Another one on the way

I have pulled 5" squares and, fingers crossed will have enough, and cut the 1 1/2" sashing strips. If my count is correct there is enough for a large quilt. If not I will either make some more or add a border.
I have another 9 blocks finished and am pleased with how they look.


                                              

I ordered some fabric from Lady Sew and Sew at the beginning of the week and it arrived this morning, very pretty from Free Spirit and only £6 a metre.

                                                

This is for the border on a scrappy quilt, I wanted something light but nothing bright enough to fight with the busy quilt.

This is the "hospital waiting room" crochet, it will use all my part balls and probably end up on the sofa........decorated with Ben.

I set more seeds this morning and have a pile of plants to pot on later, it is much too hot for that job yet.

The last time that I was in Neath I trawled the charity shops, as usual, this time I did not come away empty handed. I bought a pair of enormous curtains for £2.98.  The lining was stained and sun bleached but the actual curtain fabric is in perfect condition.

I stripped them down today and they are on the whirlygig now, they are around 8' long and 3 widths of fabric in each. I will have 2 pairs out of them ready for the winter. I was given a whole bolt of lining fabric and a massive bag of header tape last year.  My windows are 6' tall so 2 pairs of heavy weight curtains for £3, plus some thread, fills my heart with glee.

Salad for dinner, again, it is too hot to cook and I do love salad. I have some cold roast pork to eat up and am looking forward to it.

Ben has had his dinner and is flat out on his sofa, snoring gently.

I must go and see if the curtains are ready to come in, and then I may just run a few more 4 patches up for the lattice quilt.

              TTFN                                                           Pam

One down, One started

Projects that is. The chair throw is in place now and A is happy with it.
I took her hubster to the Singleton hospital this afternoon for the eye check, a few more hours frittered away with some "use the stash" crochet. note to self.....take a photo woman.

All proceeded and the pronouncement is A Cataract, this needs dealing with and he is now on the list.

Back to the throw.

Watch the birdie.

Archie and Dolly gave it their seal of approval.

I saw this on a Missouri Quilt co. video and had to have a try. They used black sashing but I will go with white, I may use these in it or they may become a cushion cover. I do have a box of 5" squares that I cut myself and 3 charm packs to pick through. That is one block and I will want 56. Those diagonal seams went well but I took my time, I don't mind a slightly wavy edge but not block middles.

The day started drizzley, grey and sticky, we had a few heavy showers but it was dry when I set off to the hospital. By the time we were back home the sun had burnt through and it was very hot and humid, who needs Florida. 

I am off to Ystalafera in 30 minutes, a visit, a walk for Ben and perhaps a quick pop into Asda. Just for a look there is nothing that I want or need.

Then I will batten down the hatches and play with fabric, or maybe not.

BTW I mentioned a few days ago that I was after books by Harlan Coben, well I found some and they are not for me. I was puzzled as I am enjoying The Five on TV but found that he had written it for the TV. I thought that it was adapted from a book, never mind another author will surely emerge that I like.

My tea is cooling so I am off now.

       TTFN                                                                 Pam

Listen, do you hear it.

No not the cuckoo, although there is at least one singing her heart out across the valley, the sound of a new leaf turning over.

After the rain this morning I ventured out with camera in hand and rattled off some random shots.

Oops, not this one, it is my dress pattern, I hope to get it cut out this week.

Apple Blossom, complete with hover fly. I was hoping that my "bug hotels" would bring them in.

A Purple sprouting broccoli, almost over but a picking for later. I have two other plants still producing but this heat will do for them.

My new rhubarb patch, I will not pull any this year. I do have some more plants that I grew from seed and am eager to try them, again next year.

Rocket Potatoes, in their buckets.

Tall peas just about to start to climb.

Cambridge Favourite, about to flower.

Wild Strawberries, not only in flower but with some fruit forming.

Tulips, alas the wind and rain have taken their toll.

Two of the many pots that I have dotted around the garden. Once they go over I have more coming on to take their places.

This is a poor shot of a little miracle. I bought a young Apple tree from Poundstretcher, reduced down to pennies as it was so late in the year. I dug a hole and popped the very scanty root ball in. Then after back filling and firming it well in I chopped it down to 18" and gave it a good soaking. Just above the graft there is a new shoot emerging, fingers crossed that in time this will become a step over tree. If it is successful I will try some more next year, I had them in Tydd and they bear an amazing amount of fruit, because the sap does not have to climb far it just flows along. 

And finally a naughty tray of cookies, oats, coconut, choc chips and cranberries. Still warm they are tooooo goooood.

And, to heap coals upon the fire, there are two cakes in the oven, apple, pear and cinnamon.

Even worse, there is cream in the fridge.

                     TTFN                                                     Pam

Halfway to hell

That's where I would be if the old saying about the road to hell being paved with good intentions was a fact.

I intended to take photos of the greenhouse, the camera lens steamed up every time I went in there.
I intended to take photos of the plants in the garden, the sun has been so strong that it bleached all the colour from the pics that I did take.
I intended to blog some of the wonderful recipes that I have been playing with, I just scoffed the lot and lolled on the sofa.
I intended to keep my plants strictly sorted, I have a tray of strong healthy tomato plants with not a label in sight.
I intended to be very very healthy, I just ate a cream cake walking from the shop to my car.

BUT     I      have      been      busy.
My friend A, who is wheelchair bound, has a diabetic hubster. He has also had a series of three strokes over the past decade.
On Thursday I spent the day with them putting a greenhouse frame together. The plan was to get it exactly where they wanted it and put the polycarbonate panels in place on Friday. That morning he had a couple of bad dizzy spells with sharp cutting pain over his eyes.
I got him to the GP and we duly trundled off to the hospital in Llanelli, several hours and many tests later he was diagnosed with, an erratic heartbeat, dehydration and a viral infection. They also suspect an eye condition, possibly glaucoma.
This meant another drug to take, a new variation on Warfarin with more blood tests today, in the hospital, more waiting.
The strict instructions (from me) to drink more water. I filled a 2 litre bottle and said he had to drink that on top of his normal drinks.
An appointment for eye checks and tests on Wednesday.
Instructions, and a diet sheet, from the dietitian to lose 3 stone.
I have spent much of the weekend popping back and forth, I am so glad that they are literally a minute away.
Today's bloods were good, the new drug is doing its job.
The extra water is being drunk.
The diet has been read and inwardly digested, so far so good.

The greenhouse will be finished ASAP.

I have been busy with watering can, and the hose as well. Who would have thought it after having a waterlogged garden earlier in the year.

The knitting pins have clicked away. The crochet hook has been a blur, ideal for hospital waiting rooms.
The sewing machine has been whirring.

This is a throw for A, it is to cover her big armchair.

There is no wadding here, just the top and backing fabric, I will fuse them together with some fancy stitching and then bind as for a quilt. she just fancied a thinner version. I will be making another one soon.

Ther was still a goodly heap of random blocks to use up, these are two panels from a quilt. The third is almost finished, it will be on the frame this week and then will be a summer quilt for me. Unless someone else snaffles it.

There is one of the birdie blocks on each of these projects and another lurking in the heap.

As you can see there is a mish mash of blocks, colours and patterns.

A big bonus of all this is that once the heap of blocks have been joined to make another throw for A there will be  

                                      NO MORE SCRAPS.

I have at least 5 more quilt patterns that I want to make up, my next task is to have a trawl round and find a roll of batting. I love a cotton or a cotton blend but many of my quilts go to families with dogs, cats and children. This means washing, lots of washing, so I tend to use a poly wadding. The last one that I used was from Hobbs and I was very impressed, I have 2 more packs to use and if I still like it that is what I will be looking for.

I treated myself to the Dottie Angel dress pattern last week. I aim to make a wearable trial one  from some sheeting. I can then make any necessary adjustments before going on a fabric hunt. I will be using one fabric for the dress and putting side seam pockets in rather than patch.

Sorry, my photo did not print. I will try again tomorrow.                                                    


I see myself throwing this on almost daily, no zips or buttons to fiddle with, loose and cool when it is hot, a polo neck jumper and leggings when it is cool.

Let us hope that this good intention doesn't end up on that road.

Now I am off to sew, press and trim.

                            TTFN                                        Pam

PS. It is now raining,  steady and quite heavy, YIPPEE no watering tonight.

Here I go again

The weather has been great again, I have been in the garden for a good part of the day.

B     U      T

I have heard the siren call of the sewing room all that time.

My scrap bag has been partially emptied, lots of pressing had happened and this afternoon I started sewing.   Now there is more pressing to do but it will have to wait.

I unearthed some orphan blocks, some playtime blocks and a disaster or three. Then picked a handful of strips and started piecing.

Leftover string blocks in the middle here.

Oh the shame of it, look no points.

Some Cathedral windows from a Missouri Quilt Co tutorial.

A myriad of strippy bits, some complete with selvedge edges, from a Trip Around The World quilt.

I have a trip into Ystalavera this evening and I am hoping to squeeze a walk with Ben in there somewhere.

Yesterday was glorious, I emptied the laundry bin and it was all dried, ironed and put away by 8.00 last night. BLISS.

Today has been even better and I had to slather on the factor 50 and dig a hat out.

I would rather be "Pale and interesting" than a bit of old leather.

Salad for dinner, with a tub of mixed olives and feta that I picked up in Tesco for 30p, reduced from £3!! I ask you it only weighs 160 grams including the plastic pot.

I weighed myself this morning, horror but no shock there. I am still overweight but seem as fit as a fiddle so decided to stop thinking about it.

Looking back this post is almost as scrappy as my sewing, hey ho, I am so pleased that my English teacher is no longer able to make me squirm with one look.

I do owe her though, I practised that look and it has quelled many a quarrelsome person over the years.

                     TTFN                                        Pam

Just a Quickie

The sun is shining, the air is positively balmy, the birds woke me at 4.45 and after 30 minutes I threw the towel in and got up.
I opened curtains and windows wide on my way through and the back door as well. At that early hour there was still a slight nip in the air but I did not mind at all.
I had a cuppa and a quick look at my blog list, Ben was eager for his walk so we set off to wake the day up.
I had a little of the quilt border to slip stitch down and that was a quick job with another cuppa.

I am happy to have this finished and there are probably enough crazy blocks to make another. It is not for the bed, it was meant to be a sofa quilt but will possibly go in the car for picnic days out.

The backing is a pale peach remnant and the binding is a cream with pale grey polka dots.

Now I have to get back to Juniors jumper, I had all the parts with me on Saturday to double check the measurements. He is growing like a weed and I had to add an inch to the sleeves.

My garden needs some TLC and the greenhouse requires a tidy up.

I am off on my usual Tuesday trip to Neath in a while but will be outside later.

I aim to pop into the Library and look for a Harlan Coben book, I have been watching The Five and am hooked. I have seen his books on the shelves but never been tempted to pick one up before.

Time to go.

           TTFN                                                             Pam

A Mixed Bag

I am talking about the weather, of course  like so much of the UK we have had brilliant sun shine, torrential rain, strong and cold winds, more sunshine and hailstones as big as marbles. Stir in some misty "Autumnal" days and chilly nights with a few, very few, hot hot spells and there you have it. The gloriously unpredictable UK weather. No wonder it is a standard topic of conversation, in a way I think that we are perversely proud of it.

I have put my winter woolies away only to grab a few back, I washed and ironed all my summery clothes and they are languishing at the back of the wardrobe. The thin duvet has gone on the bed, strangely it has stayed though as it is warm enough.

I had a good day in Cardigan on Saturday, it was Barley Day and there was plenty to goggle at. 
Magnificent Stallions, snorting down their noses at us mere plebs. Cute Shetland ponies, not one kick or bite, groomed within an inch of their lives. Welsh Cobs, Shires, and all manner of Equine beauties pulling an assortment of vintage vehicles. 
There were gleaming tractors, of all shapes and hues, even a red David Brown startling amid the normal white ones. The ubiquitous grey Fergie by the dozen, along with many more from my childhood memories.
Then there were the commercial vehicles and the cars, oh the cars. Pristine paintwork, sparkling chrome and crystal clear windows. Morgans, Morris Oxford, Travellers with perfect wood detailing, even a Ford Capri. 
The effect was mesmerising BUT, there was a sting in the tale.
Of these wonderful VINTAGE cars, and the tractors, there were far too many that I have driven or been driven in. 
It was almost enough to send me gibbering to the chemist for super duper wrinkle cream. 
Forget that I spent time cwtching with Leo and then an hour on the  trampoline with Junior and Kaitlyn, much better.

I really thought that an early night would be a necessity but it was not to be.
Francesca flew to New York that day and I sat up till she let me know that she had landed and then that she was safely in her hotel. I made it to bed just after 2.30, Ben was Disgusted with the situation. He took himself to bed at one point but came back down after around 30 minutes.
Fran rang yesterday to say that she had been shopping, she had the best bagel in the world, fresh from the oven, for breakfast and then hit the mall. Tommy Hilfiger  and Victoria's Secret were high on the agenda.
 She sent me a picture of her lunch sandwich, a massive roll with enough pastrami to feed a family. It was so large that even half was daunting.

I had hoped to spend yesterday in the garden but instead I knuckled down and got a scrappy quilt top finished, on the frame and partly quilted. As today should be more rain I plan on getting that finished, squared up and bound.
I did a big shop on Friday, I slipped up and went to Ammanford on market day. Parking was a nightmare but the shops were not that crowded. Apart from fresh fruit, veg and milk I am sorted for a few weeks, when the weather turns better I do not want to waste time trekking out shopping.

I am off now, there is a cuppa in my near future, along with some toast and home made marmalade. OH YUM.

                    TTFN                                           Pam