Myfanwy.

I was looking forward to our old and very tired pine Welsh dresser being returned to us this morning. Myfanwy, as it is known in our household, has been stored away for several years and was a little worse for wear. I must admit we had pine furniture everywhere but as tastes and trends change, I was particularly fed up with it, although still really loved the Welsh dresser. Not wanting to keep it in any room in its pine state, but not wanting to send it to a sale or charity shop, poor Myfanwy was stored in a garage. I had thought that one day I might work on it, sanding and painting but it never happened. A fortnight go we sent it to a local company to be updated and today Myfanwy came home. I am so pleased. It's amazing. A total transformation. I can't wait to arrange ornaments trinkets and nik naks tomorrow. I haven't a clue what to put on but it's going to be fun finding out and am sure that the display will be constantly changing. I will post a photo when the display is done but for now, this is my wonderful new dresser.

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe that I haven't blogged for almost 3 weeks. I have no idea where the time has gone, or what has made it go so quickly but here we are well into the month of March!
I really don't like this time of year and am always very grateful when April is over and this year has been no different to any other. I'm a big believer in the condition SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and am sure that I have suffered from it for many years. That coupled with loosing my fantastic Mum, ten years ago has made me dislike the months after Christmas even more. Mum was just 63 years old when she died in April 2003. February was her birthday month, March was Mum and Dads anniversary and is Mother's Day, then in April she became ill and died within 2 weeks. It's Mother's Day this coming weekend and I find that an especially hard time even though I am blessed with two wonderful children who never let the day pass without a card and present. Every year I tell them not to bother as its not Mother's Day without my Mum, but am told that as I am their Mum things must go on. I suppose they are right and am so lucky that they care enough for me to want to make me happy. Well I hope you understand why I don't like the first quarter of each year, but that still leaves the SAD. I get more and more convinced about the condition when we get the odd sunny day during the horrible dull winter months. This week we had a couple of beautiful days which changed my mood and gave me the ability to accomplish much more than usual. Total spring cleaning to be precise.
I spring clean to some extent every year but this year it was always going to be a little different. Sarah, my daughter, as you know is living at home for 7 months. With only a couple of months left she has lots to do and even more that she would like to do before her husband gets home. Then she will be moving to another part of the country and doesn't want to move things that she doesn't need anymore, just to get rid of them there. Makes sense, so, bring on the sorting cleaning and a large Charity Shop van. Sarah and I spent last week sorting every drawer, cupboard and wardrobe in each room of her house. It was very tiring and hard work with all the lifting and carrying, but so rewarding. I have never thought of her as a hoarder and still don't, she takes great pride in keeping her home clean and tidy so where did everything come from? Sarah says she felt " liberated", I felt shattered and the men that came to pick up everything for a charity shop felt very happy. They were really pleased with everything they took away and it was almost a full van! The photos show the mess we made while sorting everything out and the furniture and bags that were stacked ready to be picked up. Such a worthwhile job and one that I have started at home this week.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow as I have a Welsh dresser being delivered. It was bought at least 18 years ago for the breakfast room, when we lived in Hull. I am sure you know the type of dresser I mean. I always loved it and we still fondly call it Myfanwy when talking about it. Silly I know but it's just a family thing. Over the years I fell out of love with pine and it has been stored for the last five in a dry garage because I just couldn't bear to let it go. A fortnight ago it was taken away to be sanded painted waxed and refurbished. Tomorrow Myfanwy comes home and I can't wait to see it. Hopefully I can post some photos tomorrow.

Perfect

It's been just over a week since my last blog. I have no excuse, it's just because I feel so tired. When I have had time to sit with a coffee or watch anything on the television I could have been blogging, after all that's what I would normally do, but not this week. Instead I have had to try really hard to keep myself awake! I don't know what's wrong with me. Oh well I am sure normal service will resumed soon. Whatever normal is.
Once again not an awful lot has happened to actually write about. My normal routine of household chores has taken up most of my time, along with that of Auntie Joan's. I need to find the time to tidy up my craft room as it is very untidy and needs some organisation. Hopefully that will be done at some point this week. Sarah and I also need to do some decorating, as I would really like to get the house up to scratch before the weather starts to get a little better and the garden needs attention. I suppose if I was honest, the garden already needs attention but I'm more of a fair weather gardener, I hate to be cold.
I am enjoying my photo a day challenge more and more. Even the family ask what the word or phrase of the day is and try to help with ideas. Some days this week have been quite straight forward, or maybe it's because I have taken them to literally and not tried to think outside the box. Inside the fridge for instance or where you had lunch. Simple, at the kitchen table! Not very exciting is it? Saturdays though, that was a different matter. The subject was "perfect" . Once again I couldn't think of a way to interpret this differently or with a real meaning. Until we took Riley and Dillan for a walk. On Tuesday Riley had been back to Taunton for another chemo injection and a check up. We had noticed that each day since, he has picked up a little more and started to do little things that he hadn't done for about two months or more. Our walk on Saturday turned into the best walk yet. In fact Riley just wanted to run. He was very upbeat and with a wagging tail there was no mistaking the fact hat he was enjoying being out in the fresh air on a lovely sunny day. It was such a perfect moment. By the time we got home Riley was shattered but I had a smile on my face for the rest of the day.
We've sorted out the garage at the office so hopefully we will find a charity to collect some furniture this week. At least someone may be able to make some money from it as its far too good to throw away.
Tomorrow is Monday, the start of a new working week. What will it bring? Who knows, but its not long until we all find out.

Crew.... We all did rather well

It's been a very ordinary week for me this week after our February Christmas celebrations. Most of the time has been spent putting away the Christmas decorations and generally trying to keep up with the cleaning, washing and ironing. I've also done the chores at my Aunts. At eighty nine, she can't manage many of the everyday things that at my age I suppose I take for granted. With her house fresh and clean, not that it ever looks untidy or dusty in any way, there were a few jobs that needed to be done in town and, her shopping. This is all part of my routine every week. Sometimes I have to admit to not really wanting to go and do the cleaning etc. I would love to spend the time in my craft room instead. Then I remember all of the things that she and my Uncle did for me when I was growing up. I'm sure everyone has their favourite Aunt and Uncle and I am no exception. I was very lucky though as my favourite Aunt and Uncle came as a couple. That may sound strange, but I have friends that have a favourite Aunt from one part of the family and Uncle from another. Not so with Auntie Joan and Uncle Alf, they were perfect and such a massive part of my life. Now here I am doing her cleaning, shopping and all the jobs that she just can't do anymore. I know she hates the fact that I do it, as I'm often told so, but my Mum did all these things before me and since she died, almost ten years ago, I feel it's up to me. I wouldn't have it any other way. Isn't that what families are for? Actually apart from her mobility,Auntie Joan is amazing for her age. I love to hear her laughing when she relaxes and stops worrying about other things. Without doubt you will hear much more about her in the future.
Sarah and Matt haven't had chance to do much this week as Sarah has pleurisy! It's such a shame as Matt was only home for a fortnight, which means that he leaves later tonight. I think Sarah will find it  even harder than when he first went away in October. After all now she knows what the following months will really be like as previously it was all guesswork. I feel so sorry for them both.
Neil had a couple of days in London with work so that also added to the strange feeling this week has had. I have managed to keep up with this weeks 365 photos. It  certainly gives me something to think about each day and makes me look at the world around me in a different way. Some days my photos aren't good at all and some of the prompts I find quite tricky but as long as I keep trying and end up with some kind of record of 2013, I will be happy.
We did visit Cheltenham Racecourse for a Crew warehouse sale on Friday. Everyone came home with a little something, or should I say....... we all did rather well!

Christmas Day on February 2nd !!

Presents wrapped, stocking hung and food and vegetables all prepared. Friday night was Christmas Eve and we all seemed just a little excited.
Our real Christmas Day started at about 8.30 on Saturday morning. Opening presents was over quicker than usual as only one of us had a sack of presents to open, although we had all had a few in our stockings. It was lovely to see Sarah and Matt together and it was actually feeling like Christmas Day.
Neil cooked the lunch for us all and as usual it was excellent. The champagne flowed, most of it my way!, and then a fierce competition started. "Pudding Off" as Charlotte has named it. Although Sarah win, everyone's entries were gorgeous. During the afternoon we played Twister which I haven't played for years. I have to admit to finding it very difficult to bend and stretch but I suppose I have to realise that this is due to getting older. Something most of us forget until we look into a mirror. More presents, more games and a mountain of dirty dishes meant that this did feel like Christmas. I for one had a lovely day.

Christmas Day.

It's Christmas Day Tomorrow!

It's true. Christmas Day falls on the same date very year. Every year that is except 2013, when we have an extra celebration. Our son in law is home for a couple of weeks and as he wasn't about for the real Christmas, we decided to have another full family Christmas, tomorrow! I decorated the tree on Thursday and put up some other decorations just like we did in December. It seems very strange, but it is important that everything is done just the same. As today is Christmas Eve, the vegetables have been prepared, puddings are made and the table has been laid. Thirteen of us trying to fit into our dining room, but somehow we will manage and it will all add to the fun. Of course Matt has his presents to open (I hope he likes them) but there is at least one for everyone else so that the day seems quite the same. Stockings in the morning and games in the afternoon....who knows, maybe we will even have snow.
This week has been a real mixture. The weather ha seen very changeable. Quite a lot of lovely sunny spells along with very blustery periods and lots and lots of rain! Neil and myself picked up Riley from Taunton on Tuesday evening. He had been staying at the vets there since Saturday. Poor little thing seems to spend more time there than at home with us. I still don't know if he will ever get over the meningitis and other problems he has but I hope and pray that he does. He deserves to be a happy lively puppy again very soon.
I have been keeping up with my photo a day challenge and have completed every day for January. I am trying to add them to a 365 calendar so if it works I will post the complete month. For now, my favourite, day 29 Grow is on today's blog.
Well, that's it for today. I need to get some sleep so that I'm ready for the busy day ahead and even hang up my stocking. Oh and I would also like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!