WOYWW 767

 Here we are all again, our little happy band of WOYWW crafters.  One of the nicest groups of people I know.  If you feel like joining in all you need do is show us what your desk is like.  It doesn't even have to be a desk, it can be a table, the floor, a lap tray or, in my case, the arm of a chair.

Yes, I am still not crafting and I am not getting on very fast with my crochet.  The main reason is that I am falling asleep the whole time.  Even if I have a good night's sleep I drift off during the day as well.  I did some reasonable chains last week, was happy with my tension but kept on trying to improve.  This week my chains have not been that good, my reasonable tension has up and gone.  However, I have progressed in that I learned how to turn a corner and do a second row.  Now don't laugh

I am never going to be like the Lynne's of this world or any of our other crochet ladies.  But I am going to persist.

On the health front I finished my two courses of antibiotics and the nurse (and I) were absolutely delighted, over the moon in fact, with my knee yesterday at clinic.  It has started to clean up at last thanks to the second course of antibiotics and the type of dressing they use on the open wound each time I go to clinic.  Those District Nurses are worth their weight in gold.

Remember the cutaneous horn I had removed before Christmas?  Well, I started treatment on the site it had been removed from and my three weeks finish today.  Tonight will be the last application of the Efudix - hurrah!

So all is working well at the moment.  I might even do a bit of paper crafting one day soon.  Pretty basic as I can't bend my knee so it will have to be done on my lap as what I do.

Hope you all are having a lovely Valentine's Day if you celebrate it;  and if you are single, hope you got a load of cards from all your secret admirers. Ever practical I bought my other half a new Pinch of Nom cookbook.  He needs some new recipes to try out on me.  Now where did he put that package last week?

WOYWW 766

Today's nurse was one I have seen before and she said she could see a slight improvement on what she saw just over a week ago so that was good news.  Another week and my crochet has not proceeded as quickly as I first thought but I am hoping to get the tension right before I proceed with anything else.  So its chain, chain, chain.

So again there is nothing on my desk.  I am sleeping most of the time and find myself replying to an email or message and dropping off, waking to find a row of "c's" or some other letter as my finger has hit the key.  So that has kept me busy.

Healing has been helped with more antibiotics following an emergency dash from the District Nurses to my GP.  That was last Friday and it was the DN who rang the surgery to get an emergency face to face appointment.  The receptionist at the other end asked if I could make it within 25 minutes and I said I could only try, but it would be a push.  The DN's practically pushed me out quickly.

Well, teatime traffic going through the centre of town meant nothing but jams and it got to five minutes away from the appointment so being the considerate person I am (really am most of the time and certainly in situations like this) I decided to ring the surgery to explain the situation.  Do these receptionists get training by 'Adolf'?  I got a right ticking off and told how if I was late it would throw every other appointment out of line.  "I know that, I am not stupid and we are doing our best".

Arriving in the surgery only 5 minutes late I was surprised to find the place empty apart from the cleaners working down one of the corridors.  'Adolf' nowhere to be seen but then which receptionist it was I had no idea anyway.  Thank goodness the Advanced Practitioner Nurse (who was ex casualty/lovely) on seeng the photos said I needed more antibiotics and so she extended the Flucloxicillin and gave me Clarithromycin 500mg which works alongside it.

On a brighter note Chas made the stove top "mac n' cheese" again and this time it was delicious.  When asked he said it was easy to make and he was willing to do it again.  I think, even when this is all over, this will be one meal I can rely on him to make.  Anyone want the recipe for their WOYWW husband just shout.

Well as I can't show you a desk here's some flowers on the coffee table which I look at each day.  On the left from my son and his wife and the two rose bouquets are from dear friends.

Hopefully a bit of crafting next week

WOYWW 765

 Determined not to miss a post since joining WOYWW I am sat here in my chair with my leg in the air and my lap top balanced precariously on my lap.  I thought  I would make a start on my non existent desk.

Things are not progressing with the knee injury (bag of peas on it at moment) as hoped and on Saturday it was so bad they could not even see the stitches to take them out.  I was convinced there was one left in. Yesterday morning a new nurse found the stitch, it is now out.  It is infected so Saturday a doctor was called and he has put me on a strong dose of penicillin.  Fingers crossed and all prayers welcome.

The ribs are just the same and the mouth infection ever so slightly better today maybe.  Gosh I sound a whinge bag don't I? Sorry.  Nurse told me, this morning ribs flap about and then get sticky and start to stick to one another.  Roll on sticky ribs.

Anyway, life has been just a case of sitting in my chair 24/7, toilet trips and District nurse visits only, watching tv and falling asleep.  We did binge watch "After the Flood" enjoying watching as it was set in the next town to us, well part of it was there so it was a 'spot the building' but we didn't see much truth be told.

I am missing my paper crafting and despite sending for some of Lavinia's new stamps I don't know when they will get used.  Mind you, when they come I can enjoy looking and stroking them.  Just think, when I can sit down properly I will be able to get them catalogued and start using them.  Given another couple of days if the knee starts to feel better I might be able to do some colouring with my pencil crayons or even my watercolour ones.

Well, I am trying out a new hobby.  I can't imagine knitting with these ribs as I like needles to tuck under my arms so short needles are crochet hooks.  Aren't they?  I did once (and only once) crochet a mat.  So, rather than try with cotton I am setting off on my new adventure with wool in my old age.  Keep fingers crossed I manage something other than chain.  Got to get my tension right so this has been pulled back time and time again.  Tonight a chain - Next week a square?  

Jeudi Journal - Oreos

 Now I must confess that these biscuits do nothing at all for me.  Oreos are a cream biscuit but the biscuit itself is black.  Give me a Bourbon or a Custard Cream any time.  However, our quote from Time Holtz this week is "Cleaning with children in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos."  Who on earth would brush their teeth whilst eating any biscuit ... but Oreos??

"We are back with the cat family and Mrs Cat is tearing her hair out, it's the end of the Christmas holiday and the children are "wild".  Tom, her husband is bringing some clients home for dinner so the place needs to be spick and span and the children on best behaviour and ready for bed when 'pop' arrives home.  She realises that they need to tire themselves out so that they will go to bed and hopefully sleep but how the dickens is she supposed to get the house sorted - and dinner made?  What she really needs is a fairy with a magic wand.  Well, that isn't going to happen so she needs to make a cuppa, sit down and plan what move is next.

Mrs Cat goes off into the kitchen, puts the kettle on and makes herself a nice cup of tea, then sinking down into a favourite armchair, just for a moment's calm, she allows her eyes to close for a moment.  Or so she thinks.

"What's that bright light" she asks herself.  "It can't be, surely not, there's no such thing as a fairy" she says out loud.  But sure enough there is a little fairy hovering above her, wand poised and a twinkling of stars around her.

"Can I be of help?" the fairy enquires.  "You seem to be ever so stressed, and the children are having a wonderful time next door, is the noise too much for you?"

"N n n no" stammers Mrs Cat, "I was cleaning up, you see my husband is bringing some important guests home and the children are so full of energy I can't get on.  Cleaning with children in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos."

"Would you like me to help you?" asked the fairy.

"If you could it would be wonderful" Mrs Cat replied.  And with that the fairy gave two shakes of her wand and the room was immediately transformed.  All the children's toys had been put away and it was so much tidier.

"Thank you" said Mrs Cat, and she stood up, but the fairy had vanished.  "So it was just a dream" thought Mrs Cat.  I'm no closer to being ready and I don't know what to do.  With that she walked into the other room to find that it was, indeed, much tidier.  The children were nowhere to be seen and there was a wonderful smell coming from the oven.  Just then the kitchen door opened and in walked Grandma Cat.

"Hello my dear" she said.  "Feeling better for that sleep?  You work so hard you know. We've got the little ones to tidy their toys away and Grandad has taken the kiddies off to play in the park and I've started that casserole you love.  Tabby said that you were making it for some special people tonight."

"Oh Mum, I do love you.  What a saint you are, coming along at the right moment and saving me like this."

"That's what mum's are for" replied Grandma Cat.  "Now come on, we have the table to set and I've brought a lovely dessert for you all to enjoy."

The background was made using Oxides on an acrylic background, spritzing and transferring to the page.   I used all pale colours, Spun Sugar, Milled Lavender etc.  Accessories are from Aall & Create, the fairy is unknown, but the cat figures are Dylusions.

My thanks to Erika for the delightful challenge this month at Art Journal Journey, it was nice to be able to use our Jeudi Journal posting with it incorporated.

WOYWW 764

 Well, my desk hasn't changed since last week except what was on it last week has been kind of packed up.  Well, the journal is in the cover and other things are 'parked'.  As some of you know I had a bit of a fall last week and spent most of the day in the hospital where it was found I had broken ribs and I had an almighty gash right across the middle of my knee.  Both were x rayed because the doctor (a wee Scottish lassie who was the sweetest person you could wish to meet, I landed lucky there) was worried there might be internal bleeding.

Anyway I got home and have been sat in a chair since then with my leg permanently up.  I have a sore throat at the moment and am hoping I am not coming down with an infection picked up in the hospital.  It was so busy, those poor doctors and nurses, but they were all nice.  (not so much the radiographer)

Anyway, we don't want to dwell on it so here is my desk.  Chas took the photo for me and it will probably remain like that for some time but I will get him to take shots of various parts for my WOYWW which is something I refuse to miss.    Hope you are all well and happy.

My old calendar (not going to get one done this year am I?), my handmade Christmas cards, a canvas that wants repainting and my mat that I sometimes stamp on.  Yes, those leaves I picked up in Preston are still there.  And my old guillotine just peeking in at the back.

Jeudi Journal - Revolution?

Sorry I am so late, had an accident Tuesday and I forgot to link.  Broken ribs and left knee is a bit of a mess. 

The quote this week, that I and Wendy have to marry up with Erika's theme at AJJ (It's on the Calendar) is "I don't mean to brag, but I finished my 14 day diet in 3 hours and 12 minutes".

"Imelda was one of life's "dieters", she'd tried them all, not that she was really overweight either.  Joining up with WeightWatchers, Slimming World, etc etc, and the hundred and one diets that you see online and in magazines.  The funniest one her friend had heard about was the 'banana diet' where Imelda had lived for a few days on nothing but bananas.  She had had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner - nothing else but bananas.  How many she ate in those few days is anyone's guess.  Patty was not surprised that diet had not lasted long. 

The friends had met up, as usual early in the year to have a chat about family, Christmas celebrations and life in general.  Patty was not at all surprised to hear that Imelda had been on another diet she had read about, since the Christmas eating fest that we are all guilty of.

"I don't mean to brag, but I finished my 14 day diet in 3 hours and 12 minutes" said Imelda, who was dressed up with the latest fashionable pixie hat on top of her head.  

"What you mean is that you gave up as per usual" replied Patty.  "Don't forget I have known you for years and been through so many diets with you, I know you inside out".

"Oh you can be so cruel" said Imelda, but even she had to grin, she knew exactly what she was like for dieting, and her husband had the same attitude as Patty so she had to admit, only inside her head, that she was the world's worse for dieting.  Perhaps one day .....

I started off with a page I had used the reverse stencil technique on and then I decided to give it a spray with some ink.  Big Mistake!  The ink completely covered most of the stencilling.  Plus it was very dark.  Anyway I stamped one or two little bits on it, gave it a squiggly border and added some calendar pieces plus some years to signify Imelda's struggles with dieting.  Erika's theme certainly helped me think up a story to go with the quote from Tim Holtz.

WOYWW 763

 Well, so many enquiries about sublimation last week - my friend put my Christmas card design on a mug for me and sent me a little video of it.  I will get the mug and the tumbler (when I have done the design) in February when we next meet up at the AGM at craft club.  Excited!  Look up sublimation in You Tube for a good video that explains it.  (Basically transferring pictures to things like pottery, fabric etc - no Jan, don't get excited it sounds quite expensive)

This is my mug

and my desk below

As you can see I have made a start on my new journal.  I just wanted to try out the Oxides and the Distress Inks on it but am disappointed with the paper.  It shows little white specks that won't cover,  and the edge of the page where there is a fold has started to peel off.  I think it is going to be a 'paint only' and 'collage' type of journal.  I was thinking I could maybe mask it off along the edge with some washi tape but I do like my Distress Inks for backgrounds so it's not good.

To the left you can just see a recipe book.  We have some friends coming over for a meal on Thursday so we are doing a curry night - this is a Bhoona Gosht recipe that we like.  (Bhoona means 'fry' and Gosht means 'meat').  We bought some starters and another meal from an Indian Shop in Preston centre.  I am not into making starters and the meals looked good so we are trying their Lamb Rogan Josh.  Was going shopping yesterday morning for some other bits but this was what I woke up to

Our Christmas tree has grown

the fence is 5' so you can see it is some size

and the snow was about 2" thick at 10 am when I took the photos

Because we live on the side of a hill we did get out much later but now I must get on with my 'bog standard curry' which is the third alternative.  See you back at WOYWW next week all being well.