Some more flower pics..

This is a picture of my clematis that is planted on Barney's grave, down in the herb garden. It is now in full bloom and is looking magnificant..


Here is a close up of one of the flowers from the clematis, its a lovely blue and has very unusual blooms..

This is the rose we bought for D's mum and dad's Golden Wedding anniversary next year. We are nurturing it till we can give it to them in April of next year.. It is a lovely yellow, and smells absolutely gorgeous..

A picture post..

This is my sweet dreams rose that sits out on the patio.

This is the frog that decided to hop up to the french doors the other night during the rain.
Doesn't he look sweet? He has been with us now for over 3 years and doesnt look like leaving.

This is a wild foxglove that just grew from nowhere. We have loads more growing from nowhere..

This is the clematis that is growing on my cat Barney's grave. We planted it last year fully grown, although I was worried it wouldn't grow this year, but it has flourished. And even flowered early..

This is a picture of my honeysuckle bush in full bloom this year. It grows every year without fail.

And this is the climbing rose that we planted for my other cat Pebbles that died back in our old house 14 years ago. We planted this white rose the summer we moved in this house.

My mood ~~

Hooked, line and sinker..

I have to confess.. I am totally hooked on the Big Brother eviction night programmes. I couldnt care less about the actual programme itself, but the highlights show, Dermie's BBLB and Russel Brand's BBBM programmes - well what can I say? I am sorry to say I even have to record them when there is something else on that clashes with it. Now that is truly sad..lol

Could this be the new illness, called Big Brotheritis.. Cos if it is I am sorry to say I have it. I never thought I would be so hooked on a show, or the show's offshoots but here I am. Everytime I see an eviction show and the person is evicted I can be seen jumping off the sofa and punching the air shouting "YES". I pity my neighbours..lol. Oh no wait they are probably watching it too as they have teenagers..lol


I even declined an invitation to go to the funfair tonight. Yep we have a funfair at the end of our road in the park..oh joy of joys this is. Its that time of the year when we have to turn our tv up so we can hear it above the noise of the rides etc.. Trouble is it makes me hungry as I can smell the hotdogs and candy in my garden.

Thankfully it is all over on Saturday and we can get back to being civilised.. Well as civilised as we can be till the "Saffron Fayre" in the village, when the pub goes mad and has tugs of war races, the baker cooks up some gorgeous Saffron cakes, and the Womens Institute come out in force..

So now I am going to get a cup of tea, curl up on the sofa and get ready for the next programme for Big Brother..

My horoscope - bit late but then never mind..lol

Funnily enough it wasnt exactly very exciting today..lol. So don't think today's horoscope is quite relevant. Oh well!!

The day after yesterday..

I think yesterday was a nono for me. I couldn't get myself out of a funk all day. I would be lying if I said that I didnt know the reason why as I do sadly.. What should have been a happy day for me was actually tinged with sadness, and not in a good way unfortunately.

Yesterday was my 17th wedding anniversary to D, and sadly it was also the day that J and I split up 2 years ago.

Its funny how you remember things isnt it? I remember the day I got married to D with such clarity - it was a hot day just like yesterday was. And I thought it was the happiest moment of my life saying my wedding vows to D, but with hindsight I suppose I was caught up in all the pomp and circumstance of it all. Oh dont get me wrong, I do love D, and over the years that love has grown in one way but also died in another way. I do think that we will never get back those heady days at the beginning - so much has happened along the way since. I have changed too to such strong extremes, I am no longer that girl that walked down the aisle back in 1989 ready to give everything I had to my husband. But sadly D has only progressed along the change in such small ways.

Then there is J. What can I say about J, not a lot only that I wouldnt have changed those years we were together for anything. I think, and I can honestly say that he has made me the person I am now. I learnt a lot along the way. Some were good for me, but some were also bad for me. But if it hadnt been for J I wouldnt be here. I owe him so much. We had some good times, and yes we had bad times too. When J and I split up I thought my life was over, but I grew to learn that it wasnt. My life was what I made of it, and with careful nurturing I found a fluttering of a new me. A me that was not going to sit back and take the shite thrown at me, a me that wanted to live - to be stronger. A me that finally had a voice in my marriage, in my life. I managed to turn myself totally around after J, and for that I will always be truly grateful to him. He showed me I could be anything I wanted..and I wanted to be stronger, and most of all I wanted to get better. To finally conquer my fears, to get rid of all the dead wood in my life, to throw away anything that was dragging me down. And yes I did all this, and you know what - I am so much better in many ways.

So to J I say - Thank you for being there when I needed you. For coming into my life and helping me to love again and for loving me for who I was not for who you wanted me to be.

To D I say- Thank you for everything you have always done, and for standing by me when I have faltered and fallen. For picking me up and still being there at all times.

I owe a lot to these two very special men, sadly one is not in my life anymore but he will always have a special place in my heart, that shall never be taken by anyone, and I hope he will always know that. I will never forget him. If it wasnt for J I would not be who I am today.. Thank you my dear friend.

Where did the sun go?

Blooming heck its flipping freezing here today. Where did the sunshine go? Its not even 20 deg outside according to my little weather thingy on my kitchen window.

I've had to go around the house shutting every window, as there's a full scale gale blowing up through the house. I've even put a jumper on as I am sitting here freezing..lol

Maybe today's a good day to do some ironing as it will warm me up..

There's also been severe flash flooding locally, which is quite scary when you think about it. Only the other day the weather men were wittering on about droughts and now they are telling us about flash floods.. When D came home last night he told me that some people were even abandoning their cars in the Rotherhithe Tunnel on their way home from work... Now that's serious..

Well I suppose it could only happen in Britain..one minute we are literally baking in 32 deg weather and the next we are freezing cold in temps of below 20 deg..

My mood ~~~

A letter to my furbabies..

Dear Dog and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food.

Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years ... canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's bum. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"nature.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3. Are easier to train
4. Usually come when called
5. Never drive your car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't wear your clothes
10. Don't need a load of money for college, and
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children

A cute pic of bear - just taken

I couldn't resist this pic of ScruffyBear, I looked over to his chair and couldn't believe he had got his paw over his teddybear. He looked so cute so I had to take the pic..

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Darn and blast..

I am really hating this heat.. It is playing havoc with my asthma.. I am having to use my inhaler at least three times a day at the moment.. The air conditioning is on all the time downstairs, and the ceiling fan is on all the time we are upstairs and during the night.

It did rain today, but it hasnt cleared the air - we need a damn good storm to clear the mugginess.

Still the weather forecast says it is going to be cooler after today, here's hoping..

A little meme

I was browsing through the blogs and came across this one on Anne's blog and thought I would have a go too....

1) What is your occupation? Stay at home housewife, and mom to my furbabies
2) What colour are your socks right now? Its too hot to wear socks..but if I was wearing them they would probably be pink/black
3) What are you listening to now? Big Brother on cable t.v.
4) What was the last thing you ate? 3 Cheese coleslaw and a banana
5) Favourite colour? Purple, I also like pink too
6) Music Preference? Classical rock
7) Last person you talked to on the phone? My mother in law this afternoon
8) How old are you today? 38 and 4 months
9) Favourite drink? A cup of tea
10) What is your favorite sport to watch? Ugh I hate sports, but at a push I will watch ice figure skating.
11) Have you ever dyed your hair? Yep, I have blonde and copper highlights put in.
12) Do you wear contacts or glasses? Glasses
13) Pets? One dog - Bear, and two cats Smudge and Ollie
14) What will you stay home to watch? Depends what is on, probably House or my afternoon soaps.
15) What was the best movie you have seen lately? Bewitched
16) What is your favourite day of the year? Halloween
17) What do you do to vent your anger? Huff and puff and throw things around, then cry.
18) What was your favourite toy as a child? I had a blue teddybear that my mum and dad bought me when I was young that I used to carry everywhere with me. I still have it upstairs even now..
19) Vanilla/Chocolate? Definately vanilla
20) Living arrangements? With my husband and pets in a semi detached house in a quiet close.
21) When was the last time you cried? This morning, I was watching a story on t.v. and it was very touching.
22) What did you do ast night? Stitched and watched t.v. and tried not to get too hot.
23) Favourite smell? Vanilla, roses, cut grass and my dogs feet. :-)
24) What inspires you? Courageous people, someone that has battled through a lifetime of trauma etc yet can still smile at the end of it.
25) Least favourite person right now? My mother.

There you go, now why don't you join in so we can all learn a bit more about each other ....

The heat is unbearable.,.

Ugh, its so hot and humid here on my little side of England, I hate it. All the plants are wilting under the heat, the grass is looking decidedly dead and the poor animals just dont know what to do or where to go. I think the only happy thing in the garden is the toad..it can spend more time in the pond..lol

Even the lappy is complaining, she is getting hot and thats with an extra cooler fan...

And here's what our weather is doing.. I'm in the 32 deg range:



So today's blog is just a small one..

My mood ~~~

Ollie the horror!!

I just went out to the garden to water the garden and seedlings, and who should I find? Yep Ollie. And here we were wondering how he had kept lovely and cool all afternoon, now we know - he had been sitting under the dustsheet that was protecting the seedlings from the sun.. What a horror he is..

I apologise for the picture quality, I forgot to put the autoflash on..

The mad Washerwoman of the East..

Ok I am so sad, I have run out of washing!! My washing basket is completely clear, the bedding has been washed and put away, the curtains and nets in the house have all been washed. The cushions and chair cushion covers have been done too. This is so sad, I have no more washing to do.. Now I am getting withdrawal symptoms - I am seeing the sunny weather and a bare washing line. Even the ironing basket is empty.. What am I going to do? I have never gone without having any washing to do, oh gods this is a sad day for the B*** household..lol *ok so I have lost the plot, but hey I can't help it..*

My mood is ~~~

Ramblings..

Coonie - thank you so much for the link to get Ollie some Catnip.. I shall have a word with DH and hopefully place an order for some over the weekend if I am still unable to find some locally.

Heather - I love the sound of the two kitties when they are asleep. Although I will admit I have never had a cat snorting before Ollie, its quite a weird sound. But it definately describes these two when they are asleep - snoring and snorting!!

Laural - its quite easy to take out patio doors and put in French Doors, although I will admit we did get the builders in and they made it look really easy. But basically its just removing one unit and replacing it with another unit and just filling in the gaps. If you want to do it, see if you can find a double glazing company, I dont think I would recommend doing it yourself.

FaithAnn - 3 cheese coleslaw is basically shredded white cabbage, shredded carrots, strong white cheese and double gloucester cheese, mixed up in a creamy mayonnaise. I must admit it is nice to buy it, but I think I will actually have a go at making it myself during the summer.

Ollie meows to all those that left him nice comments..

Also thank you to everyone that has left comments on my blog, its always nice to know that people read my inane ramblings. Thank you once again..

Stitching..

I am hoping that Chiari has received my piece for Melanie's exchange by now, and if it hasnt got there yet, I am pretty sure she doesnt read this blog so I am now safe in putting up a pic.

I had been holding off posting it incase I spoilt the surprise for Chiari but as I am almost certain it has reached Italy now, without further ado I give you my stitched piece for Melanie's Exchange:

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I stitched a freebie design called Assisi Swan and used Crescent Colours Heatherleigh thread and pinky glass beads supplied by my partner from the exchange. I then backed it with a beautiful springy type fabric and turned it into a wall hanging.

I really enjoyed stitching this up and would happily stitch one for myself another day.

Catnip..

HELP!! Why is it when I decide to get something I can't find it anywhere. I promised Ollie I would get him some catnip after he had heard all about it from his kitty blogging buddies, he even agreed to share a bit with his sister Smudge. But to be honest she is happy with some toothpaste..strange cat.

Anyway I now have an impatient cat who keeps on looking in all the bags when I come back from town, and do you think I can find any..NOPE! I've looked in plant shops, pet shops even pound shops, but oh no I cant find it. Oh yeah I can find the herb catnip ready to plant, but no dried catnip for the kitties to get all excited over. And if another shop assistant offers me a catnip toy, no I don't want the toys stuffed with catnip, my cats, especially Ollie, don't like toys for some reason they would rather have live flesh, mainly my arm or hand.

So my question is.. Where can I find dried catnip, the kind that cats love to play with - you know I suppose its kind of like cat weed instead of human weed..lol

OMG I just realised I am offering to give my cats their ideal dope..oh gods what a bad mommy I am. Hey if it keeps them quiet who am I am to complain..

All help will be greatfully appreciated, and I know Ollie would definately be a happy cat.. And here is the little horror in his full glory:

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This is absolutely disgusting..

I was listening to the quick round up of the daily news on the t.v. and they highlighted this awful story that was in the Daily Mail today about a little girl that had been hit by a car and was lying in the road, and all the drivers just drove round her, and no-one stopped to help her. The complete story is below and the link is: How Could Drivers Leave My Little Girl?

'How could drivers ignore my badly hurt daughter?'

Car after car drove round this girl as she lay in agony after a hit-and-run accident

Daily Mail 23:00pm 6th June 2006

C**** recovers in hospital after she was knocked down by a car..

As the car that had hit her sped away, the badly injured little girl tried to crawl towards the safety of the kerb. Seconds later another car appeared. But the driver did not stop to help. He simply drove around her. Then another. And another. Eight-year-old C*** was left screaming in the road with a broken leg. Last night, as she lay in hospital, police expressed horrified astonishment that so many drivers had failed to stop.

"I have never come across anything like it in the years I have been a traffic officer," said one policeman. "It's not as if they wouldn't have seen her, she was screaming for help at the top of her voice."

C*** had been out walking with her mother and brother and sister near their home in *********** last Wednesday at 8.45pm. She had run ahead with the sons of a neighbour to buy bubblegum at a shop and was crossing the road to rejoin her mother when she was hit by the car.The impact of the crash threw her into the air and she landed in the middle of the road, her leg broken in two places and blood pouring from the wound. It took a full two minutes - in which at least six drivers drove around her - for a motorist finally to stop and help the traumatised little girl to the pavement.

Yesterday there was widespread disgust and dismay in the local neighbourhood at her ordeal. Her mother ***** said those who ignored her daughter were just as guilty as the hit-and-run driver.

"I can't believe someone can run over a child and not even bother to check they're okay. It's inhumane," she said. "But then a whole queue of traffic went past Cait. One car actually stood there as she pulled herself out of the way. "You'd have thought that anyone in their right mind would stop to help, even out of curiosity. But obviously they were all too busy. "It says something about the breakdown in community in the modern world where everyone is too busy or too unconcerned to think about anyone else. "If it had been someone with a knife in their hand I could understand it, but this was just a little girl. You wouldn't treat an animal like this."

C*** has since had two operations on her leg. She is expected to leave hospital this week but will have to return for physiotherapy several times a week and will not be able to go to school for up to three months.

Road safety campaigners and community leaders believe C*** experience is an indictment of a society too willing to look the other way. Road safety group RoadPeace said she could have received further injuries or been killed as she lay in the road. It called for tougher punishments for hit-and-run drivers and those who fail to come to the aid of people injured in accidents. "This case is appalling," said chairman Zoe Stow. "It shows people don't show common decency or an understanding of right and wrong when they get behind the wheel of a car."

C*** and her friends had crossed the road at a point where there were no parked vehicles for around 25 yards. They would have been clearly visible. In the heat of the moment, the terrified boys she was with, aged seven and nine, ran off to get help, leaving her alone. Speaking from her bed in hospital in ******, yesterday, she said: "I was walking into the road and went to step back when I saw a car but didn't get my leg back in time. "The front wheel hit my leg and then the back wheel went over it. They just kept going. It started to hurt and made me go all cold. I also lost my bubblegum. "I was calling for help but other people kept driving past me. After a couple of minutes a car stopped and someone helped me. "I'm feeling a little bit better but I can't go to school which makes me sad. It's fun at school. It gives me something to do and I've got all my friends there."

Local councillor said the hit-and-run driver had shown 'little respect' for the community and called on him to hand himself in to police. He added: "As for those who ignored the girl, it's very difficult to understand what they were thinking. It's almost inconceivable they would do that."

Thames Valley Police are looking for a small red car, possibly a Peugeot or VW Golf, in connection with the incident. CCTV at local shops caught passing vehicles but not their registration plates.
A PC said: "There is a good chance there is damage to the vehicle and we are hoping someone will report it, even if it involves a loved one. "It may be the driver didn't see the girl and didn't realise they had hit her, in which case the sooner they come forward the better."Police said the hit-and-run driver was not likely to have been driving much beyond the street's 30mph speed limit otherwise Cait's injuries could have been more serious.

I just don't know what this place is coming to when some-one could not stop for a little girl in the road who was clearly in distress and pain. What were they frightened of? Sheesh these people that drove past her surely must have no consience at all..

Noises in the night..

I am sitting here with just the laptop screen light showing and one low light on at the other end of the room. No sound on anywhere as I wanted to be in peace while sorting out some bits and bobs on the computer. And what do I hear???

One small elderly black and white cat snoring and purring very loudly in her sleep with her feet outstretched as far as they will go.

And another not so small young black and white cat snoring and snorting very loudly on the armchair, all curled up in a small ball.

Do you think they are trying to tell me I should go to bed..lol





My mood ~~~

[Listening to: Two cats snoring and silence outside..]

This really made me gulp..

I was reading this on one of my emails today and it really made me sit up and it was the kind of thing that brings the small hairs on the back of your neck tingle.. I hope you find it as awe inspiring as I did.

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out...ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening. You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.

You realize that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you... and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself... and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you - or didn't do for you - and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that everything isn't always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself... and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties... and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people... and you learn not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody's punishing you and everything isn't always somebody's fault. It's just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

A tag..

I was tagged by Mooshu the other day to do the fives. At the end I'll name 5 people I'd like to tag in return, all entirely voluntary but I hope you'll read and play along!

5 things in my fridge

• Two red peppers
• Two tubs of 3 cheese coleslaw
• 4 pints of semi skimmed milk
• Half a tin of gourmet cat food
• Small bar of Lindt milk chocolate

5 items in my closet

• A long white gypsy style skirt
• A purple suede small handbag
• A brown disney backpack
• A black and white checked wooly scarf
• A fluffy black cardigan

5 items in my purse (handbag)

• My purse (it's where I keep my money so its only small)
• A filofax
• My 2006 diary
• A packet of tissues
• Clinque lipstick

5 items in my car

• A packet of softmints
• A fluffy pink dice
• A bagpuss air freshener
• Some tissues
• A hanging pentagram

5 people to tag

• Belinda
• Gemmak
• Kiwijo
• Christine (Coffecup thoughts)
• Barbara (Mainely Stitching)
  

Ooops haven't updated for awhile..

So sorry I haven't updated since 25th March I suppose you could say I don't really do anything exciting or have anything exciting or worth blogging about happen to me.

Oooh before I forget I have been tagged by Mooshu. So will do that in a post after this one.

Anyway onto this post - it's mainly to show off a few photo's that I took recently and over the weekend.. Enjoy..

On Friday we had our old patio doors taken out and brand new UPV french doors put in, which I am pleased to say they are so much better than the patio doors. I am beginning to wonder why we didn't have them before..

Our old patio doors

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The new french doors with door hanging ornament.

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And here's a couple of Ollie..

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My mood..