Posy

The Blanket

Umm..it's coming along quite nicely but something doesn't feel quite right. You see, I spend every, and I mean every, possible spare, and some not-so-spare moments, with my crochet hook in my hand - and look how s l o w l y it has grown! I must admit that all the ends have been sewn in (hooray!) so far but it still doesn't look big enough to justify the numerous car, bed, lonely railway waiting rooms, school lunch hours, Ludlow,trains, Tom's drum lessons, Salisbury, restaurants, children's singing shows, and blissful moments by the fire with the TV, sessions! I do have a few more squares to sew on but still...even the photo makes it look bigger!

But I am not discouraged and already have my next project lined up in my head. I get a strange kind of pleasure thinking about what's next on my list. I do have a confession though - I haven't blocked any of them and after reading about what a difference it makes I have decided that I will do the whole lot now before I add anymore squares. I'm just too impatient but hope to be convinced that it will be worth it. Any hints or tips gratefully received!

Flowers by Jilly

Take a moment to feast your eyes on such cleverness. Perfect crocheted posies and the sweetest label. Some people just have the 'knack' don't they? Jilly's blog is like looking at everything I have wanted to do but haven't gotten around to yet (which happens to be the story of my life!). It's the knitted flowers that I particularly admire as yes, I have bought the book but have yet to try any. Jilly has knitted all hers without the book! Thank you, Jilly, for sharing your cleverness! I love my posy!

Well, I got back from Salisbury late on Tuesday. I had a wonderful time doing nothing (but I did do some treasure hunting and will share that later this week). My mother is slowly recovering and being so lovingly cared for by Robin it makes me well up just thinking about it. He shows such consideration to her that it was a lesson for me, as Anth and I tend to get into the "who is the tiredest/whose done the most already today" attitude, rather than being selfless and caring for one another. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Rob, I was too choked to tell you this when I left but thank you for all you do and have done for Mum. It makes living away so much easier...

Since I have been back I had a terrible migraine so I have had to write off the last 3 days. I'm hoping when I wake tomorrow I wont have to take an injection and it has gone and I can do all that I planned to do in one day! Let's hope!

Gorgeous

They're simply that. Gorgeous. I found these treasures, along with a matching teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl, in my favourite second hand china shop in Ludlow. The funny thing was the week before Tom had slightly cracked a side plate in the same pattern which I have had for a few months. I was very disappointed as it was one of my most loved and have never seen this pattern before.

Imagine my delight when I found these a week later- and all for a very reasonable cost. Again, another small blessing which was just perfect for me! I vowed there and then that I would use them daily as the very sight of them never fails to delight me..but I haven't! I'm almost too scared to, plus the fact that they only hold a mouthful of tea anyway! So, for the moment I am just content looking at their beauty.

Tomorrow, I am taking a long weekend away from the family (can't even remember the last) and heading up to Salisbury as Mum has come out of hospital and our German student has left. She so enjoyed her stay (the student!) that she didn't want to return home. So much for my worry! I will take some photos of the Cathedral as my parents live 100 metres from it and I will hopefully spend a large amount of time sitting with my mother, chatting, with crochet in hand so I'm hoping for near completion of my Granny Blanket. Enjoy whatever you do too..

Magic Squares

As we have been talking about crochet blankets recently I suddenly remembered a blanket, knitted many moons ago by myself and my mother. It has been at the back of the wardrobe and forgotten about. It was made when Lucy was a baby (14 years ago...14!!) and I got the pattern from a children's knitting book. Alas, I don't remember it's title and I have only found half of the pattern! Don't ask me why there's only half.

Each large square is made up of 4 smaller squares which are knitted in garter stitch (plain) throughout. The magic is that by increasing twice in the middle of every alternate row, the pattern 'bends' in the middle. We used cotton yarn and changed colour every 4th row - I think! Gosh, it was along time ago. I know that before you start on your second colour you should have 12 stitches but don't remember how many to cast on!

I'm a great help aren't I?! Sorry. News on my mother is good. She is still in hospital, in great pain but I think improving. I say think as I am unable to talk to her for long as the telephone by her bed costs 50p per minute. I also am not able to visit her yet as we have a German exchange student staying with us, and I feel I should be here with her. She is lovely. Lucy stayed with her last year. It is now our turn to host but I have found the experience stressful. I have never had a total stranger stay in our home before and it has really made me examine our home and family life. Our home is so small and I have felt very conscious of this (and our shower-less bathroom with it's green suite. Ugh). All these questions have been going through my mind - do we watch too much TV? have I got too many floral things? Is our food healthy enough? Is our only car too old and in need of a good clean inside and out?Are 2 long-haired cats too many? Are we friendly enough without bombarding the poor child with questions spoken in a slow and pronounced way? Do I sleep too long in the mornings? Do I love Chris Martin too much (well, I think that everyday regardless!!) and should I take down my little shrine to him on the fridge door? Does my enormous pile of magazines look bizarre? Does she hate my scented oils that I burn on the light bulbs? Do I drink too much tea? Where should we take her?

The poor girl went out last night with Lucy and her friends to Pizza Hut only to walk out and bump into a stag night with one of the men noisily vomiting all over the street. Yobbish English culture at it's worst. I felt so ashamed and this was only at 7.15 pm..I sort of feel I have to show all of England at it's best and that is a large burden to carry on a Friday night in Torquay, I tell you!

As you can see, I worry! I know that none of what I'm fretting about is important but it is an interesting experience looking at your life through a stranger's eyes. And yes, maybe it's a good thing and I had better go and make a start on those magazines..

Out of control!

Tell me now, do you think that I've got a problem? My family do! Here is the view of 'my corner' and yet again I seem to have a tower of Country Livings & Period Living & Traditional Homes! I came about these when I got into conversation (that's something I do alot of, with strangers, conversation, so everything can take a while when you're out with me!) with a lady at Ludlow Antique & Flea Market. She had piles of Shooting magazines and I asked if that was all she had. "What are you looking for?" she asked. "Country Livings?" said me with fingers crossed.

It happened that she had many. Many of the newer ones that between 1999 - 2003 that I haven't kept myself as it was before I started my Inspiration books. You know, I've not talked much about my faith on my blog, but I do have a faith and I always find that I am blessed in just the right way. I think God knew that those were the magazines I wanted and he gave them to me. Small, little blessings that mean a lot. Like the parking place, the lilac striped pillowcase, the vintage cup and saucer in my favourite pattern and the Coldplay tickets I usually seem to get what I really would like, not always but sometimes. God seems to know my little wants, the unimportant things.

The small library of inspiration books are growing fast. I use plain hard backed books and cover them with old embroideries and fabrics. They are food for my soul. I get such a feeling of bliss and wellbeing when I handle them and look through them. Yes, I even find it easy to cut up my Country Livings etc as the pictures look so much better in my books, they really do. They are intensely personal and I thoroughly recommend starting one. You will love it, and if you do please tell me how you keep your own books/files, I would love to know.

I expect that you don't have a small tower that is in danger of squashing a cat or 2 if it is toppled. The tower will have to stay for a while as I am to into my granny-square blanket to do anything else. More on my blanket soon but I must go and straighten the pile before they all come back from school and a squashed cat could be a reality!

Crafter's Companion

Thank you, thank you for all your best wishes, prayers & positive thoughts. After 6 hours on the operating table and a further 2 hours in recovery my mother is still with us! Dramatic, I know, but that is the truth of the matter and I am dramatic, it's in the genes. I still feel nervous as it was 6 days later that it all went so badly wrong. She is not very happy..in bad pain and they have moved her colostomy to just where her waist band lies. There must have been a good reason to put it there(?!?) but we will help her adapt to that. So all seems to be good for the moment. I was comforted by so many of you thinking of us from all over the world and I will print off all your comments to show her. Isn't this blog thing good? Thank you.

I bought the Crafter's Companion last week and am absolutely loving it and highly recommend it. I saw that Nonnie had bought it (and she thought that she was the last!!) and saw that Amazon was selling it for £7 ish so couldn't resist, though I think they have put the price up again. No matter, it's still good and I'm glad to support this book. What incredible talent is out there in Blogland. I'm also waiting for the latest copy of the Waltons series 4, which should be arriving tomorrow, just ready for my days off!

Oh the excitement!

Positive

Well the day has finally arrived & my mother has, as I write, settled into her hospital bed for her operation tomorrow, Monday. I'm finding this harder than usual as she is not local now and is a 2/3 hour car journey away in Salisbury.  I feel I should be with her & Robin, even though they have told me not to, yet. So home by the phone is where I want to be if not by her side. I need to stay positive but I'm finding that is increasingly difficult, so it will be school as usual tomorrow but it will be a anxious day.

But, my friends, I draw strength from all your positive, good wishes and I thank each one of you who have sent them my way and her way. As I walk to school tomorrow I will be praying and keeping my eye open for a certain feather, which hopefully won't be needed!

Reflections

 

Ever since I was little, I have always been fascinated by how a mirror changes a room. Nothing startling, just interested in how different the room looks and which way round I prefer it. Usually it's the reflection I prefer. My camera didn't like this reflection at all and I have had problems with everything being too dark. Too dark - for once there is sun outside! But you might be able to notice something different in this photo.

Yes, I'm finally the very happy owner of a pair of lilac pillowcases. Oh the thrill of having a matching pair at last, hasn't left me since lovely Claire sent it to me 2 weeks ago! How wonderful is she? Very, and you can discover too by visiting her delightful blog elfie&me. My blog has been such an enriching process, I've *met* (and really met!) and connected with such wonderful women, that it never fails to surprise me daily. Claire, I'm gathering some bits & pieces to send to you as a small thank you, though it really is a BIG thank you. Such kindness.

Talking of mirrors. I bought this one last week for our bathroom. Our hideous bathroom which this year will be updated! Yay, we've only waited 14 years! We have had other priorities you see.

It's quite heavy and I convinced that I'll walk into a bathroom of broken glass first thing in the morning. So far all it has had is a bit of distressing and it's just right.

Just like my 2 lilac striped pillows!