TARRAGON & THYME

Just a quick pop in to say hello and I hope everything is well with you.It would have been my darling father's birthday today, so I have been quietly remembering my father today as I know have my mother and also my brother. Things have been slightly hectic here for the past couple of weeks and it looks as though the next few weeks are going to be equally distracting too.  My Mum has her operation on the 14 June the day before her birthday;  she has a form of skin cancer and surgery is being carried out on a day surgery basis, but she is going to be incapacitated as she is not only having  a skin graft on her lower leg but will be released sporting a plaster cast.  She has to keep her leg elevated for about a week, (apparently the skin graft is on a difficult place for it to take so she has to be careful) and as she is not too clever in moving around anyway; so  I have decided that I am going back home to look after her for a few days until she finds her feet ag...

I seem to be suffering from writer'block at the moment and don't seem to be able to convert what few thoughts I do have into words and get them on to paper. I have lots of ideas - the words will come given time. I am okay although I have had a nasty sickness bug the past few days, but today is a new day,  the sun is shining and I have a few monents grace in the peace of the ehouse before setting off to walk to work. It is always manic first thing with dealing with letting out the animals getting them fed, then there is OH getting him all sorted and ready for work so it is always nice to get a few minutes to myself which isn't always possible. The sun is out the temeperature is warming up a little and I hoping for some warmth to ease the ache in my bones. The sun when it shines always makes me feel so much more positivie.  I wish you wherever you are a lovely day. Pattypand xxx

I am at home today  - as I have to go to the hospital later on with my Mum to give her some support and make sure we understand what is going on (sometimes Mum doesn't always hear things properly and on this occasion she has asked me to be there which I am more than happy to do). I therefore booked the day off so that I can potter at home somewhat before going up to the hospital too get things sorted. We have a lovely sunny morning here in Peterborough and it is lovely to see the sun; the breeze is slightly cool but it is still a lovely day.  I have the animals with me and at the moment all is well with Missy.  For the past two days she has been left at home alone and according to the neighbours she didn't stop barking the first day (she has never been left home alone before - she has always been with us) and so this leaving her she has not taken too kindly to. I received a phone call at work from the neighbours as they were concerned they could see the dog but could...

Today has been busy busy busy.  I first woke at 6.30 p.m. the sun was blazing the bedroom got very warm; I must have dozed off again as the next thing I knew both Squeak and Missy were making themselves very much at home at which point I gave up and went down.  It was about 10.00 a.m by this time. We then took Missy down for her constitutional walk and I went collecting nettles for making some wine. I ended up bringing back two carrier bags stuffed within an inch of their life.  I have then spent the best part of this afternoon stripping leaves from stalks and disposing of the stems. I have prepared two gallons of nettle wine and I needed 8 pints of leaves for this purpose.  I ended up using a pair of marigolds for preparing the stingers.  Hopefully I will be in time next week to make another couple of gallons of wine.  Nettle is one of my absolute favourites and it will be something to the Put Down this year Whilst out I also spotted some Jack by ...

Today has been a chill out sort of day so far or should I say extremely lazy; I decided when I got up that it was going to be a bitty bobby sort of day one to indulge the inner creative child, to watch some tutorials, to research some further ideas for future posts, but very rewarding for me from a creative point of view. I have watched a couple of tutorials on patchwork techniques which was all the more amazing in its simplicity and a technique I hadn't really come across before - string (strip)quilting but foundation based well the technique anyway.  Its not often I get time to watch tutorials but II watched this one  for this type of block but also a variation on a theme  a broken spider block.   A few years ago I rescued a patchwork quilt from a charity shop (I can't understand precious work that has taken hours and hours to make being given away in the first place, but then it has found a new home with me and I love it but I do have mixed feelings ...

I am feeling very chuffed with life at the moment; fingers crossed things seem to be on the up - well at least they are looking brighter,  I am in serious play mode on the crafting front  (but I am behaving myself I haven't started anything new) but I have been buying a few odd items here and there not very expensive and only indulging when I have a couple of pounds to spare so I am being sensible and the items I am acquiring don't cost much, but collectively together they are going to build up into useful bits for projects for the future that I want to try, but they are also giving me different ideas on top of that as well.  Buying a little at a time is also making me be more patient whether I really want to be or not.  What has spurred the most recent surge on the crafting front is that in my local John Lewis store one of the girls has made up a Union Jack cushion with braid with words on which looks very effective.  Come pay day I am going to treat myself to...

Before I wend my way to work.  We have bright sunshine for a change this morning instead of rain although the wind is blowing a hooley.  Now OH is working I have  to walk to work but the exercise will do me good even though for the past few weeks I have been extremely uncomfortable on my pins and have had to use extra pain control to ease things up a bit.  I am not one for popping pills it really goes against the grain bu when the weather is like it is I have very little choice.  The wind has blown over my growing frames fortunately there was nothing in them so I am hoping to get them sorted out tomorrow I am hoping that the weather is fine so that I can do some sorting out and I still have to transplant my strawberry plants that were bought last week. I have the tubs and the compost and it is very much a matter of getting them potted on. Sorry its short and sweet but I have to run  will hopefully catch up later on. Hope you have a good day wherever ...

The last fully weekend in April I had a fantastic weekend and a very enjoyable time all round.  Meeting up with old friends and making new friends as well.  Yesterday I went to my friend and mentor's (Jackie Lesley's)  most recent  psychic workshop for beginners and intermediaries where she concentrated on colour and how important a tool this can be in psychic and mediumistic work but also in every day life.  I respond to colour I like lots of it  and in my Reiki work I use the chakras (the energy centres throughout the body which are all denoted or associated with a colour i,e. the throat chakra is associated with the colour blue which is a cool colour.  Sometimes however these energy centres get blocked and there are various ways of assisting in releasing the energy.  Sometimes a crystal known as a blue lace agate (pale blue) is very beneficial for assisting with a sore throat.  If you wear one of these crystals round your neck on a neckla...

Yesterday was a busy day - my step-daughjters birthday  - we went round to see her she was out and about (fortunately we have caught up with her today). Yesterday started with a  a visit into Peterborough. I had a lovely mooch around Lakeland and spotted several items that I would not mind in due course. It always gets expensive when I go in there but it is a favourite shop.  I was particularly looking at the cake decorating equipment and decorations they have really expanded their range considerably just recently and I like to see what is available even if I don't buy anything at that precise moment. I was also trying to find something nice for my stepdaughter's birthday  which I eventually found something that is totally quirky just like her.  I was also on the  look out for something to buy with some of my birthday money and I eventually located some books I was after Phrophecy by S J Parris, Realm by James Jackson and to Defy a King b...

With some of my birthday money I bought a new book from the Remainders shop which is known as The Works in Peterborough.  I  was browsing along the shelves as you never know quite what you are going to find when I espied this little gem.   What tickled me most about this book was the way the book starts and I quote "Darling. I have something to admit. I have been lying to you. every time I've served you up spinach be it in soup, pies pr risotto.  I've actually been feeding you wild things.  You've had stinging nettles dead nettles, purslanes and oraches.  I've fed you fat hen, good King Henry and goosegrass.  You've eaten dandelions and thistles.  They have come from the side of train tracks, along the river, in the parks and sometimes my garden. You've gone back for seconds and had it on the following day, so I guess youve' like some of it.  Actually I think by now you must know that spinach is a pretty loose term i...

Its my birthday today and I am another year older!  Too many candles for the cake... (need to know basis only) The celebrations started last night at the Fellowship, my friends had clubbed together and brought me surprise pressies consisting of wine, chocolates a big bouquet of flowers, a gift set and numerous other private presents - all behind my back, but oh what a lovely surprise. I have also received handmade cards from Second Hand Rose (Rose H) and Kadeeae(Kelly) with little surprises in.  And email cards from Anne at Silver Sewer, Leanne at  - thank you so much ladies it is very much appreciated. I have also received pressies from family and friends and greetings from colleagues at work and messages from family and friends on Facebook and here on my blog. Thank you so much for spoiling me rotten with your love, greetings and presents - I feel slightly overwhelmed but am very grateful as you have all each and every one of you made my day extra speci...