Sad news

I was sad to hear the news that author Elspeth Thompson died on Thursday 25th March. I have her wonderful books and loved reading her beautifully written blogs.

Where did that week go?

The week just flew by, where did it go? I am trying to catch up with all your lovely blogs and leave some comments.

I had two lovely parcels delivered this week. I received a lovely English Gardens Magazine and card from Diane and a beautiful tulip mug from Rosie. Thank you both, I love Blog world!

Today we went to a friends surprise 40th birthday party.

It was so lovely to catch up with some old friends and find out what everyone has been up to. It was held at an Italian restaurant, on the way out we saw the van that belonged to the owner. It had this sign on the side.

I plan to spend the day in the garden tomorrow. It is in such need of a good tidy up and I have to get my spuds in!

Sunny Sunday

After yesterday, today was a lovely day.

On Saturday I moped around not being able to settle to anything. In the end I decided to to make a nest and some eggs for Easter.

The nest is a little bowl in single crochet.

I made the eggs by needle felting.

I decided to photo them out in the garden this morning. The trunk on our old apple tree has it's own mini-garden growing on it.

The lichen is so beautiful don't you think?

There are lots of different types, I don't know the names of them I am afraid.

Spring must be here, the frogs were making an awful racket last night and look what I found in our pond...

....frogspawn.

It was such a lovely day we decided to go out for the day.

We drove down the M62 towards Liverpool. We parked in Falkner Street in the heart of Liverpool's Georgian quarter with it's cobbled streets and wonderful Georgian terraces.

We went to the Anglican Cathedral

It is the largest cathedral in the UK and very impressive.


The foundation stone was laid by King Edward VII in 1904 and completed in 1978! although services have been held in the cathedral from 1940.

Then we went down Rodney Street.

To no. 59 Rodney Street.No. 59 was the Studio and home of photographer Edward Chambre Hardman. (now owned by the National Trust)
You are allowed to take photos inside but without the flash so some may be a bit blurred.

In the waiting room it was the best furniture and furnishings. Samples of photographs, mounts and frames were laid out for you to choose from.
There is even a little sign telling the ladies how to do their make-up ready for the photo shoot.

After you have dressed in your best and applied the make-up you go upstairs to the studio. The props are arranged, the huge cameras are set up and the lights switched on.

In one of the rooms upstairs, in what was a store room is a changing exhibition. At the moment it is all about Mrs Margaret Hardman, her clothes, make-up, letters, shoes, bags, even her school uniform.

Mr and Mrs Hardman did not have any children and both lived and worked at no.59. The public rooms were orderly but their private rooms were cluttered as neither would throw anything away. The above photo is a corner of their tiny sitting room, complete with nylons hanging to dry.

Their bedroom had one wardrobe full of her clothes and about 10 old suitcases where he kept his clothes.

But the best was their kitchen, I loved it!

Below is one of his most famous photographs. The Ark Royal

You can buy prints of their work here.

rain, rain......

.......go away!

We have had some lovely sunny days this week and wouldn't you know it, the weekend arrives and it's not stopped raining!

So I thought I would show you some sunshine currently shinning in our dining room.

I was feeling down this week and hubby brought me some tulips home. I do love him!

I needed to cheer myself up but could't turn to chocolate or cake (because of the fat content-long story!) so a friend at work gave me this recipe-

FAT FREE FRUIT CAKE

8oz self raising flour

3oz brown sugar

12oz sultanas

1 and a half teaspoons of mixed spice

1 and a half teaspoons of cinnamon

10 fl oz milk

Mix all the dry ingredients together, then add milk and stir well.

place in a loaf tin which has been greased and dusted with flour. Bake at 150 degrees/gas mark 2 for 1 hour 10 minutes.

Now it's NOT a light cake and it is very fruity. It's sweet and just a small piece will satisfy with a cup of tea!

Taking small steps

This week I have been taking small steps, I was unwell again last Sunday and although it was not as painful as the week before I need to try and get my pain relief sorted. But I don't want to ramble on about illness and pain...............Spring is here!

I just can't get enough of these iris! and when I came home today there was the biggest bumble bee ever on the crocus in the garden.

It was such a lovely sunny day.

On Sunday it was mothers day and I finally finished something I started ages ago to give to my mum.

It was a collage with an image of my mum on the fabric (Dylon Image maker) and lace, beads, embroidery and a bow all in a box frame.

I enjoyed it and plan to do some more. Oh she loved it by the way!

I also had a lovey prize through the post from the very generous Simone. I won one of the crochet jar covers, in her give-a-way,

The colours go perfect with a large flowered primula I have. The jar cover slipped over the very plain cream coloured pot I had, perfect fit, Thank you Simone!

I'm back!

Hello I am back!

Thank you so much for all your get well wishes!

I feel loads better, still have to get it sorted but I am well on the mend thank you.

So back to normal life, I went back into work on Wednesday and it has been busy since.

Sunday (before I was struck down) was lovely.

We had a lovely walk late in the afternoon. The sky was so blue.

I made a book cover for my friends little girl. She was 11 and a bit of a tom-boy so not into pink and flowers.

It is an A5 notebook and the cover is a plain calico. the letters and circles were cut up thick printed cotton. Some of them were some bargain tea towels picked up last year.

Today it was a bit rainy but the sun started to come out as I drove home. I had to stop to take this photo, the dark clouds behind the hills with the sun shining on them was stunning.

as you can see there is still a little snow around over the tops.

These are my miniature iris I planted in an old tomato box.

I did come home to find a dead mouse in the hall today- but I couldn't stay angry with her for long-


I have put a new picture on my emporium blog. Pop over to take a look. Also thank you Jackie for help with my queries about my blog comments.
Also I have been trying to reply to people's comments but some times I can't, please believe me when I say I read and appreciate every single comment that is posted on my blog and If you need to you can always email me by going through to my profile and I promise I will reply.

under the weather

Had such a lovely Sunday (will post about it another time).

Felt awful at 2.30am Monday morning, won't go into detail!

Doctors on Monday morning with a diagnosis, some strong painkillers and a referal o investigations at hospital. Stayed off work today too but mean to go in tomorrow. So sorry for not visiting your blogs but don't feel fantastic. Just about managed this one. Will see you later in the week.