a long gap since last on here as have been busy with Christmas Crafts and getting presents sorted.Mince pies all baked and in freezer and decorations and lights all checked ready to be put up later. Really love Christmas and it really brings out the child in me!

A mild tuesday

We have had a few warmer days and today really mild and even turned the heating off
Mind you we are to get really cold conditions by the end of the week so we need to make the most of today.
Well into thoughts of Christmas now and busy,busy,  busy making cards and writing present lists! Love Christmas like a big kid!
What would I like for Christmas? A nice new home either  a bungalow or a small house with stairs that would be suitable for a chairlift" Love my home but find the stairs difficult now and not suitable for a stair lift!

A lovely weekend.

Had my fur-granddaughter Tia to sleep over on Saturday as they wer all going out and we didn't want her "Home Alone" on bonfire night .
She is a beautiful affectionate dog and we both enjoyed our time together.
She came up on my bed while I had my nightly read and then off downstairs to get cosy in her bed and then when she heard me at 7,3o am she came up and jumped on the bed in snuggle mode until we both got up at 8.30amIt was lovely to have a dog around  again and made for a very enjoyable weekend..

November is here.

Today is the 2nd of November and the first REALLY cold day that we have had.We have had the early morning mists for several days now and the Canada Geese have arrived for thrir winter visit which inspired me to writr the following poem;

CANADA GEESE

One Autumn  morning we awake and hear a distant sound

Of honking in the air which suddenly gets loud ,

Then through the dampness and the white

 There soon appears a magic sight

 A vee shaped flock of honking geese,announcing they are here

To spend the winter months with us till Spring should reappear.

The triumphant noise of strident call and flapping wings

An anthem to their journey ‘s end and the respite that it brings

From the dangers of that journey over dark and treacherous  seas                           

A chance to rest on waters calm and aching  wings to ease.

To fill their beaks with luscious weed and take a well earned  rest.

And when I see them back again I feel truly blessed

And know each morn and night they will pass my way again

Till at last winter’s grip will slowly begin to  wane

And then a final farewell flypast will see them on their way .

Till once again the time will come when they return to stay

 And spend next winter safe  upon our  more clement  shore

 And we will be glad to see  them  here once more.

                                                   Pam Davis copyright 2016

OUCH!

woke up this morning with  really painful back,
Definitely muscular pain as it only hurts when I twist or lean to my left and when I get out of a chair or walk! Was fine at bedtime so presuming I turned over awkwardly in y sleep.
Dosed myself with paracetamol; and sitting with my back resting against a hot water bottle! Hopefully the spasm will stop soon meanwhile i am taking it easy and getting on with my embroidery..
Luckily got all the washing and housework up to date yesterday so can rest up today!

Birthday card for my granddaughter

This is the birthday card I have made for my Granddaughter's 16th birthday,
No longer cute little child friendly images but cards suitable for a sophisticated young lady .LOL!
Hard to realise my eldest grandchild is a strapping young 2o year old young nan at University and all three granddaughters are in their mid to late teens.
That's when i feel my age.

back at last!

well been a bit neglectful writing here but back now.
Weight loss still going OK and have now lost a total of 1stone 8lbs so getting there,
 Weather is now definitely autumnal and it is dark by 6,20pm and only a just over a week until the clocks go back and we get the long dark nights ! At first I quite enjoy thee lights going on early and the cosiness of it but by the time spring comes i am longing to get back to Summer Time again.I have been busy making Christmas cards as well as having several birthdays needing cards to be made and also working on  my embroidery.What would we do without Crafts to keep us busy especially in the long winter nights heading our way.

cooler weather has arrived to stay this time?

Weather has got cooler for the last few days with really chilly mornings and nights so think we have definitely said goodbye to summer this time . Only another couple of weeks before the clocks go back and we have cold and DARK evenings!
Only just over ten weeks until Christmas! Unbelievable!

another good week.

Well was weigh in day again yesterday and another 1lb off!!! That's one and a half stone to date. It is harder to resist food now the colder weather is here and certainly not salad weather so making up for that by having loads of second veggies and less pasta and potatoes and so far so good. Still managing fruit though as it makes lovely "afters"!.
Weather has changed dramatically and it is really cold morning and evening now, all the winter crafts coming back into their own and have half my Christmas cards made and getting on well with my embroidery. Been doing my indoor walking exercise to the DVD  as I walk slowly now and when the weather is cold find it hard to keep warm walking outdoors.

A bit of a gap in my blogging as a part from doing my grocery shop on Saturday  i have been having a Crafting time doing Christmas cards and embroidery and very pleasant it was too! As good as a week away,
Now i am back having finally caught up with the neglected housework
While I have been off here Autumn has really set in and we are having cooler sunny days and very chilly nights.
Have resisted putting the heating on but the knitted throw I made has been over my legs whil sitting watching the TV in the evenings and I have been enjoying a cup of hot chocolate while reading in bed!
The autumn colours are really coming in now and if the high winds hold off for a few weeks we are going to have a lovely fiery display this year.I really do love Autumn which makes sucjh a spectacular end to our year.

A boring sunday

Glenn and Mandy's 23rd wedding anniversary today and I was hoping they might pop in for their card but they didn't so was the usual Sunday alone.Never mind soon be over! It's days like this when I so miss having a dog! they are such good company.
I am going to have a nice meal tonight.. chicken stuffed with rice and apricots and loads of second veg.. very tasty, very healthy and in my calorie allowance so all good.Then fresh strawberries and low fat creme fresh for dessert.

Autumn is officially here

It's officially -Autumn starts today! It is a lovely start to the new season. Fairly mild with lovely blue skies.
Weigh in day again today and another 1lb off that's 1 stone 5 lbs in total! I am starting to get back into clothes I haven't worn for ages.which is really encouraging
today I am going to get on with my embroidery this afternoon so a nice restful day after several busy ones getting housework up to date which got neglected when the cellulitis was meaning i had ti rest with my leg raised.Finished the course of antibiotics yesterday and pleased to say that the redness, heat and pain have disappeared and my leg is back to normal.

Good news! We have the sun back after several glomy days. A weak Autumnal sun but sun never the less.
Th garden is full of golden brown spiders all sitting in webs covered in overnight dew drops which are sparkling in the sunshine-- my favourite Season is here. Love those autumn colours and spicy scentsThe evenings are drawing in now and it is quite dark by 6pm and we need the lights on by about 6,20pm so guess Autumn is really here and Winter is on the way.
 Glenn has had his 24 hour heart monitor reading done and now has to wait for the rsults which is a bit of a tense time especially for him.Mandy and him are having a bit of a rough time healthwise at the moment.
Pray god all turns out well for them.
My best boy Ben is now back at Uni in Portsmouth and we speak most days on messenger. Exciting for him as this is his second year and so he has left Halls and is renting a house along with 4 other students.

well the weather has changed dramatically overnight!  It is dark, dismal, and damp! think Autumn is finally here1
Today will be an indoor day with plenty of crafting going on. Glad to say did the food shop yesterday so no need to venture out today.

well another good day.
Weigh in day and this week two pounds off!!! That is 1st 4 lbs in total and starting to  get back into clothes that were too tight before!
Another reason to be happy antibiotics are kicking in and my cellulitus is no longing burning hot to the touch and the redness is starting to fade.
Last day of our mini heatwave today and from this evening we are to have showers and daytime temps of 17C to 19C. so guess we are starting to get into our Autumn as days are definately getting shorter and nights longer.

thanks a bunch mossie!

Well i had company in bed Saturday--- a Mosquita and woke up covered in bites! A group of 6 on my gammy leg which got huge and then on Monday evening my whole leg was hot,and red so of for emergency Docs appointment on Tuesday morning, Diagnosis as expected the bites had triggered of a recurrence of the cellulitis! So back home with a prescription of antibiotics and instructions to carry on as normal but keep y leg raised when sitting.

On a brighter note Mandy came out of hospital on Monday evening and appears to be doing well.Has to go back for a scan in 6 to 8 weeks to make sure all is well.

Another one bites the dust!

weigh in day today and despite all the worry over the last few weeks about family health I have managed to overcome my tendency to "comfort eat",( just an excuse for lack of will power really), and am pleased to announce the loss of another pound. I know my progress is slow but I cannot not be so active now so as long as I get a loss or at least stay the same for a week i am happy!
The weather has returned to an Indian Summer of warm sunny days although has been a little humid for the past few days so maybe we will get that longer transition into winter via a colourful Autumn!
 the housemartins are still with us  but the Canada Geese haven't arrived on the local fishing pits yet although my Canadian friend has reported seeing large flocks of them flying off.

Mandys progress

well Mandy went down for an exploratory op yesterday and they removed a cyst. She then spent yesterday and this morning in ICU wired up with various tubes but today she is more comfortable and the tubes have all been removed and they are moving her to a general ward so we are all very relieved.
Has been a worrying few days but the outcome appears to be good thank goodness.

Not a good weekend

Wasn't a good weekend for the Davis family as my daughter in law Mandy was taken into hosptal with a severe kidney infection. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in today but she will be in hosital for at least 48 hours and then be on complete bed rest for a further week.Luckily my son Glenn works from home so will be able to look after her.

a happy saturday

At last we have a lovely gentle continuous rain and the gardens are loving it!
This morning we went early to do a grocery shop as we had to drop my grandson off to work,He is at University and working at Mcdonalds during the summer break to get some much needed cash!
This mean't we had a short ride through the country lanes and the profusion of brightly coloured berries was beautiful especially when they were surrounded by the feathery seedheads of the old man's beard and the corn fields, not yet harvested, were a sea of gold with a few late poppies giving a splash of colour.
 As we had an early start my son Glenn, my granddaughter Jade  and myself had an alfresco breakfast at  Costa and it was lovely sitting in the sunshine ( rain didn't arrive until 5pm), eating and chatting and watching the world go by.

progress

Well the first day of September today and  weigh in day  and another 2lbs off!  So a good start to the new month.Have been combining calorie counting and the Mediterranean diet  in order to help my heart condition and lose weight and it seems to be helping as feeling better.and lost more weight.

My super market trolley seems full of fruit, veg, salad and fish these days with not a an individual cheesecake or any  biscuits in sight.
Energy levels are rising too which is helping both the weight loss and my legs so  keeping to this way of eating just replacing some of the salad meals with wholemeal pasta meals as the weather gets colder.

Damn servers!

Well my server was on "intermittent service" for most of the day yesterday ! On a bright note got a lot done without the PC distracting me and after the routine housework and washing I emptied, washed out and refilled all my kitchen cupboards and drawers!
Today has been another beautiful day so got two loads of washing dried, and put away and pottered around generally.. This afternoon i sat out in the garden reading and it was lovely out there.
BADLY IN NEED OF RAIN THOUGH OR THE LEAVES WILL START TO FALL BEFORE WE GET THAT LOVELY BLAZE OF AUTUMN COLOUR.LOVE THAT SPECTACULAR END TO SUMMER WHEN THE TREES AND HEDGEROWS ARE COVERED I YELLOW,ORANGE AND RED LEAVES AND BERRIES AND THE AIR IS FULL OF THE SPICY SCENTS OF AUTUMN.
Someone posted on Facebook today that there are only 16 Sundays till Christmas------how frightening is that? Where has the year gone? Better get started on making my Christmas cards ASAP..

A lovely "do as I like " day planned as all housework and washing up to date, Bank Holiday here today so will be reading, crafting and listening to music--BLISS! A lovely way to enjoy a Bank holiday and one of the main benefits of living alone!

Struggling!

This was me today,,, found it really hard to stick to my food plan today but i did keep under my calorie allowance BUT didn't choose the healthiest of foods to do so! Too much bread and butter on some of it BUT all weighed and counted.
Think it was a reaction to the news about my son yesterday as my overeating has always been comfort eating when stressed or worried,
Never mind, I  got through the day and hopefully be back to eating healthy as well as less tomorrow.just having a lovely cup of tea and settling to a nights TV with a small dish of fresh blueberries to nibble!

Not a good end to yesterday

Well yesterday ended on a worrying note. My eldest son Glenn went for a check up at the Cardiac unit i St Thomas's after having a pacemaker fitted last year when his heart rate dropped to 30bpm for no apparent reason and they could not get it up again. After numerous tests was told that his heart  showed signs of several heart attacks although he was not aware he had had any and that he only had 65% function left on his left ventricle.
As this could be a congenital anomaly they want him to  go back for further tests and said that his immediate siblings and offspring should also be tested.. My younger son had heart checks a few years ago because he has asthma and they were fine bu it does mean that Ben and Jade Glenn's children will have to have tests. As you can imagine this knocked me for six! Thinking it over during the night was probably a blessing that he had to the pacemaker and subsequent tests as otherwise this could have gone unnoticed.
Thank goodness we are a close family and i know that will help us all especially Glenn to cope with this bt it is not going to be an easy time.

That was me yesterday! This hot humid weather makes my poor legs swell even more and they were so sore yesterday. Today the weather is not quite so hot and humid and they feel better thank goodness,
Last night was hard to sleep as the temps stayed in the mid 20s all night and we never did get the promised thunder storms to clear the air,
Still warm today but oly ip to the mid 20s instead of the 33C we had yesterday so a lot more comfortable.
There is hazy cloud cover and occasionally we get about 10 drops of rain! Think the bird bath is doing better business than the feeder!

Another one bites the dust

Weigh in day and another pound lost- that's 13 lbs in total! Was surprised I lost any as we r in another heatwave and that makes my feet and legs swell so not been as active.
It was in the high 20Cs yesterday and supposed to be hotter today so U took my daily dose of vitamin D b having my breakfast and my coffee break n the garden before it got too hot and will be staying cool indoors from now on!Mind you there is a pleasant breeze today which we didn't have yesterday so will open windows at both ends of lounge and that will keep it pleasant and i have soe grapes in the freezer to suck on!

Monday and it is brighter

After a gloomy start the sun is shining and we are promised a return of the warm weather--HURRAH! At the moment we still have a strong breeze blewing but the sunshine is bright and cheering.
Today my son Scott is bringing his carpet shampooer over and clean my carpets so hopefully will stay warm and dry so we are not walking mud in!

Sunday

Not  a very summery Sunday for us. We have strong breezes and alternate sunshine and showers and it is feeling cool in the breeze.
I will be keeping indoors apart from a quick dash outside to put some food on the bird table!
 Luckily I do have the need to restock my birthday card stash as June, July and August are all full of friends and family birthdays so it has got quite low.  Just grabbed a quick salad lunch and off I go to get on with making some more! Time to start my Christmas cards soon. I always start early as I make about 70 each year and at the moment am just waiting for some new Christmas dies to arrive. and then I will get going as I don't like having them still to do when all the other preparations for the  holidays begin. Started getting the ingredients together for my Christmas cake so it can be made early and be fed with brandy before it is time to ice and decorate it.When the children were at school used to take the date they went back to school in September as my starting point for getting presents and making cake etc and now i do the same with the grandkids!

A soggy saturday

A  wet and windy Saturday here, short spells of sunshine and then back to the heavy showers and it is windy enough to make it feel quite cold.
Don't think I will be going far today so it will be a bit of housework and then out with the sewing!
I have just started a new book "Where the Dead Walk " and am enjoying it so may even sit and read for a while.
Hoping this is just a temporary glitch in the weather and that we get one of those "Indian Summers" in September/October that can  make the winter seem shorter. My favourite season is Autumn with it's brilliant colour and spicy scents.Always seems like the the crescendo of a perfect Symphony to me bringing the Year to a dramatic close.

Where has summer gone?

we have had overnight rain and still more light showers now. The garden has thoroughly enjoyed it and so have the frogs that live in my pond and are are all out searching for the slugs that the rain has brought above the soil. The newts are not so happy and have dived down into the water again after the last days of sunbathing on the lily pads.
This is definitely a day for "indoor living".. no breakfast in the garden with the birds today! this afternoon i think it will be embroidering and the afternoon movie on TV! the evenings are arriving earlier and I have had to put the timer on my standard lamp onto 8pm instead of 8.30pm. so i guess we are into late summer and rapidly approaching autumn,

I.m a HAPPY BUNNY!

One happy lady here as despite my meal out on Sunday, (three very calorific courses), I have still managed to lose one pound this week. I think mainly due to me having most of my calories since then as fruit,veg,meat and fish and knocking the carbs right down.Will be sticking to this course of action as long as the warm weather lasts and reintroduce cards, (although still less than usual ), when the weather turns chilly.
Apart from that the weather is still gorgeous here BUT the garden could do with more rain even if we couldn't. Was breakfast in the sunshine with the birds this morning!Lovely way to start the day with an alfresco meal!

card

Back to the normal routine!

Have spent yesterday and today catching up with the housework and washing which gor left behind during the birthday celebrations last week! All up to date now,
This morning an early appointment at the doctors for routine blood tests and then this afternoon found time to make an anniversary card for my son  and his wife,,, cannot believe they will have been married for twenty years on the 14th!

A belated birthday celebration

A gorgeous day hot and sunny and to make it even better have just got back from a meal to clebrate my 80th,
We went to a lovely little Inn at Longfield in the Kent countryside and eleven of us met in the bar and then sat down to a gorgeous meal, .. /not the usual Pub Food but a long menu of Cordon Bleu atandar and delightful friendly service . Suffice to say we sat down at 12.30 and finally finished eating and chatting and laughing at 3.30pm!
 I started with a selection of olives in an oil and apple balsamic vinegar vinaigrette and followed this with Roast lamb cooked to perfection with yorksh ire pudding, roast potatoes and assorted Veggies (all fresh not a frozen pea in sight).To end it all apple sticky toffee pudding and mind came with *) in birthday candles on top and everyone sang happy birthday..
Really was treated like a queen! Now home and ready for a wee granny nap!

1. 

my birthday orchid

THE SUN HAS GOT HIS HAT ON!

A  really beautiful day... warm and sunny. Have just been watching the birds in the garden and there are a pair of blue-tits feasting away on the bird table and one of my pair of blackbirds splashing away in the birdbath and all thoroughly enjoying this sunny weather. Butterflies and bees buzzing around the buddlieia and the lavender and the newts sunbathing on the lily pads in my little pond.
I have been working on my embroidery out there and just come in to get lunch.

Hitting the big " eight O!"

well today is my 80th birthday! Where have all those years gone.Had my share of the ups and downs of life but today it is the happy memories that are at the front of my mind., and I reached the conclusion that they have outnumbered the bad, Today I am a happy gran to four gorgeous grandchildren and mum to two wonderful sons and proxy mum to two beautiful daughters in law and despite my gammy leg and slowing down I can still enjoy life and keep my days full with my crafting hobbies and although I do miss being able to spend hours working in my garden i can still sit out there and enjoy it.On the whole life as been good to me.
I have just been reading all the birthday messages that have come through on my computer and now awaiting the post man to bring yet more! Lovely to have friends remember you and send their wishes, and I have been blessed with some good friends,
Here's looking forward to a lovely day!!!!

getting there1

A lovely sunny day again. Just stopped for a coffee . have been catching up on some housework and listening to an Andre Rieu CD. Love that man and his Strauss Orchestra!.
Happy bunny as another 2 pounds hit the dust when i wieghed in this morning.. that's 11lbs in total!
 Off to finish the housework and burn a few more calories!!!!

another hot sunny day

A really beautiful warm day again.
Makes dieting so much easier as a diet of salad and fruit is much more appealing than stew and dumplings when the weather is lke this! LOL!
 A good tip for keeping cool ... freeze some grapes and eat them straight fro the freezer! As they melt in your mouth they are both cooling and refreshing and much better for you than ice-cream!!!!

another card

card i made

christening cake

summer is back and hopefuly not a flying visit this time.

 Another beautiful sunny day with temps of 24C and a refreshing breeze, Have been sitting in the garden with a cuppa and reading my book - The Lake House.. anyone else read it? I am really enjoying it., I am a compulsive reader and if I am not card-making or embroidering I am reading!I also love baking and have some skills as a cakemaker.

a beautiful day

Another beautiful day,,,,the sun is shining and the temps have gone up again and we could reach 25C this afternoon.
Had breakfast in the garden today and hopefully will be sitting out there again once the daily chores are done. Loving the weather and hoping it lasts into an India Summer to make the winter seem shorter!

A sunny day

Well after a few days absence the sun has come back, the wind has dropped and the temperature has gone up The crystals hanging in my window are sending rainbows round the lounge and all is well with my world..Funny how much more positive you feel when the sun shines.

Feeling positive.

Surprising just how much more positive I feel about things now I know my arm has healed .Got the big 80 birthday coming up on Wednesday of next week and looking forward to  it now whereas before it just seemed to be emphasising how old and decrepit I was getting. A win on the lottery would complete the job and i could look around for that bungalow with no stairs and that would really give me a new lease of life.---   well a girl can dream can't she?

An encouragung result.

Weigh in day today and another 2 lbs off so onwards and upwards,(or should that be downwards?), we go!
 Aways encourages one to keep going when you get a loss however small!

OH Happy Day!

Have been suffering with a break at the top of my Humerus,  (another result of a fall in November and osteoporosis).  which was being stubborn about realigning and healing and just got back from Orthopaedic Clinic. Hurrah. the bone has finally fully joined  up and I am discharged from Clinic. Pain has eased and should disappear on normal movement of arm as tendon heals and am happy with that although upwards and backwards movement will still be restricted.
A good start to my week.

That;s better

Well finally managed a background! Time to stop  playing now and get on with some work! looking forward to posting regularly.

That's better

well think i am getting there but still not sussed out how to get a decorative look to the blog! Will be satisfied to post on plain sheet but may look a bit boring to the more experienced bloggers, At least have sussed out how to add photo  so you can see who you are talkng to! and have filled out the "about me" but cannot get it to sit on side of blog yet .Hopefully you can get on it if you clip on icon!

The beginning

first attempt at doing a blog so fingers crossed i get it right. Really a diary to help me with losing weight but also a way to hopefully help each other along the way. Was a successful Slimmer with a well known Club  and lost 7 stone but, after a serious fracture of my thigh where I smashed the head of the femur and was in hospital and then nursing home for 7 months and bedridden for the first two, the weight slowly crept back and as I am now more immobile where as before as a non-driver /I walked everywhere I am finding it hard to lose,  2 weeks ago I gave myself a strong talking to and it is so far working. Five pounds gone in two weeks with I hope many more to follow, Pleased to hear from you if you are fighting the weight nd hoepfully we cab bounce ideas and encouragement between us.