My Thoughts Right Now

So this morning I though it finally feels like winters here. Our alarm went off and the last thing I wanted to do was crawl out of bed as our room was so cold. I sluggishly got ready for work and as soon as I opened the front door I had a lovely little surprise . . . . two beautiful just opened red rose buds. It's nearly December, I have a rose bush in flower and my fuchsias are still flowering strong what's going on!


Everyone knows I'm not good with the cold weather. I love the frosts and freshly fallen snow but I hate the cold. I have a condition called Raynaud's phenomenon, have a look on Wikipedia. My hubby and I used to call it the finger before I was diagnosed, as when it's mild one finger on each hand will turn white where these just no blood flow. A couple of years back it got so bad that I had chillblains in my hands and feet for months. It was so painful but as my feet and hands warmed up after being outside it felt like being stabbed with millions of needles. It's strange to think that my own body's defence mechanism could give me frost bite! The slightest drop in temperature can cause my blood vessels in my toes and fingers to shut down.

So I finally went to the doctors as I felt it was seriously affecting the quality of my life, he told me it was the worse case he has personally seen. He put me on some medication for the winter to open out my blood vessels and to start with they worked a treat but then with the mildest of exercise I started dripping with sweat! This year I've chosen not to take the medication and I'm trying a different approach. I've bought lots of thermal layers - who would have thought thermals could be attractive? Thanks M&S! Also if I know in going into the cold for long I'll take a thermos, I read that if your cold it's best to warm from the inside out, if your core is warm you body will push more blood to you limbs etc.

So far winter has been quite mild and I've only lost the feeling in my fingers and toes a couple of times. I'll keep you updated if I find a good treatment or cure for it!


I'm off to Bristol this weekend for hopefully our last bit of Christmas shopping. It'll also be a nice day out for the two of us. I wonder if Hubby remembers his promise to me that the next time were in Bristol we're eating at Yo Sushi? :-)

Also some cute news my 6 month old niece Jazmine has got her first tooth! I'll get you a photo as soon as I can.

I think that's the end of my random rambling for now!

Say warm

V xx

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So......

This weeks crafty challenge if off limits as its Christmas cards for people who read this!

However one thing I can show you is my spice rack which I've had for over a year and never used :-S But it looks so good now!




Well worth wait!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

V x

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House Plant Rescue!

This morning I decided I really had to give my plants a little TLC! I've neglected them for months if I'm honest.

This was the first lot before -


And after a good watering and trim -


This is the second lot before -


And after -


What a serious improvement! :-) they look so glossy and healthy now!

V x

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Random Walk

So at lunch today I really wanted to go for a walk, so I kinda blackmailed my Hubby to come with me. Nothing too bad, I just said I'm going for a walk at lunch, I'll meet you in the car later if you don't want to come. I feel kinda bad but it got us both out for a refreshing walk (which we're going to be doing tomorrow as well).

On this walk I saw the most gorgeous mushroom I have ever seen growing on the edge of a tree stump. It had a white rim around the edges that made it look almost frost bitten. Here see for yourself -



Catch you later in the week!

V xx

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Weekly Craft Challenge 13 & 14

So my blogger app is being stupid! So here's my week in photos as I've now typed it all twice and it crashed!
























I just hope this time it posts!!

V xx


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Happy Sunday

So my morning started with an amazing shower and a bit of a pamper. I painted my nails with some new nail varnish from Avon and this is my favourite colour ever!


We then had a wonderful peaceful walk to the supermarket, we took the scenic route. Here's a couple of gorgeous things we saw on the way, first was this sweet little steam.




This has to be my favourite photo of the year so far, a stinging nettle covered in frost but there was no frost at all in the grass around it -




After a bit of food shopping it was time to stroll home for some breakfast and it was so good! A fresh coffee from my Senceo coffee machine and a cereal bar. This was my first try of Dorset Cereal Bars and it won't be my last!



My morning was all about baking, I've been desperate to try some of my new cake cases -





I also had to shake the vanilla extract that I made last week, check out the colour already!



On the cooking theme today I made some lovely roast pumpkin soup to go with some sour dough bread we bought this morning. I admit that it doesn't look to good but it was nice! -



Craft wise, all week I have been sewing a cross stitch card for my Mums Birthday. I'll show you when it's all done.

Time to get ready for another week at work :-(

V x

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Sad Gecko Update - Bye Bye Demi

I had to take little Demi back to the lady I bought her from because I noticed she had very slight MBD. I did so much research about it and come to the decision that I shouldn't breed from her incase she has internal damage to her pelvis. From the outside it only looked like a slight twist in her arm. I have stress this wasn't Ella's fault but the fault of her so called friend who looked after most of the hatchlings (glad to say they're not anymore!).

So I took her back and came back with this little lovely named Talulah. There's nothing wrong with her except she has 6 toes on one finger which is really cute! The chances of her passing this on if I breed her are apparently minimal.



She's a normal Leopard Gecko so she's still different to all my others and I hope she's going to be really spotty!

I'll be back later with a crafty, foodie update!

V x


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Weekly Craft Challenge Week 12

So this weekend has been very Christmas themed! Saturday morning was all about
Christmas shopping, trying to get super organised and I'm really impressed with what we've managed to get done.

Saturday afternoon was time to make some presents. I've started the process of making bourbon vanilla extract. We all a bunch of cake lovers and when I found out how easy this was to make I knew I had to make some. I had some lovely glass bottles in the cupboard that would look lovely. You literally cut the vanilla pods in half and pop into the bottle and pour over some good quality vodka, leave for around 3 months, shaking once a week. The smell from these pods was amazing!






They're going to look so lovely with festive ribbon and instruction tags. :-)

Today was hands on again making cross stitch Christmas cards -






Two down and around 10 to go!

I also made another little card for my dear Gran.




That's all for now :-)

V xx


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New Season New Look

What a difference a couple of hours in a salon makes! Boring me to a funky me. This isn't 'me' -



Now this is so me!




The colour of my hair is amazing red, purple, brown all in one. The effect light has is great! You can't see but the back is really short (it feels lush)!



I'll get a photo in the daylight tomorrow to show the contrast! :-)
I feel my sassy quirky self again rather than drab and dreary!

Enjoy fireworks night! We just had a few with little Jazmine and she loved them!

V x

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More New Asbo Residents

Soo my gecko collection has reached maximum capacity for now. Tonight saw two new arrivals, two iddy biddy girls, I can't believe how tiny they are! They're viv mates.

First up is Demi (her hatched name) I've had her reserved for months. She hatched 20.07.11 she's currently weighing in at a whole 15g! She's an enigma het bell albino, my second albino. This photo makes her look a lot brighter then she is.


And this is Marla (hatch name) I only chose her this morning! She weighs 12g and hatched 21.07.11 so a whole day younger! She's a sunglow het emerine, she's such a bright orange this photo doesn't show it so well.


I'll try and get some better photos for you.

V xx

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