Weekend Joy Givers

My beautiful Jessica who has just turned 11 and now wishes to be called Jess.

Devoted Sisters Jess and Em.

Just Gorgeous.

Crazy Child, so glad she is so crazy and funny.

This time last year she was on dialysis.

God is Good.

We are So Blessed.

Saturday

Saturday with two delightful children is a JOY. Simple pleasure, simple pastimes, children's laughter and conversation. Takes me back to my childhood and my children's childhood. I love days like this. I am such a lucky grandma.

Japan Eathquake and Tsunami

The power of nature is awesome and makes us realise how weak and small we humans are. After watching the news reports from Japan I am astounded at the power of water. I am full of admiration for the Japanese people. The strength of character and dignity they are displaying is amazing. 
God Bless and help them in the days to come.

Rainbows

When ever I see a rainbow, I always know my mother is around me.  When ever I am worried about something or in a stressful situation, quite often a rainbow will appear.  As two did the day I heard she had passed away.  I  was 350 miles from home when the phone call came.  Her death came as a complete shock, totally unexpected. I went down to the waters edge on a clear bright May afternoon.

There was a sudden sun shower and then the two most glorious rainbows appeared over the island of Bute.  I knew straight away it was a sign from my mother that she was at peace. Since then when I have needed reassurance, a rainbow will appear, not every time, but quite often. 

Today was one of those days. After weeks of worry and being downright scared, Ralph had an appointment at the hospital for the results of an MRI scan on his head.  His headaches have been getting worse and his vision playing up too. We have both been coping with the worry in our own ways, but nor talking about it to each other.  Today driving to the hospital and in the waiting room, he was very quiet.

After three hours seeing nurses and consultants we found that the problem is.........

He has got a SQUINT.

His left eye is slightly lower than his right eye, so the eye and the muscles on the left side of his head have been working hard to keep in balance with his right eye. Therefore causing the pain and the double vision and kaleidoscopic effects he has been getting.  He has to have an operation sometime in the next ten weeks and hopefully the headaches etc will cease.

So my mother sent a sign that all is well and not to worry with a beautiful rainbow.

This is why I have been a little subdued lately.

But now I am polishing my rainbow and dancing.

I'm a Believer.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  The six weeks leading up to the most solemn and the most joyful occasion in the Christian calendar. I am going to be using this coming six weeks to examine my relationship with God.

I am a "lapsed catholic" and I have issues. At this stage of my life I feel the need to examine, my beliefs, my conscience, my aspirations. This is going to bring up some painful stuff that is for sure. There are family issue's, religious issues, personal agonising, personal doubts, personal history.

What I do not have is doubts about the living Christ. I believe in Him wholeheartedly, I just need to know He believes in me.  So I am setting off on a journey tomorrow, a journey I hope will bring me everlasting peace and JOY in knowing God loves ME.

Good Times

We had a lovely afternoon in Liverpool today. I needed to visit a special bookshop there, so we went after I finished work. It was a cold but bright day. We enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the city, visiting a few of our favourite shops and cafe's, taking photo's along the way.

As the sun was setting we were beside the river yet again I felt the emotional pull of this fabulous city of my birth.The new Liverpool Wheel looks stunning as it glows int the darkness.My favourite picture of the day, my darling looking out across the Mersey.  Two of my loves together.

A Little Bunch of Sunshine

My first bunch off daff's of the year, they brighten up even the dullest of days.

Note To Self

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.

Muhammad Ali



Tulips

I visited a friend last week and she had a bunch of Tulips on her dining table. She started to apologise as they had "gone over".

I strongly disagreed with her. I think they are beautiful when they are fully open.
They are very pretty when closed but when the are fully open they are stunning.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands several years ago and so enjoyed the rainbow of tulips they have there, fields and fields if colour. I must take my dear husband there sometime soon.

Do what makes you happy today.

Joyful Little Flowers

Don't you just love Snowdrops? Such brave little flowers. 

The first to poke through the hard cold earth in the depth of winter.

I took these photo's in my mother in law's garden at the weekend.

They are such an inspiration to me.

If these little beauties can fight their way through the cold Scottish earth.

I can fight my way out of this malaise I find myself in at the moment.

Bonnie Scotland Here We Come

Off to the ancestral home for the weekend.

Have a good weekend me dear one's.

Blog Fatigue

Blog Fatigue has hit me good style, I am enjoying blog hopping, but as for writing I am all blogged out. I have noticed I have lost a couple of followers and that tells me I am a boring blogger too. So until I get my mojo back I am going to relax and just enjoy blog hopping. Maybe in a week or two, Spring will give me something to blog about.

Big Hugs Beautiful Blog Friends.

Looks Like a Great Weekend

Today after I finish work at 1:30, it is a quick dash home, changed and out.  Ralph and I are visiting with Marie and Todd again.  Marie and I are going to have as she put it, some "Betty and Wilma Time" that makes me giggle.

Then tomorrow my Bezzy Trish will arrive for another weekend of ScrapHappy up at Crabapple Crafts. Lots of nattering and laughing on the menu this weekend.

Then on Sunday evening I am hoping my gorgeous granddaughter Jessica can come round to finish off her party invitations.  There is not much more to do with them and she needs to had them out in school on Monday.

So it looks like a fun filled weekend for me, with people who lift me up, make me smile, give me JOY.

I AM A VERY LUCKY LADY!!!!

LOVE

A Valentine for My Valentine.

I shared it on my playing blog with the FaBulouS WOYWW ladies over at Julia's Blog.

Hope you like it.

Love and Roses

“A relationship is like a rose, How long it lasts, no one knows.

Love can erase an awful past, love can be yours, you'll see at last.

To feel that love, it makes you sigh,

To have it leave, you'd rather die.

You hope you've found that special rose,

'cause you love and care for the one you chose.”

Happy Valentines Day

 With Big Love from Mr and Mrs White

Mrs White is so happy to be Mrs White.

Ah Well......

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad


I have just had a disappointment.......

I thought it was Friday, but it is still Wednesday.......

I suppose I could say I have gained a day.......

I Need This Tattooed On My Brain....

With every experience, you alone are painting your own canvas, thought by thought, choice by choice.     Oprah

 

Where is My Sleep?

For three weeks I have slept really well, but last night and tonight sleep has deserted me.
I thought I had broken the pattern that caused the insomnia. I began reading at bedtime, for the first time since Ralph and I got together. It felt so weird reading in bed after such  break. but it worked, the cobwebs came each night after reading a couple of chapters and I was asleep almost as soon as the bedside light went off. I slept right through the night and it was FABULOUS. So why has it changed again? I was in bed at 11pm and now it is 1:47am and I am wide awake:(

Fed up now......

500

This is my 500th post.

This is me baring all.

I am a:

Wife

Mother

Mother-in-law

Grandmother

Daughter-in-law

Sister

Sister-in-law

Stepmother

Aunt

Niece

Cousin

Friend

Colleague

Employee

Pet Lover

Ex-Wife

Dreamer

Planner

Listener

Believer

Procrastinator

Seeker

Student

Teacher

Blogger

Follower

Fan

Crafter

Reader

Former Yoyo Dieter

Present Weight Struggler

Future Healthy Eater

That's Me in a Nutshell

Relaxing

Saturday afternoon, chilling with my man, can't be bad can it?
Spent the morning up at Crabapple for a coffee morning, very nice it was too despite Rosemary's lack of voice.
Came back full of idea's.

This week has been very social for me. it is either a feast of a famine when it comes to socialising with me.  I don't go out for weeks then it is three nights in a row.  This happened this week.

Tuesday I went over to Chester to meet one of my very favourite bloggers Marie.  She had a Pampered Chef party and I really enjoyed it, ordered a couple or few things;)  but didn't really get much time with Marie, which was a shame.  She did however show me some of her delightful drawings for a big project she has on the go. I cannot wait for it all to come together.  We will be getting together soon though and I am looking forward enjoying some of her cooking:)

Wednesday night I was round at my daughters for a natter, that is always great.
Thursday night was Curry night with Norma, Jean, Lorraine and Ann, always a good night, especially when Ann gets tiddly.

Yesterday my gorgeous Emily came to to some scrap booking and was supposed to stay over.  But at 7:30pm the tears started and she wanted her mummy. Since she was ill she will not sleep over anywhere, we thought she was making progress when she agreed to stay last night, but alas it was not to be. The problem is, we are taking Emily, Jessica and Jazmine on holiday in June and we need to get her  into a different mindset before then.  Has anyone out there got any idea's for encouraging her?  I would be grateful for any realistic thoughts.

Well I am off to enjoy the rest of the weekend with Ralph, hope you have a good one.

Off To Meet Another Blogger Friend Tonight....

I am going to meet the lovely Marie tonight, she is hosting a Pampered Chef party.  I have heard of Pampered Chef but not been to a party so I am looking forward to it on both counts.
I really enjoy getting to know people out there in Blogland, meeting them face to face is a real thrill for me.
I better make sure I have got my camera with me. I will report back tomorrow:)

Fab Weekend

I have had a brilliant weekend, with two of my most favourite people in the world.
My Trish and My Ralph, they are both wonderful people and I so enjoy being both of them.
Scrapbooking up at Crabapple was great, we had a laugh or two or maybe more..lol
Then we went to Pizza Hut then to see "The Kings Speech" Excellent film.
Today after an American breakfast, it was back to Crabapple for more fun.

Now I am sat of the sofa with my man, watching Dancing on Ice, totally relaxed after a Fab Weekend

Weekend With My Bezzy

I am thrilled at the thought, my darling Trish will be arriving tomorrow for a weekend of fun.
We are going to Scrappy Happy up at Crabapple Crafts. I have printed off 90 photo's of the 2,500 we took of our holiday;)  This morning will be sorting my papers, ribbons and embellishment's. It is a long time since I have had dedicated scrapping time for me, I have had scrapping days for my lovely granddaughters but not done any for me.  Can't wait:)

Sigh.....

I have been getting some photo's ready for a scrapbooking weekend with Trish up at Crabapple.
Here are some I have chosen so far.

 

Guess where I would like to be right now?










Spot the difference yesterday, was my eyes. No Chris I cannot wear contact's:) they are my own lol.

Spot The Difference

Can You?

Cuddly or Fat?

Fat Bear or Fat She?

This is how I see me at the moment.

I am looking for inspiration....

Again..............

Enough is Enough Sheilagh!!!

You know that three pounds I lost last week?
I found them again this morning!!
I weigh 224 pounds and 54 of them are not welcome here.
You have heard it all before...I am tired all the time, sluggish, bloated, old and decrepit.
So although I do not want to "diet"  I need to change my diet, my attitude, my plan's.
I have weighed and measured myself, oh yuck:(
I have dusted of the Wii, do you know it is 89 days since I last used it?
We now have the Wii and the Xbox Kinect, so between them they may whip me into shape.
As well as the gym membership that Ralph pays for each month that has not been used for 6 months!!
I have go to get back on track.......
Apart from that, we have had a lovely weekend.
Hope you did to:)

Bring It On...

The weekend that is.....

We were going to Scotland this weekend, but a mixture of the weather and Swine flu has changed our plan's. Snow in Scotland and Swine flu on the increase, Ralph is the only member of shift to be still working. The rest of the guys are off with the flu.  So we are not going to take the risk on taking it up to Scotland and passing it on to Ralph's mum.

Instead we are going to spend the weekend doing fun things. 
Don't know what yet, it all depends on the weather, the forecast is for rain:(
But I am sure we can find something to do undercover.

Have a Great Weekend.

Special Friends Special Gifts

We were out having fun with Jaz on Saturday when the postman tried to deliver a package.
He left a card to say it wouldn't fit through the letterbox. So after work on Monday,I trotted off to the sorting office to pick up the package.  What a delightful surprise, a box of goodies from Maine, I was tickled pink.

They were addressed to Ralph and myself, so I couldn't open them until he came home.

It drove me crazy but I had to be good.

As soon as he got home we opened them and were were delighted with the memories of a wonderful holiday, they came rushing back, by the dozen.

Maine Maple syrup..mmmmmmmmmmmm

Wild Maine Blueberry Jam mmmmmmmmmmmmm

A Lobster Lolly mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

and

A Lovely little pillow/sachet of Balsam Fir Incense.

Ralph wanted to have the maple syrup straight away on waffles.

I wouldn't let him until I sent thanks to the lovelyy sender.

Thank you Kathleen and Lyle, we are both  touched by your kindness.

You have had us looking through the holiday photo's again.

Reliving great memories of fabulous place's and wonderful people.

I still haven't let Ralph have any maple syrup, I am wicked...lol

I have decide as a treat we are going to have an American breakfast on Sunday

and will toast distant friends and fabulous times.

WOYWW2

I am late, such a busy day...

I thought I might share some photo's of my finished craft shed.

This is what is on my workdesk at the moment.

I am finally having fun in there.

Pop over to Julia's to check out some great workspace's.