A Tale Of Two Helens

A quick post on a busy Easter Sunday. Firstly, the final Lenten Giveaway [Cardmaking Goodies] – I put the names in the Easter bonnet, and asked Steph to retrieve one…[thanks, daughter!]

..and the winner is

Well done Helen! I’ll try and post these promptly so you have something to keep you occupied next weekend when your other half is away! [H is another minister's spouse, and I know her OH will be joining us in Blackpool at the Baptist assembly next Friday]

[btw, don’t you think Steph’s hands are amazing? Why can’t I manage to maintain such beautifully manicured nails?]

The other Helen I need to mention today is my friend mentioned yesterday morning. Believe it or not, she is home again, and making great progress. For someone in her late eighties, who has just had brain surgery, this is wonderful news. She insists on telling everyone that it is all God’s doing, and that she is grateful for the hundreds of people who are praying for her. We all rejoiced in church this morning when Bob shared the news with the congregation.

Thank you everyone, who sent good wishes for her via the blog.

No time for any more blogging now- it is an even busier Sunday than usual.

Easter Joys and Blessings to everyone – and if you entered the giveaways and didn’t win, don’t worry, there will be more, I am sure!

He Is Risen Indeed!

Christ is risen! Hallelujah! Risen our victorious Head!

Sing His praises! Hallelujah! Christ is risen from the dead.

Christ is risen! henceforth never death or hell shall us enthral;

We are Christ's, in Him for ever we have triumphed over all;

All the doubting and dejection of our trembling hearts have ceased;

'Tis His day of resurrection, let us rise and keep the feast!

Don’t Ruffle Your Feathers!

Some wonderful Easter Chicken Cards made by the Year 1/2 class I covered last week.

I wanted something new to wear on Easter Sunday, and looked through the Great Stash for inspiration. I made this skirt three years ago, and had kept the paper pattern.

 

I found a pretty remnant of pink silk in one box which looked a contender for another skirt of similar style.

However it wasn’t quite big enough. So foolishly I jiggled the pattern about and cut it slightly shorter and straighter. I forgot to allow for the fact it was a bias cut – and the whole thing came up unspeakably lopsided, and although it fitted my waist and hips, it would not hang properly. To be honest, it looked dreadful

“That doesn’t look quite right” said Bob [in a very caring, sympathetic voice] “Is there anything you can do?” A hug and a cup of tea later, I decided that the best course of action was to abandon the skirt idea. What about a cardi revamp?

Have you noticed that Mrs Obama has made cardigans so fashionable lately?

I recently rescued a cardi which had been neglected [the buttonholes were too big and it refused to stay fastened]

I machined up the front so that it was permanently closed, and became a jumper. With a trim red waist-cinching belt, it became much more wearable

But it is black and not exactly Easter-ish.

Ruffles are still ‘on trend’ and ruffled cardis abound [see Sarah Brown above] so I wondered if I could do something with that idea.

Back to my pink remnant and an old pink cardigan [c. 2004]

Using an idea from Disney’s blog I made some trim from the disastrous pink skirt

It was about an inch wide and around three times the length of the neckline.

I pleated, pinned and sewed it into place.Then I sewed up the front button band of the cardi.

And got a very pretty result!

Mrs Yappy Dog has just had a Thrifty Week and a number of my friends have been participating. I didn’t sign up – but I think this would have been my entry -two smart new cardis at no cost.

An Easter Garden

Earlier this week, we visited Frank and Barbara [Bob’s brother and wife] and had lunch in their stunning garden.

The borders and the tree blossom were lovely.

I adore tulips. Saffy the cat was on the prowl.

Isn’t the lemon tree fantastic? [Ice and a slice with that, sir?]

The two brothers get more and more alike in appearance as they get older [apart from the beard, that is]

After lunch, we shot up the M1 to Nottingham – here

Our dear friend Helen had emergency brain surgery on Monday night. Less than 48 hours later, it was great to see her sitting up in bed, chatting away as normal. I was very impressed with the atmosphere in her Ward, and the friendliness of the QMC staff. Reading blogs like “The Simple Wife” and realising how much others pay for medical care makes me truly grateful for the [often maligned] NHS.

Good Friday 2011

O Christ, the Master Carpenter,
    high on a cross you died;
    a wooden cross, with iron nails,
    a spear thrust in your side.

O Christ, upon that Friday cross
    your work on earth was done;
    yet, truly, in my life today
    your work has just begun.

O Christ, take up your workman's tools
    and shape my life anew,
    that I who now appear rough-hewn
    may be restored by you.

O Christ, the Master Carpenter,
    let beauty gently shine
    within the workshop of my life-
    the praise be yours, not mine.

I DO Like This One!

I have resisted the urge to buy any Royal Wedding Souvenirs – but I thought this teatowel was one of the better items on offer [available here] It is a clever design, and I like the colours. I’d have to frame it though [and hang it near my Heal’s one] – I could never bring myself to dry up with it!

But I confess that I find most of the mugs, teatowels and other stuff utterly dire. Have you succumbed? and what have you purchased? [or are you a Republican, and avoiding the whole thing completely?]

In Honour of Elizabeth

Happy Birthday, Ma’am – 85 years old today.

But here’s another Elizabeth, who also likes horses

And her latest/last World Of Difference post is here

Well done Liz – I am sure that The Brooke has benefitted from all you have done there over the past couple of months, and I know you have really appreciated the experience. We’re all dead proud of you!

Feeling Better Now

Sneezing, runny nose, etc. seems to be almost over, which is a good thing. I’m hoping I have not passed on my cold to Bob. Much as I like using ‘proper’ pretty cotton hankies, this has definitely been a time for ‘use it and bin it’ paper tissues. And much handwashing.

The sun is shining, I have more washing on the line, and looking forward to a bright and busy day. Hoping it is sunny where you are.

Lenten Giveaway #7

This is the last one! For years I have made greetings cards- with stickers, stamps, punches and all sorts of other techniques. Iris folding, teabag folding…you name it, I have probably tried it! This giveaway is a Cardmaking Collection

There are tags, stickers, embellishments, ribbon, a butterfly stamp – and a few blank cards and envelopes too. Even if you haven’t made cards before, this little package could set you off on a whole new hobby!

To enter for this one, please leave a comment on this post before MIDNIGHT on Saturday 23rd April. Please note, that is Easter Saturday, and although that’s the deadline for your comments, it will probably be midweek before I sort out the winner!

He Works So Hard!

We are back from our brief trip to heaven Cornerstones. I spent most of the time sneezing, and trying to do things with a head full of cotton wool. Bob, on the other hand, worked like mad.

He cut the grass – front, back and side

He painted the side of the garage [thoughtfully wearing his overalls, so as not to spoil the tee-shirt Steph gave him at Christmas!] That corner now looks so much cleaner and brighter.

And he pressure-washed the patio

And cleaned all the guttering [this is supposed to show the contrast with next door – but it is not a good picture]

And he pressure washed the decking

After that, he re-finished the decking with new varnish. It looks fabulous [but stupidly, I omitted to photograph it!]

Oh and he hung up the new clock [Steph’s gift], and a picture [from Liz a couple of years back] and more besides…

What did I do? Well, I decided I would just shorten the new dining room curtains - which I got for a song in the Arthritis Research Campaign Charity Shop last year. I am not posting a picture, because I made a total mess of them! One curtain hangs straight, the other is very sloping – memo to self –do not attempt hems when feeling woozy!  Fortunately I did cut both curtains long enough, so will re-do them when I feel better. I had a wide strip left over from both which I have used to make a matching table runner. That looks OK – I put it out last night when Christine, plus Adrian, Marion and Lucy came round for a meal. We had good fun, swapped birthday gifts [M&I share April 10th] and played a riotous game of Pictionary.

After a somewhat disturbed night [I kept sneezing, so in the end decamped to the lounge in order not to disturb Bob,or Sidney our adjoining neighbour] we got up, cleared up, packed the car and got ready to leave. Some way down the A47, I remembered the loaf I’d forgotten about, in the bread bin. Frantic text to Chris [please retrieve it, and eat it!]

We stopped for lunch at Chill Out, on the A47 between Guyhirn and Thorney Toll. This family run eatery is really good. Decent home cooked food, reasonable prices, and wide selection from a pot of tea and a cake, through to a huge 3 course meal. The Chillingworth clan are all very friendly, and it is not the first time we’ve stopped there [thanks to friend Sam, for telling us about it]

It is about halfway between Leicester and Norfolk [they get loads of Leicester people, they tell me] and I would recommend it to anyone! Lovely food, plenty of choice, fair prices, good car park, decent toilets…it ticks all the boxes.

And so we were back here early afternoon, and Bob settled straight back into preparation for all the special services this coming week. I am still going slowly – but beginning to feel better [thanks for all the kind get-well wishes]

As usual, it was great to go away, but good to be back.

St Nicholas Isn’t Just For Christmas!

I somehow stumbled upon Ann, over at this blog. And of course I had to let her know about my St Nicholas’ Church, in Norfolk, where I grew up. Although I was a member of the much larger, livelier Baptist fellowship, all our school events [Carol Services etc.] were held at the Parish Church.

She’s just let me know that she’s done a post about the Dereham Church, here.

 

If you are ever in Dereham, do have a look at the Church, with its separate belltower [they incarcerated prisoners there, during the Napoleonic Wars] and also Bishop Bonner’s Cottages, alongside the Church

These are over 500 years old, and have a fascinating history too. They are now maintained as a museum.

Thank you Ann, for mentioning a favourite bit of my local history!

Everybody, Have Some Love!

Thanks Jane for sharing this one – some of the lookalikes are uncannily good! [Not convinced by HM & Philip though]

Harry, Camilla and Princess Royal are good, IMHO

Matthew 25:36

Found a great story on the BBC news website this morning

Read more about Arthur Wilson’s work here

Don’t Bank On It!

Just a quick heads up to readers in the UK about Bank Holidays. I was listening to Moneybox over the weekend

This programme is presented by the wild and wacky Paul Lewis

PL is incredibly knowledgeable about money and all things fiscal, as well as Roman Numerals, Victorian coinage and Wilkie Collins. You have to read his website to find out more. He also wears crazily patterned suits and ties. Fine on radio but disastrous on TV.

HOWEVER the important information is this…

Because of Easter and the Royal Wedding, and all accompanying Bank Holidays, here in the UK, there are ONLY THREE banking days between Thursday 21st April and Tuesday 2nd May.

Paul pointed out that if your credit card bill is due for payment during that period, you would be wise to pay it as soon as you can, as all these BHs mean there may be a delay in the money getting through and you could incur interest.

I know many of you avoid Credit Cards – but if you are one of the ‘use it for the convenience, but pay in full each month’ sort of people, then I should hate you to get caught out!

What annoys me is the fact that my credit card is with my bank – and yet it takes them a couple of days to get the money from one account to the other. Where is it in the meantime? Is someone else earning interest on it?

Oh, and another little banking rant.

I think it is a crazy idea to get rid of cheques!

That’s My Girl!

 

This isn’t a fix, honest – but my Steph’s won this latest giveaway [Almond essence for an Almond] You can collect your prize when you get home on Thursday, sweetheart!

There were hardly any entries this week. The final Lenten Giveaway next Wednesday is a bundle of bits and pieces for card makers. I know lots of you make cards – do enter the draw, and please mention the giveaway on your blogs too

A Final Pause In Lent

It’s going to be a busy Palm Sunday. This morning, I shall be taking my Sunday School class. At mid-day. I am going with Bob as he conducts a service in our little Cemetery, a memorial for a friend from the village who has died. Later in the afternoon, we shall be going to Cornerstones – our ‘other’ home – and we plan to rest, and to meet up with family and friends.

Children praising, a friend dying, rest and reunion.

As I thought about that, it seemed to tie in with the verses of this great old song.  Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Heaven

Last night I lay a-sleeping
There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.

I heard the children singing,
And ever as they sang
Methought the voice of angels
From heaven in answer rang,
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And then methought my dream was changed,
The streets no longer rang.
Hushed were the glad Hosannas
The little children sang.

The sun grew dark with mystery,
The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill,
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And once again the scene was changed,
New earth there seemed to be.
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea.

The light of God was on its streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away,

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o'er!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna forevermore!

.

[btw I am not suggesting that ‘going to Norfolk’ equates to ‘going to heaven’ – although Norfolk is a very pleasant place!!]

Thanks again to Floss, for initiating these Lent pauses – yet again, I’ve found the posts of the other bloggers really inspiring and thought-provoking as we prepare for Easter.