This n' that

I've not been well the past few days, I've had an infection. I felt so ill. I borrowed Mum's car and drove myself to the doctors and afterwards nearly fainted in the chemist and then couldn't even drive myself home. I had to wait for Mum and Dad to come and get me, lol! I feel a bit better than I did, though I've been in bed most of the day. The antibiotics are starting to work.

I didn't sleep well last night, when I finally did get to sleep in the early hours of the morning my pesky kitty woke me up fighting with next door's cat! I think I've mentioned a few times how my kitty's paw is against every paw in the neighbourhood. She's got quite a few battle scars.


see more Lolcats and funny pictures
How cute is this?

I've thought about getting some Feliway, have any of my readers used it? You can get plug-ins that give off a scent that calms cats down. Humans can't smell it, but cats can.

Long time, no see

Hello blog-friends! I feel like I haven't blogged for ages! In reality it's only been 3 weeks, which in the grand scheme of things isn't that long a time.

Well, what have I been up to?

• Work, done a bit of overtime due to staff sickness;
• A few meetings in the evening at school;
• Visiting a number of schools in the evenings too, Chatterbox is going to high school next year and we have to choose before the end of October. We've chosen the best school for her we hope. It has a lovely new building, good student care, good exam results and good discipline. We've prayed that we've made the right choice. God will protect her and bless her.
• And then all the other stuff that comes with church and parenting.
• Oh and I've been doing some drawing and sketching again, which I'm enjoying. I haven't had time the past few days, but it's been fun.

Chatterbox has impressed me this evening. She's written Macbeth out in a more concise form with some modern language changes. I'm so impressed. She's done this so that she can do the play with her friends at school. I struggled with Shakespeare at High School and she's mastered it at Primary School! I did giggle when she said, "Mummy, what are entrails?" Yuk, lol.

Squidge has decided to join the running club at school. However, it got rained off today. We've had some pretty wild weather today. The tail end of Hurricane Ophelia apparently. We've had, rain, wind, hail, thunder and lightening. Anyway, I can imagine Squidge being good at running, particularly long distance, she's quite wiry and never still. I was good at cross country in my youth and I'm wondering if Squidge will take after me.

Well, I can hear the hubster has arrived home from his music group meeting at church so I shall sign off.

Pip, pip.

Being blown about like kites...

Here are a couple of videos from yesterday. When we got home from school yesterday we wanted to go and find out just how windy it really was, our house was quite sheltered.We certainly enjoyed the gales as we felt the dying effects of Hurricane Katia - obviously no longer a hurricane but more a bit of a gale! The girls fell over a few times though!! LOL.

Wind across the lake:



The girls striding forth, can you see that they both have 'staffs'. Chatterbox announced that she was Moses! :):



I really enjoyed our time out. As we walked I thanked God that we live in such a beautiful place. The fresh air was wonderful, the hills were (as ever) magnificent), the gales were entertaining, and I love spending time with my girls. Just lovely.

Happy Homemaker Monday

For more Happy Homemaker posts visit Sandra's Blog

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Here's the forecast for today (from BBC website weathercheck:

Monday

Becoming very windy with storm force winds gusting to 60-70 mph inland with 80 mph on coasts and hills. Cloudy all day with rain on the hills.

Monday night

Staying very windy. Rain on hills easing away and clear spells developing further south, where it will be dry through the night time.

Max. Day 17 (°C)
Sunrise 06:37

Min. Mon Night 11 (°C)
Sunset 19:32

Things that make me happy:

Sitting here indoors when there is a gale blowing outside! :)

Book I'm reading:

Just the Bible. I'm in Deuteronomy now. Still not started Bleak House by Charles Dickens, I will at some point! I read a coffee table style book about the Titanic from the library, it was very interesting. I might share a few facts if I get time.

With Chatterbox I'm reading Wind in the Willows, with Squidge I'm reading whatever she fancies last night it was Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson.

The girls have brought a stack of art books home from the library.


What's on my TV today:

Midsomer Murders

On the menu for dinner:

Piquant Pork. I will share the recipe later.

On my To Do List:

• Tidy house;
• Ironing;
• Work (also for those who don't know, I do 2 hours a day in the kitchen at my girls' school - yes, I'm a dinner lady!);
• Try to sew Squidge's Hello Kitty, she's developed two holes.
• Mend Chatterbox's coat (it got ripped at school).
• Church group tonight at our Pastor's house.

In the craft basket:

My art stuff, I'm doing a lot of pencil sketching at the minute.

Looking forward to this week:

Visiting some old friends on Tuesday night.

Tips and Tricks:

If you use microwave bean/wheat bags as a substitute for hot water bottles, put a drop of lavendar oil (or favourite scent) in the centre before heating. Lovely.

Did you know you can make your own by putting uncooked rice in a clean sock and knotting the end and heating in the microwave until warm?

My favourite blog post this week:

No specific posts.

No words needed (favourite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Hubs trying to light one of those lantern things, it was too windy and we gave up. (NB: It was an eco-friendly one with no metal parts - just in case you were worried!). It was so funny.

Lesson learned the past few days:

That I need to not watch so much news, it tends to stress me out!

On my mind:

• The tragic losses of 9/11 and the families who must be suffering right now.
• My dear blog friend Michele who has just lost her precious Dog Toby. My prayers go out to her.
• Boots' issue with next door's cat. She keeps fighting, she's going to have no ears left at his rate, we've had blood everywhere, trips to the vets for anti-biotics and other treatments. It really worries me and I'm wondering if she needs to be an indoor cat because these fights have been going on for weeks now.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,[a]
And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51: 4-10

Happy Monday!

Happy Homemaker Monday

For more Happy Homemaker posts visit Sandra's Blog

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Here's the forecast for today:

11°C
Chance of Rain
Scattered Clouds
Wind: W at 24 km/h
Humidity: 82%

Lol, 'Chance of Rain'? It's absolutely tipping it down!

Things that make me happy:

A little hand slipping into mine on the way into school this morning and whispering, "I love you Mummy".

Book I'm reading:

Just the Bible. I'm in Numbers. I'm thinking of starting Bleak House by Charles Dickens this week, it's been on my shelf for a while.

With Chatterbox I'm reading Wind in the Willows, with Squidge I'm reading whatever she fancies (we haven't started a long book this week).

What's on my TV today:

Midsomer Murders

On the menu for dinner:

Homemade pizza (I'm going to make the base in the bread maker).

Lol, scratch that, I thought the dough cycle was 1 hour but it's 1 hour 30 mins and I've left it too late.

On my To Do List:

• Tidy house;
• Ironing;
• Work (also for those who don't know, I do 2 hours a day in the kitchen at my girls' school - yes, I'm a dinner lady!);
• Adjust two of Squidge's new school skirts that are too big around the waist;
• Try to get tar off one of Chatterbox's dolls!;
• Church group tonight at our Pastor's house.

In the craft basket:

Squidge's school skirts for adjusting.
Some new acrylic paint and paper!

Looking forward to this week:

Hearing all about the girls' new classes at school.

Tips and Tricks:

I've just found out that you can freeze egg whites and yolks separately, which is useful to know for recipes where you only need the egg white or the yolk, that you can save the other part for another day. The tip suggests you save them in ice-cube compartments.

My favourite blog post this week:

This from A Holy Experience: When Perfectionism and To-do Lists Overwhelm


No words needed (favourite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Flickr

This isn't my photo, click on the Flickr link to take you to the original, but isn't it beautiful? Look at the wickle kitty paws!

Lesson learned the past few days:

That I am so grateful to be able to be home most of the day.

On my mind:

Church.
My girls playing outside, I love to hear them play.
The sad loss of a young woman who used to come to our church.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.
Numbers 14:24

Happy Monday!

Lavender

Flickr

I love Lavender. I've just bought myself some lavender handwash and some lavender bath oil. We also have a lavender scent plug-in air freshener in the hall - but I don't have that on all the time otherwise it gets overwhelming. Oh, and my Mum just bought me some lavender scented furniture polish! :)

I've just been researching how to make lavender linen spray (for ironing with), it looks pretty simple.

When I mention I love the smell of lavender many people have said that it reminds them of old ladies! Lol, but I don't care. I reckon this is because Yardley (a traditional perfume and scents manufacturer begun Britain in the 18th century) was big on lavender.

I'm not generally keen on flowery scents, but lavender I rather like. I also love scents like eucalyptus and sandalwood. My favourite perfume is Obsession by Calvin Klein.

What scents do you like?