Autumn Arrival

 Autumn has come in with a vengeance, it has been blowing a gale here all yesterday and through the night.  It has finally slowed down a little this morning but is still quite a strong wind.  Thankfully there is no damage that I can see.  I am so glad that I started my Winter preparations early and have harvested the majority of the veg from the garden.  I have dried herbs, frozen beans and made several batches of tomato sauces both for the freezer and chutneys.  Rhubarb has also been put in the freezer for a taste of Summer in the Winter months, along with braised red cabbage with pears and several packages of parsnips.  We still have ample pork from the pig slaughtered earlier in the year and traded some of it for lamb with a neighbour.  If the headlines are to be believed regarding the shortages we certainly won't be going hungry.  We might not necessarily have exactly what we want but we have plenty of food.

We have a great supply of peat, thanks to neighbours, logs, coal and kindling.  We have a good supply of candles and batteries for torches and a radio in the event of power loss.  We do feel blessed that we are in credit with the oil supply which makes it easier as fuel prices are set to reach an all time high if the media is to be believed.  My craft supplies have been replenished and I have been enjoying the process of choosing projects to do.  A start has been made on Christmas crafting but I have yet to put the Christmas music on, but it will happen soon!  A start has been made on gift toppers using Harris Tweed which I love.

They will be used to top gifts but will then make a lovely tree decoration.  A couple of pictures using embroidery frames have been made for my Grandaughter, she will be in bunny heaven.

I had a lot of fun making the pom pom as it took me a couple of times to get the white patch in the right place, but it worked out in the end.

A pillowcase has been added to the menagerie, again a bunny rabbit.

I just need to embroider the facial features on but it is looking good.  I am enjoying the process a little each day.  What are you working on?

See you soon.

Blogging Routine

 It has been a few weeks since my last post I have gone to the computer several times and attempted to write a post but to no avail.  For some reason I am unable to upload photos from my phone to my computer so I keep walking away.  I have decided to give in and write a post using my camera, as opposed to the camera on my phone I know what I am doing with that.

Gerard had quite the flare up of RA whilst away and it has continued since our return.  We are still waiting for a consultants appointment as he is need of a change of medication.  Waiting for appointments is the worst, patience is certainly needed.

Anyway, all is well here and we seem to be enjoying the last of the Summer as the days start to shorten and the temperature starts to drop.  We are hopeful that we will be able to get out and cut the grass one more time but time will tell.  We are still enjoying some of the harvest from the garden and the garden room but we do need to start thinking about clearing some of the beds.  We have rhubarb and several varieties of beans in the freezer in readiness for a taste of Summer in the Winter.  

I was blessed last week with a beautiful bouquet of flowers from our neighbours, a thankyou for help with their and house and garden whilst they are away.  It was a wonderful surprise and one which was greatly appreciated.

I have been keeping myself busy with craft projects here and there.  I have turned an old T Shirt of Hector's into a little cushion for his bedroom he is a great fan of a pig.

Christmas projects have also been started but I will share them with you in another post.  I am ever hopeful that I will get back into some sort of routine with blogging once again but life keeps taking over.  I do thank you for your patience.

See you soon.

A Quick Catch Up

 I am back from my adventures in England, back in our cosy cottage on the Isle of Lewis.  We have been back since late Tuesday but we needed a rest after our travels.  There was also a lot of laundry to catch up on and a lot of goodies in the garden to harvest and prepare for the freezer.  We now have a selection of beans to keep us going for several months.  It is a good feeling.

Sadly the spammers have been having quite the time of it whilst I have been away.  I am saddened that this goes on and have managed to delete the majority of the comments.

We have had quite the adventure visiting with my parents and our three daughters and their little families.  How those grandchildren of ours have grown and grown up but still wanted to have fun with Granny.  We visited many parks in all their guises and enjoyed a couple of farms.  Although mask wearing is not compulsory now in England we found that most people still observed both the mask wearing and social distancing so we felt very safe.  We did test a couple of times a week as a precaution and have tested twice since our return to protect our neighbours.  So far we have all negative results and are thankful.

I did manage a little shopping too, so have topped up on the craft supplies particularly the card making things that I wanted in readiness for Christmas.  It was a delight to be browsing the aisles in the stores although I did notice a big difference in the prices.  My goodness the prices have shot up since my last visit to the mainland.  There is also a lot of talk about shortages, which is a worry.  I am glad that I have a large store cupboard and freezer.

A highlight of our time away was meeting up with Betsy and her husband Dennis in London, a blogger friend from America.  We had such a lovely time together, it was as if we known each other all our lives.  The time we spent together just flew by with no awkward silences, it was a real joy to meet up with them.  Betsy was over attending the wedding of her son so it was a wonderful chance for us to catch up.

This is a quick catch up post to let you know that I am back and well, so I will close for now and start sorting through the hundreds of photos so that I can make a scrap book of our adventures.  The memories will keep me going for quite a while.

As always I thank you for your uplifting  comments and support.  I will be around to visit and catch up as soon as I can.

See you soon.

Annual Charity Tractor Run

 Thankfully I have managed to finish the quilt all ready with the tepee to go to Honey for the garden.  I am sure as we prepare to leave on our adventures that the grandchildren will be getting ready for many crafting adventures together.  We have worked out our route and where we will stay, there is quite the list of people to visit.  We are all excited and are hopeful for some good weather.  With the help of a neighbour we have managed to replace the gate to the back garden, there is also a grid on it to stop the chickens wandering.  They have behaved themselves so far.  The enormous egg was indeed a double yolker and we have had several since.  They are certainly content.

Saturday saw the annual charity tractor run drive around Ness.  It was such fun to see them go by, the proceeds going to local families who are in need of a helping hand at the moment due to illness.  It was wonderful to sit out and watch them go by and chat with friends and neighbours.  It felt so good to sit in the sunshine and interact with others, it has been a long time coming.  I thought you might like to see some of the tractors and croft vehicles...

Some cards that I made that have appeared and I am unable to remove the picture.  Blogger is been selective with the photos and not doing it in the order that I select them.

Such a fun event and for such a deserving cause.

I won't be around for awhile as we are off on our adventures and for all you budding house breakers, we have got house sitters lol!!!

See you soon.

Summer Crafting

 Good Morning, another week has flown by I am seriously wondering where the time goes?   The weather has not been anywhere near the same as the mainland with lower temperatures and some days rain, like today.  Saturday saw quite a lot of wind which has damaged quite a few plants.  Island living...I wouldn't change it.  

The chickens had a little adventure this week and escaped from the garden, they were found walking down the road.  Fences have since been repaired and they are back in a pen safe!  We are blessed with good size brown eggs daily but I thought I would share this particularly large egg from late last week.  I don't think I have ever seen one so large.

I have made time to craft this week as a friend from Church wanted me to make a brooch/corsage to match a dress.  I actually had fun making three so that she could choose which one she favoured.  Two crochet ones which were a very quick make and a Harris Tweed one.

The craft room has had a good sort out and some areas rearranged, making it easier to find and indeed get to materials needed for a project.  Storage is a lot better and much more effective.  During the clearout I did come across a project languishing in a basket which I have retrieved and am now working on.  It is a picnic throw that I started several years ago and for some reason never finished.  It is so bright and cheerful and perfect for a gift for my grand daughter who we have a tepee ready to take when we visit.  I am hoping to either sew her name into the tepee or paint her name on it using fabric paint.  I am hoping to start it later today, when I return from aerobics.

We intend to spend a few hours this afternoon working in the garden room, this area has been such an asset to us and enables us to grow a little food for ourselves.  The winds here are not conducive to growing some things outside.  We are enjoying strawberries, which for me are a beautiful taste of Summer.  I made a trifle yesterday out of about 6, such a luscious   Sunday treat.

As always I do thank you for your visit and your uplifting comments.  Cherie asked if I was a shawl person.  Yes I am, they are a comfort item for the climate we live.  Crafty in the med asked about the yarn used for the shawl. it was Paintbox Yarns simply DK.  Grandmadbeckyl asked about Debenhams, sadly the whole chain has closed the store will certainly be missed by me.  Mrs Tiggywinkle asked about Church, yes I am thankful that we are back in Church and are now allowed to sing but still have to wear masks and sit 2 metres apart.  Apparently from next week it is 1 metre apart.  Hope this helps.

I am also busy making lists as we intend to visit family and help with childcare during the Summer holidays.  We have had quite the issue booking ferries as they are all fully booked as so many people are having staycations and the Islands are a beautiful place to visit.  Tourism is indeed a great source of income for the Island so is certainly welcomed.  However, the added number of visitors is making it very difficult for Islanders to travel particularly with the reduced numbers allowed on board.  We are thankful that we have finally been able to get ferry bookings so we can now visit family.  I am also thankful for such good neighbours who will look after the cottage and chickens whilst we are away.

See you soon.

Summer Pastimes

 I have been missing in action once again and for that I do apologise.  It is a busy time of year with the garden and cottage.  We have been trying to get as many outside jobs done as possible before the weather changes and we once again are confined inside.  We have also had a trip to the mainland for a few days to trade in our old car and pick up a new one.  We drove up to Inverness and enjoyed a wonderful city break staying at The Royal Highland next to the station.  It is a Victorian building, with quite the grand entrance.  The rooms are a little tired these days but the service was exceptional.  The breakfast was mediocre but the afternoon tea and evening meal were a delight.  We booked a package which also included a free cocktail, so that was quite the treat sat in the lounge prior to our dinner.  I managed to get most of the shopping that I needed which we both really enjoyed, it has been a long time since we did any real shopping.  I must admit it was quite sad to see so many empty shops and a real gap now that Debenhams has gone.

In other news, my nieces children are now recovered from Covid and are doing well.  Thankfully it did not spread through the family.  They have been vigilant with the hand washing and testing.  I thank you for all your well wishes, they were appreciated.

I continue to dry herbs in readiness for the Winter months.  I have done extra this year so that I can include some in my little hampers.  There is a lovely smell of mint in the kitchen which I am loving.

I am always amazed how much is needed to fill a small jar, copious amounts are required.  I am thankful for the very large plant which is spreading rapidly and needs to be curtailed.  We are still enjoying rhubarb and also have loads in the freezer.  Lettuce/spring onions/rocket have been amazing and are regulars on our plates.

I have finally finished a shawl that I have been working on.  The final row seemed to take an age but was worth the effort as it cools down some of the bright colours.

These lazy hazy days of Summer are just flying by and a joyful reminder of why we moved here.  Each view/ landscape/seascape etched into my mind so that I can enjoy them time and time again.  The moorland is alight with colour and so my adventures with dying wool will begin.  I am eager to try some of the traditional methods.  Time will tell, but I am hopeful.

I am also enjoying getting back into the swing of mixing with neighbours and friends.  It has been a delight to once again chat and enjoy each others company, after the long separation of Covid restrictions.

I am going to close for now as I must get ready for my aerobics class, another step in the recovery to normality.  I will catch up with you all on my return.

See you soon.

This And That

 A week of mixed blessings regarding the weather, but finally a beautiful day today with the sun shining brightly.  It really does make a difference to my mood and has already lifted my spirits.  It is wonderful to be able to get out into the garden and not feel cold.  I was able to hang the washing out on the line, a real bonus.  Nothing beats the smell of line dried washing, particularly when it is bedding and towels. Let me give you a quick tour of the pots at the front of the house.  Be prepared once again for a photo heavy post.

Each side of the side entrance door.  Painted rocks from the beach and plants in a pair of old wellies.

Now that we have an improvement in the weather it is my intention to sort the pots out and add a few more from the collection of plants we have been growing from seed to give the front of the cottage a lift and some colour.  I love some of the cheery plant pots, they make me smile.

In other news,  Gerard is a big football fan so is enjoying the football on the TV.  He is having a wonderful time with the banter from the grandsons, it is a joy to listen to them.  Two of my nieces children have Covid with very mild symptoms but still a worry.  The whole family are in quarantine together so it will be interesting to see how many of them get it and indeed how long it takes.

We have been spending time looking at holidays but as yet are unwilling to take the risk with travel.  We have decided to take advantage of the Summer and catch up with family and then relook at going away at a later date.  There are so many mixed messages from government, it makes it difficult to know what the best thing to do is.  Have you made any plans for the Summer?

I will love you and leave you for now, wishing you a beautiful Summer/Winter where ever you are in the world.

See you soon.