Just because

This is my brother Peter and his girlfriend Tracey.

They have been together for more than 10 years.

They moved to near Cirencester, Gloucestershire (about 80 miles away) a few years ago where Peter found more landscaping work and Tracey carried on her nursing career in a local hospital.

I'm sure Tracey won't mind me mentioning that she had breast implants a few years back as a treat to herself as she was always conscious of her flat-chest.

They have dogs.

Unfortunately Barney (Peters dog) died a couple of years ago but they still have Bobby (Traceys dog) who is grey & shakey on her pins! They adopted two black Labradors from the Labradors Trust not long after Barney died so they now have two lunatics in their little 'family'!!

By the way thats as close to a smile on my brothers face as you will ever see & I think he was taken by surprise with this!

Earlier this year Tracey found a lump in her breast.

She had her breast implants & all surrounding tissue removed on both breasts and opted to have reconstuctive surgery at the same time.Unfortunately due to infection they also had to be removed. This year has been a steady round of treatments including chemo & radiotherapy and she is now due to see her specialist to discuss when they will have her in to remove her ovaries. This is standard procedure as apparently the cancer feeds on oestrogen.

Peter & Tracey live too far away for a 'quick visit' and we don't tend to keep in touch much anyway but I wanted to tell you about them as I do love them & miss them.

And I admire Tracey so much. Her parents bought her a gorgeous wig but I don't think she ever wore it :) Her hair is now quite spikey though she is not too happy that its 'salt & pepper' colours!!

Life can be such a bitch sometimes. Stay strong Tracey xx

Miriams Christmas Ornament Swap

Yep I am a bad blogger!
I will be endeavouring to make more time but to be honest I have got out of the habit & while I feel the need to blog I dont want to feel obliged to blog .... if you know what I mean!
This seems to be a fairly common feeling amongst many of my fellow bloggers so its good to know that Im not the only one. Christmas is going to be the usual crazy, tiring, maddening time that comes with working in retail - especially a card & gift shop! That Michael Buble xmas CD is already doing my head in :( !!

But one thing that has really gladdened my heart is recieving Miriams handmade ornament this week. It really is the sweetest pair of skates you ever did see! And packaged in a really thoughtful way. I love it!! And theres more .... she even included a handmade card & the box was wrapped up in decorated string AND the envelopes were stamped & painted. So nice :)

Why don't you go to to Miriams blog see what she received from Jacky plus a link up with all the other participants who will be talking about what they received/sent.

Thankyou again Miriam!

Happy Sunny Days!!

Hello blog .... and hello readers!

Here in the UK we are enjoying some gorgeous blue skies & high temperatures :-)
Its been a long run of miserable dark summers for us over the last few years so its all a bit exciting! I have just put out some bunting along our fence and the picnic blanket is laid on the grass for later (too hot at the mo!).

Jake has just returned home from a hot day at school so we stayed in the cool front garden where our cat Flo had found a cool spot too!

I hope you are enjoying the sunshine too? Or are you the other side of the world and shivering in winter? I would love to know :-)

And because its a Happy Sunny Day, and I have purchased a few lovely crafty bits & pieces recently I would love to send some Happy Mail out so I can share my good vibes around! If you would like to receive some Happy Mail why dont you email me hethpet@gmail.com & leave your postal address 

Go on!! You know you want to!! 

H xx

2013 Photo scavenger hunt is on!

so here it is. Rindas list of items to be found & photographed during this summer (ending Sept 21st). I have enjoyed other peoples participation in this challenge over the last couple of years but I have yet to join in myself. I mean to rectify that this year & I shall be asking my son Jake & his Dad to help me too! There are one or two items that I am sure we will fail on ... windmill? Dinosaur? lol

1.   Open air market
2.   Theater for performing arts (not a movie theater)
3.   City Hall, Capitol or other similar civic building
4.   Airplane
5.   A sunset
6.   Someone or something taking a nap
7.   A sign that is intentionally or unintentionally funny
8.   A tower
9.   A photo with someone or something that is clearly out of place or doesn't belong
10.  A bench that is outside
11.  An animal in a zoo, aquarium, nature preserve, etc.
12.  A cloud in the shape of something (please specify what you see)
13.  A fence
14.  A stained glass object or a mosaic
15.  A fire truck or police car
16.  A windmill 
17.  Candle(s)
18.  Your local pub/bar, coffee house or tea shop
19.  A fisherman
20. A dinosaur
21.  A photograph of you with an artistic tool or craft supply (you cannot substitute for this item)
Bonus/substitute items.  If you find any of the above items too difficult, feel free to substitute either (or both) of these items.  You can substitute up to two items, but you cannot substitute Item #21:
A person wearing an outfit (or item of clothing) that symbolizes your country
A sundial

If you would like to join in Rindas challenge why dont you pop over to her blog Gallo Organico. She would love to have as many people taking part as possible - the more the merrier!

Good luck!!

Just a Quote For Friday

My blog-friend Deb at Paper Turtle has been posting a quote on a Friday for quite some time.
Just a simple quote often accompanied by a photo of something in her garden (sorry back yard!) or of her dog or one of her turtles.
A thought rather than a story.
So when she suggested that maybe people would like to join her today and take one her favourite photos and add a quote and maybe a bit of photo editing well I think I was one of the first to send her an email saying "yes please!!"
The photo in question is one of Debs patio umbrella. I found a suitable quote and then on Picmonkey I added it to the photo. Just a couple of 'tweaks' and it was done.

I love the sunflare!

"...how about a swap of small things?
Let's fill something small with as many
tiny things as we can fit in and send it on..."





A few weeks back Sian at From High In The Sky blog had a lovely idea for people to share their stash of useful small 'things' that any papercrafter could find a use for. The really good thing was that it should be kept small so that it stayed intimate and special. We each gave to the next person on the list that Sian had of all the participants and I was thrilled to see I was to send my little collection to my old blogfriend Mel at I Speak Melsh (I forgot to take photos!)
So this week I was super excited to recieve my parcel all the way from California from the lovely Rinda at Gallo Organico. I could barely wait long enough to take a couple of pictures before revealing the contents!!

I loved the stamped images on the manilla envelope

ok got the photo ... now get the envelope open!

Ta-da!!

lots of lovely bits & pieces

Thankyou so much Rinda!! I'm going to have fun with all of this :-) Hopefully it won't be too long before I find some time to spend in my neglected craftroom!

And thankyou too Sian for coming up with this idea - I know there are many happy crafters out there with some new stash to play with lol

Just a few photos to remind you who we are!!

Jakes 10th birthday in April this year

My Dads 75th birthday in Sept last year (with my S.I.L Tracey)

My stepdaughter Michelle married Gareth in August last year

A very lovely day for a Welsh Wedding!!

snuggles after bathtime - never too old :)

April this year - still only a few degrees above freezing brrrrr!!

goofy photos

Jakes first time at MacDonalds for breakfast mmmm!

me & my brother Peter

Oh yes ..... I celebrated my half century in January eek!

holidays at the beach

igloos in the garden .... well what else are you supposed to do with
 ALL THAT SNOW!!!

day trips (this one was Lichfield)

And lots of cappucinos along the way ;-)