The screaming wind is replaced by a Rhythmic Clicking

Well I did it, a cloth has been crocheted, not huge but big enough.

I just found an old crochet hook and used the craft cotton and

made a big Granny Square. It will be tried out and washed to see if the shape holds.

Then I braved the dragon and did this,

Size 6 needles, 40 stitches and basket weave. So far so good, once finished I will use it and wash it to see if the shape holds, which ever one survives the best will be repeated.

No aches or stiffness from holding the needles but I will take it steady, the temptation is to click away till it is big enough.

I went and had a look at the Art and Craft center this morning, there was no one about but there is a notice for a craft fair 1st and 2nd of March. Only 2 weeks away, I have it on the Calendar and will go and have a look see.

Lovely and Sunny here, it was so quiet when I woke up, no wind howling. It is a good thing that I keep on top of the laundry, water pressure was very low when I got up and dropped steadily through the morning. We got full pressure back around 1.

I was given an old copy of Country Music Magazine, dating from November 2003. It the copy with Johnny Cash on the cover, celebrating his music. I have been a fan from the early days and am thrilled with the gift. Coincidentally I have ordered the new biography from up the Amazon, it has had excellent reviews. There will be a new album released in March, recorded years ago and never released by his then recording company, that is on order as well.

I read that there have been many surveys carried out regarding Country music and one fact is constant in all of them. There a 2 names that are instantly recognized by fans of all genres of music, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Dolly has a tour planned of the UK, although I am a fan I will not be purchasing tickets. The cost is a factor but the main reason are the crowds. I can not cope with being squished, pushed and shoved by hordes of sweaty humanity. Just thinking of breathing in clouds of perfume and cologne/aftershave laden air warmed to tepid with body heat makes me come over all unnecessary. 

That sounds very affected but it is the honest truth, I like people just not en masse. When I was at work, if the canteen was packed, I sat down for the time it took to drink my tea and then left, pdq.

As a teenager I went to concerts and discos every weekend and loved it, then again I was also a big fan of the fast rides in the fairground and queued up for the first day of the sales, not now.

I dislike crowds, steer clear of the sales and shop when supermarkets are quiet. If we have a family gathering I am first in and first out when it gets busy.

Time is ticking away and I have to get dinner on the go. BTW my dinner last night was superb, if a restaurant could achieve and maintain that standard it would be a gold mine.

TTFN                                                     Pam

First Crochet Finish, WOO HOO

I am pleased that my fingers have managed to find out how to handle a hook, my first project is crocheted and I just have to select the fabric to back it with.

I still have to tidy the ends on the back and block it out. There are mistakes, an extra stitch and a treble or two missing, I deliberately left them. This is a first and there was bound to be mistakes but I finished it, joined the blocks with double crochet and did one round of double crochet around the edge to finish. I am pleased with it warts and all. It will live in my bedroom as a cushion and will probably have Ben,s head on it within minutes of placing it.

I am off to the wool shop on Monday to buy a rainbow.

Exciting news, there is a large warehouse type shop on the edge of Long Sutton and it is being turned into an Art and Craft center. It is going to provide space to show, sell and teach, I am so looking forward to it.

My washing has been in and out like a fiddler's elbow today, we have had brilliant sunshine with a few showers and one tropical down pouring. It is dry and ironing is next on the agenda, I like to get it washed, dried, ironed and put away on the same day. When it hangs around it almost seems grubby before you use it again.

I am being spoiled tonight, dinner is being cooked for me. Chicken stuffed with Stilton, wrapped in bacon and baked served with potatoes and fresh veg. Yum.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. No damage in the village from last nights wind.

2. A Bond film to crochet by this afternoon (Sean Connery).

3. I have been given a DVD recording of the hour long Roger Moore interview from a couple of years ago.

4. I found 2 balls of craft cotton in my old knitting bag.

5. I ordered ink cartridges for the printer yesterday morning and they arrived today. Cool

I read Roger Moore,s  biography when it was published and he came across as a decent man, even if his marriage history was complicated, so I was very happy to receive the DVD. I have had a sneak peak and look forward to watching it later. It was a pleasant to read him giving credit where it was due as his career took off. He heaped praise on those who helped and supported him.

By contrast I read Sean Connery,s biography and it was so different. Every thing that was good in his life was entirely down to him and everything that went wrong was somebody elses fault. Guess which volume is still in my possession.

My mum had a few knitting patterns modeled by Roger, I wonder what happened to them, worn out probably as she knitted for England.

A few trees came down during the night, a garage was damaged and no one was hurt. Neville's brother was called out to sort 3 trees out, he made them safe this morning and will be dealing with them on Monday.

Ben and Greg had their runs out today, they were fine but I was bent nearly double into the wind for part of the time.

I had a good read round  blogland last night and will have a repeat tonight. I found some amazing tutorials from some seriously talented people, I have bookmarked lots.

Sewing will resume on Monday, meanwhile that craft cotton is going to become cleaning cloths.

  TTFN                                                   Pam

I got a Valentine card from my sponsored dog, Bobby Blue. It is a bit of nonsense but a way of keeping me up to date. I choose to sponsor a "special needs" dog and therefore I can not go and visit him, I can see him from a distance but he is too nervous for close contact.

I made a quick trip to the library and grabbed a few books, I was in a hurry so was lucky to find 2 more Baldicci books. He is a new author to me and I am enjoying him.

Two of them are "chewing gum for the brain" and I picked up the self sufficiency guide out of curiosity, I can not think that Seymore left anything unsaid.

I have sort of finished the 9 patch quilt top, it was finished till I decided to add 3 rows to make it bigger.

It will not take me long as I have several 9 patches ready made and a stack of part made blocks, I sew these as leaders and enders and they grow at an alarming rate.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. We may have wind and rain, but no damage or flooding.

2. Ben and Greg have had their walks, mostly dry, every day.

3. I am busy crocheting squares, each one is quicker and easier than the one before.

4. I have enough wool for the weekend.

5. The refrigeration equipment was moved into the village shop today. one step nearer to opening.

I have sewn 4 quilt tops from my stash, mostly from scraps, and there is still a small mountain to sew through. I have lots of large pieces to make backs from and just about enough batting. I quite fancy backing at least 1 with fleece fabric, I will have to buy that but I do have a couple of vouchers that can be used.

I plan on having a crafty weekend, the shopping is done, there are fakeaway meals in the freezer and I only need to go out to dog walk. The laundry is up to date and the ironing basket is empty. If I get sewn and hooked out I have my new books and I have several things on the sky box. Oh and the most important thing, I have plenty of tea.

I intend to do a good bit of blog reading this evening and make an inroad into the tea supplies. 

Have a good weekend everyone, keep warm and dry if you can.

My thoughts will be with those who can not relax in their homes because of the weather.

                     TTFN                           Pam

Banshees Evicted by Kilkenny Cats

Another busy day, totally enjoyable though, my 9 patches are halfway to becoming blocks. They don't look too bad, I was a bit worried about the red but am glad that I went with it now.

It hasn't all been happy sewing though, I had to do a bit of this as well.

When you carry pens in your pockets they gradually wear a hole through and it is a rather an unsettling feeling when one slithers down the inside of your leg. Squirmy very squirmy.

All mended now, I do not like mending but these are favourite jeans, and yes they are men,s but the fit is fantastic.

I had to buckle down and do that as this dropped on the mat this morning and I would not touch it till my sewing was done.

The pattern was free inside and I am already deciding what fabrics I will be using. 

There is a buying guide to dress forms as well, just what I need as I want to replace the one that went walkabout a few years ago.

 I have only skimmed through it and will be curling up with a brew later to read it cover to cover. There is a brand new Janome sewing machine on the back cover, I may have to do a bit of surfing to find a price. I have a strong suspicion that it will be somewhere around £How Much!!!

I have done a bit of baking but can not share as it has gone to my neighbours. I read a few blogs yesterday that talked about a week for  "Random Acts of Kindness". I suppose that was one. Really it is just the way that I was raised, if someone needs and you can fulfill that need then you just do.  I certainly don't need to be prompted or have a week dedicated to it.

Reasons to be grateful.

1. I managed 3 walks in the dry despite the rain.

2. My cottage smells of  Steak and Kidney Pie and Bakewell Pudding, and I nearly forgot the Apple Crumble.

3. I have more homemade soup for dinner tonight, yum.

4. We have a date for the village shop to re open Feb 22. Yes!

5. I managed to find 2 more David Baldacci books at the library yesterday.

The wind after lying low came back with a vengeance this morning. It sounded for all the world like KilKenny cats screaming expletives at the World. 

KilKenny Cats? you say, what on Earth? well sit back and enjoy the rhyme.

There once were two cats from KilKenny,

Each thought there was one cat too many.

So they fought and they fit,

And they scratched and they bit.

Till (excepting their nails

and the tips of their tails)

Instead of two cats there weren't any!

I remember that from school days, I used to be able to recite the Jabberwocky and one of these days I will memorise it again.

Anyway it sounded like a barn full of cats earlier, now it is just gusting not screaming.

I made bread in the bread maker yesterday and it was heavy, I peeped through the plastic panel about 30 minutes before it was due to come out, I could see that it had not risen properly and instantly new why. I had used my cup measures instead of the ones that came with the machine. It will be fine toasted with the soup and the rest will become big croutons and breadcrumbs. So I could find myself eating S.O.S. tomorrow, lovely with crisp shingles.

Time to say goodbye, well only till the next post.

 TTFN                                                  Pam. 

.

Is it a plane? Is it a bird? Nope, it's a flying visit. boom boom

Hi de Hi, I have been very busy today, I took Ben and  Greg out for 2 swims walks this morning and then a proper walk in the sunshine later. I made bread, soup and a tub of pastry mix. Sewed the rest of my 9 patch blocks and cut out the first wave of sashing strips. I made and drank several cups of tea, with and without shortbread.
I popped in to say welcome to a new follower, Liz from Shortbread & Ginger, lovely to have you on board.
I 'fess up to spending a fair while reading a new blog from the beginning. I had a quick look at some of the "Grow your blog" participants and found a few to follow. Today I read through all the posts by Janine Avery at Simple Things, go and have a look, great photos of days out, gardens lots of things, her beautiful children and one of the cutest dogs ever, there is one shot of him curled up in a basket of clean linen!
I did wash up twice, the kitchen has been "put away" and  the tray set for my early morning tea. Ben has been fed and is now getting ready for a quick trip down the street. 

Reasons to be grateful.

This is a cheat really as I am going to put all of these as number 1.

My health and strength, the ability to craft and cook as much as I please, the fact that I (now) walk as far as I like pain free, my ability to come and go as I please. I had an accident at work a while ago that could have left me unable to list any of these.

If you visit Simple things you will understand this post.

I am off to walk Ben now and then crack on with some sewing.

                TTFN                                             Pam.

It's Just Another Manic Monday.

Today has been very busy, the sun was shining as bright as it could and filled me with energy so, there has been lots of this.

                                                     

                                                            

Miles and miles of this.

                                               



A sneaky bit of this, well I had to have a tea break. (or 3)

                                                            



I have sewn more strips together, when I did the maths for my 9 patch quilt top I decided to make 3 more blocks, so I have to make 12 more 9 patches. I hope to get that done and start sewing the sashing strips tomorrow. I have gone for bright red, partly because I have plenty in the stash but also because it really makes the patches stand out.

Reason to be grateful.

1. A sparkling house. 

2. A very happy little dog, tired but happy.

3. The smell of Apple Pie, I did a bit of baking as well.( to share with the neighbours)

4. My scrap pile is gradually disappearing.

5. This quilt top will be finished before the weekend.

By the weekend I will have 4 quilt tops ready to layer and quilt, I am thinking of using a fleecy fabric for 2 of them. This would make for a faster finish and a cuddly feel and as they are for children I feel it may be better.
The fine day turned gradually dark and it started to rain around 5.00, the forecast is for more rain over the next 3 days, if this happens I may get to quilting sooner than planned.
I had a trip into Wisbech, just to keep a friend company and push the trolley round Asda, it was not too busy so we were only gone an hour. I was amazed to see people pushing trolleys around piled high with shopping, I know that weekends are truly horrid in the big shops but Monday seems a funny day to do a big shop.

I had no laundry to do today as I took advantage of the sunny weather over the weekend, in light of that and my energy levels the washing machine filter has been emptied, washed and put back. It wasn't blocked but very smelly, I have put it on the calendar to do every 3 months.
I have found a source of white vinegar in bulk, The Jam Jar Company sell it, they are fairly close to Geoff Hamilton's Gardens. I visit there every year so next time I will do a little side trip and buy some vinegar, they also sell wine vinegar so I will price that up as well.

I have Seville Oranges and a big bag of sugar so Marmalade is on the agenda as well as sewing, I could do with a few more jars of mincemeat so a Kitchen day may happen.
I love mincemeat, I mix it with apples and pears for pies and crumbles, it is good under a sponge as well. I make a slice with shortbread and mix it with tinned peaches to make puddings and Ice Cream. All the ingredients are readily available so I just make a batch every now and again.
My bedroom is annoying me at the moment, I want to inject more colour. The walls are "straw boater" posh talk for boring beige, it may be boring but sets the quilts off well so will stay. My curtains are brown, my quilts are quite bright but as one wall is wooden wardrobes the browns have the upper hand, I think that the time is right for new curtains. New to me that is, I have written the measurements down and will be shuffling through the curtains in every CS that I go near. I did spot some at a yard sale last year, not priced and when I asked how much they said £120. Once I had stopped choking I asked if I had heard correctly hoping that it was £20, no it was the first figure. I am certain that they did not sell.
I do intend to use some blackout fabric as interlining, you can get it in white now, so I want light and pretty. I may have to use some of the Laura Ashley material I bought in the closing down sale. I am also considering making a wall hanging, I am thinking reversible so that I do not get bored. My bedside lamps are pale cream so new covers for the shades will also be needed. Just as long as it doesn't cost me much it will all happen, I may have to resort to bartering.
Tonight there will be some crochet in my hands, I do hope my hooks turn up soon, they have been dispatched but it is a long way from Singapore.

Time for a brew I feel then a quick wash up and settle down for the evening.

TTFN                                                 Pam

Banshee Party on the Roof

Oh What a Night, never mind late September back in '63, it was. The Banshee's took over the rooftops and had a wail of a time, howling and screaming the night away. They made so much noise that I could not hear the Telly, well not without risking my eardrums.
I cut some fabric and went to bed, luckily I dropped off to sleep quickly and had a wonderful 90 minutes or so. Then the party kicked off again, after tossing and turning for an hour I surrendered and got up. I moped around with a cup of mint tea for a little while, feeling bad done by and persecuted, then my brain started to work and I started sewing.

A good stack of 9 patch blocks waiting to be trimmed.

The trimming has begun, tedious work so I decided to have a few intermissions and make these.

Some more tissue holders for the CS, I will be filling these with tissues, they are 99p for a sleeve of 10 small packets. As it is nearly Valentine's day I found some pink out and will make a dozen or so.

Some 2 1/2" by 5" strips that will become 4 patch blocks.

The first step is to sew into pairs.

My first 2 squares, the first one should have a round of white but I changed it to yellow as these will be part of a small cushion to bring a splash of sun into a dark corner.

I realised that the cap fits and therefore I should wear it, the Dunces cap that is. For ages now I have been following Bunny Mummy, reading about her family life, her running and her craft, especially her beautiful Crochet and the Tutorials that she writes!!!

I was reading her latest post yesterday evening and there they were in the sidebar, all these pretty things and links to the tutorials. Now over the months I have been reading these and thinking "one day I will try this" that day has come. She even suggests wool for all budgets and I knew this. Hangs head in shame, takes a sip of mint tea, yes even my cast iron tummy succumbed to the Banshee wailing and I have a touch of heartburn. Goes nicely with the heartache of knowing that I could have started crochet months ago with all the help that I could want sitting in my blog list.

Reasons to be grateful. 

1. A productive night, lots of scrap sorting done.

2. My next project has a massive head start.

3. My bedroom had a birthday in the wee small hours, all that is left to do is vacuum.

4. The day has dawned bright and dry.

5. The Banshees are resting.

I usually change my bed and "do" the room on Monday, but as I had twisted the sheet and duvet cover into a corkscrew, I did it when all hope of sleep had fled. The linen is now whirring round in the machine. The heavens opened at around 3.30 am and it lashed against the house for a good hour and then dried up. It is dry now and fairly bright.

There were some dustbin lids rattling down the street earlier, mine are turned upside down on the bins with a couple of house bricks in them. I would not be surprised to see a few of the older trees down and possibly a scattering of roof tiles. It is 09.57 and I have Ben to walk .

TTFN                       Pam

Just popped back to say sorry for the abrupt cut off, my Ben is a stickler for time and at 10.00 every morning he goes out for a run with Greg his BFF. If I am too slow he barks and runs round in circles, leaps up and down and generally behaves like an idiot, trying to get his lead on becomes a 3 part farce. We have a run in the afternoon but he is relaxed about the time then.