September brings

There is a definite nip in the air, also a sense of  'anticipation', of holding one's breath, of almost being in limbo.

August has left and it appears that the fading summer decided to go at the same moment. The words are there, they are swirling around in my head however as soon as my fingers try to type them out, they sound/feel inadequate. So I might let them continue to swirl until they find an order that makes more sense.

In the meantime I shall leave you with a photo (or two) from last weekend. I need a shower, I've been gardening today and feel quite grubby.

Sewing

Cooling off

Discovering

Loving

I shall just leave you with this conundrum. 

How big a stick is too big? ..... 

Discuss.

Words for September.
Thank you everyone for joining in - One dear blogger missed the deadline - please go and have a look at her lovely post - Sister Sun.

Seasonal
Favourite seat/place to sit
Comforting/cosy
Delight/ed/ful
Micro/mini/teeny tiny
My own choice

Several prompts have a number of mini-versions, choose which ever feels right for you, for the photos you have stashed in your archives or the pictures you take this month.

The seasons are definitely turning, in the north we are rolling towards autumn and in the south towards spring - may be because the seasons are neither here nor there, almost in limbo, that is has made me feel the same way. I am sure that once I have come to terms that autumn has stepped in through the door, my words will flow once more - until then dear ones, stay safe xxx

Be a shepherd

Blogging and blog reading (and the internet in general for that matter), seem to have taken a back seat recently - oh don't get me wrong, I still dip in, I still post, I still read articles and search for recipes and crochet patterns,  however the lure of the garden, the invitation of a good book, the call of the crochet hook have been so much more enticing.

I have, despite the pandemic and all it's combined horrors, found reasons to be grateful and I know that others have done too - so, (with the gentle prompting of Purple Threads) I will be hosting a Five on Friday - Gratitude link up post.

If you have found small gems in your daily life which have made you smile or given you that boost that gets you through the day - a lovely email, a letter through the door, a wave through the window or shared a conversation over the hedge (at the prescribed government advised distance!) or seen a parent (or two) albeit in an airy and open space - these are things that can gladden your heart.

Do join in, it can be a simple list of joys or a longer waffle expressing your gratitude about something which has made you smile. I will be adding a link up below my list of 'smile-makers' - lets share that gentle happiness.

Sending hugs to those who need them and even those who don't!

Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. 

Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.

~Rumi

What goes around comes around

Ok, firstly - thank you for all your wonderful comments about my last post - and to answer a few queries...

Yes - he is definitely a he...he 'is all there' with the appropriate boy bits (chortle)

No - I am not expecting a sudden influx of squirelly folk moving into the garden as the male has very little to do with upbringing of the kits apart from the initial one night stand while the female then leaves and finds a new home to set up the dray for the kits.

Latest update - the little fellow has been practising being all 'growed up' and has taken to burying supplies - like little pieces of bark in the wood shavings pile - like I say - practising hahah! 

He has his breakfast from the nutfeeder round about 8ish am then he is off in to the little woodland that edges the bottom of our garden and runs along the cobbled lane. Occasionally through the day I will see him bouncing around the trees or in the garden then from about 4.30pm, the little guy scampers up his tree, has his last nibble on the feeder then goes to bed.... what a life!!

»»-------------¤-------------««

Oh and the title of today's post - What goes around comes around? Well....

Neighbour : I have a bag of plums in the freezer would you like them?

Me: Ooh yes please

Two bags of plums later and some frozen rhubarb already in my freezer = several jars of delicious jam.

Give neighbour a jar as a thank you 

»»-------------¤-------------««

Lovely Mad-cat Lady : I was shopping and found these...

Me: ooh thank you (as I open a bag to find a box of cat treats)

Lovely Mad-cat Lady: They were a good price and thought your girls would like them .... bye!

A bit later, pop over to her house with a jar of plum jam to say thank you only to be given a bag full of lovely empty jam jars to use for the next batch of jam!

»»-------------¤-------------««

 Me: Could I buy a dozen eggs off you?

Farmery type Neighbour: Yeah, but I don' want any money for them

Me: ooh thanks - can I bake you a cake?

Farmery type Neighbour : ah that will be good ta. I'll drop off the eggs later

One chocolate cake later - I'd 'paid' for my eggs.  The following Sunday .... another dozen eggs appeared at the back door ..... so another cake was baked and I 'paid' for those too.

Another week passed, then another 18 eggs quietly appeared, so I paid with a third cake. Now, a wordless transaction occurs every Sunday - eggs for cake. (Victoria Sponge has been the favourite so far)

»»-------------¤-------------««

Allotment friend : I have some excess tomato seedlings - would you like them?

Me: ooh thanks can I swap them for some sunflower seedlings? - they have all germinated

Allotment friend : Great! I can put them in my allotment

Last night two pots of tomato seedlings appeared at the back gate - bushy healthy little plants, tomorrow the sunflowers go up to the allotment - win win

»»-------------¤-------------««

Me : Would you like me to crochet you a rainbow for your window

Mature Artist friend : Yes please, that would be very kind

A few days later, knock on his door, drop off the rainbow, step back. He opens and swaps the rainbow for the most beautiful sculpture he has made for me - out of discarded items which another friend of mine discovered whilst dealing with a deceased relative's house and garden.

»»-------------¤-------------««

I have always been an advocate for financial-free transactions - a system of gentle barter and at the moment it is going well, I am still working on 'interdependance' and break away from 'independence' driven by capitalism, the old normal is edging closer and already I can see folk desperately trying to claw it back.  I realise that even if we all attempt 'The Good Life' we still have to rely on the greater world for a lot of our needs, however, by reducing and simplifying those needs - surely we reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our reliance of big business. We should be rather relying on friends, family and neighbours - making us all more self-reliant and 'interdependant'.

Just thoughts - which need to be actioned.  How are you all coping? Can you see a way forward that is better than the 'old normal'? Or do you hanker for the way things were?

PS the neighbour with the freezer full of plums? He has nearly finished his jar and has hinted that he has more plums in the freezer ..... would I like them.  Definitely!

Saturday's drop in and say hi post

Good afternoon dear ones,
how is everyone coping?

I am still taking the one day at a time school of thought, with simple plans and a gentle routine, finding the merits and joys in even the smallest things. The fire is on and the house is warm, the dog has been outside with me while I was gardening, seedling emerge daily, house martins circle the sky above our garden, buzzards whistle to each other over the fields behind us. All heartening things.

I'll be honest, I have cut back on the news, only half listening to the radio or ignoring the television, in fact I think we all have reduced our media-consumption - and it feels good. It feels lighter to avoid the bombardment of news and facts which seem to change daily and some times hourly.

Life in our house and the garden quietly bumbles on, and we fill each day with love and companionship, gardening and walking, baking and eating, bird watching and weeding, support and crafting.

It seems that a lot of folk are doing the same - finding simple pleasures doing gently mundane things and feeling unexpectedly rewarded. It goes to show that we do not need the excesses that were pushed on us as essential. 

A simpler life is so much more rewarding in my opinion - and hopefully so much less damaging.

How are you all doing? hope you are not feeling too isolated or at a loss, we are all in this together - reach out and keep in touch xxxx

Some reading and brain fodder that might be of interest ...

Prepare for the ultimate gaslighting   and  Not all Super Heroes wear capes, some wear medals and finally Global C02 emissions fall 

Things I have done today.

Made a Cushion Den for the dog....

 Read a page or two in the greenhouse

Admired and weeded around the rainbow radish seedlings 

Sprinkled sawdust along the edge of the seedling bed to deter slugs, watched intensely by my very able (ish) assistant....

Eaten a brownie with a coffee in the garden

Sifted home made compost - the finer stuff makes perfect potting soil, the rougher left overs are added to the veg trenches to feed them and to help give the heavy soil structure and texture

Making crochet rainbows to swap for surplus books

So, yes - a day full of gentle rewards and positive activities - hope you have had one of those too xxx

#staysafe #staylocal #staysane

Sunday Sunday - so good to me

Sunday - you were great to spend time with.

You wore a lingering scent of spring.

The streams were full and burbling 

sounding like laughter

You were wearing your loveliest smile,

sharing your happiness with us. 

 Sunday, I really loved spending time with you :)

Sunday - you showed me that

 I must always find time for things 

that make me feel happy to be alive

thank you x

Tuesday's thoughts

I find that the first part of the morning, once the house is mine .... 'stops'. More so at this time of the year when it is still dark outside.

I sit down with the remains of my first mug of tea, usually it has gone cold but frugality refuses to allow it to be thrown down the sink. Sometimes it is reheated in the microwave (occasionally more than once) before I finally down it. But today's I drank cold - seemed silly to spend time/money/effort to warm a mouthful of tepid tea.

This is the time I allow myself internet access. Write those emails, post those stories. Update the various facebook pages I manage, the blogs I write. Then, if I am lucky I can get out the to studio around 9am.  I love going out to the studio - I love the view from the window, the birds coming and going, the small patch of sky between the trees, observing the changing garden from robust summer foliage to softly decaying leaves and stalks.

Today is dank, wet and let's face it - dreary. Which does nothing for my mood ergo my creativity. However, I know that going to the studio, switching on the light, the radio and the heating will turn the mood around and get me feeling more motivated.

But first, kettle on - then when I am out there in my little sanctuary, I, with a mug of hot coffee, can watch the birds before picking up the brushes.

I shall just have to generate my own sunshine!

Bring on the day :) 

And you?

What are you up to today?

What little bit of sunshine made you smile?

What ever you do,

have a lovely day xxx

In which I discuss rain (briefly) knitting (a little more in detail), birthdays (to include baking) and #30DaysWild

Now, I am not one to get excited about the rain, but today I am happily making an exception as I watch the rain hammering down the window. After a rather dry winter and a gently warm and dry spring, the garden is a little parched. The water barrels have been completely emptied onto the potager keeping the veg seedlings alive. So to see the rain, steady wet stuff, makes me (and my garden) rather happy :)

In my last post, I shared a snippet of my current knitting and a smidgen of the book I was using .... Sorry J, should have imparted more detail! So, I shall reveal the finer points ..

The book I was gifted is called 'The Best Of Jane Austen Knits 27' (I have linked it to amazon but I have no affiliation nor am I paid in peanuts/wool or books by them). It is also on Ravelry HERE. The wool is DK 'Colour by Numbers' by John Arbon Textiles and has been in my stash for some years, I was lucky enough to find three whole hanks languishing at the bottom of a box. May be I should dive in head first more often!

It is a gentle rhythmic pattern with a ten row increase until the centre back, then the reversed gentle decrease. I am half way as I type and really want to get it done so I can start wearing it.

When we collect and drop of Eldest to uni, I have two hours each time of dedicated knitting time - they are the fastest two hours of the day.... I don't often decided to repeat a knit but I suspect I will with this one. May be the next one will have rich wintery colours or autumnal tints, oh, what a wonderful thought ... one for each season in the perfect seasonal colour. Yum.

Sunday was my mum's birthday and the sun was shining. It called for a picnic birthday tea in the garden. It was such a pleasant afternoon, sitting in the sun, drinking tea and eating various rather calarifically loaded goodies while watching the cats bounce on flies, flop over and sunbathe on the path, tramp through the potager with size 10 cat feet. We rather overdosed on chocolate cake, butter biscuits, scones and homemade fudge. I waved my waistline goodbye as it rapidly disappeared.... must go and find it again (but not just now!)

Youngest has been experimenting in the workshop and has been creating sparks (I try not worry, but I do a quick finger count each time he appears ... yes, still has 10 - phew)

It is still raining. Still steady earth soaking stuff. Good. The water table must be quite low, the rivers and reservoirs levels are down. 

A gentle reminder of this month's Scavenger Photo hunt, remember - only choose ten words and share with us your stories and pictures.

Then in June, I am part of #30DaysWild and will be posting a daily 'wild' themed story and photo. Our June Scavenger Photo hunt list will be similarly 'wild' but is only the usual ten words.  

I am not asking you to join in with the #30DaysWild, but do ask you to pop over and see what it is all about - you may even be inspired!

If you fancy seeing what sort of things 

I blogged during the previous two years

2015 - HERE

2016 - HERE

Busy

Another dull day, weatherwise that is, here inside, it is warm and quietly busy.

I am busy mentally wrestling with my latest piece of work, I need to step back and stare and sort out the knowing that 'it is not right' with the 'what is wrong'.

The cats are busy either sleeping or grooming themselves. Pepper has firmly placed her furry rump beneath my light pronouncing it as a 'cat sun bed'. So now I am sharing work space with my littlest helper.

Pan has declared that she is the perfect weight and shape to hold down the duvet and is busy doing precisely that.

My Youngest is in bed, busy being quite poorly. His voice has gone from his usual baritone to a rather husky squeak which he sporadically supplements with a wracking cough and snotty nose - like I say, it is busy in here today ......

As for my latest hare?

Well after frowning and thinking and stepping back - I decided it was the face and in particular the eye that was displeasing me.

  I am a little happier with it now, will leave it and go back and see - often that helps.

And you, 

what are you up to on this midweek day - is your weather grey and bleugh, 

or are you feeling too hot (as I believe some of my Australian friends are!)

do you have the seasonal snots and coughs, 

are you painting/sewing/crafting/working?

whatever you are up to - have a magical day :)

Saturday's practicing gratitude thoughts

It has been a good day - nothing outstanding, nothing earth shattering but a gentle wonderful positive day.  Chores and routine things have been completed, shopping done and meals cooked and eaten.

I've been building up my stock and quietly adding it to 'my shop' - the silly thing is ...each time I do, I take a big breath, hold before I press 'submit'. Then when its done, a moment of a heady cocktail occurs filled with fear and elation before I tell myself to 'get a grip girl' - oh what a roller coaster of giddiness. 

Already I have had sales and enquires regarding commissions, I must be going in the right direction!

Now, as an antidote and calmative,  I am crocheting more rows of my 'snuggle-rug' (as this particular blankie is quickly becoming known).

I can feel it calling me back to carry on adding more random-ish rows. I am loving the methodical rhythm of the hook as it carries the yarn through, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through ... delicious.

While I work, I can think, I can plan and I can be grateful.

I can think about the future and how positive it appearing to be.
I can plan out new art work and new designs.
And I can be grateful for all the support and belief and encouragement - it is very humbling and makes my heart go squeeeeeee!

Please excuse me, I need to go and rescue Himself, he is having to share the settee with all that yarn which seems to want to engulf him with their happy colours, warmth and cosiness and I think that is MY job! *hehehehehehehehehe*

Enjoy the rest of your weekend xxxxxxxx

I am...

I am ...

Sitting knitting chrimbly gift number three (go me!)

I am ...

Listening to the radio as we try to muffle the sounds of a continual barrage of fireworks (the dog and cats are not best pleased at the invasion).

I am ...

Writing, photographing and creating my chrimbly crafting tutorials which will be starting as from the first of December - Himself has muttered things under his breath about chrimbly arriving a month too early in our house!

I am ...

Quietly pleased that I have both my boys home (the last few weekends I seem to have only had one son or the other).

And you?

July's words

Hello hello hello,
What a contrast the weather has been from Soggy Saturday to Sunshiny Sunday! I will blog about that later on, suffice to say I am still buzzing from our walk and hope that it lasts all week!

Righto - here goes, the list for July. Write it down and pop it in your camera case or in a coat pocket so you have it should the inspiration take hold :)

June's pictures were excellent and I think the standard, the interpretations and stories are getting better and better as we go along. I am loving it!
 

A photograph inspired by a word, words inspired by the photos - July's Scavenger photo-hunt list - enjoy!

1. reflections
2. stripe
3. secret
4. red
5. contrast
6. forgotten
7. soft
8. cold
9. seat
10. my own choice

Remember to think laterally, interpret as YOU fancy, be it a current photo or a favourite one from your past. We'll reconvene and post our words and photos from Friday 29th July -  have fun!

June's hunters were -

Us - Eldest and myself

Jak's Tales

Threads through my Life

In my Playroom

Julie's Scrapbook

Sustainablemum

Granny Smith's Quilting 

Wildaboutworld 

driftwood
Winters End Ramblings

And finally - just a quick image from today's walk - by 'eck it were a gud un!

Have a lovely and Happy Monday!

Celebrating Summer #30DaysWild

Just a quick reminder (thanks Susan!) for June's Scavenger hunt - how are you all doing? We (Eldest and I) are almost there,  missing one or two but still enjoying the hunt!

A photograph inspired by a word, words inspired by the photos - June's Scavenger photo-hunt list - enjoy!

1. Stone
2. View
3. Sky
4. Trees
5. Water
6. Dwelling
7. Garden
8. Gate
9. Leaf
10. My own choice

Remember to think laterally, interpret as YOU fancy, be it a current photo or a favourite one from your past. We'll reconvene and post our words and photos from Thursday 30th June -  have fun!

This evening, Eldest and I wandered through knee high meadow grasses and flowers. We talked about the fact that we have had some sublime weather. A little while ago we revelled in glorious hot days for a number of weeks. It amused me that, as someone who grew up in the tropics - I was not phased by sticky humid days while my colleagues and friends wilted and melted like chocolate!

This evening was warm with a light breeze, it felt luxurious. The sunlight was still warm on our faces and we sat on a log and watched Miss Moss play.

She knows how to smile. Her happy face and waggy tail make us love her the more.

Then having run up and down and played until her tongue hung down almost to her knees! 

She flopped down in the grass and grinned at the sky.

Happy dog?  What do you think? I think so :)

Then, after we'd sat and chatted and watched a scatty dog filling her happy little self with space and light and play, we walked down into a neighbouring village that has, at it's centre, the village's original water supply where now walkers and their dogs go for a refreshing stop.

Moss threw herself in and played some more.

The last part of our walk took us alongside a wall encrusted by honeysuckle - it smelt divine.

The colours glowed in the low light and the bees were certainly making the most of the abundance.

This evening's DoG WaLK reaffirmed my firm belief that 

you have to make the most of what you have - 

Right Here and Right Now, 

no point muttering dark things about imperfect weather,

 it would be far better to get out and enjoy what is 'the now'. 

It makes me feel happier, 

feel a better person 

and I love the feeling of being surrounded 

and washed over by all that natural beauty and enjoying as it happens :)

I hope you too find pleasure with your own local 'great outdoors' xxxx

#30DaysWild