Counting the days

Tony and I are going to France this weekend.  Our friends have invited us to join them in the French house which they bought about 12 years ago and have lovingly restored.  Elaine and I share loads of interests and both plan to take some patchwork quilting to work on during the evenings.  I am also planning to take some knitting yarn in case I have the urge to knit.  I do hope the weather fairs up though as it will be so uch nicer if it is at least a little bit warmer.  We aren't holding out great hopes for good weather and are packing loads of 'layers'.
My wingspan scarf thingy is finished and the picture doesn't really do it justice. It is a kind of boucle yarn and is lovely and warm and springy.  I hope that I shan't need it this year though.  I wish that we could look forward to if not sunshine, at least some warmth outdoors. I amcurrently helping to create wildlife gardens with local schools. Rushed off my feet but thoroughly enjoying being busy.  When we return from France my diary will be full to bursting.  Then comes the summer holidays where I get to do all manner of cookery sessions in the local community.  My job is so varied that I can never find time to be bored.  

Wingspan

Well I didn't get on with my Cathedral Window quilt. I made a start on a gorgeous scarf/shawlette called wingspan.  I am of course hooked until I finish it. Trouble is Tony has bought me a beautiful ball of Zauberball yarn in Tropical Fish.  I can't  wait till it arrives and  I am planning to take it to France with me and knit it during the evenings.

I have been into school today and showed the children and staff some alternative uses for what is generally deemed to be rubbish.  My diary is going to fill up quickly over the next week or two as I complete all my school visits.

Cockleshell Hero

I have just finished knitting my Cockleshell Hero shawl/wrappy thing.  It has been lovely to knit too.  I might even make another one using double knitting yarn instead of the 4ply that I knit this one with.  I can now get on with my Cathedral Window quilt which has been sorely neglected while I knit.

A little blue

Today I have had great fun dyeing a load of old faded t shirts and tops the most gorgeous shade of bluey aqua.  It was called 'bahama blue' on the box. My washing line was full of lovely colour coordinated clothes. The different fabrics soaked up different amounts of dye which  means that I got loads of different shades from one wash load.  I even chucked some white undies in too and they now match my t shirts.
I also bought a 'goldfish orange' coloured dye so when I find some more stuff to dye I can do an orange batch. I also had a bit of a ruthless chuck out day.  I went up in the loft and sorted out a whole pile of junk.  Heaven only knows what made me keep it all.
Tomorrow I am helping my friend Jayne to board her loft and sand bits off some of  her doors to stop them sticking.

Roast Lamb

Today we had the most utterly delicious roast lamb dinner. I studded the lamb with garlic and rosemary and cooked it long and slow. The Yorkshires were massive and the mashed potato creamy and delicious. Funny how such simple to cook foods can be memorable.  I am currently working on a knitted shawl/wrap as part of a challenge on the ravelry site, must get on and do a few more rows.

Feeling Patriotic

I was making more brooches this morning and decided that as it is the year of the queens diamond jubilee that I should make a red,white and blue one. I also made a couple of others. The 'daisy' brooch was cut from snips and scraps that I had left over. I really like the effect and will make a few more in this design. At the moment they are displayed on my little cake stands that i made. It looks really effective too.
Tony has gone off to Manchester for the footy so I have a lovely afternoon to spend as I please. I added a bit more to my cathedral window quilt. It is getting quite big now and I am amazed that I haven't grown tired of making it.

Logs

This morning we went and did the weekly shop. A lovely turquoise coloured bleach bottle shouted me from the shelf. I had to buy it so I can make a brooch and some matching earrings :-) This does mean of course that I will need to do a bit of housework over the next few weeks in order to empty said bleach bottle. Ho Hum a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do :-)
Tony and I went out this afternoon and gathered a huge pile of logs. This will keep us nice and toasty warm now that the weather has grown cooler again. I have had to bring my two orange trees, lemon tree and cacti back inside though. Frost is forecast tonight and I don't want them damaged. It does of course mean that my conservatory is full of plants and kind of resembles a jungle just now. I was just getting used to having the space back for the spring. Lesson learned 'don't count your chickens before they hatch'.
I have two lobster tails for tea this evening and we have some fresh salad and new potatoes to go with it. Also bought some strawberries so I can make a lovely Eton Mess for dessert. A nice bottle of wine will finish the evening nicely.

Pop bottle bangles

Today I have been making a few things for my 'Eco Schools' display. I made three bangles, a couple of brooches and a handful of rings. The ring bases I cut from milk bottle handles. I have very thin fingers and they fit me perfectly. Plastic bottles are clearly my current passion



Just lit the log burner and once I have checked my emails and posted this blog update I will settle down for a couple of hours of quilting. It is such a lovely hobby and it is great to be able to make something from even the tiniest scraps of fabric. Claudia was really pleased to see some scraps of the strawberry fabric that her summer dress was made with last year. It is kind of nice to add bits from friends and one fellow WI member gave me four squares of cotton on Wednesday to add to my quilt. I will post pics as it grows.

Happy Easter

I have been up since ten past six. I just wish that I could sleep in but nope' I am an early riser. It is tipping down with rain and I am hosting an Easter Egg hunt this afternoon for Savannah and Ryan my two grandchildren. I spent a pleasant half hour yesterday making Easter nests from crispies and chocolate. The mini eggs are quite delicious :-). I have a bowl full of different sorts of mini eggs and chocolate bunnies to hide in the garden if the rain stops. I don't think it would be quite the same if we have to hide them indoors.
Last night I discovered Ten Minute Blocks on You Tube. Needless to say I had to make one. It is fab and I have three more sets of squares cut ready to make some more. A quilt could be made very very quickly using that method. 'Watch this space' I feel a quilt coming on. Oh and while I remember my cathedral window quilt is growing bigger by the day. I am loving doing this. It is so satisfying.

Wood carving today

My bedroom is the sunniest room in the house at this time of year so............... I covered the bed with an old sheet and sat upstairs with my wood carving. I was lovely and warm and it was ever so peaceful. I got loads done and although it isn't quite finished I can see an end in sight. I also did a little bit more on my Licorice Allsorts quilt. I have really enjoyed playing around with fabric though I think the cathedral window quilt is more my cup of tea. I can see another hobby to get all passionate about.
The work move is now completed and I made the journey using the bus which goes straight past the bottom of my road and takes half the time to reach town. Trouble is it sets off at 7:50. I used to be at work around this time and will now need to make up a little extra time to keep my hours the same. Because the journey is much further I would now be getting into work at about 8:15 if I used the old route. My new route gives my half an hour extra at home on a morning and will only add 5 or 10 minutes to my arrival time. I dutifully utilised my extra half hour yesterday by dusting/polishing the sitting room. Washed the dishes and put them all away and then cleaned both toilets. It was so nice to come home to a clean and tidy kitchen.