Nah, what's up Doc???

Hello again!

Before I go on to this weeks ramblings, I must again say a big thank you to all of you who take the time to leave comments. When I read others blog posts, which I try to do regularly, I can see how busy everyone is I have been overwhelmed by the amount of comments, and the kindness and thoughtfulness that they contain! You will be pleased to hear George had a lovely birthday, we had red snapper wrapped in bacon with herbs from the garden and freshly dug potatoes. i t was yummy! Thank you to all of you who wished him a happy birthday!





My post today touches on a very personal matter, and I spent some time pondering whether or not to write about such a very hard journey in my life! As my regular readers will know, I like to keep my posts on the light hearted side. I really don't want people leaving my blog with a heavy heart and a big frown! But it is part of my life, and one which I should not pretend has not happened.

However, as it all happened 5 years ago, and I can actually laugh about it now. When recently, I wrote that sometimes I can look in the mirror and laugh at what life and age have done to me, I really meant it! I can actually cry laughing! So believe it or not, this is not a sad post, it is more of a philosophical one, I hope!

The other day, I needed to go to the doctors.

Sourced from the Internet, Ladybird. If only it was all this jolly!

Nothing to worry about at all. I just needed to get myself back on list for mammograms and check ups. My husband has medical insurance from work, and if you use it like I did, you only get cover for five years. So, I rang up the surgery on Monday morning, and asked for an appointment. I decided to explain why I needed the appointment, as I thought (foolishly) that maybe I wouldn't have to go in at all, surely it could just be done over the phone? No, said the rather abrupt receptionist at the other end of the phone, you have to see the doctor. Oh, ok, I replied, could I make an appointment then? No, she added,you will have to ring on Wednesday between 8 and 8.30am to make an appointment for the same day. Ok! Wednesday arrived ( this is Friday, even though date will say something else, I put the photos on on that day), and I rang and got an appointment for 10.50. When I got to the Docs, I sat waiting, and waiting, in the reception, when I spotted a poster which told you, if you need a chaperone, ask at the desk. This amused me, I thought about the film Miss Potter, which I have on DVD. Beatrix potter has a chaperone stalking her in every scene almost!

The stalking chaperone dressed in black, quietly following behind!

So.......I had this image in my head, that the Docs must have a room full of chaperones, just like the one in the film!!! This nearly brought on a fit of giggles, which I am prone to get, quite often. I had to really control myself as I was sat on my own and when I get a giggle attack, I really find it hard to stop!

Luckily, I was so nervous I could block the giggling abdabs before they even started. I never liked going to the Doctors before the last 5 years of tests, operations and treatments, but now I seem to have developed a very strong aversion to it all! I was sat there questioning how I could be nervous, when nothing was going to happen. It was ridiculous! I told myself off, but it was no use, I just could not conquer my own fears. That is something I am still working on.... trying to live without fear. The trouble is that my illness (Breast cancer) set off a fear in me that seems to be well rooted in. When I was diagnosed, people remarked on how brave I was. Well I suppose, if you regard bravery as not caving in and taking it on the chin, well yes then, I was brave. But what people couldn't see, because I didn't show it, was that I was terrified!!! Inside my head, I had entered some kind of hellish place. I suppose it hadn't helped that my Mum had died of cancer 5 years before, and my Dad from cancer too, 5 years before that. And suddenly I felt like a small child who needed my Mum, but she wasn't there. I needed the cosy comforts that my Mum would have given, like a lovely pot of tea and cake! When ever I had to go to the Docs or the dentist when I was little, my Mum always used to treat me to this, or licorice ( I was going to take a picture of some yummy licorice, but I ate it! Oooops!)





When you get ill suddenly, with a potentially fatal disease, it can make you just want to curl up in a ball. Everyone is different in the way they will handle it, but I personally, spent my time recuperating from my operations and chemotherapy, as a time to reflect on life and to make sense of at all. For me, it was as if I had been thrown out of my old life into somewhere strange and alien. All I wanted, was to go back to how it was before, and for some time I could simply not accept what had happened to me. My mind just wasn't having it at all. It was similar to that feeling you get when someone dies, everything has changed and it will never be the same, and you just can't grasp it all. I was in a dark place for a while, and then bit by bit, like a beautiful butterfly emerging into the sunlight, I started to realise that even in such a traumatic time, wrapped up in amongst the sorrow and pain, is a gift. A really wonderful gift, a blessing! I could taste it, it was real, I can't put my finger on it or explain it, but on some deep level , I knew I had received something precious, and for what I had lost (my left boob, my figure and most of my hair!!!) I had somehow gained so much more. Everything was so concentrated, the sun was brighter, the grass was greener, the sky was bluer. I took the time to really appreciate this wonderful earth that we are blessed to have and love. I thought I had always appreciated everything, but I couldn't believe how much more I could 'see', it was as if my eyes were wide open! You know that feeling when you have the flu, or you wake up from a nightmare, and it feels soooo good to be back. Everything feels new and wonderful, well I started to have that lovely feeling , but all the time!
Like a new sunrise.

I did this stitchery with applique when my new sunrise started to be born!
It reads: Stormy sea and darkened skies...yet here it comes, a new sunrise.

Now though back to the Docs! When I finally got into see the Doctor, I sat down and she asked me what she could do for me. I told her why I was there, thinking that obviously, as I had to make an appointment, there would perhaps be a check up, or maybe some questions. NO!!! She said , yes , we can do that for you, I will put you back on the screening program. Goodbye. Why did I need to go there to be told what I could have been told on the phone?!

Well I hope this post has been uplifting and not at all maudlin, I wouldn't want it to be sad, as I like to make people smile. So, I thought I would share this video with you all. Because I have had to face my mortality full on, I did spend some time preparing myself , just in case! The fear that I have to try to conquer is that my cancer may come back, and I will kick the proverbial tin bucket! Anyhow, when I was in between my dark days and my hey, I'm back and loving it days (now), in the I haven't got a clue what will happen but I may as well have a laugh about it and get on with it days. I decided that at my funeral I would have some deep and meaningful songs and words, but right at the end, as I departed and people were feeling sad (or not!) I would leave the way I like to live, and give everyone a good laugh. The song is about leaving, but mainly about being insane! People who know me would definitely see it as appropriate! Enjoy it! Its great.
Thank you all of you who are still reading, I hope I haven't bored you!

Until next week, I wish you all lots of love and happiness!

Suzie. xxx :)

Dr. Demento - They're coming to take me away, ha ha , hee hee, ha ha

Counting blessings and bills!

Hello again!

Before I go into this weeks witterings, I would like to thank Deb at A Fine Feathered Nest for giving me a beautiful, gorgeous award, which I have put on my sidebar and will treasure dearly. Thank you so much Deb! You are lovely and kind!

Also I would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to come on here and read my ramblings again and again, and then leave me comments. You are all stars! Thank you so much!

The other day, despite George being off for work for two weeks, after longing for his time off for quite some time, things started to go wrong at work, the phone started ringing, ringing and then ringing again! Very quickly he was realising that he may have to sacrifice some of his holiday due to responsiblities to his job. Soon the phone was ringing again, but this time it was the garage, reeling out a long list of jobs that needed to be done on our car! I won't say how much the bill was, but it was enough to make a happy duck's bill drop to the floor! One of our dogs, not mentioning any names... ARCHIE...was having one of his drama queen days, (lying on the settee with his paw over his head!) and our nerves were being stretched with his ham actor histrionics!

Archie our nutty Jack Russell Terrier. Also known as Archibald Peabody Smythe!

We have only recently moved into our home, and it needs quite a few jobs doing on it, and what with Christmas, and a wedding coming up, well......!
I am sure you all know what I am talking about there! Sometimes, there are worries sat upon more worries and they pile up into a nice little worry hillock, leaving you feeling a tad stressed. But, despite the huge unexpected bill, I decided that I would just smile. You know that there is a tiny moment in any situation where just for that second you have a choice. You have the choice of how you are going to react to that particular situation. So, I decided not to let it spoil the day.It will work it's self out somehow, I thought to myself. They mostly do in the end! Don't let it spoil George' time off work, (if he gets it!) I always try to view life in this way, although I am not always too good at it, but I do try and mostly I can see the bright side! I decided that rather than dwelling on what was wrong with the day, that I would count some of my blessings instead. There are always many more things to be happy of than sad! :)

A welcoming door and a roof over our heads.

My veggie patch where I can pretend to be cultivated! (Ha!)

Lovely food on the table each evening. Delicious monk fish A la George! Accompanied by a cold splarkling glass of Cava. It was so yummy!!! We don't, I must hasten to add have this kind of a meal everyday. Well not the cava anyway! No, we usually have gruel. Only joking!!!

Candlelight and music, and faith! Yes the blessing of faith :)

Autumn leaves, nature's beauty is free!

Pretty countryside and wild horses running free. The blessing of having a free spirit!

A water colour I painted.

Wandering along meandering English country lanes, breathing in the fresh air...Is free!


We are lucky to have these lovely lanes a stones throw away from our home!

Our feathered friends, clucking happily in my friend's garden. Lucky me, I get free eggs!

Chick, chick, chick, chicken, lay a little egg for tea!

Flowers, a reminder to us of how miraculous our world is. Hollyhocks and a poppy I grew from tiny seeds!

I love poppies! Daft I know, but my car is called poppy!

The sound of children playing happily! Smiles and laughter are free!

Another water colour painting of mine.

Friends, thank goodness for true friends, My Mum always said it is better to have one good loyal friend, than to have many fly by night ones. As usual, she was absolutely right! I made this cushion for one such a friend, my soul sister, who I have known for years now! with each stitch I thought about her and all our memories together. I am blessed to have such a good friend. These kind of friends are as rare as hens teeth, and hee hee, and talking of hens, Susan is the one who lets me have free eggs! Still wondering if I should get some chickens. I have an empty coop! I am also blessed with many other very good friends also, some who have known me for years and yet they still stick around!!! Lately, I have found a long lost friend, Ro Jordan. She found me through using facebook! I am so glad she did! I have been blessed by the fact that the friends I do have are true and caring.

I love the freedom and effects of stitchery! This one has stitchery, applique and homespun fabric

And of course, there is always the blessing of Hope! Which is more than I can say for this poor blighter! There is something really sad about this abandoned boat which lays on the banks of Skippool Creek near to where I live. Everytime I walk past, I wonder who owns her, and what she was like in the flush of youth when she was freshly painted and proudly bobbing about on the waves. When she was Yar, as Katharine Hepburn said in The Philadelphia Story, with Cary Grant (YUM!).

If you look closely, or click on the photo, you will see she is called 'Good Hope' !

It is my husband's birthday this weekend, and we were going to go out for a meal, but due to the rather large repair bill, we will most likely be having a lovely meal at home instead. Oh, but, I love making a special meal at home, it is so cosy..... the table set with lovely glasses, napkins, an embroidered table cloth, the soft warm glow of candlelight, lovely music and a log fire too! What more could anyone want, it is perfect. Oh Maybe just one more thing.... a nice glass of fizzing bubbly cava!

BOTTOMS UP GIRLS!!!!

So this weekend, I will lift a toast to you all during our birthday celebrations and wish you all many blessings! Bottoms up girls!

Suzie. XXX :)

Knitting pattern for a cute tea cosy!!

Yarn 1 ball of double knit

size 6.5 needles (no. 3)

Teapot size approx 33 (40-49)cm excluding spout.

BACK: 

with 6.5mm (no.3) needles cast on 21 (25,31) sts.

1ST ROW : (RS) K1,*P1, K1, rep from* to end

2ND ROW : P1, *K1,P1, rep from * to end.

Beg with a K row, work 13 (14, 16) cm in st st, ending with a P row. ( measure work against your tea pot - cosy should be approx 4cm below the top of the teapot lid. Add or take back rows to fit)

SHAPE TOP:

3RD SIZE ONLY:
NEXT ROW: (K3, K2 tog) 6 times,K1, 25 sts. P1 row

ALL SIZES:
NEXT ROW: (K2, K2tog) 5(6:6) times,K1. 16 (19.19) sts. P 1 row.

NEXT ROW: (K1, K2tog) 5(6:6) times, K1. 11 (13:13) sts.. P1 row.

NEXT ROW: (K2tog) 5(6:6) times, K1. 6(7:7) sts. P 1 row.

NEXT ROW: (K2tog) 3 times, K0 (1:1). 3(4:4) sts.

Cut off yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull up tightly and fasten up.

FRONT: Work as back.

MAKING UP:

Press according to band on wool. Sew buttons on as desired. Join side seamsfor 5cm from cast on edge. Join side seams from top to start of shaping, leaving two gaps for the handle and the spout. Try cosy on the teapot, making sure gaps are big enough, and adjust if necessary. Thread looped ribbon into large -eyed needle and push through tea cosy top from the inside. Adjust loop on the outside, then secure ribbon ends inside the cosy.

I haven't done yet, but I am going to add some wool pom poms to the top too! 

Hope I haven't made any mistakes, and enjoy your knitting and high tea!

Suzie. xxx

Back to school with Autumn lurking in the wings

Hello and welcome!



Another week has flown by and the summer is quickly drawing to a close. Some people are enjoying the last remnants of this sunny ( ha, ha!) season, taking their annual hols, visiting the beach and cramming in a well deserved holiday.
























Although it is still August and children still have sand in their shoes and ice cream on their chins, I have noticed a distinct 'feel' of Autumn. You know that feeling, although I personally find it hard to put into words, perhaps you all can come up with some words to describe it? To me, it is almost a primeval sense, a deep connection with nature, a feeling which is unique to this special time of the year. Something in the air, a change.... I love it! It brings with it a promise of the beautiful colours of falling leaves, bonfires, dark cosy nights by the fire all cuddled up and cosy indoors. Yes, there is something magical about this time of the year when you start to notice tiny signs that the lovely earthy season is on it's way.

Berries on the hedgerows.

Some children may have already gone back to school, but where I live they are all getting ready to go back. New uniforms are being tryed on, lunch boxes being chosen, pencils, pens and sharpeners being placed into their new cases. A new start!

Two views of a painting I did.

I always had mixed feelings when my children went back to school. On the one hand I missed them, but on the other it was always nice to have some time to myself again and get back to being able to sew, draw and create!
This time of the year, once they are back at school, there always seems to be a flurry of activities, with Harvest Festival, Bonfire night and Halloween too, so much so that before you can blink, Christmas swoops in!


And speaking of Halloween! Here, plonked right in the middle of my post, is a quick update of Pumpkin. As you can see He/she is turning orange in my veggie patch, but not very big yet though! :(




Strange, as Autumn comes tip-toeing up behind Summer, you wouldn't be blamed for thinking that it heralds the aging of the year. Yet, the feeling that I sense as I go out into my garden, is not one of aging or withering, but one of new beginnings!
At this time of year, if we look about us, we can see miracle upon miracle unfurling before our eyes ...... changes happening all around us.

My apple trees have plump fruits, and the birds have left me with some blackberries ready for the kitchen and everyday I find new reasons to be grateful for nature and her generous gifts.

























Nature's generous gifts!





















Now, I thought to my self, what shall I do with these lovely beauties? Hmmmm.......................




A yummy scrumptious (hopefully! she added modestly) apple, pear and blackberry pie with a swirl of honey and oodles of cinnamin! The strange bits on the pastry were supposed to be an apple shape with leaves! Hmmm, oh well, as long as it tastes ok hey?!

Yes, I think Autumn has nearly caught up with Summer now, and once again Summer will have to surrender to the ever changing circle of life, just as we do! Oh, but what a wonderful time - to experience the last drops of Summer dotted with the first speckles of earthy Autumn. I always feel that our lives are just like the seasons, lively and youthful spring, young but maturing Summer, Mellowing Autumn (we even refer to the Autumn of our years) and then Old age - Old Man winter.

As do the seasons change, so does life. Nothing remains the same. You could sit in a room and not take part in anything, and everything would change just the same! Change can not be stopped, so I for one, am just going to enjoy every bit of it! I might not have been here today, due to illness, and so everyday and every change is a bonus to me. I breathe life in with a gusto and a gratitude!

This sunflower is starting to fade, a bit like me!

Each day when I go to my mirror to brush my hair, I can not help but laugh at the changes which age and life have very kindly left on my face. It is very funny really! My face, that is!
I think I am Autumn! But I really don't mind, as I am just so happy to be here on earth, waiting to tuck into that pie! Yum!

So until I post again next Friday, I wish you all a very yummy weekend and week to come! Oh and yes, I will think about you all while I eat it!

Suzie. XXX :)

Passing on the blog award!

Hello friends!
I am writing an extra post this week, as I have very happily and humbly received an award from Sarah at 'Red Gingham'. I am overwhelmed that she has thought so kindly of my ramblings! Now It is my job to pass it on to five blogs which I enjoy visiting! Firstly though I think I am supposed to share five obsessions of mine! I thought I would tie mine in with the five senses. So here goes...

1). Sight - Rainbows and that beautiful light after it rains, the sparkle on the water when the sun shines, trees! and a mix of fabrics with stripes, checks, flowers and polka dots with lots of colour! Yes colour, colour and more colour! People's smiles!

2). Sound - Music, I love so many different types of music, heavy, soft, folk, rock and I really love loud music! I think I would shrivel up and wither if I didn't have some kind of music on at some point in the day! It lifts my spirits when I'm low and makes my soul soar. Also I love the universes gift of thunder! The crunch crunch of autumn leaves under foot. Jumping in puddles, splish splash (how old am I?) The sound of laughter!

3). Smell - The fragrance of flowers, the smell of grass freshly mown. The breezy summery scent of fresh sheets from the washing line and that certain smell when Autumn arrives!

4). Touch - I love anything creative which I can get my hands to work on, sewing, knitting, drawing. I adore the feel of soft felt or the grain of fabric. Stroking my dogs! running my fingers over french knots!

5). Taste - Licorice sticks! Marmite ( you either love it or hate it!), honey, red wine and real ale!
The cold fresh taste of snow flakes on your tongue! Ooooh, and a nice cup of tea , egg and toast soldiers!



Everything stops for tea!




















The feel of french Knots!









Now I am cheating! I have to add..... angels, fairies and all otherworldlyness too, can't leave those out!!!

There are so many, but I have to stop somewhere!

Now onto the blog award! This has been so difficult, because there are so many wonderful ones out there! I have spent nearly all afternoon trying to decide and I don't like leaving people out at all. In the end I decided to keep it to only blogs which touched on sewing and cottagey type of homes, that way I don't feel bad about other ones I like to visit.

Troc Broc and Recup
Lucy's Loves In Life
Henhouse
Mary Poppins
A Fine Feathered Nest

So just pick up your 'A Fabulous Blog' award from my sidebar when you leave here!

Until my next post on Friday, blessings to you all!

Suzie xxx :)

Make a little birdhouse in your soul!

Happy Friday!

Well it's been a busy week since I last posted, and I really don't know where the time has gone. You know what people say... "My how time flies when your'e having fun", and I reply, "It's a good job I'm not having any then isn't it!" Only joking, I have plenty!
This video is only short, about 30 seconds or so, so have a little look, it rather sets the mood for the rest of my post, have to listen to the words though!







I love bird houses, any shape, size or colour, they look so cute out in the garden.. or in the house!




































Well yes birdhouses are easy to see and understand, but what about souls? The other day I was listening to a program on the radio in which the existence or non-existence of soul was being discussed. In one camp it was being argued that we humans are just a bundle of matter, chemicals and electrical impulses and that all our emotions and experiences (including spiritual and intuitive) were just a series of reactions from our brains circuitry. The other camp insisted that no, it can't just be explained away with science, and that we do all have a soul, and there are many stories and experiences which can't be explained through reason or logic. You can probably guess what my opinion is already!

I could feel a little bee in my bonnet starting to buzz about !

This is a little stitchery I sewed up this week using simple stitches. Click on it for larger view.

I believe with all my heart that we all have a soul, and if we haven't, then surely we are no more than animated robots. How do we explain the inner strength that people find when faced with illness or some other hardship or trauma in life, where does the spirit come from?
Where does creativity arise from if not from the soul?

"Every artist dips his brush in his soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."
Henry Ward Beecher, 1813-1887

I believe that creativity, emotions and human spirit are reflections of our souls shining through into our physical world, and the more everone remembers to acknowledge their souls, the better. The mind I feel is very apart from our soul, in the sense that our minds (conscious) are more rooted to material interests and needs. Our souls are not interested in the material world.

"The human soul needs actual beauty more than bread"
D.H.Lawrence.

Yes, I think our world has become too materialistic on the whole and it needs to start nurturing it's souls!

A pencil drawing I did yesterday. A little pixie is waiting for Mrs. Bird to fly back to take him down from the birdhouse, in the meantime a tiny spider weaves it's web. Click on it for more detail.


So to sum up, what a miserable world it would be, with no real meaning at all, if there was no such thing as a soul. Furthermore, since I am a person who still hopes for fairies in the garden, and wishes for more magic in life, then of course I believe in souls. Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it does not exist. After all, You can't see me, and I really do exist, sadly for George, my poor husband (pronounced Geeoawrge)!

Finally for this week, Pumpkin is definitely turning orange! Pics next week, maybe. Until next week, get your souls out and give them a good polish!

Ta ta old beans! Suzie X

Mad dogs and Englishmen!

Hello Peeps,

First of all before I get to my post, I would like to thank all of you who have supported me and followed my blog so far, I really do appreciate it, so lots of hugs to you all!

Last week I told you that I was going to spend my weekend smiling at everybody. Well I certainly did, and got very mixed reactions! Some people blanked me out, some looked at the floor, some looked at me like I had lost my mind! Thankfully though, the majority of them smiled warmly back at me. So there really are lots of smiley people out there!

Which leads me very nicely to my Friday blog.

A mad dog!!! My Old English sheepdog, Ralph!

Being a Brit myself and being English I got to thinking about our reputation for being a bit eccentric! One of my childhood dreams, besides becoming an artist and a Beatnik, was to become completely eccentric as I got into my dotage. Not got completely there yet, but there's still plenty of time, I hope.

I love individualism, and I suppose eccentricity is an off shoot, after all, it is a self expression. In some cases you could even call it creativity, art. It is a beautiful part of the human experience, being able to express through colour, art, clothes. Art appears in many forms after all.

This is one of a few of my stitcheries of eccentric ladies!

I love this book! It is a poem, and the title says it all really, but why do we have to wait until we are old? My husband, George, bought this for me, which speaks volumes! He is obviously sat watching me, looking out for signs!!

An example of an eccentric English person! I particularily Love Quentin Crisp, who has sadly now left the planet, His observations on life were so colourful, warm and funny. when asked about housework and dusting his reply (not sure of the exact words!) was that after

2 years (I think 2!) the dust doesn't get any worse!

Eccentricity is not just for famous people though!




















So, all in all I would love to see more eccentrics (especially smiling ones!!!!) But I wonder what Queen Victoria would have thought, would she be amooosed?

One of my amoosing stitcheries!

You will be please to hear that Pumpkin is still happy in the veggie patch, and I think I detect a slight change in colour. either that or he/she is blushing! Maybe there will be enough change next week to warrent a photo. Carolyn, A Jersey Girl, wild gypsy art ( click on this! ) has made a suggestion for a name for Pumpkin, it is Soul Man, which is a wonderful one! Carolyn has become a friend, and we have had some wonderful chats on facebook! I have made some wonderful friends on the web, including Christine, Colette and many more, you know who you are!!!

So until next week, get on those polka dot wellies, Easter bonnets and stripey stockings and be happy! And in good old fashioned Englishness I will say Ta Ta Old Beans! Suzie X.