Keeping Busy

 I have been keeping myself busy with little projects, making it easy to fill my days.  Firstly, the humble chicken was roasted on Sunday for a roast dinner.  Monday more of the chicken was used to make a curry.  Today, the remaining chicken breast was used to make a chicken in pepper sauce dish with pasta and salad.  I have just finished boiling the bones and remains of the legs to make a chicken and rice broth for the freezer, its always handy to have some soup ready.  There was no waste but equally there was plenty of meat so the chicken has made 4 meals for 2 people.

The dolls house has been moved downstairs from the attic bedroom, making it easier to work on.  Gerard has also been down to the outbuilding to gather together any materials needed to work on it.  Today we worked on the roof.

One side both painted and the slate outlined, the other side painted waiting to be outlined and affixed.  Gerard made a start on looking at the electrics to see what is required.  It is a slow but very enjoyable project.  We both enjoy doing the research for it as well so new skills will be learnt along the way.

My doorstep delivery project will be ongoing for some time so I will be adding to it on a regular basis.  I will share anything that I do that is different.  More embellished paper clips for bookmarks or journals have been added.

I have also been working on gifts for my gift cupboard so I have made a selection of Harris Tweed brooches, they are a perfect gift to pop into an envelope.

They are all ready for when I need a gift.  Bibs and teething rings have also been made in preparation for a baby due in the Spring.

We have had plenty of rain but as yet no snow for which I am truly thankful.  It is making for some stunning rainbows.

I am keeping busy and filling my days well for which I am thankful.  I am also very thankful for all of you who visit and for new followers, I do hope you enjoy my little adventures through life.  Thankfully we remain in Tier 3, there has been an outbreak on Barra so that more than 10% of the population is now in isolation.  As expected they have now been moved to Tier 4.  The roll out of the vaccine appears to be going well here on the Island, for that I also give thanks.

Hope all is well with you wherever you are in the World.  Take care and stay safe.

See you soon.

Looking Forward

 I do thank you for your wonderful supportive comments on my last post, they were a joy to read and lifted my spirits. 

I don't usually share my gifts but I decided that this one is so me that I would share the pleasure.

Drum roll please...

I was blessed with this beautiful old Singer sewing machine, be still my heart.  What a joy when I saw this on Christmas morning from our eldest daughter and her little family.  The fun I shall have...  I intend to bring my old treadle table down  from the craft room upstairs so that I can display it in the hall.  It would be nice to use it now and again as well.

I have been adding to the list of what I want to get done this year.  I have a dolls house that was given to me by my youngest daughter a couple of years ago.  It is my intention to get it done this year.  Some research has already started.  Gerard and I are going to do as a joint venture.  Sadly at the moment he is having a flare up of  RA but one he is feeling better he will gather together the supplies needed from the outbuilding so that we can make a start.  

A mammoth task but one that we are both looking forward to doing.  We are finally motivated, so it is a good time to get started.

We were blessed with a couple of jigsaws at Christmas, so we have a ongoing puzzle that we are working on.  We have a jigsaw board that we leave on the table and as we pass do a few pieces here and there.  It does take a couple of weeks doing it this way but it is an added pleasure to our day.

The crochet baby blanket continues and I am doing well, making great progress.

I am finally looking forward and have started to make plans for projects and Island adventures.  All I need now is a break in the weather so that I can get started on a tour of the village for my Grandson.  I am a fair weather reporter... The vaccine programme here on the Island is going well all the care homes and NHS workers have now been vaccinated which is wonderful.  The next phase starts on Monday, the over 80s.  This will make such a difference to so many peoples lives.

Hope all is well with you.  Has the vaccine reached your area yet?

See you soon.

Winter Project

Sounds rather ridiculous when you say it out loud, a Winter project when most of the country is basking in the sun.  A heatwave, temperatures making record highs all over the Country and in other parts of the World too.  Not here, although the sun is shining a most welcome sight we are still only reaching the moderate temperature of 16 degrees.  It seems to suit Gerard very well his flare ups of RA are not as often or as extreme.  Long may that last!

Our trip to celebrate Lucy's graduation enabled us to bring back this amazing Winter project. 

Drum roll please...

A dolls house to decorate and furnish.

We are already browsing some of our books for ideas.

It is inspirational browsing, but we are NOT going to make a start yet.  We intend to save this for our Winter project.  We will work together when the winds are howling around the cottage and we are unable to get out and about to make our Grandaughter's dream a reality.

Wallpaper has already been chosen.

Some of the family need dressing, so patterns have been sourced.

I do need to find some very small patterned fabric, I don't want everything to be plain.  Whilst we have a wide variety of furniture there are no chairs, so another thing to source.

Some of it is in kit form so needs to be put together, exciting times.  It will even have lighting and of course some Christmas decor.  A family heirloom in the making.  We are hopeful that there will be many hours spent together playing with this humble house and that many treasured memories will be made.

For now it is on the list TO DO...we are not sure how long we will be able to resist its charm.  Do you plan ahead for the seasons?

See you soon.

Crafting Inbetween Packing

The packing is almost finished just the kitchen to sort out, although this could be a mammoth task with all the crockery I have stacked in some of the cupboards.  I suspect the local charity shop will have a vast increase in stock.  It has been quite enlightening sorting through our belongings and decluttering.  A start on the kitchen will begin today.  No dates have been set for completion with regards to the house sale as yet which I find a little daunting I like to work to a timetable and find it a little unnerving not having an end date to work to.

I am finding time for crafting and catching up with family and friends now the bulk of the packing is out of the way.  The dolls house is almost finished just needs a little waxing, we are hoping to pop over to Alford later today to buy some  furniture suitable for a toddler for it.

 

I hope Honey loves it as much as we loved making it for her.

 

I have also finished the second throw ready for our new home, the Arran wool used is a delight to crochet with and works up so quickly.

 

 

I have made a start on a third throw this time a zig zag pattern which is another one that works up quickly.  I intend to include a third colour into the mix but need to go to the shop to buy it.  I like the idea of a heather type colour which will brighten the muted shades a little.

 

 

Another cold start to the day so soup is in order for lunch and I have the bread making machine on making a cheese loaf, the perfect accompaniment.   Have you got a go to meal for the cold weather?

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five on Friday - House Building

As is the custom for Friday, I am joining Amy over at Love Made My Home for the weekly get together.  Gerard and I are big on lists, we have a list for a list but at the moment we are concentrating on our Winter activities list.  We do a lot of jigsaws/crosswords little wood projects and of course sewing/crochet I am sure you have the picture.  This year we want to make a dolls house, furniture and decorate it.  We bought a house some time ago (years) with a view to refurbishing it but the children loved it and play with it every time they visit.

 

We don't want to take away the pleasure from them so our plan is to add to the estate.    This week I am sharing five books that we are using to plan our winter adventure together.

 

 

We have already started to pick up small patterned fabrics and some mini tools essential for the task.  We are quite keen for it to be played with so it needs to be sturdy, some of the projects are made from paper which really aren't suitable.

 

 

We have plans to go to a miniature fair next month to get some more ideas and pick up a few bits I am sure.

 

 

In the meantime back to reality the house needs a good wipe down from sticky fingers from the last visitor.  We have no real plans just pottering this weekend, maybe a meal out tomorrow.  Have you got a favourite restaurant?

 

See you soon.