The Sun Makes Everything Bright

My goodness how time has flown by this week.  We have had a wonderful week of great weather, not the temperatures you get down south but good for here.  We have been enjoying pottering in the garden and sitting out in the front watching the world go by.

We have kept ourselves busy pottering, doing the garden and mowing the lawns.  Enjoying the sunshine but not so much the insects.  I have several bites from who knows what that are quite itchy.  Progress is also been made in the outbuilding with a bench been constructed out of old pallets.  It will make an nice seating area in front of the building.

It needs to be sanded for a smoother finish and stained but ideal for what we want it for.  We have also made a work bench that I think is looking good.  That was also made out of pallet wood.

More masks have been made, I tend to make a couple a day.  I don't think Islanders are particularly worried about the pandemic as there have been so few cases here.  I will say that everyone is doing as advised and wearing masks is compulsory on public transport and enclosed spaces.  The pattern I used is off the internet.  There are lots of patterns and demonstrations available on Youtube I browsed them until I found an easy one to do.

Other sewing continues, a couple of bags made with Cath Kidston fabric are all ready to solve a storage issue in my bedroom.  Lavender bags were also added.

I quite enjoyed the experience of making them and they add to the ambience of the room, whilst giving a little extra storage.  The smell of the lavender is quite relaxing too.  I dried it from last years growth which was cut and simply dried in a brown bag, stalk as well. 

I have mint hanging in the kitchen at the moment, already drying out ready for the Winter months.  It is nice to have a selection of herbs dried ready for the stews and soups.  As from Thursday we were allowed out for a walk, I can't tell you how wonderful that was to be able to leave the confines of the garden was a real delight.  We intend to have a walk along the beach and  enjoy our little adventures out and about once again.  We are living in strange times but for us it has made us stronger.  We have got on with it and made the best of a horrible situation.  As we go through the phases coming out of lockdown I am starting to look forward now and have started to plan seeing the family.  Not sure yet when that will be but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  The sun makes everything feel better and makes everything bright...

Hope all is well with you.  Take care and stay safe,

See you soon.

Another Day...Another Bag

We  got a break from the rain yesterday and the slight breeze quickly dried up the ground.  I finally managed to get the lawn cut, I must admit it was hard going.  The edges have still to be done, along with the front lawn but a start has been made.  We woke to more rain this morning so it probably won't be today.  The rain is doing wonders for the herbs and the few crops I have.  I have an abundance of salad greens and onions, which we are eating daily.  I have picked some more mint and hung it up to dry.

The parsley from the garden made a wonderful sauce for the makings of a fish pie, cod, salmon and smoked haddock covered in parsley sauce and then topped with creamed mashed potatoes, yum!

Another two fish pies added to the freezer for those busy days.

We have an abundance of eggs too at the moment so I have pickled a dozen using a Amish recipe I found on the internet.

Another bag has been added to the gift cupboard, I think this has been my favourite so far.  Another bag using Cath Kidston fabric with a red spot lining.

The pattern I use for these bags is in a book that I purchased from The Works, Sweet and Simple Handmade.

Finally, I have embellished a couple of notebooks for a little something for two of my Grandaughters.

Again I used  scraps of Cath Kidston fabric and embellished with some lace, a button, a wooden motif and wooden letter tiles.

As always I do thank you for your visit to this blog and for your uplifting and supportive comments.  Gerard thanks you for your well wishes, he is feeling a lot better today so is going to potter about a little.  A warm welcome to new followers I do hope you enjoy my adventures through life.

See you soon.

Indoor Pursuits

Thankfully the weather is improving here a little whilst we are still having rain it is not the heavy downpours we were having.  My heart goes out to all those who have been affected by these latest floods that are causing havoc around the UK and indeed the world.  We are certainly living in strange times weatherwise.  My grass is in dire need of cutting but it is still too wet to get the mower over it.  Tomorrow is another day...

In the meantime indoor pursuits are once again in progress so a few rows of crochet here and there have been added to the Nordic Noir shawl.

I love the simplicity of this pattern and it will work so well through the seasons morphing from a wrap into a thick Winter scarf.  The shawl is made in one piece from the top down, working in rows to form a triangle.

The sewing machine has been out and I have made a Christmas table cloth to line a hamper that I have in mind for my parents.

I have enough fabric left to edge a couple of tea towels.  Using the same pattern fabric but in a different colour I have also made a table runner with once again enough fabric to fancy up a couple of tea towels.

Two more bags have been added to the gift cupboard.  One using a Cath Kidston fabric and lined with a yellow check.

The pocket was a scrap of plain yellow fabric.  The other bag was Christmas fabric lined with a plain cotton inner.

Brooches are always a great make that can be popped inside an envelope, so I have made some for the gift cupboard using some Harris Tweed scraps that I had and used a felted flower for the centres.

As Gerard has had a flare up of RA he too has been taking things easy and enjoying reading, doing crosswords and jigsaw puzzles.  We were at the hospital yesterday so a change of medication should improve things and he was given a steroid injection which should make him a little more comfortable.  As I am typing this the rain has once again started, any hope of getting anything done outside is quickly fading.

Whats the weather like in your neck of the woods?

See you soon.