My little beauties

Just a quick post really with the latest pic I have of my beautiful girls. We went to Nostell Priory last week, and had a fantastic afternoon walking through the grounds. There is an amazing adventure playground which the girls always make a beeline for, so if you are ever in the area, do check it out.

My mojo has returned!

My desire to craft had left the building, so it has been great over the last few days to actually want to craft. I've had all sorts of things out to play with them, and the end results have fuelled my desire to craft even more. I won't be doing any crafting while we are in Bermuda so I hope my mojo doesn't go walkabout again!

I've mostly been making cards, but I have made a very special mini book which is top secret until I have given it to the recipient, my ever lovely M. Just hope he will like it!

The first card is a Hanglar & Stanglar stamp, coloured using my promarkers, and then complimented with Stampin Up patterned papers. Grosgrain ribbon in yellow and a Craftwork Cards sentiment finish it off.

This is another Hanglar & Stanglar stamp, this time coloured in a monotone colourway of luscious browns. First time I've done one like this and I enjoyed it so I will try it again. The patterned papers are SU designer papers in chocolate chip, I love those, but the SU copyright print in one corner of the paper drives me nuts! I always end up leaving it where it shows, so have to redo it! Ribbon is from an old kit I had from Little Silver Hat before they closed. I miss those kits. No sentiment yet, as I haven't decided what occasion this card is for.

The final card is for my baby's 5th birthday, which is on Thursday. Not quite sure how she can be 5 already, seems like yesterday when I was in hospital having her. Time passes by so quickly when children are little. Alex seems so grown up now, not the toddler she was when Nigel died. She likes to think she is so sophisticated, which always makes me laugh! She is very, very determined, and does like to get her own way (don't we all?). Her behaviour is heaps better than it used to be, and she is a joy to spend time with (most of the time). She looks more like Sophie now, they are like two peas in a pod. Right down to the matching glasses they both wear now!

Her card is made using all Stampin Up supplies. The name of the paper is summer picnic, which I got it in a paper share from Jules. Brads are from the hodge podge hardware set. Letters and number I cut on my cricut using the Learning Curve cart. I used real red cardstock to mat the paper, and to cut out the number 5. The letters are cut from the summer picnic paper. All edged with Stardust stickles as Alex does love a bit of bling when she does any crafting!

So there you go, some photographs of my crafting at last! Here's hoping I don't leave my mojo behind in Bermuda. Can't believe we fly on Thursday, it has come round so fast! We are very excited, suitcases are being packed this weekend, and then we fly from Newcastle to Gatwick and then Gatwick to Hamilton. Almost 9 hours in the sky, but it will be worth it. Can't wait to see Jan and her family, she has bought special ice cream which is hidden in the freezer for when we arrive lol. I will try and update while I am there, so watch this space for pictures of sunshine and sand!

Beautiful flowers

Look at these beautiful flowers which arrived today! They were sent to me by my lovely M, he sent them from the girls, seeing as they are not quite old enough to arrange things themselves yet! They are such beautiful flowers, I had gone right off flowers after receiving a florist shop full when Nigel died, but now I am ready to be spoiled on appropriate days again. I am so touched that M felt he wanted to do this for me and for the girls, so thank you so much, I love them!

I also received a beautiful new top, and some smellies to pamper myself with. All in all a good day.

Backache city

Been AWOL as I have been suffering big time with my back. I have had two episodes of muscle spasm across the top of my back, to the extent that I have had to resort to diazepam to be able to sleep, so great is the pain. I actually cried when I rang to say I wouldn't be at work on Wednesday, as I had coped on my own all night whilst in agony. Not good. Normal service will be resumed very soon as I can't even contemplate sitting at a craft desk right now.

So the surgery did it's job

Alex's surgery back in January has been completely effective! We went back to see her consultant, Mr Knight, today, and she had a hearing test too. Last time she had her hearing tested, it was way down, but today it was back up to within normal levels. I was so relieved, after the last test I nearly cried, her hearing was so bad. Removing her adenoids has helped too, and she is no longer snoring and waking as often at night. Now it is just a waiting game to see how long this set of grommets lasts, and once they have fallen out, will the glue ear return? No-one can predict whether it will or not, I had hoped it wouldn't after the first set, but obviously it did. It isn't worth worrying about this now, I am just hoping and praying that the glue ear doesn't return.

This is a picture I took once Alex was back on the ward after her op. The blood on her pyjama top shows she did have a bit of a heavy bleed whilst in theatre. By this stage, Alex had eaten loads, and was happily playing with the Littlest Pet Shop set which was on the ward. Amazing how quickly children bounce back, Alex was fully recovered from the surgery within a week.

Other than the hospital visit this morning, today has been mostly mundane. Housework, nothing exciting really. Getting back into my usual routine has been good, working a full week last night knocked me for six! Work tomorrow and Wednesday, then I suppose I had better start on preparations for our big trip to Bermuda in 3 and a half weeks from now (hooray!). Need to dig out various bits and pieces to take with us. Plus summer clothes, it will be pleasantly warm when we get there. Got to be better than the arctic temperatures which seem to have reinstated themselves here today. Trogging up the hill to school this morning was no fun when met with icy blasts. So much for spring weather!

Enough for now, time to sleep.

New Look!

I put my name on a list to have my blog redesigned by VKDesignCo a while agao, finally I got to the top as Veronica is one popular lady, and I must say I am over the moon with the end result! Now I need to rediscover my crafting mojo, it has gone missing of late what with working full time this week. I honestly don't know how mothers of children the same age as my girls manage to work full time, keep their homes under control and also not be as grumpy as hell. Lone parents especially, how do you do it? I have been so tired this week, I was very glad to get to Friday evening. I did enjoy this week at school, the Joseph Project was great fun, and enabled me to teach in a way which suited me down to the ground. Still, I was in bed early every night just about, but my head was so full of information from the day that sleep did not arrive. Argh!

Tonight I am going to the new Nando's restaurant near here, it has only recently opened, and I really enjoy their food. The ordering system is somewhat bizarre, but if you ignore that bit, Nando's is great!

Enough waffle for now. I will craft this week, got a load of cards to make for my lovely friend Jill, so watch this space. I have failed miserably to get my hands on any Gorjuss stamps, but I will keep trying. It's not as if I don't have enough stamps already...

Waterfall walking

Yesterday I headed up into the Yorkshire Dales with the year 6 children I teach. They are spending this week at Ingleborough Hall, doing all sorts of great activities like caving, tree climbing and treasure hunts. Obviously I couldn't stay with them, but I had a really good time walking 4.5 miles alng the Ingleton Waterfall Walk. It was quite strenuous in places, so I was very impressed by the lack of moaning from the kids! My legs did ache a little when I got home, nothing that a long soak in the bath didn't sort out. My new walking boots are nicely muddy, and fortunately I didn't get any blisters!
The rest of the week, I am working with the year fives on a special project, all about Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat! It has been a lot of fun so far, and the other activities planned promise to be just as enjoyable. By Friday I will be pretty tired, but the project makes it all worthwhile.
So work dominates for now, no time for crafting. Not got the energy anyway!!