That Was The Week That Was!

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Last week passed in a blur of work and trying to get things sorted. Nothing major going on just lots of jobs!!! “That Was The Week That Was” was an old TV show in the UK during the 1960’s, I just thought the phrase was appropriate for last week!

DH and I were out on Thursday for work and also managed to catch up with a work colleague who had retired and he and his wife have not long moved to a new home and we called to see them.  Their new home is actually built into the hillside and looks a little like a Hobbit home.  It really is amazing and although very modern which I don’t usually like, it is really designed well.  We then called to see our Boys Godparents and had a lovely catch up with them too. 

The weekend passed in a blur of getting jobs done and Youngest was at the Hospital yesterday to have his mole removed, so he will be at home with me for the next two weeks.  The removal went well although it was quite large and situated on his spine.  They are testing to make sure it is okay but the Consultant did not think it would be a problem, it is just the healing process now and also because of his job they do not want him bending, hence the two weeks off.

Now I know that there are lots of places in the World hotter than this but for us in the UK this is REALLY HOT!  Above is today’s top temperatures this afternoon and tomorrow below:

As you can see even hotter!  We in the UK are just not geared up for this heat unlike hotter countries, certainly in our homes as we do not have air conditioning.   All we have are fans doing battle with the heat!  Of course it is only due to last today and tomorrow and by Wednesday it will be back to 70° so we will be wearing jumpers by then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is this morning’s job before it gets too hot and I also have some business work I need to do before again it gets bad.  Jayne and I were due to go out for lunch tomorrow but have moved it to next week now as businesses are talking about closing so we thought it best and also to not be out in a car during the worst of the heat!

It is always the same though in the UK we get a few days of some extreme weather and the Government and Media become Chicken Licken running around shouting the sky is falling!!!!  As I say by Wednesday it will be back to our normal summer temps and raining of course!!!

After finishing the two quilts I am now sorting out my quilting and trying to put aside what I want to take with me on holiday.  I like this process of sorting out things and getting things tidy again even if it is all tucked away at the moment!  I am hoping this coming weekend to do a bit more quilting and am aiming for a “Christmas in July” quity weekend, well that’s the plan.  DH is out all weekend at the new 50m swimming pool in Derby which has just opened.  The event is to see how things go and if anything needs to be sorted out before hosting a major competition there, so that should be fun.  I am going on Friday evening to have a look see!

Coco went with Eldest to his business on Saturday and he got out to open the gates and this was the face looking at him, as if to say “and where do you think you are going without me!”!!!!!!!!!  She had a great day and came home around 4.00pm exhausted!!! 

Still got lots of jobs to get done which I am trying to sort out this week, especially as it is going to be so warm!!!  I hope you lovely lot have a great week and stay cool if you are having top temperatures too. 

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

A Little Bit of Quilting and a Lot of !!!!!!

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I was asked by DH’s cousin if I would make two Memory Quilts for her grandchildren and I, of course, agreed.  I have seen lots of them around in Quilt Land but never done one so asked for help from my very good friend, Susan, who is an expert quilter as to what I needed to do.  She very kindly told me and off I set.  Well I know I have only been quilting a short time but I always enjoy what I have done, even the King size quilt I have made for Eldest.  However these two quilts were just the most taxing things!   I picked them up and put them down so many times but in the end over the last two months I have got them all done and was ready to take them to the Christening yesterday. 

We had our swimming Open on Saturday and it was a very, very long and very, very HOT day!  So much so that we just had something to eat when we got in and went straight to bed.  We did not get up early yesterday which meant we ended up rushing out of our home to get to the Christening on time and you guessed it; I forgot the quilts!!!!!!!!  Anyway I did tell them that they are done and Mom is going to save them until Christmas anyway but I will be taking them over soon. 

They don’t read my blog so I am able to show you them now they are done.

This is for her Grandson (above and below).  I loved the backing which has little yachts on!

This is for her Granddaughter and the backing has very pale delicate flowers on.

I decided to just do a diamond pattern as the quilting, so it did not hide any of the main front pieces which all came from their baby grows and early clothes they had worn. 

I think the thing I found most hard was getting the block sizes the same, especially when some of the pictures/words etc were large so they ended up being bigger than the block size I chose which was 6″ x 6″ which is why in particular the boy’s quilt is a bit higgledy piggledy!!  I am sure the children won’t mind just hope Mom and Grandma like them!!!!

Today is even hotter so Coco and I have the tower fan going full blast in the Den and she is actually asleep on her back in her crate, so she must feel comfortable with the fan on her!  I am off to run a couple of errands and then I think it will be dinner and bed, don’t want to do too much in this heat!  It is due to be even hotter tomorrow so I will be up early getting my jobs done before it gets too warm!!!  Have a wonderful week all. 

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xxx

Susie’s Friday Book Club.

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Having finished the previous Clive Cussler book I looked on my To Read shelf and found this one and decided I wanted to read another adventure book.  I go through patches where I will read different types of books and then want to read the same style of book I have just finished!

This is from The Oregon Files, Juan Cabrillo and his exciting team of ex military personnel on their tramp steamer Oregon, the ship which looks dreadful on the outside but hides an up to date vessel inside.  The Oregon is on another mission when they answer a distress call and find that the crew is paralised unable to speak.  A second attack occurs with even more victims so the Crew of the Oregon set out to find out what sort of toxin it is and who is doing this.  It leads them back in history 2000 years to the Romans and the present day enemy who wants to take down nations with the toxin.  Can Juan and the Crew find an antidote to the toxin and stop them before they can attack?

I am half way through and as always it is a great read moving along very fast and a real page turner. 

I think my next book may be a summer read, light and airy!!!  I am also setting aside the books I am going to take on vacation with us and will  show you when they are sorted!!!

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It is sunny and warm here today and Coco has a new PetPool to play in!  Airedales are not very keen on water like some other breeds but she was happy in it yesterday, only lifting her paw out of the water occasionally!  It is going to be even hotter next week so I thought it would be nice for her to have some water to cool down in.  I will try and get some pictures for you.  

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.  DH and I are at the swimming club Open all day tomorrow and of course it will be really hot as it is due to be sunny and warm tomorrow too!  Sunday we have a family Christening and then that will be the weekend done!

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xxxxx

Nicknames.

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Do you have a nickname?  Or a shortened version of your name that you are known by?  My “Sunday” name, as we always call it, is Susan, when I was at school everyone called me Sue but at home my family always called me Susie.  To my Dad I was “Ooney”!  This was because I could not say Susan when I was little and used to say “Oosan” which Dad shortened to “Ooney”.

When I married DH I went from having one of the longest maiden names, 13 letters none of which were repeated, to a very short surname, Parr.   Then some wag said Sue Parr and then laughed and said “oh Supar”!!!!  Needless to say I now introduce myself as Susan Parr!!!

Treacle was always Treacle but I used to call her “Treaks” and “Teak teaks”.  Our Boys names are called by the shortened versions of their names as is DH.  Coco we didn’t think would be shortened but I have lengthened it by calling her “Coco Pops” after a breakfast cereal in the UK, I have also found myself calling her “Cocolokes” (your guess is as good as mine!!!!!!!) and I cannot get out of my head the song “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys!!!  particularly “down in Kokomo”!!!!!

Our neighbours and friends said they were determined when their daughters were born to give them names that could not be shortened, so they had Holly and Poppy.  Sure enough they call them “Holls” and “Pops”!!!!!Names are such a funny thing.  All our friends children have what I call normal names but as Grandchildren are now being born the parents are choosing quite unusual names especially what I would call quite old fashioned names.  We know a Stanley and a Florence, there was a Sylvia and at the swimming club there is an Edith.  Quite a few of the older names have come back into fashion and sound okay but I do think some of them really should stay in the past.  We did have an Hermione which I think is lovely obviously named from the Harry Potter series. Our Boys have normal names, both with a strong Scottish influence, as my Dad’s heritage is Scottish and DH and I both liked the names and had not gone to school with anyone of those names we hated!!!!!

I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday, two days to go before the weekend and it is going to be a busy one for us!! 

Hugs & Love Susie & Cocomo!!!!!!!!!!!!!  xx

Coco’s Corner.

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I was four months old yesterday and Mom says I am growing too fast but I am not sure what she means!  I do know that I am able to reach things I was not able to when I first arrived home which I seem to get into trouble for!!!

Mom has put together a little show and tell of me:

Six Weeks Old.

Two Months Old

Three Months Old.

Four Months Old.

Mom says I look like a very grown up AirePuppy now!!!

This is our Park in our village and there is so much to look at and investigate!

What is that in the tree?  A bird?

What is over there, is it another dog to make friends with?

I am not too sure with big dogs at the moment but I am happy to play with little dogs which Mom says is the complete opposite of my Sissy, Treacle.  She loved dogs her size and bigger but did not like little dogs!

I hope you are having a lovely Woofy Puppy Tuesday.  

Coco xx

Here Again.

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Well June passed by in a blur of work, social things, family and Birthdays.  In fact it flew by!  July looks like it is going to be the same, especially in the run up to our vacation in August which I am so looking forward to.

To All my American Friends & Follows Happy 4th of July.

Last week flew by in a blur as it was Carnival week and I hardly saw DH & The Boys with work and the events.  Saturday was the main day and it started for them at 5.00am and they got home around 9.00pm.  Yesterday was a sort out day and bed early as we were all shattered.  I have been quilting and I will show you the two quilts when they are finished.  Just have to do the bindings now!

It is the second week of Wimbledon Fortnight and we have had some great Tennis already with a few quick exits of some top names.  The weather has been up and down with quite a few showers but with the two roofs now the matches are being completed.  Unfortunately we are busy this weekend so I will have to watch the finals when we get back!

I woke up this morning not feeling stellar for a Monday but I think it is just because of being up early and then up late too!!!  Hopefully by the weekend I will be feeling more normal.

Tomorrow for Coco’s Corner we will have a little show and tell but this was taken yesterday evening when Youngest took her for her walk.  She is looking very grown up.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a good week to come. 

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx

June Birthday.

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I had a lovely Birthday last week, even though it was a Monday!!!  DH and The Boys took me to our local Italian Restaurant for dinner and it was great.  I was on my own for most of the day as they were all out at work but at least it was quiet!!!!  I had some lovely gifts a bottle of my favourite perfume “Coco” by Chanel (!), I also had one of those presents which it was given to me on my Birthday but it is for the family really (!); a new garden shed!  We bought our old one when we first moved in, twenty years ago now, and it was getting in a state so we have bought a new one and they have been busy assembling it.

I also got a surprise in that they bought be an old hand Singer sewing machine from 1945.  I will get some pictures of it but it is in amazing condition and has been really looked after.  At the moment I don’t really have anywhere to put it but eventually it will go in my sewing room when I get one.  It is very like the one my Grandmother used to sew on but Granddad had converted hers to electricity, as he was an engineer and it was the sort of thing he did! 

Last week flew by in a haze of work which I am still trying to catch up on now.  I still have jobs at home to do as well and those two memory quilts to finish but I am hoping that this week and next I will be able to catch up on it all.  I hate being behind in my jobs!!!!!

DH & The Boys went on Saturday to Goodwood Festival of Speed which was their Christmas present from me to them.  They had a great day seeing all the cars go up the hill ( it is a Hill Climb event) and the weather was fantastic for them.  Here are a few more pictures of the day.

The Entrance always has an amazing sculpture with cars.

Part of the track with some of the Grandstands.

The Start of the Hill Climb.

More of the Track and Grandstands.

The Bentley Stand.

Coco went to her second Puppy Socialisation Class on Saturday but I will let her tell you all about it tomorrow!!!

Carnival began in the Village yesterday and this year we have a Carnival King instead of a Queen for a change and of course it is back for the first time in two years so we think there will be a good attendance at all the events.  It will be a long week though!  

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and a great week to come. 

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx

Coco’s Corner.

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Mom says I am getting to the straggly stage with my hair as my grown up brown Airedale furs is coming through the black of my puppy furs!!!  Sometimes I look like I have been plugged in and got a shock as it all stands up on end!!!

Mom has enrolled me in the Puppy Club where my food comes from and they sent me all this!  I am enjoying the food and Mom has read all the books, although as I am the fourth Airedale they have had, so they do know quite a bit already!!!

I keep pinching washing from Mom’s washing basket and then lie on it.  This is Youngest’s work jumper and polo top and I love having them!!!

This is my other Mommy, Luna and that is my sissy, Binx.  Mom thinks that Binx and I are about the same size. 

I am getting used to our routine now and also used to Mom who has to go out sometimes so I get left at home in my crate but Mom usually comes home quickly so I am not alone too long.  They all went out the other day for a while and I was such a good girl in my crate and I didn’t really realise they were out.  They leave the radio on whilst they are out, Mom puts the classical station on and the Boys put the pop stations on so I get to hear lots of different music!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week and weekend. 

Puppy Woofs, Coco xx

Happy Father’s Day

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Happy Father’s Day!

To the Best Husband and Dad.  We hope you have a wonderful day.

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To all Daddies/Dads/Grandads/Step Dads out there we hope you have a terrific day too.

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Sorry for lack of posts this week it has been very hectic as always with work and it is also our Business Year End, Carnival in the Village at the end of this month, swimming events and everything else I normally have to do in the week!!!!  No excuse I know but……..

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend. 

Hugs & Love, Susie xx

Ladies Who Lunch.

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Jayne and I were “Ladies who Lunched” yesterday in Nottingham for our Birthdays which are a week apart.  We went to Bella Italia, above,  in Nottingham and the food was great.  We usually go over to Nottingham near Christmas so it was lovely to have a walk around in the summer instead. 

Also in summer the City Council host a “Beach” event in the Old Market Square, above, but obviously it has not happend the previous two years and I am not sure it will be on this year.  It is always a very popular event and the weather is mostly good.  In winter of course they have the Winterfest event with the ice rink. 

It was a lovely sunny day yesterday and the rest of the week it is due to be the same although on Friday it is set to be very hot with a maximum temperature of 29°C so I am going to get all my jobs done tomorrow and have Friday off.  Last year when it was like this the temperature in our Den where I work reached 32°C and it really was unbearable!!  I think I will need to get the fans out again!

Today is a work day and at the weekend DH is out on Sunday at a swimming event and on Saturday, for a change, I am going for a spa day as part of my Birthday present!!!  I hope you are having a good week. 

Hugs & Love, Susie xxx