We forgot September!

[Dream Loxley]

Well, perhaps it is best forgotten *L* Not been the best here although the weather has been much nicer. I think the player of Brennekah Windstrike brought it over with her *VBS* I am waiting a while before heading off to my local Rail Station to meet her, and armed with a picnic we are going to visit Hever Castle for the day *S* Then back here for some dinner, wine and whatever *L* It is so exciting to actually meet people one knows through the internet and I am looking forward to the day. Deep breathing techniques for the old nerves *LOL*

Lovely pic Eva, but I wonder how the plants fare if you garden with that monstrosity! *L*

Hope to read more of your days soon all.

Not much else to waffle about............leaving and for everyone.

[Halethala]

Oohhh . . I so want to come too! Do have fun!

Eva, you've definitely upgraded your weaponry since the days of wooden swords!

Wouldn't you know . . my husband got some crazy wild hair to take me horseback riding last Saturday, but the day dawned to the first weekend of honest rain all summer! Oh well . . *laughs* (truth be told, I was actually pretty nervous about it all!)

With the Olympics a not too distant memory, I think you'll like this little story about an ex-Olympian you might remember?

What's in a name?

The famous Olympic skier Picabo Street (pronounced Pee-Ka-Boo)
is not just an athlete...
she is now a nurse currently working at an Intensive Care Unit of a large metropolitan hospital.

She is not permitted to answer the hospital telephones any longer.
It caused too much confusion when she would answer the phone and say: Picabo, I.C.U.



(Admit it ... you're smiling!).

[Dream Loxley]

Definitely smiling Letha! Thanks for that

Gosh yesterday was just wonderful............and what a beautiful lady Bella/Bren is, both in looks and her heart. I thought at first they had got the wrong train as they had dissapeared into the 'Ladies' *L* I admit I began to panic! But it all turned out well and after the initial nerves, it was well worth the anxious wait. Her friend was equally nice and such lovely company.

I managed somehow to get lost after coming so close to Hever *L* and we ended up driving around the Kent countryside for an hour! But they did get to see some beautiful sights and were rather pleased with my diversion after all. *S* Perhaps I should have told them it was all planned *L* Finally arriving and suitably refreshed with coffee and tea we then had a super day spent wandering about Hever Castle and grounds. I managed to walk quite a way and see all the Castle inside with a few short rests on the Official's chairs, although some of the Thrones and incredible old seats looked far more inviting *L* We did a little 'touchy feely' and almost got caught! What a scream those two are, such great fun.

They took great care of me around the grounds, even avoiding the moat with my wheelchair *L* Very enjoyable and relaxing time and a tasty picnic even without wine *S* We did make up for that at home with dinner though, after convincing my Husband he could drive us to the rail station later on *S*

All in all, a most wonderful day filled with memories once again to treasure......the time went far too quickly and then as always when one meets people it was time for goodbyes........never easy and always such a sad moment, the worst thing about meeting folks......BUT they did say they would have to come back again! So here's hoping *VBS* Thankyou both ladies for a very special day!

www.hevercastle.co.uk/

Wishing all a wonderful new day in all you do. I shall have a quiet one I think after all that excitement

[Lady Edfeil]

*LOL* We did indeed. You ladies are the sunshine of my week. We are dealing with some little stresses here. Joseph went to the Church nursery on sunday and picked up a cold. On top of that he is teething again so he wants to sit on my hip all day. Yesterday our hot water heater broke.... and we are still waiting to hear back from the company that is supposed to deal with it. I've not been sleeping well for five days now and it's starting to show.

*chuckles* I had fun with that thing. I didn't think I would like powertools, but I loved adding some shape back to the garden. Dream... I actually deadheaded some roses with it because the only other thing I had were kitchen scisors and they weren't up to the job.

[Repsol]

Will this be Windstorms shortest month on the boards*chuckles*

September started as August finished got two oral warnings from work in two weeks, I have never in my whole working life had a warning of any kind, think I best get out of this job and soon..LOL

My second granddaughter has cut another two teeth this time at the top, so gramps is getting ready for the darling to cut them through on his fingers as everything goes towards that little orifice which is the mouth even the rabbit isn't safe, Chloe is still making us proud, she started horse riding two month ago and is on her own now without the need to be led, she is loving school and is as sharp as a knife, oh and did I mention opinionated, 6 going on 14, nothing could have prepared me for this one, now we find Matthew is going to be a daddy too so that will be my third (anyone got any vacancies I will do anything, well almost anything,)
It is always good to follow how you GALS are going on, better than any soap but this is real life , I will keep in touch but have some hospital stuff to do first, I think they are going to attempt to remove my incredibles outfit, boy are they in for a shock it's tattooed on...*EG*

So until next time, I wish everyone safe journeys through life and pray you all stay safe.

Hugs and XXs from Rep and him....

[Halethala]

I have a rose bush that hasn't borne a single bloom since the first year it was planted! Years ago now. Yet I faithfully trim it down, water it, feed it (admittedly very sparingly lately) and even once tried to dig it up completely, down a foot into the roots! Thought I'd gotten rid of it . . still, it came up again . . and still won't bloom . . .

Kinda reminds me of so many metaphors that I don't think I'll give up on it yet. *grins* Not until next spring . . maybe try one and a HALF feet down this time . .

[Dream Loxley]

For Rep and Thinking of you and wishing you well. Thanks too.....for making me laugh again!

I have learned quite a lot from my many gardening books, and TV series.......but one I have practiced and it seems to work. Roses.......when pruning or dead heading in particular, cut where a leaf joint is, but choose one with 5 leaf fronds, not 3 as this usually produces a new rose to admire. Give it a try Letha *S*

A quiet weekend here.......nothing special.........and yet..........probably very special in its own way.

Wishing all a wonderful new week.......courage and strength where needed, and a simple hug just because.

[Halethala]

Thanks for the advice, Dream! I suppose I shouldn't give up on the poor thing, since it's so determined to survive.

I'm quite convinced that Autumn is the reason we've had to invent new names for colors . . burnt omber and sienna, russet, ecru, scarlet, wheat, rust, persimmon, ruby, fallow, auburn, cordovan, burgandy, vermillion . . and on and on. And the early morning heavy dews intensify the richness, taking your breath away as the rising sun illuminates each transient hue.

I heard those of us in the dryer regions of my corner of the world should expect the fall colors to be more muted and drab. Fortunately, so far, it doesn't seem so! It's just been spectacular, and it's still early in the season . .

((Rep, I cannot imagine whatever could have garnered you warnings at work! ))

[Dream Loxley]

Gosh all those colours Letha.......I have a vivid picture in my mind now *S* It is offically Autumn here now and on Sunday morning I was able to see so many trees already changing colour. I am not sure what our Autumn will be like this year, I do know some years have been spectacular because of the amount of rain and the fact so many leaves stayed on the trees.......the reason was rather technical *L* but I am sure nature will give us here a splendid show *S*

It is chilly in the mornings, and also at night......not really time for the central heating just yet, but quite soon I am sure. Strange how Summer just seemed to vanish without trace once again......perhaps next year will be better *S* Who knows hmmmmm........yet another thing we simply have to leave to chance *S*

I have enjoyed helping at the Auctions in Creativity Chat, and have said several times how wonderful it is to see so many active rooms and people adding views and news to the various message boards......I wonder if there is a way we can get Windstorm back into that busy and exciting time.........

Anyway.......waffling moment quickly squashed *LOL* I shall get back to crafting........and listening to my new radio!

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday......not long 'till a new weekend.....and the weather is looking good for it here! Best not speak too soon though *L*

to all.

[Lady Edfeil]

Dream, I fear I just do not have the time to spend in WS as I used to. I think this will be the case for the next four or five years since I do not expect Joseph to be the last child we have. (*W* This is not an anouncement.) I think that for the next four or five years, I will be all in small children. *LOL* Since that barely leaves time to shower, my online time is fifteen minutes here or there, and never reliable.
If anyone else has the time however, I would love to support whatever can be done to make the room more busy. The only thing I can see myself commit to timewise atm is to keep posting on the boards and to plan an event now and then. Once we get this one after us, I might immediately start planning for the next one since it takes us a while to get all the calendars straight.

The weather has cooled off alot here in a very short time. It actually feels like autumn. We had to move Joseph's birthday party indoors because of the rain. Also only half of the visitors was able to make it due to some last moment problems everywhere, so we were left with lots of food..

Here is a picture from the party. And you can see some more at www.totsites.com/tot/hauk

[Lady Edfeil]

Just having a bit of time after he is in bed, so I wanted to share the birthday story:

I have a few minutes, so I want to tell the sstory of the party. We had a great time though things went a bit different from how we had planned them. Don't they always? ;D

We expected 18 guests. Joseph's godmother has 5 wonderful children and they were all going to come over for his birthday. Then there were his godfather Steven, Werner, my mother, Bill and myself and three couples from the neighbourhood here that we befriended.
We wanted to make sure that there was enough food. So we had ordered a cake, big enough for say.. 5 or 6 people plus 12 cupcakes. Since Joseph's love is rubber duckies, we were delighted to find that the backery at our grocery store (publix) made a duckie cake. They also gave us, for free for a first birthday, a cake for the birthday boy himself (called a smash cake, aparently for obvious reasons).
Two days before the birthday party (and just after I had gone grocery shopping with my mother for the food and drinks), one of the couples unfortunately had to tell us they could not come due to a small family emergency. My mother is a true Belgian woman, for whom the greatest horror that is thinkable is a party in which there is a shortage of food. (translatable in not enough leftovers to make sure that everyone REALLY had more than enough). So despite my urgings we had more than plenty of food and drink.
The day of the birthday party a lot of our wel layed plans went awry. The weather, always so hot and sunny here in SC, took a strange turn and we had to set up inside instead of out. And Joseph's godmother called... there was an unexpected gas shortage in town, she could not find ANY gas and was basically housebound and unable to come. Our party went from 18 to 10. So I froze all the cupcakes and half the hotdog buns. Unfortunately I could not freeze the chili anymore as I had used beef that I had cooked and frozen beforehand to save time.
One of the two couples that was still supposed to come did not turn up until two and a half hours after the party had started (basically after the party had ended ) because they had taken a nap in the afternoon and overslept. Luckily they still came and relieved us of some cake. I truely gained five pounds in a week by finishing off leftover birthday cake...

The party, smaller as it was, was still a lot of fun. We used Joseph's baptismal candle in the cake and everyone blew it out together for him. We sang happy birthday and then gave him the cake on the trey of his high chair. Now this smash cake was basically unadorned, in contrast to the big cake which had the cute rubber duckies. But as a little birthday present, we had bought three tiny 99 cent rubber duckies for Joseph and I had put one on the cake. I think we all expected him to grab the cake or push his face in it. But he surprised us all by delicately plucking the rubber duckie out and then licking the icing off it. We all laughed and he continued using the duckie as a scoop to get more cake. Later we offered him a spoon and he set a bit less delicate to work. But it was only after we had taken away the cake and just given him some pieces that he could take with his fingers that he truely got messy. After the cake he was hosed down and then he received presents. Of course the wrapping paper was the most interesting. I was happy to see that people had given nice, sensible presents like books and clothing and there was one toy which was age apropriete (and with an off button ).
All in all, it was a great birthday with some really fun pictures!

[Halethala]

It's nice to hear of Creativity Chat enjoying a season of success, Dream! May it never waver . . and may you enjoy what you can of it there *hugs*

Eva, he looks so grown up already! Wow . . and what fun to experience his first time with being allowed to play with his food to his heart's content! *grins* Must the the thing nowdays, Smash Cakes. My grandkids have exuberantly dismantled many of them as well! I had to laugh when my daughter in law had to climb in the shower as well as her son after simply trying to extricate his wriggling, joyful, cake-plastered body from the rubble of his high chair!

Yesterday I was out on the back deck washing windows, when I heard a whirrring sound come around the corner, and found myself under attack by a rather sizable hummingbird! He tenatively hovered in towards me three times before I realized what he was after . . . I had a lightweight sweater on with lovely pink flowers, and began laughing as I shooed him away, assuring him I was NOT food!

[Dream Loxley]

I enjoyed reading of little Joseph's First Birthday Party, and such lovely pics too *VBS* Made me remember long ago of my own lads *S*

Never seen a Hummingbird Letha *S* must have been quite an experience!

Wishing all a wonderful week......

[Nicole]

the baby is beautiful hon.. I think its the first pic I have seen of him.. flawless.. just like him mama... ~big hugs to your family~

[Brennekah Windstrike]

I had to poke my nose in here and say that Dream lived up to her name...she is an absoute dream in person! A beautiful lady inside and out and all around too. I can't thank her enough for the great time that we had...she packs a mean picnic and cooks a great meal..maybe she can adopt me...lol

and I know you didn't get lost Dream, it was all a ploy to have me fall in love with the countryside even more!

thank you once again for the wonderful time, it's my favourite part of the trip for sure!

-hugs and smooches you all up-
xoxoxo