From where I'm sat sitting...

Saturday night and I'm passed caring....tired in a pleasant sort of way, but a few jobs left to do, so why not spread the work across the duvet and then chuck it all on the floor and turn out the light.

So here I sit feeling frivolous with camera aimed around the room. I take photos, I delete photos, I almost take a photo of me taking a photo in my mirror, then realise I am sans vêtements and the words "totally inappropriate" spring to mind....you see how tired I am....



So,those of you a nosey as me will be wondering what the pile of books are....all books I am reading at the moment....

I will put you out of your misery....





The chicken knitting pattern is for Pre School. The story of the Little Red Hen needs a Little Red Hen to hold. Hmmm so off to a knitting pattern website and there I find the perfect hen, the perfect size...the wool drawer stash reveals the ideal DK red ball I need, so job done, now just need to knit it...

The asha leaflet, learning how to explain the work with clarity, practising keeping it simple. If people want to know more they will ask!

The bead boxes to sort and give away, that chapter has ended for me, but for someone else it is just beginning...it feels good.





The notes from the Leadership Training Day to read though and ponder on. The Bible for reference, so many challenges...so many great people to work through them together over the next ten months and beyond....




The sheep and the goats,the Egyptian wallhanging above our bed. Dick's best barter encounter EVER. Every time I look at it I remember the afternoon when we left the shop three times, only to be called back and the bartering continued!



And so to bed.....

I'm not Susanna Wesley, but I have an apron!

"Oh NOW what!", I hear you groan! Yep, not content with the knitted dishcloths, out comes the sewing machine, the challenge has been thrown out to make an apron! See link below!

http://downtoearth.yuku.com/topic/931

Well,as I had bought some fabric in "Help the Aged" for £1 (don't knock it, I always find stuff in there!) which would be perfect, I decided to rise to the challenge! I copied the pattern off "Manly Apron" navy with stripes, mine would be pink....I don't think anyone else in my family will be remotely interested in donning in (especially now Nick has outgrown his pink phase...)




I have seen a pattern for a frivolous layered one which I'm tempted to make for those "quiet evenings in alone!"Hahahahaha totally impractical but perhaps it's not about the food....I digress!!! Perhaps I need a gay ribbon in my hair and his slippers ready by the fire....I think not!




I've only needed to use half the fabric, not bad for 50p!




The cotton was bought for my bridesmaid's dresses, the ribbon, I have no idea but I found it in my ribbon tin.....yes... and I have a button tin and empty tins ready to put things into because a girl can never have enough tins....as long as they are pretty...don't want the rusty ones....(for goodness sake...)





Divided pocket in the making....what pressus thing will I put in my pocketsies? Probably an egg which will get smashed on cuddle contact....



Posed for, "Take 3!", yeah that will do!



My kitchen sink for what it's worth!




Time for a coffee! It's over !




Incidentally, the comment made by certain sons of mine after I've had a glass of wine....This was taken one Christmas....a present with a personal touch courtesy of Andy.

The day began early...again...seems to be a regular occurrence at the moment, so I decided to be productive and up I got, it was 05.10....In went the washing,on went the kettle, out came the small pile of "stuff I need to read before shredding/filing". It was dark, very dark still, but it was quiet and peaceful. I did the ironing then I wandered down the garden,let the chickens out, well, opened the doors, no one appeared..too early even for them! At 06.30 I was hanging out my washing, it all seemed a bit bizarre!

I had two plans for the day: pick blackberries and go to Stacey and Lydia's housewarming, armed with a few homemade goodies.

Plan 1 Armed with camera and Tupperware I ventured forth to find the hedgerow covered with blackberries, somewhere behind the field behind my house. I didn't find it.....but I did find the source of the "Can't you hear geese, I'm sure I heard honking, listen!" mystery, that Dick repeats most days... and I have remained unconvinced...until now...and I have photographic evidence and yes, he is right (he didn't say, I told you say, for which I am grateful...)




The man on his ride on mower didn't seem perturbed that I was walking on his land, (wondering if I was still on the public footpath)I fought the desire to ask him if he was thinking of selling up anytime as I had great plans for the farmhouse and land he owned...and that most mornings I stared out at it all whilst cleaning my teeth,from my bedroom window. Instead I ambled down his driveway secretly dreaming of community smallholding and found my way back out on to the road where blackberries were to be found.


Oh I forgot to mention that I met these friendly creatures too, before the geese encounter.






I ended up spending 2 1/2 hours walking the circuit that usually takes me 35 minutes on my weekly walk with Jane and Sue! I spotted Sloes, Rosehips and picked loads of Blackberries. I met an aquaintance who was taking her baby out for a walk, a baby who had only been a bump last time I met her in passing!



I dodged tractors and listened to farm machinery unseen behind hedges and houses. I got stung by nettles and eyeballed by cows and I had a wonderful morning!




This afternoon I have pureed blackberries and frozen them,awaiting inspiration. I have whole ones frozen too. Made up a blackberry yogurt and created a spicy blackberry drink with brandy, for the winter. I had just enough for one bottle, plus a little left over to taste.....then I accidently rinsed out the pan with the "tasting " leftovers...so now I'll have to wait to open the bottle....or pick and make some more...hmmmm!



Then it was off to the housewarming armed with a few bits and pieces to inspire Simple Living. We packed up eggs (of course..from the Hog hens!)1 Josterberry jelly, 1 Damson jam, cooking apples , eating apples, dried apple rings, homemade washing powder and instructions of how to make their own if they decide they like it and the necessary ingredients to do so if they wish! Oh and the knitted dishcloth which has become the must have housewarming present as far as I am concerned! It was great fun getting everything together and they seemed to enjoy receiving it!

Now it is dark again and my day has gone full circle, so I will retire to my bed, listen to the owl for whom the day is just beginning, and wonder whether it will be another 5am tomorrow....

The Important over the Urgent

If you were to write down 4-5 things that were most important to you in your life, I wonder what they would be. Yesterday, I wrote down my list of 4 and then I had to ask myself a question. "If I see these as being so important, then how much time am I actually investing in each of these 4 areas?" Then, because I'm a list person (!) took each area and looked at what "investing" could look like on a regular basis in terms of my time. It was an interesting exercise as it showed me that I needed to get my act together if I want there to be a richness and authenticity in those areas.

Someone has quoted these words; "If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you always got."

I am a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!

Have wanted to "do something" with this chair for ages! It was given to me by someone who no longer had need or use for it, a few years ago. It has been my ironing chair where I have pondered many a thought whilst ironing my tea towels....and yes, tea towels AND pillowcases HAVE to be ironed and anyway it's therapeutic....







I set to work with some hot air blower contraption that Dick had unearthed from the garage, and a scraper. Soon gave up on that idea, instead grabbed some sandpaper and set about sanding by hand. A slow process, I know, but it gives you time to think and mull and sand it bit more. I did this in stages over a few days, little by little.

The dilemma was, do I sand the old painted bits that no one can see or just leave them hidden? I had to sand them because I knew they were there even if they were hidden to everyone else....and I wanted the chair to be beautiful inside and out...



I was pleased with the remnant I found for sale outside a shop in Lyme Regis a few months ago. £2 bargain, and some left over!! I am learning that you have to buy these things when you see them.



The finished result! Everything I needed, apart from the fabric, I already had, I just needed to find it in my home! I love it when I can give something a new lease of life! I think the phrase is "repurposing" or "refashioning"...