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

Winter Project Link Party - October

I'm joining with Jennifer's winter project link party. I was too late to join last year and have been looking forward to it all summer. At home in the UK, we are just about to have a double fronted multi-fuel stove fitted to heat both the lounge and dining room simultaneously. There's a stove in the lounge already (that will be replaced) and the wall behind this will be knocked through. I'm not looking forward to the mess but I am looking forward to crocheting in the fireside chairs in the dining room.

I've crocheted this blanket for a single sized bed, I found it whilst browsing Lucy's blog at attic 24. She was inspired by her walks in the Yorkshire Moors and designed the Moorland blanket. Using her photographs she put together these colours in a yarn pack that's sold at Wool Warehouse. 

It seems like I've been making the Moorland blanket for ever, it was originally started in January as part of a CAL (crochet a long). The aim was to receive an update from Lucy each Friday with the next instructions and a finish on week 8.

So why has it taken so long? There are many reasons which all seem insignificant now that I try and think of them. Crocheting under the warmth of a blanket in the summer months was one reason. I also found that taking the blanket to local Knit & Natter groups was not without it's own time consuming ventures. People would want to look at it, touch it, pass it round the group. They'd question me about the yarn, the colours, it's eventual use, wanting to see the pictures on-line that inspired the designer. They'd want an explanation of how the Neat Wave pattern is formed, the stitch sequence and generally marvel at it's beauty before allowing me to continue hooking away before it was time to pack up and go home.



In the beginning I arranged the colours on labelled pegs which also gained comments at the Knit & Natter group such as 'you'll run out of wool'. I found wrapping the yarn end round the label was perfectly adequate at keeping check on the yarn colours. I think the light must be bad today as the violet and wisteria shade look blue in this photo. It is nice to see all the yarn together and remember the start of this blanket. When I fold up the blanket after working on it, I tend to forget all about the starting colours.

The blanket began with the deep greens and muddy browns before moving through the rich heather tones.

Next up was the lighter heather and greens drifting up to the sky.

It looks so different now as it's so much lighter in both shade and fresh cool colours.

At the moment, I'm using just these 3 colours - Cloud Blue, Storm Blue and Duck Egg for the last 10 rows. I'm seriously regretting not sewing in all those pesky ends as I progressed. To finish it will need a round of 4 rows to complete a neat edging.

My aim is to finish this blanket before starting anymore projects. Though I may still take something small to Crochet Club, it's just easier that way.

Finish for the Weekend - Crocheting Poppies.

Hello, I'm joining with 'Finish for the Weekend'. It's late Sunday afternoon in a very overcast and damp Lincolnshire, UK, but with the Grand Prix on in the background, I thought I'd post this quickly. I'm so glad that Jill at Emerald Cottage has decided to run this Link Party as it's spurring me on to finish some craft things.

These 2 poppies are to be handed over to the local WI craft group when we next meet. Everyone in the group has been busy making some poppies ready for attaching to the Remembrance Sunday wreath.

It's amazing when you go in search of patterns for poppies, just how many different types there are available. I was given a pattern for the frilly looking one which is here, it's available in both knitted and crocheted instructions. I chose to crochet the 3 petal poppy but there are instructions for a 2 petal poppy if you'd prefer. The pattern instructs you to start in red and attach a button at the end but I just started the first round of dc (UK terms) in black yarn. Then changed to red for the petals.

The second crocheted poppy is from this book here. I'd purchased this book a while ago now and thought this would be a good opportunity to make something from the book. This book seems to have different front covers depending on when it was purchased. My copy ' Cute and Easy Crochet with Flowers by Nicki Trent' looks like this, with the flowers on the front. This particular pattern was for a flower decoration on a crocheted purse.

I may find another crochet pattern to do for the wreath before meeting to hand them over. In the meantime I'll return to knitting these socks for my husband. He's getting a bit anxious that he'll ever see them finished, as he mainly sees them being unpicked.

Have a good week.
Cx

Finish for the Weekend

Five on Friday - Flowers and Books

Hello, hope you are all well. I'm joining with 'Five on Friday' with some photos of my week.
The last few weeks some of the family have been fighting colds. unfortunately for teen 1, it progressed to asthma too. Thankfully the asthma nurse was working that day and he received a week of steroid tablets. It's quite scary when you can't breathe, thankfully he didn't have an actual attack but was hitting less than half the expected norm on the peek flow chart. He wasn't in a fit state for college all week but caught up on work emailed from tutors. He also made good progress through the Jonathan Creek box set whilst resting.

M surprised me with some flowers last week, I love the rich red berries in the bunch too. Looking at the leaves (oak tree leaf shape), they look like Chrysanthemums. It's years since I worked in a florist, nursery garden centre. The lilies have had their pollen removed, as beautiful as they are, and I know QT doesn't usually jump on the table, but they are poisonous to cats.

M and teen 2 have been planting up 3 new hanging baskets. Each basket has a silver and a gold edged ivy plant with the winter flowering pansies and some tete a tete daffodils which will flower in early April. Becky if you're reading this, I loved your baskets and they were the inspiration, thank you. It's just nice to look out the kitchen window and see some beautiful flowers hanging in baskets.  

QT, soaking up the last of the sunny warm rays. He's such a fluffy boy and totally knows how to take life easy. He's been leading us in a merry dance of  'you stock up the cat food - then I'll not eat it after 4 days'. 

Today after shopping in town I called into the surgery for my flu jab. I've never attended a clinic for this before but thought I'd take the first of  the 3 available dates listed. The queue was very long but swiftly dealt with, so with an aching arm at least I'll be invincible over the winter. Having had flu once over Christmas 2 years ago, it's something I'm very pleased to avoid. I'm not sure how the eligibility is worked out but the asthma nurse invited me to attend. Last year she went ahead and gave me the jab as part of the asthma review.

                       

Last night was the local book club discussion, we discussed two books both of which I hadn't finished reading. I abandoned Killing Kate halfway but continued scan reading until the end to catch the gist for the questions. A Street Cat Named Bob, I saw the DVD which though doesn't always follow the books well, I'm glad I got to watch it beforehand. I'm half way through this one and want to finish it before starting the next one.

The questions we used were these -           

A Street Cat Named Bob - Questions (Book choice for August).

1. Talk about the strange connection that exists between humans and animals. What makes us bond with one another? James was barely able to care for himself, as he admits, so what prompted him to undertake the care and added expense of a sick animal?


2. Bowen says that Bob attracted people and motivated them to offer money, far more generously than when he was playing on his own. What is it about animals—but not people—that brings out people's kindness charity? is there something strange about that? Isn't that backwards?

3. How do you react to the homeless? Do you ever stop to talk, learn their story, offer money, a word of encouragement, a cup of coffee? Has this book made you see homeless people differently?

4. Bowen's story, of an animal that changes one's life, is exceptional but not unique. What is it about animals that can heal the human soul?

5. How did James end up on the streets of London? What part did his mental health and/or his family history play? How responsible is/was James for his troubled life? To what degree are any of us responsible for the path our lives take?

6. Would you read the other books in the series?  
The World According to Bob 
Bob: No Ordinary Cat 
Where in the World is Bob 
My Name is Bob 
For the Love of Bob 
A Gift from Bob 
Bob to the Rescue.

Killing Kate – Questions (Book choice for September).

1. Leaving aside the whole issue of domestic violence – which as a group we've discussed many times before, how did you feel whilst reading this book? eg did you enjoy the book, feel uncomfortable etc.

2. Was the plot with a serial killer, having an un-convicted past, believable?

3. Were there any red herrings, was there a twist?

4. What are your thoughts on how Alex Lake has written the book eg the characters – did you feel sympathy with any of them.

5. Was the writing fast paced or slow and dull?

6. There are mixed reviews on this book-
Second half not as good as the first half,
Predictable and boring,
Kept you guessing 'till the end.

If you were to write a blurb for this book or even a review, what would you say?

7. Would you read any more of Alex Lake's books?

After Anna (2015)
Copycats (Sept 2017). 

Revisiting The Haven in September.

You may remember a previous walk here where I mentioned Samphire growing on the beach soon. M and I visited The Haven on Thursday for a walk, it was very warm, bright and sunny and as usual hardly anyone about. Here are a few photos with what's left of it now, covering the beach in a reddish carpet. Here is some info about Samphire if this interests you.

Do leave a comment if anything is of interest or if you've read one of the books. Have a good week and thanks for stopping by.
Cx

Fast Blog