Busy me!

Hello again! I am back!!

We have a quiet house again as Han left for the hospital again today.  Ha ha well when I say left, it was not on schedule at all.  Not out fault! Her transport was booked to pick her up at 6 am, it did not arrive here until just around 10am! Han was so tired as she had been up since 5am! I think she may sleep tonight! I think I am a walking zombie right now, see I never actually went to sleep last night! No idea why just did not! I was still awake come 5am when Han got up! I did however go to sleep when Han left at 10am .....but I only slept until 12. Apparently not requiring much sleep today! Ha ha 

With my day being messed up my food plan went out the window! And today I thought it was a chilli day but was not! And ion told me to eat the humus as it does not have a very long fridge life.  Ha ha so I have now decided to use the planner as a guide! I mean some days I am at a loss what to eat so I can refer back the the planner.  I am fine with messing up, I mean I am only human! Ha ha

So here is what I actually had today... No breakfast! 

Dinner....

Was chilli with mini wraps.  Incidentally the chilli is off the other day, made a huge pan and jon froze it in handy small portions. Go jon!! 

I am useless at making the wraps, so jon tells me! 

It went in my mouth, that's all that matters, right!? Ha ha 

Then later for lunch...

A rather special sandwich! Only recently found bread I can eat! This is a rye based bread as is really yummy.  I spread the bread with humus the put lettace and tomato inside....mmmmmm

Not feeling that hungry today, so that's what I had today.  Just as well as I have been like a slug all day and hardly moved.

I have managed to finish my mums table mat for her Christmas table... I did not pick it back up until I had done some stitching! I did not manage all the 7 words I need to do, I think it was 3 or 4... Better than none! 

Jon and I are off out on our scooters tomorrow, popping around my parents house.  So I will stitch more when we get back.

Thank you all for your wonderful comments about which design to do.... I did choose one...

This one..

I stitched them all together...

Back...

Then come the hard part how to finish it! I added some fusing to the back then put some white wool mix on the back.

Lancelot wanted to help I think...

Finished front...

Finished back..

I am really pleased with how it turned out, my first Christmas mat!! Go me!! 

Ok, got to go, it's jab time! Until I next pop in, remember to keep smiling :) 

Christmas will soon be here!

And I had better do something! Ha ha 

I have been playing around with some fabric and hexies, to make a little table thing for my mums table to put something Christmassy on! 

Here is what I have been doing.... And maybe a little help with the final decision? I cannot decide which way around to sew it! See what you think....

Oh yes, I found this cute design for a basic hexie in the Quilters World magazine Fall 2014 page 122. I subscribe digitally to this. 😊☃❄️⛄️

As you can see I could not decide which way to stitch it! 

Then came up with a snowflake design....

But which way around? 

This way? 

Or this way? 

Thank you for your assistance I deciding which way, it's got me really puzzled and frustrated as I just want to sew it now! 

What else have I been up to? Yes stitching! I only actually have 7 more words to sew! Then it's finished!! I personally find the end part really hard, you know when it's almost finished.  See I like stitching so much I don't want it to end! Unfortunately I seem to find other things to do rather than finish stitching! I need to pull my finger out and get it finished!! The next design is already lined up for me to start!! Oh that one is really lovely and cannot wait to start it! H aha better get those last few words done!! 

My dad and I went along to bingo today, it's really nice to spfun no time with him, and we do have a giggle. So my awesome meal planner went out the window slightly today, only slightly though! 

Breakfast...

Weetabix and oaty milk, it's the new variety with added protein.

Dinner... I was at the Bingo and needed to eat, only thing on the menu safe I could eat was chips, so I had a small bowl. No photo :(

Lunch this evening was yummy! 

Peas and carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, steamed chicken breast with a little gravy.

This is what I have had today... I don't eat snacks as they fill me up too much.  I do however drink plenty of water, only with ice as I find it easier and nicer to drink.

That's all for today...

Until I next pop in, smile :) xx

Following on from my last post....

Right!!

Thinking positive....

Firstly, THANK YOU for leaving comments on my last post... I feel so lucky to have such lovely blogger friends that care.

I did get some sleep, and when I woke up I made my 7 day meal planner.... I did! Here it is...

You will notice I put my own 'style' on it! Ha ha 

Today is Saturday and I am on firm as I have followed it so far! Ha ha! 

I decided to take photos of each meal, as a log for myself really....so I can look back at a laterstage and   think, damn that tasted good! Ha ah saying that, I decided this after I had ate breakfast! Ho hum! 

You will also see I have moved the dinner and lunch, so I eat them the other way around.  There is a sensible reason for this... It's so my stomach has something light in, in the evening.  Remember I don't move about a lot so lighter the better! I can't take the credit for that idea! Thank you Han! Yes Han is home for the weekend, she says the course she is on at Stanmore hospital is really helping her, I am pleased as its about time she had some real help.

So no photo for breakfast...here is dinner

It's home made mince beef chilli, it has mushrooms, garlic, sweet corn, peppers, kidney beans, 4 other variety of beans, chopped tomatoes, chilli powder and mixed herbs. Had it with some white rice.

As you can see this is a small bowl, I actually had two bowls but not one after the other, there was a 4 hour gap! Jon tells me that in the first bowl he gave me he put 2 table spoons of chilli and 1 table spoon of rice. The second bowl some hours later he gave me 1.5 table spoons of chilli and 1 table spoon of rice. It was more than enough! 

Lunch...

This is basically lettace, tomatoes and one steamed breast of chicken with a herb and paprika salad dressing. This looks a lot! I spread it around the bowl! I think next time I shall put it in my smaller pink bowl ( the one I used for chilli) as I did leave some.

My exercise swimming visits will start again next week as I use the weekends to relax and spend time with jon. Ha ha no fear of me giving up swimming I love it! 

Day one has gone better than I thought it would.....one day at a time!!

Onto some crafts...

There is one thing I want to master but no matter how many times I try I just can't grasp it.  I tried again and I am thrilled with the result..... Ha ah when you see the photo you will all probably go, oh no!! Terrible!! Ha ah 

It started lik this....

Not actually making anything, it's just how they turned out!  I will keep trying! Crotchet will not beat me! I kind of made a granny square! 

On other crafts, I love to play with wool and appliqué too.  Jon surprised me with a little gift I have been wanting forever... Yes the little craft iron! Let me tell you for using with appliqué it's amazing.

You can see I am 'creating'.... Ha ha 

This is one of the 4 corners...

 It's more than likely once finished going to be a gift for a lovely friend so can't show you much more....maybe when I have posted it! 

And yes! I am still stitching the HATS design, it's very close to being finished :) more on that when it is finished! Ha ha 

I was thinking that I want to involve myself in some things again, seems like I have lost my way.  I know a lot of bloggers that craft participate in exchanges, I think I would like to do one.... Eeeeek! My first ever one! Ha ha saying that I bet now is not a good time as people are doing other things and commitments? So I thought I would put some feelers out to see what people thought? And as for what to exchange? Yes we need a theme! I feel like something different is needed....any suggestions? Basically if you could participate in an exchange what would you want the theme to be? What have you always wanted to make and give to a friend? Curious??! Ha ah let me know what you think? I am thinking any craft too, no matter if it's stitching, sewing, quilting, woodwork, you get the idea! Anything goes! It would be really interesting to see what people would make in there specialist chosen hobby.

Ok, going now as I have to go jab myself...yes every evening or I may develop more blood clots.

Until next time ......SMILE!! Xxx

Feeling low....

Just thought I would pop in and tell you all how I am.... Quite low and feeling really lost :(

Well you all kind of know what's being going on in my life, my health being a major issue!  For as long as I can remember I have struggled with my weight.  I have been on every diet, health program you can think of over the years! For what ever reason it's easy for me to gain weight but damn hard to lose it! In the past when I have exercised and eaten healthily the most weight in one go I lost was around 4 stone.. Never could lose any more no matter what I did.  

Then when my knee got worse I I became bed bound, yes this almost destroyed me being stuck in bed 24/7 for those 16 months in agony.  I am still in pain but now I manage it differently.  With help from my family I have been forcing my self to go to the swimming pool, to get out of bed, to move more...each day is a struggle.  

Some time ago I was referred to bariatric surgeons to possibly go down the route of a gastric by pass.... Yes dangerous but my options to lose weight and get my life back are quite slim.  It's been a battle with my doctor and hospitals to get any form of help.  

Yesterday I went along to the hospital for an important appointment... To speak with, nurses, dietitians, doctors, anethatists and the surgeons...yes for gastric by pass surgery.  Cutting a long story shore basically I am an extremely high risk category with a few reasons why surgery is not suitable.  As you all know food is a major issue right now after catching a bug in a hospital last year.  And I have not been able to eat...dairy, soya, fish, eggs.  These are really important food groups that are needed and me not being able to eat them now is bad enough but thinking ahead after surgery would be dangerous as they fear I would become malnutrished.  I found out I cannot eat those foods by a process of illumination as directed by my doctor.  I have been on the waiting list to see allergy specialist for about a year now! Thankfully my appointment has come through now and I hope to have confirmation.... It's on 22 December.

But that's not all they said at the hospital appointment.... Due to me taking blood thinner injections now my risk of developing more clots in my lungs is high.  I would have a risk of less than 1 in 100 and for me that risk of dying is a real one.  So that and the food issues made the whole idea of having surgery a non starter.  

I cried, yes I cried.... I think I knew that surgery would not be suitable, but I needed some hope as my life, my world was crumbling around me.  Being told I could not have the surgery devastated me and I am still feeling really low.  

It's 5.03 am and I have hardly slept, too many things going around my head and I am worried about my future.. Oh wait this just really upset me writing that, I can't see to type, tears rolling down my face.

I think I am upset as I feel I don't have an options now... 

I am practically eating a vegan diet, not through choice I may add! So later today I think I will try and turn my disappointment into something positive, I will try.  I am going to look at myself and have some organisation I think.  I am going to write a menu for 7 days, no point doing it for longer as the variety of food I can eat is going to be a stretch just for those 7 days! Maybe with structure in what I eat, getting the right food (protein) and knowing what I am eating will help.  It will be hard as it will mean introducing  meat, .... And exercise, yes I will continue to go to the pool and steam room, I enjoy this so am not going to stop! 

Story of my life really that no one will help me...so I will have to help myself! Try a little harder I guess, I am not giving up, I want my life back.

Sorry if you popped in expecting updates on my stitching and other crafts I am doing... My blog is about me, my struggles and what I get up to.  If your happy to hear about my and my life as well as what crafts I am doing/creating then thank you for sticking with me! I am in a little hole right now, trying to get myself out of it! 

I should go, try and get some sleep I guess? 

I just looked back at my post and thought well that looks awful.... Ha ah not the writing, the fact I have added no photos and no colours! Very unlike me! 

Until I next pop in.... Xxx

Hmmmmmmm.....

Oh my! I am totally useless! 

I guess I just get engrossed with things I am doing and just forget about things....one being this blog! 

I am here now so best I let you all know what I have been up to! 

I have been going swimming and dear Han took a hmmm lovely photo of me! Ha ha it's terrible! I look really hot and bothered! Just been for a swim and in the steam room, showered and dressed and sat waiting to get hair dried at the driers! Nice!! Ha ha

Our house is going to be a little quieter for the next 3 weeks.  Han is off on a course run by the hospital (Stanmore) to help her manage her life long condition.  Her recent diagnosis of fibromyalgia and other things I forget the names of.  Apparently had these conditions a long long time but just now been given the diagnosis..and with that help comes! So on the course she will get help from all kinds of specialists and it will hopefully give her skills and lots of good advice on how to live and cope with her illness.  Han will be blogging daily from her hotel, so if you want to pop in on her, her link is in my side bar.  She goes Monday. Good luck Han and looking forward to you coming back more informed than when you left! 

I have been stitching and stitching.... It's almost finished!! That means I will soon be able to share it all with you! I have also added a few more lines on my knitting.... The wool is really heavy, any one else have this problem? It hurts my wrists if I hold it too long. 

I love the colour of the wool...

My favourite go to food right now is toast and beans! The bread is rather special, has no dairy and soya! Mmmmmmm

I got to surf around Amazon.... Ha ha I don't do this often! And I came across a rather interesting book....

It just screamed, buy me! Of course it did! Ha ha so yes, I bought it! I am still waiting for it to be delivered, but I am quite excited about this.  Oh I plan on giving it a go! I like a good challenge! Ha ha it may take me a little while to gather all the supplies though!! 

Got to go! 

My needle is calling me....

Happy smiles to you all :) 

Cold.....yes!!!

Yes!! It's freezing here! Really really cold.  Ok, when I say freezing, I guess not quite, I mean you think freezing as ice like the arctic?! Not quite arctic here, not yet! But for southern England it's cold! 

And I had to go out today!! The car went in to be checked.... I heard knocking and wanted it investigated.  Arrived at the garage, some 30 miles away! It's alright as it was a really nice drive through the countryside, lots of narrow winding roads. All the trees look wonderful, the colours are beautiful.  My favourite time of year. Han would of taken photos but her phone was almost dead... Thankfully she did manage to take one...this one...

My lovely car up on ramps being investigated! Apparently the clamps that hold the exhaust on where not doing a very good job and were a little loose.  So the garage man is ordering more and we will have to go back next week to get them fitted.  

On the way back home had took ha ha the plast photo she could then her phone did die! It shows us literally driving in green! 

All that was around us is woodland, it was really nice and really relaxing looking at the rolling scenery.  I am sure when we have to go back it will be a lovely drive again.

Have I told you all its cold here? 

Ha ha ha 

Stitching is coming along nicely.... Nope! Sorry can't share this with you all yet! 

I can show you all what I made last night, a little while ago jon treated me and subscribed to 'The One Stitch Club' designs by Kathy Schmitz.  Basically every month there is a new design emailed to me to stitch and enjoy.  It's really nice and an all year gift to enjoy.  Novembers design is rather cute, two darling squirrels...I thought I would have a go at this one! 

I am enjoying appliqué so thought I would give that a go..... And stitched the other one. I am thinking of making them into a little needle holder as I keep loosing my needles! A lot of fun.

Well as they say....that's all folks! Hee hee

Until I next pop in, keep smiling :) 

November??

Hello happy smiley friends.... Yes!! As promised I am back! Ha ha 

I looked at the TV this morning and had to do a double take, it's really November?? Gosh! Where oh where has this year gone? Han and I were talking about this and as a child it's oh, the holidays take forever to come around! As an adult it's oh no! Holidays go too quickly! Anyone else think this year has passed quicker!? Ha ha we all know there's no way it could but to me it sure feels like it! 

I found a nice picture of pretty autumn leaves, so sorry if I over do it posting them, I like them!!

Yes! Ha ha that's them!!

Han and I ventured out, with Bob! If your not aware, Bob is the name I have given to my wheelchair! Why not!!? Ha ha  it's starting to get a bit chilly here... Southern England gets chilly but never freezing, although there are roumours out there saying we may get snow? Nah!!

Oooh I am getting really easily side tracked.... Focus!!

Ok, Han and I ventured out and in the shops there are Christmas decorations and a few Halloween ones too.... Han could not resist taking a photo with my new friend, ..... His name? Hmmmm bones? Yes! Bones, it's a good name, the dr in Star Trek is called it! Ha ha 

Oh yes! This is me!! Maybe you can see in my face my weight loss? One day at a time. Plodding on, my favourite food right now is salad (lettace, cucumber, tomato) roll spread with humus.  Mmmmm

Christmas is rapidly approaching, I really don't like Christmas food so it will be salad rolls here! It's true I don't do turkey, or meat! I did a few years eat salmon, no more as salmon does not like me! I really don't like Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and mince pies.... Something about all that fruit together?! Ewe! Sure I could have a plate of vegetables, don't fancy it.  And I won't be eating any sweets or chocolate either this year as chocolate is a huge no no, dairy alert!! So Christmas is being classed as just another day here! 

I am still stitching away on a HATS design, not long to go now, then onto the next one! I made a tab at the top with the HATS designs I stitch, if you want to go see? Or if you like them enough to stitch then the HATS link is in my side bar. 😊

Whilst out with Han, I found some really nice wool... So bought it! Started knitting...lol not sure what, I just am! It's very therapeutic!! Han thinks I should knit a blanket! So darling jon bought me another 10 balls!! 

What do you think?

It's rather chunky, I am using size 10 needles.... Now this means nothing to me! I was talking to my mum explaining to her I found this wool and am stitching on size 10 needles.  Wow! She says! That's large! Ha ha yup! Chunky!!  Knitting has halted awaiting the balls if wool ordered online!

I am a huge fan of Cheri Payne..... She creates wonderful quilts and appliqué wool designs.  This was one she designed too, for Fall.  I kind of made it slightly different, lol as I do! I have to finish it off, into something.  It's getting my sewing machine out? Not sure I am up for that yet? My back was killing just sitting at the table yesterday.  I keep trying, keep doing it.... One day I hope to sit there and enjoy it! 

Yes been busy doing all sorts of crafts! Again when talking to my mum today she says let me know what your doing today, sewing, stitching, appliqué, knitting....ha ha I just love creating I guess?! Mum and I talk pretty mum every day, you would think we would have nothing to say as we talk daily? Ha ah we always find something to talk about! 

I am off out to the car dealership tomorrow, no, not buying a new car! I have one! This one, remember...

Well when I sit with my foot on the brakes I can hear a knocking coming from the back.  Han has gone around the car and it's louder on the right back.  We are not sure what it is, it's just annoying really so going to get it checked out! Should be an interesting day.... It's near to Horsham so we shall have to see what else we get up to!? Ha ha

Just thought I would add this in.... Lancelot likes wool!! Oh no!!

Whilst surfing around the net I just happen to come across this beautiful table cloth... It's a RICO design.  I adore RICO designs, they are ever so pretty.  This table cloth would be an adventure as its all free hand stitches.  The design is printed onto the fabric and then you basically just stitch it in! With satin stitch and a few other stitches.  Lol yes it's a photo off my iPad, ha ha look at the time I was surfing! 1.42pm, any time of the day I get side tracked! 

Ok, going now as I have some stitching to do! 

Smiles to you all until I next pop in! 

:)