TUSAL July

 It's that time of the month again, and I'm please to have a full ORT pot, 

I had to pat them down a bit.

My girls wanted to get in on the action, they have seen other photo's with interesting accomplishes, so they sneaked in, they live on my desk all near to my screen, I did not know they had been watching! My "big" jar is 3/4 full, I have pushed all the threads down, I hope to have enough to stuff my 1st heart I make next year.

 We cut our Magnolia tree earlier this year, something neither of us had done before, I treated it like a shrub, and cut it back to shape, and in the past few weeks it has bloomed for the second time.

 Kev and I are both very happy, we love this tree and now it back being the right size for our small garden. All our new planting  is behind in our garden, which I'm OK with, just means we will have  them later this month and in September.

I am busy stitching the small rug for Christine, and thanks I love stitching this, I must confess I have also been doing some of my family sampler, just can't keep away from that one.

Yesterday, Su, Gav and Shannon popped in, Shannon has her 4th birthday on Thursday, we had a cake and pop, Shannon had loads of presents, it was fun, they then went to her nanny's house for more fun.
This afternoon we are with friends at another BBQ, I love catching up at weekends, the chatter, laughter, and a raid on the garden for cuttings!!

I hope you have sunshine and laughter,where ever you are

Sunday afternoon

 Josh wanted to go for a bike ride yesterday, and locally we have the perfect weekend spot.

This beautiful lake is 25minutes drive from our house, it is on a big estate filled with office blocks, but at the weekend when everyone is home with their families, it's the perfect quiet spot. Josh riding his bike, does not like having his photo taken so I have to be sneaky.

 Sammy spent most of his time with Grancha or daddy, I don't mind, I get all the brilliant smiles as well, he loves my chain and pendant. I got to spend time chatting with Fliss, catching up on everything, plus a bit of gossip. We walked around the lake twice and once around a smaller lake, every thing here is man made, and so perfect, we passed families with picnics and loads of happy children. It's so great to hear Fliss is feeling so much better, finally having found out she has an allergy to wheat, she has stopped eating wheat and almost instance she is back being our happy smiley Fliss, and losing a few pounds each week.

 After our walk, a pub garden and a needed cool drink, I love this photo of Josh, Sammy and daddy, another sneaky one, here we were sat near water, all made safe with high fences and mesh covers over the water.

I did manage to get some stitching done, this section is going to be alot of stitching, but it's quick and easy and it does look fantastic. I have ordered the silks I need for the carpet, just waiting for the parcel, should be here later this week.

On top of it all

 I am now stitching the top panel on the sampler, I decided not to stitch the grandchildren names until I have almost finished, just in case I hitch them whilst stitching other area's, and as always I never take the simple route.

I have loads of books with different styles for letters, but I loved the style I have used, it was a quote on another piece of work, there was no capital J so I have had to make mine up, I am pleased with the results.   I want loads of colour in the four outside panels, I have loads of bright areas, so I wanted the background here to be pale.

I have 7 colours to use in this panel, I am doing three rows and then eight rows and then back to three row, so as the pattern goes on, each time one colour is stitched ie PINK, it will be in a thin panel and then next time it will show in a fat panel but I have alot of stitching to do!

I am also going to make another rug, I have 200 followers on my blog Somerset House, so I decided to make the 200th follower a gift, Christine has decided which design she wants and I am pleased it a pattern I love.

Getting ready

 In September we will celebrate 25 years of marriage, we are going to our local church for a blessing, same church Su and Gav were wed in last year.  Afterwards, we are having a garden party, we wanted something different than a big party, so we have chosen favorite family and friends to share our day.

Above is the card I created, I tried to keep it similar to our wedding theme, and below I thought I would show you a few of our wedding photo's. Below with my beautiful young daughters, who both have grown into beautiful young woman, Fliss my eldest daughter, you might know through "Joshy & Belle" blog site.

 I love the movement in this photo, oh to be young again.

It was a strange weekend, we had no internet, so I got on with my cards, Saturday we popped into see Joshy, he was having a bowling party with his school friends, it was an early birthday treat, 12 younsters all having fun, and a grandson with a huge smile on his face. Sammy just wanted his cuddles with Grancha, Sunday I was very tired, so no stitching at all.

Work is very busy at this time, I had a agument with my boss on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, so whilst he is not getting at me the office is very quiet, I'm struggling at the mo, don't have a reason why, but most things have become a chore, the rainy weather does not help. My mum would tell me to snap out of it, but at best I keep my head down and get on with things.