It's Curtains for Me and A morning out in Abergavenny

 I ran away for a few hours yesterday morning.  I desperately needed a break.  Abergavenny isn't too far and is a nice little town, and on a Wednesday they have a Fleamarket.

There was a detour as the A479 road across the Black Mountains was closed for maintenance.  I had to go via the Llangorse road to Bwlch, and stopped to take this photo of the Brecon Beacons.

Above and below - lovely hanging displays.

The best stall - some good Welsh blankets for sale here.

There were no items of any interest to me, although the bookstall there had some tempting books.

Some good plants here.  I bought a tall Peachy Yellow Geum (far left) which is now in a corner of the long flower bed.

So pretty along the stream.  I think this is probably Hemlock Water Dropwort.

Beside the stream, this glorious bush of Dog Roses in full bloom.

Looking across from the car park at Morrisons, to the Blorenge.  I did have a quick look in the Craft shop but nothing there for me - no fabrics I would use.  It was mainly elbow patches, needles, threads, scissors - that sort of stuff.  Run by a bloke - I rest my case!

Here's the view the other way,

I also went to St Mary's Priory Church, but more of that another day, along with more garden photos.

The morning off was lovely, but the afternoon was a bit fraught - K can be a little un-co-operative at times.  D. Nurse was here again, and back tomorrow.  Emma has got a part time job down in the town, so that will help their finances.

Today I forced myself to make bread (an oven loaf, which is more than half gone already as everyone likes good fresh bread), and a Dorset Spicy Apple Cake.  That made for LOTS of washing up.  I have tidied up a bit in the garden (dead heading Water Avens and the like.  How they got that name I know not as they are thriving on the very hot dry Bank!)  I rescued some plants that E had put to grow in the deepest shade (the former owners put plant containers on the walls of the summerhouse, which is shaded out by the Beech trees.)  She's very much got "L" plates up as she's not gardened before.   Two Have Probably Had It. I have put them in the gravel bed at the back by the rhodies, and reckon I will just plant it up.  I have ripped up some of the overhang of grass which has been creeping across the gravel with great determination but it needs edging properly.  I have put a Rose Campion in there, E's rescued plants, and will bung some home-grown Cut-Leaf Geraniums too.

I changed and remade my bed, got two lots of bed linen washed, hung out and dried.  Last year I was given some lovely curtains which were intended to be useful in Tam's new home (she hadn't bought it then).  These are big curtains - too big for her house - and so now I am stuck with them.  One set is a Laura Ashley yellow stripe and the really enormously wide ones (4 of them) are in green and biscuit William Morris Chrysanthemum pattern, and once went round a sun room. They have a 65" (1.65m) drop and widths between 144" (3.65m) to 160" (4.06m).  That is a LOT of good fabric, no fades anywhere. I made myself stagger downstairs with them (V. heavy), take them outside and display them for photos, then measure them, and weigh them.  Heavens - that was a job and a half.  I will try and get them listed on Fleabay tomorrow.  

I did make myself sit outside with a book in the sunshine too, for about 10 mins each time, and that was very pleasant although there is a frisky wind which called for an extra layer.

Of course, the caring day isn't over yet, and Keith will need his evening medication, teeth cleaned etc.  No peace for the wicked.

Today's not much better . . .

Malvern Hills rambling up through the Rhodies.

New worries, as it looks like this may be a "bug" - Emma feeling poleaxed today, whilst I have been slightly better - no spinning head but my legs are still tired and don't want to do anything much.  I'm hoping I haven't given it to Keith, but stable doors and all that spring to mind. These things get passed on before you even realize you have them.  Then I didn't help my foot by kicking the weight-lifting weight we have on the bald patch of carpet at the bottom of the stairs (to deter Shadow from removing yet more carpet with his claws). Driving is now painful again.

I have read part of the 25 page document given to me by the Social Worker about Continuing NHS Healthcare.  I need to get my head around it before I am involved in the on-line Team meeting with the Panel who decide whether or not Keith qualifies.  I rather think he does but hey-ho.  I am dreading the Team meeting and think I will have to have Gabby here to help represent Keith and I - my brain is like mush these days and stress robs me of words - sometimes it's 24 hours before this or that well-known but mundane word returns to me!

I have also tried to apply for a Concessionary Bus Ticket with Powys Council - my old one was for Carmarthenshire only, and they didn't let you on the popular Swansea or Cardiff buses.  Now it is meant to be Wales-wide, so perhaps in the winter I can go on the occasional free trip out to somewhere different, and I can also use this concession on the Heart of Wales railway line.  I really want to go and visit Kelmscott Manor in the Cotswolds, where William Morris lived.  If I caught the 7 a.m. bus from here to Cardiff, Gabby would be happy to take me in her car, and I'd stay the night at hers and come back next morning.  That would feel like a proper Respite break.  I want to get the bus pass first though.

I thought I would share my bus pass photo with you as it is the only one which gives a reasonable likeness of me.  I had it taken a couple of years back though, and since I've lost weight, there are a good few lines in my face you couldn't see before, and bigger bags under my eyes from worry.  Old age is catching up with me.

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments.

Today I just can't do it

 I am back up to bed again v. shortly.  Had to go back at 8 a.m. and slept.  Head blurry and dizzy and "not with it" - my balance is a bit off too.  Labrynthitis?  Legs feel heavy and my bad foot was hurting in the night.  D. Nurses coming this morning but D & E will have to deal with them.  I need to try and get my head together to deal with the Social Worker this afternoon.  Right now, I can't deal with anything.

Bathsheba

Around the garden (to be continued)

 

I knew the name of this rose yesterday, but lack of sleep has robbed me of it today.  The name keeps coming and going, so whilst I remember it, it's Lady of Shallot.

This was going to be a long post.  BUT.  Struggling here, as Rosie awake much of the night and Tam in tears from exhaustion.  I'm on my own with caring for Keith as D&E in Brighton for the weekend.  I've been awake since 3 as too hot in bed and Keith's bed has a noisy "motor".  As soon as I have Keith back in bed - that will be a struggle on my own - I'll have Rosie for Tam, so she can get some sleep. Why do the Council think it's OK to let people struggle waiting for them to put Carers in place.  Keith has been out of Hospital 2 months now.  Had to leave message for D. Nurse to come and attend him later too.  Sigh.

An outing to Llysdinam gardens open day

 We went to Llysdinam House for an Open Garden and Plant Sale on Saturday.  The clouds looked ominous, and the heavens opened just as we reached Newbridge-on-Wye.  We pulled into a layby for a while, waiting for it to ease, which it did, so we went onto the house.  It rained a bit whilst we were walking round, but then the sun came out again.  Here are a few photos.  Self-explanatory so no words.  I bought 3 plants which should survive the winter here (if I go for Geums and Cranesbills, I'm ok).  Verbascum virgatum (Twiggy Verbascum I think it is), Geranium Phaeum Album - need more of these, and Geranium magnificum.

Keith now has a social worker - well done Gabby.  She's been doing all the chasing for me.  She's just given me an update and the Social Worker is coming out on Monday, then she gets in touch with the District Nurses for them to do a medical assessment.  He is a lot more comfortable now, but coughing at night - although when I spoke to the GP yesterday she just suggested SALT came out again - I wanted her to listen to his chest (which, admittedly, sounds OK at present but that's just my ear on his ribs).

The typical British "It's raining but we carry on regardless"!  Iarna's Snow White dress had rising damp - last minute decision to go, so she had her play things on.

P.S.  This is a first-time-ever-seen for me - at Cors-y-Llyn reservoir the other day, a beautiful Marsh Cinquefoil.

Below - a few more blocks sown.  I did another 3 this morning, first thing.

An improvement

 

THAT'S more like it.  The Moda design works. I shall be sewing as much of this quilt as I can the next couple of days. Tam, Jon and Rosie here, so that's a delight.  Keith seems none the worse for yesterday's scare, but as he still may have inhaled food, I will have to watch him carefully. I want the GP out next week to come and check on him.

I tripped and slammed into the upper hall wall when I was hurtling for the phone to ring for an ambulance yesterday and have a big bruise on my upper arm (I collided with the end of the support rail for Keith) and my left foot hit the wall and is puffy and painful this morning.  A poorly big toe.  It hurt to drive yesterday, and I will NOT be going to Malvern Flea tomorrow (boo hoo).  It is definitely NOT up to 3 hours driving and a couple of miles walking.

Hopefully the bit of rain we have woken up to won't get any heavier as us girls had planned a visit to an Open Garden this afternoon.  It's a beautiful garden and they have plant sales . . .  I have room for some more Geums and Cranesbills, which survive here - more select (e.g. expensive!) plants snuff it over the winter.

What could possibly go wrong?

 That's what I said about the "very simple" zig zag quilt. Well, you can buy a Moda jelly roll - which is just 2 1/12" wide.  The quilt instructions were for a 2 3/4" width . . .  I tried to modify it when I did a test strip, but could see it wasn't going to work . . .

Imagine it on the diagonal - the top single block is a corner.  As you can see, nothing matches - width is not equal when turned upwards, as per instructions.  I had to halve the end quarter-squares again, which made them too small.  I have abandoned the magazine pattern now and found an actual Moda one, which is a slightly different layout, but will at least go together the right way. I will incorporate the print into the pattern now, but still have the darker one as a border to make it up to double quilt size.

Pippi - It went in here

Mayhem here last night with two hunting kittens, after a mouse Pippi had bought in live and let go of in the afternoon.  Danny finally found it, picked it up by the tail and let it go outside.  I was hoping it had escaped to enjoy life, but have just found a recently deceased mouse looking just the same as yesterday's victim, so it hadn't gone far and Pippi'd killed it this time, little horror.

Lulu - can't see it behind here either. . .

Pippi - I can hear it up this end now . . .

The day started very scarily, as Keith insisted on a fried egg in a toasted sandwich.  My gut feeling said NO, but he has so few pleasures I had to give up talking him out of it.  He choked on the last mouthful and I had to phone 999.  It cleared whilst they were on their way, but they do obs just in case and had to write it all up.  My nerves are only just settling again. We were all worried sick.

On the positive side, Keith has just walked along the landing right to the top of the stairs which is a huge improvement, and I can tell he is determined he WILL get downstairs again. He has regained a little weight and strength anyway.

Now to try some sewing . . .  Watch this space - everything could go wrong!

Take a bow, Doughty's

 . . . for the fabric happiness you sent my way today.  Not only was my order processed super-quick (as always) but when the fabric I ordered wasn't in stock, you helped with a decision of an alternative.  I am delighted!  This is the shop in Hereford I like to visit.  I've not been able to go there since visiting Keith in Hospital in March, but will go back again soon.

This is (top) for the borders and binding, and below, for the half square corner patches.

Doughty's don't do jellyrolls, so I got this from The Cotton Patch.  Gorgeous colours.

Now I'm going up to play Scrabble with Keith.

I need to get out of the house

 Apologies, but I am having problems with Keith co-operating and I am being driven totally witless.  K got Danny to turn the air bed off a couple of days back - it was 24 hours before I noticed.  That did NOT help his btm. The District Nurse was due to come out today anyway.  We have Keith on his side but that makes his neck and back very painful.  We can't win.  Update: D. Nurse been, sorted the areas out and put stickers on the worst areas, and noticed his catheter was leaking - hence the wet bed this morning, which I had put down to fluid seeping from his btm (the reason I was so worried sick) and cause of the apparent worsening of the area.  They're coming back this afternoon to change his catheter.

Danny and Emma have been brilliant.  How could I manage without them?  

More worries from Gabby being told if you want carers, find them yourself - more or less.  That was very upsetting and worrying.  Anyway, we are working out a paid package of care with Emma, who was a carer in the past (and has been so helpful since being here).  A real relief.  I am now going to Cors-y-Llyn in search of Marsh Cinquefoil and Dragonflies.

The path to Wigmore Castle

 I began putting up the photos for this two days ago.  I have had a very busy week.  My poor brain keeps forgetting words I should know, because I just work from one job to the next and never get a chance to rest.  Monday was the worst day when I was still "working" - Keith's meds) 10 minutes before I literally FELL into bed.  Today I have been sorting out medications, what we have in stock and what needs re-ordering, topping up the pill dispenser, and seeing to Keith.  Had two deliveries today and Keith now has a mattress topper in light plastic - a bigger version of the seat one I had put beneath him in desperation last week.  D. Nurse came yesterday (I had popped out of course) and put a sort of 2nd skin dressing on his worst pressure sore.  It hasn't completely covered it though so she will have to do better when she comes on Friday.    

Today I have sat down and cut and sewn 10 strips required for the quilt and pressed them.  I enjoyed that, though began by losing my dressmaking scissors, every single one of my tape measures and then changed the blade on the cutter and couldn't put it back together again without the help of a Youtube video.  I think that gives a fairly damning explanation of the state of my brain these days.  I regularly can't remember if I've taken my inhalers or not.

I've started replacing the ties on a lovely duvet that was my late friend Annie's. Just need to unpick the seam a little to set them in and out of the way.  That's the next job.  My tea has been cooked for me courtesy of Emma, a nice veggie stew (with a chicken portion on the side for D & myself.)

Yesterday I had a real tussle finally trying to get up the shade in the greenhouse.  I looked online, but that was of no use whatsoever, especially when the Vitavia site mentioned the "two hooks" to fasten the wire along the greenhouse.  There were no hooks (or identifiable parts!) that came with mine, and no instructions.  I have done a total Joe Bodgit job and fastened the wire across the top, stood on a stool and sewed a hem on it. Why didn't I think to do this before the wire was in place? Then I put another length of the wire across from bar to bar half way down the greenhouse to hold the shade, tucking it behind the staging.  Since the Youtube photo I found showed it carefully cut into strips and fixed neatly in place against the roof glass, I clearly just screwed up monumentally.  Since it felt like 100 degrees inside the greenhouse, I wasn't prepared to linger over it!

Anyway, Wigmore Castle with the briefest of write-ups.  You will now why . . . brain not in residence.

So beautiful- Cow Parsley flooding the churchyard.

A lovely Wisteria on this cottage.

I am hoping if you click on this, it will enlarge so you can read it.

It was a very hot day, and I will confess to not walking the final uphill bit to the top of the castle.  I was pooped.  A nice spot and all that excellent farmland shows why they wanted control of this area.