D is for Dress.

I am a fan of Joe Brown's clothes - I saw this tunic/dress in the latest Spring Collection and fell in love with it straight away. It's actually classed as a tunic - if you look carefully you will see the shorter layers at the front and the long layer at the back. Depending on how much leg I want on DISPLAY I can either wear it just as a dress or with leggings or white trousers. Very rarely do I buy brand new clothes, being the charity shop fan that I am - but something about this made me think of Spring and Summer months - the special days we celebrate - we are going out for a meal on Valentine's Day - then there is our wedding anniversary and our birthdays - so plenty of opportunities to wear this.

Speaking of charity shops - I snapped up an absolute bargain this week :-  see here  I was in Stokesley on Saturday doing my rummaging - how much did I pay? £10! Granted it's not BRAND new but it's hardly been worn - if at all!

D is for Dress ...ABC Wednesday.

Silver Wedding

 

 

 

Was amazing!

Truly Blessed!

The week has certainly been eventful what with the official retirement and my birthday. We had a wonderful meal on Wednesday evening and then last night my close friends and family came here for a fantastic night. We had pie and peas and the wine flowed!!!!
I had a  surprise on Saturday afternoon when we returned from shopping - a lovely vase of flowers was on the patio table - thankyou so much Shrinky - it made my day!

I am truly blessed!

Reasons to be cheerful - 16, 17, 18 and a rant!

It is that time of the week again. I think over the past weeks I have realised I am a cheerful person and the reasons I have stated really should form part of a regular mantra. The three reasons I am stating this week are basic yet so central to my cheerfulness/contentment but really should NEVER be taken for granted.
16, I have good health.
17. I have good friends.
18. I have a good, loving family.

This week something happened which has really annoyed me. I am not one to rant yet as the days have passed I find myself thinking more and more about it. On Wednesday we had a visit from a firm of financial sdvisors, endorsed by my teaching union. We read the literature prior to his visit and were aware he would try and sell us something be it life insurance or investment suggestions - neither of which we intended using the firm for - we just wanted to know my entitlement/settlement details. I have life cover etc. Anyway I am rambling - he asked me if there was anything I intended to buy. I said I would like to buy some artwork. Art was ALWAYS my favourite subject to teach and I felt this would be a good momento of the 25 happy years I spent as a teacher. I also thought Mackenzie Thorpe would be an appropriate choice - he is a local artist and his work features the local Yorkshire Moors......however I think I just may go for a something by the amazing artist Jackie Morris - will share more later!


Well this chap was so against MY choice - he dismissed it straight away. Shortly after he left, saying he would return at a later date - well so he thought. We will NOT be setting up another meeting thank you VERY much and I WILL be buying some pictures THANK YOU very much!
The very nerve!

These will look lovely in our lounge and will be a wonderful reminder!

Reasons to be cheerful - 13, 14, 15

It's that time of the week again! Why not join in?




3 more reasons to be cheerful.


1. I am feeling much much better after the dreadful 24 hours I had - a bit early for details at this early hour of the day - some may be eating breakfast - but let's just say I wont be eating kippers for a while!

2.I am really enjoying the 2 mile walk I do each day with Freida, my faithful german shepherd. It is not so much of a chore anymore and I can actually say I want to do this. It is a wonderful feeling when the horses in the ajoining fields fit in with our pace and walk along side us - a great way to start the day!

3. I am so looking forward to Tuesday - I will find out the settlement for my Teacher's Pension. I have been aware for some time that the government have earmarked "public sector pensions" for change and I KNOW one area will be the early retirement age of 55 being put back - it was announced this week that in 2012 the teacher's pension scheme is going to incur changes! PHEW! I JUST crawled through that one! Roll on June 29th!

Reasons to be Cheerful, 10,11,12.

It's that time of the week again! Why not join in?





It's that time of the week again! 3 more reasons to be cheerful.

I lost 3lb this week - which means I was awarded with my 1stone loss certificate! I am so chuffed! 2 more stone to go, but I am one third down the road of my journey.

 

I made a new friend this week and I am so pleased I did. I am sure some of you will know Mum@themadhouse . Well, it would appear we are only a few miles away from each other so I invited her round for lunch and she brought me this wonderful gift! I am looking forward to popping in for coffee and getting to know her. I am sure we will have fun together.

Our neighbours/friends are moving this weekend and John brought me over some very special keepsakes which I am honoured to have. John's mum was a teacher and a keen porcelain painter - he has given me her paints, so I have sent off for a book of instructions and will be putting the paints to a good use. He also gave me her sewing machine - a "singer" again, I was so touched - even more reason to get my sewing skills sorted. I have had an idea of getting together a group of friends and neighbours once a fortnight to learn and share new crafts - should be fun!

All in all a great week!

Reasons to be cheerful - 7,8,9!

It's that time of the week again! 3 more reasons to be cheerful.

1. The plans we have for updating the house are coming together. I am particularly happy about the decisions we have made for the kitchen. The pine units are staying, be it a bit of moving and shaking but we are reversing the doors and having a shaker theme. The Aga too is staying and is having a make over. The dust produced from a solid fuel Aga is a huge amount so I don't want any coving or fancy pelmets on any of my cupboards anymore. I have had 20 years of it. All wall cupboards are coming down but going elsewhere in the house. I am a frugal person to heart and I just can not replace the units for the sake of it. No - they are all staying - I look forward to sharing the pictures of our progress.



2. My neighbour has agreed to come with her sewing machine and help me get to grips with mine. One of my New Year's Intentions was to develop my sewing ability. Margie use to be a lecturer in Home Economics and is an excellent sewer. We had a good chat today and we even discussed making loose covers for our settees! lol! Still - watch this space and be prepared to be amazed/shocked/disgusted! Time will tell!

3. I lost 1.5 lb at Slimming World. This brings me 1 lb off being back on track!

Reasons to be cheerd=ful, 4,5,6.

The new meme I joined in last week finds me here again with more reasons to be cheerful. A great way to start any day, Friday in particular so here are mine today.

 

We keep hens and they often cause me to have a smile! One in particular is my shadow, little Eva. This photo was taken yesterday when she followed me down the drive to collect the evening paper from my neighbour Ro. Ro always laughs as she knows when she sees me coming down the drive Eva will be following. The hens reward us with wonderful eggs - sparse at the moment as they don't like the cold weather, but hopefully spring will remind them why we got them in the first place!

 

My faithful companion Freida. We go for walks everyday and when she sees her lead coming off the hook she makes the most hilarious wolf howl you could imagine, so funny from such a quiet dog.

 

Being married to an engineer is a godsend! This is part of his actual precision work and is his main job, however Jon likes to understand how things work - so from fixing the washing machine, hoover, fuse box and plumming, Jon has a thorough understanding and working knowledge! I know I am truly blessed! lol! Mind you, he knows he is too - he's a big fan of my cooking and loves Saturday night in particular when I always cook a special meal. This week it is wood pigeon!

Reasons to be cheerful - 1, 2, 3!

Visiting Chrystal Jigsaw's blog today I saw that she had joined in with a fun project, so I have decided to give it a go. I have always tried to keep my blog positive and to spend time finding reasons to be cheerful sounds a good way to spend a few minutes on a Saturday afternoon, as when we read others reasons it can only make the day a better one, or at least one to spend time being cheerful and therfore grateful.

There is no personal charm so great as the charm of a cheerful temperament.

Henry Van Dyke

1. The sun is shining today! This makes me very cheerful and indeed shortly I will taking my German Shepherd Freida for a walk up the village. Whenever I go for a walk the surroundings lift my spirits as I never fail to enjoy the wonders of the village surroundings North Yorkshire has to be one of the most lovely parts of England. Having said that, it has been one of the worst hit by the recent snow so to see the blue sky and sunshine, and Dan the horse next door enjoying it too could only put a smile on my face.

2. Tonight we are having another family get together, hosted by the other Mrs Nesbitt in my life, my lovely mother in law. The anticipation of such a gathering makes me very cheerful as we always have great fun. My MIL and I are great friends. My own mum is sadly not here anymore, she passed away in 1994 but the time we spent together always make me smile as such memories are fond and happy.



3. The nature I see all around makes me very  appreciative and responsible. To leave out food and scraps and to be rewarded by such regular visits again makes me cheerful. Yes reasons to be cheerful, 1, 2, 3!