The Quiet Man

My dad is 80 years young today.

I would describe him as a quiet man.

Mind you he never needed to say much when my mum was alive!!!!

Like myself he doesn't like fuss and didn't really want any today.

We did persuade him to go out for a meal with his close family, mainly me hubbie our girls and and our grandaughter.

Grandson stayed at home with daddy he is a toddler of routine and needs his bath and bed at the same time regardless of any social gathering.

Aimee picked the balloon and the biggest birthday badge I have ever seen.

Me Dad and Ashley

Shelley and her grandad.

Photos not the best as they were taken on Shelleys phone

Wheelbarrows and OSO

Ashley and Graham were invited to a friends babys naming ceremony on Saturday. As the timing clashed a bit when the wee boy would be having his nap we kept an eye on him. We had a lovely afternoon playing and watching Special Agent OSO. The boy just loves him. Grandad looks like he might be enjoying him too.

He seems to be getting more like his mummy everyday.

The girlie decided a sleepover with Gran and Grandad would be the best thing to follow the naming ceremoney.

A large part of the morning was spent in a wheelbarrow and grandad pushing it.

She had a great time

Cows, cupcakes and confidence

The house is backed onto by fields the usual sheep have been joined by some cows who I have to say I can now set my watch by. They are at the back of our house at the same time every day and more or less walk the same route grazing daily. We have the pleasure of their company 10.40pm til 11.20pm then off they go and head back around 6.10pm til 6.50pm then off they go again. The girlie and grandad reckon they are wearing watches.

We do have a lovely view. It is the River Forth in the background.

It is the girlies school Spring Fair tomorrow. Her teacher was asking for donations etc and up shot the girlies hand saying 'my grannie makes cakes' . When our girls were young and baking was required for school fairs I used to call on Colins mum as she made the best tiffin and fruit loaves I have ever tasted. Now I have to say I really no have much confidence in doing things for others and am quite happy to keep anything I make well within my own four walls my DDs and a dear friend are the only ones subjected to my homemade stuff. So a sharp intake of breath and 24 cupcakes were made this morning.

The girlie is delighted and I worried sick...........

Ah Mr Men

The favourite men in my life. The young one I adore and he makes my heart sing.

The older..... I adore and he also makes my heart sing.....

I married him 31 years ago today. Luv ya Walby

Medals and Instruction

Aimee started Cheerleading in November and has taken to it like a duck to water.

Her favourite things at the moment are Rainbows, Cheerleading and anything that involves paper,pencils, paints, glue and scissors.

She was put forward for her first Cheerleading exams in February she was to sit her level 1 and teacher thought she should also try for her level 2 .... she passed. She received her certificates and medals last weekend she is thrilled.

Grandad receiving instructions this evening how to get up to level 4 on Angry Birds game
My heart was full to bursting point tonight watching Grandad with the girlie on his shoulders dancing around the livingroom to Bruno Mars.

AH HAPPINESS & MAGIC MOMENTS

Cute Cupcakes

We had a tea party on Friday our way of 'celebrating' the Royal Wedding.

Aimee loves cupcakes but trying to find a cupcake locally was quite a task.

We did find some in a local coffee shop.

DDs reckoned I should make them next time I haven't baked for quite

a while so I had a practice and I am quite pleased with the results.

went to Ashleys after tea tonight for a wee social time and Aimee loved the cupcakes so much she would like granny to make them rather than a birthday cake this year.

Easter Treasure

The annual Easter Egg Hunt took place yesterday. As usual the treasure map was drawn tea stained and burnt around the edges by grandad. Flags had pictures of Aimee and Murray on them.......the man is mad!!!!!

Murray couldn't wait to get his trousers back on before joining in.
This is him putting one in the basket thought he would be more interested in pulling them out. We spent the beginning of the week renovating the Adirondack chairs that you see in the background. Colin sanded them got rid of the green colour and back to the natural wood. Have coloured them lavander which I love we have a double one coming whichI think will have to be pink.

Aimee studing the map.

We had a BBQ which everyone loved we did have cardigans and jumpers on as it did get a bit chilly it has been a much better day today.Aimee didn't want to go home so ended up staying the night which she loved.

Most of my blog photos are of the grandchildren or patchwork.
Here is one of Aimee & Murrays Mummy & Daddy.
Aimee got grandad to download Angry Birds game onto his ipod touch this morning and he has promised to get to level 3 by tonight guess what he is doing now....lol . It is scary seeing how easy Aimee finds it.
Hope you all have had a lovely Easter

Pretty Pinwheels

Had started making blocks out of Batiks well had got as far as chopping up the material. Went looking for thread in the crafting cupboard and pretty material I had bought an age ago caught my eye so being the easily distracted person that I am I pulled it out and started chopping and stitching

above is the result

OR SHOULD I SAY

ABOVE IS THE FINAL RESULT
A very nice afternoon playing

Just need to decide what to do with them now

Shamrocks

We are lucky enough to live very near the stunning Ochil Hills.

The collection of villages running along the foot of the hills aptly called The Hillfoots

One of the villages is Alva and I love the flowershop there called Shamrocks

Sandra the owner has given wonderful service to me and my family over the years

I can go in with a vague idea as to what I would like and she always manages to get it just right.

Anyway yesterday popped in and said would like something for the kitchen just to cheer me up.

First time being out and about since the dreaded virus struck.

She knows I like things tradional with a twist Aren't they stunning

The flowers are sitting on Running Chicken table mat I finished this morning taken from

Quilt Yourself Gorgeous Book by Mandy Shaw

http://www.dandeliondesigns.co.uk/

Ooot Shoots

The coughing virus that is going around has hit our family and worked

its way around every member of the family.

After fighting the coughing like Igot a 40 a day ciggie habit and exhaustion like you wouldn't believe I have had a jammie day and popped back to bed this afternoon.

Murrays favourite drink when he gets the chance is a Fruit Shoot or Oooot Shoot to a 19 month old bundle of fun. Anyway I have just discovered they taste a bit like ribena I had one during the night to help soothe the aching throat. Not too bad at all. As you can see Murray just loves them

Easter deco

A few of the Easter decorations in place.

Also on the table is a small picture that for as long as I can remember was on my wee grannies

mantelpiece and moved with her in the latter years to the nursing home

she kept it on her bedside table.

The little celtic cross was a gift from my mum and dad

it came from Iona my mums favourite place.

A little pair of glass baby shoes that my dear friend

gave me when our darling grandaughter was born.

Kitchen unit has a few things too think the rabbit is soooooo cute.

Mamma Day

Well the girls totally surprised me this year. I have been spoiled.

A box set of Jane Austen DVDs

Name your own Rose Hurricane Lamp

Scarf and beads that DGD chose

Also just had my dinner made

The best thing though the text message received this morning

"Morning Happy Mothers Day

Thank you for being a wonderful mum and granny.

Love Ashley, Graham, Aimee & Murray"

Boy did I cry

Now Colin and I don't usually give pressies to each other on Mothers Day

Cause I aint his mum and he aint my dad

But look at what the lovely man bought me

Pretty cool and soooooooo comfy

I have had a lovely day but tinged with sadness would love to have

my mum and wee grannie here

Miss and love them always

Grey around the edges

I finally got around to putting a quilt together with a Moda Basic Grey charm pack that has been keeping the cupboard warm since last September.

Really like the backing fabric.

But my fav is the binding just love that.

It is a very spring like day here although it is windy. My big problem is I can't stop yawning and have no energy whatsoever.

As a family it is not the best time health wise.

DH coughing and spluttering like he is about to expire. Aimee been off school a couple of days Murray on his second dose of steroid and is in competition with grandad for the cougher of the week.

Hey ho the Easter break has started.

Hoping for a bit of sunshine and a return of the energy levels.

Not quite a dresser

As I have mentioned in the past I have 'stuff '

I have been very good and tried my best to de-clutter.

The things that are left are things that I love and could not bare to part with.

Too many memories.

I needed somewhere to display them as I love having my 'things' around me.

Above is the storage solution that hubbie came up with.

It is made up with the 'Billy' shelfing system from Ikea.

I have to say I wasn't convinced it would work but I have to say I think it looks great.

A bit country looking made from modern units.

Some of the highlights are.

Birdhouse that hubbie bought in Macys.

Doll reminds me of my girlies when they were young and their red curly hair.

My button angel from my dear friend Margaret.

Love this sampler also has a wee birdhouse.

Finally got around to framing it

Bought this picture at the Country Living Fair in November last year.

It is a winter scene with a Christmas Tree but love too much to only have it on display at Xmas

Close-up of button Angel.

My friend knows me soooooooooo well

'Country Hearts'

I am a sucker for pretty country things and love checked and tiny floral fabrics.

Made this over the past few days.

Lots of cute fabrics that I love

Lots of hand sewing and quilting

Look at the cute button

It has pride of place hanging on the door of the kitchen
display cabinet

'1997'

My first venture into crafting happened many moons ago when I was at the local library and came across a book by Una Stubbs (actress) on stitch craft she spent any spare time she had stitching. This book was like turning on a light bulb for me and so began my love of stitching.

I spent my free time (not much of it with two girls, work and a hubbie who worked away from home) cross stitching. Chatting to somone at work led to a quilting class in the Speirs Centre (community hall) which I enjoyed but slipped back to cross stitch.

A few years later a visit to Linlithgow Palace resulted in finding Purely Patchwork I signed up for a basic class and my love affair with Patchwork And Quilting began.

The unpacking of 'that box' also resulted in finding the first sampler I made at Purely Patchwork it was all hand sewn and was completed in March 1997. (14 years ago hard to believe when in my mind I am still 18.....) My fav colour green as usual.

All these years wonder how many stitches ?????? The one thing that has remained is my love of hand sewing and although I do sometimes use my sewing machine for quickness I am first and foremost a hand quilter and love nothing better than sitting cosy in front of the fire a cup of something comforting and my ipod playing my favourite music...... bliss

First steps and Ruby Slippers

Colin and I have had a couple of holidays in Cornwall. First time we went we found these Wizard of Oz teddies. Having the same name as the front lady but not the ruby slippers Colin bought them for my birthday. They had plastic protective covers which seemed to have been lost in one of our house moves.
Colin was cleaning out the garage and found a box low and behold the protective covers were in it and these cutie wee slippers too.

These are Aimees first pair of slippers can't believe she ever wore them they so small and cute.

Aimee is now 6yrs old.

The box must have been packed 4 years ago when we first downsized.......

SHAME ON ME!!!!!!!!

Castles fairies,dragons and more

Aimees school project is Fairy Tales.

Parents were given notice two weeks ago that a casltle was to be built by the children as part of their homework. This allowed the collecting of various boxes,toilet roll holders, yoghurt cartons etc. The homework assignment was handed out on Monday complete with a letter from the 'DRAGON' that a castle be built and brought to school on Friday.

Aimee worked really hard after school inbetween all her out- of- school activities and regular homework.

The base is a cardboard box, the hill an upside down bowl, the castle a kitchen roll tube and toilet roll holders the top of the turrets is rolled-up paper made into a cone shape. The 'DRAGON' lives in the cave on the side of the hill.


What you can't see that clearly is the whole castle is covered in glitter.
Seems the sparklier the castle the better it will look


Think the girl did good