Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Welcome to Friday Chat Day and I hope this week you've seen some sunshine.

A true sign that Winter is nearly behind us.

I had to squint and look really hard but I found signs of

Spring in my garden this week, tiny buds of life

and daffodils flowering -  it felt absolutely joyful.

I think I may have lost a few plants that I put in last year,

the snow was too much for them but a lot have survived in my tiny tiny garden.

Looking forward to the next few months to see what appears.

Crochet:

I've been all over the place with crochet this week,

deviating from my main projects and starting something new.

I've been wanting to make a Christmas toned blanket in the 

Harmony squares design using less rounds.

Yes, with the first signs of Spring I thought...Christmas! 

My progress so far, I'm liking it and looking forward to designing a border.

Telly:

Upstairs Downstairs - BBCiPlayer

First aired in 2010 I decided to re-watch this drama.

I do vaguely remember the original 1970's series.

There's two seasons to digest so settle down with plenty of tea and biscuits.

It is thoroughly entertaining.

Some familiar faces and goodness me does Keeley Hawes ever stop working?

She seems to be in so many things.

Claire Foy (before her Queenie days in The Crown) plays a fantastic part.

The Captor (aka Stockholm) - Amazon Prime

After taking hostages in a Stockholm bank, ex-con Lars Nystrom 

demands the release of his old partner in crime from prison. 

As the situation escalates, Lars starts to let down 

his guard as he develops a bond with one of the female employees.

So this was an interesting film, based on a true story of a bank raid in 1973

and where the term 'Stockholm Syndrome' originates.

It is quite incredible and farcical at times.

Other stuff:

This week at home has been very computer based, our own IT department.

We (mostly Mitchell!) has been setting up new laptop, monitor, 

docking station, webcam and more.

Since the reshuffle at my city job I'm now working for a different team

and I've entered the world of commercial conveyancing.

I've been sent a whole office set up as going forward, like many firms,

flexible working will be in place - hurrah - less coach journeys.

Mitchell and his apprentice...

I am learning SO much new stuff and I admit to feeling quite 

overwhelmed at times, finding my way around online searches and Land Registry

but thankful the team are wonderful and very helpful.

Also we were all told to take a 'well-being' day off so yesterday was my day.

I'm not sure I embraced the 'well-being' - I cleaned Elliott's flat!

Perhaps that large gin in the evening counted though.

Lily questioning this working from home lark!

She is no help whatsoever with commercial conveyancing.

No recipe this week but I can confirm the air fryer is in full use

by Mitchell - he and Bella shared a packet of air fried bacon this week!

He also perfected his brownies by adding a whole bag of chocolate chips...

This weekend...cabin bound as working on the March Charity Kit.

Thinking I may have to do some housework, it is so easy to leave things

when there are no visitors but now when the sun occasionally shines

goodness I can see the dust! 

Take care friends, keep well and safe.

Much love,

Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Happy Friday!

In a world where hair makeovers are only possible if you are a dog, 
I give you a Bella 'before and after'! 

Monday...

Tuesday...

I'll be honest I do actually prefer the 'before' all cuddly and curly.

It grows so quickly so I'm not fretting,

she also has to have a regular manicure - alright for some!

Recipe:

It's an easy peasy one this week and all credit to Mitchell.

A homemade take on Ratatouille aka using up fridge items!

Slice a courgette, onions and tomatoes.

Pour into an ovenproof dish a carton of passata or tin of chopped tomatoes

(you may want to drain them a little to reduce liquid).

Arrange all your slices. 

Sprinkle with dried herbs.

You can if you wish top with grated cheese, 

(we had ran out so told ourselves we were being healthy).

Cook for 20-30 minutes until onion is soft.

Serve with pasta and/or garlic bread/crusty bread.

And update on the air fryer (featured on last week's Friday Chat Day

if you missed this riveting gadget update!)

Mitchell breaded some chicken and that cooked up lovely.

Simply floured, egg and breadcrumbs whizzed in a little mixer.

And he even made some chocolate brownies,

although they were more like little sponge cakes - not complaining!

Crochet:

Hold onto your hats...it isn't a blanket!

It's a scarf and a gift for a friend whose birthday is today.

I checked - she's unwrapped it already.

It was lovely to crochet something that worked up quickly.

For crocheters out there, it is treble stitches into the back loop

to create the ridges.

Adding the tassels took longer than making the scarf!

I found out how to do those from a YouTube video.

Yarn is from Aldi, I ordered three balls not realising they were 

humungous so I should be able to make around another 20 scarves!

Telly:

I think I spent longer this week looking for things to watch than actual viewing.

My search did uncover this gem on Amazon Prime

Dark Waters

A tenacious attorney, played superbly by Mark Ruffalo, uncovers a dark secret that 

connects a growing number of unexplained deaths to one of the 

world's largest corporations. 

Warning: you may be checking your saucepans after watching this...

And I will leave you this week with a snowy scene and a beautiful fox.

My sister sent me a video showing her regular morning visitor,

she drinks from the pond in their garden.

Have a lovely weekend, we are promised mild weather and my goals

are to tidy cabin, plan the Charity Kit for March and get out

into my tiny garden that has generated quite a lot of gardening challenges -

i.e. what is dead or alive?

Take care friends, keep safe, keep well.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Happy Friday and brhhhh - it's so cold!

Hope you are keeping warm, safe and well.

Thank you for joining me for another round of ramblings and natterings.

Crochet:

I've fallen behind a little with the Attic 24 Meadow Blanket CAL,

possibly because I'm doing two projects  - the stripes and the Harmony squares.

And because I've been distracted this week, flitting from one

thing to another and not really achieving a great deal.

No particular reason - do you have days like that?

It's all fine on the crochet front, I think there is a catch up week soon so I'll be 

able to get back on track and sew in all the ends. 

Loving the colours, I'm following the colour story design which starts with 

the darker colours and works up to the horizon and skyline.

This is just a snippet photo, the finished design will show the shading in its glory.

I did find time to do this - a blanket stack.

I had seen pictures on Instagram like this and thought I would have a go.

I just piled up the blankets that were in the lounge so not all of them(!)

It has made me smile, each one is a single bed size.

My Folksy shop is down to one item as just sold the cushion cover 

so I need to get that crochet hook working. 

Home:

Storm Darcy has definitely made an appearance.

We've had Storm Bella earlier this year and now Darcy,

both names of our pets.

I took this photo before a second lot of snow arrived so it is in fact a lot whiter now.

My city job kindly sent me a gift voucher for Christmas and I've just got around

to spending it.  I'm questioning whether this is for me as Mitchell selected it.

It is an air fryer.  All new to me, do you have one?

So it works by hot air - like a fan oven but with little or no fat so healthier.

With that in mind the first thing we cooked was chips!

Even forgot to photo them as they were yummy and demolished in seconds.

We then tried carrots, I love roasted carrots and the air fryer did them perfectly.

We've done salmon - delicious and only took 12 minutes.

And then, (because this is a new gadget and we get excited)

we found a fruit strudel in the freezer and put that in.

Came out fabulous.

I'm thinking this is a good purchase if only because

Mitchell is using it and doing the majority of the cooking.

Tons of information online and YouTube videos if an air fryer appeals to you.

This lady Fabulessly Frugal (yes spelled like that!) on YouTube is very good.

Telly:

Margie recommended The Dig on Netflix last week,

wonderful thank you.

Based on a true story and starring Ralph Fiennes as Basil Brown,

it tracks the excavation at Sutton Hoo in the late 1930s.

It's wonderfully shot and the interaction of the other 

characters is very touching.

Indian Summers - Amazon Prime

First aired on Channel 4 in 2015 and I'm just watching it!

 Set in the foothills of the Himalayas during the summer of 1932. 

It focuses on the social politics behind the decline of the 

British Empire and the birth of modern India. Sounds a bit heavy going doesn't it?

Do not fear - there's all sorts of relationships and sauciness going on! 

Julie Walters plays a magnificent part.

Charity Kit:

Lots of thanks to those who have purchased, they are on their way but

I suspect some extra delay with the snow.

If you missed it/fancy another one there are a few left.

Please visit the blog post here.

And that wraps up my week.

This weekend - Elliott is having his vaccination,

he is on the CEV list so has queue jumped considerably.

I'm hoping to have mine by May/June.

I think the weather calls for a roast dinner - I wonder how much of that will

be done in the air fryer! 

Take care friends - keep safe, keep warm, keep well.

Much love,

Charity Kit Day - February 2021

 Hello friends

Thank you!

Thank you for stopping by and welcome to this month's Charity Kit Day.

Each month a donation is made to a different charity and this month

it is Bumblebee Conservation Trust who are working

to increase the number of bumblebees and encourage a world

where they are thriving and valued.

To keep track of charities there is a tab at the top of my blog 

here.  It is now updated with the 2021 chosen charities, clickable links and 

there's general kit info there too

And here is this month's kit:

A clean and simple colourful heart card with a nod to 

Valentine's and the current situation.

There's a little something extra inside the card...

a second heart.

Included in your kit:

Ivory card blank

Ivory envelope

Pale blue card mat

Ivory card mat with printed sentiment – 

'No matter the distance apart you're always in my...'

A4 textured card with printed ruler

Die cuts – Hearts x 4, flowers and leaves

Full instructions

(Items you will need: adhesives, inks/pens, 

foam pads, pearl, enamel dot or gemstone, scissors/paper trimmer)

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

envelope so they arrive in pristine condition. 

This month it will be an A4 'do not bend' envelope to accommodate your ruler cut out.

To make up the kits you just need a basic craft kit, all die cuts are pre-cut.

You can of course change the design and use both hearts and ruler stems

on the front of the card. 

The kit cost is £5.95 - now reduced to £3.00!
 that's the total payment - inclusive of postage and packing.
 
Payment is via the PayPal link below.

£3.00

If you wish to purchase but would prefer not to use PayPal, please email me:

hope-chances@live.co.uk

I'm happy to help with alternative payment arrangements.
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 used each month.

It is truly a great help each month with Ko-fi donations,

so massive thanks to those who donate.

And, just before I go and start printing postage labels, there is still a few kits

remaining from last month - I truly did buy lots of tea bags! 

The link to January's kit is here.

Take care friends, enjoy your Sunday.

We may actually get snow here today.

Friday Chat Day

 Hello friends

Happy Friday and hopefully it's not too early in the day to show you an array of food!
These were the charcuterie boards I put together for Mitchell's birthday.
The second one I made up for Mum and Dad, they joined us via Facetime.

Glad to report the boards were a success.  Would I make them again?
Yes, but allow myself more time, I seriously underestimated how long it takes to curl
ham slices, arrange carrots, celery etc.

Also cheese and pineapple isn't normally found on a charcuterie board -

that's an Emberson thing!

Crochet:

I am still managing to keep on track with the Attic 24 Meadow Blanket 

Crochet Along. I believe the final colour rows will be announced today and then we will

be embarking on the border.

There's a brilliant Facebook Group - Hooked on Attic 24

and I was delighted that they used my blanket as the background for their banner pic.

My crochet has certainly changed in two years,

I didn't like granny squares or bright colours when I first started.

I also finished a cushion this week.

I've put it up for sale initially here on my blog - the yarn tab here

in case any of my lovely followers would like it.

I'm near to finishing a second one - busy crochet fingers!

I went with a plain treble crochet back and rainbow buttons to insert the cushion pad.

I'm sending it out as a cover only (easier to post), it just needs a 

14" x 14" cushion pad, I've found the cheapest on Amazon here

they are polyester hollowfibre and do the job.

Feel free to pop over to my Yarn tab for more details.

I was thrilled to have sold two blankets this week through my Folksy shop 

so the stock there is a little depleted - another reason to crochet more! 

Telly:

As you can imagine quite a lot of viewing again this week,

weather has been so wet and bleak it is the perfect excuse.

The Queen's Gambit - Netflix

It's about chess! 

Well it is is and it isn't - the story follows the life of Beth Harmon, 

an orphaned chess prodigy and her rise to the top of the chess world 

while struggling with drugs and alcohol. 

Taking place in the 1950's to 1960's - the fashion alone is wonderful.

His Dark Materials - Seasons 1 and 2 on BCCiPlayer

I remember talking about season 1 back on my blog in November 2019

and being very excited after the first episode. 

I've now reached the end of season 2 and truly hope that season 3 comes around soon.

Based on Phillip Pullman's novels in an alternative universe that

looks very much like ours except each person has a Dæmon - 

an external physical manifestation of a person's 

'inner-self/soul' that takes the form of an animal.

It has to be said again - I love the idea of having a Dæmon

but imagine the shame of a slug or something instead of a soaring eagle! 

I love this series, it's very moving and gripping, with stars like James McAvoy,

Ruth Wilson and Lin Manuel Miranda not to be missed.

And finally my friends this Sunday is Charity Kit Day.

Here's a little sneak peek.

This month's charity is the Bumblebee Conservation Trust 

A friend of mine has bees and she said it is always a worrying time 

after Winter seeing how many bees have survived.

Please stop by the blog on Sunday, post goes live at 7am

and I will also post on social media with links.

That wraps up this week's natterings.

I would dearly love to get into the garden this weekend and do some pruning

but the rain just isn't stopping right now and everything is soggy.

Oh well - crochet it is then! 

Take care friends, keep safe, keep busy.