I’m sorry about not posting anything last week, I was a little under the weather. I should start by saying that I have terrible allergies. I went to an allergist in 2002 and he told me I had the worst allergies of any patient he’d ever seen and this doctor was pretty old. After taking expensive prescription antihistamines for years I settled for over the counter meds. I took Cetirizine or Zyrtec for the past year or two but this year it stopped working (as antihistamines do from time to time) so now I’m taking Chlorphenamine which is in the same class of antihistamines as Benadryl or Diphenhydramine, they are very effective but they make you very sleepy (and now are being linked to Alzheimer's disease). I also take Flonase every day. Neil tells me I shouldn't take so much medicine and I have told him many times that if I don’t take these meds I get sick. Well now he has seen firsthand what happens when I don’t take my medicine. Two weeks ago I forgot to take them (both the antihistamine and nasal spray) for about four days total. The first time I got sick I was in college, I left the doctor with an antibiotic, steroids, nasal spray, decongestant, inhaler and cough syrup. And at least once a year for the last four years I was in the US I had the same thing happen, I would go to the doctor and they'd give me an antibiotic, steroids (methylprednisolone) and a cough medicine in pill form. Last week (and even now) I was feeling pretty rotten but I couldn’t really rest, Neil is ill so someone has to take care of things. Last Wednesday I definitely had a fever and woke up twice in the night drenched. I can only stand to do one strenuous activity a day (whether it's yard work, cooking or cleaning) then I'm useless for the rest of the day. I am now at the tail end of this allergy induced bronchitis.
Last Tuesday I had my first driving
lesson. Two weeks ago I passed the theory test for my UK driving license. I have
a license in Pennsylvania but that isn’t doing me any good here (especially
since I need to get it renewed). But I had never driven a stick shift or driven
on the wrong side of the street (and car). I didn’t think I was going to do
well. To be honest, I was okay driving but starting and stopping are
tricky especially starting. I have another lesson tomorrow then hopefully Neil
will put me on his insurance and I can drive between lessons.
Lastly, the flowers. Fortunately
while I wasn’t feeling well it rained for almost a week straight (or at least it felt
like it). So I got to take a break from watering the flowers. But on Saturday I still went out to feed them (which I’m supposed
to do every two weeks). My two favorite roses seem to be at the end of their bloom, but three more are just getting started.
This lovely little orange rose
is just starting to blossom, and another two bushes are going to open any day now.
I
can’t wait to see what color they are.
As you can probably see from the
pictures they have aphids which I have tried spraying with homemade natural
pesticides and store bought chemicals (which Neil doesn’t like). The homemade
one didn’t work at all, the store bought one did seem to work but I can only
use it twice a year, and I’m afraid to use it now that I that have seen birds
perched on the bushes. I hate bugs but I like birds.
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| Another bush about to blossom |
Finally, for the reason you read this blog. Between being out of ideas and materials and being busy I
hadn’t made anything last week. But then I purchased some glass beads. Honestly
I knew exactly what I wanted to make I just didn’t have the supplies I needed
to make them. So I went online and made a couple of small purchases. One turned
out to be a bust, the beads didn’t look anything like the picture but I can’t
really complain for the price I paid and they were buy one get one free (You
get what you pay for is the lesson I am learning this year). I’m still waiting
on the essential piece I need for my idea so I can’t make it yet.
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| The Last two Peace roses |
I did get a large pack of glass beads from my favorite supplier and I am amazed by the range of colors
that were in the pack. I wish I had my wardrobe from home, I would make myself
a pair of earrings to wear with every outfit. Unfortunately I didn’t bring all
of my pretty summer dresses with me, and even if I did I’d never get to wear
them since it’s rarely hot and I never get to go anywhere (hopefully that will
change when I get my license!).
The first pair I made reminded me of
a yellow linen dress I used to wear at home. I HATE YELLOW! But I like
wearing it, it looks good on me. But when I saw these little yellow beads I
knew I had to make a pair with them.
The two oblong beads are glass and you can see a
swirl pattern in them. Each bead is separated by a small pearl bead. The findings are silver plated and they will hang
approximately an inch and a half from the ear.
Although there were several hundred beads in the pack I bought there are only enough of the same beads for me to make one pair of these so if you want them for yourself let me know.
£4.50 including UK shipping, $9.95 including US shipping
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