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Monday, 31 August 2020
Coffee chat. The new look and hello Cedric
It was time.
The new hair colour. The blond ends and mousy brown roots have gone. Now I am a carrot top. I like it. Cost £5.75 for a box of colour it at home hair dye from Boots. I don't normally go in Boots because it's more expensive than the discount stores, but it was quiet when I went. Time to ponder the colours without dodging other people.
Coffee time, there is a coffee chat in the pipeline for later.Going to Crafty Club now, catch ya later. Toodle pip. ilonaSunday, 30 August 2020
Book collection.
Saturday, 29 August 2020
Something for the weekend.
Friday, 28 August 2020
Lovely grub
Hello. What a miserable day it has been today, almost none stop rain again. Best to stay indoors then.
Here's a question, how many of you are secret nibblers. I am usually quite hungry when I make myself a meal, so I nibble something as I am making it. This is what I can't resist at the moment. It is the tradition to have crackers and cheese after a meal, I always thought that was a bit daft, the meal should fill you up. I have my crackers and cheese before the meal. The Cheese Thins from Aldi are lovely, and not that expensive, and the Mini Roule just tops them off perfectly. They also make a pineapple variety which is nice, but I like this garlic and herbs better.
My lunch yesterday. I love the pasta and spinach with pine nuts. My kind of meal, straight from the fridge. Raw mushroom, cucumber, potato salad, lettuce leaves, and Wensleydale cheese with cranberries. Yum, perfect.Today I made a big pan of vegetable soup, enough for three days.
I will go shopping tonight, I'm not sure of the opening times over this Bank Holiday weekend so I'll do it tonight at 8.30pm.
Thursday, 27 August 2020
Coffee chat. Looking at the news.
Wednesday, 26 August 2020
Shattered
It rained all day yesterday, I didn't go out at all. Last night I went to bed at 10.45pm, I couldn't get off to sleep, I wasn't tired. Five minutes later I got up again. It was boring just lying there. I looked out of the window and it had stopped raining, so I got dressed and went out for a walk, my three mile walk around the village. It was after midnight when I got back, that's better, straight to sleep the second time.
I've been a walk today, my usual five miles. Then I did a Billy dog walk. Don't think I will have much trouble going to sleep tonight. I like to collapse into bed completely shattered.
The nights are drawing in now, shorter days are not good for camping. I will maybe have one more trip before the autumn and winter comes.
My bank statement came today, I still get a paper one in the post. I like to see it all written down so I can keep it for reference. I don't seem to be spending much just lately. Nothing to spend it on. Nothing I need, nothing I want, except food and to keep a roof over my head.
I am starting to yawn now, so I'd better get up those apples and pears. I am hopeless at writing a blog post this late in the evening.
Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip. ilona
Tuesday, 25 August 2020
Fabulous florals
Good afternoon. The weather is going from bad to worse today. Pouring rain this morning, now it's very windy, with showers. I did think I might go for a walk, but I will stay in, and maybe do a later walk around the village.
The flowers are done, I won't make any more, need to move on. There are 15 in total. The stalks are different lengths so they can be arranged in a vase. They are wire wrapped with green wool. The leaves are made of snooker table green baize.
This one has three layers of petals.
Two Suffolk Puffs in the centre, and a button.
Monday, 24 August 2020
Coffee chat. Tooooo risky.
Sunday, 23 August 2020
Sunday with Godfrey
Friday, 21 August 2020
Crazy windy walk
Did I mention that it was windy this morning? It has been extremely windy all day. Next door but one's gazebo has blown down. They aren't meant to be permanent structures, it's been up several weeks, not sure why. Anyway it's collapsed.
I thought it would be fun to go a walk, so after a nice salady lunch I set off. It was hard going leaning forward into the wind trying to stay upright. It whipped across the fields on my right, and roared through the trees and into the woods on my left. The blades on the windmills were whizzing round. It was crazy, but fun.
The horses were waiting patiently for their owner to come and serve up their dinner.I took shelter for ten minutes on the bench behind the church. I made a short video, uploaded it onto the computer and now I can't find it, so you will just have to imagine me in a wooly hat.
Here's another one. Not sure who this looks like, but it's cute.
It's the little things which amuse me.
Sometimes it hurts my head to have so much common sense. Sometimes the obvious is not so obvious to other people.
The grass cutting team are out today. Not sure if they are Council employees, or private contractors. The work was put out to tender I believe, and changes were made to how the job would be carried out. So far all is well. The grass is being cut to a good standard and not left to grow too long. The intervals between cuts are just right.
The team are in the village this morning. There are three workers, one on the sit on mower, another carrying the strimmer to tidy up the edges, and a third was this chappie. He is carrying a petrol driven blower, generally used for blowing leaves away, but on this occasion, blowing the grass trimmings from the pavement, (sidewalk if you are across the pond), back onto the freshly cut grass.
So why am I amused? Because it's blowing a hoolie outside. The trees are bending, the hedges are dancing crazily, and the shards of grass are blowing everywhere all on their own. The chappie marched up and down the road following the mower, going through the motions and waving his tube about, to create the illusion that he was actually doing something. Did someone in the transport office look out of the window this morning.
Have a nice day. Toodle pip. ilona
Thursday, 20 August 2020
Morning coffee chat. Life is what you make it.
Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Thank you.
Tuesday, 18 August 2020
In memory of Heidi
It is with a very sad heart that I have had to say goodbye to Heidi. Trying and failing to get through this post without bawling my eyes out. She stopped eating again, another trip to the vet, my dear friend Janet came with me. It was very difficult to make the decision, especially while standing in the busy car park next to a noisy road, speaking to the vet on the mobile. She had come out to collect Heidi, I explained what had happened, she took her inside for an examination, then rang me to tell me what the options were.
Heidi's stomach was full of fluid, the vet had taken a sample, and said it could be either liver or kidneys. They could do a blood test which would give more information, but as such, these problems would not be treatable in the long term. At first I thought I might have the test, but very quickly realised that it wouldn't be fair to put her through more trauma, which would only delay the outcome, just for the sake of a month or so, possibly less. She had already had a lifetime of medication and vets visits due to her leukaemia. The vet told me early on that she would not live to a normal cats life. Even though I knew this, it's still upsetting when the time comes. I had to do the best for her.
They have a private garden area at the back of the surgery, Heidi had an injection to sedate her and was brought out to us in her carrier. I was able to hold her head and say goodbye, she knew I was there as she drifted off to sleep.
Heidi came to me with four kittens, she was found living rough. The pens were full at the rescue so I made up a room for them here. The kittens were found homes when they were old enough.
A few pictures. Anywhere I was working she wanted to be.
She loved to look around the garden. The appointment to take her was 4.20pm, while we were waiting I carried her out into the garden so she could have an hour or so in the sunshine. This picture was taken a few years ago. She was very tired on the last day.
I kept records, every day she had a tablet, sometimes medicine to control her sickness.
She has a plot in the garden next to Bugsy.
My little sweetheart is now at rest. She was nine years old. Best wishes, ilona
Sunday, 16 August 2020
My sister Anna
Did you know that my sister is an author, she writes books, She has two out on Amazon at the moment.
She is my younger sister, I have only one. She can do what I can't do. I can't draw and I have no patience to write books. We are from the same stock. Our father was an artist and so was our Uncle.
The books are historical novels, I haven't read them because I don't read fiction, and I wouldn't be able to sit for long enough to read a whole book. I am too fidgety, I would get up and walk around, I would go and do something else, then forget what the story was about when I went back to it, and have to re read some of it to remind myself before I carried on. It would take me an age to read a whole book.
I think we have a rainy Sunday ahead, not looking too good outside. Time for breakfast. Enjoy your Sunday whatever you are doing. Toodle pip. ilona
Friday, 14 August 2020
Mission accomplished.
I've been to town this afternoon, first time in ages. Aldi is close to town, but I didn't go there today. I can last a few more days with the food I bought on the 3rd, and what I already have in. Maybe Monday or Tuesday will be an Aldi day next week.
I needed to take my library books back today, best not hang on to them any longer. Way overdue of course but I don't think they are bothered about that, probably glad to get them back. I stepped through the first door of the main library and was about to step through the second door, they open automatically, when a woman came towards me wearing a mask. She asked if I have an appointment. I said no, I just wanted to return books. She pointed to a large barrow thing on wheels and told me to put them in there. She said if I wanted to take any books out I have to ring them first, or send an email, and they will put together a selection, and I would make an appointment to collect them. I said no thanks. I asked if the mobile library would be starting up again, and asked about Stan, would he be coming again. She said eventually but no plans just yet.
I walked up the High Street to see what the position was at the Post Office with regard to queueing. My utilities bill arrived yesterday and I needed to pay it. Luckily no one waiting outside the shop, one customer at the counter, I waited for her to move away. I handed over the bill and £100 in cash to cover it. Easy. I do hope that my utilities company has got the message now, and will send me the next bill on time, so I can pay it on time, at the Post Office.
There was still a bit of time left on the one hour free parking so I went to Home Bargains to pick up three items I needed. A jar of coffee, bag of sugar, and a tin of Coffee Mate. While I was there I picked up a large box of Whiskas pouches for Oscar. I'm well stocked up on cat food now. Nobody asked me about a mask when I went in these three places, and my dangly thing around my neck was tucked inside my clothes. I didn't see many people wearing masks.
Someone suggested that for my next craft project I should make myself a tin hat. What a good idea I thought, so here it is.
Must dash, Billy dog is waiting for a walk. . Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip. ilona
Thursday, 13 August 2020
Morning coffee chat.
Live Outdoor Concerts - This Has To Be A Joke
Wednesday, 12 August 2020
Now that's a good idea.
It's hot again today, it was hot yesterday. I decided to go for a walk, my usual route, a little over five miles. The plan was to go early before it got too hot. I faffed and it was 11am when I set off. Not such an early start, but I felt like going so I did. It got hotter, good job I took a drink and snack with me. The bench was in the shade so I sat there to cool off. I made a video, but after playing it back I deleted it, far too long and waffley. I need to make notes and get to the point a bit quicker. I also need some new equipment. Maybe splash out on a new camera.
I had a little brainwave as I was walking along. I always wear my sun visor, even when it's not sunny. There it sits perched on my head.
Why not give it another job, make it dual purpose. It could double up as a covering for my mush. That would be easy wouldn't it. Unhook the velcro at the back, re position it, and reattach it. My nose is a bit squashed, but with the peak sticking out around the bottom of my face I could take in big breaths of air. That might work, I'll give it a try.
Seen yesterday, a field full of red poppies, with a sprinkling of white ones. How glorious is the British countryside at the moment.
I am keeping my eye on the peas, they are close to being ready for harvesting. A snack I think when I next go that way.
Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip. ilona
Tuesday, 11 August 2020
Winster is a very nice village
I didn't have time for a full explore of Winster, but from what I saw I think it would be lovely to live there. Here are a few pictures. Lots of greenery and flowers in front of the gardens, and down the sides. This footpath has been transformed with a lot of interesting pot plants on both sides. I think it is someone's private entrance to a garden.
Just around the corner is this fabulous patio garden. The owner was pottering about and I couldn't resist stopping for a chat. This is the only space she has for a garden and she has certainly turned it into a little bit of paradise. She said she often sits outside and chats to anyone passing.The village shop has a queue waiting on the pavement outside. There is a table in the doorway acting as a counter, preventing anyone from entering. Tell the assistant what you want and it will be brought out to you.
The Market House, Tourist Information,
It was a short walk through Winster as time was getting on. Worth another look another day. I went down the road past Bank Top Farm, across the fields, and picked up the Stunstead Lane track back to the camp site. I came down that track there and was faced with a group of cows gathered by the gate. The grown ups were on one side of the gate and the three youngsters were on the other. Steady does it, walk carefully to the side of them and over the stile which is just out of the picture. Don't spook them, don't frighten them, no bother. They weren't interested in me.
Monday, 10 August 2020
I missed a turn. Lost in Derbyshire.
The village is on a very steep hill.