Friday 2nd of January

We spent most of today at the dog rescue kennels where most of you will remember we do volunteer work.  Simon works with the dogs,  playing, training, grooming etc.    These are some of the dogs that he had out today.

This is Tess.  She is a Rottweiler and is 5 years old.  She has been with us most of her life.  Sadly, many people do not like Rotties.  

This is Luca, he is an 11 month old Weimaraner cross.   He has only been with us a few weeks and is severely malnourished and very timid.  Simon has gained his trust.

This is Zeus another Rottie.  He is 6 years old and has been with us a very long time.  He gets over looked time and time again because of his size.  He is BIG!  He is also a soppy baby.   Gentle as can be. 

This is Beanie with Tash, one of the kennel maids.  Beanie is a 2 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier and he is a really sweetie.  He has not had a good start.

This is just a small selection of the dogs that are currently in the care of Three Counties Dog Rescue.

If you would like to find out more  then please click here. 3CDR

We also have a Facebook page.  3CDR Facebook

1st January 2015

January First 2015. A Happy New Year to everyone. What did you all do today with this first day of the year? Did you all stay up to see the old year out?

New Year has never been that important to Simon and I. It is after all just another date in the calender. A marker of time passing.

We did stay up, but not especially. We are always late to bed in school holiday time. That will all change next week with Simon back to school. (Work!) We were both busy on our lap tops but we did stop about 10 minutes before midnight. We both had a drink and we raised a toast to my Mum and Dad as Big Ben struck the midnight hour and the new year officially begun. I did shed some tears. It is hard not too, but I pulled myself together quick sharp.

We watched the firework celebrations on the banks of the Thames in London. I really don't like fireworks as a rule; I find them pretty “samey” If you have seen one, well you’ve seen them all. Hate the noise of them too. That said the display last night was pretty spectacular. I was happy to be watching it on the TV though. It would be one of my worst nightmares to be there in amongst all those crowds.

We went to bed shortly afterwards but I couldn't sleep so I read back through my old blog entries. Right the way back to 2012. It was lovely to be reminded of the good times as well as the hard ones.

I was very interested to read last years “Goals”. I call them goals you may call them resolutions. I had 5 and I relist them below. Only one had any measure of success.

Lose some weight, improve health and fitness. LMAO. If anything, I probably added more pounds.

Find new ways to raise funds for 3CDR. I had some measure of success here. Myself and Coralie organised a quiz evening in September which raised £700. We are now also collecting used postage stamps although it remains to be seen what money we will get for them.

Double my Etsy sales. I did increase sales over last year but not double. It was helped by selling the little Tibetan silver charms.

Learn how to use camera properly and improve photos. Never even looked in the camera manual and my photography skills are still poor.

Try out a new craft each month. Started knitting in January and, well you know the rest.

So “goals” for this year? Just one. My goal is to do more of what makes me happy.

We did that today. We had a little tip out to Peterborough to go to Hobby Craft. I wanted a few bits for some new crafts. I have the best husband. He patiently followed me around carrying the basket.

Do you set goals for yourself? Were you successful in your 2014 goals.

Hopefully, I will get my blogging mojo back this year and will keep you up to date with everything that is making me happy.

Bring on 2015.

PS.  "A goal without a plan is only a wish".

My Wish for you all

I wish you enough love in your heart, and enough communion with your soul.

I wish you enough light to illuminate your lessons, and enough dark to integrate your wisdom.

I wish you enough giving to open your heart, and enough receiving to bring you home.

I wish you enough activity to sharpen your mind and strengthen your body, and enough rest to bring you peace.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright, no matter how grey the day.
I wish you enough rain to nourish your garden and to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough gentle wind to lift your hair and your dreams

I wish you enough storms to clear away the old and make room for the new.

I wish you enough dirt to grow your herbs and flowers and to keep your feet firmly on the ground.

I wish you enough clouds in the sky to inspire you to reach beyond them.

I wish you enough birds in flight to delight your eyes and enough birdsong to serenade your ears.

I wish you enough kisses and cuddles with children and animals to bring you simple joy.

I wish you enough friendship to remind you that you are not alone.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and ever lasting.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough starlight to inspire your imagination and enough moonlight to stir your soul.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

I wish you ENOUGH.

31st December 2014

Remember me? Hopefully there are still a few of you around that do. It is 11 months since I have written a blog. I started 2014 with such very good intentions. I even managed a photo a day through January. I also began a Fabrilushus blog where I was blogging about knitting. I intended to try out a new craft each month. I was looking ahead to a good year.

Sadly it all went wrong at the beginning of February when my dear Dad suffered a very bad stroke. He was in the Lister hospital and initially we had hope that he would recover and go home. Sadly it never happened. He went to a rehabilitation place in Old Welwyn but they were never able to even begin helping him as he was ill from the moment he arrived. He was moved back to the Lister hospital on the 17^th of March and he died 2 days later on the 19^th of March.

As dying goes it was the best. He was not in pain and he was aware what was happening. In fact he actively chose it. He refused treatment. They told him he would die that day and asked if that was what he wanted. He told them yes. They asked my sister and I if we agreed and we said yes, it was what he wanted. He was ready and wanted to be with Mum.

He had pretty much his entire family around him including his year old great grandson, Jackson sitting on the bed. When we asked him if he could feel Jackson touching his hand he nodded his head, yes. I am so grateful that he knew we were all there.

It was the worst day of my life.

Since then the year has gone on without him and I have found it hard. I miss him so much it is hard to even describe.

In a lot of respects I am feeling sad tonight because tomorrow is a new year and a part of me doesn't want to be in a year that he will not be a part of. On the other hand, I am glad to see the back of 2014 as it was such a sad time for me.

I know he is up there somewhere with Mum and that they are watching over us all. He is probably saying pull yourself together, get yourself a drink and toast the new year.

In an hours time I shall do just that, except I shall raise a toast to both of them and thank them for being the best parents I could wish for.

Tomorrow is a new day and I shall pick myself up and go on.

Photo 365 - 33

Sunday 2nd February,  I had a custom order from a lady in Merika for a St Patrick's day hanging heart.  The same lady has previously purchased a Valentines heart.

This was what I made for her this afternoon.

Prompt-A-Day

Well I have managed to get through January with a photo a day but to be honest I am still struggling to get back to daily blogging.  A friend of mine has just started to join in with something called “Prompt-a-day”.  It is very similar to my old daily photo themes.  The idea is that a prompt is given for each day and you then run with that and write something on that theme.  Obviously everyone will interpret it differently. 

Should you wish to join in you can find a list of Februarys prompts here: http://writealm.com/february-prompt-a-day/

You will also be able to see in the comments the links to other participants blogs.

The prompt for today is: 1. First things first.

I pride myself on being a very organised person.  I like to plan ahead.  So for me no matter what I am doing, or thinking, or planning, my “first things first” is a list.  Yes, I am a list maker.  I think you either are or you aren’t but for me I need a list.

I have lots.  I have a list of household chores, daily, weekly and monthly.  I have lists of menu ideas and of course a shopping list.  Is there anyone who can shop without a list? I have lists of birthdays and present ideas.  Lists of things I want to do, lists of things to make, places I want to visit……..The lists go on and on!

The reason a list is my “first things first” is I very much doubt that I would ever get started on anything without one.   I like order and structure in life.  I don’t like the unexpected.

So with that in mind, I am copying and pasting the list of February’s daily prompts.   I very much hope to be able to join in with some of these.

My friend Jane who has bought this to my attention wrote her post on Tea.  It is interesting especially as she has a link to information about the social history of tea drinking.  You can see it here.  Writing and stuff.

Photo 365 - 32

1st February 2014. It's Saturday so it was a kennel day.  This is Obi.

Photo 363 -31

I have been messing around playing with some photos today. I have taken a whole lot of photos of some baby dribble bibs / bandannas.  One that I made was in a turquoise colour.  It is an Amy Butler fabric.

 

I have changed it into this.  I like it. Maybe this is a way to get a unique fabric.  Play around with Adobe effects and then get your "new" design printed on to fabric!!

Photo 365 -30

Today was Simon's day off this week and we went to the kennels for a few hours this morning.  The people who are having little Jack came to visit again.  They are having some work done on their garden fencing so can't actually have Jack for another week.

You have already seen a photo of Jack so I am showing you Chrissie. She has just gone into a foster home.

Photo 365 - 29

A quick one for today as I have been busy with little one.

Jilly

Photo 365 - 28

I'm still knitting! I have now completed 10 garter stitch squares so a blanket for Loulou might be a possibility eventually.  More exciting than squares I am now knitting with the lovely chunky wool on very big chunky needles.  Both new experiences for me.

I have already completed half of a mitten and the headband. I am waiting for some big eyed sewing needles that I have ordered so that I can stitch the headband together.  I am also waiting on a visit from Denise to show me how to pick up the stitches around the thumb on the mitten so that I can finish it.  I have never had to do that before and although I think I might have it straight in my head, I am not sure and don't want to mess it up.

So today, while I am waiting, I started on the cowl.  I think it is about half way there as it has to measure 20 inches in total.  I am really pleased with it so far although the loose edge bothers me slightly.  The wool is gorgeously soft and because the pattern has rows that are sort of open with big loops I think it will be very warm.

Photo 365 - 27

This is one photo that speaks for itself.  Our boy is home.