Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Happy Friday.
I hope you are having a good week and looking forward to the weekend.

A sell out with this month's Charity Kit - big thanks to you all.

The next kit will be April - ah Springtime - what a lovely thought.

So what has been happening here?

Not a great deal but I am super close to finishing the big bottom bunny cushion.

Just five more rows and ta dah - only taken a few years!

As to how soon it will become an actual cushion, now that could be another story.

Crochet

On the crochet front, I am now joining 100 squares for my 

Cath Kidston colour inspired blanket.

I enjoy seeing them all piled up but they are not a lot of use until

they resemble a blanket.

All the joining is in blue and the border will be cream and that dark reddish colour.

Joining is a bit boring but nice to see it coming together.

A couple of evenings I couldn't get warm so I snuggled under the duvet to crochet.

Bella has liked this arrangement very much! 

Squirrel!

Time for me to introduce you to Cyril the Squirrel.

Not the best photo and goodness once I saw this photo I cleaned my window!

This little character has been visiting my outside planter as I work

at my desk and he really is a highlight in my day.

I've done a little research into what squirrels eat so on his menu today

is some pumpkin seeds and chopped apple.

I know I may regret this as squirrels are destructive - 

(they ate all my tree blossom last year),

but his character and cuteness (and anything to make me 

look away from my work screen) has won me over.

Garden is still somewhat messy but I did go out and prune one of my 

clematis this week.

I watched a Monty video and I'm fairly confident I've done it correctly.

We shall see.

Telly

This time of year I think my viewing hours double.

The Nevers - Sky Atlantic/Now

A group of Victorian women suddenly gain mysterious powers and go up against 

a relentless stream of enemies to fulfil their mission which could change the world.

Yes seriously - it is like Marvel meets Charlotte Bronte! 

But actually I loved it - it's all a bit mysterious and then the final 

episode explains everything. 

Lots of well known faces pop up.

Dexter - New Blood - Sky Atlantic/Now

Dexter Morgan, a man with homicidal tendencies. 

He used to work as a forensic technician for the police department 

during the day and kill heinous perpetrators in his free time.

Can you tell I've got Now TV on an offer at the moment?!

Just a £1 a month for the Entertainment channel so I'm making the most of it.

I watched the original series of Dexter back in 2012 when I had my shop,

I remember sitting in the back room making pretty things while he 

chopped up bodies!  The fact that he kills nasty people makes it all fine,

well not really - but you actually feel sorry for him at times.

10 years on the series had me riveted so another recommendation

from me if you are not squeamish.

I've also been listening to many Audible books too which induces sleep

like nothing else - problem is I have to keep restarting chapters.

One book takes quite a while.

I am currently on book 12 of the Agatha Raisin series read by the 

wonderful Penelope Keith.

And that has been my week so far.

So quiet on the home front - so busy on the work front.

I am craving Spring so I can fill my Friday Chat Day with 

flower photos.

This weekend - catching up with family 

and possibly a clothes shopping trip with Mitchell as he is starting

his new job shortly and actually has to go into an office for training.

Take care friends and wishing you a lovely weekend.

Charity Kit Day - February 2022

 Hello friends

It's Charity Kit Day and this month we are donating to 

a charity that is close to my heart as my mum suffers with this disease.

The British Sjogren's Syndrome Association.

They are raising awareness of this disease and supporting research

into cause and treatment.

Without further ado, here is this month's kit:

A fresh white square 'For You' card with layered die cuts and 

subtle flowers and foliage.

Included in your kit:

White square card

White envelope

Die cuts – Braided Grace Square, Hemstitch Squares,

flowers, leaves, sentiment 'For You'

Full instructions

(Items you will need: adhesive, foam pads, pearls/gemstones, inks/pens)

The kits are packed in recyclable paper bags and sent in a 'do not bend' 

envelope so they arrive in pristine condition. 

To make up the kits you have full printed instructions to follow.

You just need a basic craft kit, all die cuts are pre-cut.

The kit cost this month is £4.85.

that's the total payment - inclusive of postage and packing.

Limited number available.

Payment is via the PayPal link below.

It is possible to purchase multiple kits,

there's an option with PayPal for that too.

If you would like to support the kits but do not need one right now,

there is a 'Ko-fi' button', at the top of the blog, it's not really for coffee...

all donations enable me to purchase card blanks, envelopes, the paper bags,

sticky labels etc.

It is truly a great help so lots of thanks to those who donate.

Wishing you all a lovely Sunday.

Take care friends.

Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

I hope you have all had a good week so far.

Yet again I am staggered how quickly the days fly by but 

heartened to see that longer evenings are ahead.

It's February and so far a mild one here in the South East.
I have reminded myself that for the last two years 

we have had snow in February though -

this was 7th February last year.

According to Bede, writing in the 8th century, 

February was known as the “month of cakes” because this was 

when gifts of cake were given to the gods. 

I think that just means we can eat more cake than normal. 

All my baking items are packed away in anticipation of the new kitchen,

so cake has to be shop bought right now but we are managing!

Thank you for Mitchell's birthday wishes.

We ventured out for a meal in Bluewater which felt like a real treat,

we haven't done that in ages.

It was a bit of a double celebration as Mitchell applied

and got a new job, still working within IT - he is now moving

to a company that develops software for dental surgeries.

The beauty of this job is regular hours. He has been working a 6pm - 2am

shift for quite a long time now and craving some normality.

Home

My hyacinth bowl is growing beautifully but irregularly,

unlikely to have all blooms at the same time but it will last longer.

The purple/blue is so lovely.

I'm unsure about the weathered look of the metal pot - 

I keep thinking it looks like it needs cleaning!

Crochet

Crochet squares continue on a slower pace with Lily observing the

ends that still need to be sewn in.

Yet again a project that was supposed to be stash busting will require

the purchase of a few new balls of yarn, it's a conspiracy I'm sure.

Telly

I've been catching up with Brit Box offerings and discovered

Hotel Portofino.

The daughter of a wealthy industrialist moves to Italy in the 1920s 

to set up a quintessentially British hotel in the beautiful town of 

Portofino as Benito Mussolini's brand of fascism was on the rise.

Watch this if only for the breath taking scenery.

Oh my goodness Portofino looks stunning, the vibrant

colour of the sky, sea and pastel painted properties.

Apparently some of this series was also filmed in Croatia. 

It is a nice series, it feels like one of those dramas that work for afternoon viewing.

If you happen to have Britbox look out for Magpie Murders

coming soon.  I read the book by Anthony Horowitz and it is wonderful

so fingers crossed the telly adaption is just as good.

Also on Now or Sky is The Gilded Age

Set in America in the late 1800s and written by Julian Fellows.

It is Downton Abbey - just with railroad tycoons.

With the upstairs affluent society and downstairs servants with their woes.

Very watchable even when seeing them dodge the muddy puddles 

on unmade roads in those dresses.

Charity Kit

This Sunday is Charity Kit Day, first one of the year since moving

to alternate months. Here's a sneak peek.

The post will go live at 7am on Sunday and I will post over social media too.

And that has been my week so far.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend, I'm playing catch up at home 

but hoping to fit in some crochet time.

Take care friends.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Hope my nattering finds you all well.

This week has flown by, no sooner was I dreading Monday at my desk

Friday arrived.  In fact the whole month has sped by which truthfully I don't mind -

January certainly isn't my favourite month.

Highlights of my week: Bella got a haircut.

This is what happens when you have techy sons - you send a nice photo of her

in her car seat and they slap an image of burning buildings in the background!

It did make me giggle though.

Not such a highlight was the news.  

So very sad to hear about the loss of Meatloaf.  

His music has played a big role in my lifetime.

My Dad is a fan and I grew up to Bat Out of Hell belting out of the 

speakers on a Sunday morning (or the 1812 Overture - very diverse!) 

I subsequently introduced his music to the boys and Elliott has

spent this week revisiting his songs and loving it.

Back to positive:

Crochet

I've had a flurry of blanket sales - perhaps it is the nip in the air?

I have in fact only got one cushion cover and a Sweetheart Blanket left for sale.

More details, photos and their bargain prices are in a blog post here.

I think this gives me the perfect excuse to carry on crocheting and ignore

housework!  I am still working on my Cath Kidston colour inspired blanket -

still being rebellious with not sewing in my ends.

And I'm really close to finishing this bunny rug/latch hook cushion.

I really love it but I NEVER want to make another one - 

goodness it is time consuming.

Telly

I have been guilty of watching telly rubbish/mush for the brain this week.

Do you get those periods when you just don't want to concentrate too hard?

Disney Channel - Agent Carter

Life changes for Peggy Carter after her boyfriend Steve Rogers (Captain America) 

is feared dead.  Now she leads a dual life by doing administration 

for the SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve) whilst going undercover.

So having seen all the Marvel films this is one of the telly spin offs.

Quite a lot of British actors feature - Hayley Atwell, James D'Arcy, Dominic Cooper.

It really is quite farcical, Peggy has a zillions lives - being impaled on metal rods

one day, up and about dancing the next!  

Well, who doesn't like a bit of escapism now and again?

I'm mid way through Season 2 so yes, I've binged.

Before I go, just in case it was giving you sleepless nights but that is possibly just me(!)

I made a decision on the worktop - going for the lighter colour.
Bella is still very bored by it all.

And that has been my week.  

This weekend I am catching up with family and we also have Mitchell's 

birthday on Monday so some celebrating.

Take care friends, wishing you a lovely weekend.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Welcome to another Friday Chat Day, a round up of my week

which although quite uneventful I still manage to natter about it! 

Last weekend I had a second visit to the kitchen company.

It is so nice they give you all these choices of colours and designs.

It is also not so nice because it makes it difficult to make decisions.

Bella is not a great deal of help apart from looking at me quite 

concerned at how much time I spend looking at samples.

The units are going to be a very pale grey and the dilemma is worktop colour - 

light or dark. I am keeping the existing floor tiles.

I am swaying towards lighter worktop - perhaps it will not show every crumb

and generally look bigger?

Now she's just getting bored...

Crochet

Now for something a lot more colourful.

I've started a new project, a simple granny square blanket

in Cath Kidston colours.

Yes, lots of ends and I normally sew as I go but got lazy.

I saw someone create this blanket on Facebook some time ago,

took a screenshot and I've been working it out from that.

So someone truly deserves the credit for selecting these colours - not me! 

Telly

BBCiPlayer - The Aftermath

Rachael Morgan (Kiera Knightly) arrives in the ruins of Hamburg 

to be reunited with her husband,  a colonel in the British Forces. 

The couple will be staying in the requisitioned house of German 

architect and his teenage daughter.

So just by reading the synopsis you can see trouble ahead,

sharing a house with a very dashing German gentleman when

things are rocky between in their own marriage.

It is a slow burning film but engaging.

Garden and bits

Hyacinth bulbs from last year doing their best to flower.

This Clematis has been in a sheltered spot and flourishing.

It's a strange variety with an usual leaf.

And so surprised to see this - I was waiting to prune this Clematis

once the milder weather arrives and yet is has started to grow.

This is on Darcy's shelter, I like to think it is a little message.

This weekend I am in my cabin organising February's 

Charity Kit - I will be grateful for the heater in there.

Take care friends, have a lovely weekend.

If you are venturing out - pop your scarf and mittens on.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Hope you are all well and warm.

We seem to go from freezing frosty days to warmer wetter days.

Not much sun here that's for sure.

Something a little brighter in my garden is my Winter Beauty Clematis.

Not masses of flowers but it is trying.

As for the rest of the garden, still not looking nice but I have read

that I shouldn't prune too much - I need to wait for all the frost to go.

Perfect excuse to ignore it all a little longer.

Crochet

 I revisited a finished blanket to add a wider border.

Hello Winter Blanket.

I felt the blanket was a little too small for the end of my bed.

I had visions of adding little squares but got lazy and just did rows.

I'm not convinced I like the wider border but it has made the blanket 

a nicer size.

My scarf is finished.

The colour is Peony and darker in real life.

Despite the lattice pattern it is snuggly.

It is long, wraps around twice.  I haven't really been anywhere to 

wear it, fellow dog walkers may have seen it!

I have resisted the urge to start Attic 24's CAL - Harbour Blanket.

It has been hard as I do enjoy following these things but trying to be practical.

In my mission to sort, clear and tackle all outstanding items

(it will not last - it's a January thing!)

I have been working on this rug making cushion kit.

Or 'bunny with the big bum' as it has become known.

I am nearly there - making sure I do at least 2 rows a day.

I'm finding him quite endearing and impressed how the textures are emerging.

The 'fun' will be making it into a cushion although I have cheated a little

and bought a pre-prepared panel with inserted zip.

I never knew they existed until I looked online.

Telly

A Very British Scandal

BBCiPlayer

The story of events surrounding the notorious divorce of the 

Duke and Duchess of Argyll during the 1960s. 

 

Starring Paul Bettany and Claire Foy.

Just three episodes and it was excellent, stellar acting throughout.

Detailing their difficult relationship and vicious divorce,

all of it shocking and scandalous at that time.

It's a definite recommendation from me.

Other stuff

Thank you for your very kind words on the loss of Darcy cat.

I still go to get out a feeding bowl for her, it will take time.

Thankfully the other cats do not appear to be missing her.

I look out at her place in the garden and know that it has to come down

at some point but waiting until Spring.

This weekend - I am visiting the kitchen supplier, this time Elliott

is coming with me to take a look.  I am rethinking a few things,

including the worktop so hopefully making a decision.

There isn't a great deal more happening at the moment -

(not unless you are following the news!)

I've been head down working all week - 

it feels like a January if that makes sense.

 Wishing you all a lovely weekend - take care friends.