Hobbies and Crafts

Thank you for lots of lovely photos Ann, you have a good eye for interesting ones.

It must be a relief for Mitzie to be well enough to be left in the cattery Vera.
it is meant to be dry at the weekend, so you all can have a good time at your sons
wedding. Your are sure to enjoy having the girls stay with you next week. Our granddaughter (15) has been here for 10 days and we all have enjoyed it all.

So Thomas is out and about on the kill again Jane. The mice numbers will be
down in your neighbourhood once again. He has made a very good recovery.

I never thought I would say this but I was really pleased to see the garden full of starlings earlier this afternoon. There have been so few birds around lately that even the starlings are welcome ;-). I then saw our two regular sparrow visitors arrive and next time I looked there were five sparrows there, and three of them looked like youngsters. The strange thing is that all the birds are just going for the fat balls - all the other seeds and nuts are being completely ignored.

Have you seen your one legged sparrow lately Jane?

The long lasting steroid jab Mitzi had on Tuesday seems to have helped her appetite and she is beginning to eat a bit again so I am happier about leaving her in the cattery. The wedding is on Sunday but we are going on Saturday morning and coming back Monday afternoon. Saturday afternoon I am having ladies only drinks and snacks with the bride who has invited the women of the two families and her girlfriends. Then I am joining son, granddaughters, bride's sons and various family members on both sides for an evening meal, no doubt with drinks. Then Sunday we have the wedding. With all this eating and especially drinking I shall have to pace myself carefully or I will be in no state to look after the three girls on Monday :-D

Sounds like you have a very full weekend Vera :-D :-D.Full of food and drink :-)
It is going to be lovely weather for a wedding on Sunday.Lucky Bride and Groom.
I think this injection Mitzi had will have bumped up her appetite .She should be fine now in the Cattery for a couple of days.I'm sure you will worry about her but at least it is not for long.
My little one legged Sparrow has vanished :-(.I just hope it came to the end of its natural life span .Thomas hasn't had it.It hasn't been around now for a couple of months.I do miss it though as it fascinated me the way it coped on the one leg.
Have a lovely Weekend Vera.How old are the girls you will be having to stay?

Kandj,I bet you miss your visitor now she has gone.I know how much you enjoy having her to stay.

Yesterday when OH and I were down the lane at our friends for lunch there were lots of Swallows ?Swifts? Flitting about all around us.It was the ones with the shorter tails.
It was so nice just to sit and watch them all around us.
Thomas is off again (probably for supper).I would love to know how many mice he eats every day!!.Just wish he wouldn't bring them back and eat them by the Patio table when we are sat there :-S..Not what we really need ,especially if we having our lunch :-| :-|

Sad about your sparrow Jane.

I haven't seen any birds around here today apart from a collared dove who kept hopping about with bits of twig in its mouth. He must have been doing a bit of house maintenance :-)

Mitzi is picking at food but not eating a lot. It is so hot here today that I don't feel much like eating either. Still the cat seems quite relaxed and comfortable so I think I can go away without worrying too much about her.

While I hope the weather will be good on Sunday I hope it's a little cooler than today or we will all melt in our finery. As mother of the groom I thought I'd better fly the flag for our family so my outfit includes proper shoes and tights! I can't remember the last time I wore tights.

Buster (remember him, son and partner's English bull mastiff?) is apparently going to be there, though not at the ceremony. They wanted him included in the photos.

Jane, the girls are 10, 14 and 16. They don't really need looking after in the way little children do but are harder to entertain. The 10 year old doesn't always want to do the same things as the 16 year old. But they are good girls and fun to be with so I am sure we will all enjoy ourselves :-D

Yes I hope it isn't too hot for you on Sunday Vera. Awh Buster !! Bet he will be wearing a Neckerchief or something for the occassion :-D
TIGHTS !!. I have tights in one of my drawers ,but can't remember the last tie I wore them.They have probably perished by now :-)Uncomfortable things.Always having to hoik them up lol
As long as Mitzi seems calm cool and collected (is that a saying? ) then she sounds fine to go tomorrow Vera. It has been so hot today I think it stifles any appetite human or animal...Saying that Thomas has just had another mouse :-S :-S
I managed to get hold of him before he disappeared again.But he is now behaving like a naughty child and scratching on the doors,and basically trying to be annoying :-S
Once he realises he won't be let out again tonight he will settle.Hopefully soon :-D

Nice weekend for a wedding Vera. Hope all goes well for your son's wedding.
I'm sure you will look beautiful as the VIP Mother of the Groom. I like the idea
of having Buster in the wedding photographs, he will get lots of fuss I'm sure.
We have had our Granddaughter Katie (15) with us for the last 10 days, hobbling
about on two crutches with a broken bone in her foot....... hey ho. She is back
home now and we all had a lovely time as I'm sure that you will too Vera.

I would think that the cattery staff will take good care of Mitzi this weekend and
it's good that she is improving a little now.

Thomas will be back to keeping the mice numbers down in your road Jane, has
he caught a bunny yet??

Not many birds here today. Just cleaned both bird baths. Not my favourite job,
but it is warm and sunny and I think the birds will enjoy a drink (or a bath!).

Ann, I hope that you have had a Happy Birthday today with lots of cards/presents.

I hope Vera and family are all enjoying her son's wedding day today.

Not many birds about, but that's nothing new here. Just the usual pigeons,
sparrows and the starlings. Haven't seen Mr Blackbird or the Robin here for
a little while either.

Jane, I hope that your hoppity Sparrow has shown up again for you now?
I think Thomas might be too interested in mice than a limping bird.

I have seen the robin around the garden but I think the blackbirds are out and about in the fields. Godfinches are still around and great and blue tits.

Hardly any butterflies around this year so far, a few red admirals and small tortoishells but no peacocks, even though we have three buddleias in the garden.

I have just had a thought. It is ages since we saw anything of Maryanna, I wonder if she has not renewed. Quite sad when we lose touch with friends, I did enjoy her posts too. Hope all is well there anyway.

Yes it has been ages since we heard from Maryanna.Maybe it is like you say Ann and she hasn't renewed her membership.Lets hope she comes back soon :-)

I expect Vera is recovering from the wedding :-D and getting the girls settled in.
I am sure it was a wonderful day yesterday :-D

Looking fprward to hearing all about your day Vera.

Perhaps Maryanna hasn't renewed her subs this time? Either that or maybe
the two new babies are keeping her busy now.

Vera is sure to have had am amazing weekend. Hope all went well for the wedding?
She is sure to be busy with the Granddaughters just now. Have fun and relax now.

Not many birds about today so far. It could all change this afternoon though.

I have missed Maryanna too. Hopefully it is just the case that her life is busy with other things right now.

Well, what a few days we have had. Describing our weekend will make this into a long thread so you have my permission to skip over it ;-)

We were staying in a hotel just near dil's house on Saturday night. We got there mid-afternoon and I went straight across to the ladies' party at the house. There was an enormous spread laid out for folks to eat as they please with wines, tea and coffee. I was very good and just had a smoked salmon bagel and a cup of tea. I left after a couple of hours but the younger element stayed on for several hours. I later found out dil had 23 for a fish and chip supper the night before this as well,

Saturday night I had dinner at the hotel with a group of about 20. Two small glasses of wine at that but a very late night. OH snored loudly all night so I got very little sleep.

So to the wedding day. Dil went to the venue early in the morning with her two sisters. There was a bridal room with all the facilities provided for them while her two sons and my son got ready at her house. We all congregated there at midday and went off in a convoy of cars, each driver having been told which passengers they were taking. We had the 3 girls in ours. The only hiccup was that the 10 year old had managed to leave her new party shoes behind in Yorkshire, because she kept taking them out of the case to look at them. It took a while to convince a tearful little girl that her old dark suede ones would match the sash on her dress and look wonderful!

The venue was beautiful, old converted barns in the middle of the countryside and only hired to one party at a time. Then the ceremony. The bride looked stunning. As her niece sang she entered on the arms of her two sons who formally handed her over to the groom. His 3 girls were in charge of the rings and brought them to the bride and groom at the appropriate moment. Bride's sister and groom's sister (my daughter) each read a poem. It was a very moving ceremony and a lot of people there shed a few tears

I'll stop at this point as I must sort some lunch for the girls but, in the hope that I haven't bored you all into a stupor, I'll continue with another post when I can get back to it. :-D

Oh do go on Vera, really enjoying it. So far ir all sounds a wonderful ceremony and fun to be held beforehand.

Yes, I wondered if Maryanna had renewed her subs, such a shame if she hasn't he posts were always interesting.

After saying I had not seen a blackbird in the garden for a while there was one in there this morning. :-D

Not in the least boring Vera. Sounds like a good time was had by one and all
and I can't wait for episode two please. Enjoy the time with your 3 granddaughters.

Our Mr Blackbird hasn't been around for quite a while Ann. No idea where he is.

This morning we drove the few miles to Crickley Hill Country Park and had a coffee in their new cafe before walking around, first in one direction and then the other. It was a glorious sunny day with a slight haze so no too hot. The views were fantastic, you could see for miles to The Malverns, May Hill, Bredon Hill, the Forest of Dean and all places in between. Although going over there were still a lot of wild flowers. There were a lot of people up there, walking and playing with children, walking their (and what looked like other people’s) dogs, and picnicking. Such a shame that some people still don’t pick up after their dogs, even though bags are supplied and bins. We were interested to walk through a stand of beech trees that are 250 years old. These are in the part of the Country Park managed by the National Trust as opposed to the other part managed by the Wildlife Trust. Apparently they are struggling to save these trees before they succumb to disease.
After we left the country Park we drove to The Aviator pub at Gloucester airport where we had a coke and sandwiches sitting outside in the sun. I had prawn and Tony had Tuna Mayo sandwiches, served with salad and crisps, a bit expensive but very nice.

Waiting for the next instalment Vera :-D :-D..What a wonderful day it sounded (so far :-D ).Poor little girl leaving her shoes behind :-(

Ann we have an Aviator Hotel /Pub near us at Sywell Aerodrome.It is lovely to sit out and watch small planes/helicopters taking off and landing and sometimes aeriel displays.Sounds like you have had another lovely day out :-D

It has turned to be a very hot afternoon here.My house is so dark inside as I have had to pull all the curtains.

Here we go with instalment no. 2.

After the ceremony, it was into the grounds for drinks, canapés and photos and this was the point when Buster joined us to be included in several of the photos. He looked very smart with just a neat grey bow attached to his collar and was so good, happily sitting quietly for all the photos in which he was included. After an hour or so his carer for the day took him away again. The photographers were amazing, one with a still and one with a video camera. They were around from 10am till 11 pm.

Then in to the meal. There was no top table as son didn't want too much formality. Instead we were allocated places at a number of round tables and son and bride sat at 4 different tables during the meal, having starter, main course, dessert and coffee at different tables. The food was out of this world and the table decorations sorted by our dil were exceptional. All the place cards were made by an elderly friend of the bride and she had also hand made every single invitation. The "favours" for the adults were tiny bottles of sloe gin made by the bride and groom.

Son then stood up and said that they hadn't wanted lots of speeches but he would like to talk for a few minutes. He then made a speech that was funny, serious and very moving by turn. He paid a wonderful tribute to his new wife who has supported him through some very difficult times, in spite of having problems of her own to deal with.

Then came a surprise item to most people. Our 3 granddaughters stood and sang Nat King Cole's old hit L-O-V-E for their Dad and new step-Mum and they absolutely brought the house down. They all have decent voices but they were unaccompanied and were pitch perfect with lovely harmonies. They had rehearsed in our car so I knew what was coming but they surprised me with just how good they were.

Soon all the extra evening guests arrived, the band played, dancing for the energetic and sitting around the lovely courtyard catching up with family and friends for others. There was also a hog roast for the benefit of the evening guests and those who still had room after the earlier meal (not me).

Just before midnight a 28 seater coach turned up to take back the 10 of us who were going to stay at dil's house and the others staying in a nearby hotel, cars being left at the venue for collection the following day.

That's enough for this post. One more to go.

It's worse than looking at friend's holiday photos isn't it?

:-D :-D

Wonderful Vera, keep it up. I hope you are keeping this in diary form to add to your life story! :-)