Thankfulness - Five on Friday

Hello everyone. With thanksgiving being celebrated this week, people in blog-land have been thinking about - being thankful. Today I wanted to share with you a few things that have happened this week that I am thankful for.



This week I've received two beautiful bunches of flowers. One from M (peach and white) to celebrate our pearl wedding anniversary (30 yrs) 21st November 1987. Following the October '87 hurricane storm (here where Michael Fish declared there won't be a hurricane) saw the little church we married in (Purbrook Hampshire), still suffering the effects of the storm. Wood propped up the entrance and the photographs were governed by areas clear of damage. 

This bunch was a gift to me from the book club. We celebrated our third year with a Christmas meal together. A few gave presents and I was given a gorgeous bunch of flowers to say thanks for all the organising of member's book choice and general info. They also gave some money off vouchers for a meal at the pub, truly a lovely surprise and very nice to feel appreciated x

A view of the delicate rose.

This peach rose was the colour of my 3 bridesmaids dresses. 

Teen 1 made us a picture using profile pictures and computer graphics.

Lots more decorating to do up the stairs and in the lounge, this side with the double fronted fire is the dining room. For those that have been to my house, the 2 fireside chairs are where the dining table was and the hearth once housed the French dresser. Incidentally both sides of the stove have 2 extra windows providing an almost all round view of the inner fire.

From the lounge side looking into the dining room. It has made such a difference with an even flow of heat, the heat powered fan on top of the stove helps send the heat up the stairs. Previously the dining room was an icebox even with the central heating on, and the staircase pulled a cold draught down the stairs. I'm glad the fireplace and chimney work is all finished, it's taken a while as extensive chimney repairs were needed to make everything safe.

When I haven't been working or cleaning up 'everything' (feels like), or working through my 'to do' list, I've crocheted a bit more of my blanket (just the border to go now) and crocheted an angel. This one stand on a dolly clothes peg. It has a flat circular disc that it sits in to hold the peg upright. I'm not sure if the pattern is still available, I've looked but couldn't find it. The magazine it came from was this one here.

The angel from behind. I'm glad it's finished, the yarn was a cotton mix (new yarn) from Sue Ryder. The gold sparkly yarn was in packs from Aldi. Wooden dolly peg was available from Boyes. I'm not sure if I'll do another yet, maybe.  

The book club read for November - also called The Return of Norah Wells. For the questions I turned to the author Virginia MacGregor herself, she provided a list of 10 questions ready to use which made me very happy indeed. I loved that she'd thought of this part, her questions are here. I've always wanted to belong to a book-club and I'm very pleased to be with the people in my village.

Thank you for reading my five things I'm thankful for this week. What are you thankful for this week, do leave a comment.
Cx

Fast Blog

It's been a while - Five on Friday

Hello! 

It's been a while, I've missed being present in blog-land and writing my blog. A lot has been going on and taking photos, sitting writing and spending time visiting other people's blogs has all taken a back seat. I'm sorry, I will try not to stay away so long in future. 

Many people have questioned continuing writing their blogs and though I can sympathise with the time aspect, I do understand that followers expect to, well follow. I myself have missed it when regular bloggers haven't blogged, I've searched for their latest blog wondering where they've gone, how they are and when they'll return. It's nice to visit friends, whether in blog-land or in real life. Catching up with the latest news, craft work, book reading and cookery ideas, new pets, walks and other projects is interesting. It brings inspiration and a desire to 'have a go', try something new, keep going and new insight into tackling problems. 

I'm joining Five on Friday today with 5 photos / groups of photos capturing the beauty in the midst of building and decorating work.

Sunny yellow roses, enjoying the sunshine on the dining room table before we moved both the table and the dresser to the other end of the dining room. We've had a builder in knocking the fireplace through from the lounge. There's a double fronted fire place fitted now, which has made the dining room and the open plan staircase so much warmer. We've put the 2 fireside chairs in the dining room under the window with a small table. The light is perfect during the day time and it's been lovely to enjoy the warmth from the fire whilst sitting crafting, reading and planning Christmas whilst chatting to M over a cuppa. His work as a driving instructor has been quieter recently, over the summer months it can be crazy as students take up weekly courses. With regular customer's hours to be fitted in too, it can feel like I'm a single parent at times.

The builder has worked for a few days before waiting 3 weeks for the 'unforeseen' scaffolding to arrive. Once that was set up work resumed, the chimney needed attention and new pots. A previous builder had cut so many corners, I'm surprised it wasn't round. They'd fitted the previous stove for us in the lounge which turned out was extremely unsafe in all things chimney-ish. When you manage to find a good and reliable builder it's just great. He'll return on Tuesday to finish off anything that needs doing and arrange for the scaffolding to be moved to the side of the property. The Gable end needs mortar replacing and treated for damp, it seems we will need the builder again next year too, but one job at a time.

Realising I still had some birthday money left over from the summer I treated myself to a candle with a beach fragrance and a candle snuffer. With the coast practically on my doorstep, I wondered if it'd be a realistic scent. It does have a pleasant salty smell with a sweet delicate floral scent which I love. It's my kitchen candle and is perfect for when I'm cooking or busy in the kitchen. 

I'd joined Jill's 'Finish for the weekend' at Emerald Cottage a while ago, people left comments asking to see the finished wreath. I wrote here about crocheting poppies for the local WI. The donated crocheted and knitted poppies have been attached to the above wreath for remembrance Sunday by one of the ladies on the committee. I think she's done a fantastic job and it looks stunning.

I missed Jennifer's 'Winter Project Link Party' on her Thistlebear blog this time. Having building work done and muddling through whilst decorating with items of furniture and 'things' in the wrong rooms has taken its toll on rest and relaxation. I have finished the Attic 24 Moorland blanket - and (since this photo) sewn in all the ends. Christina - from A Colourful life was right - sewing in the ends whilst listening to audible books, makes it more of an enjoyable task. I've made a start at the edging, it's a 4 row pattern, the first round takes the longest as the 2 long sides require lots of wiggling and jiggling to push the crochet hook through where it doesn't naturally want to go.

So far I've listened to 3 books for the book club - The Island by Victoria Hislop, The Ashtonishing Return of Norah Wells (also called The Return) by Virginia MacGregor and Thursday's Child by Nicci French. I've also listened to The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie.  I've started listening to Glass Houses by Louise Penny, someone in blog-land recommended it but I can't remember who it was.

A while ago M and teen 2 transferred the Chrysanthemums to the border alongside the drive. The boys had planted them a few years ago closer to the house. I could see them from the kitchen window but they look much better here, they've spread out and doubled in size. Their colourful heads are still very bright, the yellow ones have clusters of heads on some stems.

Thank you for visiting today, I'll try not to leave it so long next time. I do have a cookery challenge post waiting in drafts, hopefully I'll post it next week and I'll rustle up some photos of the fire progress too.

Cx

Fast Blog