Wednesday 27 June 2007

HS:MS - Filigree & DCM - Love


Ornamental fine wire work.


I had 2 choices today, I could go up to the attic and route around for a couple of hours trying to find the filigree Christmas angel that is somewhere up there or I could use the lamp in the Living room and hope it passes as filigree. Guess which one I went for!!

I would like to thank everyone for their kind words about Pete, yesterday. He has just taken himself off to the hospital so should be feeling a lot better by lunch time. The fun will begin when he comes home at tea time full of bounce and energy and annoyingness. It's just like having a huge 5 year old in the house who can't sit still, fidgets, plays practical jokes and generally winds everyone up - it's great as he makes me laugh so much!
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I made this card last night to fit in with the DCM midweek challenge.
So what Little Extra treat have we dreamed up for you to play with this week?
Well, there's a lot of wedding talk around on the design team with two weddings coming up soon. So inspired by this we'd like you to put some LOVE into your cards this week. Wedding, Anniversary, Engagement or simply to say "I love You" - there are lots of opportunities to get lovey-dovey and slushy, so get out all the romanti
c stash out and show us what you can do. After all, you know what they say;"All you need is Love, Love, Love"
I used red, white and brown card stock, black cotton, brown brads and some black and brown ink pads.


Rach
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Tuesday 26 June 2007

CPS #19

I'm on a roll today! I know it won't last long so I am making the most of it while it lasts. I liked the latest CPS sketch so thought I would double up and make my sister in law's birthday card at the same time. Just hope she doesn't read my blog before her birthday!




I used basic grey papers (as usual), American crafts ribbon, dusky pink card stock and some pink and white inks. The writing round the centre of the flower reads "have a very happy birthday Maire!"

Me thinks I need to stop know and tidy up (I must be the worlds messiest crafter) before the In laws arrive.

Rach
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DCM - Tagged

This week on DCM it is Rhi's turn to dare everyone.

Hi, its Rhi here his week! Wow! What an amazing response for Lythan's {EM}Boss Dare and the FABULOUS little extra. It's great to see so many inspired cardmakers, thank you to each and every one of you who has joined in and shared your creation.


Now onto this weeks dare...


Everything we buy has packaging, some of it excessive, some of it beautifully designed. Tags, labels, stickers... all sorts of bits and bobs that we can recycle onto cards.I dare you to make a card using a tag, label, sticker or anything else you can find, thats from packaging and would normally end up in the bin. Of course you can ink it, change it, distress it and add anything else you like!


If you're feeling brave, I DOUBLE DARE you to make it a card for a man!


I was lucky with this one as I bought a pair of jeans last week and they had this tag on them and the blue ribbon. I also used basic grey paper, blue card stock, brown ink pad and some brown brads from my stash, oh and a little bit of sewing. No idea who I'm going to send it too!!
Rach
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HS:MS - Sit

A round, deep dish.

Today's picture is of the fire bowl on the patio but as you can see it is more like a gold fish bowl after all the rain we had yesterday!

Not a very exciting day here yesterday I am afraid as I just played catch up most of the day. We did have a phone call from the hospital saying that Pete's blood test results were back after only 3 hours. His blood count is at 75 which is not good as he should be more like 160 - 180. Another phone call at 8.30 this morning told him that he is booked in for 3 units of the red stuff tomorrow. So yet another thank you has to go out to all the amazing people who regularly donate blood as without them, and his fantastic nurses, Pete would have been dead a long time ago.
He did start out to work this morning, got there, sat in the car and then came home again as he felt too sick to go in, which is unusual for Pete (he has only had 2 days off sick in the last 2-3 years). One of the side effects of anemia is nausea which he had this morning. He only really gets it first thing and it then passes off as the morning goes on so he will be in work at lunch time, he is already feeling a lot better and is currently playing on the Wii. We suspect that he is actually pregnant and the Doctor is hiding it from us as he has also been put on Folic Acid tablets! Lol
In total contrast tomorrow night I will have to deal with a hyperactive husband because after he has a transfusion he goes loopy and generally winds up and irritates everyone for a few days which puts us all in a fantastic mood - so roll on the weekend just need the weather to pick up now!!
Rach
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Monday 25 June 2007

HS:MS - Sit

A position in which we relax.

I have a distinct lack of sitting in my space at the moment! Even the dogs aren't playing as they want to brave the atrocious weather and go on a walk, even if I don't. Kyle is in school, Pete is in work, Claire has gone to Newcastle for a couple of days and Matt has gone to Germany so I am home alone :(

After a bit of thought I have taken a picture of Matt's teddy bear who is sitting on his makeshift bed on Kyles floor (Claire has Matt's room) waiting for him to come home from Germany on Friday.




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We had a good day yesterday as we dragged Claire out of bed and went ten pin bowling in the morning, had some lunch and then took the dogs out on a long walk yesterday afternoon. I get today, tomorrow and Wednesday to myself before the real get up and go starts. Thursday Claire and I are going for a girly day out shopping, Friday Claire, Pete, Kyle and I are hopefully abseiling into Devils Gorge and then picking Matt up, Saturday we may go to Derbyshire and the caves, Sunday is Alton Towers, Monday we have booked a canal barge for the day and Tuesday we have no idea yet but you can guarantee it won't involve much sitting apart from the meal booked at a hotel in the evening.

Pete started with the symptoms of anemia again yesterday so is off for a blood test today to see if he can get an iron infusion on Thursday so all being well he should then be good to go. Bless him he will keep going even if he doesn't get it as can be seen in the photo. He doesn't let his illnesses effect us any more than is necessary - not bad for a man who permanently lives with a blood count of less than half of what it should be!

Rach
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HS:MS - Soap

A product we use to help us clean.


Playing catch up today with a nice seaweed soap we have at the moment. Not easy to take a photo after you have lathered up your hands that much they are silky smooth and slippy!! Lol


Saturday 23 June 2007

Write

To make marks wth a penil , paint or ink.

Hers: Matt doing his Maths homework.
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How handy was the prompt for me (no pun intended). I spent last night sat at the kitchen table with Matt working over his Maths homework which was equations. My initial reaction was to take it to Grandad Clive's today and he could help, Grandad Clive is a retired High School Maths teacher, but blow me, when I got passed the initial confusion of how he has to set it out, I could actually do them!! So we spent a pleasant hour doing equations together on some scrap paper. This meant that this morning Matt had to re-write them neatly in his book, hence the photo opportunity. Just needs to wash his hands now and scrub what there is left of his nails !!!
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Most of yesterday was spent cleaning the boys bedrooms - uuurggghh. There were things in there that I swear were alive at one time or another and by the time I had finished I was hot, sweaty and covered in dirt. It was worth it though as my house is now shining like a new pin, well sort of ish. Now comes the hard part of keeping it that way until Claire arrives here this afternoon. She is actually in the UK now as her Toronto plane should have landed at 7.30am but is expected to land at Heathrow any moment now (7.56am) it will then take them forever to get their bags and collect the car and then there is the drive to Grans and after that up to Cheshire so I don't expect that they will get up here until about 4-5pm this afternoon. A long time to keep the house clean with 2 boys in it! Lol
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Yay the plane landed at 7.55am - TOUCH DOWN!
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Rach
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Friday 22 June 2007

HS:MS - Straight

Moving or extending in only one direction.

Hers: Bedroom blinds.

When you live in a house that is over a hundred years old it is very difficult to find anything that could remotely pass as straight. Even if the item in question is straight it looks crooked against the wall, floor or any other housy bit that strays into the piccy! I did think about my hair but that would be too much like hard work, washing, drying, straightening. It was lovely and straight yesterday until I got caught out in the hugest downpour of the wet stuff ever, even the cows were sprinting for cover as I walked passed the field.


It's going to be another dreary day here doing nothing but housework. I didn't manage to get much done yesterday due to one thing and another. The postman bought me some interesting mail yesterday, a letter from the mobile phone insurance company saying that Kyle's mobile is not insured as they have never had the receipt or payment details (I gave this job to Pete in good faith about 6 weeks ago and he promptly forgot about it) and an unexpected surprise from Matt's school in the form of his school report. Mmmmm is all I can say really, the words silly, easily distracted, talks too much, doesn't listen enough feature in most lessons! The consensus is he is intelligent (gets that from my side! Lol) but must try harder to reach his full potential. Matt came home from school yesterday and the poor lad had to then sit and listen to me rant at him about the importance of education, he eventually made his escape taking the dogs out for a walk, which is unheard off so I must have been going on. He maybe should have stayed at home as I ended up getting phone calls (about 8 in total) saying the dog had bitten his tongue off and Kyle had walked fully clothed into the river with his new "LG Chocolate" mobile (yes the uninsured one) in his pocket. AAarrrghhh! On their return it turned out that the dogs tongue was slightly cut not bitten off and the mobile was dead. After a lot of tears from Kyle it spent the night tucked up on the radiator and is feeling much better this morning but it did have to endure a lot of jokes last night about it being a hot chocolate.
OMG I have just noticed that you can see the dust on my blinds, off to dust them now!

Rach
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Thursday 21 June 2007

HS:MS - Tea

A drink with jam and bread, that will bring us back to Doh, oh, oh,oh.

His: Think he's given up!


Hers: My favourite tea! Taken very weak, no milk and 2 sweeteners. Your supposed to use 1 tsp of this, I use less than 1/4 so very very weak tea here. So weak in fact that Pete made me a lovely cup of tea the other week with water and a smidge of gravy browning and I didn't notice!!

Back to reality today after my spending spree yesterday, I so needed it though, after over 8 months of not buying anything at all for myself! We had a very nice meal last night which was yummy even though it was fattening so I will just have to run a little bit further today to make up for it or I won't be fitting into my new clothes for long. Matt has his own ideas about my clothes as he told me I looked pregnant in the outfit I wore last night. Don't you just love teenagers! He did then correct himself though and said it looked like I should be pregnant as I was wearing a dress over my trousers, this was after my Mum had told me in the shop that a looked like my Great Aunt with an apron on! My Father In Law did make up for it when he arrived as he said I looked pretty and very young!!! I think that was the point that my chin hit the floor as my mouth fell open, as it was totally unexpected, but it made me feel soooo good.
Well back to the drudgery that is my Thursday, it's that exciting that the highlight is going to be watching "House" tonight. Think I will have a nice cup of tea to start me off, after I have cleaned it up of course.
Rach
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Wednesday 20 June 2007

HS:MS - Press

To compress, extract, squeeze, urge and manufacture.


His: Maybe later

Hers: My Sizzix machine.



I have just got back from my shopping trip to Chester, laden down with goodies. As predicted a few things other than underwear jumped into my shopping basket, you really have to watch these jeans, trousers, shorts and tops they are really sneaky!! By the time I noticed they were in there I had already paid and it would have been a shame to put them back at that stage! Lol. My best buys were some funky green knickers (M&S of course), some gorgeous boys fit jeans from Next and some really, really, really cool drinks containers from Lakeland. They are so cool I can't wait to use them. There is a stick in the middle of the bottle that you pull out and freeze so it keeps the drink cool for up to 4 hours and they have there own little bag to carry them in. Totally fabby for our biking holiday to France in the summer!
While we were out Mum treated me to lunch at the Slug and Lettuce where I had some scrummy chicken wings and salad washed down with a large diet coke (much too thirsty for wine). Then to top off an already fantastic day my In Laws are taking us out to dinner tonight so I can wear one of my gorgeous new outfits!! How lucky am I. All I have to do now is find a good hiding place for all the receipts - may have to be the cleaning cupboard!! Lol I didn't just spend on myself, I did buy Pete a bottle, some undies and some socks and I mustn't forget the sundae spoons!!

Rach
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Tuesday 19 June 2007

HS:MS - Milk

A creamy white liquid nutrient provided by animals.


His: Too busy doing DIY


Hers: Very boring picture today, the camera went faulty this afternoon so had to wait for Mr Fix It to come home before I could use it. The black background was unintentional - the milk is actually shot on a glass table outside, I had hoped to be able to see the fern through this in the shot!! It would have worked had I been able to do it when there was some daylight but instead it turned out black!! Lol




Very busy at the moment trying to get everything ready for our Canadian visitors on Saturday and for Matt's trip to Germany on Sunday. On top of that I am shopping all day tomorrow in Chester, poor me!!! Lol It won't be that thrilling as I mainly need knickers and bra's (most of mine are a disgusting shade of grey) and Pete's ordered undies and socks, oh and Kyle needs some school shirts, but I am sure a pair of jeans might sneak in with some shorts, shoes and tops!!! Lol

Rach
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Monday 18 June 2007

HS:MS - Drink

A liquid refreshment.

His: Later

Hers: Now I know how this must look but I am not a lush honestly. My younger (by 20 years) cousin *big wave to Claire*, from Canada, is coming to stay for a couple of weeks on Saturday and these cooler drinks that she / we like were on offer and they were calling out to me in the shop. Well, they are such pretty colours that I just had to buy some - didn't I?
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Mmm just a tad paranoid, everyone else seems to have taken pictures of non alcholic drinks so far, maybe I am a lush after all!!! Lol

Sunday 17 June 2007

HS:MS - Berry

A small fruit with a stone or seeds.

His: The redcurrants growing in the garden (until they are eaten tonight).

Hers: Lucky for me this is what we are having for tea tonight with meringue, ice cream and sauce in a tall sundae glass with lashings of cream!! (The strawberries are home grown)











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Pete's just made us a lovely banana loaf from a weight watchers recipe and it smells delicious. Unfortunatley he, who doesn't bake, decided to shake it out of the loaf tin. The whole thing splatted all over the cooling rack so we shall be eating crumbs by the handful!!!
The picture was taken after the clear up. He has now pushed it all back together as best he can!! Anyone for cake?

Rach
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CPS #17 - Happy Father's Day!

This the card that I made using the CPS #17 challenge. Couldn't post it before today as Dad looks at my blog *Hi Dad and Happy Father's Day*.

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Card was made from some brown card stock I had. Paper is crate paper. Letters I have had for years. Wooden heart button was from a pack bought as a gift. Garden string. Brown ribbon from stash.

Rach
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Saturday 16 June 2007

HS:MS - Hat

A cover for the head to keep it dry and warm.

His: Cowboy hat on a rhododendron in the garden - then he used the invert filter in elements.

Hers: My favourite hat for the summer.


DCM - You're not the (em)boss of me

I have looked at this challenge blog called Daring Card Makers for a while now and love the idea of it and the cards the team make - very inspiring. I needed to make a card for my fantastic Canadian cousin who is 19 in a couple of weeks so thought that this would be as good as time as any to start joining in. This way his Mum and sister can see the card as they will be here for his birthday. *waves to Lyn & Claire* Can't wait to see you only 1 week to go *jumps up and down with excitement*.


This weeks challenge was set by Lythan.

Hi there playmates, its Lythan here! Doing these dares is such a joy. We all love seeing what you create so much. The way that you have taken up and run with both the Celestial dare and the Midweek extra this week has just been awesome.
As a reward - and as I was so strict last time I set a dare - here is a nice broad theme to get your creative juices flowing.
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Embossing.
Dry embossing with a light box or with a die cutting machine.
Using embossing powders or triple embossing.
Using pre-embossed papers.
Embossing with found items.
Just have fun playing!

And as I can't resist being a little (em)bossy - why not see if you can get more than one emboss technique on your card?
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I used Kaskad acid free card stock, American Crafts ribbon, cuttlebug embossing folder, white ink pad, cricut lettering and a hand cut tag. Oh and some staples!
I'm looking forward to the next challenge already!

Friday 15 June 2007

HS:MS - Shell

A thin protective cover for an animal or egg.

His: Why did I marry him?

Hers: Not an animal or egg shell, but I think it counts? An empty shell that one of the boys got from a museum once.


















Pete's visit to the hospital yesterday went well his kidney function has dipped a bit but not as low as it has in the past. The doc still thinks dialysis will happen one day but it should be later rather than sooner. Every ones kidney function deteriorates with age so it is inevitable that Pete's will go completely one day as the maximum function he has now is 30%. Seeing as we were told that he would be on the donor list 7 years ago he is not doing too bad!! All his other levels are fine, just slightly out due to his bout of crones a couple of weeks back. Apparently the dietitian says that because all his levels are good he can eat and drink what he wants, when he wants and as much as he wants!! I think he may be embellishing on the truth slightly as I am sure she didn't say a diet of Bacardi and chocolate would be good for him! Lol

Hope everyone has a good weekend, we are going to try even with the constant rain. I have no idea how I am going to dry the suitcase of muddy, smelly, disgusting clothes that Kyle has bought me back from his school trip today! Saying that half of them ended up in the bin as they were beyond rescue!

Rach

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Thursday 14 June 2007

boat

A small vessel propelled by water.

His: Later

Hers: Mmmm did I want to walk to the river in the rain this morning, I think not! It would be much drier hunting for a boat in the house. I eventually found this one under Matt's bed, hence the thick layer of dust. He bought it when we were on holiday in the Isle of Wight a few years ago. I just discovered what the Av button was on my camera last night so I thought I would have a play with it today. I must find out what all the other buttons do too as I am ashamed to say that after 3 years I only know what the flower, person and mountain buttons are.

















The visit from the in laws went well last night and they seemed to enjoy the meal. The food in Oman is really expensive so they don't get to have many treats out there so were really pleased with meringue and ice cream last night - I couldn't think of anything else as Robert can't eat wheat. We got to see all the photos from Cyclone Gonu that they were in last week. They were stuck in the house for 2 days and then had 6 days with no Air Con or water in temperatures of nearly 50 degrees so it can't have been much fun. The devastation across the whole coastal region of Oman is immense they have not have a cyclone since 1975 so were not prepared for it at all. Even with all that going on they managed to bring us gifts mine was a beautiful bracelet that I will try to take a photo of later.


Pete is off to the hospital this afternoon to see his Kidney Doctor for his 4 monthly review, get his test results and pick up more epo injections, so fingers crossed that it will all be good.


Rach
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Wednesday 13 June 2007

hand

The end of an arm.

His: I cheated and used this one for him.

Hers: This is what hands were invented for!

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The photo of Pete was taken last year when he injured his thumb - with a cellotape dispenser!! Somehow he managed to cut his tendon with it and ended up wearing this ridiculous plaster for a while. I think he was expecting sympathy when he returned home from the hospital but we all just fell about laughing as he looked so funny. The next one was even worse as his thumb was pushed further back and it looked like even more of a thumbs up. He even ended up with a wire contraption being fitted to his hand for a while. All for a little piece of tape! Lol
I took my picture at 8.45 this morning and I did decant the wine back into the bottle, honest. **hic** Even though I could do with a drink at the moment to get me through today. I am going to be busy, busy, busy! Just had a phone call from my Mother in Law saying that they have arrived back in the country, they live in Oman, and are coming through to see us this afternoon. AArrrggghhh the house is a mess, I have no food in, no car and no idea what to cook. I had my day all planned out with what I was going to do but some how I think the plan will not be followed today. Never mind it will be nice to see them and there is always tomorrow.
Got a bit of bad news on the Matthew front last night as the bully has got a job near to the High School at a fishing shop and will be taking the same bus as M every morning to get to work. M is going to be getting a lift in for this week and next and then he is in Germany for a week. After that he can go back on the bus and see what happens as the problems were always after school before. At least we know he will tell us if anything happens now so that we can deal with it straight away.
Rach
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Tuesday 12 June 2007

Tired

In need of rest.

His: A combo for me and tired.

Hers: I nearly took another snap of me this morning after my 2 mile run but thought better of it - far too sweaty!! Tried to get the dogs but they are in need of a walk so bounce about every time I go within 50 feet of them. The lizards weren't playing either as it's their feed day and they are waiting for crickets. Thought about taking a picture of Matt's bedroom as I am "tired" of doing it for him but for some reason it's not too bad today. Kyle went on a residential school trip yesterday so he's no help for this one unless I wait until he comes home of Friday. So that just leaves me with Kyle's trainers which are that tired they are heading for a permanent rest in the bin!















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I've spent all morning gardening before the rain gets here. I now have some spring onions, spinach, lettuce, spicy lettuce, cucumbers, radish and beetroot all in the ground and waiting for the rain to start them off. Can't wait to eat it all (if I can get too it before the slugs) Lol.


Matt had a good day at school yesterday so it seems that all is well on that front. We have a meeting at his school tonight about his trip to Germany in 2 weeks time so he will start getting excited about that now which should take his mind off the last few weeks.


Rach
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Monday 11 June 2007

Me

Yourself, who you are.

His: Maybe later

Hers: Reluctantly! Taken with the timer this morning.









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Seeing as today's prompt it "ME" I thought I would share an old photo of me a couple of years ago to help spur me on with my current diet! Looking back I can't believe that I was that size and this isn't at my biggest either.

I am looking forward to a nice and peaceful week this week as my youngest has gone on a residential trip with school so my house will be a sibling rivalry free zone! Of course I will worry about him and think about him all the time but I won't have to listen to the bickering. Lol I gave Matt a lift into school today so that he didn't have to share the bus with "The Bully". Hopefully it will all be sorted out by the end of the day. Matt has been a lot happier over the weekend which we are all really pleased about. I'll update later if their is any more news.

Wow! That's service for you - the school has just phoned me to ask how Matthew has been over the weekend and to tell me which days the bully is in school so that I can give Matt a lift on those days. Luckily it is only today, Wednesday and Thursday and then he has finished for good. I am totally amazed, and thrilled with the way they are handling this.

Thank you for all our lovely comments and in answer to some of your questions I joined weight watchers to loose my weight. There was no way I was going to stand on some scales and be embarrassed in front of loads of people so I joined over the Internet and did it that way. I lost nearly 5 stone altogether and went from a size 20/22 to a size 10. I have since put on about a stone (in nearly 3 years so not too bad) and need to try and loose that to get into my bikini! I didn't use any of the ready meals I went to the library and got the weight watchers cook books out and used them. In the whole time I was dieting I only had 2 meals different to the rest of my family as I knew it wouldn't work otherwise. I used Curly Wurlys as my treat you can make them last! For lunch I usually eat loads of spicy roast veg or stir fried veg as these are no pointers which means I can still have a packet of Potato Heads (1.5 points) when I want . I think I must know the points value in most foods now!! Oh and lots of walking - I have only recently started running in the last few months. I never went to the gym the whole time I was dieting as I knew I would need the money for new clothes!


Rach
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Saturday 9 June 2007

Don't you hate bullies!

PLUG

Something to block a hole or a device to make an electrical connection.


His: Later as he's doing overtime until lunch time.


Hers: PSP car charger - with 2 boys in the house I was spoilt for choice with this one. In my opinion this is the most important plug as it stops the fights on those long car journeys.



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I didn't have a good day yesterday which probably explains the burnt cheese on toast. I had a quick rush into Matt's High School just after 9am to deal with what I suspected might be a bullying problem. Thank God I did fly into school as he finally admitted to his head of year yesterday that he has indeed been being bullied for the last 2 months ever since he started going on the bus (how guilty do I feel now). They (there are about 4 of them) have kept quiet as the bully, who is 16, is leaving school very soon so they thought it would be easier to put up with it. He has not touched them but has intimidated them into buying things for him after school, which they have been doing just so he will leave them alone.

The school was fantastic yesterday I sat and talked to the pastoral teacher who then bought Matthew in so we could talk to him, predictably he stayed tight lipped. I left, to go home to pace and worry, and the teacher saw him again after lunch on his own, still tight lipped. His head of year then saw him in the last lesson where he finally opened up of his own accord she then phoned me last night to tell me what had been said. He is now getting a lift into school until this boy has finally left school. He is in on Monday for an exam and the headmaster will be waiting for him at the door afterwards to deal with him. They are not going to mention Matt's name at all so there will be no repercussions on him, which is good and nobody knows why he was pulled out of lessons so many times on Friday.

In hind sight I should have seen this weeks ago as there have been signs, but, never mind I can't dwell on the could have, should haves as that won't change anything and it is being dealt with now which is the main thing.

I just keep thinking how simple life was when Matt was 3 and Kyle was 1 and how small the worries were in comparison.
Rach

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Friday 8 June 2007

Cheese

A food made of milk curds.

His: Yummy homemade chicken burgers with cheese.

Hers: Hope it counts as it is cheese flavour, I did try to do cheese toast but some how I managed to burn it.


















Posty came earlier today with a box full of 12 x 12 papers which are now listed in my shop at a very reasonable price. Unfortunately not all the papers that I ordered have arrived as they weren't in stock. I have been looking through and planning my next order which will hopefully be placed next week sometime.

Rach
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Thursday 7 June 2007

Yay!

I have just run 2 miles - and now I'm knackered! I've not done any running for over a week and boy can I tell. I thought I would share my herb crusted haddock recipe while I get my breath back, have a cup of tea and try not to drip sweat onto my keyboard. I have calculated the weight watchers points for the ingredients I use.

HERB CRUSTED HADDOCK
Serves 4

Weight watchers points per serving : 2.5
Start to Finish: 25 minutes


1 tbsp olive oil
4 haddock fillets, skinned
3 tbsp extra low fat mayonnaise (I use Helmans)
1 clove garlic
100g breadcrumbs (I use weight watchers)
1/2 lemon, zest & juice
2 handfuls of parsley
Cherry tomatoes

Heat the oven to 220c. Oil a baking tray and lay the haddock in it and add the tomatoes. Mix the mayonnaise and garlic and then spread it on top of the fish.

In a blender blitz the bread and parsley together into breadcrumbs (don't use the crust). Mix in the lemon zest, juice and some pepper to taste. Top the fish with this breadcrumb mixture.

Drizzle the 1tbsp olive oil over the fish and tomatoes, then bake for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes slightly and the crust is golden and crunchy.

Breath is now back so I am off to find something furry, that isn't Twig or Bilbo, to snap for today's HS:MS photograph and then have a much needed shower.


FURRY
Something that is covered in fur or has a fur like appearance.


His : They are not mine - they were hidden in the back of the fridge!

Hers : This is who we share our bed with the dog was a gift and the moose we got when we visited Canada.






















I'm on a roll today - must be the early morning running! Just made a card for the first Bitten By The Bug challenge and the latest Sketch This Challenge.



I am so excited as I have just had a phone call to say that my first order of 12 x 12 papers to put in my shop should arrive here tomorrow - can't wait for the posty to come! Even more excitement I have just pre ordered the brand new range from Basic Grey called Infusion which is absolutely gorgeous and should be in my shop by the end of June and some 7gypsies ATC matchbox and cards which when made up look stunning.

Rach
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Wednesday 6 June 2007

Bread

A simple food of brown or white colour.

His: Bread for the birds?


Hers: Bread crumbs in Brenda which are going to be used on top of my herb crusted haddock tonight.
Just looked at everybody elses bread shots and they all look so tasty! All I have here is boring brown weightwatchers bread which isn't very photogenic.


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Due to Pete surprising me at lunch time with a visit home he managed to do his picture early today. He was trying to get some birds eating the bread but the Twig got to it first! Pete is once again the human pin cushion as he called here on his way back to work from the hospital after giving yet more blood for them to test and taking in a very large bottle of urine! He is seeing the kidney guy next week to find out how his kidneys are functioning - hopefully they will still be stable.


I spent a wonderful 3 1/2 hours ironing yesterday and will now be quite happy if I never see an iron again but I have a nasty feeling I will be getting it out again in a couple of days.
We went and played baseball and cricket last night but I forgot the camera so sorry no pics. I wasn't much use at it anyway as I wore my skorts (yes it is spelt right) and the grass was really long so kept stinging my legs and it was full of cuckoo spit which was really yucky and slimy. I have promised to wear long pants next time so that I can actually run for the ball instead of standing there looking more useless than normal.


Hope everyone has a nice day or had a nice day depending on when you read this!

Rach
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Tuesday 5 June 2007

Basket

A woven container.

His: Plant basket thingy.

Hers: A very uninspiring, very large ironing basket and unfortunately it has a twin that's just as full and a brother called full wash basket! Guess what I'm doing this afternoon!


Monday 4 June 2007

Lid

A removable cover for the top of a container.


His: Camera Lid

Hers: Incinerator


















I thought today was going to be one of those days when I woke up with a headache. There was a bit of an improvement in my mood when I had to take one of the dogs to the vets for his boosters and we have a new male Australian vet so that was worth the visit and the inevitable leg cocked up the reception desk. It wasn't too bad when I weighed myself as I have lost 1lb this week which is a definite improvement on nothing! DH made me feel even better about this when he sneaked up behind me tonight and said either my breasts (not the word he used) were shrinking or he was getting man hands. Kyle had another day off school today due to an inset day so spent all morning moaning for me to go and play baseball - I don't think a grumpy Mum with a headache would be much good at baseball. Instead we took the dogs and the car to DH at work 4 miles away and walked home via the river and fields which was very pleasant. I even managed to leave the white magnum in the shop and just watched Kyle eat his Feast - how good am I today!

The major downs of today are Lily beetles that have munched the top off one of my new lilies and the slugs that have eaten my prized strawberry before I could. Just look at the damage they have caused in one day!!! I am going to put down my trusty cucumber tonight and then sneak out later and catch the little buggers. Tomorrow they can come on a dog walk with me and be released into the wild where they can munch to their hearts content. I wouldn't mind but I have a garden full of birds, newts and frogs so how these snails and slugs survive is any ones guess. Well I am off for nice relaxing bath now before we sit down and watch Dr Who from Saturday night then I'm going hunting! That's if I can ever get this blog to line up how I want it to.

Rach

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