Craftcrazygran
While I may not agree with how this was written, it is true. The truth needs to be known, which is why I have chosen to re-post the article. Charlene
http://www.thetruthaboutsouthafrica.com/p/white-genocide-in-south-africa.html?m=1
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My train ride from Oxford to Stroud, the nearest station, included one change at Didcot Parkway. So I disembarked happily; and was left standing alone on the platform. Oops! I found a strange object saying HELP. I pressed “dial” and it rang, and rang, and rang. I glanced anxiously at my ticket which told me my train was departing in about 3 minutes. There were 2 trains at platforms other than mine. The HELP object continued ringing as I began to feel somewhat more anxious! The operator was all concern and sweetness when she answered and said, run for it, but I’ll let the conductor know you’re coming. So off I hobbled, with my giant 25kg suitcase, little suitcase and handbag! Down the lift, along the corridor, couldn’t see my WAY OUT at first. But finally went staggering up a very long ramp, regretting every item in the case! The conductor smiled broadly and helped me aboard, wishing me a pleasant journey. It was lovely! The countryside entranced me, especially the quaint villages we went through! We seemed to be travelling through a series of valleys and the views were lovely.
Finally, it was my stop! I approached the train door wondering where I would find Jax with all 8 carriages discharging passengers. Would you believe she was standing at the right spot, right at my door! It was wonderful to finally see her face to face and give her a big hug! We talked non-stop! It was as though I hadn’t seen her for a while and we were catching up like old friends do! Comfortable, natural and wonderful.
We took the scenic route to her home, stopping at the high point to view the countryside all the way to Wales! The farms and villages looked like miniatures. I couldn’t believe the vibrancy of the green! Or the multitudes of trees!
Arriving in her village was amazing! There were flags and bunting strung across the streets and from one building to the next. Cheering people lined the streets waving flags. I was told there was to be an open-topped bus with a brass-band oompahing soon. No, not for me, alas, but for their very own 2 x Olympic Gold Medallist, a rower from Team GB. We decided to walk down and cheer along a little later. Jacky’s parents live over the road from the Town Hall where the Bus ended its tour. We saw the young Olympian close-up and we even made it on to BBC World News later that night! Exciting! Yes, wonderful and simply the best!
The other Minxes, and their hubbies, were invited for a fabulous dinner party that night. Jax pulled out all the stops and served up masses of fabulous food, wine and 2 really excellent puddings. We all laughed, and ate, and laughed, and drank, and laughed some more. I brought out the beautifully sequinned, feathered and netted, bright red, mini-hats and the sparkling, jewel encrusted Minx brooches and issued my challenge: To Cardiff and the Minxes Roar Tour! Purple tops, red hats and minx brooches de riguer! The hats and brooches were promptly donned in all their feathery finery and glittery glory, Then, because the boys felt awfully left-out and rather under-dressed, Jacky produced some wacky wigs which went down a treat! It was a magical, perfect night!
4 month old Miss Binky made us laugh even harder with her kittenish antics. She challenged herself to several circuits of the L-shaped sitting and
dining room. Without touching the floor!! She was into everything, smelling the wine, attempting to taste it. Wanting the nibbles before and after dinner, sitting on everyones lap, so none were offended. Mandy is her favourite person in the whole world and she disappeared up Mandy’s trademark maxi dress a few times, amidst much squealing and giggling! She and Skye the Westie eventually curled up together in blissful sleep.
It was the most awesome night! I felt completely relaxed and at home. Certainly none of these people were “strangers”. Amazing since it was the first time I’d met any of them!
This year I have decided to devote time to what this blog was created for – crafts! I have been rather neglectful of that, getting side-tracked by all sorts of other things. Not unworthy, but not what the blog was created for 
.
It took being non-weight bearing to get me back to my love of crafting, specifically crochet. Having to keep my foot above hip level, meant I couldn’t sit in my craft room with all my supplies around me. So crochet it was, and since Christmas was here, thst’s what I concentrated on. I thougt I’d continue on in holiday fashion and do Valentines, then Easter, etc. Once again, I got side-tracked! By so many gorgeous patterns! I decided to crochet for my nieces new baby girl first. Especially as she has been ill in her first 2 months of life, poor little mite! So I’m making her a gorgeous dress and bootees. I hope her mum likes crocheted clothes, I didn’t ask, as she’d be polite anyway.
I am loving the creative process of crochet again!
PEG REINDEER
3 Wooden Pegs
Red bead
Googly eyes
Red and green felt scraps
Bell
Small piece of fluffy wool or pompom for tail
Paper ribbon for antlers
Black paint or pen
Remove springs from pegs.
Glue two pegs together to make body and legs, turn other peg around and glue to form head and antlers.
Glue on googly eyes and nose
Attach bell with thread or string, and use string to make a loop to hang from tree
Glue on large and small red and green ovals for saddle
Glue on tail
Cut 2 pieces of paper ribbon and curl to make antlers. Glue in place
Colour hooves and antlers
ANGELIC CHOIR
Marga this little Negro Angel is for you
Bead or polystyrene ball for head
Light and dark flesh coloured stocking
Red and green felt or other fabric for dress
Net or feathers for wings
Wool for hair
Bead eyes
Paper for songbooks
White felt for gloved hands
Polyester stuffing
PATTERN
Cut out dress and sleeves.
Insert bead or ball in flesh coloured stocking, tie off and cut a ‘neck’.
Insert into neck of dress and close back.
Sew or glue back and arm seams.
Sew or glue wings to back of the sleeves,
then sew or glue sleeves at shoulder height and slightly around sides of dress.
Sew or glue gloves into place and sew or glue song book onto one or both hands.
Wrap wool around two fingers, and tie in the middle.
Cut opposite the tie.
Put glue on the back and sides of the head, and glue wool ‘wig’ in place,
ensure the strands are equally spread. Trim
Stuff dress lightly with polyester stuffing to give shape.
Attach a loop to top of head to hang from tree.
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SNOWMAN
Cut a saucer sized piece of white net – body
Cut a Coffee cup rim sized piece of net – head
Sew small running stitches into the edge of the net and leave a tail to close.
Take a large piece of polyester stuffing, form into a ball,
place into middle of net and gather top together and knot thread to hold.
Repeat with the head.
Sew the two balls together tightly.
Pinch a piece of net and stuffing down the side and sew a line of stitches to represent arms.
Take 2 or 3 long threads of red, green and white wool, tie a knot at one end,
and plait the strands together to make a long scarf for your snowman.
Tie the other end in a knot.
Glue or sew on bead eyes, and orange coloured nose and smiling mouth.
Wrap and tie on the scarf. You can add a hat if you like.
Make a loop of thread at the top of his head to hang him from the tree,
or insert an opened paper clip into the top of his head to hang from.
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Well, as most of you know,
I have been laid-up for 8 weeks, with my broken ankle;
non-weight-bearing and elevated above heart and hip.
It has been the perfect opportunity to get creative.
That is, once the depression and “poor-me” wore off!
These are some of the things I decided to do.
The Grandies especially enjoyed them
and the Christmas Tree looked great.
I crocheted my niece a bobbly scarf,
taught Whitney to bake spicy biscuits and fudge,
and decoupage herself a salt box
to hold her handmade lavender bath salts.
Creative, productive and thoroughly enjoyable!
BTW I hope to do some tutorials on these and other crafts this year! Lol
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I wish you all wonder and delight, love and peace, joy and happiness, health and wealth, safety and security, fun and laughter, dreams come true and success, and may this extend to all those you love! XxX
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I “sprained” my ankle 14th August 2012, just walking with the Grandies, and paying our respects to the bull. Little K wanted to climb through the fence to pet said bull, and I hurriedly went to grab him! Promptly tripped over a tree root. It was agonising! Big G ran to find his uncle, while I lay on my back trying to stem the flow of curse words backing up against my firmly bitten lips – Little K was sitting next to me “kissing it better”, I couldn’t let him be privy to what I was really wanting to say. I was only weeks away from my Dream Trip to England, Wales and Ireland. I knew I had hurt my ankle quite badly and was devastated!
Husband immediately said I’d have to cancel my trip. I haven’t been accused of being stubborn just for fun in the past, I walked! Well limped anyway.
I did go overseas 4 weeks later, after an xray a week before I left because of swelling and pain. Nothing showed. It was painful, and very swollen. It steadily got worse and worse.I just stayed on the various bus tours everywhere, and hobbled to and from the trains.
The Orthopaedic Surgeon diagnosed a fracture on the Talar Dome with the aid of a CT scan. 11 weeks after my fall, 1 November, he operated. It was a serious fracture, the bone and the cartilage was exploded into floating bits, so it was all removed, the bone scraped back until it bled, then holes drilled to encourage blood to flow into the area to heal and hopefully rebuild some new cartilage. Then he did a synovectomy to release the torn and inflammed tendons, fortunately the torn ligament was healing itself, so he left that alone.
It is now 8 weeks since surgery. I am in a moonboot and on crutches and still only partially weight-bearing. My patience is being tested to the limit! I still have a fair amount of pain, and am very irritated! However, with another overseas trip planned for April, Italy, England and Ireland this time, I’m trying very hard to suck it up and follow my physiotherapist’s instructions. Just to add spice to the mix, I have adhesions at both incisions! Joy!
Oh well, I’m past the halfway mark for recovery, 6-12 weeks it is said. We tried losing the boot and 1 crutch at 6 weeks, but it swelled and the pain was fierce! So at 9 weeks I return to therapy and we’ll try again. Wish me luck please!
Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas and New Year.
If you celebrate Hannukah may your year be light-filled and miraculous.
Whatever your tradition or belief is, may you be blessed with joy and peace.
XxxX
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