Already 2 weeks into the New year!

It's 2 weeks today that I began 2013...........in hospital! A very bad kidney infection (Pylonephritis to give it its official name) totally floored me. I had been ill with a UTI all over Christmas and had already had 2 courses of antibiotics with no effect. I blame the infusions I had in November to calm my RA down. Good for my pain control but a major side effect is being more susceptible to infection. Anyway I was in for 3 days and had 3 antibiotic infusions and came out with a further 6 day supply of yet more antibiotics. I think it's safe to say that I am now free of the infection. I just pray it doesn't come back!

I have been busy crocheting a Ponyo, Totoro and Catbus. I found some fantastic free patterns on the net. Some people are so generous creating their wonderful patterns and then giving them up for people like me who can knit and crochet but wouldn't know where to start making a pattern. 

The Ponyo pattern I found here  The Totoro pattern here and the Catbus pattern here

This is Ponyo. 

She is a fish/girl from the film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. I had problems doing her hair but found a great tutorial on how to knit dolls hair here The wig I made starts around 5.16 minutes into the video. It took me a while to fathom it out (brain fog!) but what a great way to make dolls hair! I think she's cute :)

This is Totoro

I've made a few Totoro's now. They seem to be very popular. Totoro is from the film My Neighbour Totoro. I'm going to make a bigger one next time and I'm going to try a different pattern.....I get bored so easily...... It's a very similar pattern but made a different way and it's by the same lady that designed the Catbus so worth a try. That pattern is here

This is Catbus

The image is of the one the lady who wrote the pattern made. Mine is still a work in progress but I'll post some photo's later of how it's coming along. It's a tricky one and I've no idea whether it's going to look even remotely like this one but we'll see. Catbus is another character from My Neighbour Totoro. The films are all animation films from Studio Ghibli. The only film I've seen is Grave of the Fireflies and I cried so much it put me off watching any more of them. I've heard that there is going to be a big budget remake of the film. I will eventually watch the other films though because curiosity is beginning to get the better of me and I want to see what all the fuss is about over these characters......... 

The raging Irish sea!

Porcelained photo I took on New Year's Day 2013

The day before New Year's Eve 2012

Well it's almost the end of yet another year. I can't believe it's been 12 years since the Millennium! Time certainly does fly when you're having fun......and even when you're not!
This year has been a particularly bad one for family issues and fall outs so I am determined that 2013 is going to be as stress free as possible, and I'm going to make the most of the time I have left with my beloved Mum. Who knows what's around the corner at almost 79 years old? Although she beats me hands down in the fitness stakes! We went to town just before Christmas and she was practically running! I had to keep telling her to slow down because I couldn't for the life of me keep up with her. I am making her and my family my priority this next year and am determined no-one will use me when it suits them and drop me when it doesn't.....again! I have done more than enough for certain people only to have it thrown back in my face big time! Well no more....... It will be very hard to let go but I must and should have done a long time ago.
My New Year's resolutions are as above...........plus
To find a job and get myself out of the rut I've been in for the past 6 years.
To get a little bit fitter than I am.......
To be a better daughter, wife and mother than I already am.
To not be used and taken for granted by anyone again
To take Mum to visit family up and down the country
To have a mini holiday
To sort all the stuff out that I've hoarded for the past 57 years!
To try and get my sister back on track with her life
To never say a bad word about anyone again even if they pee me off big style
To take less photographs ( or at least delete the rubbish ones)
I will probably think of lots more so I'll come back later

STOP BITING MY NAILS!
Learn to paint

Oh and to add my voice to the campaign to save the old Hippodrome/ABC/Syndicate building  from being flattened and the site made into yet another car park!

Ciao for now x

A few photo's from yesterday

Rough Sea

 Old tram

 New tram

Yet more bird photo's!

I've been busy again today, knitting, taking pics and sorting the back bedroom out for Iolanda's stay (she's arriving tomorrow) Yay! :)
I made some fab fingerless gloves yesterday and decided to make another pair today. I've worked out that if I make a pair a day from now until Christmas I'll have 76 pairs to give away as Chrissy presents! Do I actually know that many people? I haven't actually taken a photo of the gloves yet......now there's a surprise!.....but I'll take some tomorrow. May even have another pair finished by then hehe.
I love that the birds are back. My garden's been so quiet for months I was beginning to think they'd never be back. I took some nice photo's of the starlings but no sign of the Tit family that came the other day :(

Nom Nom 

Look out....the rest are on their way!

The Eagle......sorry Starling!.....has landed ;)

"What you looking at?"

" Mama! Where are you?"

"I'm here baby bird" :)

"Kiss my botbotdingding!"

Aniello called me out to the garden this morning to look at a Skein of geese flying over (I thought it was a Gaggle of geese but apparently a Gaggle is a group of geese that aren't flying, hence the word Skein) You learn something new every day don't you? By the time I got downstairs and grabbed my camera they were way off but I still managed a shot of them (not one of my best but heyho)

And that's all folks ;)

Making stuff!

I've been busy the past few days sewing and knitting. My hands feel as if they're about to drop off. In fact last night I had to wear my wrist splint for the first time in ages because I overdid things. I want to do so many things, and it's hard when your mind is as active as ever but your body lets you down! Anyway, here are a few photo's of what I've been making.

First up is a case for my kindle. I love this licorice allsorts material that I found in Blacks in town. I actually made it a bit too big for my kindle but it's fine. I love it anyway :)

I've also been making  baby's comforter's. I think they're cute and I'm becoming slightly obsessed with making them! Just wish I had a baby to give one to :/

I'm going to have a go at making some heart and cube shaped comforters but need more materials now so a trip to Grace and Favour in Thornton is on the cards. They have some absolutely stunning materials and it's a gorgeous shop. Wish it was mine! Can't wait to see what new goodies they have in :)

I've been knitting leaves! A theatre company  http://www.lipservicetheatre.co.uk/ are putting on a play at the Grand Theatre in October called Inspector Norse. Parts of the set will be knitted and they asked for knitters to knit leaves and Icicles. I've made a few but am going to make more. I'll also be joining some more knitters at the Grand Theatre soon and we'll be knitting parts of the body! Wonder what I'll be making? Can't wait ;)

Lucia's new bag

A few months ago daughter number one came home with a bag knitting kit that she'd bought for £2 in a charity shop. She asked me if I'd knit it for her......as if I had much say in the matter! Anyway, it was a challenge I was up for so I knitted it. That part was easy peasy but the rest? One of the worst things for me is the making up of the garment, toy whatever it is I've had the pleasure of knitting. It's taken me ages as I kept getting it wrong. I wish now I'd taken my good friend Sylvia up on her offer of me doing the knitting and her sewing them up!
I hope Lucia actually uses the bag now that it's finished because if she doesn't it'll be the last thing I ever knit for her ;) 

Here are some photo's I've just taken. She's not seen it yet because she's taken her Nana out shopping. She's a good girl so she's well worth the hours and sweat I've put in to make her happy x

A grand day out!

Had a lovely day out with my old friend Sylvia today. We went to the Barn in Scorton for lunch , then took a trip to Barton Grange. On the way home we de-toured to Marsh Mill and called in a lovely shop there named Grace & Favour. I'd never seen it before and it was packed full of goodies. A feast for my eyes!

I'm going to be knitting a few of these because they're so cute and because I can!

I also just bought this knitting pattern to make a baby cocoon. Sylvia saw it on a Facebook page and thought I might like to have a go at one. Definitely! They're very cute.

I've just seen this too and think it's an amazing idea! A little matchbox suitcase to put sweets or a tiny gift in. I love them! Another project to get my teeth into ;)

The link to instructions on how to make them is here

And that's all folks! Off to the Lakes tomorrow for the week-end. Just a bit worried about the weather but whatever happens we'll enjoy it :)