WendyCarole's stuff

Blackbird

2012-01-31T18:30:00.012Z

We have several blackbirds that visit our garden. We counted three for the big bird count. Two males and a female. This afternoon we were visited by a male. So nothing unusual about that except that we were in the garden at the time and he did not fly away.

After we went back into the kitchen he kept walking around the cage trying to figure out how to get to the food inside. The sparrows came and eventually he worked it out, pecked a few seeds and then picked up a small clump of dried fruit. He got very agitated because he could not work out how to get back out again. I was just about to go out and rescue him when he worked it out and flew up to the wall to eat his trophy. Eventually he flew off across the grass between the two blocks of house. Later on a blackbird reappeared went straight in the cage picked up some seed and came out again.
Now was it him all confident and knowing or another one who worked it out straight away?

It is the end of the month. We had some snow (sort of)

One of Tia's favourite sleeping spots

The year of the dragon

2012-01-23T10:25:00.004Z

Happy Chinese New Year

bits and pieces

2012-01-21T11:57:00.008Z

This week you can join in with star count

all you need is a clear sky. We tried to join in last year but the light pollution is so bad here we hardly ever see any stars.

Next weekend you can join in the big bird count

hopefully we will get better results for that. Although in previous years the amount of birds visiting seems to dropped compared to the rest of the week.We think it is because other people are feeding them. We get quite a good selection of birds now and a blackbird and a robin spend loads of time hopping around.

I have been sorting out and have go rid of loads of magazines that have accumulated over the years. I have taken out bits that possibly could be made. Next is the school stuff. I have loads of worksheets that would be deemed boring and useless by the Minister of Ed.

The weather warmed up but it is blowing a gale again now. The poor finch could hardly hang on the starling managed much better

We have crocuses

and the spare garlic is coming through

most of it was planted at the allotment.

Thanks for coming and if you left a comment

Allotment update and other bits

2012-01-12T10:28:00.011Z

John was off on Tuesday as he has to work on Saturday. So I popped down to see him at the allotment and what has been happening since my last autumn visit. This time last year the ground was frozen solid and covered with snow. Not so this January John has been digging a large hole which now contains this

He does not intend to bury it though it will form the base of our wildlife pond. It will be covered with a pond liner and hopefully will attract the dragon flies that fly over in the summer. I shall be able to sit beside it in the summer read my book and watch the worker work.

These two wooden "h"s are the frame for the raspberries'netting. Most will not fruit until next year but we do have an Autumn and a Summer variety. Gardiner Bunny blew off the wall in a gust of wind and decided the safest place was in the bag with the radio although she found the music rather loud being so near. Biddle kept watch on things from the wall.

We have grown leeks although they have been rather small so let's hope these will be better

A little robin came to visit

and there was some blue sky

Back in December I bought some very yummy hand dyed yarn at the Saltaire craft fair. It came as a kit with a pattern for fingerless mitts and bamboo needles. The needles were wonderful to use and the random dyeing was interesting to watch as it knitted up. I made them over the holiday and finally stitched them up last week.

They are incredibly warm and I am so pleased with them. Unfortunately as yet Ratzhatz does not have a website and just sells through fairs but Rachel told me that she is in the process of setting up a website.

My niece received her parcel last week. So I am able to show the pirate girl. My brief was a pirate girl with blond hair, green eyes, wearing a white shirt, black trousers and a red corset. My immediate thought was that the corset would cause me the problems but it was actually the green eyes because I could not find any very small eyes that colour so I ended up using some embellishments from my stash. For the body I used the basic pattern from a doll group challenge I did several years ago. Apart from that all the work in my own design.

I made a mock up of the trousers and blouse in cheap fabric first which was worth the effort as they needed to be larger than I had made them. It is surprising how large clothes have to be to fit quite a small figure. The corset is a rectangle but has a pleat at the back to that it fits nice and snug in the right places. I was going to fasten it with hooks and eyes but then decided just the eyes and a lace were more effective. Heather was pleased with her and I feel that I have moved on a bit in my sewing journey.

Thanks for visiting and for the comments left last time.

What weather...

2012-01-05T19:46:00.006Z

... we are having. It has done nothing but rain this year. What with that and the wind blowing a gale. it was so bad that we had water in the cellar. Luckily nothing too bad and the floor is now covered with newspaper to soak up the rest.
I have finally finished the commissioned doll I was asked to make. It has been posted off and as soon as she is safely there I can post a photo. She is the first one I have made with just a description of what was wanted. So I had to design the clothes my self. In the great scheme of doll making she isn't that brilliant but I feel as though I have achieved something.

Tia is in big trouble! For Christmas 2010 she received a plastic ball which you fill with treats. The object being that as she rolled the ball one would fall out and she could eat it. So this Christmas she received a box of the treats. Last night or early this morning she decided that was all too much hassle and when I came down the almost empty container was lying on the floor. She then had the audacity to miaow loudly because I was late up and she wanted breakfast. She is already a bit over weight and needs to cut down.She spends far too much time like

this! She has always been an indoor cat and does not like other cats. So I am reluctant to let her out and about. This year she reached the grand age of 8 and became a senior cat. The upshot of this being that the insurance premium went up half as much again!

I am still thinking about what I shall make this year but it is bound to include some of these somewhere

I love buttons. I tipped them on my tray to see what I had but they are now safely back in their cone.

Thanks for coming.

A quiet Christmas

2011-12-28T18:25:00.010Z

These little chaps were pockets 24 and 25 on the fabric advent calendar.

They were a DMC kit I had in the stash for ages. Last year I finally got around to cutting them out but the foot intervened before I could make them. So one afternoon last week I settled down in the kitchen all snug by the fire with a film on "Christmas 24" and made them.. I had to supply the black and red ribbon as the original had got lost or borrowed.

We had a quiet little Christmas but as usual I had some lovely gifts.

The book is about tree bark and there are some amazing pictures that I hope will inspire me to make something from fabric. I love tree bark and often take photographs when we are out and about. The wee elephant is called Eddie and it seems he is into all things Christmas especially alcohol. This was confirmed when I found him here this morning

The western dvds will keep me occupied when using the exercise bike. I have still got to lose last Christmas's weight gain as well as this year's lot.

Libby and Steve came on Tuesday and we had more presents

a new elephant calendar, a wooden elephant for the herd and some note books. I love note books. I have many, all with empty pages, waiting for me to find something worthy to write in them.

I mentioned in the last post a package arrived from Soggibottom. Tia had some very scrummy chews. Well she said they were scrummy I didn't try them personally

Inside my package was pair of gloves.

They are wonderful with decorative beads and butterfly buttons to hold the loops in place. I was very impressed as they are knitted in 4ply yarn. I never knit in 4ply! Thank you Michele.

I don't know what the Christmas santas were up to but they were not making a very good job of keeping out the gale blowing under the door.

Thank you if you visited

it's nearly here!

2011-12-23T17:05:00.009Z

I am all organised. Just in case there is a crisis like last year when Christmas Eve found me in hospital having a needle extracted from my foot.
biddle has a new jumper

my most recently knitted mittens have been sewn up

The tree is looking festive

I heard yesterday that the snowman arrived safely in Canada

so that's good.

have a good break

busy busy

2011-12-16T10:36:00.017Z

It has been a busy week one way and another. Lots of bits and pieces to finish, presents to wrap and a few still to buy. As all the swap ornaments had been received I made the executive decision that we could open our ornaments early.
This what I made for Carmen

And here is the beautiful bauble I received from Renee

It came in a cute little bag wit two sachets to make a spicy Christmas drink

The bauble is part cross stitch and partly beaded.

A friend asked me to make a stocking for her daughter

I already had a stocking cut out so incorporated her love of purple in the fairy's dress. I lovingly blanket stitched around the figure and chain stitched her name. I quite enjoy blanket stitching.
We have had a bit of snow, nothing too drastic

A couple of weekends ago we visited the Saltaire Christmas fair. There were some lovely handcrafted things to buy. I was drawn towards this little tree. there were others in traditional green or white.But for some reason this BLUE one called out to me!

if you know me well you will also know I never buy blue things! The lady on the stall was lovely and I also bought a bag from her But no photo of that yet. The fair was earlier in the month than last year and I also managed to find a few gifts.

Our Christmas decorations are all up including the festive cats

and the new fairy I am still looking out for a suitable collar for her dress.

(edit) I have changed the photo I suddenly realised that it might be possible to read the address on the card in the background.

The postman brought surprises for Tia and me yesterday but I have hidden them away until Christmas (so no peeking). They came all the way from Devon.

On Wednesday I went to Huddersfield in the afternoon and visited a very nice little yarn shop. needless to say I bought some yarn. I was meant to go last time I went to Hudderfield but google gave me the wrong address and I didn't find it. When I enquired in the fabric shop in the market the told me the only yarn seller in Huddersfield was the one in the market. Later I meant John and after a very nice meal at Ciao Bella we went to see Kate Rusby
at the town hall. As usual she was wonderful, despite having a bit of a croaky cold. I have just seen that the next two dates were cancelled due to Kate losing her voice.

Still a few festive jobs to due. Biddle is pleased he might actually get a new jumper before Christmas this year.

The blog draw snowman is on his way to his new home I hope he arrives soon.

Thanks for reading.

blogaversary draw

2011-12-08T09:29:00.004Z

Sorry it is a day late being posted

Snowman used his hat and the hand of John pulled out the winner

so the winner is Mary Anne

please get in touch so that I can wend him on his way.

Sorry you couldn't all win

What a muddle

2011-12-03T12:09:00.006Z

The first week of December the snowmen are out.

The blogaversary chap is awaiting the draw

And there are new leaves on the little tree in the garden?

it has been a very strange Autumn. This time last year we had 10 inches of snow.

This year spring leaves.

The draw closes on 6th December to have a chance of winning you must comment on the last two November posts.

Good luck

Blogaversary

2011-11-24T18:41:00.008Z

Today my blog is five years old. It doesn't seem that long. In honour I am offering a snowman. He isn't quite finished yet but you get the general idea

The instructions for him came from a 1985 copy of Woman's Weekly. I made Mr and Mrs Snowman and still have them although they now need some serious tlc. if you would like a chance to win this little chap you need to have left a comment on the previous post and this one. (Hint go back and comment). The draw will take place on "Oliver Day" which is 6th December.

This time last year we were about to get our first snow of the winter. Little did we know how long it would last. As the council et al have made contingency plans this year we probably will get none.

Last week we ate the last of our home grown potatoes

and sampled two of the few parsnips that survived

We have had more sparrows than I have been able to count. The robin is now a regular along with several blue tits. Starlings have squabbled over and demolished a fat slab in a couple of days and the finches are just beautiful

I have posted off my swap Christmas ornament and received one back. No photos until they grand opening in December. The sewing machine table is piled with "stuff" waiting to be finished. Once I finish at school then I might get straight.

Remember you have to be in it to win as they say

Dreary days

2011-11-16T09:59:00.003Z

So November might be mild but goodness me it is so dreary! On Sunday it got to the stage that we could not see right across the back because it was so foggy and by the time it cleared it was dark.
I am still not finding much to blog about. I think I had better take a trip to the allotment or grab a few of John's photos for an update. We have been pleased with our first full year on the "new" plot.

Our latest interest is Pinterest which a photo site of things people are interested in. Mine are mainly craft and sewing related. if you are involved already you can follow my boards via the sidebar button and if you are interested in joining the quickest way is to get someone to send you an invite. Which I will gladly do.

Now I must mention the Soggibottom birthday give away
mosey over to see how you can win the teeniest ted. He is rather cute.

My blogaversary will be at the end of the month so if you fancy a chance to win a snowman or maybe a snow lady then leave a comment on the next few posts including the one at the end of the month and you will be included in the draw.

Tia discovered the second office chair last week

I have finished my Christmas ornament so that needs to be posted off. The knitting is coming along nicely. The requested art doll needs some clothes so there is plenty to do.

Thanks for reading and if you want to be in with a chance of winning a snowman please leave a message

November...

2011-11-07T11:30:00.008Z

...is here again. That does not seem possible. I don't think the garden looks quite as empty as last year when we tidied up

some of the bulbs I planted last month are already peeking through

and some are not

Our robin is back. Well I like to think he is the same one despite what they say on autumn watch

We first saw him on Sunday and back he came today. There is a cheeky mouse too who sits scoffing bird food. I am sure he is not he one who used to come but he could be the one I rescued from Tia's paws!

The jumper was finished in time for Elizabeth to take it with her last weekend

I was more than pleased with it I have now stared a chunky card with yarn from the stash. It is a new pattern though and all I can say is I am glad that I am an experienced knitter as the neck decrease instructions are minimal.

Fairy is still awaiting her wand and a collar for her dress she is being very patient.
I have some home tutoring on a Saturday morning which is just as well because the school funding has come to an end.

This is blogaversary month there maybe a small gift for a lucky commenter.

half term

2011-10-28T11:43:00.013+01:00

I cheated and had two weeks off. The some of the children I tutor had a residential week away. The time has flown by and I did not get half the stuff done I wanted too. I spent time playing silly games on the computer I expect. Despite that the jumper is ready to sew up

Christmas fairy needs a few more embellishments and is shopping for a wand.

I have finished stitching the Christmas ornament not photos it is secret!

John has had some time off this week so we went for an Autumn walk

it was part of the same walk as last year but a different route

The trees are beginning to turn

Biddle climbed a tree

for a better view

gardener Bunny found a fairy house

and worried this might be a shark

At the end of the walk we stopped to finish our coffee at a picnic table this little chap was too late to have a piece of roll

We walked in to Ilkley and had a look around the shops. There is a yarn shop but I am not convinced it also does some sort of creative classes and the yarn part customers seemed a bit neglected. It might be that both times I have visited it was half term and the staff were concentrating on the children there for the painting. So I did not loiter. I like to clearly see how much I am paying for a ball of yarn but the prices were displayed on a laminated sheet attached to the wall.

We did have coffee and scones later on though. (with cream) I bought two perfect buttons for the jumper in Duttons for Buttons.

We have a new washing machine

The old one lasted over 14 years but was on its last legs. The new one is cold fill only and is meant to be "green" we shall see. It is very quiet.

Thanks if you stopped by leave a message so I know you came

a little post

2011-10-15T10:49:00.011+01:00

I felt that I should be posted stuff every week and but my life is not full of exciting things like most people's. Each day is very like the one before. Three days I go to work two days and the weekend I don't. I don't have small children to regale tales about, the cat does the odd thing now and again, John goes to work and the allotment. This time of year some of my stitching and sewing is secret. However I have been busy. I am making a Christmas fairy. She has been hanging in the shower waiting for her boots to dry.

She has clothes
although her undies are inside out at the moment.
The pattern is this
I have a box of Christmas cat pieces waiting to be assembled

I am making a jumper for a little boy,

and I have a pair of fingerless mitts that need wristbands

We had three days of rain at the beginning of the week. Yesterday it brightened up considerably and I found this little chap under the birds' water dish. He curled up small when he sensed me but I managed to catch him later

The sun is shining again today and I have two weeks to sew

nothing much

2011-10-11T09:17:00.000+01:00

is happening here. I think I have got bored with blogging

Allotment visit

2011-10-01T11:55:00.008+01:00

John had a day off this week which he spent at the allotment. As it was beautiful weather I took lunch down and spent an hour or so in the fresh air. Of course Biddle and Gardiner Bunny came too.

It has been a very good full first year on the plot. We have had loads of beans

Somewhere in here courgettes are nestling

and here a cucumber

Have you eaten nasturtium flowers? They are quite peppery.

These are covering the path between beds.
The leeks are growing slowly

The bees have enjoyed the wild flowers.

A good growing year.

Stuff

2011-09-24T12:50:00.011+01:00

Last Saturday we went back to Saltaire for the vintage fair. This caught my eye

just the right colour for our kitchen table. It is square but fits the table corner-wise. We intend to spend more time in the kitchen this winter. Hopeful to safe some money on the heating bill.
John potted this and although we liked it and it was not very expensive we did not buy it. However we went back just as every one was packing away and it was still there so we decided we were meant to have it.

I also bought these. They had been made by the vendor from vintage fabric

I have often wondered about buying one of those nifty little gadgets for making bias binding. There was a good choice of designs.

During the week I had the back door open and had a visit from Magic aka Sparky

He used to visit all the time but the door is not often left open because of Tia. So he usually suns himself on the rabbit hutch or the bench. he is the only cat I know who has no interest in birds. He wanders past pigeons as if they were not there.

Thursday was John's birthday and I made him an owl.

I told him I did not buy him at the craft fair. He was surprised when I said I had designed and made him. Actually all in a rush because I had left it extremely late!

We had a lovely sunset during the week which must have been country wide by the number of people tweeting about a wonderful sunset. The photo does not it justice.(I had left the flash on).

Forgot to mention last time Elsie has a friend

made of course by Swirly Arts

Thank you for the comments last time. They are really appreciated.

better late than never

2011-09-16T11:06:00.003+01:00

our late planted hollyhocks has finally flowered

its a beautiful colour especially with the sun shining through it.

John grew loads of aubergine plants but only one bore fruit

We will try again next year.

Back to school this week. Nine new children to tutor and enjoyed every minute.

Rushbearing

2011-09-07T10:02:00.009+01:00

On Saturday we went to Sowerby Bridge to see the Rushbearing parade

It was very good and we came to the conclusion its a bit of an excuse for a pub crawl. Each time they stopped it was at a hostelry and those pulling the part partook of an alcoholic beverage. By the time they left the Station stop they were not pulling the cart as carefully.

I bought a badge

And we watched the dancing

Traditional dancing is often portrayed in England as a figure of fun and derision but I really enjoyed it

On Sunday John came back from the allotment with this bounty

This coming weekend and the following one is the Saltaire Festival

On the 10th there a Craft Market and the following week end the food market. Something to look forward too.

Holiday is over now.

2011-08-31T14:07:00.010+01:00

Our last trip of the holiday was to the Leeds West Indian Carnival on bank holiday Monday. It was a bit chillier than other years. The parade was colourful

and the rice and peas with chicken tasty.

Between trips over the last few weeks John dug up the main crop potatoes

However when he dug up the other two varieties many of the of them had little circular bore holes in them and had to be thrown away. So mixed feelings about this year's crop.
We have had plenty of runner beans, broad beans, mange tout, lettuce, radish and a couple of cabbages and cauliflowers. So overall it has been a good year.

On my travels I so all sorts of goodies here are some I purchased

The watch and ear rings I bought at a brilliant ladies clothes shop by Carnforth Station.

The yarn and fabric came from Abakhan in Liverpool.

This my last week of the school holidays. Schools go back next week and I have to prepare for my tuition which begins the following week. In between I shall decide what I am making for Christmas!

Holiday(2)

2011-08-28T13:55:00.016+01:00

On Monday we went to Carnforth. Usually this station is used by us to change trains. We either dash from one platform to another with minutes to spare or have a longish wait and spend sometime in the visitor centre. Carnforth Station was used to film the station scenes in Brief Encounter one of my favourite films

However this year Carnforth was our destination for a walking trip

It was a very enjoyable day.

We have also been to Liverpool

The Yorkshire Sculpture park

Not everyone reads this sign

which is somewhat irritating when trying to peacefully look at clouds

We visited the Hepworth in Wakefield

Wandered along the canal and encountered a dragon in Todmorden

Just the Leeds Caribbean Carnival on Monday and everything will be back to normal

Holidays (1)

2011-08-19T13:15:00.011+01:00

On Tuesday we set off to Gatehouse of Fleet near Dumfries. This was our fourth visit and each time we have found different things to see. After we had unpacked we went for a walk and visited Cally gardens

Then we continued through the forest where I was hit by a branch. Well not exactly a branch, a twig but it was thrown from the top of a tree!

The following day we walked to Sandgreen to paddle

when we arrived at Cream o Galloway we had a little walk around the nature trails before choosing our three flavour ice cream and the long walk back to Gatehouse.
Update
Our little break was over far too quickly but on Saturday we enjoyed a day Ullswater and AiraForce

I have not walked as much this holiday due to the foot incident at Christmas but have had en enjoyable time all the same.

secret keepers

2011-08-15T11:00:00.007+01:00

I have made two secret keepers over the past few weeks. One was for my daughter's birthday

and one for my online friend Michelle at Soggibottom
you can see how well she has settled in if you click the link. I love this Magic

Thread pattern and now matter how many I make they all turn out so different.

Last week we had fresh cauliflower straight from the allotment

and it looks like the runner beans will be every bit as good as last year.

Tia has been up to no good jumping on the top of the fridge freezer. There are rumours that she is getting her own blog.

August

2011-08-06T12:34:00.007+01:00

and a week has gone already. Not much happening at the moment. The weather had been quite warm but has become dull and drizzly.
We have had produce from the allotment, plenty of potatoes, beans and lettuce.

Last year we bought some teeny buddleia plants, two survived the winter cold and have flowered

We have a hollyhock

However the sweet peas were planted so late there is no sign of a bud yet

summer time

2011-07-30T09:36:00.008+01:00

well a bit of sun anyway! No school until September so endless days of... housework sewing, reading and going mad with the washing machine. It is that time of year when I wash curtains, covers, anything that sits still for too long really. Tia watch out! I expect house proud folk wash their curtains every few months but if you could see the clambering I have to do you would understand.
Down at the allotment we have teeny tiny runner beans

Biddle went down for lunch and to check up on things with Gardiner Bunny

Early the other morning a visitor popped by...

..no idea at all who he is.

Maybe he fancied a nibble of Tia's grass.

No sewing to show all secret

Must dash washing to hang out!

Travelling, growing knitting

2011-07-25T11:43:00.010+01:00

Last Saturday we went to Kent for the day to see my mum. Stupidly although I took the camera to show her pictures of our allotment I didn't get a photo of us together. I completely forgot. We travelled by coach to London leaving here at 5 45 caught a train to Sevenoaks spent a couple of hours with my mum and then came back arriving at 00:15 it was a long day but worth it. It might seem a long way to go for such a short visit but mum is 84 now and not up to long involved visit.

Grace is pleased with her new cardi

We have baby cherry tomatoes

Loads of broad beans and two mange tout

Since Saturday we have not seen as much of the gold finches but last week a youngster visited. he does not have the coloured head of the adults (click photo)

The caterpillars have arrived

Thank you if you left a comment last time

Produce

2011-07-16T09:08:00.006+01:00

The rhubarb has not been very good this year. We haven't had enough rain.

But we have more lettuce than we know what to do with

Our first crop of broad beans have been a success

We have more than enough potatoes

Biddle inspecting the goods

July...

2011-07-09T10:55:00.007+01:00

... a week has gone already. We had a great time on Sunday when we went to Headingley to a 20/20 cricket match. It was hot and sunny for a change. Sadly Yorkshire lost but that was no surprise as they always do when we go there. No photos this year.

It was also our wedding anniversary. John and I have now been married 18 years. I am amazed he has put up with me for so long!

Can you guess what these are?

They germinate really quickly.
We do not seem to have many nasturtiums this year although I planted loads

I have not much on the go and the moment so to justify watching tennis and Le Tour I thought I better have some knitting

so Grace is getting a new jumper.

Biddle and Tia share the settee yesterday just as well John was at work its his seat.

more finches

2011-06-30T12:44:00.008+01:00

Well the finches have more than doubled. Yesterday I saw five! Squabbling away, being selfish over feeding and messy feeders they are too as more food ends up on the ground than in them! The thistle seeds are so fine than no other bird seems interesting in them so here's the question can I re use the seed?

There are only four birds i never did manage to get the fifth in shot.
I had a busy Sunday afternoon de-weeding the flags

And now they look neat and tidy

for a bit anyway.

We are eating more produce from the allotment

and in a break between bird visits magic came t say hello

July tomorrow where has half a year gone?

highlight of week

2011-06-25T10:09:00.003+01:00

I saw these little chaps a few weeks ago on the grass beyond our house. So we bought a new feeder and some niger seeds and have now been rewarded

The most exciting birds we have ever had in the garden. I watched them feeding for about five minutes and then they flew off but returned later. Hopefully they will be frequent visitors now.

Our latest crop from the allotment

when they are this size you can eat them whole and very tasty they were too.

produce

2011-06-20T11:07:00.008+01:00

We have potatoes ready to eat

Biddle to checked just to make sure. These are our spare early potatoes. We thought we would check to see how they were doing and had enough for a meal. over the weekend John dug some more and so far we have had four meals from them. They were delicious with some mint I had grown from a cutting from the old allotment.

I have one poppy in the garden

the sweet pea shoots are coming through. We were late planting them this year. You can almost see the hollyhock growing

This year the honeysuckle at the back door has flowered

We have had gloomy days this month but not an awful lot of rain.

Don't Panic

2011-06-11T08:54:00.007+01:00

Last week I logged on here to find nothing except a notice saying I no longer existed. or rather my blog didn't. After further investigations I discovered my google account was suspended due to some activity. I was about to go out to have my eyes tested so had to sort it out when I came home. I was concerned because the blog is a way of looking back over the years at what I have been up to. It is amazing how quickly we forget things. Any how as you can see all is well. I put my mobile phone number into a help page on google, they sent me a code and everything came back phew! I have no idea what the unusual activity had been.
Last week seemed very short due to the bank holiday and John being off on Tuesday too. I took an unexpected trip to Leeds to take some documents to the teaching agency. It was cheaper to go on the bus than send them special delivery. When we first moved here I used to enjoy going to Leeds because there were some lovely individual shops. Sadly like everywhere else, they have disappeared over the years.
The school I work at has had a two week spring bank so I have been catching up on things that did not get done last week. Biddle finally has his birthday jumper

I have planted out some bedding plants and the bees have been busy. I don't know what this plant is but as it is everywhere it is probable a weed.

However it is pretty and the bees like it which is the important thing.
Yesterday I went to collect my new glasses. Two pairs so I can swap. Usually I get a everyday, wear all the time pair and a pair to use on the computer. My computer had not changed much hence the two pairs for everyday.

The green and black pair are very similar the to my previous ones. There was not a brilliant choice in the price range I could afford. Some looked too trendy, others did not suit me. So I can now see better than I could. The question is of course for how long? Afterwards I went to have my hair cut so at the moment I look quite smart!

I am sewing a secret so it cannot be seen.

Thanks for popping by

birthday and a new member

2011-05-30T11:31:00.018+01:00

On Friday Biddle had a birthday and so did I. It was a quiet birthday because I had to go to work. We had some very nice cards

and some very lovely presents John gave me these

my sister sent me these and some shortbread which we have eaten

When Elizabeth came on Sunday she brought me these and a cake

On Saturday we went to the Saltaire Arts Trail
It is a lovely event people all over the village open their houses and display work by local artists.
There was also a craft fair in Victoria hall. the standard on show was very high and I visited Swirly Arts
of course I had to buy a chicken

here she is whispering her name to Biddle. She is called Elsie. She spent her first night with Grace and some of the other chaps

I popped to the allotment everything is coming along nicely

This is how the old plot now looks

Could not leave without one picture of Tia

meet

2011-05-23T14:08:00.014+01:00

Secret Keeper Summer from the secret keeper pattern by Magic Threads

She is going to reside in the kitchen. If you have seen pictures of my kitchen you will know why she will enjoy being there and fit right in.

Also say hello to

we finally gave up and bought a new one as we were having so much trouble with ink cartridges and other idiosyncrasies.

Tia has been up to her tricks this week. This is the wall paper by the backdoor. I keep telling her she is an indoor cat. However she keeps miaowing at the door and scratching

Needless to say it looks much worse in real life. In the evenings she loves to sit on laps but kneads at our legs so we have little holes. John turned his lap try upside down and this was the result:

Of course if we buy her a beanbag cushion of her own she will have nothing to do with it.
The hostas are really good this year. I think this is because it had been so dry and there wee no slugs or snails. so I thought I better photograph them before they were munched in this rainy spell we are having.

The winter pansies have come into their own

We have been fed up over the last week. When the bill for the allotment arrived we had been charged for the old one John left last year. So we have been uncertain about this one but hopefully it can be sorted out. We have already tasted radish and salad leaves

At the end of the week I join the ranks of those with a zero at the end of their age. I am not sure how I feel about this. Well I do, it's all very depressing. Biddle is far happier he is just thinking about the four c's: cake, chocolate, Chinese food and cricket.
I think I will join him

nothing much doing this week

2011-05-20T20:53:00.000+01:00

no sewing no pictures and probably no allotment

produce and other things

2011-05-14T18:34:00.006+01:00

John was thinning out rows of plants today and came home with these

we had some for tea and there some left for tomorrow.
Tia was investigating on the window sill today

This is what she found

We have a new printer

Secret keep is coming along but I am stuck I cannot decide what to trim her skirt with so here she is - half dressed and armless!

Spring is very welcome..

2011-05-07T10:54:00.008+01:00

... but this week the air has been heavily laden with pollen from trees like this

hawthorn is not kind to me. Once the hawthorn has gone it will be privet and all through the summer cut grass. I rarely sneeze but have a sore throat, sore eyes and headaches. No one I prefer Autumn.
We finally had rain all 3mm of it spread over two evenings. The dry spell has brought birds to our garden not just for food but water too. Our male black bird treated himself to a long bath and the thrush who is usually seen on the grass beyond our wall popped in to quench his thirst.
We have had the hose-pipe out several evenings so our bushes continue to grow

Bad cat has plenty of foliage

I have been rummaging through the fabric stash and have put these together

if her face looks rather flat it is because it has not been stuffed yet. I hope to assemble her over the weekend.

Worms

2011-04-29T10:13:00.011+01:00

live in a bin down the garden. They are hiding munching peelings and other vegetable waste. Each day they are busy,busy. Every now and again they are disturbed

The resulting compost is used to grow more food

and the worms go back to the wormery to start the process all over again. A good way to recycle.

Today is a special day down south: My mum's 84th birthday.

Growing

2011-04-22T10:42:00.012+01:00

Things are beginning to grow at the allotment. So Biddle and Gardiner Bunny went to check them out.

But first they tried out the new wheelbarrow

They saw

plants protected by cloches

including broad beans

and things they forgot the name of
They checked the seedlings in the greenhouse

including the tomatoes

collected up the rhubarb leaves for the compost bin

and brought the rhubarb home for tea

Tia...

2011-04-15T08:50:00.011+01:00

... has had a busy week

She discovered the top of the fire was ornament free because the gas man was coming.

This needed further investigation.

She found a nice spot in the sun

Earlier on in the week she had tried on Biddle's scarf

And found a great spot for a snooze

But she did not get her little paws on these!

a mystery

2011-04-07T18:44:00.008+01:00

and other things.

Not long after Christmas Tia lost purple mousie. We hunted everywhere. Pulled things out turned other things upside down to no avail. Then last Sunday while hoovering I pulled out a file

and there was purple mousie

Tia was very happy

and I know full well that I had looked there before!
I had a very nice day on Mothering Sunday Elizabeth came with flowers, choccies, cake and smelly bath stuff and soap. Which I have not yet photographed.

My Mother Nature Spring is finished. I rather like her.

and it seems a bird does too.

Allotment news

2011-03-31T12:27:00.011+01:00

On Monday I paid my my first visit of the year to the allotment. Various things have prevented me from going until now. Weather, foot, foot weather. There has been an awful lot of work done since I was last there back in the late autumn.

newly marked out beds

planted seeds

sprouting in the green house

a new thermometer to check inside and out

Biddle and Gardiner Bunny came too

we had lunch using our "slate topped table"

and we kept an eye on the bird feeders

Before we left we picked the first crop of rhubarb which yesterday I made into a crumble for tea.

It is all very exciting and hopefully there will be more produce over the coming months.

springing into ...

2011-03-25T07:44:00.009Z

.... Summer unless of course the last few days were summer, it reached 18 C yesterday. I shall remember it fondly when it rains in August.
On Wednesday Biddle and I had coffee sitting on the bench

There are various kinds of plants flowering
I can't remember the name of this one
But a huge bumble bee liked it

The daffodils and narcissus are finally out

The hyacinth are in bud. But you will not see any tulips as I am not a fan.
I was very pleased to see this

pussy willow

I have not seen any for years. It immediately took me back to the school nature table in junior school.
Of course the sun and pollen have brought on the sneezing and the sinus headaches but I'll suffer gladly (for the moment).

Tomorrow John is off to the great metropolis and the march. We have not marched against any thing since the coal not dole march in the 90s. I hope the weather is better than it was then. I am not going because of the foot. I shall be there in spirit. Talking of the foot because I have been walking strangely it has put the back out of alignment and the other night turning over in bed went ping. Nothing too bad however putting my socks on this morning it hit me with a greater ping and now the sciatic nerve is protesting. Oh well just another of life's little trials.

Tia has been playing put the mouse in the dish

No sign of purple mousie. I think she has run away!

This week end we alter the clocks it will be lighter in the evenings which mean visits to the allotment.

Thanks for coming

Good news...

2011-03-18T10:12:00.010Z

...on the test result. It came back as normal so I am pleased about that.

Here is a little hint of spring. But the weather has been horrible with fog and a visibility of less than 100m at times. However the sun came out yesterday and today looks much better although we had a sharp frost over night.
The creativity is going well

She has a head although it is not yet attached permanently to her body.

There are more and more flowers

to add and I think I shall need more leaves too.

Yesterday was St Patrick's Day a sadder date in our calendar these past years. I cannot believe it is seven years since Haydn crossed the rainbow bridge

He was a wonderful puss.

Thanks for visiting

health stuff and sewing

2011-03-11T08:37:00.011Z

Well I went for my results last Friday cholesterol was OK but query blood sugar. My practice err on the side of caution so Wednesday morning saw me breakfast free taking a trip to the surgery for a 9 30 appointment. I had a blood sample taken and then drank a bottle of lucazade (My mum has had the same test and she had to drink a solution that could only be described as liquid icing sugar she hated it)
and went and sat in the building reception area for two hours. I was armed with book magazines and word puzzle book. The time past quickly and i did not realise what a busy building it is. Then I went back for the second blood sample to be taken. The result will be back later today. I hope it is OK it is more or less viewed as a criminal offence to be diagnosed with diabetes these days. A strain on the NHS and how dare you not have looked after your health and diet. I think I do pretty well really although the exercise has gone to pot because of the foot.

The sewing is coming along nicely there are plenty of these

Arms and hands

One of these

A rather sumptuous body

Now more modestly covered

with leaves and flowers

Her face is now sculpted and she is waiting patiently for eyes and lashes. Nothing is definitely in its final place at the moment. The leaves, flowers and skirt are pinned in place.

Tia has been doing her usual thing

We have had sun rain frost high winds and a bit of sleet over the last week. At the moment it is cold but the sun is shining. I'll settle for that having woken up to the news of earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr again

2011-03-03T18:11:00.010Z

after a few warmish days the temperature has fallen once more, today it has not risen above 3.5C and it is due to go below zero again tonight. We have had very little sun either. I have just read on the BBC site about the temperature houses should be heated to, thermostats set set much lower than mine ever is. Although we have double glazing out house is still draughty and we seldom feel all that warm. When the children were small I had to heat the house we lived because of Shaun's disability now I have to be careful not to get too cold because of my back. Yesterday the bill (estimated) arrived almost £200 and on the those really cold December days we did not really feel warm at all. Usually we phone in a new reading but this time we have not. It would be higher. I last out as long as I can before it goes on in winter. And by May we turn it off completely. Gas prices are increasing so much and carbon emissions have to come down. Perhaps they are trying to price us out of ever turning it on. The article makes the point that we heat our rooms much more than in the "olden days" are we heading back to the days of chilblains and scraping the frost off the windows?

Yesterday I had a visitor. He popped over the wall, miaowed because I took no noticed, intimated that he was waiting for something. Not a stroke because he does not like being stroked and usually lashes out. So I found him some biscuits which he ate then strolled off. Magic (aka Sparky) is looking old, he has grey in his black/brown fur and his joints are stiff. I am not sure exactly how old he is but he must be at least 15 now and I am wondering how much longer he will be around.

Despite the chill the bulbs continue to appear

We seem to have rather a lot of purple crocus.

The honey suckle is coming along nicely

Some of these are cheap bulbs that we bought just before Christmas they all got stuck in where ever I thought there might be a space. They may be hidden later by the bluebells that appear every year
There are buds on the daffodils and look what we have here

rhubarb, there was not enough room at the allotment for this one.

The birds' favourite bush has flowers.

Spring must be around the corner. This will be lovely but the headaches and hay fever will be back too.

No sewing to show. I have done some but no photographs to prove it.

Thanks for coming

two steps forward and then back

2011-02-24T09:31:00.007Z

on Saturday morning we woke up to a covering of snow

albeit very wet snow

that left the birds hunting for food

We had about a centimetre and by the next day it had gone.

However the bottles will be nice and warm next time it arrives

Guess which one is mine.

This week is half term and as usual I have not accomplished as much as I hoped. Bright and early Monday morning I went to the surgery have my blood pressure check. It was higher than it should be (whitecoat syndrome) hopefully.
Although healthy eating and exercise has been a bit sparse since Christmas and "the foot". I have got to go back on Monday for blood tests for high cholesterol. Once upon a time mine was OK but they keep lowering the level. Wont it reach a stage where you can't lower it any more? I am gong to see the doctor to about the aforementioned foot. Just in case! The appointments are even more bright and early and I should be back before I am normally up and about. Just as well it is only over the road.

Mother Nature Spring version is coming along nicely. she is in various stages of stitching and stuffing. Some very nice stash fabric arrived yesterday ( I did not have quite the right colour!) I was out when it arrived luckily it went through the letterbox. i treated my self to a new outfit yesterday. Nothing very surprising, a pair of khaki trousers and a stripey top from M&S. I am not very adventurous nowadays.

I think I have seen a glimpse of the sun. It is supposed to be warm today.

Thanks for visiting

Much as I love them...

2011-02-18T09:42:00.007Z

.... the local cat population is beginning to annoy me some what.

My friend's cat now spends most of his day in our yard awaiting the arrival of the birds and it seems the others have decided it is their preferred place to use as a toilet. I have been sprinkling cat repellant but it wears off after a while. Most of these moggies are lovely to look at but I just do not want a disproportionate amount of visits to my yard. I suppose the main problem is that we are the only ones with earth. All the rest are concreted over. Nearly all of them are made to stay outside all of the time unlike a certain other puss

who rarely goes out.
So it seems that I shall be spending time cleaning up before I can plant anything this year.

This is the honeysuckle that grows in a pot by the kitchen door. I live in hope that one year it will flower.

Still no allotment pictures but the seed potatoes arrived yesterday at John will be putting them on top of the fridge this weekend so they can begin to chit.

The knitting is growing

It is half-term so I am hoping to get to grips with the tree over the next week. I have all the leaves and flowers to turn, it is a bit fiddly.

Thanks if you pop along

Today...

2011-02-11T09:12:00.009Z

... is a dreary drizzly day so I thought I would cheer it it up with another little hint of the spring day we had on Tuesday.

These are taken a few days apart can you see the difference?

The birds have been busy nibbling the fat slab

The side facing the kitchen window has not been nibbled at all. Yesterday there were three different species of bird in the cage eating together, a sparrow, blackbird and a blue tit. Not so surprising to those with a well established garden, but pretty exciting for our little backyard. Sorry did not get a photo of them.

The first bottle cover is knitted. I made a small mistake and so the first colour change is not as wide as it should be so on the second side I had to fiddle it a bit. I misread the pattern. It has all worked out though.

However I have delayed the stitching up. The instructions say you do not need to stitch in the ends but I expect I will!
So I have started the second one instead, it is a bit more girly

I have not mentioned the allotment much recently. John has been very busy marking out beds and when he sends me the photos I will be able to show the progression. I have not been down for ages. certainly not recently because of you know what. I am not going to bore any one with how it is at the moment.

Thank you for all the comments I am very remiss in replying.

February...

2011-02-04T09:34:00.008Z

...has began wet and windy. We had 20mm of rain overnight. However I am not grumbling having seen the cyclone in Australia and the amount of snow in North America. The earth is complaining. Although I found one little hint of spring. I only ever seem to have one snowdrop no matter how many I plant

This week has has been interesting and I am watching events unfold in Egypt wondering about the outcome.

Last week I gathered together these

which grew to this

The hot water bottle cover is growing rapidly. I am pleased with how well the colour look together. I have a selection of colours ready for the second one.

I have plenty of machining ready for tomorrow. I have drawn around leaf and flower templates. I will need many more though.

The foot is annoying me that is all I shall say.
Thanks for stopping by sorry I did not reply personally

Progress

2011-01-28T10:36:00.008Z

The hat is finished although I have not worn it yet

The tree trunk is coming along nicely

and I have started machining it all in place. No I have to think about shades of pink for the flowers and and pale greens for the leaves. A chance to order new fabric I think!

This weekend is The Big Bird Survey

we have taken part for several years and this year John is going to do a separate one at the allotment.
This little chap turned up during the week

which was pleasing because we have had no Blackbirds in our garden since the summer.

I had to visit the district nurse on Wednesday as my foot was not looking to happy. It transpired that a knot from one of the stitches had been left behind. It was extremely painful having it yanked out. Hopefully it will be ok now. I have swapped the adhesive dressing for cotton wool and a bandage because I am allergic to the adhesive.

I think my next knitting projects are going to be stripey hot water bottle covers. The pattern is in this month's Let's Knit

and will be a opportunity to use up some oddments.

It has turned cold once more and during the night there were snow flurries.

Thank you if you left a comment last time

Jumper hat and a tree

2011-01-20T18:37:00.006Z

Biddle is pleased with his new jumper

It is the usual style but in three colours

As I had plenty of yarn left over I decided to make a hat using the same pattern as the one I knitted back in the autumn.
The photographs do not show the colours very well. At the moment I am not sure I have anything to wear it with but I thought the green and blackberry sort of colour went well together.

I have decided to make a new Mother Nature Doll from the Magic Thread pattern that I have. The original one was Autumn colours, my second one was a winter theme and this new one will be Spring, eventually I hope to make summer as well. They are rather large so they take up quite a bit of space.
This is how it begins

chopped up pieces of fabric, some are new fabrics and some are off cuts from other projects.

I drew around the tree trunk pattern

The outline will now be covered with little pieces. The idea is not too be too systematic. I have it out on my table and every now and again put a few pieces on.

An overlay of netting and machine stitching will keep it all in place.

it has warmed up

2011-01-14T10:08:00.003Z

a bit. But turned wet and windy. Last Friday the snow continued most of the day. Unfortunately I did not manage to capture it with the camera as the batteries failed and the spare ones had not been recharged.We ended up with 3-4cm which hung around for days and caused icy patches

On Saturday afternoon we went to a concert of waltzes at St George's Hall it was light hearted and not quite as opulent as the Vienna New year concert we watched on television.

I have gone back to school this week and I am tutoring children in maths. Although not my favourite subject I am enjoying it. Dividing seems to be an issue with many children nowadays. They do not seem to learn tables as rigourously as I did in primary school and modern methods involve chunking when calculating long division. Subtraction is calculated on number lines and decomposition ( or borrowing ) does not come into much later. My multiplying and dividing skills were quite good at school but I would have loved the new practice of partitioning when adding. If this makes no sense to you then you will be happy to know that most parents do not understand these new methods. They are really good for children who find maths difficult but the whizz kids ( daughter was one of those ) might feel held back. I feel that most maths should be practical and relevant. I remember questions that involved farmers ploughing field with furrows a certain width and there for how many furrows did he get from a field of a certain size. Did I care? No! Then there were the ones about workmen digging holes. Three men took x amount of time to dig a hole how long would it take two men. Longer?
So I work in chocolate or shopping for toys and comics and things that children can relate too.

Biddle's new jumper needs to be sewn up. I should have done it by now but just have not got around to it. He is not happy, King Kenny has not delivered the goods. Well the team has not. Liverpool is hovering above the relegation zone and out of the FA cup.
My foot continues to heal although it is sore after too much walking. The boots protect it while I am out but I pay for it later.

That is it I think

Thanks for visiting

Happy New year

2011-01-07T09:52:00.005Z

it began with New year's Eve being ignored. We watched Die Hard4 instead. I love Die Hard films they are so over the top they make us laugh. New year's morning we attended the Concert from Vienna via radio 3 and then BBC2 Biddle made a contribution to the conducting.

And now week has gone by. I have continued pottering about. I had my stitches out on Wednesday but had to go yesterday because they left a bit behind. It is still tender but looks as if it has healed up.

I have been looking back on what I have made over the last year. Not quite as productive as some years but I am pleased. I have not gathered everything together in one place at the moment.

We had a little snow this morning

It is not expected to come to much but looked out of the window and it is now snowing hard!
SNOW UPDATE

Christmas .... but not quite as expected!

2010-12-30T09:49:00.011Z

I have had a lovely Christmas but it did not start quite as expected. This time last week (10 am Thursday) I was sitting in the A&E department. Earlier that morning I had been sitting at the computer "chatting" to a friend via facebook. I moved my foot across the carpet and felt a stab. I knew straightway what had happened and looked down t find the offending needle! It was lying on the floor, a number 26 x stitch needle, minus its eye. Tentatively I pulled off my sock noticing the dmc thread clinging to it. My foot sported a spot of blood. I carefully placed it on the ground and walked to the bedroom feeling a stabbing as I went. That explained where the rest of the needle was. So there I was sitting in the A&E. The whole process took several hours but I was seen quite quickly and an x ray revealed the offending object in the ball of my foot. In between seeing doctors and collecting medication took up most of the time. The doctor explained that the trauma unit had no spaces for that day and I would have to come back to have it removed. So Christmas eve saw me waiting for a minor op under general anaesthetic! I was more worried about whether I would be out in time to go to my daughter's for Christmas. At about 2 30 off I went to have the foreign body removed and I awoke later to find my foot swathed in bandages. After a welcome meal more medication and sporting a rather "fine" sandal I was allowed to go.

Steve came to collect us not long after we arrived home and off we went complete with Tia for a few days on Teesside. Waiting to welcome us was Oswin

the elder statescat. he can be somewhat shy but he does seem to remember me whenever I visit.

Then we were introduced to the teeny tiny new kitten Samphire. He decided that he was going to bed down with us during our stay, however like all babies he decided that it was fun to be awake in the middle of the night. Jessica was more elusive and when she had enough of being chased she would retreat to a place tiny kittens could not reach

Tia is not good with other cats so she spent her time in her own room. She totally ignored us when we popped in to visit. Usually we are on holiday when she takes her annual Teesside trip.

During our stay we ate some delicious food cooked by Elizabeth, including Christmas pudding and cake and stilton tartlets. The buns were so nice that kitten just had to try some too
Needless to say Elizabeth does not get her love of baking from me!
I received some wonderful gifts including

and

the most spectacular patchwork bag. John and I had left our gifts to each other at home and they are not photographed as yet.

Throughout the visit and since we have been home I have not been allowed to do much at all. I have spent nearly a week sitting around in jamas and dressing gown being waited on. It is most strange as I am used to flitting from one thing to another and back again. The foot has not been too painful but unpredictable and the sandal cumbersome. Going up and down stairs has been difficult at times. So I have watched several long films during the day this week including Dr Zhivago and The Lion in Winter a film we recorded back in September.

Seems that the rest of the year will be spent idling about. I am having my stitches out next Wednesday.

Thanks for visiting

still freezing...

2010-12-22T13:59:00.012Z

... it seems as if it is going to stay cold for a while yet. This was what we woke upto on Saturday morning.

Although suddenly at lunch time today the temperature rose from -5 to -1 quite quickly. It must be that hint of sunshine. While i was out to day it was bitter. I had my trip to have my 3 yearly mammogram. it was in a different place than usual as because the pavements are so slippery it involved two buses. I got there rather early but no one else was waiting to be seen so i was in an out before my allocated appointment time. The young lady was very pleasant and explained everything she was going to do. I forget each time time how hard that metal squeezes! Hopefully that will be it for another three years.

On Saturday we went for a short visit to the craft fair in Saltaire. We had some very scrummy cake made by the marvellous teadance company
and some very cute angels at Wise Young Crone
we saw beautiful wooden bowls by flyingshavings.co.uk

I did not buy anything there though as money is tight, I tend not to buy from textile stalls and most of the products I would not be able to make were out of my price range. However it was very enjoyable and has spurred me into wanting to make things after Christmas.
When we arrived home on Saturday for a late lunch we were pleased to find a new visitor in the garden

excuse the blur but there were taken from the kitchen window. He has been back most days attacking the fat slab although a starling was having a good hack today. I caught him resting on the bird cage

I am well prepared for winter this year

these are my new wellies very useful for popping out the back to feed the birds and eventually to visit the allotment.
These are my impulse buy from a couple of years ago

Waterproof and warm but not suitable for deep,deep snow.

Tia is none the worse from her slide off the bed last week but has decided this is a much safer place

Most of what I have done this week is secret and involves cards. The sewing room is gradually winding down until after Christmas and has been promised a bit of a tidy! Sewing machine has gone for a little rest until next week. I think she deserves it.

Thank you for popping by and a

Merry Christmas and happy New year

we have had some more...

2010-12-17T09:09:00.007Z

of this

It is extremely cold but bright today. The weather forecast has changed every day. Yesterday heavy snow was suggested for Sunday now they are saying sunshine but cold. So who knows?
At the weekend we ate our last two home grown potatoes

We had not bought any since July and were very pleased with our first crop.

I was beginning to panic that neither the blog draw prize and my ornament swap had been lost but they both reached their destination this week so I can now show the ornament I sent to Terri

I forgot to photograph the back which is bottle green fabric with gold fir trees.

Tia had an exciting day yesterday the postman brought her a package from the Soggibottom furries

She was so excited she fell of the bed trying to get into the package

Inside she found snowy mousie

She is a very pleased puss

I have been invited to have a mammogram next week. I thought it wasn't due until next March so it came as some what of a surprise. It will involve two buses to a mobile unit instead of a short walk to the local hospital which has a great deal of demolition work going on at the moment.

This is my first whole week at home for a while and it is lovely to potter about. I have made a few cards and read library books. i still have not decided what to make.

Thanks for popping by

It's going...

2010-12-10T08:49:00.011Z

... the snow that is. Suddenly yesterday afternoon the temperature rose and it was drip drip everywhere. I had taken a precarious journey to school it had taken 30 minutes instead of less less than the fifteen I am used to walking. I fear today will be worse as most of the pavements are solid ice and will not have melted yet.

We have gone from this last Friday

yes that is almost -10C to this

much as I like snow the ice was becoming a nuisance and dangerous.

I received a lovely package during the week. It was my swap ornament I wish my eyes allowed me to do such delicate work.

Thank you Terri

I have been buy finishing off things the angels are complete

and the second bird dangly is ready to hang. It looks pretty much the same as the giveaway one.

My tree is dressed

I am pleased with it however we had to buy a new set of lights both sets went away working but one is not any more. What do they do over the year?

Most of the other bits and pieces are out

The ceiling trimmings will go up at the weekend. John gets the unenviable task of clambering up the ladder.

I have begun stitching a Shepherd's Bush Christmas piece I am determined it will be done for next year! It has been kitted up since last year. I am not sure what I shall be sewing next. The Mother Nature doll pattern has been calling me for a spring version.

Thanks for spending time here

snow and congratulations

2010-12-02T12:39:00.008Z

We started with this at the weekend

We are now covered in nearly a foot of snow

Yesterday was the worse day

so the snowmen decided they would stay indoors

Most of the schools are closed so I am home this afternoon and will make the day up later. We are due some more snow according to the forecast but there is no sign of it as yet.

Just before John left for work this morning I invited him to draw the winner for my blogoversery prize. He pulled out

congratulations. I am not sure if I have your current address so I will email you. If I am quick you should receive your prize before Christmas. Thank you to everyone who posted a comment I am sorry you could not all win. I never win things.

I decided I liked the prize so much I would make myself a set. They are not finished yet and some of the fabrics used are different. My little angels now have hair but are feeling a little camera shy at the moment. I shall persuade them to come out of hiding later. I have put out all the winter and Christmas pictures and the tree is going up at the weekend. Shopping is not going as well as I hoped it would.

I hope it is warm where you all are

Thanks for visiting

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr

2010-11-25T19:18:00.010Z

it is rather cold the weather widget on the mac says -1 feels like -7. The snow has not really reached us. This is the best it could do

I visited the allotment at the weekend John has been very busy

We harvested these

and very tasty they were too.
John has fixed some sliding doors in the greenhouse

Yesterday was my blogaversary, you have a chance to win this

if you leave a comment. There are nine birds dangly. I will draw the winner when I next post

Thanks for visiting

Birds and bits and pieces

2010-11-19T09:22:00.010Z

The weather this week has been cold and damp. Just by chance yesterday I looked out of the window to see a visitor. I cannot say that she is frequent because last year and the year before I only saw her once. Yes the wren had returned. Sadly the camera was upstairs and of course she had flown by the time I found it. I say she it might be he and might not be the same one. had the camera been available I might have some good shots because she was pecking in the pot nearest the house.
Today the blue tits were busy feeding and this time I did have the camera

We see most blue tits on the feeders at the front of the house. Our sparrow population seems as large as ever despite the hard winter last year.

The angels are progressing

and there are now matching stars

It is five days until my blogaversary and birds are involved so next week I shall post the finished article that someone will win.

The month seems to be whizzing past. In fact the year has. This time last year my sister came to visit. So soon it will be time to put up the Christmas decorations and hope there is no disaster
just scrolled down to see.

I really do like the tree up by the first weekend in December so Tia is going to spend a long time making do with the kitchen table!

Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

cat, cacti, angels..

2010-11-12T09:38:00.008Z

Well it is blowing a gale here again today. What a mixture of weather we have had this week. Freezing cold icy blasts that have made the temperature feel several degrees lower that it really is, pouring rain, and now really high winds.
However Tia had the right idea last night

She can always find the best spot. If you are wondering about the terrible white mark on my kitchen table it involved hot plates that had been warmed in the oven. The heat went through the place mat and the table cloth!

My Christmas cactus are lovely this time of year although we never reap the benefit. They are on the window sill at the top of the stairs hidden by the voile curtain.

They do well because the receive minimum daylight in the darker days. They don't seem to like a lot of fuss either. There are three but two are quite similar in colour.

I have made these this week

They look a bit insignificant at the moment but will be Christmas Angels. The pattern is from Popular Patchwork 2007 Christmas Issue. I am going to use tradition Christmas colours for their dresses rather than the modern ones in the magazine.

The buttons arrived for the blogaversary draw gift so hopefully that will be finished this weekend. A Christmas gift is finished and the swap X stitch is coming along nicely.

All is quiet at the allotment John took photos but I forgot to ask him to send them to me so that I could use them here.

Thank you for visiting and the comments. I do not always manage to send a reply but appreciate you leaving a message.

The garden ...

2010-11-06T10:12:00.008Z

...is looking very bare. Last weekend we did a lot of clearing away. The frost at the beginning of the week had finished off the nasturtiums. They are now in their new home.

John pulled up the slabs so that the worms can find their way in. It is surprising how much waste our little yard produces. So now we are producing compost in two different ways. Though the worms in the wormery will not be so active over the winter months.
We have repotted out big bush

There is still a bit of clearing to do

and still some colour.

We have had an incredible amount of rain this week 47mm over three days. Looking back I found it was much the same last year. Today is bright and sunny and much colder.

The secret stitching and knitting is going well and the blogaversary gift is awaiting some buttons. My latest textile lady has finally found a hair embellishment she likes

I think she has gone for the 1920s look.

This is my next project although the photo is awful.

In case you cannot see; its the outline of some angels.

If you have some time to waste may I suggest seals
as I am typing a cute baby is snoozing in the shallows.
You will need to be quick though the camera is switched off on Sunday

I have not visited the allotment for a while but I understand from John it is all coming along nicely

Thanks for visiting.

Half term

2010-10-28T16:01:00.008+01:00

I think I will be able to say that I used my time fruitfully! Some holidays I look back and think what ever did I do. Well it warmed up last week eventually and then on Monday turned cold again for the day. However it was sunny and beautifully clear for our Ilkley walk

Biddle and Gardiner bunny spotted an elephant on the trunk of a tree can you?

Our walk took us through Middleton Woods

And we made a detour to see this

It was most intriguing

While we were were walking a spaniel kept dashing around and around obviously lost. In the distance we could hear someone calling. Another dog walker said she would try and catch him and put him on her lead. Eventually we saw two older teenage girls who had lost him. They seemed reluctant to actually leave the place where they were standing to go and find him. We decided that they had arrived by car, walked just into the woods let him off and away he went. I hope they found him!

After our walk and a cup of coffee and a teacake we looked around the shops Ilkley still has a fair number of independent shops which made a change. I bought a very bright winter jacket to keep me snug at the bus stop.

I have spent time sewing, knitting and generally catching up on things in the house. No photos though everything is secret. On Friday I shall go for a much needed hair cut and trip to the library.

The bean plants succumbed to Sunday night's frost so that is it for the year but we did have this over the weekend.

Our first cabbage! Very tasty it was too. I am looking forward to more over the next few weeks. John has planted broad-beans and has dug a trench ready for next year's runners. We have decided we can fit a compost bin in the back yard so we will be able to recycle most of our plant waste and vegetable peelings. Nothing much goes in the general wheelie bin now.

Thank you for coming

bbbbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2010-10-22T09:24:00.008+01:00

it has been cold this week. Icy blasts and frosts with the temperature the other morning down to 0.8 degrees. It ha swarmed up marginally but the wind is still cold and there is more on the way. So it looks like these were our finally portion of beans

We have been so pleased with our first crop. John has been busy digging the second patch

He found plenty of these

As he digs he is entertained by this

the new digital radio. Can you see the little yellow dot? It shows that it is running on solar power.

We have decided to buy a compost bin for our back yard. It is surprising how much waste our pots produce over the year. If we add to that peelings and the outer cabbage leaves then there will be a substantial amount. Anything that cannot go in the wormery in fact. So our household bin will contain even less each week. As he left this morning John had his eye on the leaves gathering by the front gate!

Grace and her friends had a jolly time on Sunday it was her birthday

Next week is half term a whole week at home to get on with things hopefully. I am busy with Christmas and the ornament swap so not much to show. I did finish my hat and very warm and snug it has proved this week.

Thanks for popping by

Autumn

2010-10-15T09:14:00.007+01:00

has definitely arrived now. There is a distinct chill to the air and the leaves are turning

These are the trees opposite the allotment plots. Last week there was no hint of orange.
The greenhouse now has a full set of windows in the renovated side

and from a distance looks very smart.

I think we will pick the last of the beans this weekend. All is not lost we have cabbage to look forward too.

I seem to spend more time blogging about the allotment lately than anything creative. true is I do not seem to be able to get my act together. I have almost finished a inter hat. i have all the magazines out to look for a Christmas Ornament pattern however the 2008 and 2009 copies of JCS Christmas ornament magazines seemed to have been filched by the goblins and of course THE pattern is one of them. I have spent so much time looking I could have stitched something else by now!

One more week at school then it is half term it will be great to be home for a longer period of the day although I have to fit in Doctor and hair appointments and a possible walking day with John.

Grace Bear has a birthday on Sunday so I will have to look something out for her. Tia is in my good books she caught a mouse. Hopefully not Mousie from the garden.
Biddle has to find something else to do now the Commonwealth Games is finished.

Blogaversary is in 40 days (less if you are reading later than today)lookout for that there maybe presents involved

thanks for coming

October has not

2010-10-08T09:45:00.008+01:00

started well! This time last week we had 26mm of rain and a total of 57mm in three days. However just as we were about to go out in the evening and about ten minutes before sunset this happened.

It has improved considerable since Sunday and something of an Indian summer has been forecast this weekend. Although today we have fog.
In the garden we have some autumn colour can you see the bench peeping out from the nasturtiums?

there is no sign of last weeks caterpillars!

I have finished my gloves and had a little yarn left at the end.
They feel really soft and I must remember that they should not go in the washing machine.

I bought several balls of yarn last week so have plenty of knitting still to do. I have had no inspiration regarding doll hair so there she sits with a somewhat chilly pate. I am sure something turn up maybe she needs a hat.

I have had no offers for the PIF and appreciate that everyone has other commitments so I will hold fire for a while and ask again at a later date.

I am back on the original blogger to post after the problems last week. I shall practise on the new one when I have a bit of time to spare.

Tia has been in bother this week climbing on the fridge freezer for no apparent reason
she has a facebook page and I think that all this interaction with the outside world is affecting her!

This Sunday is Apple day at the allotments we have been the last two years and it usually involves scrummy food for lunch.

I am looking forward to taking part in a Christmas ornament swap with my cross stitch group so this will be my focus for half term n a couple of weeks time.

thanks for popping by and especially if you leave a comment.

what a lovely surprise

2010-10-01T14:41:00.007+01:00

...arrived with the postman yesterday. A cylindrical parcel wrapped in brown paper and secured with at ~~least half a roll~~ an awful lot of tape. I carefully unpeeled it to discover inside the most beautiful pink box

covered in butterflies and a bow on the lid. As I admired such a lovely gift I heard a tiny voice from inside. I pulled off the lid and a furry creature emerged stretching and flapping her large ears. She was the most cute elephant

made of the softest fur.

Biddle has been charged with looking after her.
Where did she come from you might ask? She had travelled all the way from Devon and Soggibottom
I am taking part in Michele's pass it forward (PIF). Thank you so much for such a beautiful elephant. She told Biddle and Grace last night that her name is Amelia Phant.
Now I need three lovely people who will help me pass this on. If you would like to take part leave a message in the comments for me. I have not a clue what I will make for you.

I have finally got to grips with my doll and she is almost finished. Although she looks rather bald at present because I have not decided on hair.

I am pleased with how she has turned out.

yesterday was a beautiful day warm, sunny and found this little visitor. There were several munching on nasturtiums.

Today it is pouring hard so I can imagine they have all been washed away

I have finally finished a fingerless glove. Amazing what you can do when the cat is asleep upstairs. I must not grumble at her too much she did catch a mouse this week.

This has taken ages to do had to resort to the old format in the end

Please leave a comment especially if you want to help me out with the PIF

Problems...

2010-09-23T10:36:00.009+01:00

... posting comments. I have not been able to post comments on blogs lately. It keeps coming up with a service error which is most annoying when I have spent time typing out a comment and then cannot send it. So if you know read your blog and i often comment but have not recently then you will know why. It does not happen every time and it is not always the same blog. I usually read via my net newswire rss feed but I do not think that is is that. Do others have the same trouble. Of course if you have and cannot send me a comment I will never know!

The weather warmed up for John's birthday yesterday. I bought him mainly allotment related gifts.The little furry chap is a hairy wild haggis!

He had the day off and spent it continuing the greenhouse renovation

Gardener Bunny came to live here this time last year and so she shares John's birthday. She had a new cushion for her chair and a hat for cold days

She tested the hat out at the allotment

I have had no time for sewing this week

Thanks if you stopped by and sorry if you get the error message trying to leave a comment.

busy busy busy...

2010-09-16T09:43:00.010+01:00

...and back to work this week which I have enjoyed so far. The new pupils seem keen to learn and like the undivided attention.

We finally have some red tomatoes. They are taking ages to ripen probably because it has been cloudy and the last few days it has rained.

Do you remember the lonely raspberry back when we first took on this allotment. Well on Sunday we made the decision to pull out all the old raspberry canes and start again so in front of the shed now looks like this:

It all now needs a good dig over and a bit of research on raspberry and soft fruit growing.
We have a glass free green house at the moment.

It is in a bad state of repair and so John has begun some renovations as I do not think the birthday fairy or Santa can conjure up a new one. This will involve wood hardener,filler and some new wood in places. The shed is a mish-mash of repairs and recycling.
Gardener Bunny is pleased with the cabbage

We took down the netting but then along came a cabbage white butterfly so we put some more up with a bit more growing space. Gardener bun had a little bounce to make sure it was secure.

I finally started knitting my scrummy yarn. There should be just enough for a pair of fingerless gloves like these
scroll down the page to see the photo of a complete one.

I love this colour and it is much brighter in real life. I wear my others all the time once the cold weather starts and unless it is really cold having warm wrists and palms keeps my fingers from going numb.

At the weekend I spent sometime stuffing but had to replace the upper legs of my sprite because the fabric was fraying and pulling away at the seam. I am disappointed because it was a good colour. However I was not surprised as it was a very loosely woven one. I hope to show some progress soon at the moment I have almost stuffed body parts. It is astonishing how much stuffing fits in a little arm. I buy my stuffing on line in bulk and the last lot was different to what I usually buy. I have discovered it is too lumpy for textile dolls. So it was lucky that I had some of the old left. I think I might be making large cushions out of the new lot.

Thanks for stopping by. If you comment I will try to reply personally

Can you spot him?

2010-09-09T10:42:00.011+01:00

A visitor we have not seen for a while turned up today. He has probably been but I just haven't looked out the window at the right time. I am surprised he is still about considering the number of cats that visit our garden.

On my first trip to the allotment after the Grand Trek I was surprise to see how much everything had grown in two weeks.

The potatoes are safely stored in the cellar leaving two patches like this at the old allotment

Surrounded by this

The blossom on the tree has produced these

Tia decided the best place to sleep was in the basket of freshly ironed clothes

She was not allowed to stay there long!

I have finally got my act together and have made this

She is a Magic Threads Wood Nymph

Now to do the time consuming stuffing. it will be an activity to tackle while watching television.

I have been into school this week to sort out which children I will be tutoring over the next few weeks. I am looking forward to this.

Thank you if you posted a comment last time I have been very remiss at sending individual thanks.

When I logged in today I noticed that I am coming up to a 150 blog milestone. What on earth have I been writing about all this time?

There is a bit of a nip...

2010-09-01T12:51:00.010+01:00

... in the air today. Well it is September and the nights are drawing in once again. Our annual gad about is now finished. We rounded it off with a trip to the Picasso exhibition at the Tate in Liverpool and on Friday a visit to
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
The Picasso exhibition has now finished but the exhibits by David Nash at the sculpture park are there until February.

I found both extremely interesting.
Biddle did not visit Liverpool and missed out on a Chinese meal for lunch but he did enjoy the sculpture park

We watched clouds
and took some photos

This spot in the park should be a tranquil space. Outside is a notice clearing stating this however our time studying the passing clouds was disturbed by three of the most badly behaved boys one would ever wish to meet!

We took a leisurely stroll around the park revisited and discovered that the Andy Goldsworthy
pieces had weathered quite a bit since we first saw them in 2007

These are not photos of the same piece but they all had weathered in a similar way.
Saturday we made a short visit to the Bankfield Museum in Halifax to see some quilts and afterwards I discovered a new wool shop in the piece hall called Three Bags Full there was a delicious choice of yarn and I bought two balls of Alpaca to make some fingerless gloves. There is a blog
to follow

Monday we made our yearly trip to the Leeds West Indian Carnival, the costumes were great

And the fried chicken with rice and peas extremely tasty!

So that is it. Life goes back to normal now. Work eventually and hopefully some spare time to make something nice.

Thank you if you left a comment last time

out and about

2010-08-25T18:47:00.011+01:00

On Saturday we went to Keswick and looked around the pencil museum. I bought some crayon pencils and a book about drawing. ( I can't draw). We went on a very nice walk down to the lake Derwentwater,

saw evidence of autumn approaching

and went on a boat

On Monday we went to Preston to the Harris Museum
Then we went on to Lythham St Anne's

The weather was not great but we paddled in the sea

I ended up with numb fingers but this was put right by fish and chips in a local cafe.

On Tuesday we took a trip to Kirkby Stephen
From the station a mile and a half from the town we took a long walk through fields woods and by the river via Nateby and Ladthwaite Farm Hartley. Here Biddle and Gardener Bunny discovered an interesting box.

Inside there was a notebook where you could write comments about your impression of the scenery, you could leave a donation for the mountain rescue service and take a postcard. It looked a lovely place for a holiday and allow dogs too. Biddle wondered if he would be allowed to stay. (He now has sore paws from all the walking and is having a couple of days rest at home). Our walk finished in the town and after a well earned coffee and piece of carrot cake we walked the 1.5 miles back to the station

During this holiday period nothing has been created fabric-wise.

We have been away for a few days...

2010-08-20T11:23:00.009+01:00

... in Scotland. The first year we stayed in Gatehouse of Fleet the rain was really heavy and we spent most of our main day trying to dodge the rain. Last year we thought we would make the best of it went out in our wet weather gear and although it did not rain too much we had to navigate to big puddles. However this year the sun shone and the only water our feet paddled through was the sea.

Biddle and Gardiner Bunny enjoyed playing on the rocks.

We did a slightly different walk this year to Carrick shore and on the way back called in at The Cream o' Galloway for well earned ice cream before the long walk back.

over the last few days we have seen plenty of these

and these

We have walked here

We climbed Vennie Hill

for a nice view

All in all a good little break away from the hustle and bustle

Thanks if you commented last blog. I didn't get time for individual replies

here is...

2010-08-12T10:57:00.007+01:00

...our first portion of beans and you can just seen the thinned out radishes we added to our salad.

We are pleased with beans because they had been transplanted from the original allotment and we were not sure that they would grow.

As you can see there are more on the way and they are growing rapidly.

This is the frame work for the new compost heap it is going to live at the side of the shed out of the way but easily accessible.
In front of the shed are some old raspberry canes and one lonely raspberry

Biddle is still under the impression that visits to the allotment must include coffee and biscuits

and it is an incentive to complete the weeding and hedge cutting

Not much creativity this week although I have cut out a sprite doll to make. The sewing machine will be packed away for her annual holiday sometime over the weekend. It is the gadding about time, a day out here a day out there interspersed with visits to the allotment. Let's hope the weather is kind, not that we have anything to complain about compared with other parts of the world!
Thanks if you popped by

The proof of the pudding...

2010-08-07T10:09:00.012+01:00

... is in the eating. And the crumble was every bit as scrummy as I remember them being

and it must be catching because my daughter has been making them this week too. I am not a lover of baking. It is not that I cannot cook, more that I do not go in for mass cake and pie making. I am more the throw the left overs in a pan and create something delicious type. Nothing has turned out a disaster and I never create exactly the same thing twice. They were known as Mummy's mixtures when the children were small.

I am pleased with the snowman hanging

I now need to look around for some embellishments to finish it. I don't quite know what yet. it is a case of "When I see it I will know".

We finally had a day for drying curtains this week. Well we had two but I missed the first one and got crosser as the day progressed because I did not get my act together. So all the curtains and voiles are done and one chair throw. After I had moved various bears from the chair to get at the a fore mentioned throw I left the chaps on the floor so that I could put it all back later. However a certain puss beat me to it.

The chaps have taken up residence in other parts of the room, Grace is not happy because she was quite at home on the chair. But it does mean I have got my part of the couch back.

Today is my daughter's 33rd birthday I cannot believe she is that old where have the years gone. It seems no time at all since she made her appearance 6 weeks earlier that she should have done.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth-Anne

I must be busy in the coming week. John is on holiday for the following two weeks and we will be out and about.
Thanks for dropping by

This week...

2010-07-30T12:54:00.017+01:00

I have been looking back over the year so far and realised that I have not made an awful lot. Not one textile figure so far. Part of the problem is that I have been working most days and part is I am running out of space to display them.
I did have an idea that I would supplement my wardrobe with some trousers. But having looked at the fabric stash and the patterns, did not get any farther. The cross stitch hanging is coming along. I decided to put fabric
bands between the rows so it was not too bulky but also because the squares do not marry up quite as well as they should

This my new cross stitch I began this week. It should like this when its finished.

I know I have other stitching but well... it is exciting starting a new piece.

Biddle has been thinking about a mac for his holidays. he settled for a stripey poncho

We have been busy at the allotment and have re done the netting.
Have been digging potatoes from the old plot

and checking the beans

behind the shed we found some rhubarb. I am not know for my love of cooking! However today I have done this

Tonight we will have rhubarb crumble for tea. I do not think I have made one during the 16 years we have lived here.

John has had a couple of days holiday this week so he spent the whole at the allotment on Wednesday. We went down and took some lunch

I trimmed the long side of the hedge (no photo!) Biddle and Gardener Bunny helped plant tomatoes. An allotment owner gave us a tray of very small plants a few weeks ago which we potted up in the green house and this week transferred to the plot.

The weather has not been too bad.Let's hope August is dry!

Thanks for stopping by

Can you see me?

2010-07-24T16:02:00.009+01:00

This is Felix who lives with my friend. He spends a great deal of time in our garden hiding from the birds. Luckily so far they have not been any disasters

We have beans on the plants which is very exciting especially as they were moved from the old plot.
And in the garden we have tomatoes

The new allotment is coming along nicely

We ordered cabbage plants and planted some seeds

I have begun to put together my swap wall hanging. No photographs as yet. I had to buy some fabric for it despite having a cupboard full. Of course I ordered more than just the piece I needed!

Thanks for stopping by

School's out for summer!

2010-07-17T12:22:00.008+01:00

Well for me anyway. I am all done until September. It will great to be home everyday and perhaps I will get something done. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with individual children this year.
We have a tree out side out house. It seems to be home to at least one family of blue tits and our peanuts have proved a convenient source of extra food. Some of the babies are so tiny. They also like the fat balls but often miss out to squabbling starlings

In the post this week I received my last friendship swap square. So I am in the process of looking at stash fabric to see which are most suitable to make a wall hanging

I am looking forward to putting it all together. It might inspire me to look through another set of swap squares and do the same with those.

The weather has taken a turn for the worse and it has rained for several days not all day but enough to be annoying even though the allotment and garden needs it.

Thanks for dropping by

Busy busy

2010-07-10T10:09:00.009+01:00

Last Saturday was our 17th wedding anniversary. We had a quiet day pottering around and visiting the allotment. Well John went and I called in later. He had rigged up a bird feeder holder using recycled stuff (who needs a posh one?) Of course Gardiner Bunny had to check it out.

The beans seem to have survived the move and are beginning to flower

Biddle has been helping to tidy up and did not get stung once chopping down nettles.

Over on the original plot the potatoes are coming along nicely and should be ready soon.

I had some lovely gifts from John

The Hungry Caterpillar is a magnetic bookmark

We have had visitors in the back garden

I think they are Cinnabar Moth ones. We have had them before. They are also very hungry and have been munching away.

It has been very noisy here over the last few weeks due to renovations along the street. Apart from the noise the downside in that the mice move on. Tia has been busy sitting and waiting. She was finally rewarded and has earned her keep once more. No photos of small furry dead things though.
UDATE
just as I uploaded this I received a text saying new pots with flan today! This is what John brought home at lunchtime

Just one root of early potatoes. Cannot wait to try them.
Thanks for coming by

we have moved ...

2010-07-02T09:23:00.013+01:00

... allotments. The opportunity arose to take over a different allotment. One that has a hedge around and buildings. We had to weigh up maybe losing our first crop of potatoes against the long term benefit of a more secure site.
We have buildings

all be it somewhat ramshackle

a lockable door and hedges. Underneath the plastic is ground that will not need too much doing to it.

We have transferred the beans to the new plot

Later on in the week most of them seemed to be doing well.

We harvested a cabbage which was extremely tasty

Grace is finally wearing her new cardigan.

I could have made the smaller size and the band seems a bit loose at the back of the neck

In our garden we have sweet peas

and

baby buddleia buds.

I have not really got on with any creativity this week despite having a unexpected day at home. Although this might be Biddle's next jumper

A busy week end ahead

Thanks for stopping by

more fish lady bird

2010-06-25T09:30:00.006+01:00

I can now show the most recent piece of work its was made as a birthday gift for my sister. The background is my backing fabric but the right way around

I stitched around the fish on the backing fabric so they show on the front

The backing fabric I spotted by chance in our local Boyes store.
The cross stitch is coming along slowly too many quarter stitches for my liking. I think you can now see what it is now.

Grace almost has her new cardi!
Last year I did not see one lady bird in our garden. yesterday I saw two and they were different types, here is one of them

Not a very good photo as the breeze was blowing and I do not have a very good zoom. The other one had disappeared before I came back with the camera.

That's it I think