I had a bit of trouble.

Hate it when the drilled hole in the top of a bead fractures. It makes the bead practically useless, and these chrysoprase beads just happen to be my favourite!

So what’s a girl to do?

Pretty much this is the best of a bad job. I just couldn’t do a thing with it except try to hold it with some silver. It didn’t work well as you can see.

I think this piece is about to be disassembled and the chrysoprase placed in the hospital holding cell until I can figure out the best way to deal with it.

I will never surrender!

After the chrysoprase tragedy I made a mini me to go with this big me.

Nevada Chrysocolla

Don’t ask me why.

So, I’m still fed up today. Still homesick. Still failing at trying to appreciate where I live rather than where I think I want to live.

On top of that I can’t keep a darn pot plant alive in the whole house!

Even the flora plots against me.

AND

Somebody finished the last of MY cereal!

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As I trudge through this dark day I will try to keep my eye upon this beauty.

Vincent Van Gogh

I believe it’s the only thing that will give me any joy today.

That and my trusty side kick

Wally the Magnificent.

And while I wallow, I will try to remember the words of the wise.

Except I think he used a dash or two of rum to help him forget his problems.

Don’t have any of that handy.

Man!

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Sick and Sorrowful.

This is what happens when you’re sick.

But, because you still want to play you gouge yourself with one of these.

Things then go from bad to worse until you give it up and go lay down on the sofa to feel super sorry for yourself yet thankful you haven’t cut your fingers off completely.

After a week of putting up with the coughing and aching and nose blowing I eventually braved all the sick people at the doctor’s office and got myself some antibiotics. You know you can get really sick waiting in that waiting room.

Here are some things I attempted to work on in the meantime.

You know, all I can say about the painting is that I really enjoy it.

There’s nothing more redeeming in it than that. My hopes of becoming a good painter are fading fast and I’ll just have to give up hoping to become brilliant at it for Lent.

Oh. That’s passed hasn’t it? So O.K. next Lent.

And here is Spencer protecting the quilt table.

Just when I decide the quilt is back on I find the room filled with kids back home from college stuff. Including a queen sized mattress belonging to the kid that quit her job and decided to come home.

Man. Will I ever get rid of them!

So, mattress picked up and leant against the wall I buckle down to picking up my quilt from where I left off, but Spencer has other plans.

It’s one obstacle after another in this house.

Good job I love him.

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So I’ve been sick and very homesick. Fairly depressed really. But deep down I know that if I just stopped thinking about what I don’t have I would be able to see what I do have, and start living my life here as if it were my home.

After all it has been twenty-four years now.

Maybe I should stamp this on my forehead.

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Oh, I made $500 this week for Africa :) Now, that puts feeling sorry for myself into some perspective.

Happy Tuesday.

–

 

From here to there.

This is how one of my paintings was shaping up, pre Spain.

And, this is how it is now, post Spain.

Mmmm.

But now I’m sick and the painting will have to wait.

But that’s O.K. because I’ve had another sign.

I know I said I didn’t believe in signs, and I don’t, but look.

The Bok Choy never lies.

If you remember, first there was the tea cup.

And now the veggies.

I feel well loved.

–

So, when I was home I had some yummies. First, of course, there was the fish and chips.

But I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would and I worried that I’d lost my love for it.

It looks good here, but mine was greasy and the chips were not cool.

Then there was the pork pie.

AS delicious as ever.

And, then, something I haven’t had since I was a little girl visiting my old nan up the Roman Road.

Pie and mash.

Don’t judge it until you’ve had it. It’s yum and then some.

I also had a sausage roll.

Which was super yum because look how bad it is for you.

And, my all time favourite – a sausage sarnie.

Which everyone knows is almost as good as a chip butty.

But I forgot to have one of those :(

I wouldn’t not (I know, grammar) have eaten them for the world but, let me tell you, I’m glad to be back home and in control of the vegetable count.

I even had one of these.

And this is where I had it.

       
Well, around the corner of that pub actually – here.

The Lock at Heybridge Basin.

Of course, talking of pubs, we just had to have few of these also.

But, just you tell me, who wouldn’t?

My favourite sweets – rhubarb and custard.

I had the last one yesterday :(

And my favourite crisps.

Hula Hoops!

But it wasn’t all about eating the food I can’t get here in Houston.

It really was about just being home again.

This was my Parish Church.

Church of St Helen and St Giles

Where I had to get my banns read so that I could be married.

This is the City of Winchester, where I got my art degree.

And which was briefly the home of Jane Austin, and where she died.

You’d think they might touch up the windows.

This is where we used to pick watercress on the way home and make potato and watercress soup for tea. Ah the luxuries of student life.

Look. They even have a festival!

Who knew!

I lived in Old Arlesford, Hampshire, and I didn’t know it was the world’s center of watercress. Where was I?

Man! Just made myself homesick again :(

–

You were just here.

And one day I’m going to convince P that we need to go live there again.

No, no, you can’t stop me!

Happy Sunday

:)

–

No really, it’s good. Trust me.

I’m kind of getting my food cravings in a twist.

I’m not really sure if they’re actual cravings or just romanticized rememberings.

Here’s my latest.

Mrs King’s Pork Pies.

The famous, Melton Mowbray Pork Pie.

(I wanted a bigger picture, but perhaps that will just make my craving worse.)

You’ve got to taste this to know how good it its. (Except you K. You can’t have any).

Actually, I can’t have any either, unless I go home. And that’s probably a good thing as I’m trying to focus on healthy eating right now, not that that’s completely working for me.

Nothing wrong with fantasy eating though.

I would have it with a nice salad. Lots of crisp lettuce and, preferably, those lovely little cherry/grape tomatoes – but, only if they’re firm, not squishy.

And, wait for it.

Because, as some bottles state, it’s, pourable sunshine, and who wouldn’t want to eat that on their salad?

If you’re low on excitement today, you can read about our love of salad cream – here.

–

What’s your craving and I’ll go check it out …

(Just in case you were wondering, Siri doesn’t have a favourite).

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