choices choices.

Saturday afternoon The Husband took the girls to a soft play so he could get some work done and they’d be happy.  That left me with a couple hours to myself.  I know that sounds a bit weird because I have had a ton of time to myself over the last six months.  It makes me laugh that before October one of my aims to hit before I turn thirty was tohave a whole morning or afternoon to myself.  Little did I know.  But that vast majority of these past six months I’ve been in so much pain  the painkillers have made me really drowsy.  And it’s not much fun enfoying some time to yourself when you’re out of it.

But saturday afternoon I was feeling good (I have been having a couple good days since seeing a new osteopath). I wondered what I could do.

I had not one but two new magazines to peruse and enjoy.

I had a hem to sew on a skirt for Chloe and some bias binding to sew on another little surprise.

I had a million and one things things to organise.  I’m a list person.  A lot of lists needed to be made while it was quiet and I could concentrate.

Or I could just bake.

Actually, the sewing won out, but almost as soon as I started the machine started playing up and for the life of me I dont know what was wrong with it.  I didn’t dare try and fix it so for now it’s out of action.

So with no sewing to be done, it had to be the baking.  I’m not sure this is a wise choice because I’m always left with a mess to clear up and wanting a nice sit down afterwards.  I did try something new though and I baked a Bakewell tart.  Get Me!  No photo yet, I’ll try to grab one before it’s all eaten up.

choice.

I’ve been spending a good amount of my days here…

 

I’ve definitely been bitten by the sewing bug. I made another skirt – this time for Chloe.  I went to fleetwood market and made my first fabric purchase.

 

As soon as I saw this seersucker  (no idea why it’s called that. anyone?) I knew Chloe would love it.  Granted, I did make it a little too long because I was over-concerned about making it too short, AND it’s a little see through (I’m going to cut up a pillow case to line it somehow), but I’m still happy with it.  And the major test –     Chloe loved it too. I only bought a meter of the seersucker, and kinda wished I’d bought more.

A chiropractor came over a few days ago and straight away identified a couple of things wrong with my back.  He said it’s all fixable and would like to see major improvement over a coupld of sessions.  Hurray – I was so relieved just to finally have some kind of answer and possible solution.  He warned me that over the next few days I’ll feel like I’ve been kicked by a horse and I woke up yesterday feeling just like that.  I kept checking in the mirror to see if there was bruising because it felt that tender. Today though my back doens’t feel anywhere near as bad and I’ve been warned to do very little.  This is way harder than you think it would be!

Half an hour after the Chiropractor left the post came through the letterbox and amongst the junkmail was a letter from the Pain Management Service.  It was confirming that I’ve been referred by the consultant and letting me know that there would be a 28 WEEK wait until my first appointment.  Yes 28 WEEKS. I just don’t have the words for that.  Actually I do because I emailed my MP about it!  Had I not felt so positive from the chiropractor I would have been in a pretty grim place after reading that letter.

But instead of feeling all narky over the NHS I’ll choose to be positive.  That choice is powerful.

Five on a friday: Five things I’m looking forward to this next week:

*  Guilt-Free Rest (When I’ve struggled with standing I have always felt so guilty and lazy, but rest is what the chiropractor has called for so sitting down now I feel like I’m kind of contributing to my recovery)

*  Having some time with my parents while the girls are at school (They’re coming to help while Rob is away)

*  Starting to see all the decorating coming together, there may even be yellow on the kitchen walls!

*  Having a One-Tree-Hill free mind (this last week I’ve been watching the very last episodes ever online, so I’ve felt a little consumed with the drama.  It’s that same bitter sweet feeling as finishing a good book – you’re sad it’s over but relieved that you can return to reality again!

*  Thinking of creative little ways to celebrate Chloe’s birthday in a couple of weeks.  Time to get planning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

skirt.

Today is a memorable day.  I, me, all by myself made a skirt.  A real skirt.

(Added later: looking at the blog, the pictures above look totally different colour, I know! That’s how frustrating my camera is without natural light.  It’s like the opposite of a vampire.  So the real colour is somewhere in bewteen the two pictures.)

Credit to a very cool lady called Dana who created what she calls ‘A simple skirt’ (which I think is absolutely hilarious right now – she once made this skirt in something like 20 minutes and it took me at least three hours in total).  This skirt is for Ruby – it’s very much a ‘Ruby’ fabric.  I really wanted it to be done ‘properly’ rather than just ‘making do’.  I took her advice of adding an extra row of stitches above the hem and I like it.  At the end I struggled a little bit but it’s only because I thought there was a quicker route and the quicker route got me in trouble.  Moral of the story – just do as you’re told!

As I was sewing the elastic waistband in I was convinced I’d made it too short but when it was all finished and Ruby put it on – we’ll you see I had nothing to worry about: