Hello friends...

Hello happy friends....

So sorry for being away for a little time, more than I had actually expected.....I am here now!! Yipppeeee!!

I have a lot to tell you.....

Where do I start?

My most exciting news! 

I went to an open day, where your wondering!? At my local college than runs university courses. The photo at the top was taken there!! I have applied to do a BA textile design...I am hoping to specialise in needlework! Eeeeek!!! I am really excited about it, it's a HUGE step for me.  I  think after being housebound and bedbound for over 16 months not that long ago, applying to do a degree full time is a HUGE step!! I decided that 2017 is going to be a new fresh start for me...to help myself and do things I want to do!! I applied and my application was accepted!! I was in shock!! I looked on the UCAS website and I now have an interview!! It's on the 6 th February!!

 Eeeeeeeek!! I am so excited! I want this so much, if I am accepted it's literally going to change my life! I am trying not to be too excited as I still have the interview to get through... Fingers crossed.

I am going to the pool swimming and on our most recent visit look what happened!! 

It started to snow!! It was crazy weather.... Kevin was like a little child in a sweet shop touching the snow and making loads of cooing and awe look at it noises!! She's from Portugal and never actually seen snow! A nice treat! But when we came out after our swim the snow had gone! 

Have a funny photo to show you..... After swim shower hair...

Awesome I know!! Ha ha 

Talking of hair, over a week ago I went to the salon in our local college to be experimented on! I think it's great as the students get to try their new skills on actual people! 

Yes, this is me laughing just before! I decided on a total revamp! I was starting to feel old and omg! I don't feel old so they restyled me! 

The before photos....ewe!

Then the process....

The colour was brilliant....

As the recolouring process took a long time I went back today and had the restyle cut! 

I love the new style...

So much easier to manage and I feel so much better about myself.

I wanted to show you all what I have been eating, see I am still losing weight! Still not eating dairy, soya, eggs, meat and fish... My portions are still small and often, I am coping eating like this.

This is delicious....sesame bagel with houmous and sliced tomatoes...

Slow cooked parsnips, carrot and sweet potato...mmmm

This was a delicious soup I made, vegetables with pulses....

This was the raw veg before I slow cooked them...

This is how it turned out! Does not look much but tasted really good...

Yes, salad! Like this a lot! 

Baked beans with chips....I don't have this as often now...

I strangely Luke eating this on an evening! Yum!

Roast parsnips and carrots...mmmm

Ha ha bet your all sick of my photos!

Wanted to show you all what I have been stitching, but can't!! Ha ha soon!!

So as a little break I stitched up something.....

I decided to draw something then added some water colour to it.... Just a little simple design...

Then I turned it into this....

Yes!! I stitched it free hand with some of that wonderful Anchor tapestry wool I bought recently! I am thrilled with the way it turned out.

I have done some other sewing.... As you all know I am a member of Kathy Schmitz one stitch club when she releases one design a month for us to stitch.  This months design is adorable...

I made it into a thread jar cover! I added the word threads too...

I backed it too, so if you look into the jar all my stitching is covered up. I really enjoyed stitching this and now I cannot wait for the next design to come out!! 

Hope you enjoyed my photos and my little update... Until I next pop in....keep smiling :) 

Goodbye 2016.....

Hello!!! We made it! Ha ha 

I thought I would reflect on 2016 positively then move into 2017 happy! I guess I have been putting this off as for me 2016 was not a good year. 

Here goes....

2016....

This was, putting it bluntly an awful year for me.  Come to think of it, for all my family! From the start right up to the present its been a roller coaster ride.  I want to try to keep this looking back to reflect positive but it's hard when you all know how hard it's been for me. This was mainly due to my ongoing health issues.  Goodness have I told you all I am fed up of being ill?!? Ha ha probably a lot of times right? 

I found out that my left knee is beyond repair, something I have found really hard to accept.  Not being able to walk and rely on a wheelchair to get about is soul destroying.  But I am thankful that I have a wonderful family, that care about me..and help me too. They won't fix my knee for ....oh too many reasons! I have learnt to deal with that now, with help.

Everyday living with pain is a struggle and for a while I began to sink, oh yes! I was sinking and sinking into depression rather quickly.  My wonderful family, jon and Han (and Kevin) helped me so much and I just don't have the words to show how grateful I am to them.  Oh but they know!! 

Over the months Han tried so hard to keep my spirits high, never once putting herself first.... And recently finding out she has fibromyalgia, it's awful from my point of view as I feel so helpless.  It was her idea for us to start to go swimming again.  A life changer that was!!! Thank you Han!! I really enjoy going to the pool, it's actually quite relaxing.  The water takes my weight, as long as it's not too cold I Bob about now for about almost an hour.  When we first started going I could only tolerate 5-10 minutes! After the pool it's into the steam room...I LOVE THAT!! 

The other major thing that's been awful has been my eating....or lack of it! Oh not through my own choice.  Developing food allergies has been and still is so hard to cope with.  Not being able to eat anything with egg, soya or dairy is a nightmare.  But it does not stop there! I don't eat fish or meat either now.  I tried oh so hard to try to eat breast chicken for the protein intake... I can eat it, it just does not like me now! Makes me rather ill.  Again Han has been amazing here, getting me to try foods and even researching vegan food recipes for me to try.... 

What happened? This was supposed to be a happy reflection!! Hmmmm

I have tried this year to move more, after being bed bound and stuck in one room for over 16 months.  Yes that pesky knee has been a right pain! The pain was so much it literally was too painful to move it.  I am not sure what's changed, maybe I am more tollerant to my pain now? Maybe I have will power to want more? Not sure? Saying that though it's not been easy, at first it was one morning out in my wheelchair and 3-4 days in bed with pain.  It's a little easier, I do still rest on my bed as its the most comfortabilst place for my leg still.  Having the freedom of a wheelchair is awesome! 

Not forgetting the amazing moment when I got my electric scooter!! Oh wow!! This was amazing!! It meant I did not have to rely on anyone, I could go out by myself it I wanted to!! Then we bought jon one too.... Freedom for him too!! We can both go out, together if we wish!! It's brilliant!!! 

Oh the best thing that I was thrilled about was being invited to stitch for Hands Across The Sea Samplers. I have always wanted to stitch for a designer, and this year this wish came true!! And oh, the samplers I am stitching are stunning and I am loving every minute, or should that me loving every stitch! Ha ha I feel so lucky to of been given this opportunity.

I think looking back the past year has given me the strength to want more... I do not want to waste my life in pain hurting anymore.  Sure I still have to live with pain, I have decided it's not going to control me, I want my life back! 

So moving into 2017 I want do something I have only ever dreamt about...something I thought never would happen. I want to do this for me.... I am applying to go and study a university degree in textiles and needlework!! As you all know I pretty much eat sleep and breath anything and everything to do with crafts! Why your wondering? Why not I say!! Your never too old to learn and oh, I so want to! Maybe I will set up my own business at the end of it....that's if I pass the interviews!! 

What else do I want for 2017? Not a lot really, to reclaim my life back and for more smiles and happiness to return to all my family.  Goodness knows we all need a break! 

So all that's left to say is....

And now onto what I have been up to!! 

I am still stitching, stitching to a deadline....the current design I am stitching for HATS must be finished by the end of January.  I am fine with this, not stressed at all... So if I don't return to update my blog until the end of January appologies now! More about the design later :) 

I did manage a little stitching though....

It was my mums birthday on 1st January and I thought I had already stitched her something...hmmm slipped my mind.  Not a problem I thought! So started stitching, she loves anything and everything to do with witches, maybe as she is head witch! Ha ha 

Jon found a rather cute design.... It's from Home Spun Elegance called Witchy Sampler.

Closer....

Me being me decided to stitch it smaller! Of course!! I stitched it on 32 count fabric over one.

It fit really good into a nice frame...

My mum really liked it too! Phew!! 

I want to show you something really cute, it's a new diary I bought...ha ha to try to organise my life better! I can but try!! 

Inside...

 

A doodle colour page! No doubt for the odd boring day! 

The pictures inside are lovely.  The reason I bought it was due to the colours...I love colours, all colours... I found it happy when I looked inside, so wanted it! 

And look!! I am actually using it!!

The only problem....it's rather large to carry about.  Jon as you all know bought me the adorable Radley bag as an anniversary present.  I think I need a bigger bag.....

Need to find a solution as I want to use this beautiful diary! Maybe jon will come to the conclusion I need a slightly larger bag? 😇🤔😉

Have to show you all this photo Han took.... Yes it's our car! Taken this morning!! Think of frost! It must of been really really cold last night! I love how artistic Han is even with frost! Ha ha 

Until I next pop in,....keep smiling :)