Early Autumn ........

Well, I'm still aspiring to update my blog a bit more regularly. I'm being ever so organised and have now put an entry into my diary to remind me each weekend to write an update. 

We had a nice couple of weeks holiday, with good weather and lots of nice walks. We may try to get away for another week or so but as I'm a bit if a fair weather camper we may just stay at home if it turns colder or wet. 

My niece, Jennifer, has returned from her six months in Sri Lanka running an animal sanctuary. I'm incredibly proud of her and think that she's probably the most amazing and inspirational person I know. And, she's also brought home a beautiful wee dog called Penny. I haven't met Penny yet but once she's settled into her new home I'll go over to meet her. 

This week the weather has been pretty nice most days. Today has been a beautiful early autumn day.  Mike's been busy working on replacing the external lights so that we can see when we have Mickey and Lucy in the garden for their late night outing. I've been busy painting the window frame in the front living-room. It'll need at least two coats of paint and I'd hoped to be able to give it a second coat this evening, but it's still pretty tacky, so I guess it'll be tomorrow before I can do the second coat. Then I've got new curtains to shorten and I'm hoping that there will be enough fabric left over to do a couple of cushion covers. Then in a week or so we'll be getting new blinds on the window. After that all I have to do is clean the carpet and paint the walls so that the room will be nice for Christmastime. Then I'll start on the hall and the old front door.  With a bit of luck I might even be able to get a new carpet for the hall floor! Fingers crossed!!!

I'll also have to get some new bag charms made as I have a sale for the middle of October to prepare for. The last one at this organisation was very successful, so I'm hoping this one will go well. I've managed to source some very pretty beads from America. I've almost decided on the ones I want to buy.  I may not have therm in time for the October sale, but they should arrive in good time for the December one.  

Speaking of December and Christmas. Irving Berlin's White Christmas is on at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh from 29 November till 4 January and my friend Siobhan and I are hoping to get tickets. A few years ago I went with my friend Rita to see White Christmas at the Edinburgh Playhouse.  For those of you who have been watching Dallas on a TV (the new series and the old series) Ken Kercheval, aka Cliff Barnes, was General Waverly in the show at The Playhouse and was very good.  Talking of Christmas, I'm being ever so organised and have most of our 'big' gifts in and have an idea of what I'm going to get for some of the others. 

This coming week I'm hoping that we can get back into the regular habit of going to the pool. We haven't been since before we went off on holiday, so it will be good to get back to going for a swim a few times each week. 

Those of you who know me will know that I like the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child. Now Jack Reacher is a big guy, 6' 5" and built like a tank. You don't mess with him. Anyway, one of the novels, First Shot, has been made into a movie starring Tom Cruise. Now Tom Cruise ain't 6' 5" and he talks with a soft squeaky voice. Jack Reacher he ain't. Anyway, I told everyone that I would NEVER EVER watch the movie. Well, I did. I watched it cos everyone said if I could put aside the fact that Lil Squirt Tom Cruise was Jack Reacher, then I'll enjoy it cos it's a fantastic movie. So I watched it. Well, when I say "I watched it" I mean I watched some of it. I did try to watch all of it, but sadly it was so disappointing that I really couldn't watch it. 

Now, I do like the film The Help, and the book. I think Miss Skeeter is just awesome. Minny and Aibileen are fantastic characters as well. And Miss Hilly??? Well, she deserves a punch on the nose! 

Well, I think that's about enough chatter for now. More to come next weekend! 

"I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze"
          Forrest Gump

“love the life you live, live the life you love.”
          Bob Marley 

Well, as Forest Gump says ... "that's all I have to say about that" 

What I've been up to lately!

Another little update! 

Well Mike and I are just back from a nice relaxing holiday. We had very good weather and caught up with a couple of Mike's uncles and cousins. We had a lovely time and each of the sites we used were rather nice and all of them had fabulous dog walk areas, always a bonus! 

Unfortunately, (or fortunately as it turned out) we had to return home a day early because of a kitchen sink problem (which will be sorted tomorrow). I say fortunately because Saturday was a beautiful day and we had a lovely relaxing drive home and Sunday was cold, wet, wild, windy and miserable. But I did get all the washing done! Ironing??? Nah ... that'll never happen! 

So all is more or less back to normal now. 

The nights are fair drawing in now and this week the weather has turned very chilly so I reckon that autumn is here. This morning I had my morning coffee in the summerhouse. It was a bit chilly, so sadly I reckon that I won't be summerhousin' now until springtime, unless it turns a bit milder. So, I need to have a think about where to sit and relax with my coffee in the mornings. I guess I  could always sit in the front room and spy in the neighbours when they leave for work ......

I've been pretty busy lately. I've been planning my 'craft pay it forward gifts' and will be starting work on them soon. I've also been working on some new jewellery and beaded items and I'm also keen to start expanding my product range. So, watch this space! 

I've been slowly working through the stuff we've got stored in the loft. I have one corner sorted so far and have lots of storage boxes ready to be filled. My plan is that my fabric and wool and other crafting stuff can be stored there and once the space or organised I'll know exactly where everything is. At least , that's the plan. 

It's always good to have a plan. It doesn't have to be a good or a great plan, just a plan. 

Will update more in a day or so.  

Watch this space ......