Sioe stryd Gwyl Ddewi 2009

Tomorrow is St David's Day (Dydd Gwyl Dewi) here in Wales. As a general rule there is a street show on the nearest Saturday to St David's day. It's called "Sioe stryd Gwyl Ddewi" which is simply the Welsh for "St David's street show."

Anyway, Mam and I went to it. There wasn't loads there... It's only a small show... But there were a few activities for children, and there were some little ones dancing. Some of the little ones were in the proper Welsh costume. Which you can see for yourself in the photo near the top of this post.

There was also a brass band, which you can see a photo of to the left of this text.

These are just two of the photos my Mam took today. There are some others. If you want to see them then go to my Mam's blog and take a look.

Tori

Six word Saturday - 28/2/09

"Daffodils are blooming, Spring is here!"

Visit Kate's blog if you want to join in with six word Saturday.

Quiz: What season woman are you?

You Are Fall!

Thoughtful Expressive Creative Poetic Smart

What Season Woman Are You?

Quiz: What mythalogical creature are you?

You Are a Centaur

In general, you are a very cautious and reserved person. However, you are also warm hearted, and you enjoy helping others in practical ways. You are a great teacher, and you are really good at helping people get their lives in order. You are very intuitive, and you go with your gut. You make good decisions easily.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

Quiz: Could you survive another great depression?

You Are 62% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression

Even though you may not be expecting the worst, you're the type of person who prepares for the worst. You live a relatively modest life. You don't overspend, and you aren't very materialistic. You are also quite self sufficient and independent. You have many useful skills. You can take care of yourself and those you love... which is crucial to surviving another Great Depression.

Could You Survive Another Great Depression?

Quiz: What's your midevil profession?

You Are a Cartographer

You have a wide range of knowledge and you're very detail oriented. You have a photographic memory, and you remember places very well. Like a middle ages cartographer, you're also very adventurous and curious about the world. In modern times, you would make a good non-fiction writer or scientist.

What's Your Medieval Profession?

Quiz: What would you win an Oscar for?

You Would Win Best Costume Design

You are imaginative, artistic, and very unique. You are a natural designer. You can picture entire movies in your head. You are incredibly visual. As long as you can remember, you've always had a flare for fashion. You like to experiment with looks. You like dressing up in costumes and outfits. And not just for Halloween!

What Would You Win an Oscar For?

Quiz: Are you city or country?

You Are Country

You'll take natural beauty and quiet over the hustle and bustle of the city. You can appreciate the simple things in life, and it doesn't take much for you to feel content. While you appreciate the many opportunities of the city, you see them as too much of a good thing. You love living a peaceful life. It's important that you can hear yourself think.

Are You City or Country?

Quiz: How warm are you?

You Are Lukewarm

You feel open and generous sometimes, but you don't always feel like being friendly.
You're not naturally outgoing or curious about people. Being around others drains your resources.

So considering how you feel, you're actually quite warm. You do your best.
And you often find it easy to be warm toward the people you like the most.

How Warm Are You?

Prayers and thoughts request

I meant to do this post a couple of days ago. But - for some reason - I never got to it. I guess because I had so many other things I wanted to post? Anyway...

Kati's mother has recently had an operation (you can read about it on Kati's blog). So any prayers, thoughts, or general get well wishes sent her way for a speedy recovery would be very much appreciated.

Also Marcy has recently had an operation as well (see her blog for details). So I'm quite sure she would appreciate prayers, thoughts and general get well wishes sent her way for a speedy recovery too.

My appologies to those involved for my slowness in posting this.

*Sending thoughts, get well wishes, etc, to those in need of them*

Tori

Recession (LBE)

I try to avoid discussing anything even remotely connected to politics on my blog. It's not an area I want to get involved in discussions about. But the topic I'm posting about today does, I'm afraid, border on politics.

Since some time in 2007 there has been talk about a possible recession. The discussions were centred around the idea of a recession in the United States. But there's one very important point that people didn't take into account until some time in 2008. And that fact is that a recession in the United States also affects many other parts of the world. Particularly places like the United Kingdom, where the Prime Minister is so far up the President of the United States' a$$ you can't tell where the Prime Minister ends and the President begins. And I don't care what people think of that statement, because it's true. And - even if it wasn't - most countries rely heavily on exports from, and imports to, other countries. So a recession in one country will automatically affect others. And it has!

Many people are trying to deny it. But the fact is that the United States have been in a recession since late 2007/early 2008, and many other countries are rapidly following. The United Kingdom, for example, has been in a recession since mid to late 2008. Feel free to try and deny it if you wish. But, sooner or later, you're going to have to admit it's the truth. Especially if some people's predictions come true.

According to what I've heard recently on the radio, many people are of the opinion that things will become worse than they were in the great depression of the early 20th century. In fact, some people seem to think they already are. Perhaps they're right, perhaps they're wrong. We shall see!

People are also predicting a third world war. Recession/depression or not, I think this one is quite likely to happen. It's only a matter of time before the fighting going on already turns in to a full scale world war. Only this one will be worse than the first and second world wars, because this time we have more sophisticated weapons, and less small rural areas that will be ignored by enemies and therefore safe to send our children to. I mean, look at how many people who are crammed in to residential areas nowadays.

The government seems to think that helping banks out of the debt they're in so they can lend money to everyone else is going to fix everything. I don't think it is. Perhaps it will for a while, but not long term. All that's going to do is pave the way for another financial crisis in the future. Lowering the costs of living so that people don't need to keep borrowing money from the banks would be a more practical solution, wouldn't it?

The main reason for the increased living costs is because we have to pay for everything to be imported, because people in other countries are providing us with everything. Meanwhile the rate of unemployment is shooting up. Now, I understand that people in other countries need jobs too. But it doesn't seem right to me. Those people could still be doing those jobs for their own countries, couldn't they? So why are they doing them for their own countries and ours while the government here complains about how many people are becoming unemployed? They say it saves money because they just have to pay those people, who are happy to work for less apparently. But does it really save money? I know it doesn't for the consumers. And the fact that people aren't taking the care they used to when making items - which means they're constantly in need of replacing - doesn't help matters.

I could go on and on about all of this. But I'll get to the point and end this post.

My point is that we're in a recession - whether people want to believe it or not - and there's a possibility that we could end up in a worse mess than we were in during the great depression of the early 20th century. The government is hopeful it wont come to that. But be prepared... Just in case!

And why is all of this happening? Because of money... Because human beings have become greedy and materialistic. The majority of the world only cares about making money... Making profits!

Money has become a status symbol... If you have the money to afford top of the range items then you're at the top of the scale. If you hardly have the money to keep a roof over your head and feed your family, then you're at the bottom of the scale. It's been like that for some time. And now the world is paying the price for its greed.

The big question is though... Will humans learn from this?

I doubt it! They didn't learn the first time, so why would they learn now? What's it going to take to persuade the world to stop being so greedy and start thinking more about their fellow man than the size of their bank balance?

The following song springs to mind...

"Imagine"
John Lennon

Imagine there's no Heaven, it's easy if you try,
No Hell below us, above us only sky,
Imagine all the people,
Living for today.

Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for, and no religeon too,
Imagine all the people,
Living life in peace,

You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one,
I hope one day you'll join us,
And the world will be as one.

Imagine no posessions,I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people,
Sharing all the world.

You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one,
I hope one day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one,
Take my hand and join us,
And the world will live... Will live as one!

Click here to watch the video for John Lennon's version of the song.
Or, click here to watch Connie Talbot's version.

Tori

Shrove Tuesday - article (FD)

ChicagoLady asked what a "Shrove" was. So, for the benifit of her - and anyone else who's interested - I found this article on the subject... Enjoy!

***~***

Shrove Tuesday, in the Christian calendar, the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, traditionally a period of fasting. When Lent was observed more rigorously than it is now, the two or three days prior to Ash Wednesday, known as Shrovetide, were celebrated by games, sports, feasting, dancing, and general merrymaking. “Shrove” comes from the Roman Catholic practice of confessing one’s sins and being absolved of them, or “shriven”. This takes place on Ash Wednesday.

In Germany, Shrove Tuesday is called Fastnacht (Eve of the Fast); in Italy and other southern European countries it is called Carnival (Farewell to Meat); and in Brazil and the United States, Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).

Shrovetide feasts were designed to use up the food that could not be eaten during the Lenten fast. In Britain, Collop Monday was when people ate up their supplies of bacon, eggs, and meat and on Shrove Tuesday (now more generally known as Pancake Day) flour, eggs, milk, and butter were used up in the making of pancakes. According to tradition, revelry began with the ringing of the Pancake or Shriving Bell soon after midday, which was the signal for villagers to cease work and go home to make pancakes or join in the games and merrymaking. Pancake Day races are still held in parts of Britain today, as are football matches, played since at least the 16th century when they were rather boisterous games with few or no rules. Other energetic sports were also indulged in, such as hurling and wrestling.


Taken from http://uk.encarta.msn.com/

Shrove Tuesday (FD)

Apparently it's Shrove Tuesday today... Pancake day! But I'm not having pancakes today. Why? Because I really don't want them. I usually do, but lately I've not wanted pancakes. So, we're going to have chicken pie, potatoes and vegetables instead. The only thing Shrove Tuesday has ever meant to me is an excuse to have pancakes for dinner anyway, so it's no big deal... To me, I mean.

***~***

I've been trying to think up a theme day. You know? Like Matt has his "Saturday morning flashback" thing, and Wifey has her "Wednesday Haiku to you" thing. I know there's the "Six word Saturday" thing, but I meant something original... Something unique to my blog... Not sure what it'll be yet though.

***~***

Don't have anything else to say today... Although, if you haven't already done so you might want to scroll down and read the other four posts from today... I had a busy morning! ;) LOL!

Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :)

Tori

What's in my bag?

WifeORiley and LadyStyx did a tag thingy on their blogs where you show a picture of your bag and tell people what's in it. I'm going to do it, but I wont be posting a photo, because I can't take one myself and Kelly's busy sorting out screen shots for a new post on his blog right now. Yes, I could wait for him to be done, but I don't want to. So instead I'm going to just list the contents of my bag.

The bag itself is an Eeyore shoulder bag. It's got a couple of keyrings atatched to it. They are:

1. A soft Eeyore shaped keyring (it came with the bag)
2. A pikachu keyring that used to light up (I don't think it lights up any more though)
3. A keyring with a Celtic knot and my name on it (I brought it in a shop near to the breeder Kero came from the first time we went to see him, and I've had it on my bag ever since)

There's also a little bell atatched to one of the zips... I got it from around the neck of a chocolate father Christmas a little over a year ago.

As for the contents...

1. a plain black wallet
2. A set of keys... Keys to my place, a key to my parents' place, and a key to the disabled toilets (you can buy them from the council office if you have proof you're disabled in some way... I don't use it often, but it's sometimes useful)
3. A dog whistle (I used it to train Kero... I rarely need it now though)
4. A pen knife with a few atatchments (such as scissors, a small screwdriver, and a couple of other things)
5. Lipsil (well, lips get chapped in cold weather)
6. Tissues (you never know when you'll need tissues)
7. Scented baggies (used for disposing of used tissues or to hand to people to pick up mess if Kero's with us)
8. A trolley coin (useful if you don't have a £1 coin to put in the trolley)
9. A cheque book (not that I ever use it)
10. A paying in book for my savings account (hardly used)
11. Some plasters AKA "bandaids" (well, you never know when you'll need one)
12. A plastic egg with some silly putty in it (boredom buster)
13. A small notepad and a pen to use with it (no use to me, but could be useful to whoever's with me)
14. A pen in the shape of a frog (I don't know either... lol!)
15. A small braille writing frame with a stylus in a little cloth pouch (useful note taker for me)
16. A notebook for the braille writing frame
17. A little plastic signature guide (for when I need to sign things)
18. A wooly hat (in case my ears get cold)
19. My blue badge (the badge that enables people to legally park in disabled parking spots)
20. The clock that goes with the badge (for use when there's a limit to how long you can park in that spot)
21. A recording key chain in the shape of a tear drop (used to record short messages or cool sounds)
22. My passport (my only form of ID, so useful to keep on hand)
23. Kelly's passport (since it seemed sensible to keep the passports together)
24. A small amethyst in the shape of a ball (it used to be in a little cage thing atatched to a string that I wore around my neck, but the wire of the cage thing bent and the amethyst fell out, so I just put it in my bag)
25. Some coupons for meal deals at Subway (if I don't use those soon they'll be running out)
26. My asthma inhaler (just in case... Though I haven't needed it in MONTHS)
27. Pads (all I'll say is... Sometimes you get caught unaware... Especially when you're as irregular as me)

My ipod and mobile phone are often in there too, but not at the moment... They're on my computer desk.

There you go... That's what's in my bag. Just a couple of things (compared to the contents of some bags).

Tori

What I need

Matt, Ppunkn and ChicagoLady did this on their blogs, and I decided I wanted a go. The idea is that you google your own name followed by the word "needs" then post the first ten results that come up. Now, I've already done something simular to this before but I figured I'd do this version as well... Just for the fun of it! So, here goes...

1. Tori needs to rock (do I? OK, if you say so!)
2. Tori needs a real man (I thought I already had one! *Shrugs*)
3. Tori needs help (funny... A lot of people tell me that)
4. Tori needs Dr 90210 (actually, I think I've had enough doctors, thank you very much!)
5. Tori needs to learn that she is not responsible for her mother's behaviour (I never said I was... Did I?)
6. Tori needs a Tibbit (a what??? *Looks confused*)
7. Tori needs dough (are we talking money or bread/pizza type dough? Either way I wouldn't mind some!)
8. Tori needs the crocs (actually, I don't think I do)
9. Tori needs a good site with fairies flying all around (well, I do like fairies, so I guess that would be OK)
10. Tori needs you (that's right, I need you... Each and every one of you!)

The Discworld series

Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is a large series of books that tell the story - or, perhaps I should say "stories" here? - of events that unfold on The Discworld. The Discworld is a planet in the shape of a disk, which rides through space on the backs of four ENORMOUS elephants, who themselves are riding through space on the back of a GIGANTIC turtle. The discworld is a magical place full of wizards, witches, trolls, dwarves, and various other creatures. A world where unusual occurances aren't actually all that unusual.

It's a fantastic series... At least, I think it is! But, if you want to read the books and find out for yourself how good they are, then you can find a list of the books in the series - as well as most of Terry Pratchett's other books - in my Terry Pratchett books post, which I actually posted over a year ago.

Tori

Aerlwyn Moonblade's journeys

Here are some screen shots of my character Aerlwyn Moonblade on her journeys on the Lord Of The Rings PC game. Aerlwyn arrives outside Gollum's cave. Aerlwyn inside Gollum's cave. Aerlwyn meets with Aragorn. Aerlwyn's meeting with Gandalf and Frodo. Aerlwyn with Sam.

Aerlwyn and Gimli.

Aerlwyn with Legolas and Gimli.

Aerlwyn with Merry and Pippen.

Aerlwyn and Boromir.

Kelly

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

"The great hitch-hike begins when the Earth is unexpectedly destroyed. Soon Arthur Dent discovers the terrible reality of Vogon Poetry and tries to find the Ultimate Question to Life, The Universe and Everything. That's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the indispensable electronic book and Earthman Arthur Dent's essential companion throughout his many space adventures."

(The above text was taken from a synopsis on http://www.play.com/).

I recently listened to the above mentioned story, which was written by Douglas Adams. It was really good, though quite a strange story. Definately unusual, that's for sure!

Tori

Just a little longer...

I don't really have much to say today. But I'm doing a blog so that I stay up just a little while longer. I've been awakes since around 3:30 am. No real reason for it... I just woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. After about an hour I gave up trying. Anyway, I want to stay up a little while longer to - I hope - avoid the same thing happening tomorrow morning.

So, let's see what I can find to talk about... There's bound to be plenty of stuff... I'm good at finding things to talk about usually... LOL!

I'm feeling loads better today (apart from the tiredness). Although, I've spent a lot of the day sneezing.

Carl and Rachel went home today. Their train was some time this afternoon, if I'm not mistaken.

Our weather's been alternating between rain and sun this past few days. Most of the rain has been light drizzle, though some of it has been heavier stuff. It's hard to believe it was snowing just a couple of weeks ago.

OK... Going to go sort the shopping list in case Kelly wants to do the shopping tomorrow (sometimes he goes on a Monday, other times he doesn't go until Tuesday). By the time I've done that, taken Kero in the garden for a pee, etc, it'll be late enough so that I can go to bed. Or, more to the point, late enough so that I'll let myself go to bed.

Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :)

Tori

Six word Saturday - 21/2/09

I've decided to join in with the "Six Word Saturday" thing that some people are doing on their blogs. I got it from Wifey, but you're meant to go to Kate if you want to join in.

Anyway, all you have to do (after putting your name down on Kate's blog) is sum up your week in just six words. So, here goes...

Don't plan ahead, it never works!

Tori

My week (FD)

Haven't really done much this past week. Mostly I've just been working on my knitting. But here's my week anyway... Monday I had lunch at my parents' place then I had the hospital appointment mentioned in the "Discharged" post. Tuesday Mam and Rachel were meant to be coming down for the evening, and Carl and Rachel were meant to be staying the night. But that didn't happen because Mam's car needed to be looked at. So I didn't end up doing anything worth mentioning. Wednesday I went shopping with Mam and Rachel. We went to Asda and did my food shopping. And while we were there we looked at the clothes, CDs and movies. Mam and Rachel found some stuff they liked, but I didn't. Not that I was really looking all that hard. I was just having a half-hearted look since we were there and they were looking. Carl and Rachel stayed over Wednesday night, and Carl and I took Kero for a walk before we went to bed. Thursday Kelly made us a cooked breakfast (sausage, bacon, eggs and toast). And after breakfast Carl and I played with Lego, Magnetix and Tap Art while talking. Then Mam and Dad came to get Carl and Rachel to take them to Swansea, so I spent some time on the PC. Some time in the early afternoon I started feeling unwell, then ended up spending the afternoon throwing up. We're not sure why. We suspect it was one of those stomach viruses that are going around. I felt like crap the rest of Thursday, but by Friday morning I was feeling loads better, and I'm fine now. We think it's a virus rather than food related because at least one person in the family ate everything I did Wednesday and Thursday, and I was the only one to be sick. If it was food related then someone else would have been sick too. Either way, Kelly wouldn't go to my parents' place for role playing Thursday evening, because he didn't want to leave me when I was sick. I tried to tell him I was fine and to just go ahead and go up there. But he was having none of it! Anyway... Mam and Rachel picked up some fabric for me while they were in Swansea Thursday... I was meant to get it Thursday night or Friday, but - since Kelly's not been up there and none of them have been down here since it was brought - will be getting it probably today (Saturday) instead. Friday (yesterday) we were meant to have Carl and Dad come down to play BattleTech. I have a Mech and haven't really had a chance to use it since I got it, so I was looking forward to them coming down. But we decided against it because of me not being too well still on Friday morning. So I spent the day listening to stories and working on my knitting instead. Mam and Rachel got me some more wool when they were out yesterday... I'll get it when I get the fabric. Saturday (today) I'm not sure what I'm doing today. I managed to convince Kelly I was fine, so he went to my parents' place for some role playing of some description with Carl, Dad and anyone else who shows up. He wont be back until at least some time this evening... Possibly not until close to midnight. Mam said she "might" pop in for a bit. But it depends what her and Rachel end up doing. Carl and Rachel go home tomorrow some time, so I think Mam getting time with Rachel is more important today. I'll have plenty of time with Mam after they've gone home. Anyway... Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :) Tori

A rose, a teddy and Kero

A couple of hours ago Kelly sorted out the photos he took for me on the weekend. So, here they are:

This first one is the rose I had given to me at the resteraunt Saturday evening... It's on our kitchen window sill. Mam and Rachel each had one just like it.



And here's one Kelly took of me early Saturday morning with the teddy he brought me.



Here's a photo Kelly took of Kero on Saturday so you can see his new haircut. He's probably managed to get a bit dirty - after all, keeping a white dog clean for any length of time is next to impossible - but at least you can see his new haircut. Since this was only about three days after his grooming session he shouldn't be too dirty though.



Tori

Found this on LadyStyx's blog... (FD)

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments... what is it?

1. Produce: grapes
2. Dairy: Milk
3. Meat: Chicken breasts
4. Frozen: Frozen roast potatoes
5. Dry goods: Tea


Let’s say we’re heading out for a weekend getaway this weekend. You’re only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what’s in your bag?

1. Clean underwear
2. trousers
3. t-shirt


If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 3 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?

1. "Why?"
2. I'll put the kettle on, shall I?"
3. "Because, that's why!"


So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn’t get to do, you probably wouldn’t be in the best mood?

1. Eating
2. Sleeping
3. drinking tea


Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We’re talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 3 activities might we find you doing?

1. Reading
2. Blogging
3. Watching a movie


We’re going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it’ll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?

1. Big Cats
2. Giraffes
3. Penguins


You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on T.V. of your choice. You can pick between 3, so what are you deciding between?

1. Time team
2. Britain's Got Talent
3. American Idol
(It has to be one of those three, because they're the only ones I watch that are filmed in front of a live audience, or - as in the case of Time Team - sometimes allow the public to get close enough to see anything worthwhile happening).


You’re hungry for ice cream. I’ll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?

1. Mint choc chip
2. Toffee fudge
3. Strawberry


Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what’s in there?

1. plasters (or "bandaids")
2. Keys
3. Wallet
4. Pocket sized braille writing frame
5. Little notebooks for the writing frame


You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let’s pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 3 careers would be fun for you?

1. Author
2. Child minder
3. Lion tamer

Projects - Update

I'm only going to post about the projects I have updates on... Knitting: The blanket seems to be coming along nicely. I have several inches of it done now. I don't know how much exactly, because I can't be bothered to measure it. It seems to be coming along nicely though, as I said. Once I've done the blankets I already planned on doing I have a request for another blanket, and for a pair of gloves and a scarf. And after that I was going to make myself a hat, scarf and gloves set, then have a go at making myself a wooly jumper. I found some knitting patterns in braille on the RNIB's book site, and I ordered a couple of them. One is supposed to have different patterns for hats and gloves, another is a pattern for a jumper. They should be with me in a few weeks, so I'll have them in time for when I want to try things other than blankets. I was kinda surprised to find any, but there you go! They had several actually. I just picked the ones that sounded best to me... Ones that seemed to have the least complicated patterns for what I wanted to make. ;) Sewing: The stitching I did a couple of weeks back on our dressing gowns and a couple of other items that needed repairing seems to be holding nicely. So - as you can imagine - I'm pretty pleased about that. :) Some time in the next couple of days I should be getting some fabric so I can have a go at making something from scratch. I have plenty of thread, so I'm just waiting for the fabric. It should be being picked up for me tomorrow by Mam and Rachel - in theory - so I "should" have it by Friday night. Tori

Quiz: Which Harry Potter Character Are You?

Which Harry Potter Character Are You?

(I knew I was at least part Hermione! LOL!)

Discharged (PTMI)

I had an appointment with Mr S (my eye specialist) today (Monday).

I think he wanted to avoid a repeat of what happened when they tried to check my vision last visit, because Mr S went and grabbed my file and told me to come in to his room before the nurse had a chance to try and call me in for that. LOL!

Anyway...

The appointment went really well. He took a lookk and asked me if I'd had any problems. I told him I hadn't. Then he said, "I think at this point it might be time for me to say goodbye." There's not really anything more he can do, after all. So I agreed, and he told me to contact his secretary if I have any problems with either eye.

In the meantime, I've only got to go to the people who make the artificial eyes. Which - as I thought - has been confirmed as just a six monthly appointment once the new eyes are made, with an extra appointment or so every "about three years or so" for replacement eyes to be made. But I don't mind that, because I spend most of those appointments sitting in a chair - often with something to eat and/or drink - while they take the eye and polish it. Apart from when they're making new eyes they're only fussing with me for as long as it takes to get the eye in or out, which is only a few seconds. Plus, we often don't even have to wait at all to go in for our appointment, and when we do it's only for five minutes or so, so it's quick and hastle free... There's more time and hastle involved in something like going for a haircut than in those appointments! (I could use a haircut, actually).

So, this is really exciting news for me! After more than 24 years of going regularly to that hospital to be pulled about by various eye specialists, have drops put in my eyes, and so on, I'm finally free! No more eye specialists poking and prodding my eyes, no more stupid nurses saying they need to check my vision when all they really want is a good look, and - best of all - NO MORE DROPS!!! :)

Tori

P.S. I put a "PTMI" warning on this post for anyone squeemish about eye related topics.

Yesterday AKA Valentine's Day (FD)

Kelly got me a really big teddy with a flower in one paw and the words "I love you so much" on the sweater it's wearing (photo to follow later in the week). And a really nice card.

Wayne had Kero for us, and Mam, Dad, Carl, Rachel, Kelly and I went out to dinner last night. I keep forgetting the name of the place though. Mam's told me several times, but for some reason I can't seem to remember what it's called.

We booked for a Valentine's meal. It consisted of a three course meal, a cup of tea or coffee, a small box of chocolates - which just happened to be Guylians chocolate seashells... My favourites - per couple, and a single red rose for each of us women (photo of my rose to come later in the week) and all for £50 (about $100) per couple.

There wasn't much choice on the menu if you didn't want something containing alcahol of some discription or something with fish in it. But it was a lovely meal... Not to mention a lovely evening... And - as far as I can tell - we all enjoyed it.

I had:

Starter: A chicken, leek and potato dish (I'm not sure what they called it).
Main course: Duck in cherry sauce with chips and peas.
Pudding: A tower of ice-cream with wafers in it... My pudding resembled a snowman caught in an avalanch... LOL!

***~***

Will post the photos of my teddy and my rose later in the week. Kelly took them for me already, but he doesn't have time to put them on the PC and get them labeled for me until later in the week.

All for now... Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :)

Tori

Valentine's Day 2009

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! :)

I hope you enjoy whatever you have planned for today, and - even more so - those things you end up doing that weren't planned! ;)

Tori

Bird related babbling

One of the things I got in town Tuesday that I couldn't remember was a bird feeder. I found a reasonably priced bird feeder that isn't one of those ones with the wire all around it that small seed falls out of too easily. This one is a little plastic bird house type thing with a little wooden roof, a removable plastic tray with two little compartments in it, and a little perch in front of the tray for the birds to go on. And it hangs up. It's not very big, but it's big enough for a couple of birds to eat at once. It was only about £2 (a little under $4) and since I was only making a bird table because of the couple of birds who seem reluctant to eat off the ground, I decided to get it for them. It'll save me the job of making a bird table. LOL!

The birds seem to aprove of it anyway.

There was a new bird in the garden... "A big brown and white thing" Kelly said it was. But I didn't get the camera to him in time for him to get a photo of it. We now have the camera in the kitchen so we can - in theory - have more chance of getting to it in time.

Mr Blackbird (the Blackbird from previous bird related posts) was wandering around the garden with a couple of Chaffinches the other day, but Kelly was too busy to get a photo. If he'd not been busy he could even have switched the video mode on the camera and got a video of it for you. But he was busy, and by the time he wasn't they'd gone. :(

The birds aren't so nervous of people coming in to the garden now. Some are, but many of them still stay around... I expect it's because I've been feeding them. Anyway, Mam says that when she starts coming to stay the weekend again she'll try and get some photos and videos for me to share. Not sure when that'll happen though.

OK, that'll do for today, I think... Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :)

Tori

Wednesday (FD)

When I got up today (Wednesday) I was convinced I'd slept late. So I jumped out of bed and got on with my morning routine. After a bit it occurred to me to check how much I'd over-slept. So, I checked the time... Only to find I hadn't over-slept. In fact, I'd gotten up THREE hours before I actually needed to! As it turned out, I'd gone to bed just before 2:00 am, and ended up getting up just after 5:00 am. But, of course, by the time I realised I was wide awake, so I knew there was no point trying for more sleep. *Sigh* The reason I needed to get up at 8:00 am was because Kero's groomer was coming to get him. I used to get up only ten minutes or so before she was due, but I found I wasn't prepared so had to chase Kero around the flat in order to catch him so she could take him (he doesn't like going to the groomer). So I've started getting up more than half an hour before she's due so that I have time to be properly awake and alert. It certainly worked today. I had Kero's lead hidden in my pocket when she arrived, and while Kelly went and opened the door to her, I quickly grabbed Kero - who was beside me on the sofa - and clipped the lead on. The other end of his lead was being handed to her before he actually realised what was going on. Kelly says I got a filthy look for it. But I was forgiven by the time he got home, so no harm done. And it was certainly a lot easier than the groomer waiting patiently at the door while Kelly and I chased Kero around the flat in an attempt to catch him... A lot less tiring too! LOL! Sorry, no photos of him freshly groomed... It's often difficult to get people to take photos for me... Everyone's always busy. *Sigh* He's got to go again in May. I don't know when. It's not that I can't remember, it's that nobody's told me. Kelly took the card and looked at it, but when I asked him afterwards he could only remember the month. And I forgot to ask Mam to look for me. Oh well, I'll have someone look for me a bit closer. Anyway... After Kero left for the groomer, we cleaned up the toys and treats he'd somehow managed to get scattered over every room. Then I put his bowls in hot water to soak, since I figured while he was out was a good time to give his bowls a really good soak to get them nice and clean for him. I do clean them regularly, but I gave them a LONG soak this time, since I had a good few hours before he would be home and needing them. Then I gave my Grandma a quick call to thank her for the wool she'd sent me. She sent me some white wool, and some terquoise (sp?) wool. She wasn't really using it and had it going spare, I guess, and she offered it to me when I spoke to her last time. I told her I didn't mind either way, but if she wanted to send it then I wouldn't say no. So, she sent it. And it arrived this morning. After that I laid on the sofa for a bit while I waited for Mam and Dad to get here. They arrived a little before noon, and Mam made us all some egg sandwiches for lunch. Mam brought her knitting down, and I talked to her while she knitted. I didn't do mine, because I was tired and didn't want to be doing it when I was tired. I did show her what I'd done so far though, and she was impressed, so that's good. :) Mam and Dad stayed for dinner, and Mam made lemon chicken with potatoes, parsnips and mixed vegetables. It was very tasty! There was some left over, so it's been put aside for me to have for dinner tomorrow (Thursday). After dinner Mam and Dad went home and I ended up going to bed. I was too tired to even consider trying to stay up. It was a little after 5:00 pm I went to bed, I think. And I slept until around 10:00 pm. A good sleep, but - unfortunately - it means I'll be up most of tonight. Oh well, my sleeping pattern was already messed up anyway. LOL! Tori

Today AKA Tuesday (FD)

I couldn't be bothered to write a post yesterday (Monday)... Besides, I didn't do anything worth blogging about. LOL! As for today... I went up town with my Mam to get a little something for Kelly for Valentine's Day. I also got a treat for Wayne to give to Kero after we leave to go out for dinner with Mam, Dad, Carl and Rachel on Saturday. I also got some more blue wool for the blanket I'm making, because the main colour on it is blue, and I didn't want to run out. For anyone wondering... I tell what colour I'm using by a braille label we've put on the band of papery stuff around the balls. We used my braille labeler to do a small label for each ball saying what colour the ball in question is. That way I don't have to bug people all the time if I want to change colours. Anyway... I got a couple of other things too... I can't remember what though. While we were in town we went and paid some money on the gas and electric cards, and we had a baguette each. I had my usual tuna, sweetcorn, cheese and onion baguette, and my Mam had the same... Minus the onion. She didn't feel like having onion, I guess. Mam hasn't been able to get a new car yet, so we had to walk up town. It's not too bad of a walk, but Mam had to walk it twice just to get me up town, so I agreed to pay for a taxi from town back home to cut out one of Mam's walks. Otherwise she'd have had to walk back home with me, then walk back up town again to get a bus home. Not that I particularly minded getting a taxi after walking up town then spending a couple of hours walking around it. ;) We were meant to have more snow yesterday and today, but we didn't. We had plenty of wind and rain yesterday though (especially through the night) and there was a bit of rain today as well. They got some snow a few miles further up the mountain than my parents live though. Not loads, but enough to say they had some. Can't think of anything else to say, so will let this do for today. Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :) Tori

My soggy Sunday

The snow is going away, and we have rain instead. Rain never stays away for long in Wales! ;) I finished "Stonehenge" by Bernard Cornwell. I've mentioned this one a couple of times recently. It's a story set around 2000 BC, and based on one of the theories as to why - and by whom - Stonehenge was created. I've heard it before, but I think it's a fantastic story! I highly recommend it to anyone who is either interested in the theories of the creation of Stonehenge, or who enjoys historical fiction in general. While listening I worked on my knitting. It seems to be coming along nicely. I'm enjoying having something to keep my hands busy while I listen to my audiobooks... I think I'm going to start listening to those Terry Pratchett tapes I had off Carl next... Tori

Snowy Saturday

Yes, that's right, we got some more snow today! Only an inch or so. But it was enough for Fay and her cousins to have a snowball fight though. A few hit our window and I'd heard them mention aiming for something, so I went to make sure they weren't actually aiming for the window. They weren't. So I said, "OK," and left them to it. I don't mind accidental snowballs hitting our window, I just didn't want them intensionally aiming for it. They were aiming for the wall and each other. And I know they were, because the snowball fight carried on while I was talking to Faye, and during that time no snowballs hit our window. The odd one hit our window afterwards, but not many. And I didn't go out to them again. They're only kids after all, and it's good to know kids still know how to have fun without computer games and TV shows. Anyway... I made a start on my knitting. I did decide on a blanket. I've done a couple of rows, but not much yet. I'd have probably done more rows, but with it being a blanket each row has lots of stitches on it. I could have done squares and sewn them together, but I didn't want to do it that way. Although, I may do a blanket like that at a later date. Anyway, so far so good. I haven't dropped any stitches yet, so that's a good start. LOL! Oh, and I already have an order for a couple of blankets. When I told Carl I was knitting stuff and starting with blankets, he mentioned how they're place gets quite cold and they could do with as many blankets as possible. So I suggested I made them a couple. Carl said that was a good idea, and told me to keep them aside for Christmas for them. That way it gives me time to take my time making them, and gives them a nice, home made pressie for Christmas. Plus, it will give them a new blanket each just as we're hitting the part of Winter where the temperature is most likely to drop below freezing. I'm thinking of doing a solid one - like the one I'm doing now - and one made up of squares for them. That way they're both different to Carl as well as to Rachel. OK, well, I don't have anything else to say today. So... Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :) Tori

Warm and fuzzy

I recieved this award from Iggy today. I'd have posted it in my earlier post, but I hadn't realised it was there at the time when I wrote that post.

Anyway, I'm not entirely sure why I was given it. Iggy said he wanted to give a "shout out" to some people who have "been the source of good feelings the past couple of weeks." But I'm not entirely sure what I could have done to fall in to that catagory.

Whatever it was, I'm glad I made enough of an impact to have the honour of recieving this award.

Thank you, Iggy! *Hugs*

Tori

Frosty Friday in February

It's a cold and frosty Friday... There's ice on the ground, and still some small piles of snow here and there. Kelly went up town this morning and got my wool and knitting needles. He also got some new bowls for us, because the old ones were in such bad shape we had to throw them out (well, all but one). And he got a bag of seed for my birdy friends, since we were out of food for them. Because he only had a few things to carry he could walk both ways, so the icy conditions weren't an issue for him today. The ice is only an issue when he has to get a taxi home, because nobody bothers with "Winter tires" over here, and the gritters only do the main roads, which means that as soon as the taxi - or car, or bus... Etc... - leaves the main road there's a very high chance of an accident. Something we'd rather not get involved in if we can help it. Me going out is still a no-no though. And I couldn't go with Kelly because if I did then Kero would have to come too, and Kelly can't watch his footing, watch mine, and lead Kero. Especially since Kero gets a bit anxious if we go up near the main road, so he needs extra attention by the busy road... Hence Kelly needing to lead him if we go near it. Instead, I stayed home and listened to some more of "Stonehenge" while doing some sewing. One of the items in need of mending was Kelly's dressing gown... Actually, both dressing gowns needed doing. Whoever made them obviously didn't take the time to sew them properly, because the seams were coming undone. Had it just been one of them then I'd have said it was wear and tear. But since it was both - and, since it started to happen within a couple of weeks of us buying them - I don't think so. Especially since they're exactly the same (though mine is apparently a lighter colour) and the seams have split in the exact same places. Anyway, Kelly examined my repairs when I gave him his dressing gown, and he said I did a really good job. I think he's probably just saying that because he loves me and doesn't want to hurt my feelings... I told him as much... But he insists he's not just saying it. *Shrugs* Haven't started my knitting yet. Will probably start it tonight or tomorrow though. That's it for today. Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :) Tori

Weather, projects, brothers, food and books (LBE & FD)

Weather: By the time I went to bed last night (Wednesday night) the snow was mostly gone. Just a few heaps here and there... And no sign of Snow Dog. :( BUT, by the time I got up this morning (Thursday) it was snowing again... We got about an inch or so throughout the morning. It stopped snowing around lunchtime though, and the sun shone brightly. So now we're back to just a few scattered piles of snow that were big enough not to melt away completely. They're saying we "might" get some more snow tonight or tomorrow morning, but after that I think it's meant to warm up a bit and either be sunny for a bit or go back to traditional Welsh weather... Meaning rain, of course. LOL! But that's OK. I've had my snow now... So, now Spring can come! Besides, I can't take Kero for walks in the snow, because with the snow on the ground I can't find the edge of the path with my cane... No path, no sense of direction... And there's no point Kelly trying to come with us, because he can't lead me and hold Kero (apart from anything else, the path's too narrow). So I've been "grounded" all week and unable to go further than the garden. And if I'd been tempted to try then my Mam would have killed me once she found out... She told me so. OK, not those exact words, but as good as. And Kelly was of the same opinion. I had no intension of trying though. So even if they hadn't grounded me until the snow is completely gone I would have still not been out for any walks with Kero all this week because of the snow. Kero's not happy about it. But the snow will soon be all gone (even if - and it's a big "IF" - we getmore snow, it wont be long before it goes away and we go back to rain). So he'll just have to put up with it, since he wouldn't go with Kelly instead of me. Projects: I ordered a sewing kit the other day. I ordered it because I went on the RNIB's website to get something I knew was on there that I'd gotten for my Nan and Grandma for Christmas and wanted it for myself for sewing. It was an automatic needle threader. More sterdy than the ones you usually find in craft shops (or, it's meant to be). Anyway, while on there I noticed that you can get an automatic needle threader, a pack of regular needle threaders, a pack of colour indicating buttons, a pack of easy to thread needles and a pack of regular needles for £5.14 (about US$10). And since the needle threader I wanted costs about £4 (about US$8) by itself I figured I'd just pay the little bit extra and get the other stuff too. For anyone wondering... "Colour indicating buttons" are buttons in different shapes (and - I think - colours) that are designed to be used to sew on to things to help you colour co-ordinate your clothes. They're £2.95 for the size pack that came with my kit. They're cool shapes, but I doubt I'll use them for that since I honestly don't care if I'm wearing ablack pair of trousers and a green t-shirt, or a blue pair of trousers and an orange t-shirt. If I don't like a certain colour then I'll either not buy it after asking whoever I'm shopping with what colour it is, or wont buy fabric in that colour. Simple as that! They'll be nice buttons for home-made clothes though. And once the price of the two types of needle threaders was added together it was about the price of the pack, so the needles and those buttons were free. So I'm not complaining. Besides, it's nice to see something that's actually useful to people with no sight at all! Anyway, I've got a couple of things that need their seams stitched up. I was going to ask my Mam to do them, but since I have my stuff now - and, since I need to start somewhere if I hope to one day make at least some of my own clothes - I figure I'll start with fixing them. We have some cotton, so I'm thinking I'll start work on the stitching up tomorrow. :) Also, Kelly's hopefully getting me some knitting needles and wool tomorrow... If the shop is open! He went to today when he went to Tescos to do some shopping, but the shop was closed. We assume it was because they couldn't get there to open up because of the weather (or had decided not to bother trying because of the forecast). There was a lot of that. Anyway, if he manages to get that stuff tomorrow then I can start work over the weekend on whatever I decide to knit first... I'm thinking a nice, wooly blanket. I haven't made any progress with the other projects yet. No real reason for it. I just haven't gotten around to getting the required supplies yet... I guess I've just been too busy playing in the snow or something. LOL! Besides, because of the snow most places are closed., which means I probably couldn't get most of the stuff even if I sent someone out for it Brothers: This being the first Thursday of the month my brother (Wayne) was going to be spending the night here. We often have him over on the first Thursday of the month because my Nan often goes out for the evening then, which leaves my Mam and Dad to have a few hours on their own (something they don't get much with living with Nan and having Wayne still at home). But we didn't have him this month. Because of the snow my Nan's meeting or whatever it is she goes to on the first Thursday of the month was cancelled. We might have had him anyway, but with the possibility of more snow coming we might get stuck with him. I love my brother (don't tell him though, lol) but I don't want to get stuck with him for too long at one go, thank you very much! LOL! And - speaking of my brothers - Carl and Rachel are coming down for a visit at the end of next week. They're spending about a week with Mam and Dad, and on Valentines' day Carl, Rachel, Mam, Dad, Kelly and I are going out to dinner while Wayne has Kero for the evening. I can't for the life of me remember the name of the resteraunt, but Mam's made our reservation somewhere she says is nice. LOL! We'd have gone to watch a movie or something too, but Mam and Rachel aren't the least bit interested in the kinds of movies the guys like to watch, and vice-versa. I watch such a variety of movies that I'd sit through whatever. But either Mam and Rachel would have to watch a movie they wouldn't enjoy, or the men would have to watch one they wouldn't enjoy. So it's just not an option. So we're just going out for dinner. Food: I haven't been doing well with eating what I should be over the past few days. Not entirely my fault though. The thing is that Kelly was meant to go shopping on Monday... He got up to go and everything... But with the snow - and our reputation here for everything closing if we get enough snow to make it worth mentioning - he decided not to go. I may have mentioned that Monday. His intension was to go Tuesday. But Tuesday there was even more snow. We "needed" a couple of things (bread, milk and dog food). So Kelly had no choice but to go and see if he could find an open shop Tuesday. He did find one. He said you'd have sworn it was the end of the world or something with how many people had braved the snow to search for an open shop. Not just because of the amount of people though... The shelves were emptying fast! But with most of the shops closed and predictions of snow until Friday in every paper, on the TV, and on the radio then I'm not surprised. In fact, even the shops that did open mostly closed around lunchtime. Then Wednesday came and everything was icy, so since we did have stuff we could make meals out of - all be it not the healthiest of meals - he decided not to try and brave the ice. Snow is one thing, but ice is something he'd rather not be out in if he can help it. Which meant it was today that he went shopping. He went up town to see if the shops were open. More were than had been Tuesday, but several weren't. Tescos was though, and that was most important. But - as I was saying - until Kelly could get some shopping done we only had whatever we could throw together from stuff in the cupboards and freezer. We had a decent amount of things, but the bulk of the stuff that was left was the things that - due to my attempts at keeping their consumption to a minimum - weren't exactly healthy. Things like chips (as in fries) and sausages. So eating healthily went right out the window most of this past week. Books: I've finished listening to "The Beatrix Potter Collection". I don't think I need to tell you that I enjoyed the stories. And - as I mentioned when I told you about buying the collection - I don't think I need to tell you what the stories are about. I'm sure everyone knows them... Perhaps not well, but well enough to recognise the author's name, and well enough to know the theme of the stories. I also read a book called "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. A strange story about a woman who goes mad after a few months of being confined to a room with yellow wallpaper in it after the birth of her child. I can't make up my mind what I thought of it... Other than it being a strange story, of course! Now I'm listening to "Stonehenge" by Bernard Cornwell. There are 14 disks... I've just finished disk 3. OK, I think that covers just about everything. Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :) Tori

Snowdog

By the time I went to bed Monday night we had about an inch and a half - maybe 2 inches - of snow. When I got up Tuesday morning we had about 4 inches of snow and it was still falling thick and fast. By lunch time (so about 2 hours later, lol) we had about 5 inches, and still the snow was falling!

So, I decided I wanted to make a snowman. Then - remembering Iggy's comment - changed my mind and made a snowdog instead. :)

So, I grabbed my gloves, put on some wooly socks and headed outside to make a snowdog.

I hardly had to move to get the snow I needed to make it. I just gathered up the snow from around where I was making it. There was more than enough... Even though I was building it right where I'd been grabbing snow from when I was trying - and failing - to persuade Kero to chase some snowballs for me.

I haven't seen this much snow in a long time! :)

I'd have made it more detailed, but even with my gloves on - bearing in mind they're the kind with two layers that you can wear both layers (one is fingerless, the other has fingers) - my hands were becoming VERY cold. And - despite the pair of regular socks and pair of wooly socks I was wearing - so were my feet. So I decided to call it quits, put my Griffindor scarf on "Snow Dog" and asked Kelly to take a photo to put on here.

We ended up with something like 6 inches of snow before it stopped snowing. My Mam says they got more - despite them only being a few miles away - but since they live a little way up the mountain we're not surprised about that.

The temperature dropped really low once the sun set yesterday, and some of the snow froze. Then - when the sun came up today - the ice and snow started to melt. I knew it would soon.

I don't mind... I've had my snow. I've thrown some snowballs, I've made a snowman... Er, snowdog... And a snowcastle... So I'm happy now! :)

Snowdog lasted a little over 24 hours... His head fell off a little while ago from bits melting off him, which made his neck too weak to support his head. I guess Kero aproved of him, because he didn't try and trample Snow Dog like he did to my snowcastle... LOL!

And Kelly said he thinks my birdy friends enjoyed the snow too... They were singing happily in the garden (I knew that bit) and Kelly says there were little birdy footprints all over the snow... Even before I gave them their breakfast Monday. I'd have mentioned it in Monday's post, but he never said anything until after I'd done the post, and I couldn't be bothered to go in and edit it.

OK, I think that will do for now.

Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :)

Tori

What do you do all day?

I recieved this in an e-mail the other day. I did pass it on to some people via e-mail, but I thought I'd post it on here too. No real reason... Just 'cause I can! :)

***~***

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to
the house and there was no sign of the dog.

Proceeding Into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel.

She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?"

"Yes," was his incredulous reply.

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

Snow, a realization, addictions & a Starfighter (LBE)

Today is February 2nd... Groundhog Day... Imbolc... Whatever you want to call it! Either way, it's "meant to be" the day when you can start looking for signs Spring is coming. People who - like me - follow the old Celtic calender to determine the seasons often refer to it as the first day of Spring. But when Spring is "meant to" start isn't important. People can believe what they want.

What is important is that... Only last night I was moaning to Kelly that it wasn't fair that everyone - including my Mam, who lives only a few miles away - was getting some decent snow except me. And I was the one wanting it!

So I'm sure you can imagine how pleased I was to find this waiting for me this morning when I got up. :)

I'm usually up before Kelly, but I had a bad night last night so never fell asleep until around 5:00 am. As a result of that I was still in bed - though awake - when Kelly got up to go up town. I didn't stay in bed long when he told me what was outside though. LOL!

Kero and I rushed straight outside... I didn't even stop to get dressed, I just threw my dressing gown on over my PJs and shoved my feet in my slippers with the hard bottoms that can cope with getting a bit wet. Then I grabbed my camera - giving Kelly instructions to "grab a photo or two of the snow for me" as I handed it to him - and out we went! LOL!

There's not loads of snow, but there was about half an inch or so when these pics were taken, and we've had a good half an inch more since. Like I said, not a lot compared to what most people are getting, but at least it's "real" snow!

I FINALLY got some PROPER snow!!!

And... It's started snowing a bit again... Still "proper" snow! :)

Anyway...

I tried to play with Kero in the snow, but he wasn't interested.

I realized something then... My little "Cubby Puppy" (one of my nicknames for him) is no longer a puppy! My little Cubby Puppy has grown up... And I either hadn't noticed it happening, or hadn't wanted to notice. *Sigh*

I don't know why it came as such a shock to me... I mean, he'll be 5 in May, and most dogs "grow up" by the time they're 3. I have to say most dogs, because Labradors often don't grow up at all... Willow (Mam's Lab who is 6 months younger than Kero) certainly doesn't seem in a hurry to grow up! LOL!

***~***

I got this award from CelticSpirit.

The rules are that you're supposed to list five addictions, then pass it on to other bloggers. So...

1. Chocolate (especially Guylians Chocolate Seashells)
2. Cups of tea... Gotta have my cups of tea!
3. Books, books and more books!
4. Writing... There may be times when I don't write much, but if I couldn't write - one way or another - I'd feel like part of me was missing.
5. Chips (as in fries)

As for the passing it on part... I'm going to cheat with that and say that if you haven't already been given it and want to join in, take it and call it a gift from me! :)

***~***

Kelly and I put my model of a Jedi Starfighter together the other day (Friday, I think).

Anyway, He took a couple of photos for me to share with anyone who is interested in seeing.

If you want to read about it then go here.

***~***

OK, I think that will do for today.

Enjoy the rest of your day! :)

Tori

Projects (LBE)

You may remember me saying a couple of days ago that I was tidying up the shed in preporation for doing certain "projects" I plan on doing? Well, I'm now going to tell you about those projects. In fact, I'm also going to tell you about the other projects I'm planning on doing... Ones I can do inside... So... On Wednesday my Mam and I were discussing projects we wanted to do to keep ourselves busy. She's figured out a couple for herself, and I said, "what about me?" So she asked what I wanted to do, and what I felt I could do. I told her I didn't know, but that I wanted it to be something useful, and which could lead to other projects or be built on or something. Anyway, we eventually came up with some ideas of things I could try and see if I was able to do them well enough and enjoy them enough to make them worth continuing with. A couple of them are ones I don't really want to be doing indoors though - not because of space, but because of mess - and it's too wet here as a general rule to rely on having dry days to do them outside. Hence tidying the shed to make some space for myself. And what are they? Well, I'll tell you. I'll let you figure out for yourself which ones I need the shed for. ;) The first thing is making things out of clay. I've always enjoyed working with clay. I'm sure I've mentioned before about how I can make almost anything from clay if I know what it looks like well enough, have enough clay to work with, and have enough time to work on it. OK, some things I can make better than others, but that's not important. Anyway, some things made out of clay (e.g. pots, vases, etc) can be useful. Admittedly a lot of things aren't, but clay is a good thing to work with, because you can make so many different things with it. You can make nice figurines as gifts or to display in your own home. Or - as I've already mentioned - you can make useful things like pots and vases. Another thing that I'm planning on doing - which could also be useful - is sewing. I've never been the best seamstress, but I used to do an "OK" job. My issue with sewing is threading needles, but if I get a needle threader then that problem is sorted. Anyway, I'm going to start off making simple things like cushion covers and maybe one of those make your own teddy kits and see how it goes. If I'm enjoying it enough and feel I'm doing a good enough job I may start doing something more complicated. I'd like, for example, to be able to make my own clothes. That way - if I can do it - I can avoid the issues I have when clothes shopping. You see, I'm short in the legs, long in the body, and quite round in the middle. Everything either fits me around the middle but has several inches too much leg, or is several inches too short in the body. It's annoying, it's frustrating, and it makes shopping a nightmare since finding something I like the feel of the fabric of, like the style of, and that fits is VERY difficult. So if I could just buy fabric I like the feel of and then make my own clothes it would be a lot less stressful and give me something to keep my hands busy while I listen to my stories. I've made draw string bags and a few other things before, and the stitching on those held nicely. The draw string bag I made for my plate, bowl, cup and cutlery to go in when I went camping with Guides, for example, lasted the whole time I was in Guides (so a couple of years). It's still in one piece as far as I know... I think it's in the attick at my parents' place. And some of the peg bags I made sold at a bring and buy sale we did at Guides, so I can't have done too bad of a job on them. ;) I also made a rag doll before... Not sure where that is now... Possibly among the toys in the spare room? Anyway, it was able to withstand being pulled about by a three year old, so it can't have been too bad. LOL! OK, moving on... There's also knitting. I've never been very good at knitting, but I'm going to try making some simple blankets to practice with. Then maybe I can progress to making scarves, hats, mittens and wooly socks... And maybe even a wooly jumper or two for myself? Again, something useful that will keep my hands busy while I listen to stories. I've never made anything more complicated than a couple of little blankets, a scarf for a doll, and a wooly hat for a doll. And I never could get the hang of more than plain stitches. But it doesn't matter if it's all done in plain stitches, does it? With the way things are going it will be cheaper to make clothes anyway. Besides, if I can make the stuff then it means that if a seam splits I can mend it instead of throwing it out. Or - at the very least - use the fabric or wool towards making something new. I'm sure my things wont be good enough to sell, but if I can just make things good enough to wear myself then it will be a great help. And maybe then my Mam will get her way and I'll start enjoying going shopping with her? LOL! Anyway... You may also remember me mentioning recently about wanting a bird table but disagreeing with the prices they're asking? If so, do you remember me saying about wanting someone to make a bird table instead? Well... I'm going to do it myself! I know that at least some of you will be thinking things along the lines of, "but you're blind," and "what if you hurt yourself?" And so on... But I want to point a couple of things out before you get started on those thoughts. 1. Yes, I'm blind. But so is Carl (my brother). He's been blind since the age of two and has never had a problem with carpentry/woodworking. He's even used those big machines that cut metal that they have in some workshops in the past. So if he can do it, why can't I? 2. Yes, I could hurt myself... But so could a sighted person. And I haven't hurt myself so far using hammers, screw drivers, etc. That doesn't mean I wont. But - as I already said - anyone could. The guy who laid our carpet, for example, cut the tip of his thumb clean off while cutting a piece of carpet not long before doing our carpet. But if you go through life avoiding something just because you could get hurt then you'll have a boring life and there wont be much you can do. I mean, you can easily get hurt just by turning over in bed if a spring has come through the matress, or if you're closer to the edge than you think and fall out of bed or something. So, like I said, I'm going to make my own bird table. We've got most of the tools already, and it's easy enough to get hold of some wood. So why not? Providing the bird table is successful I'm also considering making the gate we need for the side path that leads round to the front. We have a bit of wire stuff up there right now, but we don't really want access stopped completely. We can't buy a gate because they're all either too big or too small, so one needs to be made. Nobody - apart from Carl, but he lives all the way up in Norwich - seems interested in carpentry/woodworking though, so nobody's all that eager to make it. But I'd like to. I quite like the idea of being able to build things out of wood. And perhaps my wooden items will be sturdier than the flat packed rubbish you buy in most shops nowadays? I certainly hope so! I did consider gardening, but since I've never really had a green thumb, and since - though I enjoy being out in gardens - I've never been in the least bit keen on the year round work involved, I decided to give that one a miss. Besides, even when I could still see I never could tell the difference between weeds and flowers. LOL! So I think I'll leave the gardening to other people. I mean, it would be nice to have a herb garden, a vegetable patch, etc, but when I'm out in a garden I like to relax, listen to the birds, smell the flowers, etc... Not work. So that idea is so out the window! Mam's going to help me tidy up the garden, and Mam and Kelly will then help me keep it tidy (OK, OK, they'll do it, I'll make tea... LOL!) I'm not even going to pretend more than that will happen in our garden though. Anyway - and this one's more something fun to do than a project, but I thought I'd add it on here anyway - Carl told me about some kits you can get where you get some little wooden tools and a block of chalk and you have to use the tools to chip away the chalk and uncover the "fossils" (not real ones, obviously) inside. I like the sound of it, but the chalk gets EVERYWHERE (or so I've been told). I'd like to get one to see if it's as fun as it sounds. OK, I think that covers everything. If not then I'm sure I'll tell you about it at a later date. LOL! Enjoy whatever's left of your day! :) Tori