October 2016 & November 2016

I'm back!!

The last 2 months have been very stressful...... my Virgin internet was cut off at the end of the October ready for when I leave, I've had nothing but problems with the new internet & already I've over spent by £75 so hence why I'm staying away!!

So October came & went, autumn is my favourite time of the year but with all the things going on at the moment I didn't have time to enjoy it.

The biggest thing in October was the terrible fire in the Cathedral green, it was so upsetting to see the Royal Clarence destroyed. 

November was all about knitting.... wearing my fair isle jumper & finishing 2 dog coats for the boys.

An evening with the family seeing the Coca Cola truck & spending time with the cats.

I was also lucky enough to see New Model Army & The Beat, nice to let my hair down & forget about my troubles.

I'm still looking for somewhere to live but as it's getting so close to Christmas it will have to wait until the new year now. So many places but none that I can afford or will take cats.

Fingers crossed 2017 is better for us all.

September 2016

I'm so behind....... it's nearly the end of October & I'm only just posting about September.

At the beginning of the month I received a bomb shell as OH has decided to sell the house for financial reasons. I knew it was coming but hoping it wouldn't. Anyway I had a cut off date of 29th October & I'm still here!! I can't find anywhere that will take cats so OH has left & I'm still looking. We think I can stay here until April so fingers crossed something turns up before then.

So September was a blur really, I've not been able to walk due to the darker mornings & to be honest weight loss & fitness are the last things on my mind. 

I celebrated my volunteers 50th birthday with the team, attended the RSPCA Big Walkies, another trip to the bingo with my sister as a late birthday treat, spent time with the cats, knitting my Home Fires fair isle jumper & celebrating 8 years in Blogland.

I would love to say October was better but that's another story for another post!!

August 2016

The last month of summer has come & gone.....

Once again it passed in a blur & looking back I didn't seem to do very much!

Walking, lots of walking! Knitting, crocheting, meeting Barney for the first time, spending time with my children, celebrating my birthday at the end of the month & enjoying a few days off.

Autumn is my favourite time of year, bring it on!

July 2016

We're half way through August & I'm only just getting around to blogging about July!

The weeks & months always go so fast, I feel like a hamster on a wheel!

So July........ remembering the Somme, day out to a 1940's weekend, lots of knitting, cats socks, spending time in beds with the cats, lots of walking, finally getting in my old dress, new PM, Prince Charles visiting Exeter, Andy winning Wimbledon, remembering Teddy & lots of work!!

Phew..... it sounds like a busy month.

It's been a year since I gave up the fundraising job & I'm enjoying being back in the shop. However I've now agreed to do the Ebay shop for all 9 shops..... what a fool!! 

As it's so busy in the shop I'm finding I'm doing more work at home so hence the lack of time. But..... everything we sell will help the animals so it's worth it.

You can find our shop here

Little Valley Animal Shelter 

Be back soon!

June 2016

Another month as gone to quickly.

So we're half way through the year....... it'll soon be Christmas!

 June was a busy month on the work front..... our annual AGM, national RSPCA week, national volunteer week, lots of events in the shop to raise extra money, celebrating our 25th anniversary at Little Valley & topped off with our annual Shelter Day at the end of the month.... phew!!

Outside of work we celebrated OH's birthday, I finished my jumper & started my Home Fire jumper. I visited the Dig For Victory show in Bristol,  treated the kids to a new toy, had some time off to spend with the kids & voted in the EU referendum........ what a shock???

Let's see what July brings

May 2016

Another month passed in a blur!

Celebrating VE day, lots of knitting, cuddles with the kids, finding my 'new to me' WI brooch, trip to the bingo, starting walking to help speed up my weight loss & spending time in the garden.

1/2 way through the year...... blimey!!!

Victory In Europe

Today I will be remembering VE Day

I haven't finished my puzzle :-(

But I will wear my Victory jumper & brooch

Have my tea in my special mug

But I won't be celebrating with my boys as they're on a road trip

They're in my shop window display!

I've had so many nice comments about the window display & lots of older people have come in to tell me their stories of VE Day.... as you can imagine I loved that!!

April 2016

Yep another month as gone.

Lots of making this month, 2 vintage pot holders, lace socks, Land Girl for my Etsy shop, green bow scarf & started my second Victory jumper in a summer colour way.

I aso brought a new cardigan, celebrated the Queen's 90th birthday, saw Mike Peters & drooled over the knitwear in Home Fires.

I enjoyed a few days at home with the cats & tried very hard to eat healthy, since I was told by the hospital I have to lose over 5 stone before they will operate on my Gallstones :-( 

It's not going to happen so I guess I'll have to live with the pain but I'm very aware I've put on over a stone in a year so it doesn't hurt to try to lose that. I'm 1/2 way through my 'Saints' food box from a local lady, all Slimming World friendly & very tasty.

Wish me luck!

March 2016

Wow that was a quick month!!!

Looking back I don't think I did very much...... I finished my Birdie cardigan, ate Easter eggs & hot cross buns, started my VE day puzzles, made more bow scarves & spent time with my children.

On Good Friday I took advantage of the sunshine & headed to South Devon Railway with the family for their heritage weekend.

It was a lovely day

Let's see what April brings!

February 2016

I'm glad to see the back of you February!

I started the month with a lovely case of flu that made me take to my bed for a whole week! My brave little Bobby was bitten on the neck & needed veterinary treatment. I went to hospital for my long awaited scan & was diagnosed with gallstones! 

I also celebrated Hugo's first birthday, did lots of knitting, enjoyed spring daffodils, spent a day cooking, finally finished my hexagon blanket & started my blue bird cardigan!

Phew...... that's a lot in one month!

What I Made In 2015

WARNING: Photo overload!

I always enjoy looking back over the year to see what I made..... so here we go!

A gift for Hugo

Berets..... lots of berets!!

My victory jumper in time for VE day 

Land girl to join my service boys 

1940's brooch

Victory brooch for VE day

Land girl jumper knitted from some free wool I was given

Tom Cat & his Mrs!

More berets!

Acorn brooch for autumn 

Christmas cardigan 

Getting ready for my only fair of 2015....... and I think my very last :-(

Bow scarves 

Finally finding the right mustard for my bow scarf 

Wearing my bow scarf in a different way!

Christmas gift for Hugo

Christmas gift for Matthew

And that's it!!

I don't think I made as much as I did in 2014 but I'm still impressed :-)

I re thinking my business in 2016........ it's going to be a tough decision but I think I will be giving up selling my makes!

But what will I make???

I've been selling for about 10 years so it's going to be hard but I don't push it as much as I should & then I don't sell as much so I end up disappointed. Also the fairs are getting more expensive & sometime no one comes so you spend money on tables & with no customers.

I will of course still knit for myself but really there's only so many cardigans a girl can have!!

I need to get my thinking cap on!

That was the year 2015

Another year has flown passed, we're already one month down in 2016 & I still haven't done my yearly catch up!

So here it is...

January

Staring my new job as fundraiser for the RSPCA, finishing my Christmas jumper, lighting a candle for holocaust memorial day & spending time with Bobby.

February

Under going lots of test at the doctors but they didn't solve the problem! Hugo was born & lots knitting.

March

New phone, starting my Victory jumper, treating myself to goodies & spending time with my family.

April

More crafting & meeting Paul Young

Celebrating VE day, voting (& feeling disappointed with the result!), fundraising events, getting my new glasses & another jumper finished.

June

More fundraising events, the most successful shelter day on record!, day out at Dig for Victory, celebrating OH's birthday & remembering Zoe.

July

My last month in the fundraising role, my nephew's wedding & starting yet another jumper.

August

My birthday month, day out with the family to another 1940's event, meeting Jeremy Corbyn & yet more knitting.

September 

Celebrating 7 years in blogland, getting over a nasty chest infection, taking part in the RSPCA Big Walkies & an evening out with friends.

October

Yet another new cardigan, cocktails with friends, more knitting & spending time with my children!

November

Christmas started early, my one & only craft fair of the year (not very successful), remembrance day & more cat cuddling.

December

Finally I could wear my Christmas jumper! Spending more time with my family & partying!

2015 was a good year!

My plans for 2015....

• Be amazing in my new job! - This didn't work out, unfortunatley they didn't want a fundraiser & it showed! I wasn't allowed to do anything so decided it was time to leave when my 6 month contract was up
• Sort out my crafting area - Nope, still a mess & getting worse
• Decorate my living room & bathroom - Nope, the bathroom is worse now thanks to my leaky toilet
• Read more books - Nope, still haven't found my reading mojo

• Plan ahead & make stock that will sell - be organised! - A little but I've decided that selling my knitting is going to make my millions so I will be rethinking this in 2016
• Complete my things to do list - Nearly!
• Make things for me - Yes indeed..... 4 jumper, landgirl, brooches & more
• Try to continue Make, Do and Mend on a small scale - Nope, the months just disappeared
• Spend time with my family - Yep
• Spend less time on my laptop & more time crafting - This is still a problem, need to try harder in 2016
• Stay happy! - I think so!

2016 plans include 

 

• Sort out my crafting area 
• Decorate my living room & bathroom 
• Read more books

• Plan ahead & make stock that will sell online (no more craft fairs)
• Complete my things to do list
• Continue to make things for me
• Set up a few Make, Do and Mend craft meetings
• Try to come off my pills that are making me lazy & sleepy 
• Spend time with my family
• Spend less time on my laptop & more time crafting 
• Stay happy!

Come on Josie-Mary...... you can do it this year!!