Under the weather!

Sorry I haven't been around as promised but I've been a bit under the weather again!!!! My thyroid has ben playing me up & then my DH & I were knocked off our feet over the week-end with a horrible tummy bug ~ it has done the rounds of our family & my daughter Laura is the latest victim so I have to collect my grandson & look after him to-day. I finally got my new cooker but have been unable to "try it out" because of how I felt. The oven in my old cooker had been on the blink for years & baking in it was an endurance test to say the least!!!!! I did so miss making my own biscuits , cakes, wheaten bread etc & so I had big plans to do some serious baking this week alas it will have to wait a while now. I've missed catching up on you all & thank-you for stopping by!!! I have not been working on my sewing etc but also hope to resolve that when I'm up to scratch again.
The weather here has been terrible (our garden is like a demolition site) & it doesn't look like it's going to change in the next few days ~ that is why I love winter so much at least I know what to expect & organise my days accordingly. I will have a quick look around your blogs & ttys. Take care Marie x

I'm back!!

I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged I though it was just over a week yikes time does fly!!!! I had a lovley time with my daughter & family in France & the weather was lovely although I am getting past the sunbathing stage I still enjoyed the sunshine. I can't believe it is my last trip to St Ismier before they move to Chicago but I will look forward to going there for a visit in the near future. Thank -you all for wishing me a good trip I really did have a good time but now it's back to reality. My husband is quite good about the house but his idea of cleaning & mine idea of cleaning !! Let's just say they are worlds apart lol!!!! I hope to catch up very soon & get back into my crafting once my little home is set to rights. Marie x

Good morning to all my friends in blogland. I am letting you know that I will be taking a break from blogging fo a while. I am going to France to visit my daughter in 2 weeks time & will be taking my Mum with me so I have a lot of organising to do. I have also to work extra at my job while others are off on holiday added to that the general running of my home & some gardening & sewing to catch up all in all I have a busy time ahead. I will try to stop by & keep up with all that's going on & I hope to "see" you all soon . Take care Marie x

Violet!

I would like you all to meet Violet.

She is very very special!!!!! She is very good at keeping secrets!!! She loves her pretty dress!! She looks after something very special that she will only show to those who she knows will look after it & treat it with the respect it deserves. It is not something for tiny little hands to prod & poke & that is why she is so good at keeping secrets. She has allowed me to show you her best kept secret to-day!!!!!!!!
Drum roll please ! DAH DAH !!!!!!!!!!

My new sewing machine has arrived I am so thrilled. It is not the top of the range of machines by a long chalk but it does all that I have need of & what more can a girl ask for. I now have a pile of work jeans to alter for my DH ( why did I not marry someone taller lol!!!!) A few cushions to finish off some trousers for myself to alter & so it goes!!!! I am like a child with a new toy !! Thank you Miss Violet for keeping my new toy free from dust & making it look even prettier than it is!!!! Happy sewing to you all! Marie x

Happy Homemaker Monday

On my bedside table: Last light by Terri Blackstock. This is not the kind of book I would usually read but it was given to me with a few others by a friend .

On my TV: Not watching anything at the minute I've decide to give TV a bye ball for a while.

On the menu for tonight: Shepherd's pie with yesterday's left over lamb.

On my To Do List: Ironing again!!! How can 2 people accumulate so much!

New Recipe I tried last week: None it was a very busy time here with the wedding so it was all quick old favs on the menu.

In the craft basket: It's overflowing!!! I'm trying to finish the primitive ornaments which Heidi http://needlenecessities.blogspot.com/kindly supplied free patterns for, I have started A Tisket a Tasket from http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/ & Heidi http://needlenecessities.blogspot.com/ has also inspired me to do something with my scraps of fabric so I've been wanting to do a hand stitched quilt for years & I'm now starting Grandmother's Flower Garden.

Looking forward to: My daughter & children returning from their trip to Chicago where they are hoping to move to in August. They are spending a week with me before returning to France where they are presently living.

Homemaking Tip for this week: GET ORGANISED!! It really makes a difference

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): The meaning of Easter , The story of Edith Burns by http://homemakerstales.blogspot.com/

Favorite photo from last week:

I am grateful to God for answered prayer for this marriage after all these years.

Lesson learned the past few days: The tongue is a powerful weapon & it needs to be guarded. A few things have been happening in my place of work & I'm finding it extremely difficult to hold back from saying anything but I know it would just add fuel to the "fire". My Grandmother's wise words keep coming back to me "Least said soonest mended!"

On my Prayer List: My family & the purchase of my daughter's home in Chicago.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: I have read this portion of scripture many many times but this week it has been more special to me than usual. Romans 8 v 38 & 39. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life etc.

Easter Baking & sewing

This is my grandson Harry every year he comes to my house to make some Easter buns for the rest of his cousins. To-day was so cold & windy in Ireland that we decided to-day was the day!!!! Afterwards I was able to do some sewing ~ it feels so good to have the pressure of the wedding over ~ even though it was a very low key affair I didn't realise until this week just how stressed out I have been. Having said all that it was a truly wonderful occassion & so lovely to share in my daughter's special day.
I want to thank Heidi from http://needlenecessities.blogspot.com/ for the lovely Christmas primitive ornaments patterns which she shared over the past few months I have one completed & one almost finished & one still to start. I have enjoyed the time spent sewing these simple but beautiful ornaments as they have helped me relax a bit while sewing them. When looking for some backing fabric I came across a few UFO'S & have also been working hard at these I will post pics as soon as I have them totally finished.
A friend sent me a beautiful e mail today a lovely song by Carroll Roberson called One Pair of Hands. I had the privlege of meeting Carroll some years ago when he came to my local church I would love to share it with you I found it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bm7b_i_pYg&feature=related on you tube so I hope the link works if not leave me a comment with your e mail address & I'll forward it to you

Quick blog

I just wanted you all to know the wedding is over & all went well. Thank-you to all who remembered me in prayer especially elizabeth !!! I'm still catching up with everyday life & have still some visitors with me until nearly the end of the month but just wanted to show a few pics to you all. Hopefully things will be back to normal very soon. Marie x