The Wanderer Returns

Yes folks, I'm back home again after having a lovely time over at my DSis's, though I've since been busy playing catch-up with house jobs. Amazing how my two know how the washing machine works but didn't manage to use it while I was gone!

So what did the pair of us get up to? Well Wednesday we had a catch up natter, then DH went back home in the evening; Thursday we had a trip to the huge Tesco and did a bit of shopping in the daytime, then went to visit with our Aunty S and Uncle T in the evening. Uncle T is our Mum's DBro and he and Aunty S have my DSis over to visit regularly but I don't get to see them very often, so it was lovely to have a catch up. Plus Aunty is a superb cook and the meal we had was very tasty! :0) On Friday we went to visit friends of the family in the morning and in the afternoon our SIL picked us up and took us back to her and our DBro's house: lots of chat and laughter, I got to see my niece and nephew and we all had a lovely meal as a celebration for our nephew's 8th birthday. I made a card for him to take with me:

Unfortunately I chose a Power Rangers theme and it's actually Transformers that are all the rage now. Now my DS is all growed up I'm afraid I just don't keep up with these things anymore. LOL My DH drove over to us and he drove the three of us back to DSis's house, where we stayed for another night. On Saturday the three of us went shopping to the Outlet, so DH actually helped me spend his money as well. LOL Among the haul were: undies, socks, shoelaces, a Jensen Button book and a replacement powertool blade for DH; thermal vests, a nightie, slippers, FlyFlot socks and a pair of dressy shoes for me; healthy foodstuffs from Julian Graves; some herbal teas from Whittards, as well as a fab Sugar Container (I never met a calorie I didn't like, on the side LOL) which I bought for my DSis as part of her birthday gift; Lock'n'Lock boxes for our kitchen; a pop-up tidy bag and a wheeled storage container with a seat for the garden (can store a trowel and hand fork, tie backs etc, so I'll have them all to hand and be able to sit whilst working, when I can get out there again); and I treated myself to a beautiful dragonfly brooch from Past Times (and paid less than that too!) and some books. Well, I couldn't go to the Outlet and not go in the bookshop, could I? ROFL  Here's what I succumbed to: 

Can you see a bit of a theme developing there? LOL And these as well:

Even better: all those plus DH's book for a little over £20 - not a bad bargain at all! LOL We had a break for dinner part way through the day and took my DSis to the pub for a belated birthday meal - another tasty one. DSis also took time to pop into work to see everyone and they were delighted to see her and told her they were looking forward to her going back the following Monday. Another positive that has come out of all this recent business: my DSis now knows how much she's thought of by everyone she works with. :0)

DH and I travelled home late Saturday night. Whilst at my DSis's we'd had a belated Christmas gift giving (I wasn't able to go over beforehand due to my op) so, as well as all the shopping and our overnight bags, there were our gifts to bring back too. Here is my gift from our Aunty D and Uncle W:

Both books just perfect for me. Now all I need is an extra couple of hours in the day to fit in all this extra reading I need to do. LOL This was part of my gift from my DSis and isn't she gorgeous?

She's the Healing Crystal Angel and is destined to go in my Craft Room until the sun lounge is decorated and I can set up a proper Angel Altar in there. :0) DH was very happy with his bottles of whisky, which will keep him going with tots for some time. LOL

On Sunday DH carried on with the Craft Room flooring (Guinness Book of Records here he comes - I reckon he's trying for the Longest Ever DIY job LOL) and I started sorting the first of three laundry loads. It was also time for posting a Mother Earth update on the 2010 Weekly SAL Blog. Here's where I left off this time round:

Tattoos fully infilled, the area to the right of Her arm partially filled and a little more done to the dress. Not huge progress but, bearing in mind I'd not been feeling well and also had a break over at my DSis's, better than what I thought I'd manage....... and a little progress is better than none. :0)

I also made another card, before I went off on the visit, which I sent to Julie. Thought I'd share:

I also need to make a couple of birthday cards this month, so the cardmaking stash will be coming out to play again soon. :0)

Unfortunately, despite taking two stitching projects away with me, I didn't manage to put a single stitch into either of them, so no pics of them to show. Still, it was fun getting out and about so I'm not complaining...... I'll just have to make up for the lack of stitching now I'm back! LOL   

This week I've had a trip to the Clinic for my first ever acupuncture session. She only used six needles but it did give me an inkling in to what pincushions must feel like..... and from now on I shall be much more gentle with the poor, abused things! LOL I shall do a write up about it on my other blog at some point.

In case you're getting bored with seeing the same old projects every time you come to visit: take heart, I will have something different to show you next time around. There's a new piece started that I can now post a pic for and, if it ever stays in the drive long enough in the daytime for me to take a pic of it, my DS's new pride and joy to show you all.

Thank you for all the lovely comments, especially the well wishes my DSis - they all mean a great deal. Hope you are all staying safe and warm and enjoying lots of stitchy time. :0)