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm4Wp74q2Rsxlx8Y8BNwa0Gsq6UtqNqASmFHKE9hn5BqjR9SRGXvFZYWm-v0TY1FqYOiCU0U0KPfMRZecx8CrEq6jf85z1NLOkHGxckJu9HTN-8PKd_8Hy1srgj4tHhQvhIgKg8-KE6Zy/s320/DSCF2012.JPG" width="240" /></a> Inside the Atrium on Ruby Princess</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-nGyZLp9IFOtK-wBijGeBYKad65itsOvHyUKFm0ulvdTYqyxyuildBIT6oJR0N4C7yqOuMBxW5A56iNUQH3PQUbvGE1LERCpTDfUdX076tVlIBgFNc0zATSKUEaf9sd1V8Qk_vlF-D8Z/s1600/DSCF2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-nGyZLp9IFOtK-wBijGeBYKad65itsOvHyUKFm0ulvdTYqyxyuildBIT6oJR0N4C7yqOuMBxW5A56iNUQH3PQUbvGE1LERCpTDfUdX076tVlIBgFNc0zATSKUEaf9sd1V8Qk_vlF-D8Z/s320/DSCF2007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Top deck - before the hoards take over the pool!</div>
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The first four days on board are sea days. Normally it takes me a couple of days to get my sea legs - but this time I was fine from the very first day. We spent time lounging around, catching a few rays (and putting a few stitches into my Brookes' Advent Animals which I had brought along for the ride! </div>
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The first stop this time was Lahaina (on Maui). This involves getting onto a tender boat to go ashore. Greeting us as we stepped off the jetty was a small group of older people (residents) who were dancing hula and playing ukuleles. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxoWhaDTBIbSLgw9h2AaJQgbJK8x0rkNMIhcClz-ETVtEsGlwPAAlDRtN70PKkQOYGKb_WQENSl0qopd12hl_sCne92Rkap65aMf1olOQUihcOvu1ao6fjzZdXeWgyQ9qdGhn81E0YMIR/s1600/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxoWhaDTBIbSLgw9h2AaJQgbJK8x0rkNMIhcClz-ETVtEsGlwPAAlDRtN70PKkQOYGKb_WQENSl0qopd12hl_sCne92Rkap65aMf1olOQUihcOvu1ao6fjzZdXeWgyQ9qdGhn81E0YMIR/s400/012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDGNAzI7-vznL3YCwrg0Ug_cDf7Z7OwRdEOfWlbJGtsxG-mZcbJbjzGgQ4rgGm3fMwFvDHOrqyP_MqTARX1DAJUSEA9cB2ceNIsrPDEUkqD4xGStW93j5GUijGQjaa3U53RsmDHW8ct0K/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDGNAzI7-vznL3YCwrg0Ug_cDf7Z7OwRdEOfWlbJGtsxG-mZcbJbjzGgQ4rgGm3fMwFvDHOrqyP_MqTARX1DAJUSEA9cB2ceNIsrPDEUkqD4xGStW93j5GUijGQjaa3U53RsmDHW8ct0K/s320/013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then - just a few paces away - is the old Banyan tree. This year there was a craft market around the tree with lots of local craft for sale. There were loads of photographers who had printed photos onto aluminium - a process I had never seen before. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpmyS4eBQV0ETBdxvrxlN1Anyv0NxUKRielDUA7e_tKWDliKv773SJcL_O4Xr7UpYbXbZicTW3sBoOpn_DCs7JugnxEvxf5azxjZYCkPF5zAD-1ku1IJquzxCiyF7trGyvEd6XypWkZfP/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpmyS4eBQV0ETBdxvrxlN1Anyv0NxUKRielDUA7e_tKWDliKv773SJcL_O4Xr7UpYbXbZicTW3sBoOpn_DCs7JugnxEvxf5azxjZYCkPF5zAD-1ku1IJquzxCiyF7trGyvEd6XypWkZfP/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a walk along the main street, we stopped for a drink at a sea front bar, where we could watch the waves! We also spent a few minutes watching all the mini crabs who were sunning themselves on the rocks below us! Who said that holidays had to be active!!</div>
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That's our ship in the distance! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpr5hxSdNvzu1iKzObO07TZVD_Y5rD8qK755NbwsJWBpfbHY7qCDaQ7sQ31k76MBuYXC7hq39KGW0E9OI1B0e6bIixyd34sihBE56EX3qBd0-2AlNl0HTstjHYf0zCNnNX8x5_eU-Ijx9/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpr5hxSdNvzu1iKzObO07TZVD_Y5rD8qK755NbwsJWBpfbHY7qCDaQ7sQ31k76MBuYXC7hq39KGW0E9OI1B0e6bIixyd34sihBE56EX3qBd0-2AlNl0HTstjHYf0zCNnNX8x5_eU-Ijx9/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvKDfCXK2wIxpbHfUzrgJMME3RtMLw-cSLPv7VkPer2MOCAU2-Oj7NCZ0dpzosTM5zTMucJ0JgKpyhVKAf0c0gg8JCx8PvFfNATtlvGL9x35dOr6OpeWMyHK-3_0QeLvM3YuPmmPFZF7E/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvKDfCXK2wIxpbHfUzrgJMME3RtMLw-cSLPv7VkPer2MOCAU2-Oj7NCZ0dpzosTM5zTMucJ0JgKpyhVKAf0c0gg8JCx8PvFfNATtlvGL9x35dOr6OpeWMyHK-3_0QeLvM3YuPmmPFZF7E/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Back on board, there was a sailaway deck party and several cocktails to try before dinner! The next morning we docked in Hilo (Big Island of Hawaii). This time we opted for a hop on hop off bus. Hilo is only a small town, and the bus takes you out to the Rainbow Falls on one side of the town and then ends up at the black sand beach on the opposite side before taking you back to the ship. Here's a few shots of Hilo.</div>
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Rainbow Falls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZG07szbrbqeiSMywdT2digZnauHc7vHnRYD0urrfDOOfBgtZzxGSl6RVCVdO3PPfCzo_a9oAEb_d3kj2we9FgkyGj5keq46ATsbmXdLYJCju30HPq8Ee2g510A5HNC_dAjbYJCfTJtWT/s1600/P1000674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZG07szbrbqeiSMywdT2digZnauHc7vHnRYD0urrfDOOfBgtZzxGSl6RVCVdO3PPfCzo_a9oAEb_d3kj2we9FgkyGj5keq46ATsbmXdLYJCju30HPq8Ee2g510A5HNC_dAjbYJCfTJtWT/s320/P1000674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVc5-NwL-boAIjf-MfuLZ2zSqvyyUyxK4CER9C5tJYH49pjLZdZNHVHTidiozQfoibKWx2aNMUXNfprq_V1pLEEMGIoXZ0PkqTemv2Mcde7rILKZIqvvFFARbdZusY0Ytm8u7A8hlqd0Z/s1600/P1000676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVc5-NwL-boAIjf-MfuLZ2zSqvyyUyxK4CER9C5tJYH49pjLZdZNHVHTidiozQfoibKWx2aNMUXNfprq_V1pLEEMGIoXZ0PkqTemv2Mcde7rILKZIqvvFFARbdZusY0Ytm8u7A8hlqd0Z/s320/P1000676.JPG" width="240" /></a>King Kamehameha statue in Hilo</div>
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Japanese Gardens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-N8VrmV8dk9r_FkPWQpu-20-FiI4mSt9OKhb1Pfz_7rrrsKEZkHYkoqrJGEs1MVHY7HSMmW_SCUEaCjboprbIkTPpl1B_wBC_INhuHw_4PTUluzcyctxZpWAxhxYpatzCn9hMIRDWb_a/s1600/P1000681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-N8VrmV8dk9r_FkPWQpu-20-FiI4mSt9OKhb1Pfz_7rrrsKEZkHYkoqrJGEs1MVHY7HSMmW_SCUEaCjboprbIkTPpl1B_wBC_INhuHw_4PTUluzcyctxZpWAxhxYpatzCn9hMIRDWb_a/s320/P1000681.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXQM7HsoFwwGkLAOEYuFPOU42jyat8gjqMt1-gSwv7bXS3aMJF-BQWl0pAtsKo8FZTpiDu6VecvKzH0bisuSL5vcKHLybKpsGdl5DgxNoAD4Qe07w9bcVv4T3ZCqNby30gUSipngoljQB/s1600/P1000685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXQM7HsoFwwGkLAOEYuFPOU42jyat8gjqMt1-gSwv7bXS3aMJF-BQWl0pAtsKo8FZTpiDu6VecvKzH0bisuSL5vcKHLybKpsGdl5DgxNoAD4Qe07w9bcVv4T3ZCqNby30gUSipngoljQB/s320/P1000685.JPG" width="320" /></a>Green Turtles (Honu) relaxing on the beach! This was the first time we had spotted turtles on our trips to Hawaii, so it was a very special day. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TsAMDuROh1fQ8IYffjKF-SYGKfKu4S5FzR_AuT8I6rnkobAHY2FZGF2PiBpq7r17bnoPQtjMnw7eKP49BTJk_-x22Fb8KlwMZz9gIRY7UToBTbvoHoruHFBkyDQjywgyO8BWk-x-HJEL/s1600/P1000688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TsAMDuROh1fQ8IYffjKF-SYGKfKu4S5FzR_AuT8I6rnkobAHY2FZGF2PiBpq7r17bnoPQtjMnw7eKP49BTJk_-x22Fb8KlwMZz9gIRY7UToBTbvoHoruHFBkyDQjywgyO8BWk-x-HJEL/s320/P1000688.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Back on board again, but not before I found a Ben Franklins store and spent a few pounds topping up some craft supplies! The next day we were due to go ashore in Honolulu (Oahu). It was to be a full day (8am - 10.30pm!) We had booked tickets again for the hop on hop off bus, which would allow us to see as much as possible in the time we had available. </div>
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On the road up to Diamond Head<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVCSJEZ2lhfVyeFwNolI5JlGGXWM11H8ZB-b9OMfaiaZVuIQGXhnMr3gig5wfS2zp_M3_Xzpj05ABiuekBSgiKSTtr1JrfiyDmCuciMT31mFiqW0xKGXF-hAbfAB1cJabxg6fCVGKMwVD/s1600/P1000717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVCSJEZ2lhfVyeFwNolI5JlGGXWM11H8ZB-b9OMfaiaZVuIQGXhnMr3gig5wfS2zp_M3_Xzpj05ABiuekBSgiKSTtr1JrfiyDmCuciMT31mFiqW0xKGXF-hAbfAB1cJabxg6fCVGKMwVD/s320/P1000717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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On the way down from Diamond Head Crater, you drive past the Film Studios where Hawaii 5-0 is filmed. I wasn't able to get a photo of it, but that big monster truck that Steve McGarrett drives was parked outside! Shame they weren't filming though as the series was wrapped a few weeks before! So of course the next photo has to be where the Five-0 offices are based (in the show that is!)</div>
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We actually took two routes on the tour bus - the trip up to Diamond Head and back and the Historic route which took us around Honolulu itself. When we got back to the Ala Moana shopping centre, we hopped off and did a bit of shopping. Back on the bus we made a quick stop at Waikiki Beach (you just have to dip your feet in the ocean there!) before heading back to the ship for dinner. Some people had booked to go to a luau, but it had been included in a full day tour to the Polynesian Centre which would have meant we couldn't go round the town itself, so we decided not to do it on this trip. (maybe we'll have to go back again to do that!)</div>
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Waikiki Beach<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunQEcov0SA2Y4EpBgHKSOM0UYtngFlTcuwUwacA-4faBnWEvPj2KflrsUc7ncss6kPCCoXRlExS5D5yklxsS2mweAtmXhWSz6sGFhszxj1pd7ABT3rkPmunwsJ5t-O83GH6cZjTHFig5J/s1600/31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunQEcov0SA2Y4EpBgHKSOM0UYtngFlTcuwUwacA-4faBnWEvPj2KflrsUc7ncss6kPCCoXRlExS5D5yklxsS2mweAtmXhWSz6sGFhszxj1pd7ABT3rkPmunwsJ5t-O83GH6cZjTHFig5J/s320/31.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Back on board and the next stop was Nawiliwili (Kaui). Hopping onto the free bus (see there's a common theme here?) we hopped off at the local beach and shops. Wandering round and sitting on the beach for a while to enjoy the day has to be one of the best things on holiday. Especially when people at home are freezing cold! </div>
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Later in the day!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6MfWelTXmZfqZ_SWzi7GSBOZ3TgwmyvCaV18Lel5jCcrIwl6TN5iGNp4_sn81BVRTxljIfD622fpMq1EVw7lSnrwr31ZjW-yDwpRerX4m2DulR38Ij02sEOaLTfoLpwWNqShn9bHcbZ8/s1600/53.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6MfWelTXmZfqZ_SWzi7GSBOZ3TgwmyvCaV18Lel5jCcrIwl6TN5iGNp4_sn81BVRTxljIfD622fpMq1EVw7lSnrwr31ZjW-yDwpRerX4m2DulR38Ij02sEOaLTfoLpwWNqShn9bHcbZ8/s320/53.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before we went back on board, we took a side trip to Walmart where I bought some cotton fabric much cheaper than it would be at home. I picked up three nice lengths which will make some summer dresses and a charm square pack (for quilting) of fabrics which look like Hawaiian shirt material! Might make that into a nice quilted table runner or some table mats for outside on the patio table. Once everyone was back on board, we headed back across the Pacific - five days at sea this time!</div>
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The last stop was Ensenada (Mexico). I know they have to make a stop somewhere outside of the USA in order to be able to sell duty free on board (and also something to do with it being a non US registered ship) but there was little to do here. As this was our fourth cruise on this route, we had already done the trips organised by the ship, and the town itself doesn't have much to recommend it, so after a quick walk around the town, we spent most of the rest of the afternoon taking photos around the almost empty ship, and packing! </div>
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An early morning arrival back in LA, and we were off on our last trip. We had booked to go to Long Beach, especially as our flight home wasn't until 9pm, and we were one of the first groups off the ship. We wandered round the Queen Mary, had lunch and were collected again. It did mean that we were at the airport by 1.30pm though (we had hoped to be longer in Long Beach), so we had to sit at the airport for quite a few hours! And if anyone has travelled through Virgin Atlantic at LA you will know that there isn't much to do there! Lucky I had my stitching in my carry on bag eh?</div>
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So after that whirlwind tour of our cruise, I suppose I had better let you all get on with life! Hope you enjoyed the photos. Next time I'll fill you in on my stitching progress</div>
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Until then, take care everyone</div>
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<br />Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-46980061685024363602016-04-14T18:26:00.000+01:002016-04-14T18:26:35.621+01:00Off again soon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Right - for those of you wondering where we are off to this time I'll keep you waiting no more.</div>
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This weekend we are flying with Virgin America to Los Angeles, and then onto Ruby Princess for yet another Hawaiian cruise!<br />
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Hopefully we will get some wonderful weather and warmth. I am so fed up with being cold!</div>
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So I will not be updating this blog until after we get back, when I'll try to post a few photos of our trip. We keep thinking that this might be our last long haul flight - it's 11 hours in a plane from Heathrow. We have upgraded our seats to Premium Economy - more leg room and wider seats to mention just two advantages!</div>
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So I have spent the last couple of days inundated with washing and ironing. The two cases we are taking are almost packed, but I will have to repack, as I need to split his and hers clothes between the two cases - just in case! I will never forget the sinking feeling when our cases were left behind at Sydney Airport when we flew on to Auckland to catch a cruise liner there. Luckily our bags turned up before we were due to board the ship, but that sinking feeling that we might be in the clothes we stood up in for days was frightening. Now if the clothes are mixed in each case and one disappears en route, at least we would both have changes of clothes for a few days!</div>
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What I do have to do is sort out my stitching bag to take with me. I've made a new lined project bag (following the video by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcKataMO7Vo">The Twisted Stitcher</a> for guidance). I've decided that I am going to take a couple of mini kits which came as free gifts on magazines for the flights, but I'm going to pack <a href="http://www.brookesbookspublishing.com/CrossStitchFreebies2.html">Brooke's Advent Animal freebies</a> so that I can catch up. I have finished up to number 18, so I have the rest printed off and the colours sorted for them. I'm also packing one of Brooke's angels - or maybe one of her little witches - just in case I get everything else finished!</div>
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By the way I'm slowly getting my disastrous Fairy Grandmother frogged, and I have marked on the fabric exactly where I should start next time! But I am delaying starting it again until after we come home.</div>
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So I'm off into the wide blue yonder shortly, and I'll catch up with you all soon.</div>
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Take care until then</div>
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Sandie</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-13767091044379691342016-04-03T18:02:00.000+01:002016-04-03T18:02:30.411+01:00Changed my mind!Well today I was going to tell you about our next holiday - but instead I'm after some uplifting thoughts!<br />
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Yesterday I got out my Fairy grandmother to put a few more stitches in. Here is where I was.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlKU0gg8ht-WF2uHsaZeBAMy6YjjB5Fb0w_wW2oxi28kdnp_dJfv9S9KCu2ZgGg-fUcshht127LDlkAOG0OsgA3d33nXULyigS-jlit8nl6W6vmxBKkBRmrbN6bD8mdkGuHIBTXJzA85Q/s1600/Fairy+Grandmother+03+OUCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlKU0gg8ht-WF2uHsaZeBAMy6YjjB5Fb0w_wW2oxi28kdnp_dJfv9S9KCu2ZgGg-fUcshht127LDlkAOG0OsgA3d33nXULyigS-jlit8nl6W6vmxBKkBRmrbN6bD8mdkGuHIBTXJzA85Q/s320/Fairy+Grandmother+03+OUCH.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Now if you compare it to the photo I posted last time, you will see where I am on the pattern - </div>
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I had just reached the point of her sleeve up to her neckline. So I decided to move my frame to give myself a bit more space. </div>
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HORROR OF HORRORS!</div>
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I checked and double checked - NOOOOOOO! When I actually looked at the positioning, I worked out what I had done. The bottom line I had stitched was the centre line. But I had stitched it on the line 3/4 of the way up! I tried to grid and count to see if it would fit on the fabric I had left. But even that wouldn't work. When I had gridded the extra I would need, I was right on the selvedge edge of the fabric. Could I chop off a few lines of the pattern - just not sew them? No - even that did not work as the fairy wings go virtually to the top of the page.</div>
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So I had to bite the bullet and admit defeat. I started to unpick it last night and carried on today. It is so disheartening. I have actually put it back on the frame - I have turned the fabric round, so what was the top of the fabric is now on the bottom. It means that tomorrow I can start again and unpick a bit at a time. </div>
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On Friday we had dinner with some friends who have just come back from an 8 week holiday in Australia. They showed us some of their photos, and more than ever now I am desperate for some sunshine which might warm these old bones of mine. Now I promise more of that next time!</div>
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Sunday dinner calls - roast chicken today!<br />Until next time</div>
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take care</div>
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Sandie</div>
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Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-19964494928591500442016-03-20T17:17:00.003+00:002016-03-20T17:18:55.922+00:00Updating again!Right - dismal Sunday here. DH left me to sleep in this morning, so I actually got up this afternoon! I keep telling myself that I must have needed the extra sleeping time as my nights have been a bit disturbed lately. That's my excuse anyway!<br />
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This week, we have been chasing 2 garden firms over quotes for getting our artificial grass laid. They vary from £320 to over £600 - and both are quoting for exactly the same materials etc! The one with the lowest quote, currently has no van (it blew up a couple of weeks ago!), so depending on when he gets that back, we might get the job done during the week after Easter! We wait - and hope!<br />
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Stitching has been a little slow over the last few days. I've been busy sewing a few things for our upcoming holiday - more on that in another post - I guess those cushions etc gave me the sewing bug back! I was trying to make a waistcoat yesterday and hit a brick wall when I tried to remember how to turn it right side out! Then I realised that I have stitched the shoulder seams up when I should have left them open! So as it was dinner time, I put it to one side. I'll have to unpick those tomorrow then I can finish it! So far I've completed a dress (which has sat around for about 2 years), and a new tunic top.<br />
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My cross stitch has moved on two fronts. I completed this card which I'm going to give to a dear friend when we next meet up for afternoon tea.<br />
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This was a free gift from a magazine.</div>
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Then I picked up my Fairy Grandmother again. I was gifted the pattern by a lady in New Zealand who already had it in her stash, when she inherited a friend's stitchy stash. She kindly sent it to me along with a few skeins which would be used in it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uG62QcEFvkSAWLfgiWqg9V2RLkDVfwxZrXOfpfvSwRgWETXTVS5F3O4GqdBkOO1iYYSHXtI_ZTyH98BkEupmOOk9xOiORCAuIbuYHXpUm9N3nxlsxXAx3toYXYbVkQ_I1GL7lXjCZdb3/s1600/Fairy+grandmother+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1uG62QcEFvkSAWLfgiWqg9V2RLkDVfwxZrXOfpfvSwRgWETXTVS5F3O4GqdBkOO1iYYSHXtI_ZTyH98BkEupmOOk9xOiORCAuIbuYHXpUm9N3nxlsxXAx3toYXYbVkQ_I1GL7lXjCZdb3/s320/Fairy+grandmother+02.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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As you can see I've still got a long way to go, but I'm just loving the colours in it.And for a Lavender & Lace pattern there are only a few beads and metallics, so that's an added advantage!</div>
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Better go - I can smell the roast beef cooking and it's making me hungry! As I got up late we're eating our main meal tonight!</div>
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Take care</div>
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Sandie</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-71546036629216797212016-03-14T10:05:00.001+00:002016-03-14T10:05:50.107+00:00A quick catch-upMorning everyone! The sun has finally found its way through the clouds here and although at present my garden looks a mess, it is heart-warming to look out and see blue skies.<br />
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Our latest plan for the garden involves a large roll of astroturf! Not a football pitch sized piece, but too big for DH and I to manage between us. So this morning we had a visit from a gardener, who is going to give us a quote to lay it for us. We had a beautiful awning put up a few weeks ago, and with the astroturf laid across what was our patio, it should make the garden really good in time for summer. I'll save the pics until it's all complete rather than the mess it looks now!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkWmGl5ipvBbgOqBmGWebwqKca2ae2VLwUJRZb6YL55d4hj5RqKnbuk3YrI22QvuLQ8a8wHvHrWdil0chxJ-BdBmk6r9yChsxKHb6M1kfkvGnJK2nBhUaLpvknDVfU8o70q5AcyYc4JVg/s1600/PC072344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkWmGl5ipvBbgOqBmGWebwqKca2ae2VLwUJRZb6YL55d4hj5RqKnbuk3YrI22QvuLQ8a8wHvHrWdil0chxJ-BdBmk6r9yChsxKHb6M1kfkvGnJK2nBhUaLpvknDVfU8o70q5AcyYc4JVg/s320/PC072344.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what it looked like one night recently!</div>
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On the stitching front I am pleased to have 3 pieces which have finally not only been completed - but made into finished articles! The two sugar skulls have been made into cushions for my daughter and her husband. She really wanted a sugar skull, and I stitched this on last year's holiday to Egypt, but I never made it up. As her husband is a fan of the Star Wars movies, I made up the second one and decided to create two large cushions for them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3F_D_pIVkfxDw5vVBtO_UVP34PjeakQAS11_WLoDL4q3n6y6P6H8BKT58C0u-7PrJJhAq2YfqROEeRiQiBdxERNBy44sVfLgYZ2kUXA2UjC9fw2o1gi5qPbXFbmZd9SWvJUaMXKP7uYP/s1600/2016.03.13+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3F_D_pIVkfxDw5vVBtO_UVP34PjeakQAS11_WLoDL4q3n6y6P6H8BKT58C0u-7PrJJhAq2YfqROEeRiQiBdxERNBy44sVfLgYZ2kUXA2UjC9fw2o1gi5qPbXFbmZd9SWvJUaMXKP7uYP/s320/2016.03.13+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Shown on my bed!</div>
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I also completed the Ursula Michael Let's Unicorn. This is for my granddaughter who is MAD for My Little Pony. I made up the tote bag using a new fabric tote which I had never used as the lining.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FkmJ-Uo6umIy0Z33nYzLtIZuL65XFmHbDPj3b8fZjLQM-vkhX9XHt3m_U-IdoKEoI6-VPvGFP0DK4UWIsjVr6Sn_PvaqL0RhvNANqKbonj2I9BMIAoWdyouCHcrB0oAKmt1DXzGkB5Zu/s1600/2016.03.13+d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FkmJ-Uo6umIy0Z33nYzLtIZuL65XFmHbDPj3b8fZjLQM-vkhX9XHt3m_U-IdoKEoI6-VPvGFP0DK4UWIsjVr6Sn_PvaqL0RhvNANqKbonj2I9BMIAoWdyouCHcrB0oAKmt1DXzGkB5Zu/s320/2016.03.13+d.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Hopefully she can either use it to take her outfit to dance classes or maybe to Rainbows, which she started recently. Even if she only uses it to keep her collection of ponies in, it will be great! As we are driving over to see them today, I shall take them as alternative Easter presents - of the non-chocolate variety!</div>
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Better go now - things to do before we get the car out for our trip to our daughter. </div>
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Take care</div>
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Sandie</div>
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<br />Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-80022015479354043692016-03-08T16:59:00.000+00:002016-03-08T16:59:40.235+00:00Do I continue...or not?I have finally decided that I should return to this blog. So much happened over the last year, and none of it was committed to my blog. Holidays, stitching, family, health. All passed by without comment from me! Or at least no WRITTEN comment!<br />
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The time has come to decide if I continue with this outpouring of my thoughts. It's not as if my life has been filled to the brim with exciting happenings. Mike and I tend to lead a quiet life!<br />
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This year we have decided that we are going on another Hawaiian Cruise with Princess Cruises. It may well be our last long-haul trip as I am now suffering with sciatica, and the thought of a long 11 hours strapped to an airplane seat does not fill me with joy like it used to! So after this trip we will probably keep more to Europe (although that has it's disadvantages to these days!)<br />
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Following our holiday decision, we decided to spend some more money on our garden, so this year that's where I'll be spending more time. If you want to keep up with me, I'll try to show progress pictures of the changes we intend to make.<br />
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My cross stitch is still making progress. I started the Lavender & Lace Fairy Grandmother, and also an Ursula Michael - Let's Unicorn. (current photos below)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYx_s1hCEGfDO-x3zTuWoaKnFo1J6zySWZPPP5ix_0ilHV6i8HB8Se0y2XiINh3AnJR7h-sxDwA9biJeKqfDZG4Vx9uWLIiu9OI0xuKlrqTDvhaFd1XNBxwwoceVmbQmx7TYMR2j4JaLr7/s1600/Fairy+Grandmother+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYx_s1hCEGfDO-x3zTuWoaKnFo1J6zySWZPPP5ix_0ilHV6i8HB8Se0y2XiINh3AnJR7h-sxDwA9biJeKqfDZG4Vx9uWLIiu9OI0xuKlrqTDvhaFd1XNBxwwoceVmbQmx7TYMR2j4JaLr7/s320/Fairy+Grandmother+01.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60sUXbXLjHeeKIRhGksD1_niQCDzxM5fylsbMZ43PiKX5wSY4Rpk-nrpTMkvI8hmmUUFX8Z9isDRh9RLIpSH20XJ6NVCmH1qFDuV2HGVNrzdZ5PkJr8xep7Z2Nv572ueJYdr9xlxC6SIx/s1600/20160224_130012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60sUXbXLjHeeKIRhGksD1_niQCDzxM5fylsbMZ43PiKX5wSY4Rpk-nrpTMkvI8hmmUUFX8Z9isDRh9RLIpSH20XJ6NVCmH1qFDuV2HGVNrzdZ5PkJr8xep7Z2Nv572ueJYdr9xlxC6SIx/s320/20160224_130012.jpg" width="216" /></a> </div>
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I also completed another sugar skull which I aim to complete as a cushion. My daughter and her husband will get sugar skull cushions for Easter this year, and I hope to get the unicorn one completed as a cushion for Jessica. </div>
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We went to see our daughter and Jess over half-term in February. Jess is doing really well now at school. She has also joined Rainbows (junior Brownies) and a Dance class, which all seem to be helping with her speech as well as her co-ordination. </div>
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Still - I am so cold here now that I'm going to abandon this - sitting still at the laptop is not really conducive to keeping the temperature up! Gotta go and find another sweater!</div>
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Sandie</div>
<br />Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-11327229405266505442015-03-08T14:36:00.001+00:002015-03-08T15:01:58.741+00:00Ready for another trip to Egypt?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Morning all!<br />
Last time I promised you a few photos from our previous Egypt trip didn't I?<br />
Well - I thought I'd better pop in with those while you're still in the mood! In 2010 when we went the first time on a Nile cruise, we did every trip we could fit in. There were included excursions almost every day, and we fitted in a couple of extras which we both really wanted to do, so here we go on a whistle stop tour!<br />
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Fasten your seat belts and off we go......<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwigwwlQXLW_ulcjiZMiVloj5FZeNxhhysvOIYg5o14Tspi9VQyD1M9BLPze2oVy_JbV54zy-qpMhUqs7OxjtN3lBekyk0rnk0n_VBvQSBU9nUSUCnD8Zs6Na0rDI18ZscCIKooHsKA94O/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwigwwlQXLW_ulcjiZMiVloj5FZeNxhhysvOIYg5o14Tspi9VQyD1M9BLPze2oVy_JbV54zy-qpMhUqs7OxjtN3lBekyk0rnk0n_VBvQSBU9nUSUCnD8Zs6Na0rDI18ZscCIKooHsKA94O/s1600/020.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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First stop - our boat for the week - the MS Grand Rose.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFMki3NuCqu6PSdBDB1wVZ70moNQn76Jt2J4ENyABr7V9ZRip7zg96_gerdRdO9yI1ejESHkbFj-ycx_UCfQ9hfmlK_XtSRqPNuWesP4vsxttwToKPi1DxV65I5hzQBJuLOTbj5hySRzd/s1600/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFMki3NuCqu6PSdBDB1wVZ70moNQn76Jt2J4ENyABr7V9ZRip7zg96_gerdRdO9yI1ejESHkbFj-ycx_UCfQ9hfmlK_XtSRqPNuWesP4vsxttwToKPi1DxV65I5hzQBJuLOTbj5hySRzd/s1600/016.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a>Bedouin children on the way to Luxor.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcYRSYlwK3IEdhLbUXL6nxvn4c455OWqYFqoEnnVnpWbwOjrr5Ib36BqB3SFhfewuXtea2S45aX7fhRuw1AlPQZ5_QIK0BMpXiqydNcJY3LI8h4YZh_4OU_LHJ7IhJBDc-4ouMyxb2_GD/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcYRSYlwK3IEdhLbUXL6nxvn4c455OWqYFqoEnnVnpWbwOjrr5Ib36BqB3SFhfewuXtea2S45aX7fhRuw1AlPQZ5_QIK0BMpXiqydNcJY3LI8h4YZh_4OU_LHJ7IhJBDc-4ouMyxb2_GD/s1600/029.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Egyptians on the river bank as we passed upstream.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYQK3d3knDn6jXRs5D2ufGQWBIr232Zko36KvcHMJmGQ7uuQ_NoTcnnMebrYrQx2F4bvxascsdjl20ATmBCuhjruMGGc4SsLV4LeY5O-NJjJwRq6x9SjZTFW2Jq63cZrDErhCCGowrcfn/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYQK3d3knDn6jXRs5D2ufGQWBIr232Zko36KvcHMJmGQ7uuQ_NoTcnnMebrYrQx2F4bvxascsdjl20ATmBCuhjruMGGc4SsLV4LeY5O-NJjJwRq6x9SjZTFW2Jq63cZrDErhCCGowrcfn/s1600/036.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> Catching your daily food.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic20qEiw5IOgqIcJgGptVepaBvQL3l3L-BQSQiTDr0kR0aUwqU-IS5bftuoX_41hduBanuVRntHkrIxPb8OYrvEyIP7D35GcaTEhIuzQ7KGxzGjPQV_UEJ7NbyU1IFSRtO0YQh_39b26a3/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic20qEiw5IOgqIcJgGptVepaBvQL3l3L-BQSQiTDr0kR0aUwqU-IS5bftuoX_41hduBanuVRntHkrIxPb8OYrvEyIP7D35GcaTEhIuzQ7KGxzGjPQV_UEJ7NbyU1IFSRtO0YQh_39b26a3/s1600/032.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edfu Temple</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfplxkuq6CZ_Z9PvvZ2gmIPzeIgXGi0WvAVzaCdgA5hCBVXtTfiB4THxMP8JZ8PBqiNoQ2ODoxBJY4cp1dUlXvMsjfAFT1khmEa6XMMoWNQINajybcPSCnumlh76JVdWvmhUMCzmo-xye/s1600/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfplxkuq6CZ_Z9PvvZ2gmIPzeIgXGi0WvAVzaCdgA5hCBVXtTfiB4THxMP8JZ8PBqiNoQ2ODoxBJY4cp1dUlXvMsjfAFT1khmEa6XMMoWNQINajybcPSCnumlh76JVdWvmhUMCzmo-xye/s1600/039.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kom Ombo Temple heiroglyphs</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdpGP1_wQ3cKC2f2SLZNCfWCZzLRKyqiiI8pxPtflPtN_SpJiaDoviyTqZfPO20ZyWZRz7PNqNt-TMLI5H9cPmY6MFWmYrPA-WGeoFrxG6SEyvuco1pv9OXdvevwkN-Yujsx1w5CRBzK4/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdpGP1_wQ3cKC2f2SLZNCfWCZzLRKyqiiI8pxPtflPtN_SpJiaDoviyTqZfPO20ZyWZRz7PNqNt-TMLI5H9cPmY6MFWmYrPA-WGeoFrxG6SEyvuco1pv9OXdvevwkN-Yujsx1w5CRBzK4/s1600/041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kom Ombo Temple Interior</td></tr>
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<a href="http://discoveringegypt.com/pyramids-temples-of-egypt/kom-ombo-temple/">Kom Ombo Temple</a> is unique in that it celebrates two Gods - Horus the falcon headed God and Sobek - the crocodile God. Each has its own temple within the grounds and one one side there is a well where the temple crocodiles were fed. Nowadays, since building the the Great Dam at Aswan, there are no crocodiles in Lower Egypt (ie the area from Aswan to the Delta in the Mediterranean Sea). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_NCoj1JF8J6zrmTPCl8sKxhZyqs_90awhcbk1g5LlMWoJFBdepz6LwmngMf_vXa55QOIKuB761Cj_gPeBIxD9EMWpfMTXwu0F7QMwo2j3GDTahuD6BoJmmrY-4BrNQCpULjW5QKVeW4Z/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_NCoj1JF8J6zrmTPCl8sKxhZyqs_90awhcbk1g5LlMWoJFBdepz6LwmngMf_vXa55QOIKuB761Cj_gPeBIxD9EMWpfMTXwu0F7QMwo2j3GDTahuD6BoJmmrY-4BrNQCpULjW5QKVeW4Z/s1600/044.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More fishermen</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64W5Nf9tQ4lTy7KzeQ525-NY4SahQWMsA5vbxHhVvyMhSxioqhzvmQF_-IJhTsvzKqNXygBmXfMf854z9vbSiNJtH1YYG21clsrApnd5LjmgQcFL0X_9Q92j6pvlqtB8eJPZ7Ja40iMZ9/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64W5Nf9tQ4lTy7KzeQ525-NY4SahQWMsA5vbxHhVvyMhSxioqhzvmQF_-IJhTsvzKqNXygBmXfMf854z9vbSiNJtH1YYG21clsrApnd5LjmgQcFL0X_9Q92j6pvlqtB8eJPZ7Ja40iMZ9/s1600/025.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a>A perfect Nile view.</div>
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Countryside showing how the area around the Nile is cultivated. And also how close the mountains come to the river. You can understand how the farmers used to rely on the Nile floods to cultivate their land. Nowadays they use water pumps and irrigate the land to grow crops further inland.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrna1aTJqM9wbNbEWR7tP7SaPsRc74kQa0YzQYlKIBNyZE5ieagyhQJFzlP1jgobvfzFp1ixHGdlQaTG-iI8jAJ4baZKKD965DhY2RmaWokQEIby5hrlE9o2TUmI99IxcG9DYZOKDJyTdp/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrna1aTJqM9wbNbEWR7tP7SaPsRc74kQa0YzQYlKIBNyZE5ieagyhQJFzlP1jgobvfzFp1ixHGdlQaTG-iI8jAJ4baZKKD965DhY2RmaWokQEIby5hrlE9o2TUmI99IxcG9DYZOKDJyTdp/s1600/046.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv4BD2Y9pRKGdGlc7kGH08y8Fe-h0EeRTqXF3YzRBgV_1aasdhjYjCBZ1204F5d0e-Cqp3CstOno2chRAUmkMZr34I0CdFnXlyNg4n4bQ9ASO0qgayLh-0WV_d7AQYLUhJywwRKxn-ZTg/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv4BD2Y9pRKGdGlc7kGH08y8Fe-h0EeRTqXF3YzRBgV_1aasdhjYjCBZ1204F5d0e-Cqp3CstOno2chRAUmkMZr34I0CdFnXlyNg4n4bQ9ASO0qgayLh-0WV_d7AQYLUhJywwRKxn-ZTg/s1600/051.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> Sunset at Aswan.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPn44L8TLdw4jEIpDf6cjcN9iduH_cPHGompRJIwV2ckNJjcow5X56xiQTTaUp5BivFDupseZiR6_a-PzkiiMGihu3DLXY-aIxqOFP8-HRkWBWAFZaiacL21lXlsK93ZROWa15y-exga32/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPn44L8TLdw4jEIpDf6cjcN9iduH_cPHGompRJIwV2ckNJjcow5X56xiQTTaUp5BivFDupseZiR6_a-PzkiiMGihu3DLXY-aIxqOFP8-HRkWBWAFZaiacL21lXlsK93ZROWa15y-exga32/s1600/056.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philae Temple</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRqBZvxtBnNL67SZXLYIj9jfleDneTQLp7GMRsvKAs8dBy3hbrZ9IkB7tb_x5M2SxIRo51tuc4iyLHu23sOCtwz_tsmk2Gbg3m7S9ETrHvk64sdXONlq80aQ8s9UxfakKP_SH-6ZsW0Ya/s1600/058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRqBZvxtBnNL67SZXLYIj9jfleDneTQLp7GMRsvKAs8dBy3hbrZ9IkB7tb_x5M2SxIRo51tuc4iyLHu23sOCtwz_tsmk2Gbg3m7S9ETrHvk64sdXONlq80aQ8s9UxfakKP_SH-6ZsW0Ya/s1600/058.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philae Temple heiroglyphs</td></tr>
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Right now we are moored at Aswan and the serious sight-seeing can begin!<br />
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<a href="http://discoveringegypt.com/pyramids-temples-of-egypt/philae-temple/">Philae Temple</a> is dedicated to Isis (the wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus). This temple was nearly destroyed when the Aswan High Dam was built as it would have been covered by the waters, However UNESCO stepped in and in a joint project with the Egyptian Government it was moved stone by stone to its current position - Agilka island near Aswan. The most famous temple which was moved? Abu Simbel - see photos below for this marvellous place.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaMXEhSDWCgsqo6OWYBb-aTkFd417WXr2HEdvA1ytLpNBC-tyqcZDw368KpupJjv1DtkuEnEGgfWZiQXuyPxXilLFBdbs6Pp23wJbLuc75U-yi7n82EoUqfi5aq1L5GNJW0Q6TcDvpX1G/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaMXEhSDWCgsqo6OWYBb-aTkFd417WXr2HEdvA1ytLpNBC-tyqcZDw368KpupJjv1DtkuEnEGgfWZiQXuyPxXilLFBdbs6Pp23wJbLuc75U-yi7n82EoUqfi5aq1L5GNJW0Q6TcDvpX1G/s1600/052.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sound and Light show at Philae<br />
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<a href="http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Templates/Articles/tmpArticles.aspx?ArtID=1200#.VPxRC_msWSo">Abu Simbel</a> is one of the most well known temples of Egypt. People talk about the Pyramids at Giza as being a wonder of the ancient world - but to me - the two temples here are a wonder of both the old and the new world. Firstly how did the ancient Egyptians manage to build these two temples side by side without the benefit of our modern tools? Two temples - one dedicated to Rameses II and the other to his wife Nefertari - which were destined to be flooded until UNESCO and the Egyptian Government stepped in to save them. They have been faithfully rebuilt in an artificial "mound" to replicate their original setting. We took an early morning flight down to see them, and the first glimpse of them from the air is awe-inspiring. The interiors are still magnificent in their colours, and painted walls and ceilings are everywhere.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1kJmu0t0HusqIGvVyOzwaNwaXdlpYdL0Xf6Os0EeWK4wMBmxFT64dna2q327BLuY37qFxnKlWd9Actv3K6kPu6xbSMKw9vYDamE8tj4sG-0FHgnTZhh8VR5pmFhbYLYMrlYoQg2_J2qZ/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1kJmu0t0HusqIGvVyOzwaNwaXdlpYdL0Xf6Os0EeWK4wMBmxFT64dna2q327BLuY37qFxnKlWd9Actv3K6kPu6xbSMKw9vYDamE8tj4sG-0FHgnTZhh8VR5pmFhbYLYMrlYoQg2_J2qZ/s1600/062.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> Sun Temple of Rameses II </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNhgCLVdySew005TG0dcDcEx58VRTtV1pNsJj_YHxzZSGyuj02bZmR-FeZ74erZstlNkgffQamJj_lIr8nSthQ0A6-25sn5k77c9agb3rWiYZXQ3zetosi5csKM_CBoycMcLznVke0eWA/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNhgCLVdySew005TG0dcDcEx58VRTtV1pNsJj_YHxzZSGyuj02bZmR-FeZ74erZstlNkgffQamJj_lIr8nSthQ0A6-25sn5k77c9agb3rWiYZXQ3zetosi5csKM_CBoycMcLznVke0eWA/s1600/064.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> Nefertari's Temple of Hathor</div>
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After that breathtaking sight, we take a slow boat back upstream (heading north again now). Finally we moor at Luxor again. We just have time for a quick visit before dinner! First stop is <a href="http://discoveringegypt.com/karnak-temple/">Karnak</a> Our guide is adamant that we should call it Karnak Complex rather than Karnak Temple. It is an accumulation of temples added to over the years by various Pharaohs which has made it the impressive site it is today.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyUZN34W1MGCQO12DpvWTN_corVLpCc47uKgtZjfdgZaFcz-cj2Se01xilD-BloHO_hWe8g7FISgS3snOmtxchWRSiIUrGi1tPnunZqobvnOLuVF61edNyfClZUezUN2mzX-llvfdbOfM/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyUZN34W1MGCQO12DpvWTN_corVLpCc47uKgtZjfdgZaFcz-cj2Se01xilD-BloHO_hWe8g7FISgS3snOmtxchWRSiIUrGi1tPnunZqobvnOLuVF61edNyfClZUezUN2mzX-llvfdbOfM/s1600/068.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYivInrgDVVDi1RUUnQsXpFlyx1DwoSMa3sv0J-2hSst8vOyynYRURQZwjftNpK4_kAqbH9LPYqtDhLdFiilSDnWN45A9c3UoI7jr2JNWNUpziuspOnEAfj2ximAUXTiRzw_fSmotbcgI_/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYivInrgDVVDi1RUUnQsXpFlyx1DwoSMa3sv0J-2hSst8vOyynYRURQZwjftNpK4_kAqbH9LPYqtDhLdFiilSDnWN45A9c3UoI7jr2JNWNUpziuspOnEAfj2ximAUXTiRzw_fSmotbcgI_/s1600/071.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> The colours on some of the pillars is almost as vibrant as the day they were painted.</div>
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Dusk is beginning to fall now quickly as we make our way to <a href="http://discoveringegypt.com/luxor-temple/">Luxor Temple</a> Our guide is anxious to tell us all about it, but we rush off to take photos before the sun finally goes down. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-QUGCAN3Y1lyGkS5xjTbYiAOdI-1ky8oWg-_AhvJFlFBaFW3PWOAv-LQmgfjtTAsNKXjg3GejrC1Fx2yoW0IZGVnqNsb_RsAOHNutOpPqxSXuYXGAEjH4zbDHy-z2_KVsk9DkRMwAoGY/s1600/080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-QUGCAN3Y1lyGkS5xjTbYiAOdI-1ky8oWg-_AhvJFlFBaFW3PWOAv-LQmgfjtTAsNKXjg3GejrC1Fx2yoW0IZGVnqNsb_RsAOHNutOpPqxSXuYXGAEjH4zbDHy-z2_KVsk9DkRMwAoGY/s1600/080.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7e5_5FC_hEUUdoHp-hE7EvIypAt8ZSUptTNB9Bw9LWl3H3X0wYanMe3ZeSAx4XwT-rmwVJQr7t5yva09oLXrhl7-GhfT3TWjoBhC0sw8regzeUhw0gnuzs6g6LQnZv1JAll2fi5D0lZE/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7e5_5FC_hEUUdoHp-hE7EvIypAt8ZSUptTNB9Bw9LWl3H3X0wYanMe3ZeSAx4XwT-rmwVJQr7t5yva09oLXrhl7-GhfT3TWjoBhC0sw8regzeUhw0gnuzs6g6LQnZv1JAll2fi5D0lZE/s1600/076.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR5y6I_3NzEp8O7QXDdlf_gZd2iTQ0ooITjRNQYKc67XLZxkMzRqiI9gHbh4fWcvrLEsnxmeuT85I-wAGoTKjyw_MmdwarlLz6lTdxOKdNUpChZO-ytjh0OC4Ccl6uzxt-rwSCv-S2tEG/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR5y6I_3NzEp8O7QXDdlf_gZd2iTQ0ooITjRNQYKc67XLZxkMzRqiI9gHbh4fWcvrLEsnxmeuT85I-wAGoTKjyw_MmdwarlLz6lTdxOKdNUpChZO-ytjh0OC4Ccl6uzxt-rwSCv-S2tEG/s1600/081.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally we all gather to listen to the history of this building - photos securely taken. The temple was built by Amenhotep III (1390-52BC) worked on further by Tutankhamun and Horemheb and then added to by Rames II (1279-13BC). At the rear of the building is a shrine dedicated to Alexander the Great (332-305BC). For thousands of years the temple buildings were buried in the sand, and even a mosque was built over the site - the doorway which was used as the entrance is to the left of this photo - and that's Mike's head in the bottom left corner! Just to demonstrate how deeply it was buried!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV8KH5kufvbIriy3Za3t1ZTnCOBbROHeEMUTIEgkBcvJ3XJD0H4QOskqKhDZhyjs9DPexzEjw3ItuocUAHEO9n_AzxUW4hGLEfp5wuwoJLZOodUpE8mRPIVP_Z5fgXXj27zvd1gID-h7C/s1600/DSCF1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV8KH5kufvbIriy3Za3t1ZTnCOBbROHeEMUTIEgkBcvJ3XJD0H4QOskqKhDZhyjs9DPexzEjw3ItuocUAHEO9n_AzxUW4hGLEfp5wuwoJLZOodUpE8mRPIVP_Z5fgXXj27zvd1gID-h7C/s1600/DSCF1225.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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We woke early again in order to make a Hot Air Balloon trip over the West Bank. To the ancient Egyptians, the East Bank was the city of the living, while the West Bank was the city of the dead (think sunrise and sunset). The West Bank is where the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the other important mausoleums are. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvD4BlREPRSy4YsM6PXGypRnpxWRVZSc1BIzApv_LLRSzvJoGK2Gt4Rv3mkHNkMV534mDmMGuWkA5e8HEVccIVtRq5tAvUqwGsJD-Y76MZpAbWd4klv1JOUbc7RHrp0TEyDSR9KoYtLg9/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvD4BlREPRSy4YsM6PXGypRnpxWRVZSc1BIzApv_LLRSzvJoGK2Gt4Rv3mkHNkMV534mDmMGuWkA5e8HEVccIVtRq5tAvUqwGsJD-Y76MZpAbWd4klv1JOUbc7RHrp0TEyDSR9KoYtLg9/s1600/087.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Each basket could hold about 12 people plus the pilot, so they were not small balloons. Can you spot the people at the mouth of the balloon?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHhul_daaRLzooYLtQ9fuZnyfcK2YMcxGMZARTXhBQ5Wu5mqT6OyQA4njZYWKhaNMh55rEBzEiDX1lrclOEcpI_JenRRadiY0fxudEA602j07udwe6R9lwEjKnvN221acHnWgN2HWgJTF/s1600/093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHhul_daaRLzooYLtQ9fuZnyfcK2YMcxGMZARTXhBQ5Wu5mqT6OyQA4njZYWKhaNMh55rEBzEiDX1lrclOEcpI_JenRRadiY0fxudEA602j07udwe6R9lwEjKnvN221acHnWgN2HWgJTF/s1600/093.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a> <a href="http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/hatshepsutmorttemple.html">Hatshepsut's Temple</a> from the air.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4e6HhaXVL_gQWIHgHFZklwSheLQJLO75Kluy28kAu5Axt8Jr_UMEwrYf-_wDoG9yOzGJ70EZAq47guYkCXTxC85Q-g7faajt63mu0WGpEOa46DC0z7gCigg0Srr_hMoAFUTobFk_K7wo/s1600/094.jpg" height="240" width="320" /><a href="http://discoveringegypt.com/pyramids-temples-of-egypt/madinat-habu-temple/">Madinat-Habu temple</a> from the air</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QjxIyWeQhFQ-Y7bri62llLU8nMFBMas4zIbfS6HvVnKqYSEFl5BiYcHJz01fqYVRe4yLkgISCISyt7JKiwIgyrGOQsqIUH5dRBZNwsKg_xM5dt7t5VHaH7bnzEAeK1CO3Qf7hod7pMB4/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QjxIyWeQhFQ-Y7bri62llLU8nMFBMas4zIbfS6HvVnKqYSEFl5BiYcHJz01fqYVRe4yLkgISCISyt7JKiwIgyrGOQsqIUH5dRBZNwsKg_xM5dt7t5VHaH7bnzEAeK1CO3Qf7hod7pMB4/s1600/089.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Our early morning take-off allowed us to see the sun rise over the East Bank of the Nile. "Would you like to fly in my beautiful balloon?" Not that I want to worry you, but we missed a wall by about 6" on landing and ended up in a rubbish tip! Still we all landed safely and had thoroughly enjoyed our adventure.</div>
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Following that trip we hopped onto a bus which took us to the <a href="http://www.sca-egypt.org/eng/SITE_VOK.htm">Valley of the Kings</a> We were disappointed in as much as we were told to leave all cameras and even phones on our coach as the authorities do not allow photographs to be taken on site. However we did see some tourists taking photos, and we were assured that they would be asked to delete all images and have to pay a fine as well. So we have no photos of our own from there. <a href="http://www.kingtutone.com/tutankhamun/information/">Tutankhamun's Tomb</a> is open to the public for an extra charge. It is quite small by comparison to some of the others on the site, with just the sarcophagus left inside. His other treasures are in the Cairo museum.</div>
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Back on the coach now for our last two stops. First we stop at the Colossi of Memnon. These two gigantic statues are all that remain of the Amenhotep memorial temple. Stones from here were used in the construction of other temples or even taken away by farmers!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZsTZ9h8i3PjmRmLXD2NUKXS3LSofhFNjngFBcmKq1xqgxvIp1b1m4X4JLjX9hd0bbYmcic-jBKd78dE1tDfEtJu-58nI5Bd18IzMXA0st_wFTwfa22e3L3yc0lZRIMW00km-HYP-ehYa/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZsTZ9h8i3PjmRmLXD2NUKXS3LSofhFNjngFBcmKq1xqgxvIp1b1m4X4JLjX9hd0bbYmcic-jBKd78dE1tDfEtJu-58nI5Bd18IzMXA0st_wFTwfa22e3L3yc0lZRIMW00km-HYP-ehYa/s1600/095.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Last stop now - it's almost mid-day and the sun is beating down. Our feet are weary and we are almost ready for our lunch. But as the coach draws to a stop, we are all bustling to get off. The magnificent Hatshepsut's temple is in front of us. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7IdDq3x2VyQMSB0wwMypzeUuCWAUpfIBePQIKfRSPtn7HG0sJi9gzHI_zOCg8AGXVz8pp7bGqZeNOEUE-DC9OHGNWwbiz7dGqWHzE7YtSGa3xZ31skNSacKLJizojw5CfT9tvfCY-2wY/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7IdDq3x2VyQMSB0wwMypzeUuCWAUpfIBePQIKfRSPtn7HG0sJi9gzHI_zOCg8AGXVz8pp7bGqZeNOEUE-DC9OHGNWwbiz7dGqWHzE7YtSGa3xZ31skNSacKLJizojw5CfT9tvfCY-2wY/s1600/097.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Queen Hatshepsut was the only female Pharoah. She reigned for 22 years over 3,500 years ago. Her temple is built directly into the cliff face - a series of colonnades and terraces which it is believed were planted with gardens .</div>
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So now we make our weary way back to the boat where refreshing drinks and food await us. After our very early start, we are tired, exhausted, footsore but extremely happy to have completed our trip. </div>
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But was it worth it? Undoubtedly YES! Would we go again? YES - we did! And although there were plenty of police around (all of whom were armed) we encountered no trouble at all. Since the start of the Revolution in Egypt in recent years, there have been no accounts of trouble in any of the places we visited. The majority of Egyptian people are happy, welcoming of foreign tourists and want nothing apart from peace in their country. On this visit we saw so many Nile cruise boats which have been laid up and stripped of their furnishings - a testament to how their tourist trade has suffered. I would encourage anyone who is able to take a trip to the ancient world of Egypt - we did - and it was a holiday never to be forgotten.</div>
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Better go now before I make you all fall asleep!</div>
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Sandie</div>
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Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-21534448801845644462015-03-07T20:21:00.000+00:002015-03-07T20:25:59.735+00:00On our travels ..... AGAIN!Evening all.<br />
Not much has been happening on the cross stitch front for a few weeks now. It may be something to do with the cold weather, but I've also been suffering a bit with my health. For some years I've had issues with an intermittent pain in my left leg. I've come to the conclusion that it's similar to sciatica, but not exactly the same - so I've been doing some Googling! Fatal really if you're a hypochondriac! But luckily I'm not! I think I've narrowed it down to something called "Meralgia Paraesthetica" - but as I'm due for a doctor's review of my Blood Pressure meds next week I shall ask then. It's basically when a nerve gets trapped near the hip, and subsequently pain shoots down the outside of the thigh. It comes and goes, but when it strikes - BOY!! It's a burning pain or else it feels like someone reached in and is twisting the muscle! When it strikes, there's no way to alleviate it either. And when it wakes you at night - it's all I can do not to scream sometimes. Still hopefully the doc will have some suggestions for me to help.<br />
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Last month Mike and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary!<br />
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Our wedding day in 1975! (I made that dress myself!)</div>
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We decided to make a special trip to celebrate. Since we went on the Nile cruise back in 2010, we have always said that we would like to go back and relax on board rather than getting up at silly o'clock to dash off to visit all the sights! So that's what we did. We took one of our friends with us who has never been to Egypt. We stayed 3 nights at the Makadi Spa hotel, then were driven across to the Nile where we met the boat (MS Grand Rose). After 7 nights on board, we then went back to the Makadi Spa for another 4 nights. Now I shall bore you with some of the photos we took!<br />
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From here it's a bit photo intensive, so I shan't be offended if you want to skip these!<br />
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Front of the Makadi Spa hotel at night </div>
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View of the Red Sea from the Makadi Spa hotel</div>
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Edge of the infinity pool at the hotel</div>
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The infinity pool looking out to the Red Sea</div>
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The beach</div>
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MS Grand Rose reception</div>
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Karnak Complex</div>
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Pillars in Karnak - this location was used in the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me"</div>
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Avenue of Sphinxes which is believed to run from Karnak to Luxor Temple </div>
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Entrance to Luxor Temple </div>
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Luxor Temple</div>
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3 views of Nile boats </div>
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Komombo Temple </div>
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The Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan - Agatha Christie wrote part of "Death on the Nile" here.</div>
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As you can see we didn't go on many trips off the boat. Maybe next time I write, I'll add a few of the photos from our previous trip too. The only one we went on this time was the Karnak and Luxor temples - in 2010 it was getting to dusk when we arrived, so I wanted to see it in daylight! </div>
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Well after that whistle stop tour of Egypt, I'd better let you get on with your daily life! Next time I'll bring you up to date on my stitching!</div>
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Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-72598607549006033782015-01-20T17:24:00.000+00:002015-01-20T17:24:29.332+00:00New Year - back againBack again. I had a bit of a funk about writing this blog! I really couldn't see the point of sitting here, writing down what I'd been up to ... but thinking about it I'm going to continue. I shall write about what I've been creating, and where we've been.<br />
Mind you - saying that - I should say that I won't post everything I've finished since my last post! That would take too long! I have to say I finished a few bits at the end of last year, maybe I will get round to posting them at some point - but let's start afresh and go from now.<br />
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I am currently working on a Heritage Crafts kit of Neuschwanstein Castle. I'd forgotten how they work those partial stitches they use, but luckily I'd bought the kit with evenweave fabric, so it was not too much of a pain. I'm about two thirds of the way complete, but the camera is tucked away, so I'll post a photo next time. Hopefully that will be a finish (or nearly one anyway).<br />
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Remember that Hummel piece I stitched last year?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohXsFEP44d8MvotUF0w0cHZ4m_w-Og07r-dd6k6Tm-2GPXMuwOIAMrS3AKFEmeagAmYIBHfwY5jZeaZcggnbNWNoTgF_B2Wp1U1yGfeM3zc5Lc0G4udmFcTcFmeFkgBhZqm4RtxhzZK03/s1600/Hummel+03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohXsFEP44d8MvotUF0w0cHZ4m_w-Og07r-dd6k6Tm-2GPXMuwOIAMrS3AKFEmeagAmYIBHfwY5jZeaZcggnbNWNoTgF_B2Wp1U1yGfeM3zc5Lc0G4udmFcTcFmeFkgBhZqm4RtxhzZK03/s1600/Hummel+03.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I finally bought some fabric to finish this as a flat-fold. It will be my first attempt to finish in this way - so watch this space!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAFdak5yIvgNi4yb5bQuJuxg7XE46VXPtNIGsBAq8IGw0S7wEXmX89GeowoFpR-Wg3rSKRK3yY2L4IWucWS7TaYMATstdX6OzPzZ2L30ngTAKh2rcXqQrvRNynw8zUAvrZZSPbohuzCF9/s1600/Beryl's%2B80th%2Bcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAFdak5yIvgNi4yb5bQuJuxg7XE46VXPtNIGsBAq8IGw0S7wEXmX89GeowoFpR-Wg3rSKRK3yY2L4IWucWS7TaYMATstdX6OzPzZ2L30ngTAKh2rcXqQrvRNynw8zUAvrZZSPbohuzCF9/s1600/Beryl's%2B80th%2Bcard.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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My dear friend celebrated her 80th birthday in November so I had to stitch her a special card. I loved the meerkats, but was disappointed that the glue I used showed through the fabric - luckily it almost made a pattern! But I was still upset with the finish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgmts7YZfinXDZ5d6EhtItCZg-rCkZEwIAQoGiQGyjJXOrjTUI9DPvOwJ72vNDW8wyPZ5IsWl-H8bu8NF-8qluWgIk_6xU_S-imi6KTGZec5yOdpprQGgVbJxVqvE87yNPvKQsU0gYxq9/s1600/Christmas+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgmts7YZfinXDZ5d6EhtItCZg-rCkZEwIAQoGiQGyjJXOrjTUI9DPvOwJ72vNDW8wyPZ5IsWl-H8bu8NF-8qluWgIk_6xU_S-imi6KTGZec5yOdpprQGgVbJxVqvE87yNPvKQsU0gYxq9/s1600/Christmas+2014.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This was a Joan Elliott pattern which I stitched and added to a christmas card for Jessica this year. My intention is to make another similar each year for her to hang on her tree. Now that they have moved house, they have space to put up a tree, so hopefully I can start this as a tradition for her.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85IGyJefof9iWsowDnTd2hyphenhyphenJsks3590RcFBUDLMNL00lirzff2XjaVStMNPe7kL3uit1B9uF0GLfRTRKm2_le0L9Veh0medMgH4Sf7-PQln2eAWY-vUM0FxgG5JrNA2VizRk8Y9ndoEjj/s1600/Jessica's%2Bletter%2Bto%2BSanta%2Bfinished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85IGyJefof9iWsowDnTd2hyphenhyphenJsks3590RcFBUDLMNL00lirzff2XjaVStMNPe7kL3uit1B9uF0GLfRTRKm2_le0L9Veh0medMgH4Sf7-PQln2eAWY-vUM0FxgG5JrNA2VizRk8Y9ndoEjj/s1600/Jessica's%2Bletter%2Bto%2BSanta%2Bfinished.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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I also finished this for Jess this year. I backed it with a red Christmas print and finally found a small enough hanging rod from Sew and So. (Most of them were too big). Although she is still slow in speaking, there is nothing wrong with her intelligence. And she does not yet write her name legibly. But this year she sat with her mum's Tesco Christmas catalogue and had ripped out the pages where she wanted the toys! So she could slip the pictures into the pocket at the bottom. I also printed out some A4 letter headed sheets which purported to come from Santa's desk, so that her parents could write a reply for her and put it into the pocket as a reply from Santa. </div>
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This year we had Christmas at home alone - merely going to a friend's for a Boxing Day meal. And our New Year was quiet too - we sat at home watching Jools Holland on the television. </div>
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The weather here has been very cold, but so far we have not seen any snow this far south and east. I hope we don't get any either! Tomorrow I have to go for a mammogram and have already decided to go to town on a bus so even with a heavy frost I should be okay for that. Then I have to start looking around for some summer wear - my t-shirts are looking a bit sad! We are off to celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary in February in Egypt. We are going with a friend to a hotel in Hurghada and a Nile cruise tagged onto it. At least it should be a fair bit warmer than here!</div>
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Right - enough of the computer - time to get the bins ready for collection tomorrow - then make dinner and settle down for a night in front of the television with some knitting. I'm making a tunic style jumper in an Aran weight yarn, so it keeps me warm while I'm making it! The front is almost finished, so I hope to cast on for the back tonight.</div>
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Sandie</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-51330619543328963942014-09-30T12:18:00.000+01:002014-09-30T12:18:34.323+01:00Full of coldGlad that cold germs can't come through the laptop! I know they have PC viruses, but hopefully cold germs don't count!<br />
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I know why I'm suffering though - this time last week we were sat in temps of 36C - today it's 19C in Colchester, but it's been raining and horrid!<br />
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Where were we last week? Egypt! I got an email of last minute deals from Red Sea Holidays, and we decided to opt for a week of sun before the cold winter blues sets in!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLsaPMb6GGFCy6OjzenTcc-poYp4AmEfEv0701jKhfkdBWiLQ7y3SQYfbrooiHgRTY2IuPlMz01Pob4U7Q8CLCdwkdvK-Ho1USe0fxSbIodMFySGk8b_3M_7LaH0nzqufzSwDiVFgR-iI/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLsaPMb6GGFCy6OjzenTcc-poYp4AmEfEv0701jKhfkdBWiLQ7y3SQYfbrooiHgRTY2IuPlMz01Pob4U7Q8CLCdwkdvK-Ho1USe0fxSbIodMFySGk8b_3M_7LaH0nzqufzSwDiVFgR-iI/s1600/001.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is the Makadi Palace - on the Red Sea coast. Most days we spent the morning on our balcony when the sun was not too hot. After a stroll down to the Sunset Bar for lunch, we spent the afternoon in the bar near one of the pools, before returning to our room to shower and change for dinner! </div>
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While we were away, DH celebrated his birthday. As usual I had left it late to make a card for him. This year I was stumped for ideas. A week before we left I spotted an entry on Avis's blog <a href="http://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2014/09/14/someone-has-a-birthday/">Sewing Beside the Sea</a> where she'd sewn a card with a ukulele on it for her daughter. I asked her for a copy of her pattern, and I set about making it look a bit like the one my DH bought in Hawaii. Here's his 2 ukes, and here's the card I finished.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZSad5_X8ZeW-nxHuK2wxVDZ6i1vHQ_vRHVRUusD-ZaH03aDSTTrZo0EMzp0t1tvh1nyzlwa17htDNkAoVQArUPATcjlrLZvZENVR30t4YAISHdDXqNnoL3XhF3CaEaco7rx0Aa0IowMh/s1600/Birthday+Mike+67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZSad5_X8ZeW-nxHuK2wxVDZ6i1vHQ_vRHVRUusD-ZaH03aDSTTrZo0EMzp0t1tvh1nyzlwa17htDNkAoVQArUPATcjlrLZvZENVR30t4YAISHdDXqNnoL3XhF3CaEaco7rx0Aa0IowMh/s1600/Birthday+Mike+67.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
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What else have I been doing? Well I finished the Hansel to go with my Gretel angel I mentioned last time and also a Mill Hill Santa which we bought in Hawaii last time we were there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n3tSc5zNBJpP0XX4M4rPPaxnT67RnlCwkj7BU1vC8Rtl68uxXQDPrx1HLw2sO72lBCg4qJPwwVsApP_yGEDnoZxpTNzVadDecra5L86L-9EIB69ZOwRWcvKdQfW804dpkwDrgDEOe_U4/s1600/Santa+-+Christmas+Island.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n3tSc5zNBJpP0XX4M4rPPaxnT67RnlCwkj7BU1vC8Rtl68uxXQDPrx1HLw2sO72lBCg4qJPwwVsApP_yGEDnoZxpTNzVadDecra5L86L-9EIB69ZOwRWcvKdQfW804dpkwDrgDEOe_U4/s1600/Santa+-+Christmas+Island.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And I promised last time that I'd also let you see the birth sampler I made for my best friends' daughter. Myles was born on August 15th and I had the image stitched, ready and waiting for the details to be added. As his bedroom was to be decorated in cool beige/browns I decided to opt for a soft image, rather than the bright colours of many birth samplers. I decided to stretch it over a canvas rather than putting it into a frame. I edged the picture with a pale blue ric rac binding to give it a finishing touch (which doesn't show up very well in the photo!). I was delighted that both parents seemed to be delighted and it's already hanging in Myles's bedroom.</div>
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<br />And finally I started to stitch the Advent animals free designs from <a href="http://www.brookesbookspublishing.com/CrossStitchFreebies2.html">Brooke Nolan</a> Although so far she's posted animals 1 - 7, the intention is for the series to be completed by Christmas 2015, so even I should be able to complete that deadline! Once I have a few done I'll post in the next blog post perhaps.<br />
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In the meantime my daughter and her husband have moved house and our granddaughter's bedroom will probably have an owl theme when it's decorated. Needless to say, some of those owl patterns which have been dominant in magazines etc recently might find their way into my sewing pile! Stay tuned for the next instalment to see which make their way to the top of the pile.<br />
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'Til then take care - (and stay free of colds!)<br />
Sandie<br />
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Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-56230356209206448782014-08-02T17:09:00.002+01:002014-08-02T17:09:56.413+01:00Remember me?Hi everyone!<br />
Yes, I'm still here, struggling on with daily life. Those health issues I mentioned way back in March caught up with me, and I've spent the last few months basically doing just enough to get by with life - cooking, washing, dusting etc. Stitching and craft took a back seat for most of that time, but over the last few weeks I've felt more like my old self again, so maybe I can get back to this blogging thing again (I promise I'll try!)<br />
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There are probably all sorts of things I could catch you up with, but maybe I'll just start now, and rather than overwhelm you with photos and a long post, I'll introduce things gradually eh?<br />
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Last month we went on holiday - back to AUSTRIA - our most favourite place in Europe - staying at the Sonnenschein in Mayrhofen. We took a friend with us who lost her husband a couple of years ago, and he had always wanted to revisit Austria, so his widow really enjoyed being there. The apartment house was able to let us have 2 small separate apartments, so we were not living on top of each other 24/7. We all came back fully refreshed and ready for life - and none of us had put on weight in spite of indulging in beers, hot chocolate with cream topping and cream cakes! (And that's always a bonus!)<br />
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While we were there I stitched my first item on perforated paper. It's designed by Brooke Nolan and is her Gretel the Gingerbread angel.<br />
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I also stitched this piece - the design actually had the Swiss flag on it, but I changed it for the Austrian one!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFslPy3zOqRIlEL-y_KFpzGygMUiei9dQAUmv33iTggM1EIVH5SKTXHCm7OiI8W_WIiPwb7lNnCbML2_uQxgnsyINnhuQM7tOxWVeuvtuRd0AssGixwIMyXMc6BKr06jc-jDcwHmVnXoT/s1600/Austria.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFslPy3zOqRIlEL-y_KFpzGygMUiei9dQAUmv33iTggM1EIVH5SKTXHCm7OiI8W_WIiPwb7lNnCbML2_uQxgnsyINnhuQM7tOxWVeuvtuRd0AssGixwIMyXMc6BKr06jc-jDcwHmVnXoT/s1600/Austria.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now I'm working on a Hummel piece, but as it's a gift I won't add it here as who knows - the recipient might be reading this!!</div>
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My best friend's daughter is expecting her second baby in about 2 weeks, and I have a small sampler ready to add the baby's details on as soon as I hear. So next time I can probably include that one.</div>
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Next time I'll drop in a few photos of cards I've made with my new ScanNCut machine - so far I haven't tried it out with fabric, but I'll post some of the cards I've done.</div>
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Until then</div>
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take care</div>
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Sandie</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-52375162448812240852014-03-16T16:36:00.000+00:002014-03-16T16:37:28.950+00:00Always look on the bright side......Hi friends! It's been a while I know - but I'm finally back!<br />
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Excuses aside, I just haven't been in a good place to post recently - my mind has been elsewhere, but hopefully I'm back now and will try to post more regularly. I've had a few health issues lately, and have discovered that the older you get, the more pills you seem to have to take! Luckily as an OAP I can claim free prescriptions!<br />
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What's been going on stitchy wise? I decided that I needed a break from large pieces at the moment. My stitching mojo took a walk somewhere and didn't reappear for a while, so I took some time for other crafts. I finished off those hearts I had completed in December. Here they are with my new candle bridge which we bought this year. (Along with that new tree!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hXSNgq-nMNtoOD0X3DcuaWeTZLFn1mAtL-VVWKRVD36u-DcteD1OPZad9WozmCbAf5bGT8qQ8MOdHmArbiAUg-EcAgZCd6qm8nYp2eD7lkY6UUJeViRZk1VHOfujkHpqLPXMVIlMxtpD/s1600/P1050601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hXSNgq-nMNtoOD0X3DcuaWeTZLFn1mAtL-VVWKRVD36u-DcteD1OPZad9WozmCbAf5bGT8qQ8MOdHmArbiAUg-EcAgZCd6qm8nYp2eD7lkY6UUJeViRZk1VHOfujkHpqLPXMVIlMxtpD/s1600/P1050601.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I finished knitting the pieces for my cardigan - it's all sewn up and awaiting the buttonband to be knitted so I may get it done in time for the final arrival of Spring. I altered a few bits from my wardrobe which had been lamenting in my sewing pile for months. Nothing really worth photographing here though.<br />
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In Britain, we have had some severe weather over the first few months of the year. Luckily in the East of England, we did not have the terrific downpours of the West of England and Wales, or even just west of London, where some communities were up to their waists in water, and even entire villages had to be evacuated. However we did have some strong winds and on two separate occasions we had to have fence panels replaced in our garden. On the second occasion we even replaced those which had not been damaged, so now we have completely new fencing on both sides. I would take photos but at the moment it's a bit of a mess out there as I didn't get round to finishing my autumn tidy-up, so when I finally manage to get out there again I'll post some new photos.<br />
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As we celebrated our 39th anniversary this year, we took ourselves off on another Hawaiian cruise - the same one that we have done before, although this year it was on a different ship - the Star Princess from Princess Cruises. Nothing like a spot of sunshine to refresh the soul - and the body eh? While away I finished 2 cross stitch pieces - a free Shamrock design from <a href="http://www.brookesbookspublishing.com/CrossStitchFreebies.html">Brooke's Books</a> - scroll down past the alphabet to get the pattern for this. It's actually stitched in a dark purple rayon thread, so it shimmers a bit when you see it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2DY99dyasMWsYvV_d57isdGxtqCFyC3xByzn_RuP14yDI2lTIKZ2k5VhSxyIiLxiVe2gGxQJ9KRwn8r6O0OIJR8WP1Lo5eZ8XGORmAAS3kOC9skXrGa9Dvx2AnjNg7n8NA7DMfB1feFU/s1600/Brooke's+Shamrock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2DY99dyasMWsYvV_d57isdGxtqCFyC3xByzn_RuP14yDI2lTIKZ2k5VhSxyIiLxiVe2gGxQJ9KRwn8r6O0OIJR8WP1Lo5eZ8XGORmAAS3kOC9skXrGa9Dvx2AnjNg7n8NA7DMfB1feFU/s1600/Brooke's+Shamrock.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the other piece I stitched from a colouring book page. I hope to make this the centre panel of a wall hanging for my GD Jessica. Last year while we were away I bought her an alphabet wall hanging from Hawaii. So I'm thinking that I should try to make a number one to complement it. I was thinking 1 airplane; 2 suitcases; 3 swimsuits etc to tie in with the holiday theme of this piece. Jessica loves anything with Hello Kitty on it, so I should be on to a winner here!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVzQJYJroND6_MZnVhyB7rrETeqMJca8fYwsj9mLSNQwRrwIRz4A8dfOE1u8u4VtCIvKiy25LkGhTCTZ0pobMvtunYzMLpmSqdKU7DnPSJ91iS32ckc36gbZ-SGlT85Krc4QmxWHhPFQc/s1600/Hello+Kitty+02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVzQJYJroND6_MZnVhyB7rrETeqMJca8fYwsj9mLSNQwRrwIRz4A8dfOE1u8u4VtCIvKiy25LkGhTCTZ0pobMvtunYzMLpmSqdKU7DnPSJ91iS32ckc36gbZ-SGlT85Krc4QmxWHhPFQc/s1600/Hello+Kitty+02.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Just before we left on holiday, I noticed that Brother had released a new cutting machine which also operated as a scanner. In the UK the only distributor is Create and Craft, so after we came home I treated myself to a complete set-up. <a href="http://www.createandcraft.tv/scanncut.aspx">Here</a> is the page to see what I'm talking about if you have missed the hype about it all. The machine arrived last Friday afternoon, and I've been spending a bit of time getting to grips with it. Like all new technology, it has a learning curve, but I can see it being so useful in all areas of my craft. It will be very useful for cutting all those appliqué pieces for Jessica's number quilt! I foresee more on this little beauty in the months to come! </div>
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Well, if you have stuck with me so far, I'll wish you all a good afternoon. I need to get the dinner on, and then I can settle down to try and sort out that buttonband on my new cardigan while I watch Hawaii Five-0 tonight on Sky One. (We did drive past their studio in Honolulu but didn't have time to stop and see if they were filming!)</div>
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Until next time</div>
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Take care</div>
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Sandie</div>
Sandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8504147620119787554.post-31604182248512563312013-12-19T21:30:00.001+00:002013-12-21T21:34:03.331+00:00Nearly Christmas - another year gone!Hi all<br />
I've been hunkered down, trying to finish my Joan Elliott diary piece, which might help to explain why I've been missing my blog lately. And I've had a few minor ornament finishes too.<br />
Joan Elliott diary 2013 (World of Cross Stitch freebie) - started Jan 2013 - finished Dec 17th 2013.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BEz3hxTpBCgEeidhtn1c7w_PW5D_UENYPTLpsJBho81-ri9iq4B30q_69P-RMUx4gftBxAmQ-A4lWRn0yVGyRENQTHhi6uST4svZ46Xb7awVDaiZC0UdFY319BpMFH697z00-YSsQM-r/s1600/FINISHED.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BEz3hxTpBCgEeidhtn1c7w_PW5D_UENYPTLpsJBho81-ri9iq4B30q_69P-RMUx4gftBxAmQ-A4lWRn0yVGyRENQTHhi6uST4svZ46Xb7awVDaiZC0UdFY319BpMFH697z00-YSsQM-r/s320/FINISHED.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I posted a picture of the finished piece on the Facebook group page - and even received a message from Joan herself, "I am smiling. This piece looks fabulous Sandie". Praise from the designer herself! Thinking I shall make it into a wall hanging, but I'm taking the time to look for the right fabric to use, so it might be a while before I can actually say completed.</div>
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I managed to finish 3 small heart pieces, which I'm going to sew into decorations. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7ySbBv2VJRFPZFup2fdR61T0GE_cBpnb5JJiuNbSyGKNKjZwThRtmVHWJYWsNsEwzSen1lJ0FfyeUUQ_2ksGsjasnOAez481BBzZDmD80Ax2a8NTk-QyN810JvroYIzRKmAaeltwqT-g/s1600/Xmas+heart+decorations.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7ySbBv2VJRFPZFup2fdR61T0GE_cBpnb5JJiuNbSyGKNKjZwThRtmVHWJYWsNsEwzSen1lJ0FfyeUUQ_2ksGsjasnOAez481BBzZDmD80Ax2a8NTk-QyN810JvroYIzRKmAaeltwqT-g/s320/Xmas+heart+decorations.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have some fabric which I bought at the Knitting and Stitching Show, which would be great for this, so I'm going to find a few minutes tomorrow to get them done.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ-Yxh4Z12VE35v-D7tQsS79o82iHb6xUuWJ4nbVct9NUFzkdIG5OeBBK6Gbk9_qS0jUErJNzE8cvSGHFodi0A-VTJr_dUoUPYMksngQIfCRAr3aHHItqA1lkhG2Jp5uWfC-LiIdpcMpD/s1600/Cardigan+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZ-Yxh4Z12VE35v-D7tQsS79o82iHb6xUuWJ4nbVct9NUFzkdIG5OeBBK6Gbk9_qS0jUErJNzE8cvSGHFodi0A-VTJr_dUoUPYMksngQIfCRAr3aHHItqA1lkhG2Jp5uWfC-LiIdpcMpD/s320/Cardigan+back.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also bought some cotton yarn at the same show, and have decided that I am going to make a short-sleeved cardigan ready for next spring. I have completed the back (obviously this photo was taken a while ago!). I've taken to knitting during the evenings as the winter nights are so bad for stitching. I have a daylight bulb fitted into a lamp which I use for my sewing machine, but unless I carry it up and down stairs every night I'm stuck for a proper light. Maybe if Santa doesn't bring one, I can wait for the January sales?</div>
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We went out to town yesterday, looking for a replacement Christmas tree and a new candle bridge. Our old tree was really too large for the space we normally put it, so this year DH and I decided to look around. We decided that we really liked a minimalist look - so we ended up with an LED "cherry blossom tree". </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fEo29GAs1B25pu1Qfym4vj3umk2lfncWxUBf6rHg_38Kw7oiHvL02QvR7oO8Zt5ISVzc-ATe4eDy09n4yd6fbJ1slUIoo6SiaSB1HAHtEwZl0wICgWlO1KxgEEcBD0vF-urVrjoA3ej5/s1600/DSCF0989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fEo29GAs1B25pu1Qfym4vj3umk2lfncWxUBf6rHg_38Kw7oiHvL02QvR7oO8Zt5ISVzc-ATe4eDy09n4yd6fbJ1slUIoo6SiaSB1HAHtEwZl0wICgWlO1KxgEEcBD0vF-urVrjoA3ej5/s320/DSCF0989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We put it up, but haven't yet tidied up around the bottom of the tree, so apologies for the mess!</div>
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And to top it off my Blood Pressure has been climbing back up again. So after a trip to the doctor's today, I'm on a new regime of tablets, to be reviewed again in January. The pressures of the Christmas season don't seem to count as far as Doctor's are concerned - all he could suggest was that I don't overeat over Christmas!!!<br />
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I did manage to get my hands on the latest issue of Cross Stitch Collection. There's a beautiful Joan Elliott Winter Queen cross stitch in it, which I really want to do (perhaps for next Christmas?)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4l8m7BDSwpEGjgE0EagW7VzzEM_MgtUXTwdQPREzpWjvvzI2hHmVixduB8fNuwYmcex_m1EYVNwZ1BYupCjkjGssVNKgBscz_q1romsBzy-koFcd9uRLQaghRTzOhTllRmiphPwlujar/s1600/CS+Coll+01.2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4l8m7BDSwpEGjgE0EagW7VzzEM_MgtUXTwdQPREzpWjvvzI2hHmVixduB8fNuwYmcex_m1EYVNwZ1BYupCjkjGssVNKgBscz_q1romsBzy-koFcd9uRLQaghRTzOhTllRmiphPwlujar/s320/CS+Coll+01.2014.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
Or do I start those Nutcrackers (Mike Vickery) which I got earlier in the year? Or a kit called Tiki Tropical Collage (Janlynn) as a memory of our Hawaiian cruises? Or my European Bistro? Or do I continue just with my cheetah that's been languishing lonely in the corner for the last few months?<br />
Decisions, decisions, decisions! Tune in again after Christmas to see what I decide to go with.<br />
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In the meantime, here's a little visitor to my back garden to wish you all a Merry Christmas or Happy Winter Holiday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHNAQfaaCb5D-V3KUqA3Ubm0Wyz2RwL2wv_pizdX2IbzzFozRzvrlFqJih0jPKjRDGzC1gCLEum9xqe-dEKUeAejeo3iublSExLYWUWGA-peAH5tlHjFS5psGTxfkgSWTQYQgRPiERGua/s1600/Christmas+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHNAQfaaCb5D-V3KUqA3Ubm0Wyz2RwL2wv_pizdX2IbzzFozRzvrlFqJih0jPKjRDGzC1gCLEum9xqe-dEKUeAejeo3iublSExLYWUWGA-peAH5tlHjFS5psGTxfkgSWTQYQgRPiERGua/s320/Christmas+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I hope everyone has a fabulous time with family or friends, and that Santa brings you lots of stash enhancing presents.<br />
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'Til January<br />
SandieSandiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948740665884395692noreply@blogger.com2