Knitting news & garden

Hello there,

Thank you for visiting my blog last week and for leaving a comment, I read every one. 
I hope you all had a lovely Easter... I meant to post this on Friday. 
 
This week I've been knitting up a storm. I've finished the Shawl from a Facebook KAL (knit-a-long). It was chosen as a suitable Lent project. Yesterday I blocked it and left it drying overnight. It's the first time that I've blocked properly. In the past I've pinned and sprayed the knitting with water... it didn't work satisfactorily. I've decided to have another go at blocking a Lent scarf, that I made a few years ago. It has never looked flat, rather the edges have curled in. 

Close up of the lace design

I finished this book last week. I'm working my way through Faith Martin's series 'Ryder and Loveday'. I'm thoroughly enjoying the series. It features 1960's WPC Loveday being put to one side to 'help' coroner Dr Ryder. He used to be a top surgeon until his health forced him to change career. When cases seem unsatisfactory in the coroner's report, Ryder requests it is looked into further. Loveday 'assists' part time, then returns to the station daily, to continue her regular work. I've ordered the next book through the library. 

The fenced off area, Mark is trying to improve the soil. It is wet and slippery clay soil. So he's removing clay plugs and replacing it with multi-purpose compost and grass seed. He sectioned the first part off with a fence. 

In the autumn we emptied one of the compost bins onto this bed. Last week, we added some chippings from Johnny's work. The men dropped half a builder's bag off and stopped to cuddle Angus, of course. Hopefully it will help to keep down the weeds. If more chippings are available, we'll continue round the corner with the wild flower border.

A lovely lot of bulbs waiting for their turn to bloom, after the daffodils.

Take care and have a good week.

 

Weekend

Hello there, how are you? 

I've had a bit of a break from blogging, rarely posting on instagram either. 
Grab a cuppa and I'll catch you up with my news... mine's a Rooibos tea (redbush), Morrisons are the best (I've tried them all). 
Tulips from Morrisons too. 

Today: we drove to the next village, parked up and walked to the church hall for the WI market. Mark kept walking to the surgery with Angus. That gave me time for a walk round all the stalls and chat to the stall holders. Raising money for a local charity. 

So what did I buy: I'd been meaning to knit or crochet some ear warmers for a very long time. I was delighted to find this one
cosy ear warmer £5.
A new knitted hat £3
Poodle calendar 10p 
Diary (page a day) 10p
No.7 serum pads 50p
Easter basket (bag) and Cadburys egg £3

Current Read: my library book, working my way through the Rydaer & Loveday series. Policing in the 1960's when WPC trainees made the tea. Coroner Clement Ryder always needs help, so WPC Trudy Loveday is sent to help and learn.

Trying to have an 'digital free' lunchtime, it's lovely having a read over the lunch time. It feels more like a break too.

Current TBR pile: One for the bookclub, my choice fo April- 'Death and Croissants'
one for the library reading group 'The God of the Woods' I'm not sure that I'll finish that one (lots of pages, tiny words), a bit boring. 

Knit & Natter: last week drinking a zero G & T in the pub on a hot sunny afternoon. I took several projects to work on, as I can't concentrate on any tricky bits with the nattering :) The project in the photo is a 'Fish n Chip vest/jumper. 

Mother's Day gifts: Beautiful bulb gifts and delicious tea from the boys (men), no longer teens :) 

now 23 and 25 years. We had a lovely day together, whilst the Grand Prix was on I made some sausage rolls with chicken mince, breadcrumbs, green tops of leek or spring onion, pinch of salt and parsley.

Bookclub: yesterday to discuss this book. I read the next book as well, so when people asked 'if the people get together' I said 'read the next book to find out'. It's a chick flick, told in 24 hours. Surprisingly we had a good discussion, despite some not particularly liking it. 
I won an Easter egg in the raffle, raining money for the playing fields. 

KAL: Knit-a-long the sample piece. There are two a year for Lent and Advent, they come with reflections. I'm just about keeping up, the last week will finish next week. This one will be a wrap. 
Another knit & natter session, ha ha!  

Me and the boys: Angus wanting cuddles, Winston waiting for his Dad (my son). Me thinking about my knitting. 

That's all my news for now, take care and keep smiling. 

Cx

Books, Lots of Books

Hello there! It's been a while. I thought I'd drop in and say hi, how are you doing. It's been a year... diet issues - awaiting hospital appointments (2 hospital departments). Throw in 2 holidays, one in The New Forest, shared in my last post and the Peak District, then later in September down to Hampshire and then on up to The Peak District. At some point, I'll cobble together some more holiday photographs. For now, I'll list some books that I've been reading or listening to.

My lovely Nan passed away in May, she was 97 years old.
My uncle passed away before my Nan.
Later we all visited my Dad in August.
Sadly later still my Dad passed away, we had the funeral in October. 
My lovely auntie is now seriously ill with pancreatic cancer, she's just moved into a hospice. 

Library Books: I don't always read them all. I mainly read for my own enjoyment, so if I don't like it, then it gets returned. The non-fiction books, I tend to borrow them to see if I want to buy them. Most times I don't buy them... which is good as my bookcase will be bursting.

Reading Books in Series: I've re-read this series, it follows on from the popular TV drama Home Fires

Enjoyed both of these: I love Milly Johnson's books. Dear Mrs Bird is set during the second world war. 

Women on the Homefront: book one and two

Rookery House Series: The characters in these books follow the same characters in the 'Women on the Homefront series'
Books: One. Two and Six shown. I'll read the others in this series at some point. 

Some Agatha Christie 2025 Challenge (instagram): Including Cat Among the Pigeons and Three Act Trilogy. 

Re-reading some Lucy Diamond books: Summer at Shell Cottage. Lots of family drama unravelling on holiday. 

Beach Cafe Series: The first book is called The Beach Cafe, I've ordered it from the library. I think I've read it before but as I've read these recently, I thought I'd order it. They are very light easy reads.

June - I vaguely remember it being about a virus

July - interesting and a bit sad in places

August - a good story

September - relieved it wasn't a scary psychological thriller

November - thoroughly good book

Lastly some of this years book club reads: I've mentioned Jan - April before. 
I didn't finish Verity by Colleen Hoover for March. 
The Book of Beginnings by Sally Page - I'll read that one day. with everything going on over April/May, it got forgotten. 
October's book was Lip Service by Maureen Lipman, sadly nobody read that one. I think autobiography and similar type books won't be featuring in our book club again. 

I can't remember all the story details of each book, strange really as you get absorbed into the story. In the Summer, I try to read more books, a sort of 'Summer Reading Challenge' I aim to read one book a week then. I hope to read more, scroll less. 
How about you, are you reading along some book series, or bookclub lists? 

Take care 
Bye for now.