Scans, Sisters and a little something....

I'm really excited today. Life is good. My ct scan appointment came in really fast, which is great because for me, waiting is torture! I have no patience whatsoever.

The lovely Sue from Our New Life in the Country is sending me a little something for suggesting names for her beautiful new piggy! I was close to the name she chose. Have a look! They're all gorgeous girls! Sue does an amazing job of caring for them, the chickens, all her home grown veggies, and lavender, preserving their produce and farmers markets on top of all that! Busy lady!
This is the dreaded machine they'll be slotting me into tomorrow. But actually, it doesn't seem that bad! The only bit I'm dreading is the injection of dye. I hate needles! But even that hasn't dampened my mood. After the scan, I'm heading to the big city to spend some much needed quality time with... All three of my little sisters! I can't wait! They're like my first thee kids. And i don't see them nearly as often as I'd like to. On top of that, myself and my baby sister are having a joint birthday party, as she turns 21 and I'll be 30! I'm totally comfortable with turning 30, not at all comfortable with my baby turning 21 though!

My birthday present to myself is going to be a tattoo. Celtic script that says "my sisters, my children" In Scottish Gaelic. So i have that to look forward to also! It is a significant tattoo for me and for my sisters. I think it's perfect. I have a few tattoos, and they all have significant meaning. I wouldn't have them otherwise.

I hope everyone else's summer is going as well as mine, if not better! I'll post when I'm back from the big city. Can't wait to see what Sue sends me!! Take care.

Sal. X

Rainy Day's and Mondays.

Well, it's Monday, and it's pi$$ing it down rain. I've just been to the park with the dogs, (yep, adopted another one, not husky tho) Little D and Partner. Older boys are at my folks for the week. And despite having many reasons to be blue, I'm not! I'm feeling pretty damn good! I had an eye specialist appointment last week, they've discovered something in my head is causing pressure. Either some kind of head blood pressure type thing or a tumour. So I'm waiting for an appointment for a cat scan to come in now. I freaked out to begin with, thought the worst and gut reaction, "Oh my god the kids!" But i soon calmed down, I'm staying positive, even if it is a tumour, and even if it is cancerous, these things can be treated. No point in me getting myself in a state when there's nothing i can do about it anyway.

Besides, I've had fab news too, a friend i had been really worried about is moving closer to me. As in the next street! Our kids are only 5months apart and dote on each other, and she has a lovely 7 month old baby i can steal for baby hugs. I can't wait! They move in on Wednesday! I have given another dog a home, he's a lovely little lurcher, red collie x. Beautiful lad, and he's getting my old lurcher fit again so she'll be with us longer. I just came in soaked to the skin, after running around with the dogs in a fabulous summer shower! I love the rain! I have a lot to be happy about and thankful for. So no matter what this turns out to be, we'll deal with it as a family and then I'll beat it. Problem solved. I'm a stubborn little sh*t!

So, it may well be rainy, and it may well be Monday. But to me, it's a magic Monday!

Sal. X

Bags

I finally got around to taking photo's of a few of the bags I've made. please excuse the crappy lighting, poor composition etc. It's been really dull all day and pretty much impossible to take decent pics. This first one is recycled from a jeans leg, and a funky 70's tablecloth I rescued from my Mum. There had been paint spilled on it at some point, but still plenty usable fabric for me! I love the purple and pink combo!
This one is a bahoochie bag. As in made out of the bahoochie (backside) of a pair of jeans. And the strap is hand knitted from the lovely wool I won from Hardup Hester.
This one is another bahoochie bag, made from school trousers, but with an added flap, I got a full metre and a half of this fabric from a charity shop for £4! Bargain or what?
Yet another bahoochie bag, this time with an added scarf, from a favourite top of mine which was unwearable now. the strap is a lovely bit of embroidered cotton, taken from a recycled skirt, the rest of which was used in lining other bags.
I guess this is a half bahoochie bag. lol. The jeans had ripped in such a place they were unwearable and unusable as a full bahoochie so I cut it in half. Strap is from the leg of another pair.

I have a few more too, since i didn't sell any at the car show. Bit of a disappointment, but there was a car boot too so I think people were really looking for cheap and cheerful. Maybe I'm charging too much. I don't know. £15 for the biggest bags that took the most time, £8-10 for medium sized ones, and £5 for the smaller ones. Is that too much?

I still had a lovely day, there were more dogs than cars there so I was in my element. Looking into fostering a husky now. Met a lovely Lady there who has started a husky rescue. there are so many of the poor lambs dumped in dog pounds because people take them on without understanding the breed. Hopefully I can help out and my own dog (who is missing canine company) will benefit too.

School holidays have started here, so the kids are enjoying their time off. In two weeks time I'm going to my Mum's for the weekend alone, for a folk festival. I can't wait! Been looking forward to it for ages! So my next project is to make a carrying bag for my whistle, and if I get ambitious maybe a better one for my bodhran too. So plenty to keep me busy! I want to do some little travel tissue holders too. Look much nicer in my handbags than scruffy packets.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I'm still shattered from the weekend, so I'm off to have a nice bubble bath then bed. Early night will do me good.

Sal. X

Oh crap!

Yes. Now is the time to panic.. I've only just realised the car show I'm meant to have a stall at is this weekend! And to add to that, i haven't actually booked a stall! Duh! Have emailed both the lady I'm meant to be going with and the lady who is running it to see if sh can fit me in, if there's time to send my payment, or if i can pay it when i get there. Hopefully they'll get back to me soon, I'll need to get my ass in gear and get more bags made! I thought i had ages yet!

The kids last day at school before the summer holidays is Friday. Hadn't realised that was so close either.

My memory and organisational skills really leave a lot to be desired! On top of that I'm meant to be organising a family reunion type thing, and possibly a joint birthday party for me and my baby sister. Dunno how I'm going to get it all done! I'll start as always, with trying to get this house tidied up, at last if that's done I'll have time and space for sewing later. In theory anyway. lol. And I'll have to get Little D out to play while the sun is shining. He may be really nice to me and have a nap if i can tire him out enough! Fingers crossed.

Sal. X

Hmmm.

It's been a strange few days I've had. Just generally unsettled. Unsettled weather, unsettled mind. Have had dramas with a local dog who had previously bitten Big D, it has now bitten one of his school chums. Still waiting to hear what's happening with that.

OH had his last day at work today. Well, kind of. He was on a jobcentre scheme. He didn't get the extension we'd hoped for, but has made himself indispensable. As it's a charity he's working at, he's going to continue to volunteer while they wait for a big contract to be confirmed then employ him fully. Unfortunately it means we'll be back on minimum amount of money and all the fuss involved in sorting out benefits again. Hopefully it won't be for long.

Possibly going to my Mums tomorrow, but unsure as we had a slight argument last night. So that's up in the air too. If not, I think I'll go for a walk and try to find some nice scenes to take photos of.

Seems like all I've done this week is washing. I could happily never look at another odd sock ever again! I think they're breeding in the washing bin! Well, I'm going to go and fold yet more washing, and OH promised me a bottle of wine tonight so after the washing I'm going to relax with a lovely glass of rose (with a strawberry in) and a book.

TGIF!

Sal. X

In the Summertime

I am sitting out in the garden with Little D, A in the middle and his friend have just come in from school. So the relative peace is now shattered. Lol. Odd weather, it's warm, but over clouded so we're not seeing much of the sun. Still, it's nice to sit out in the warmth without having to worry about my sun allergy raising it's ugly head. Speaking of ugly heads, if you're not keen on spiders now would be a good time to look away! I have a slight phobia of them, but not nearly as bad as i used to be. The one in the pic above, I found while watering plants at my Mums at the weekend. She's a Nursery Web Spider. And that white ball she's carrying is a sac full of her eggs. When they hatch she'll Spin a nursery room for them to keep them safe. How sweet! There are some really devoted Mum's in the animal/insect world. There are a crow family living in the trees at the back of my Mums garden, I got some beautiful feathers but unfortunately they didn't cooperate for photos. And there was too much going on in the garden to expect them to. Ah well, another day.
This one was in my Mums garage, so big for a house spider I thought he was a wolf spider, but on closer inspection of the photos, he's just a big house spider. More likely to be a she.
Mister black bird here, was trying to entice some worms. Amazing to watch. Mrs Blackbird had a go afterwards too, but she's not as brave as her hubby and wouldn't pose. I could watch nature happening around me all day, although not much of it is brave enough to get near with Little D and daft dog on the go.

It's feeling more like summer now, I never feel summery until the solstice is here. So now let the summer commence! I'm hoping for many more BBQ's, trips to the beach, fun at Nana's, (what the kids call my Mum) Camping out, picnic's, and taking lots of photo's! I'm hoping to get more sewing done, but in the heat it's a nightmare dragging the sewing machine and everything out. I don't have room for a sewing space just for me, so it's all dragged out to the dining table, which is used every day. It seems a lot of effort when it's hot. But i hope I'll find my motivation and mojo soon. Have so many ideas floating around my head.

What are your hopes, dreams, plans for the summer?

Sal. X

Feeling more positive!

Yesterday I was feeling really low. As if it wasn't obvious! With all my health issues culminating and feeling like I just couldn't win, everything got on top of me and I cracked just a little. I chased kids outside and upstairs then I cried my eyes out. Called my Mum, she calmed me down. Afterwards I felt incredibly embarrassed as always.

But today, my wonderful OH has taken the day off work to give me a little break, he has taken Little D for a walk. I spoke to a dentist online, I now have a plan of action and feel as if I can and Iam doing something to help myself.

I didn't get any sewing done last night. I was too drained after the crying. I did get some fabric samples in the post today though, I plan on making some personalised bunting for a friends baby who was born recently. It'll make a nice change making something pink and girly. I really need to be getting on with some more bags too.

My Mum and sister have insisted I take some time out with them, by the sea this weekend. So I'm looking forward to that. Home on Sunday to spoil OH for Fathers day. I might make some of the oat cookies he and my Dad like so much for them both.

Anyway, best go. I'm going to take full advantage of Little D being out of the house and get some cleaning done.