Sunday 29 September 2013

Trying To Keep Up.....

 

 
 
Soooooo much happening in Blogland each and every day. It's because it's full of interesting, talented, creative people.....there's bound to be a lot happening, isn't there!
 

 

 
 
Now, I've not been curled up in a ball, fast asleep over the last few days, I've been out and about, nothing too exciting, just the normal everyday stuff, stuff that needs doing!
The sun has been shining good and proper this week, so there's been a spot of sitting in the sun too! Great isn't it, our extended summer!
 
 
 
 
But, whatever I've been up to, blog reading hasn't squeezed itself onto the list this weekend, and now I feel a little guilty, a little overwhelmed, struggling to keep up, knowing I've got two busy days and evenings ahead of me......and by then soooooo much more will have happened!
 

 

 
 
 
So please, don't think I'm being rude, just struggling a bit.....to keep up! I follow so many of you lovely ladies it takes so much time, but I'll get there eventually!
 
 
 
 
 
I will try and pop by to see you all soon, please bare with me!
 
 
Bye for now,
 
 
Ada :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Thursday 26 September 2013

Making Me Happy Today.....

 

 
 
 
It's the little things that make me happy.....basket of yarn......
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
Little Florence memories, paintings from street artists, vintage glass from a flea market.....
 
 
 
 
 
 
My calendar.....love the images on this one......
 
 
 
 
 
 
Snuggly blankets for cooler nights.....
 
 
 
 
 
 
Growing crochet projects.........
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some almost finished.....this one just needs an edge now.......
 
 
 
 
 
 
Colourful Vintage Sheets.....
 
 
 
 
 
Wooden bobbins and little sheep.....
 
 
 
 
 
Lovely vintage wallpapers.....
 
 

 

 
 
 
Last of the sunflowers......
 
 
 
 
 
 
Visit from my little friend......
 
 
 
 
 
New slippers......
 
 
Doesn't take a lot to make me happy? What's making you happy today?
 
 
I will hopefully catch up with everyone's blogs over the weekend. My energy levels are slowly getting back to normal for me. I'm starting a new yoga class tonight, I love yoga and I've really missed it, great for balance, great for energy levels.
 
 
Thanks, as always for your comments, and for stopping by!
 
 
Bye for now,
 
 
Ada :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Monday 23 September 2013

Yet Another Crochet Project......And The Meaning Of Words....

 

 
 
 
Well Lovely Ladies of Blogland, I've started a new crochet project!
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
But Ada, what about the Rainbow Blanket not yet finished, and your Happy Blanket, that you've decided to pop an edging on??
Oh and the Hexie Pillowcase you started?????
 
 
 
 
 
I know! I know! But they will get finished, eventually! Completer/finisher I'm not, well not this week.
This week I'm a Creative Butterfly, flitting from one colourful project to the next, staying just for a little while on each!
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is it, from Granny Squares book. I'm using up my Drops Paris scraps left over from my Rainbow Blanket. It won't be a blanket, but it will make a few cushions! (And we can NEVER have too many of those, can we Ladies?).
 
 
 
 
 
 
This weekends been glorious here, I've been sat out soaking up the sun......
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bit of reading, bit of snoozing! We had a lovely trip out to Clumber Park yesterday, in Nottinghamshire. I love visiting the kitchen garden, I must say the facilities are even better there this year!
 
Sorry no pictures at the moment, my camera died, so I used my phone, just need to work out how to get them onto my iPad, then I can share!
 
 
 
 
 
 
I was very touched by the thoughts and words you left me after my last post. I mulled over whether to publish them, they were so personal.
I have because you had wanted me to hear those words, you wanted to share your thoughts with me. This is what this blogging malarkey is all about isn't it, sharing?
 
It did make me think about the words you used, and what they mean. I've put a response to each comment, I thought about whether to email you directly but that would have taken me ages, hope that's ok.
 
The word Brave was used a lot! I don't feel breave, I certainly wouldn't describe myself as that. My MS isn't life threatening. MS can be, I'm very aware of that. I'm also very aware of how aggressively it can be within my body. I'm managing it well at the moment, so I don't feel I have anything really to worry about!
Bravery, I feel goes to those fighting for their lives, undergoing aggressive treatment, wondering if they are going to leave their children. They I feel are brave.
Ironically, I bet if asked, they too would say they don't feel brave, just doing what they need to do! Perhaps the word Brave means different things to different people?
So although I wouldn't describe myself as brave, I would describe myself as strong. But only strong with the cards I've been with dealt with at the moment, if another card was placed in my hand.....maybe not so strong?!
 
 
 
 
 
 
The word Positivity was used a lot too. Yep, guilty as charged! Positivity is so important to me, so please use that word as much as you want!!! LOVE that word, marvellous word!
Does this mean I have extra special powers? That I can be positive? No actually, I'm a little bit on the lazy side, I know not a great characteristic, but I want to keep my life as easy as possible! It's far easier to be positive, simple! Negativity is boring, it drains your energy, who wants to be around someone like that.....not me, and I've no option but to live with me!
That's not to say I don't have my down times, usually a good hug and cup of tea remedies this! I'm easily pleased!
Positivity.....Positivity.......Positivity! (Love it)
 
 
Do I need your sympathy, no thank you! Sympathy implies that person requiring it feels sorry for themselves. No that's not me, I don't feel sorry for myself at all, so no sympathy required!
Does this mean I don't need your empathy? Not at all. Please can I have your empathy, when I'm having a bad day, not all the time you understand, just when the going gets tough! Someone just to say, keep going girl, you're doing ok! We all need that, right?
 
 
 
 
 
And my favourite word......Inspiration!
 
Yes please, I'd love to be an inspiration to you! And do you know why? Well every single time I visit Blogland, I'm inspired by someone or something I've seen here. The creativity, the kindness, the community spirit.
So if I can pay back some inspiration, then that's great, I'll inspire as much as I possibly can!
 
 
Right now the bathroom needs cleaning! Yuk! But a girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do.......
 
 
Bye Lovely Ladies of Blogland.....back soon with more Granny Squares.....or maybe a new project!!!
 
 
Ada :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
My Vintage Sheet Bundles flew off the shelves, I'll make some more soon!
 
 
 
 
Vintage Wallpaper Packs arriving soon! :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Friday 20 September 2013

A Little Bit More About Me.....

 

 
 
Thank you all so much for all your lovely comments and support. I seem to be saying that a lot just lately, but it's true you really are such a supportive community.
 

 

 
 
I thought perhaps I ought to explain a little bit more about me, and why I get so tired at times, and why my body doesn't always behave itself! Explain that I'm not really a Moaning Minnie....although I've felt like one this week!
 

 

 
 
 
In 2010, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a condition that affects the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. Gradually over time, 'scars' form in the CNS, this affects the way messages are transmitted through your body. The messages get blocked by the scars, it's a bit like a bad phone reception, you only catch part of the conversation. Your body only responds to part of what you're asking it too.
 
MS is an incurable, progressive disease, very little can be done from a medical point.
It can be very scary when you are first diagnosed. My first introduction to MS was loss of sight, not brilliant when you have a newborn baby to look after!
 
 
 
 
 
I'd be the first to admit how black it all seemed at first. It's a very unpredictable condition, I'm a control freak, it's in my nature.
Perhaps that's why this came along, to teach me to live in the moment. Accept I can't control everything. Start living in the moment, rather than always planning and looking ahead!
I'm not sure of this of course, but I am the kind of person who tries to learn from life's experiences, so this approach really, really helps!
 
 
 
 
 
 
So armed with my diagnosis, and very little support from any medical services, (no dig intended, there is very little known about MS!) I did my own research. This is another thing I do, tackle things head on. I wanted to do something to help myself.
I came across a lot of MS sites, they frightened the living day lights out of me if I'm honest! All very bleak! Luckily I came across a site which looked at lifestyle, and how diet, keeping active, and vitamin D can help manage MS.
 
 
 
 
 
 
It really was a God send! There's a lot of hope in this site. All based on medical research, not false hope. So that's what I did, changed my diet, took vitamin D, managed my stress levels better. I could inject myself each day with a drug, to try and slow down its progress, but at the moment I want to try and do things as naturally as possible.
 
 
And it's really helped. It's meant giving up work, which was right for me, but not good for our finances. I do however believe my girls would rather have me around and healthy for as long as possible, rather than holidays abroad and a big house!
 
 
If anyone's affected by MS that you know, I would recommend looking on Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis site. George Jelinek, who's designed the lifestyle plan, is a Doctor living with MS himself. The research is put across without too much medical jargon, which is what I need!
 
 
And so I try and live each day at a time, not get too concerned about what the future holds, after all none of us knows that do we! I try and keep as healthy as I can, when I'm tired I rest. A sense of humour helps too!
 
 
I try and keep my soul healthy by being creative. Creativeness equals Happy, don't you think?!
 
 
 
 
 
 
I'm very happy. Nothing to feel sad about.
 
 
'In the storm she stood, and when the wind didn't blow her away, she adjusted'.
 
 
I've adjusted.
 
 
 
Very random photos here, sorry about that, it's all I had to hand! I've popped lots of fabric bundles in my shop.....wallpaper packs to follow.
 
 
 
Hope you all have a fab weekend! Think I'll be taking things easy, really wanted to go to Yarndale, so if youre going enjoy yourself, and take lots of pictures so I can have a good drool over all that yarn! Hopefully next year!!!
 
 
Bye for now,
 
 
Ada :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Wednesday 18 September 2013

And..........STOP!

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
I knew it would happen, it's inevitable really. I've had such a great Summer, topped off with my fantastic Florence Adventure!
 
This week my body has said STOP!!! It's refusing to move, refusing to get up......my get up and go, has gone!
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
So my views this week have been limited, bedroom curtains.....very pretty, could look at them all day!
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
The view of my legs wrapped in my Happy Blanket! Lots of snoozes on the sofa!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Or sat in the chair reading, bit of crochet, catching up with your lovely blogs.....
 
 

 

 
 
 
I was determined to resist this sofa today, get on with stuff, the kind of stuff that needs doing.....(I have cleaned the bathroom), but it's not yet 10:30am and guess where I am?! Yep, sat on the sofa! My body really doesn't want to move!!!
 
 
 
I'm ok with this, I'm happy really.....my get up and go, could have gone before I'd had all this fun! Now that would never have done, would it!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
So when I can, I'll make up some more bundles for my shop.......
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tidy around the garden.........
 
 
 
 
 
 
Might even do that in my new wellies! Love my new wellies, I was sat in them the other day, for quite a while, the girls thought I'd gone bonkers!
I was thinking about sleeping in them, like I did when I was 5 years old.....shiny new red wellies, so tempting when you're 5, oh and of course its easy when you don't share your bed. I'm not sure Mr Bea would approve, do you?!
 
 
 
So I'm Stopping, listening to my body, getting back the balance! I like fun too, but I know my body, and I know when I need balance, and that's now!
 
Talking of balance, my bank balance is looking very wobbly too, so I really need to stop spending.......but that's a post all on its own!!
 
 
Thank you as always for your wonderful, supportive comments.....I think I've almost caught up with your blogs now. I have read them, but not always been able to comment.
 
Welcome to those new here, I'm usually more lively than this.....normal craziness will resume soon!
 
 
Bye for now.....feel another snooze coming on!!!
 
 
Ada :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
Move over Minnie......make room for me! :) xxx