My own choice - walking

 31st December :  My own choice

This one photo was randomly chosen out many, because of its representation of what 2020 was to me - walking.  (I may, or may not have chosen more than one ... but equally you may not have noticed either....)

Walking on my own with this wonderful if slightly mad dog, walking with a bubble group when it was permissible, walking with a friend, walking with Himself and always always accompanied by Moss. 

I could have picked any one of the hundreds of pictures of her, but the first photograph - taken in September one late and still very warm afternoon - was the one that did it for me. She found an old stone trough in an empty field. Unusually it was full of clean water and she slipped in like a furry slug and wallowed in the water. She makes us laugh, she knows when I am down, she squishes my feet when they are cold, she begs for biscuits by trying to be cute, she runs 100 miles an hour and can see nothing wrong with a full body mud pack .... her joy for life and capacity to love and forgive is something we should all try hard to emulate (but may be not the mud pack).

Moss and walking helped me through a lot of 2020, and despite all the vitriol, the hatred, the fake news, the scaremongering, despite the restrictions, the lockdown, despite the negativity, the strangeness of it all - this year allowed me to blossom. I was given the luxury of space, of time away from people to still my mind, find my creative mojo and find myself.  Good bye 2020 may you just fade to a memory now.

On that note dear ones - have a quiet, safe and loving New Year and may 2021 be just a little kinder to us all xxx

Thank you for being there 

In which I mention walking, snow flakes, tasty treats, tree decorating and other similar festive asides

On Thursday,  after several postponements, social distancing requirements and the vagaries of the weather - I finally met up with National Trust rangers and an artistic researcher for a magical, wet and misty walk in the woods in Upper Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales. We were there to discuss an incredible joint venture.

We walked through Yokenthwaite Farm - already well known in the area for it's picturesque setting and the handmade porridge and granola business that originated from the farm. It now it is more widely recognised as being one of the more important farms in the latest James Herriot 'All creatures great and small' tv series.

The path took us up in to a straggly wood - now looking all the more sparse - not only due to the season but to the every increasingly prevalent Ash die back - a virus killing off all the native Ash trees across Europe. We were meeting to discuss a way of marking the demise and the long term loss such a large and statuesque tree has on the countryside.

It was a deeply interesting walk, mixing art with science, folk law and faerie stories, planning rejuvenation with installation, regeneration with public involvement and benefit.  It is going to be a long project.

As apprehensive as I am, this is something bigger than I have been involved with before and it is deeper with serious generational longevity and ecological significance - what a project to be part of. 

On a lighter note, our village trail on the theme of snowflakes is gathering pace (was a light flurry and now is becoming bit of a snowstorm!). It is lovely seeing all the decorations.

With 2020 being not a normal year (not that you need reminding) we have had to forgo our traditional festive wreathy day - the first time since 2004 we've not had one. This week, there is going to be a small (as in just myself, Youngest and GF) gathering and we are going to make wreaths and festive foliage ties. I usually just make for our home and a couple of special friends but this year I am going make as many as I can and gift them to those who can not get out to collect the greenery for themselves.

One of the traditions which happens every year during our festive wreathy making - a very dear friend, one who I dearly love, always brings a pepparkakor tree (a Swedish gingerbread) and seeing we were not getting together for the workshop, it was one more thing to mourn.

So you can imagine my delight when, on Saturday she unexpectedly turned up bearing the most beautifully gingery hot and spicy pepparkakor tree - she and her lovely partner sat outside, fingers wrapped around mugs of tea, while Himself and I sat at our doorway doing the same, as we had a sorely missed catch up.  Thank you wildaboutwords - your thoughtfulness still brings a lump to my throat xxxxx

Continuing with thank yous - thank you everyone who shared their festive bakes and recipes - they were amazing - some of you are prolific bakers (looking at you lovely lady) and if you are wondering what I am talking about - just follow this LINK to see some super tasty makes and bakes :)

Our next themed link up is this Friday and is 'Trees' - really looking forward to seeing your wonderful blogs xx

ps Talking of trees, I finally dressed mine this weekend, Himself brought in Treebeard (yes our chrimbly tree has a name and he lives freely in the garden) for me, I think we have had him frolicking in our garden for nine years now - he is looking little rough this year (mind you - don't we all?!) so I think his 2021 treat will be to be re-potted so he can spread his toes a little :D However, it is his time to shine - repotting can wait till warmer (drier) weather xx

That s'no storm!

 Wow! What a wonderful response to Friday's link up - Decorations - I am delighted so many festive folk joined in ! thank you so much :) and if you are wondering what on earth I am talking about have a look HERE - there are 12 lovely blogs to have a look at all sharing their favourite decoration stories - really worth visiting :D

If you remember, a couple of months ago our village adapted the usual Halloween shenanigans so to make social distancing possible while still allowing the mini monsters to be out and about all dressed up and excited. It was soon followed (you may recall me grinding my back teeth) by 'Spot the Poppie's'. It seems that the village as a whole rather like having a reason to 'play' and dress their homes ... so now we have 'Follow the Tinsel Trail' with a theme of snowflakes.

Cue lots of snipping and cutting and in some cases cussing when snipping too close and 'altering' the desired shape!

There was such a flurry of little snipperty bits, despite trying to keep them under control.

It is such a long time since I make paper snowflakes, I remember doing them with the boys whilst they were still at junior school - they are a wonderful mix of frustration and fun - that anticipation when I unfolded them was something I'd forgotten (and enjoyed!)

The silvery lines and streaks behind the paper snowflakes is the light on the wet rowan tree in the garden and the eagle-eyed of you will spot where I over enthusiastically snipped the snowflakes - oops. 

Well they kept me relatively quiet (bar the cussing) 

and certainly entertained for a little while on Sunday evening. 

A gentle reminder that this Friday will be our second Chrimbly count down and the festive theme is Baking - here is to some yummy posts - hope you can join in with the fun :D

Wot EVERY Friday???

Morning! I have just broken off from knitting to make myself a cinnamon coffee and spend a little time with you.

Firstly thank you everyone who joined in with November's scavenger photo-hunt and took the time to read and comment on our posts - it is really good when we share our stories.

I thought I would reiterate my plans to continue through out the year - with 2020 being a year on it's own, I thought why not? - we won't be having the usual festive parties or the works-do or the friends get-togethers with mincepies. So this December's photo-hunt, although not a replacement, hopefully will go someway to making you feeling a little more festive. Now, here is the plan .... 

EVERY Friday we will post a SINGLE** photo and a mini story - all festively inspired, giving you a chance to blog a memory or to share how this year will be different for you. 

There are three Fridays in December, with the 4th being Christmas Day.  So the final day we will post will be THURSDAY 31st December - a sort of final hurrah to 2020.

edited to add ** From the general reaction it sounds like you might like to post more than one image per prompt! That is wonderful so please do!!  the more the merrier!

So here goes ...

4th December :  Decorations - a favourite one - was it inherited, did your kids make it or was it one you bought on a whim and love dearly?

11th December : Baking - festive or otherwise and may be share the recipe so we can all have a taste :)

18th December : Tree - a snap shot of your tree, this year's, last year's, the black and white one of you as a tiny tot helping to decorate,  the one on the village square, that shiny white one in the shop, a native tree bedecked with lights and bird feeders - any festive tree :) 

31st December :  My own choice - the door is open for you to choose a photo from 2020, it can be one you have already shared or a new one, but one that you will always associate with this year ....  2020 will be one to remember for so many reasons x

I will post up a link up party page, just add your link and lets have a virtual festive get-together each week,  I hope you will join in - even if it is only once or twice - but do join in :)

So - a recap:

Friday 4th December - Decorations

Friday 11th December - Baking

Friday 18th December - Tree

Thursday 31st December - My own Choice

You up for it? Brilliant! I knew I could count on you xxxx

All photos in this post courtesy of Pixabay.

That creative buzz

Thank you every one who joined in the conversation about all things Millie - I really enjoyed not only making her but reminding myself of things I did know and learning lots that I did not! There was a touch of sadness as I pushed the parcel into the postbox - although I know she was not mine, I did rather fall in love with her and her story!

It brought back happy memories of toy making when the boys were little and re-intensified my love of making small things with lots of detail.

I have been happily invited to display and sell some of my tiny folk makes - so I took down some needle felted creatures and...

...my latest fun size makes - knitted brooches. I have already sold some which has delighted me and I have had such lovely feedback - it really gives you that buzz of HaPpInEsS :) 

My small but happy display of tiny-folk-makes :)

Any hoo, yesterday I suddenly wanted to make a knitted bear (no I don't know why either) and to soothe that need, I ruffled around in a basket full of odd yarns and wool. It was a bit of a pot luck selection but I found a warm cream coloured yarn and began.

Knitted flat, there is an awful lot of increases and decrease to create the tubby tum shape and the little short legs - I am as I type, just taking a break from stuffing the fellow before adding facial details and potentially other fun things like a scarf or a patch or both! (just looked at the photo and flattened out ted looks like a rather anemic turkey 😆)

I think my creative mojo has returned - it took a year's sabbatical but I can feel the well overflowing with the need to make/create/bake/sew/knit/crochet - there is only small (but vital problem) I only have two hands!! 

Any hoo, where this leads to is - have a good Friday and a lovely weekend, speak to you soon xxxxx

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ  ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ  ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ  ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ   ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ 

Listing somewhat

Morning!

Another driech and damp day - to look through the window is to see a pale grey nothing with dank and dripping trees. 

Our weekend of high winds and heavy rain has stripped nearly every leaf from the trees taking all autumnal colour, leaving skeletal branches and twigs scratching at the nothing-sky. I have had to postpone today's work as it was outside and reschedule for a hopefully drier Wednesday.

So it means I will have to make my own colour and cheer today. I've written myself a list whilst drinking cinnamon coffee.... it goes a bit like this.....

• look after the incontinent fire (yes you read correctly, an oxymoron that - incontinent fire.... )
• mend palazzo pants, co-op bag, finish XXXX's dress, finish journal cover
• find brooch clasps
• fold up halloween bunting (only if dry) ✅
• varnish tall pot
• finish autumnal door wreath
• finish sorting out yarn spaghetti
• front window troughs
• find mini frames
• Sort out November's words etc ✅
• Wash dog bed (in the washing machine right now)✅

Some of my list is easily do-able with very little effort giving me the satisfaction of a ✅ where as others require a little more application...... so, I shall finish my coffee first then work my way through.  Am I the only one to add things to a list just so I can ✅ them off ??!

So, what's on your Monday to-do list? 

How are you going to make your day full of colour?

Do you write lists and more to the point do you actually complete them? (I never do - coz I always add more as I go along!)

And talking of lists, here is the Words for November 2020

Houseplant/s
Ring/s
Harbour
Window
Sky
My own choice
We will show and share our stories - Friday November 27th.

Thank you everyone who joined - those who posted their photos and shared their stories - thank you for letting us into your lives and your corner of the world. Thank you to those who popped in and said hi and commented - your comments are always a delight and most welcome.

We all need contact and conversation at the best of times and let's face it - this is not particularly the best of years, however, we can make the best of what we have and not let ourselves be squashed by all the rubbish that is out there. We can all make a difference even if it is only for ourselves, our families or our immediate surrounds, if we all do that - then the world will be a better place.

Have yourselves a good (and positive) Monday (with just a little bit of sunshine on the side please!)

Ah delightful - the rain is thundering down again and lashing against the windows - the new troughs won't need watering then will they (see a positive for everything :D )

Five on Friday

To be able to walk out of my home, into the garden.
To be able to walk the dog through countryside from our home.
To be able to listen to the birdsong and watch fledglings learning to fly.
To be able to work in my greenhouse, growing vegetables and salad for the family.
To be able to hug my immediate family and see (at a safe distance) my parents, friends and neighbours.

These are things I am truly grateful for.

Thank you xxx

***The first entry has come through via 'bloglovin' and unless you are a member you will have to sign in - very simple to do and will give you options to see new and different blogs from a different platform.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Morning Monday - what have you planned today?

Morning!

Hope Monday finds you feeling positive :) Sending hugs for those who need them (and lets face it - we all need a hug every now and then xx) What are you all up to? Go on, tell me - I'd love to know what you have planned, I am off gardening for a couple of hours - surrounded by the sounds of lapwings and curlews.


Thank you everyone who joined in with the Scavenger Photo Hunt - these pandemic restrictions are providing some lovely photos as you use alternative sources for your contributions - whether from the archive or on your daily allowed exercise or as in the case of Jak - who is an avid 'Africam' webcam watcher, managed to capture images from the daily activities of the animals of an African game park to fit the list of words - very clever. I know that a number of you do find joining in hard, I understand - inspiration has to be found from alternative quarters at the moment - but use that as an incentive to look with different eyes :)

This month's words are simple shape related prompts - let's see what you can come up with!

Triangle
Circle
Splat
Square
Star
Your own choice (and if you can continue the shape theme that would be great fun!)

Have fun, most of these shapes could easily be found within your home or if you know you have the perfect photo in your archives - brilliant, we would love to see it here :)

We'll share and show our stories and photos from Friday May 29th and through out the weekend.

Have fun hunting your pictures xxxxx

One for me

Recently I have been making rainbows for folk to hang in their windows. Just a small 'something' that gives me pleasure to make and pleasure to hand over.... this weekend one was made for me and I was absolutely delighted .....

Thank you Fran💖🌈

Happy (Blue) Friday!

Another gorgeous blue sky day - we awoke to a frosty nip to the air. The wind has arrived, still gentle, still teasing and not showing (yet) it's full promised potential - long may this benign moment last :)

I just popped in to say thank you for your kind comments from yesterday and to wish you a lovely weekend. Also to add a gentle reminder that next Friday (14th February) is not only Valentine's day but I will be posting up a Five on Friday - Gratitude link up too.

If you are new to this or have decided you might like to join - think on five things that have made your day that little more nice. That perfect coffee, this beautiful sunshine we have been getting, that rain you desperately need. It could be a word from a friend or even a stranger that made you glow or it could be a book you have read, cover to cover and it has left you feeling different.

Then, next Friday, post about your 'Five on Friday - Gratitude' and come and leave your link so other folk can pop in and visit and share in your gratitudes.

It is a gentle way to realise that despite all that is going on, all that is hurtful, hateful and saddening, there are small spotlights of happiness and gratitude which make a real difference as you journey through your day.

Have yourselves a lovely weekend xxxxx

Mittens

Thank you for the lovely comments on my last post - I am still smiling every time I think of our walk and the murmurations - definitely a walk to mark down as a 'gud'un '.

It was the first trial of the new knitted slouchy hat - not as slouchy as I thought it would be but oh so toasty and snug - no cold ears or head for me on that walk! In fact I was so impressed with how roasty-toasty my head was, I am using up the remaining wool to make matching mittens.

Knitting mittens (with flip top fingertips) will be pushing my knitting ability to the max! The last pair I made and loved and unfortunately lost on a walk - I crocheted - which was a lot easier.

Time to put the kettle on, it is getting light outside - in fact, despite the generally cloudy and dreary weather, it is getting noticeably lighter both in the mornings and evenings - it makes life so much easier :)

I am off to knit and natter this afternoon - would be good to finish the first mitten and get the second one on the go.

Have a lovely Tuesday -- oh oh I nearly forgot! The more eagle eyed of you will have noticed that February's words are up. Have a look at them and hopefully be inspired - some of the words can actually interpreted in different ways - not necessarily the obvious one :D have fun with them xxx

We'll share and show our photos and stories on Friday 28th February..... til then - happy hunting :)

Heart/s

Repair

Tail

Key

Knot

My own choice

January's 5 on Friday

Welcome to my Five on Friday - a lovely way to express gratitude for those little things that made me smile.

• having the exact right amount of change - something so simple yet so satisfying

• my morning coffee - I gave up coffee over a decade ago and replaced it with tea. I still miss coffee... so the one decaf coffee with cinnamon I have in the morning is pure bliss.

• sunny winter days- as rare as hen's teeth, so when they happen - they are so precious

• sleep - I am a sporadic sleeper - so when I do get an undisturbed night - it is certainly worth a shout out, even better when I get a run of them, which is what I am getting at the moment - yay.

• the instant gratification of a cellphone camera - the ability to capture a single unrepeatable moment - priceless

Just look at the concentration on that face! 

(photo courtesy of cameron.a.s)

Wishes

Thank you to all my friends and family here, there and everywhere -

A blessed yuletide, a quiet and peaceful celebration,

and a fresh and positive start to 2020.

Hopes and wishes from me to you

with love xxx

(source)

Ooh you foxy thing!

I am (ashamedly) quite into my social media. Probably a little more than I should be. However, according to the boffins, I am part of the growing raft of the more mature user while the younger (and previously thought of) more typical user - is drifting off to other more 'snappy', 'instant' and 'what on earth is up' type social networking platforms.

Any hoo - where this is leading is to the fact, I comment and chat within the various media platforms and over the years have 'met' and made friends with people far and wide. Susan - you are one good example of a 'far-away-friend' :)

I have been following a felting page which makes me smile when I see the fuzzy creatures appear, especially as I have such a soft spot for not only the fuzzy-ness of them but what is being created. Foxes, squirrels, bumblebees and rabbits. So, when I left a comment on a June post - I found I was lucky enough to have won this wonderful fellow ... 

So thank you Linda from Feltology - he is so sweet and fuzzy and I know just the coat he is going to snuggle up to and sleep on. Thank you xx

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