The British Homemaker - One day at a time

I'm not really a huge fan of this kind of post but now and again I need to put something out there that not only reminds me but anyone else that is feeling down and beaten. This blog is real, I am real, what you see is what you get but that doesn't mean I don't improve or learn, I'm always getting better, failing, getting better again and on it goes. Sometimes though one person can do so much damage with lies that you have to react in the appropriate way. We each have good points and bad points. Far too often we spend time thinking of our bad points, things we can't do or talents we don't have etc. I want to do the opposite, and if that makes me sound conceited then I'll take it. People are so much better than they give themselves credit for. Even the mean people have good points, I wish I could get them to see that they chosen method of speaking/acting hurts them as much as the person they are trying to hurt or in some cases the person they're trying...

For as long as I can remember I've been easily able to count my blessings in the darkest of times through life, I learned that to be able to do this keeps challenges in perspective, no matter how hard they are. It's also healthy in many other ways to find a positive in a tough time, for one it keeps insanity at bay. I don't mind admitting that I still have tough times accepting my arthritis, how quickly its set in and all the ways it has robbed me of independance. Some days all I want to do is cry with sheer frustration and pain and while now and again I do give in to it, I do pick myself up and carry on. The alternative isn't an option and lets face it, it's not a condition that is terminal, it's just never going to go away so its a life long adjustment process. In 7 months I've gone from limping with knee pain, swelling and weakness to hold myself to being in a wheelchair. Lets talk about this a minute... Getting crutches was the difference between ...

I used to think about this blog all the time. Note everything I wanted to share, photo things just for blog purpose and even wake up at night with ideas. But I lost the will to keep it up. My readership stats are quite good but as all bloggers know, comments keep you spurred on. So I'm hit and miss with it all now, even though I am 'in talks' with someone to do a joint come back in November. Nothing is finalised yet though. However, here I am, chatting, again :) SJ, my puddy tat,  has the moves for my words. Chill. Relax. Enjoy. I'm not living a fast and furious lifestyle anymore. I don't work 50+ hours a week (probably around 30-34 now including the middle of the night sessions!) I don't race round making my house all spotless and magazine worthy, I don't have a to-do list that grows with daily must-do's. I also don't stay up till midnight making sure every inch of woodwork is shining. Nope, I do what I can each day, the Teen does her...

At the beginning of June I had every intention of doing Kairen's blog challenge through June. However, due to the decline in my Osteo/Rheumatoid Arthritis I have had to focus on things I can do. A few days ago I woke up and was totally unable to walk. This scared me. I was used to waking up unsure if I could walk for a few minutes till I could get going but not how it's been since. I use crutches all the time now, even round the house. I use different aids in the home and each day there is less and less I can do for myself. Needless to say I have been reduced to tears and frustration more than any other time in my life. The upside though, I finally have the Rheumatologists report and I have a phone consultation with my GP tomorrow to discuss his route for medical care and medication. The Rheumatologist was fantastic. I had the full check over, that day though I didn't have flare ups in my hands, feet or left leg so he's only ordered a MRI on my right leg for ...

Day 4:  What is your craft/s? What is it about this craft/s that floats your boat so much OR Craft something that has a flower theme Hmm again, Kairen has put some good thought into these prompts. I'm going to talk a little about crafts and why it 'works' for me. You see, I love all kinds of crafts, from scrapbooking to altering items, from sewing to woodworking and more. However, I always come back to working with cardstock, fabric and spray paint. Those three key items are the inspiration and solution to many things in my life and home. There is not much that we cant create/recreate with the above mentioned. I've taken old fashioned furniture and transformed it with cardstock and spray paint, saving a few quid on buying new stuff. I've made curtains, blinds, table cloths, cushion covers, car sorter holders, table mat sets, bags, wording a whole lot more that has served as much appreciated gifts as well as decorations in my home. I love the chill out time of...

Day 3:  Describe yourself in 5 words OR Craft something in the colour blue I could kick myself now! I made three framed pictures for Paul's birthday {my other half} and I haven't taken any photos of them! Being a Tottenham Hotspurs nut it was inevitable that I work on something on that theme for his bedroom {especially as I am the one that inadvertently decided on the colour of his room! (We don't live together)} So I'm going to have to move on and describe myself in 5 words. Can it even be done? Ok here we go: 1. Happy. Extremely rarely do I get down and grumpy, even with the arthritis and/or other life challenges. It's a choice I'm glad I made a while ago. 2. Home bird. I love being home but I love to have to choice to go off and wander, be it shops, a day out, visit friends, family etc. My home is my nest and I am a typical mommy bird. 3. Strong minded. If I believe in something strong enough, I will stand up for it, even if I stand alone. I am also ...

Remember the last post when I said I have so much going on that I won’t have time to blog? Well I have decided to hold myself accountable and blog my daily to-do list over on The British Homemakers Diary . Today is day 2 and so far I’m doing pretty ok, but lets see what happens in a week or two! Lol While all is good and well here, the kids are busy doing their to-do list to ensure that when Jay, Tara, Bailey and Scott arrive they are organised and ready for the best Christmas ever. Me, I am determined that this year, while busy now, come Christmas Eve it will be the first day to relax and enjoy all the wonderful blessings that I have. My philosophy this year is ‘’preparation & organisation’’. So far, though I have a little more on my plate than I’d like, I am happy to actually have so much stuff going on. I am meeting more wonderful people, doing some things for the first time and having a ball with it all. I love that my friends know my talents and want to include me in ...

Monday Charley nominates me to be one of 4 to make Christmas goodies for the school fair. Tuesday Having 2 ear infections/sinus trouble and a head cold qualifies me to not cook dinner. Yay to two kids! Wednesday There is nothing better than sitting and talking in front of a log fire with someone who is as as appreciative as me on the rights and wrongs of life. Thursday Official meetings can be fun. Businesses can grow by just a good and balanced reputation, which thankfully I happen to have. Friday The day we go for a walk as a family. The Kymin - steep but awesome views and a great trail for gathering natural foliage for my winter/Christmas projects.      

they will say and do anything to achieve it. I have met people like that throughout life, some are just hitting out and then wish to put it right while others do it, then promptly justify it even though they know it was wrong. Either way, that's how some people are. I don’t take much notice anymore. Real people turn themselves around, real people face up to their challenges, real people don't need to lie and offset blame to all and sundry. I asked my ex husband at the end of our marriage , ‘why do you find you can deal with such intense work issues but  you cant work on our marriage?’ his answer ‘I cant deal with emotional things’. At the time I accepted it. He left home and went straight into the military when he was 16, it was standard for him to have everything military style, he never needed to think or feel, just act. That’s how our life was. A countdown by the 0 hundred hours and X amount of time to do things. Even on holiday. I actually admired him for his hone...

I was extremely amused {again} to find that my ex reads my blog! Yet again, I blogged an issue and he responded. Predictable? Whatever but I am very flattered to think that the very negative aura he emanates towards me does not prevent him reading my waffle. I am also amused that he is intelligent enough to  insult my children. Hmm that’s very mature isn’t it? :) I printed off 2.5 pages of response that he posted. He explained his point of view very well and for some of it I agree. However, I think what he has done is got so tangled up in defending himself that he’s forgotten the truth of the situation back when it all happened. But that’s ok. I haven’t.. I have all the back up in print that I need. What surprises me though, none of the response was regarding Charley. It was very much along the lines of punishment to me. Erm, did you have an affair? Did you…never mind, I wont make it all public. But be sure, it will be forwarded to the relevant file for future reference. ...

Dear Ex Husband Today I received a call from the Child Support Agency advising me of a solicitors name to take over your case for child support. I was rather taken aback at this call and at first thought it was a mistake. Listening to the reasons for this advice I was amused to find that you have left the country with even less regard to your son. Now I accept you have chosen to not see Charley for over 2  years now. I accept that you don’t like emotional responsibility and that you prefer to have the travelling costs in your pocket rather than spend time raising your child. I even accept that when the CSA made a mistake back in August that you didn’t rush to correct it even though I spoke with your mum and she was ‘’disgusted’’ to hear that you  hadn’t made the move to correct anything, either with the CSA or directly with me. The fact we needed the CSA in the first place really speaks a lot for how you are. Now, as it stands I have a case. I have been told of your wh...

Today in my Sp4rk1ing world: Over on The British Homemaker Diary blog is a guest blogger marathon going on! Today is Day 1 and the lovely Arya has spoken about her life long desire to be a wife and mum. Now she has reached (and still working on) that dream she share’s her story. Please go check it out and say hi to her. (The link opens in a new window). I am trying to figure out how to recover from Halloween! My kitchen is like a war has happened in there, my craft room is like the mice have partied it up and my energy levels have totally gone awol. Any wonderful, quick fix ideas? :) Tomorrow is back to walking 3 miles a day. Kids are back at school so after I dropped them off, the dog and I hike walk through one of the many pathways in the forest. He has a super long leash and I get my super iPod going. Peace and tranquillity. Charley hasn’t stopped singing Halloween tunes yet. Right now he’s making up his own words to serenade me. This is one of those times I wish I had ...

Two years ago I knew my prescriptions were getting a little stronger over about a 3 year period. A couple of weeks ago Specsavers kindly informed me that I am now to wear glasses as much as I possibly can. As if that wasn’t enough, they also upgraded my prescription! I’d kindly like to remind the eye universe that I am still only 42. By many standards that is quite young. Though some days I admit that I feel like I am competing with a 90 yr old I do firmly still believe that I have a few good years in me yet. On the other hand, there are some funky frames out there. No one would really know if I was wearing them cos I needed them or just cos they are funky. Would they? Eh? EH? :D So I got some funky ones. And so did Kirsten. And Charley. Seems like going to the opticians is a family affair in more ways than one!! :D Then I realised that I do actually have to be responsible at times, especially with my church calling and when I am doing a work meeting or appointment, not to men...

Today I blogged over here and forgot to blog here! However, over the weekend I shall update here with some fun stuff….of course its all about Halloween! :)

When I changed from Sparkle the Imagination to The British Homemaker it was definitely more appropriate to what I wanted to achieve long term. Anyone who knows me will know that I have so many interests and fads that rarely does anything get finished! But crafts, baking (not the same as cooking!) making stuff from scratch, decorating and general homemaker has always been passions. I had a friend who was so like minded we could have been sisters, not just with interests but life itself and over the time I knew her we’d often share ideas and I was always impressed with the meals I tried that she produced. In time I began to enjoy cooking. Again, anyone that knows me will freely admit that I have never been a lover of cooking in the slightest, even though I would make an effort with healthy meals, I done it because my family deserved it, certainly not cos I loved it!! So tongue-in-cheek I became The British Homemaker, the friend (still is as far as I know) The American Homemaker so y...

Come 1st November this blog is going to become solely my personal one. I will talk about anything. Whatever I want. I shall still post about homemaking stuff. Cos it’s just what I do. Every day. It’s fun. But I shall also be adding homemaking stuff to the new blog. Yep. A blog. I sacked the website idea for now. So it’s back to blogger for TBH. And I’m a rather lot excited! More to follow soon as I’ve finished loading stuff.   Debs

Get life going so much that you end up burning out. Why? It’s a harsh world out there, we have mortgages to pay, cars to maintain, children to care for and a whole other range of things but let me tell you something… It is more in your control than you think. Shocking? Shocked that I’ve just simplified life as a mother/partner/friend and all other titles we have? You’ll live. I promise. And deep down you know I am right. I used to blame living in a city on how crazy my life was. I dreamed of living in the country to have the slower pace, the nature all around me. I believed once I had all that my life would be idyllic. Cr*p. It' doesn’t work like that. We do. In my time out I had many conversations with so many different people from all walks of life, one in particular, with a local radio show host (more on that soon as its related to The British Homemaker) and off air we talked about how he felt relaxed and inspired talking to me. He proceeded to ask me the s...

I am looking for a workable pattern for a Victorian dress. I don’t mind if its a traditional or modern style but it does need to be that era. I need to have it made and perfected by 13th November! I am going to a Single Adults event that is themed around the Victorian times and this is the only thorn in my side (yet) and it’s time to get a skadoodle on with it. I am asking for ideas, perhaps suggested sites/blogs? I haven’t bought the fabric yet so the whole floor is open to ideas. Also… You thought it was that easy didn’t ya? :P I am going to a Black and White Ball too. Now the clues are in the title there but I am out of ideas. For this event I want something elegant, modest and stylish. I love lace so maybe something along those lines? I don’t mind making something or buying it…oh and I’m going to need accessories too. I’m going all out for this one!! :) So, what ideas do you have? Please share? Do I need to beg? Ok ok I’ll stop lowering myself!! :P lol Debs

No grand entrance but there was a grand leaving! My computer died. Suddenly. Without any warning. I sat and stared at it for over 5 minutes. I felt the bottom fall out my world. My  heart ached but no tears would fall. I felt like lead. Then… 3 weeks later, here I am! In all my glory! Rearing to go again. I didn’t rush to get the computer fixed, I  knew it was only something small that just required someone here that knew what they were doing. Instead I just enjoyed my kick back days and evenings. I tell you, it was almost as good as a holiday away. I took stock of so many things in my life, mostly the smaller things cos there isn’t really anything big going on, not in the negative way anyways. So what did I do with no computer? Well, we went out. A lot! I sewed some of the Christmas gifts. I made some book sets. I worked on 5 months of branch activities, got them ok’d by my church leader and now working on the details. I had a blast with ...

How often do we hear people remind us to smell the flowers or savour the moment? How often do we do it? I have to admit that I have missed so many moments that I always planned on keeping when they come around that now I am wondering exactly what I’m racing against. I love my work, I love the writing I do, making tutorials, writing classes and workshops. I love speaking with my potential sponsors and fiddling about on the website. I love to sit at my desk and work through my ever growing to-do list. I also love to take care of my home, decorate, make things and dance with my kids. But sometimes, a little change for a little while can keep all that intact. Life is busy, with or without kids. Life is full of responsibilities, whether we want them or not. Life can be difficult and it can be fun. Today I am on day 7 of taking time out of most of the online things I do so I can smell the flowers. Sure, I come on now and again but I don’t linger or work the tutorials I’m still gather...