Posy

From the list: #1

The list has almost been accomplished, just some phone calls to make and a visit to Lyme Regis hopefully tomorrow (please God no more rain..)

Now number 1 on my list was to work some magic on this old table that was no longer used at school. We have sadly neglected using our little brick patio for eating and this old table was just what we needed. It has taken a few weeks to have some sunny weather/time but in between the heavy shower...ta da..

I painted the legs and sides with white exterior gloss and covered the top with Green Gate oil cloth. Gosh, the patio looks good - can the camera lie? I think so! In some photos things just seem to look good.

I have even found the time to do extra painting, like paint our bed only to discover that I didn't like the shade of green and had to do it all over again only to discover that I didn't like the other shade of green and had to dash to the shop to have more paint made up only to discover that I didn't like that shade of green so asked for more to be made up bought that came home and didn't like that either...and breathe!!! I ended up using the second green which "hardly looks any different to what it was before" says Lucy (correctly!) " aahh," I say, "but it's now a gloss finish!" She shook her head and walked away. Well she tried to but was hindered by our king size mattress and all the relevant bedding spread all over the house for the last 2 days! Anth and I have slept on our mattress on the sittingroom floor. Such fun, I love to do things like that but Anth has only complained that it has given him a bad back though Alfie enjoyed a new place to nap...but who on earth designs these hideous mattress covers??

Can you even tell it's a new green?! Hardly, but that hasn't deterred me and I'm on a mission to find that right shade of green.

More from my list next time..

Raindrops

Yesterday it rained. Hard. Most of the day.  So I tried to take some raindrop photos on my alliums.

This afternoon, in brighter weather, I took photos of the raindrops on my Lady's Mantle.

They looked like diamonds glistening in the faint sun,

and some hid, tucked away from prying eyes.

All is blooming well in the garden and life has been made so much easier with the purchase of a new hose. Gosh, why did I struggle for the last 4 years with a hose that was full of kinks and came out in a trickle? Come on girl, the watering used to take me an hour or more every evening! Why! Now it comes out with a whoosh and leaves me with more time. Time, I hope, to do more sewing and crochet. Talking sewing, here is a little something I made earlier..

another little bag to add to my collection.

Now, if there is one thing I want you take away from this post this is it. If you too have to spend hours with a unforgiving hose..free yourself and buy one that is guaranteed kink free. Kinky has it's place but not in your hose!!

Cushion sewing part 1

I've spent nearly 4 days at my sewing machine. 4 days! All those projects, big and small that have been going around in my head for months have finally been allowed to escape and reach my finger tips. I will show you this week in a few posts rather than bore you in one enormous one.

Here is the first cushion. Both cushions I made have a frill around and I think just making those took the most time. My rather basic machine jams every few inches and because I so love frills (gosh, does that make me officially "girlie?" Hope not - as even though I love pretty things I have a raucous sense of humour that's not remotely girlie!) ) I bought a ruffler foot (??) for my machine. Huh! I have absolutely no idea how to attach it - let alone use it. Infact I can't even work out which way up it goes! Who knows how effective it would have been if I had known how to use it, instead

I just persevered for hours. But I think it was worth it. I think my little frill makes it. Now, I do have a another problem with my cushions. They take quite a battering by the family. They are bent in half, thrown on the floor, sat upon, used as handy stepping stones, used as a cat's bed as well as a handy weapon...the list is endless...and I'm always horrified that no one seems to be able to use them properly. With that in mind, I walked into the sittingroom this rainy Sunday and came across this..

..my day old cushion already being put to good use. Well - at least it's not bent in half..yet!

On my mantelpiece # 6

Look at my bargain! I bought 9 Alliums for...£1..yeah...just a pound! I got 2 bunches at 50p each but I did have to barter. One was £1.99 and the other 50p so I begged, if truth be known, but managed to get them at the cheaper price. I have never had Alliums before though I do have some in an enamel bucket outside.

Well, today was my last day at school for 10 days. Bliss. For those of you who are wondering I work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. I'm very, very lucky as I love my 2 days at home alone. I have a list of things I want to achieve...

1. Paint old outside table and cover with oilcloth (Green Gate oilcloth no less!).

2. Potter around the garden and watch the Chelsea Flower Show and dream.

3. Sew at least one more cushion.

4. Read June edition of Country Living and drool.

5. Feed plants, deadhead and fix new hosepipe.

6. More sewing and listen to Radio Devon's Lunchtime phone-in or Anna Raeburn's LBC show.

7. Watch at least 2 episodes of The Waltons series 4 (umm Waltons!)

8. Go to Dartington Hall and sit and ripple in their gardens.

9. Ripple, ripple, ripple.

10. Watch my washing blowing on the line.

11. Go to Lyme Regis fossil hunting.

12. Speak to as many of my loved ones as possible (you've been warned!)

So I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll be able to cross off at least 6 things... time will tell!

Summer cushion #1

Oh thank you, thank you for showering me with such kind comments about my hair (unfortunately it doesn't look quite the same now! Why can't I ever get it looking like they do?) and my bag. I am loving it - a new hair do and a new bag can set up a girl for the week ahead. And today the sun is out...hmm..had to spend it at school but never mind.

This is what I made on Sunday. The first of my summer cushions. It is made from a Green Gate tea towel (no surprise there!) that I bought when I went to Salisbury after my mother came out of hospital.

I used this green lace. Mmmm green (so Homer Simpson but I just love green.) The back is more green - but spotty green Green Gate! Ha, try and get your head around that at 5pm on a Tuesday. Though it's only one more day at work for me (how lucky am I??) and then it will be sewing Thursday and cushion # 2.

Now you must excuse me, the sun is shining, dinner is on and my garden is calling...

New bag

Oh what a lovely few days I've had. I really have. Thursday was hairdresser day and a spontaneous meal out with Anth and Friday was a sewing day. A special day of sorts. I have 2 things that belonged to my late grandmother Lorna, a small vanity case and a 50's vintage knitting bag. She died in 1962 and I was born at the end of 1963. She was an actress, trained at RADA and I inherited her tiny feet and dramatic ways, and now so has Alice. I have always been fascinated by her and would have given anything to meet her and one day I will do a post on her and my grandfather, who was an actor too. But on Friday I finally made a new tote from Lorna's knitting bag.

I say finally because it is something I have been planning to do for many months but something has always got in the way so at last I settled down on Friday with my Evoke radio (with it's recorded Radio Devon phone-in shows) my sewing machine, a mug of tea and set to work.

A bag I made, with a lining and pockets for ipods and mobiles and wondered what Lorna would make of those gadgets. Infact what was a surprise to me was just how much I felt 'connected' to my beloved grandmother as I worked with her bag to turn it into my bag. To use something that had been hers was such a privilege. And later as I proudly took it out on it's first trip into town I hoped, that she was looking down and smiling.

New hair

Brace yourselves. I did something today which is totally unheard of.  I went to the hairdresser, yes, that's quite unusual for me, but it was what I did afterwards that shocked everyone.. I decided to turn my camera lens towards me! I have enjoyed reading Alicia's post this week and seeing her sweet face. And Jane. So I decided I too would reveal all and show you my new hair. Only problem was that no one would take my photo. Honest. Too busy doing homework and not doing homework! So here is me infront of the mirror trying to take my own photo without looking through the viewfinder..

It was a very hit and miss affair!

And you can't really see my hair. It's shorter than I asked for but it is at last manageable and straight. I have worn my hair with a curl this last year but I have missed it looking sleek. I think some new straighteners are in order.

We had good news yesterday too. My brother is not going to Iraq now. The relief.  Tomorrow, I am hoping to do some sewing. I say hoping, because something usually gets in the way but I am determined...watch this space!

Bits & Pieces

This is a sort of 'non' post. A catch up. A 'let's-draw-a-breath' post. It has been a busy couple of days, full days but without much to show for it.

First, it was our class trip to Occombe Farm. I was 'chief' photographer and managed to squeeze in a few bluebell shots (I'm obsessed!) and a dandelion clock.

Do other people call them dandelion clocks? I was told as a child that you could tell the time by how many blows it took to clear the whole head of seeds. I really love the sweet country lore's(?)  that are passed down to each generation. And the bluebells in the wood are simply perfect. These photos were taken on my old camera. Now, a lovely lady emailed me recently to ask about my camera lens and I have deleted her email by mistake. All my close-ups (macro) of flowers are taken with my small, point and shoot Olympus C-765 which has a super macro setting. It is an old camera and probably not made anymore but any camera with a macro/super macro should be able to do close up shots. I do hope this helps and that you have a Happy Birthday and I'm sorry I didn't email back.

Talking birthdays, it was my first-born's 17th birthday yesterday. He didn't want a fuss or his picture on the blog, which is a shame because I took some super birthday portraits! 17...it was a momentous year for me in many, many ways and now I have a child of that age! Changing the subject slightly, I am especially grateful this year, given the horrendous situation in Portugal, that little Madeleine's family find themselves in, to be able to celebrate my child's birthday. I am haunted by the face of her mother and pray for a happy ending.

Now, before I go I must share with you a sight that I never thought I would see...

...aw..be still my beating heart...! This is Posy's Cath K bed. Alfie has never shown any interest in it at all. Po puts herself to bed every evening at about 8pm and on Sunday night found that Alfie had already beaten her to it! So she just sat and pondered for a while, which is Posy's way, then she got in next to him and washed his head! We just couldn't believe it. It didn't last that long but it happened again last night too. They have never slept near each other before. Long may it last!

Thought for the day

Imperfections

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home
only one and a half pots of water.

Of course , the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.

But the poor cracked

pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"

"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."

"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

Without you being just the way you
are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

SO, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Thanks, Andrea!

The Ripple so far

Here it is. My week old ripple. It's grown quite quickly and it is surprisingly addictive. I haven't yet had to buy any more wool but will probably have to soon. I'm following the Soft Waves pattern from the Jane Eaton 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns book. So I'm a woman with no less than 3, yes three, crochet blankets on the go at the same time. Oh dear, what does that make me? Impulsive. Easily bored. Perhaps, but so what! I'll do whatever one takes my fancy on any particular day. Wow, how's that for a full and exciting life! How rock and roll is this 43 year old?!

Don't answer that..!!!

It's her birthday!

I know it's yet another birthday in our family (they seem to come thick and fast and it's Tom's on Monday!) but I wanted to share this picture. Ooh..ummm..hope she doesn't mind. She'll be unhappy with how she looks, but she looks wonderful to me. My sweet Mummy. She is looking very well don't you think? She's not yet 100% but getting there. Slowly. Not bad for a woman of ...ha..did you think I would...she'd surely kill me. Honest!

Her smile hides a sadness though. One of her children, my middle brother, is having to go to Iraq soon. I can't say much about this but he isn't in the military, he is a policeman. She is worried. We are all worried but in trying to placate her I don't think that I had fully appreciated that it was her son, her child going to a war zone. How on earth do families cope?

But no, enough of such negativity. Today is a celebration, a celebration of a mother and a woman who is so special and oh so loved.

Riding on the crest of the wave

I succumbed. I was going to start my own crocheted ripple blanket when I finished my granny blanket, but I was in need of a lift and a change so I started it over the weekend. Anth and I had another day out, this time to Slapton Sands. I sat in perfect harmony with the sea as I rode up and down each wave of my new blanket.

Slapton is a huge beach made up of tiny pebbles. As I sat rippling Anth read the paper.

There was a fresh breeze blowing but that didn't stop the first seasons wearing of the flip-flops or revealing my pale English legs.

Our journey to Slapton took us through some of the best places Devon has to offer. It was all pale blue skies and the freshest green. The beach above is one of South Devon's finest, Blackpool Sands.

Poor Anth kept having to stop the car for my photos.

After a few hours of rippling and gazing out to sea we headed home

for more rippling and gazing at the TV!

In the country

Ahh...I swapped my bed for a day out, on Friday, in the warm May sunshine with my husband. Without children! That still feels odd, but it's an odd I think I can deal with as they were at school. We now have time together during the day which is such a novelty. I woke feeling better and we went to Totnes for lunch and then we went deep into the countryside.

We stopped so I could stand in this field that stretched out for miles and feel small. There wasn't another soul around and the sun made the grass shimmer like the sea. It was perfect. Just the sound of birdsong. Another photo here. We then drove to through the tiny lanes to the village of Ashprington.

We stopped for tea (well, Anth had a cream tea..) under the wisteria.

Another photo here and here. Then it was back in the car, a leisurely gaze at the estuary

and then home all with the thought of laying my head that night, after a day in the fresh air, on my newly found (thanks Amanda) embroidered and striped pillowcases!

What could be nicer?

P.S Thank you to everyone who sent me good wishes. I did want to reply to you all but that hasn't been possible. I appreciate and am grateful for every comment, thank you.

Bed

Can you believe it? Yes, I'm back in bed. Well, I had at least a days break so I shouldn't feel too bad..but I woke up this morning with that familiar 'axe-in-the head' feeling. Ahhhhhh! I managed till lunchtime at school but had to give in and after an injection and a sleep I'm sitting here writing this. Hopefully on the mend...

I have been so heartened by your comments. Thank you, you are really so kind and I'll try to answer each one. If I don't, please know that I appreciate each one. I really do.

Can you see I'm surrounded by a few of my favourite things? (Sounds a bit like a song I've heard before!) The lovely bunny is made by Maileg which is a Danish company. My radio is a Pure Evoke 3 and is so fantastic I can't imagine life without it. I record programmes everyday and the pause and rewind features are wonderful. And of course my new lap top or 'lappy' as it's now known by. The cushion is made from 3 samples of Cath Kidston's old fabric, 'Gipsy' (you can't see the blue square). I do that, you know, make things from free samples! And lastly if you look carefully you can see a cosmetic bag (CK of course) that's not full of cosmetics, no, it's got my headache tablets in..Out of view is the book I've just started by Ann Leary it's called Special Delivery here in the UK and I'm really enjoying it. I can really relate to that awful feeling of a strange hospital ward with unfriendly mothers. Mothers who seem so much more competent than you! The poor woman was in foreign country. It's humorously written and I love a good non-fiction on childbirth etc!

Anyway, enough of my ramblings. I feel that you have been right beside me as I've prattled on and that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling....or I'm just a 'billy-no-mates 'geek who spends too long on the Internet!