Friday, January 13, 2012

Crafting, Christmas, Catching Up...

Yes, I am still alive. I am determined to start blogging again properly in 2012. There - I've put it in writing now.

August was my last post and how can I possibly fill in all that's happened since then? I'll just try some edited highlights instead.


Jim has been going to painting classes and this is his first painting since he was at school. It's Lough Graney from our gateway and I think he made a pretty good job of it!


Family

Kitty and Jack seem to grow daily. I last visited them in December and of course a few photos were taken! Kitty has recently moved into Jack's old bedroom, which is now all pink and girly. She loves it of course and keeps running round the space in the centre - which she couldn't do in her tiny first room.


Me and Kitty. Jason and Sam had a pre Christmas party in the local hall and we were waiting to be ferried to the venue.


This gorgeous photo of Kitty was her nursery picture. I want to eat her!

Jack is doing very well at school, with a reading age of 8 (he is 6). Here he is having a hug from his Daddy Jason:


Jim's Family and Grandchildren

Before we headed up to Suffolk, Jim and I stayed a few days in Worthing and saw his 2 daughters and their families.

Here, Jenny is reading a story to Sonny. He is always smiling and an absolute delight:


Older daughter Ali now has Poppy and Thomas. We bought Thomas a new set of clothes for Christmas, and here he is modelling them recently:


Isn't he super?

Poppy is quite the young lady now and we had a wonderful if rather full on time at their house with Poppy, Sonny and Thomas.


Poppy, Sonny and Thomas on the settee.

Poppy is as pretty as ever:


Daughter K and family

I visited K and family in Chesterfield and spent a too short a time there. Luisa had to go to London for the day so K and I hitched a lift and went to London Zoo! I hadn't been for years and we had a lovely time - although the weather wasn't great. After the zoo, we visited K's dad, my first husband Ken in South London. He has lost weight and, since being diagnosed with diabetes, is feeling quite fit. Let's see what photos I can find:


I caught the train from Bury St Edmunds station to travel to Chesterfield. When I went to the zoo, I left my camera behind, so no photos of that trip!

Well, I can't seem to find any so here's one of K, Rachel and Luisa.


Poor Luisa is still not right from her operation. A day was spent in hospital yesterday for various tests. She is still in pain and has difficulty keeping food down.

Son Ben is still in Spain running his bar and has been reunited with long term girlfriend Hayley after a short time apart. I'm really pleased for them. I can't believe Ben will be 28 in February!

Animals

Buster is still as daft as ever - here is a photo of him with Jim. True love!


Sandy is also going strong. He spends much of his time curled up in his bed in front of the fire!



I have been doing a lot of crafting - making things for Christmas then learning crochet and just playing about! I think that's for another day though.

10 comments:

Rachel Green said...

I love Jim's painting. Fantastic.
It was good to see you.

Heather said...

Welcome back! Lovely family pics and Jim's painting is wonderful - he's very talented.
Lovely to see Buster and Sandy too.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It is so good to see that you are thriving BT. Jim's painting is great. Can't wait to see more of his work. Your Grands are beautiful. I will look forward to more posts.

BT said...

Jim was chuffed that you like his painting Rachel. Thanks for dropping by!

Hi Heather, how lovely to 'see' you. Glad you like Jim's piccy. He needs to do another one now!

Great to see you Lisa. You'll all have to stop saying how good Jim's painting is or he'll get a big head"" He laughed when you said 'can't wait to see more of his work' as that's his only one - plus a pencil sketch. I'm sure more will be forthcoming. My Grands are fabulous aren't they? Then I may be a little biased!

Lynn Cohen said...

How fun to catch up with you and your lovely family here today. That painting is spectacular. A first? Hard to believe. Tell him to keep at it, he has talent.
all the kids are adorable and so are the animals and you two!! Enjoy life. And thanks for visiting my blog today too.

Mim said...

Lovely to see you! First of all Jim's painting is awesome! So mcu detail and it all looks wonderful

The kids are all cute but the girls are just gorgeous. That blond hair! I'd kill to have that lovely full hair.

Sorry to hear that Luisa is still having problems, poor girl.

Anyway, happy new year!

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Welcome back. You've been missed. First off...Your hubbys painting is wonderful. He should have a big head. I hope he keeps that up as he is a natural. Can you handle a big head?? LOL.. Lots going on with the family I see and the kids growing so fast. Hope to see more pix from there.

BT said...

Hi Lynn, thanks for dropping in. I enjoyed my trip to your blog and must keep it up. Yeah yeah, I know the painting's good!!

Hi Mim, great to see you and catch up with your blog too. I agree, the girls are just gorgeous aren't they?

Cris, great to see you too and I enjoyed my trip to your blog. Glad you like Jim's painting. Oh yes, I can handle it!! LOL. Hope to keep up the blogging now.

Bev said...

Hi G, I loved reading your blog, seeing your family both human and animal :-) Jims picture is fabulous, he's quite the artist isn't he just as much as you are quite the crafty beggar :-D
Thank you for sharing, I always enjoy reading about you and your lovely life. I'm so proud to call you my friend.
Love ya lots, like Jelly Tots :-D
x x x x

Anonymous said...

Jim's painting is marvelous. I knew immediately what the view was. The grandchildren are so sweet. What fun to see them at Christmas!
I never learned to crochet - your work is lovely. I also loved your pins in the more recent post and how fun to have an exchange. Jim crocheting the one stitch reminds me that one time John cross stitched one stitch on a project I was making!
Hugs to you across the miles and give the pets a scratch on the head from me.