Violet

A quick post to put up my Violet as I hunted for this for ages so I am not going to let it be wasted even if we are doing Pink instead of Violet. I love this picture of my Grandma Violet who I never got to meet as she died before I was born.

HS:MS - Blue

My cunning plan worked beautifully, all I had to do was nag him to an inch of his life and he soon got in a mood, a blue one of course! Ingenious even if I do say so myself. As you can see he is going through a not wanting his hair cut and "I'll only wear black" stage - still!

Rach x

HS:MS - Green

This is a tiny bit of the green in my space today courtesy of my favourites the Japanese Anemone. It had to be something from the garden today but I promise it will be something different tomorrow, as I have no blue in the garden at all but I do have a cunning plan.

HS:MS - Yellow

No yellow flowers in my garden at the moment but there is this yellow hose pipe. I put the garden pictures down to the fact that when I am sat at the computer thinking I look out of the window and see the garden and that's easier than hunting round the house!

Ouch! Just had an accident with some soup, pity it wasn't red today! Just made some tomato soup for Matt's lunch and was pouring the bubbling concoction into his flask when I decided it would be fun to throw it all over my hand. I am sat here now with my hand in a bowl of iced water, never mind it will be OK in a bit. Just wish I didn't drop everything when I'm cooking!

The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture with Lyrics

Yesterday Sue directed me to this as I had moaned about the boys. It really made me laugh and it is so true too.

HS:MS - Orange

These little beauties are living in a pot outside my back door. I've been waiting for them to flower all summer but they are just in full bloom now. For some reason I seem to be going on a garden theme this week, just hope the weather holds out.

Pete did the normal bloke thing and flicked through the channels last night as he said the TV had had an update. He found a new channel that has amused him no end it's called "Dave"! How on earth can you name a TV channel Dave? Imagine it "Can you turn Dave on please".

I'm wearing my boots again today for the first time since the jelly fiasco! I have managed to salvage them by bunging them in the washing machine. I really didn't think that it would work but thought I may as well try it as they were heading for the bin anyway. At least I have saved some money much to Pete's relief as I did have my eye on a nice pair of Timberlands.

Rach

Roses are .......

Red. Which is the prompt for todays HS:MS.

I have no roses in flower in the garden at the moment but I do have a Virginia Creeper that lies on the gravel. It did used to go up the side of the garage before we knocked it down and since then we haven't had the heart to dig it up so it just creeps across the floor. One of the boys' spades seems to have ended up in amongst the leaves as they are both incapable of actually using the hooks that I put in the shed for their spades, skateboards etc. Rather like the wash basket, coat hangers, towel rail .................

Rach

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HS:MS - Tongue

A fleshy muscular organ in the mouth.

This is the biggest tongue in my space and the cutest.

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I had a culinary disaster on a grand scale last night the culprit .... a jelly. That's right a simple jelly caused carnage in my kitchen. It was one of those new quickset jellies that do what they say on the packet and set really quickly. They actually start to go gooey in the jug as you stir it. This is when I dropped it and it splatted EVERYWHERE, my jeans, my boots, all over Kyle, cupboard doors, the floor, the ceiling, the walls you name it the jelly splatted it and promptly set. So Pete came in from work to see Kyle topless and me on my hands and knees scrapping red jelly off the floor in my knickers! You must understand I don't normally clean the floor in my pants, well not when the kids are at home anyway, but my jeans had set and were in the washing machine. I don't know what surprised him most, the jelly everywhere that looked like someone had been murdered, me in my pants or me actually cleaning the floor!!

You've all heard of jellied eels, heres my take on it - jellied boots. Seriously though has anyone any ideas about how I should clean these?

Rach

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HS:MS - Game

A form of play or sport.

Not a difficult thing to take a picture of in this house. I would have had more choice but the 2 bearded dragons that we are babysitting for our niece are currently living on the toy trunk in the playroom so I can't get to most of the games until the weekend. I couldn't make my mind up between the old fashioned type of board game that we enjoy or the more modern games consoles so I have taken a picture of each. The only choice then was should it be the Wii, PSP or PS2 we have 2 of each here. Couldn't get the lighting right on the Wii even though I put it right next to the window so in the end I gave up and went with what I had got.

Steps: A series of flat surfaces to enable movement from one level to another.

I didn't manage the prompt yesterday so have caught up today this is one of the steps that we made at the bottom of the garden with reclaimed railway sleepers. Unless you have actually carried a sleeper you have no idea of how heavy they are. We ordered 30 of the damn things and after moving the first one, instantly regretted it. I must admit all the straining and huffing and puffing was worth it in the end, as they do look good. I am so glad that we went for the dirty reclaimed ones over the nice neat clean ones as they have so much more character. The metal bits are still on them and we positioned some so they were pointing up which the thrushes love to use to bash the snails on.

Crockery: A collection of ceramics, porcelain and china.

Not a chance of taking one for this prompt. We only have crappy white crockery here as it only gets bunged in the dishwasher or broken so no point in us having anything else. Kyle has his own special bowl, plate and side plate which are the same as all the others apart from the chips in the rims. For some reason he loves having the chipped crockery and we have to make sure he gets it every time.

Rach

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HS:MS - Autumn

The third season of the year.

I didn't go for leaves as I did that a couple of weeks ago and wanted something different today. I just love the way that these fungi look furry and soft.


I had another bout of can't be arsed over the weekend but only where photos were concerned. I really had no inclination to subject you to a picture of me, not that I mind having pictures of me on here, I just couldn't be bothered as you have all seen me before. Yesterday I couldn't be bothered to hunt for a picture that I wanted to show off as I really don't have that many and am not a very show offy type of person hence no weekend posts from me.

Friday was a pretty good day for me. I spent a couple of hours with Mima who is a lovely girl and great company and then Pete and I went to eat goose at my Dad's, which was delicious **Thanks Dad**. Other than that we have had a nice relaxing weekend which involved a little shopping, a lot of attic sorting out and some tip running with the crap taken out of the attic.

HS:MS - Blade

A flat sharp cutting edge.

Didn't fancy doing a knife, scissors or lawn mower so in the end I went for a blade of grass. This grass is over 5ft tall and stripey it looks wonderful in the garden.

I'm going to visit my new friend Mima again this afternoon which I am really looking forward to and then Pete and I are going to my Dad's tonight to eat Goose which I know will be delicious coz Dad's cooking it.

Rach
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I've been tagged

I've been tagged by: Hazel

Here are the rules which you must abide by if you are tagged.
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

Here we go get ready to be either riveted or bored stiff!

1. I have a tattoo that I hate. I had it done when I was 18 before everyone and their dog had them. It's a little bee on my left shoulder blade and I hate it now it has faded. One day I will get round to getting another one over the top of it.
   
2. I used to be a size 22. This was about 6 years ago now before I started dieting. At my slimmest I went down to a size 8 and am currently a size 12 but trying to slim back into an 8 or 10.
   
3. I have lived in the same house all my life. My Mum and Dad bought this house when she was pregnant with me many years ago. She got fed up of me not moving out so moved out herself and then gave us this house as a wedding present 13 years ago.
   
4. I hate milk and I mean really, really hate milk. I drink black tea and I can't eat cereal.
   
5. I have been proposed to by 4 different men but only ever said yes to one.
   
6. When I was 19 I went on a blind date with an Australian who was living in London. He took me to Notting Hill Carnival and I spent the weekend in London with him, which looking back was slightly dumb on my part. Luckily for me I had an amazing time and he ended up proposing to me a couple of weeks later. It was about this time that I met and fell in love with Pete.
   
7. I love being scared. Horror films do it for me the scarier the better. Horror books, supernatural shows, rollercoasters, white water anything that gets the old adrenalin pumping. I would LOVE to free fall from an aeroplane, I would probably pee my pants but then I'd want to go again!

Consider yourselves tagged ladies!

SuzyB
Angela
Aubrey
Jolanda
Charli
Bobs
Linda

HS:MS - Mesh

A material made from a network of wire or threads.

Oh no my can't be arsed has mutated into writers block.

Rach

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HS:MS - Tray

A flat , shallow container for carrying food, drink and small items.

My tray is for the birds in our garden. I did contemplate cleaning it before I took a picture but 1. I couldn't be arsed and 2. I thought it might be more interesting with a dead caterpillar and grass cuttings in it.

I seem to be getting my mojo back a little bit but unfortunately this new found energy is going to have to be used on cleaning the house as I've neglected that over the last few days too. I suspect a combination of dark mornings, dark nights, cloudy skies and the time of the month have all contributed to my dark mood and lack of umpff.

I slept much better last night but we were disturbed in the night by a wailing 14 year old boy. Matt had decided to look at his snake in the middle of the night, as you do, and had come to the conclusion that he was dead so ran through to us breaking his heart. We resisted the urge to ignore him and dutifully got up to see the dead snake only to find that the damn thing was only asleep. Matt had forgotten that he doesn't have eyelids and presumed that because he was still with his eyes open he was dead. I wouldn't mind but this is the second time in a week that this has happened, talk about the memory of a goldfish!

Well I best go and put my mojo to good use before I loose it again.

OOhh I'm back again as I have just caught up on yesterdays prompt - card. This picture shows some of the card I have here. The grey drawers to the right are full of card bits, each drawers is colour coded and I shove any off cuts into it to use later, it works quite well.

Rach

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It's getting worse.

My can't be arsed itus is turning into something much worse - can't be arsed itus with insomnia. I have lain in bed awake since 1am listening to Pete fart intermittently and I can't stand it anymore so here I am at 4.27am up and trying to find something to do that is quiet which isn't as easy as it sounds. It's amazing how loud everything is in the middle of the night, even typing sounds horrendous.
Rach
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Can't be arsed!

I think I have caught can't be arsed itus off Suzy this week. I've been looking at everyone else's photo's for HS:MS but really can't be arsed to get the camera out and take my own pictures. And to be honest who really wanted to see yet another shot of me yesterday, anyway. I sure didn't. I did get the urge to take photographs last night but the light is not that good at 2am so I resisted the urge, turned over and went back to sleep instead.
I haven't just been sitting on my bum all week I have actually been really busy but have had some fun too. On Tuesday I went to visit a new friend that I made here on the Internet which was kinda exciting. I found her by complete accident a few weeks back when I was nosing round other peoples blogs. Mima takes the most amazing macro photos so I just had to leave a comment. After reading my comments she got in touch with me and it turns out that she lives about 15 minutes walk from my house (if I walk quick). I went round to her house to visit her last week and we got on really well and giggled for most of the afternoon. We seem to have a lot in common and we are the same age too so hopefully it's the start of a long friendship. We are planning for me to visit her again this week sometime which I am really looking forward to.
My darling husband is shouting me so I will have to love you and leave you.

Rach
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HS:MS - Stamp

To make an impression.
A small token that ensures carriage of mail.
To make a noise with ones foot.

This is stamp in my space today. It's a bit hectic round here at the moment so I am just doing the prompts as and when I get the time.

Rach
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HS:MS - Dog

Man's best friend.

I thought this would be easy as we have 2 best friends here, how wrong could I have been. Bilbo is a black border collie and is totally unphotogenic as he is just one colour but at least he sits still so I managed to get a reasonably interesting shot of this mass of black.

Twig is gorgeous looking but I am sure he has ADHD as he can't sit still for more than 2 seconds. Every time we go for a walk he gets lost as he just runs and runs in any direction he can. Yesterday we lost him for 30 minutes in the local woods to eventually find him chasing rabbits in the fields. I tried for about 20 minutes to get a pic of him but my camera has been licked to death by this dog so I had to resort to photographing him through the baby gate hence the fuzz to the right of the picture (I think it's the gate it could be dog slobber) but it was the only way I could get a picture of him. I will try to sneak up on him later when he has a brief nap to get a better shot. Update - still trying to sneak up on him but no go as he jumps on top of me everytime I get near.

The final shot is of the boys just after we found Twig yesterday.

Rach

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HS:MS - SPS : 22.09.07

Self Portrait Saturday again - I swear it comes round quicker each week!

I took this last night while I was watching "The Hills Have Eyes" which was a total gore fest! These are the most comfortable slipper socks ever! Edited to say: I bought the socks from Primark yesterday for £2 and the PJ trousers were from Primark for £4 - as you can see I am a big spender with expensive taste!!!

Rach
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HS:MS - Stare

To look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something.

This picture shows Matt and Pete staring at the QE2 this afternoon in Liverpool - Kyle was there too but I kicked him off the picture as he kept pulling stupid faces instead of staring as instructed! The boys school had an inset day today so Pete took the day off too and we drove up to Splash World in Southport, through torrential rain, for the morning. We then did a little bit of shopping in Primark where I got the cutest slipper socks ever and just a few other bits and pieces. After my spot of retail therapy we decided to travel home via Liverpool so that we could stop and see the QE2 while it was docked there. This boat is HUGE and there were so many people there it was amazing. We did get a couple of pics of the boat but they are not very good as we only had the little camera, the pictures were into the sun and it was so bloody big we couldn't get it all in!

We didn't have quite so much fun yesterday. Pete has to see the Kidney doc, Dominic, every 4 months or so when he gets the results of his 24 hour urine and blood tests. These tell us if his kidneys are still stable or if they are deteriorating. The best we have got in the last 9 years is 30% and the worst is 19% which is when we had to have a dialysis councillor woman come to the house and go for transplant assessments etc. After 9 years of this up and downing we, and Dominic, are now used to it and don't panic if it does a drop as the next time it could very well be back up to 30%. This doesn't mean that I cope with the day well as I still pace, worry and think of nothing else until he gets in. For the last year I haven't been to the appointments with him as I suffer badly from White Coat Syndrome, so much so I can be sick before I get to the hospital, my hands sweat and my teeth chatter uncontrollably which everyone else finds hilarious. Anyway I have decided not to put myself through it again until I have too. Yesterday Pete was told that his kidneys are stable so that was good news. The not so good news is that his iron levels are to cock so he has to go back on the weekly Epo injections again, it all gets very confusing as he has some iron levels that are far too high and some that are far too low, the epo will use up the too high iron to make blood that Pete desperately needs and this in turn will mean that he can have more iron infusions which will make the low iron higher - as I said very confusing. The main thing is his kidneys are still doing their job so YAY!

Don't know if I'm going to get a chance to do SPS tomorrow as we have my great nephew coming over for the night and he's bound to keep us busy. As well as dropping Martyn off Sal, our niece, is also bringing us her 2 baby bearded dragons to babysit for 2 weeks while they go on holiday. I swear that this house is going to end up with zoo sign outside before too long.

Sorry about all the waffle.

Rach

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