When life gets in the way of living.

 It feels like I am forever appologising for not blogging regularly - but with one thing and another, life for example, it tends to take a back seat most of the time, even though I am usually writing it in my head one way or another. One day the technology will exhist for us to transfer our ideas directly from our minds to the computer. 

The weather has become really cold this past couple of weeks, and with the early dark nights back for the next 6 months and having to work longer hours, well, time slips away, and when I do have an hour or two to myself I just haven't felt like doing anything much at all.

 My baby brother found out recently he had cancer of the thyroid. He is only 36 and has 2 gorgeous girls of 7 and 15. Luckily it seams it has been cought quickly and he had surgery a few weeks ago to remove as much as they could, cutting him from ear to ear! While his partner spent hours at the hospital and dashing round here their and everywhere for him, we have had the pleasure of spending a lot more time with my nieces - the youngest is in the photo above with my 'little' girl and our old Jemmy dog, all cuddling up together. 

Baby bro is on the mend now - he still has to go to Chrisites for a radio active iodine treatment in the next couple of weeks, and will be on thyroxine and other drugs for the rest of his life - we are all just glad he is going to be around for a long time yet!

Mr Juicy is suffering with his digestion still, he is wheat, glueten and dairy intollerant and really struggles with his food. I decided to have a go at making crumpets for him a couple of weeks ago - baking always takes my mind of my troubles. It was the first time I had ever made crumpets, and I was just so chuffed when each stage did what it was supposed to do with the alternate ingredients I had to use. Look - little bubbles forming as they cooked in their rings! 

 So things haven't all been doom and gloom - I have been enjoying knitting these "V Junkie" socks from "Socktopus" - starting them in the hospital waiting area (socks are the best ever portable project)

 Baby fig got a full time job she seams to be enjoying - and I daresay she will enjoy it more when she gets paid!

 I have finished another pair of socks for Mr Juicys Christmas pressent and will soon be starting on his Birthday pressent so I am not rushing between Christmas and New year to make them,

And I have been enjoying a FREE art and craft class weekly - we have been doing Art in a morning, something I haven't done since school and am really enjoying the peace and quiet of studying and interpreting images - then we have been doing crafts in the afternoon - for me mainly papier mache - which I have enjoyed much more than I thought I would - photo's of my projects to come! 

Here in the north we have had the most spectacular autumn - The colours of the leaves dying on the trees has been more vivid than I can remember for a very long time. I have consistantly forgotten to take my camera out with me, but it doesn't matter, at least I have had the opportunity to walk or drive past them daily and never cease to be awe struck at their colours - the yellows have lit up against the stormy skies, the reds have glowed, and their seams to have been every colour inbetween. Lets hope winter is mild and bright.