A Life On The Ocean Wave....

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are well.
So we finally arrived back on dry land yesterday after another wonderful cruise.
The weather was warm, occasionally sunny and often overcast but that suits me fine....and we have arrived back to beautiful sunny weather and the garden is looking great which I'm thrilled about....just a spot of weeding required....
My home for the last couple of weeks was this lovely lady...
The Emerald Princess

This was the best photo I managed I'm afraid apart from...
Does My Bum Look Big In This....

Well it does now I'm afraid after too many sweets and fine dining every night....I managed to acquire an extra half stone from me boarding as a passenger and being rolled off with the cargo....Oh Dear!!!
We travelled to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Madeira and Vigo with plenty of relaxing days at sea in between...(which I love.....)
View From Our Balcony....Vigo

And Another View Leaving Port...Madeira

Sunsets....From Our Balcony

I love the sea....as lots of my friends and family are aware and I can spend hours looking out at the water....I was rewarded once again when we were lucky enough to see whales on three separate occasions passing by the ship....you have to really keep your eyes open though....!!! And that's why I insist on a balcony too....
And This Chap Brushes Up Rather Well...

The Diet Starts When We Get Home...

We have had a fabulous time and been to lots of wonderful places. Seen so many beautiful things and made new friends along the way....So now it's back to work to earn pennies towards the next adventure.
I will add a few more posts about some of our trips over the next few weeks though....
I managed to read quite a few books while away but abandoned all crafty projects.....too busy and too many things to see....

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy your Sunday. 

This And That....A Catch Up!...

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are all well.
I just thought I would try and have a little catch up this month....there has been so much going on my head is spinning...
I'm now back at work full time...and don't I know it but deep down I love my job....I must do I've done it for nearly 30 years....'Boy Oh Boy' am I really that old....When did that happen....!!!
Anyway...
First up was my lovely, brand new car....
I love this colour....isn't she beautiful?...

I know it's not the best photo but I'm sure there will opportunity for more....like all the days out that I have planned for the summer....
My old car....which I'd had for 11 years has now been passed on to my daughter....

I have to say that the daisy and butterfly stickers have now gone (this was done for her Prom)....but they did stay for a few years....needless to say my lovely partner and our mechanic had no choice but to be brave when forced to drive it around town...Bless them!!!
A new addition to the family....
Say 'Hello' to Alfie....

This is my partner's parents new puppy....now how cute is he then!!!
While cleaning out my craftroom drawers, I found this cute little album that my friend, Liz had made for me some time ago. I never got round to completing it....although I have kept it wrapped up in tissue paper and tucked safely away....

As some of my followers know I lost my lovely faithful champion and constant shadow recently......and I think it is the right time now to try and finish this little album...
'Bertie' 

I've been trying to get in the garden when I can but I'm not sure what the weather is doing right now, one minute rain, then hail then glorious Spring sunshine.....on one wet/sunny day I  did manage to capture this beautiful rainbow through of my craft room window...

Perfect... ....the rainbow not my dreadful attempts at photography that is.
I have bought more wool....did I need it...'No'. Did I want it...'Yes'....I have read another book, so I am up to date with my Goodreads reading challenge.....
I have knitted and cross stitched, tried to do some colouring and looked over the crocheting thing....still not getting the hang of that I afraid. I have baked.....banana loaves and our favourite honey cake. I have perfected the Yorkshire Pudding....it has taken me long enough!!!!...No photo, I was too busy admiring them to think about a photo...next time. 
I have been busy with plans for weddings, 21st birthdays, 50th Wedding Anniversaries (more about these later) and have tickets for my beloved rugby union to see England v Argentina at Twickenham later in the year and I have taken part in two lovely swaps....
Spring 2016 Tea Cup Exchange

Stationery Swap 2016

 

as well as writing and receiving lovely letters in the post.....
All in all it has been a busy month but a very good month and I'm still losing weight....Yeah!!!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy your Sunday. 

The Enchanting Rose - 8th Tea Cup & Mug Exchange.

Good evening everyone.
I hope you are all well...
It has been a beautiful day here...lots of glorious sunshine. It's still a bit chilly but I was super brave and wore a cotton dress and sandals and loved it.
I am posting this a day early as I have a very long day at work tomorrow and I know I will forget when I get home....
The lovely Stephanie from The Enchanting Rose hosted the 8th Tea Cup & Mug Exchange and I joined in....There were 167 ladies who participated and Stephanie did an amazing job of organisation. Thank you so much Stephanie......
I was absolutely thrilled with the stunning parcel that I received from the incredibly generous and super talented Kim....my parcel came all the way from Tasmania....and is perfect. Kim took such care in choosing the beautiful items that she sent.
Spring 2016 Tea Cup Exchange

How lucky am I...
Now just look at the gorgeous peg fairy...'Fairy Bluebell' and the beautifully stitched lavender scented heart...there is also an organza bag filled with delicious tea bags...

The beautiful cloth....the correct name escapes me as I write this post....is actually on my dressing table now and looks perfect.

My cup and saucer set are so pretty with such a sweet sugar spoon too.... I adore the colours that Kim chose for me.....just perfect.
Thank you Kim for my truly gorgeous gifts, your kindness and generosity....I am so grateful to you for such wonderful treasures....and will think of you whenever I drink my tea from this cup...I think this special gift will have to be used on Sundays....
I have been thoroughly spoilt....Will I take part again? Do you really need to ask.....Of course is the answer....I look forward to it.....
I had the pleasure of sending a parcel to a very special and lovely lady over at Pondside....my parcel made it safely all the way to Canada.
Pop over to Stephanie's blog on Wednesday to see what all the other ladies received in the exchange....

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your evening. 

Little Steps...

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are all well this Sunday morning.
It's very cold and quite frosty here but the sun is out....and it looks as though it's going to be a lovely Spring day....my favourite kind of day....
I am back at work full time now....and boy don't I know it!!! but I'm being good and doing as my physio says....still sticking to small crafting projects and getting on ok I think. I'm continuing with my physio, exercises, medication and hot stone massages and so far so good....I just get very tired after a long shift (which seems to be most days) and fingers crossed I've only had the odd twinge.
Anyway I have managed to complete another small project...
A little cross stitched book mark to add to one of my swap parcels....I can share it here as I know it has now reached it's new home....

I quite like making these little book marks...it keeps my hands busy and out of the biscuit barrel which is a good thing and I can also report that I have lost 11lbs in weight since Christmas....which by some standards is not great but given that my will power is bad, bad, bad....I'm quite pleased with myself....slow but sure!
I also bought a Fitbit thingy which is great.....I'm becoming a bit obsessed with keep looking at how many steps I've taken  but if it helps with my weight loss then that's not such a bad thing is it.....
Yesterday we managed to do all the shopping, housework and also did some painting, tidied the courtyard garden at the side of the house including the woodpile, cleaned a few cupboards, washed all the glass and china on the welsh dresser, made a honey cake and dug out the utility room, plus we managed to do all the washing....so today my parents are coming for Sunday lunch, so hopefully it will be a nice a relaxed Sunday......As it should be!!!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your day. 

Pearl Pins & Roses....

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are all well.
Today I would like to share two makes....
It's those 'Giant' decorated pegs again....I know, I know....I make a lot of these but I do like them and they make a lovely gift...well I think they do anyway!...
You can use them for lots of things...I use them to keep my little notes together, holding precious photos and of course just to look pretty on my desk.
I have made a couple lately and I've added them to parcels in some of the swaps I have taken part in this year.
Here are two of them for you to look at anyway....

This one was for Jenny at Winnibriggs House - Send A Little Love Swap 2016

And this one was for Lyn - Stationery Swap 2016

Oh well, I must get on...lots to do this weekend and it's pouring down....Typically!!!
Have a great weekend whatever the weather...

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.
Enjoy the rest of your day.

Knitted Squares - Up To Date...

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are all well.
Some of my lovely followers may remember that I am learning to knit and had recently subscribed to a weekly learning to knit magazine....where each issue (weekly in this case) you are given a ball of wool and a pattern to knit squares of varying patterns until you have enough to stitch them together to make a blanket....
Well...I'm up to date with my squares, which is a miracle as in the past I have attempted other such ventures and fallen way behind within the first month....and now I am waiting for the postman to deliver my next four issues so I can continue with my little knitting adventure....
Four more squares completed...

Now they are not perfect by any standards but I'm trying....

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

A Stationery Swap....

Good afternoon everyone.
I hope you are all well.
Once again I'm sorry for my lack of blogging and commenting but this work thing gets in the way I'm afraid....
Anyway one evening this week, after an extremely long shift....I arrived home to a wonderful parcel of goodies....
I had recently joined Tracy from Mad About Bags in a Stationery Swap and I was partnered with the lovely Lyn in Australia (no blog). After a few emails of chat we exchanged our parcels and Lyn has been so thoughtful and generous with her lovely swap....I have been so spoilt.
This is what I sent to Lyn....

  And this is what I received from Lyn...

Now look at all these wonderful gifts....Lyn had really done her homework here and even added some lovely Australian tea for me to try and a spoon rest with a Koala on it....I'm a real tea freak as many know....so I will enjoy this very much. Thank you for being such a wonderful swap partner Lyn.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I really do appreciate your visits and lovely, encouraging comments.

Enjoy the rest of your day.