Progress at last......

I've had a wonderful but very busy and very tiring few days.  We have just returned from the BH having taken delivery of the kitchen and flooring (at long last).

Early Thursday morning we saw the first delivery van turn up .. and as the boxes started to pile through the front door - I started to feel a bit sick...what had I done.... all these boxes and it was up to us to construct, build and fit.

A few bits..


A few more..


Even more..

And just as the first van was finishing the unloading the second van came...

    

When both vans had gone D and I sat ourselves down with a cup of tea and stared at the boxes - which were in every room in the house!  Ours friends arrived to see the delivery (and after much hearty laughter at the number of boxes) we made a start!!

     

D and C on the flooring and me on the cupboard building...... Much progress was made on the first afternoon and it was decided we had all earned a pint and something to eat at the local.  This turned into a rather long evening and several pints but hay we were on holiday!!

Next morning turned into an afternoon start but again amazing progress was made and the kitchen floor was finished by the end of the second day.  The knees did give out this afternoon with C requested something soft!!







Day three and an afternoon start again.....we haven't really got the hang of this full day thing but we really didn't care as things were going much better than planned.  Today the underlay went down in the hallway and living room.

    

    
Flooring went down in the living room and hallway....


    
And I had more cupboards to build....

This evening we went for food and drinks at ours friends - they have a working kitchen.  Food was excellent with C making Fajitas - ooooh I do love his fajitas.

Day four saw D and C finish the living room.



 
A small celebration at the end of a great few days work!



All the cabinets were completed.

Our final day today was spent moving stuff around so the electricians could do their work - a quick tidy up of tools and the journey home.  I really feel that we have progressed loads this weekend - we have talked about this and planned (and saved) for so long - it's so great to finally see some progress.

Party Time

Well what a weekend....you wait all year for a good party and then two happen the same weekend. 

First event for the weekend was my friends 50th on Saturday.  Lavender Hearts made last week were received with a big smile.  Flowers from all the QQ were received with an even greater smile - can't wait to see the reaction to the main gift!

An excellent party - it so nice to meet the QQ on a none sewing basis - two husbands were able to join us and two young people.  And it was so nice to put some names to faces for the other people in A's life!

Saturday night brought the first of the snow for 2012 -

This did cause a bit of disruption for the second party of the weekend - A Wedding Celebration for R & S in Kingston.  Many people were unable to attend and those that did unfortunately left much earlier than planned.  But....a great evening, great food and great company - that's all you really need!!

With all the cold weather this week there is still some sunshine around!  Off to the BH now to take delivery of the new kitchen and flooring - wish me luck!

Decision Time

This weekend a decision had to be made - if I should carry on with my gift for my friend's 50th or put to one side and produce something small and quick.  The QQ had made a rather late decision of creating a group gift for said friend - the wonderful idea came from CD - so although the gift will not be complete for the party - we are all sure the gift will be received with great joy. 

I had already got some bits together to make my friend L a personal gift during the week - for her birthday yesterday - and decided at the very last minute that I would make some extras - just in a a different material - as a small gift to take to the 50th Birthday Party. 

Although I had an idea for Lavender Hearts - I had no patterns sorted so I did a quick google and this was the first site to come up http://www.myhomemadehappy.com/?p=48

After a mornings works - small gifts were produced for both L and A for birthdays!  Love it when a plan comes together!

     

  

That time of year......

A couple of weeks ago this was my life - for about seven days.  I so very much hate being ill - not being able to keep on top of chores, more important not being able to quilt or craft!  It is actually very rare that I'm really poorly but this cold knocked me for six.  In bed as soon as I returned home from work and then the whole weekend in bed.

I'm much better now but still have a slight cough and runny nose - not getting through the three boxes of tissues at I did at the height - and being able to get back to my normal routine quilting and crafting (notice I didn't mention the chores!).

We had Mum and Dad to stay the following week - luckily with the cold mostly gone I could sit in the same room!!  They had come for a special visit as Dad had got tickets for Cirque Du Soleil - at the Royal Albert Hall.  Its always a massive treat for my parents to spend the day in London.  Although they had their honeymoon in London some 45 ish years ago they have only started going again since I moved  1/2 an hour away by train. 

They had a wonderful day - and really enjoyed the show - recommendation was given as very much yes if you were considering going!

Saturday, I had my monthly meet with the QQ (Quirky Quilters) - we all went to HW this time as she had the kids (they are so very good - we never know they are there).  A great day was had (as always) catching up after Christmas and New Year.  I took my wholecloth hand quilting that I have been working on for sometime now!  I would have taken the English Patchwork that I have been working on but the recipient was present so I didn't want to give the game away!  The wholecloth quilt was purchased the same time as we purchased the Beach House - with the idea that I could hand quilt in the evening - this really hasn't worked out and some three years later I'm still doing it!!  I have taken it several times but we have spent so much time doing the place up I don't really get much time to quilt when I'm there.

     

One whole side and corner was completed - so very pleased with my day!  Not much more to go!!

Saturday night we went to the Beach House - and D indicated in the car that it was going to be a restful weekend - but Sunday morning - not being able to help himself - he reached for the hammer!!  The final counter was removed and the oven came out.  The final tiles were taken off. We really have taken/removed everything now from the kitchen that we can.  Just a matter of waiting now for the new kitchen to come.

New Projects and Old

Some me time this weekend!!  Before starting the chores!

Some time also to progress with my friends birthday gift.  I'm making good headway but am very conscious of my time frame.

 

I had also managed to locate a local wool shop during the week and a trip this weekend was planned to see what wool could be purchased for a new project I wish to start on the crochet front.  Having been quilting for some time now I know good cottons and what works and what doesn't but being so new to crochet the volume of wool is overwhelming.  I am also having great difficulty finding the colours I need. 

A very successful trip was had - the best colour selection I have seen in the few local shops we have in area. http://www.maximewools.co.uk/  The staff were very helpful - talking me through different one and suggesting ranges that had options of bright colours.  I have purchased three colours to be getting on with and to see how they crochet up.  Watch this space.....

During the last week I have also finished two of the smaller UFO from 2011.  Both these projects were found on http://www.attic24.typepad.com/ - this is the site that has inspired me to both start crochet and blogging.

 

Well that's two projects off the UFO list another ??  to go... ( I think it's best I never count the UFO - well its valuable quilting time isn't it)

Making of Lemonade was also on the list this weekend - as didn't manage during the Christmas break.

Also some progress made on my pink quilt for my friends little girl.  One set of boarders on - another to go on - hopefully this week.

 

A busy but satisfying weekend!! 



A New Year....

A New Year....a new set of resolutions .... or perhaps last years resolutions just recycled .....

Having spent all of the Christmas period at home with relatives or visiting relatives, I was very much looking forward to spending New Year with D at the BH.  We decided not to venture down to the local pub and celebrate with the 130+ other people expected - opting instead for PJ's in front of some old DVDs and a bottle of champagne (and a small amount of sewing!!).  We really wanted to go on a long cycle ride New Years day to get some much needed fresh sea air without the dreaded hangover!

Our hopes were dashed however over breakfast the next morning as the rain kicked in - we decided on a couple of hours of jobs indoors while (hopefully) the rain cleared.  We are currently renovating the BH - and since last September we have been removing the old kitchen bit by bit.    Yesterday we finally committed to the new Kitchen - with delivery in February.  So it was decided that the kitchen tiles needed to be removed, the rest of old carpets should be disposed of ( I can't tell how I have waited for that carpet to be removed) and some other general work that needed to be done.  As the jobs progressed the rain got heavier and heavier.

 
 
Lunch time we gave up on the bike ride and decided on some more DVDs (and some more sewing!).  I'm currently working on a 50th birthday present for my friend - so can't show too much.  Deadline being the beginning of Feb so I'll show you the finished item then!

 

We did manage a walk on the beach Monday morning in much better weather ... in fact it was a wonderful morning and some great views of the sea against the rocks.  A walk worth waiting for...

  

Returning home Monday to a massive pile of washing - with D having to go into work for a couple of hours - and the decision to remove all the Christmas Decorations - brought us both back to earth with a big bump - knowing that Christmas and New Year was well and truly over and things were back to normal!

       

Here's to a good 2012 ... for everyone!