son'swedding

Had some fantastic pics from maldives where my son is on honetmoon. trying not to be jealous (of the place not the honeymoon). It looks fantastic and they deserve it!

I wasn't so busy for this wedding although I did make my suit and Wenny's dress as she is expanding and couldn't find anything to fit that she liked ('cause she's expecting).

My beautiful fascinator, I bought one on the internet because it was the right colour but the most dreadful thing I'd ever seen, was recreated by Jean ,my hairdressers mum, after a chance conversation the week before. I had no idea that Jean made them, and it is absolutely beautiful! Thanks Jean!

The photo was taken at the reception in the grounds of Ruthin Castle. Grand or what?

Certainly was a super day, oh and my escort (hubby) looks good too!

one week at a time

Well, where did that week go!!

My sister has gone home, the happy couple are on honey moon,  my eldest daughter celebrated her anniversary and my youngest daughter is expecting her first baby in February.

I'm busy trying to create an album of last year's wedding. Why are the first few pages easy, then you have a mind block! Ah well start again tomorrow!

This picture is from last year. They are Kelly, Nayera my daughter, Joanne and Morwenna who's now expecting. They are all so beautiful and I'm so lucky!

Restart and another wedding

Well, where has a year gone! My beautiful girls celebrated their wedding anniversary on Sunday, but on Saturday, my eldest son got married to the beautiful gorgeous Laura. What a wonderful day. My sister flew from the Isle of Lewis to be with us (we've had a fabulous few days together as well)

We start the morning early with hair done and fasinators put in at 8.30, boy, did it seem early having stayed up talking with daughters and sister. Hubby, son and son-in-law going over to son-who-is-getting-married! So we had a girly night, painting nails etc... oh I'll have to add more later. I think you'll have to agree they are beautiful!!

Well summer has come and gone, what happened to it?
Started work at Rhosymedre School. Felt as though I fitted in from day 1, lovely people, lovely kids, some challenges to keep you on your toes, just what I need. We have got to half term and a well earned rest was needed I can tell you. But 8weeks just wizzed by. We went to a chamber orchestra performance, Roman Dewa experience in Chester and a wonderful Harvest service at the nearby church with poems, songs and a play by the children. It has been a fantastic end to a fantastic half term! Really enjoying it.
Started knitting again after my daughter sent me a pattern and some wool for a beret she had found. Silly me forgot to take a photo. Then knitted another one for my other daughter who came down last week to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. I got to look after their dog, Milo, while they went of to the same hotel/room for the honeymoon.
We also met up with her in-laws for a lovely meal and a lovely chat all with lovely people.
Had my hair done yesterday ready for going back to work on Monday. Looks a bit flat here, but it looks good at the proper angle. The other photo I took shows all my double chins!
I was going to start making Christmas cards, but I only got the box out. Promise to start soon.
A new friend at school, Marta from Poland, makes the most beautiful painted glass objects, well worth a visit to her website. I will have to get it sorted and post it on here if it's o.k. with her.
Keep you posted this time, promise!!

life after wedding

The Best Day,

All the build up and worry, stitching, unstitching, fittings, revamps, add ons and everything else was worth it for the most wonderful day, the sort you want to do again!

What a wonderful day! Everything went beautifully, even the rain stopped for the photo's. This was just a quick one after the ceremony had taken place!
The speeches were witty and not too long, a few shocks like my bridesmaid daughter telling about her sister being covered in puke and having to be cleaned up by her partner, ending with "did the alarm bells not ring then". And The other bridesmaid telling about her cousin's ingenuity at photo copying driving licences to get into night clubs (they didn't succeed) to the mother's horror!But there were far more beautiful and lovely things said about them both. No brides could have looked more radiant and in love.
And here they stand just after the registrar had finished the service, I didn't take many photos but I expect there will be many more on facebook and the official ones so I'll keep you posted. I heard you all groan!
I found out there is life after wedding, I don't know where the time has gone. I've been trying to de-clutter by giving away a wardrobe and chest of draws! I still have little piles of 'don't know what to do with things'. I really have tried to throw things out but I am good at hiding, squeezing and covering over all sorts of things. Plus it doesn't help when you have a big house with lots of rooms, so I usually end up moving things around from place to place!!

Jo and Nayera, may you have all you need and desire, Along and happy life together, with love from Me

lists

To stop me from panicking, I was advised to do a list. So I did a list, trying to put things that needed doing on allocated days leading up to people arriving and even a chart to show where people would be sleeping. The last part was easier than I thought, Mind you, they haven't arrived yet or been shown to their allocated rooms!
Well---- the first thing got done, then I seemed to miss Tuesday out completely apart from one small thing. The 2nd item for Tuesday I have done today. And the first thing for tomorrow, I started today.
Confused? Well so am I!
I'm not panicking, else I wouldn't be sitting here writing this drivel.
Will there be a life after wedding?
I hope so, we shall see.
It's getting late so goodnight, sweet dreams (oh that would be nice, just to sleep)
May our God bless you.

Thought you might like these two turtle doves, they remind me of--let's see----wedding!
Ahhhhhhhhg.

Closer

The Wedding is now only a few days away! It has been so hectic with sewing and all that. Shopping for Fascinators to match shoes, handbag, wondering if I made the right choice in colours. Hair redone (not sure about that either!) Ah well, it will be too late to change anything soon. A bit like Christmas, I love it when the shops finally close because then you can't do anything about things forgotten or thought you had in the cupboard only to find they aren't there!
Hope we haven't forgotten anything. Poor Jo and Nayera have got to remember to bring everything here except for dresses and hair bits
and pieces. They have to bring cup cake cases, wedding cake, decorations and one hundred other things!
The sewing room has to disappear to make room for a bedroom once again as people (mostly family) are coming to stay. It's getting exciting, I can tell you. Can't sleep at night, can't get up in the morning. I'm sure you've all been there at some time or another.
I'll bore you all to death, silly people who may look at my blog, with wedding photos.
See you all soon my best beloveds!!!!

Wedding Cake trial

Well i've just made the scrummiest cakes ever in the run up to the wedding. I had to try out my oven which is not the most helpful of ovens either over or under cooking, not very practical. Any way, they have turned out yummy, yummy, yummy ( I've got a big fat tummy).
I only hope that I haven't peeked too early. They are lemon cakes with a frosted lemon topping, I had to take a quick photo before they vanished before my eyes.

Everything is on schedule, dress fit (not mine cause it's not finished) except for some minor details. Only 2and a bit weeks left.
Rings made and picked up after a previous disaster!
Can't wait now for 9th August.
Just house cleaning and beds and rooms to sort out for who ever is coming!
It's getting exciting!!

Work

Yeah, I've got a job!
Went for an interview yesterday that turned out not to be an interview. There were 4 of us there at the school I went to. The Actual job description had changed so we were all showed around the school and then told what vacancies need to be filled and was there anything anybody liked. We were told that 40 applicants had applied and she had whittled it down to us 4!
I liked the challenge of one of the children who needed 1 to 1 support, and I got it!!!!!
I went today to meet the child in question and talk to the teachers who knew him and it was all so exciting, so I just wait now until September.
I shall be so scared but it is exciting.
We are having a Chinese take-a-way tonight thanks to my eldest and her partner who are coming for another 'final fitting'. Yes, this had better be the final final final fitting. Let you know how it goes. Can't wait to have some photos to show you, it will be here soon, Aug 9th. Whoopee, I'm excited about that too!!!!!!!

Friends

Poor Marlene is so fed up waiting for her new friend. She will be here soon, I'm sure. We'll have to have a naming day and maybe, even let Marlene choose the name for "The New One". It might be a bit risky 'cause I never know what Marlene will do. Well just look at her, She's so naggy. I've been so busy, like finishing of solitaire games, well you do have to finish them and then see what comes up next, don't you?
Ah well , we will have to see.

Car Boot

Thanks to Nayera and Jo, (Nayera and Jo on Hen Do) I have at last managed to do 2, not 1, but 2 carboots! We haven't made a huge amount but have cleared quite a few books out. The house doesn't look any different, infact, the 'games room' has things littering the floor to be either cleaned, packed or put back from whence they came!
Went to a return to work 'thing' from the job centre today, lovely people but not really very helpful.I couldn't remember most of what they had said by the time I got home to tell hubby. The best was I had a telephone call from a school job I've applied for, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Hen Do & Cake

Just a plain sponge cake, but it does taste good.Do you like the label? The string attached looks like the icing is running, but it isn't. They labels were made by my eldest as a surprise for me, to go on things I have made, like my bags. MMMM! I'm thinking, maybe I could put one somewhere in their dresses, now that's a thought.
Well back to my delicious cake! I'm not sure if it's a good idea to take up making cakes again, 'cause all That happens is I eat them and that's not good for my expanding waist!
I forgot how satisfying it is to bake, and also how lovely it is when the others in the family enjoy them!
At the rate I'm going, I won't be able to fit into my wedding clothes!
The dresses are almost finished, just need some tweaking here and there.

Disappointment!
My sister rang to say she won't be able to come to the wedding after all. I understand, but still I'm disappointed! She has had a huge expense of fixing her Caravanette, and she has, probably, the largest of expenses to travel here from Isle of Lewis.

I have been on an emotional roller coaster the last few weeks, I wont bore you with the details.
Thanks to Chicken blog for replying to my comment, it was very much appreciated.
I've done two successful car boots! The first with the help of Nayera and Jo, and the second with the help of Hubby. We are beginning our de-clutter, not that the house looks any different!

Hen Do!

This is my younger daughter up in the trees on her sister's hen do. You'll just have to take my word for it, but the boots are a give away!
They all took to the trees in GoApe complete with army style combat shorts, war paint (or should that be combat camouflage), and Rambo head bands. I was the ground troops. Even if I had managed to climb the rope ladders, I would have been frozen to the platform. I did enjoy watching them enjoying their trials and tribulations. They all (about 12) completed the course, some more surprised than others, a great afternoon.
There are rumours going around that I dived into a taxi to go clubbing and I danced around my handbag. That is a lie, I never took my handbag.

Food
Back to my favourite subject, Greg (eldest son) came to dinner yesterday bearing gifts. He bought the tastiest beef (well it was the cooking ofcourse) I've had for a long time, some sausage & bacon for in the week and some mince. So we won't die of starvation, not yet anyway, May not have kitchen to cook in but hey, what the heck!

Told off

Oh, dear I got well and truly told of by my son. But I did say he had taken us out and he was kind and considerate! Ah well you can't win 'em all!
I've just had to take my zip out of my wedding trousers, because the waist band wasn't as high as I thought. I hate zips and it had gone in so well.
Anyway task done and it wasn't so bad!
Another fitting (final) I hope of the wedding dress tomorrow.
Then I start on her partners dress with alterations.
Must just say, my younger son made tea for us last night (salad and chicken) then went down the road to fetch some bread and made sandwiches for lunch today.
See, miracles do happen!!!!!!!

Thank you cards

I do love my family and they love me I'm sure. Wait for it, there is a But! My eldest son, he is so kind and thoughtful in many ways, He took us out for a lovely pub lunch the other day on the way to a discount warehouse. Nothing wrong there I can hear you say. The last but one evening he finishes his placement in his finals as a student nurse, he wants, yes, yes, you are so excited, "Can I have two thank you cards please mom?" "Yes ofcourse, I'll do two for you"
So I do, around about 9.30 p.m.
I get a lovely big Thank you from him, and that's it!
You might think I'm mean, but he has sold around 60 cards for me, and not a penny have I seen!
Bet that sounds familiar to all you card makers out there!!
Any way, gripe over. The lace over my partly made trousers

It's a lovely evening, I'm just having a break from sewing the lace on The Wedding Dress. It's beautiful lace but a real pain to sew onto the netting which covers the dress.
Oh dear! Marlene has decided to play about again! She so wants to be a bride, poor thing. With looks like hers, I really dont think there's much of a chance!!

Well that's coffee time over. Must get back, maybe just one game of solitaire!

Zippadi do da.......

Just a quick catch up, not much to report. It's just long winded things to do!!
Today we had to take youngest after today's GCSE exam to get a birthday present for tomorrow. No panic there then!
I went into our little market and lo and behold, I got a zip for my wedding outfit, having forgotten the swatch of material, and guess what, it's near perfect!
We stopped in Llangollen for a delicious ice-cream, oh boy, they are delicious there.
On the way home it started raining but we just got back in time to rescue the washing!
Got to get The Wedding Dress zip finish. Then I can start my zip.

Thought you might like this photo of my water Irises, the are in a big blue pot and look lovely. Shame they don't last long.

FIRE

What a day!
You hear of card fraud but never think it will happen to you! Well it has happened to me!
Hubby was checking to see if a cheque had cleared and it had, but it had also been taken out in small amounts adding up to virtually the whole amount we have at the time. We basically have £50 in hubby's pocket!
Not bad enough? Oh no.I received a letter asking me to confirm details of an order as it was such a large amount, thank goodness they had checked (mind you it wouldn't have gone through). It is now with the police complete with case no.
It has ruined our day (week, month, maybe year!). Sounds dramatic but we are already at an all time low!

And then, we finished our evening with this! I even missed the end of a programme we had been watching to take these photos!








The sky looks as though its on fire. It didn't last long but it was glorious enough to raise my spirits for today. There are beautiful things in this world for free, why to people have to be so.... I can't say what I want to, I'm sure you know what I mean! I know there are more good than bad but it doesn't help me much at the moment.




But then I look at these pictures and my heart does lift.
No crafting at all today. I was going to put the zip in The Wedding Dress, but thought better of it in case I stuffed up.








Well, as Scarlett O'Hara said "Tomorrow... is another day!"
Hope she's right!!!!

pictures from Isle of Lewis

My sister rang today to make arrangements for coming to The Wedding in August.
She also told me that she had framed a cross stitch she has done of delphiniums which, I think you will agree are gorgeous.
She also sent the most beautiful pictures of this evenings sunset from her home on the Isle of Lewis. I was lucky enough to visit her sometime back when we had the most fabulous weather to see the most fabulous sites I think I have ever seen!
If you don't know where Lewis is, it's of the coast of North West Scotland, above Skye, if you look at a map. Not a very good geographical description but I'm sure you'll find it. It's usually marked on T.V. weather maps with Stornaway!
The one thing is you have to agree they are amazing Photos, thanks Annie. Love you.
We aren't usually sentimental (not really) but it's getting late and I want to go to bed!!!!

Half term

After a bad start with the weather, at last it has picked up. I've had a few days with my younger daughter and husband, although they did spend one day shopping and going to the cinema. We also met up with my daughters in law for lunch at Betws-y-Coed. It was lovely and I even managed to get caught by the sun a little!

Youngest daughter went home and then we picked up eldest (Smudges Blog) from Wrexham train station. So I've had a lovely week, fitting in revision classes for GCSE's for younger son!
When we got home we had a fitting of The Dress, and it fitted beautifully, so daughter was pleased and I was relieved!


She had also bought with her her new toy which was a Big Bite for eyelets, grommets and snappers! We have had a play but time is short.

And then my friend of 28years is coming over tonight. We lost touch about 8years ago, but now are back in contact and she's coming over here, I'm quite excited about that!

Shoes

We went to Llangollen to do some shopping this morning and in a window I saw the most amazing pair of shoes with a matching handbag in a charity shop. I had thought about grey to go with my wedding outfit but never imagined I'd find any. And they were my size, what luck, and what's more they did fit 'cause even though something is your size it doesn't mean it will fit!!
We then went to our Tuesday market (only small-very small) and one of the stalls was selling a block of A4 card for £2, what a bargain. He had white, blue, orange, bronze, ivory and another colour which I forgot. Being broke, I just bought white!
The dress is coming along nicely, so is my camisole top, all seems well at the moment, touch wood.I have even succumbed to knitting a friend for Marlene, I said I wouldn't knit any more but it stops me from biting my fingers while I watch the telly in the evening. Anything that does that is good!!!
Marlene seems to be pleased, she's keeping an eye on Stu's revision timetable and exam timetable just to make sure we don't miss anything!!

Dress

Oh me Oh my!
Sewing and sewing and sewing.
Edging the netting and putting a bead every so often is driving me nuts (yes again)
Mind you I have done quite a lot today. Think I've managed to alter the straps. You know how daughters can be, "mom, I like this pattern and I want a dress just like that, except could you do this, day-de-day and this" and like an idiot, you say "yes of course dear!"
Then I realised I hadn't finished the raw edges on the lining.
No cards done since her birthday in April, I'll get to the point where, not only will I be able to find anything, but I'll have forgotten what they are for!!!!!!
Moan, moan, moan, that's me! Not really, I think I'm a jolly person.
Oh, no bags made either.