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 I knew that this weekend was going to be an at home one, Youngest was home with a list of online applications to be submitted, dissertation to work on, gobbets to complete and a girlfriend away. The applications are for the next step after uni and the amount of work he had to do before he could even start was astounding. The closing date is today and he has completed this part, there is another set next week. So, I kept him fed and watered at regular intervals as Himself and I did a few chores around the house.

We worked in our garden, it took some effort I have to admit - I do gardening all week so my poor garden gets neglected somewhat. The chilly breeze did not help to be honest however by lunch time we'd weeded and tidied a couple of beds, cleared the glasshouse ready for salad, tomatoes and peppers and weeded and swept the path. Still plenty to do however a good start!

It was a bit chilly after lunch so I settled down with a mug of tea and started mending my coat. It is one that was gifted to me some years ago by my sister-in-law. She'd bought it in a charity shop soon after they'd come back from Africa and wore it a few times but never really bonded with it. So she offered to me and of course I gladly accepted! It felt stiff as a board the first time I wore it, so I chucked it in the washing machine on the wool cycle and hoped for the best! It came out so soft and snuggly and I loved it more! With years of wearing by me and probably as many again before I owned it, the coat - an Eres long double breasted tweed(ish) one, began to show signs of wear. The pocket fabric had perished in one and torn in the other and the cuffs and button hole edges had worn thin.

One pocket has had a soft (but strong) patch inserted over the wear to strengthen and repair and the other has had teeny tiny but visible 'Franken-stitching' in red thread. The cuffs were over sown with slate grey Ronaldsay Aran wool - a sympathetic colour rather than a camouflage mend.

I found the button holes the hardest to mend - they'll do, but I am not that happy with them. At least when I button up the coat it won't flap open again immediately, so that is a win 😁

My final bit of visible mending was to repair and strengthen holes in my favourite mittens. Part of a gift swap some years ago, I received these very pretty hand knit mittens and I used them regularly. Recently (I think I have had them about ten years) they, not surprisingly, have signs of their age and regular use. They had been relegated as work mitts, despite how delicate they look, they are surprisingly robust. So, a few bits of brightly coloured embroidery floss later - my mitts are back in business!

And just like that, the weekend has gone by. Lots done, yet nothing happened - keeping ourselves busy yet keeping ourselves quiet. 

I have scones to bake for Youngest to take back when he returns to uni so I'll stop here and get on. 

stay safe xxx

Stitching

 I have a shirt. 

A favourite shirt which I will reach for first nearly every time, it is a perfect partner to jeans and boots. It was a teenage cast-off from one of my boys and I suspect I have loved and lived in it for about nine or ten years. 

Suddenly it started to wear thin - first it was an elbow, so I trimmed the chest pocket and stitched the patch with the teeniest tiny stitches. I was rather pleased how I managed to colour and stripe match making the repair virtually invisible.

Then about six months later, my cuffs and the narrow placket down the front showed signs of wear. So this time I stitched a floral fabric along the wear marks and absolutely loved the contrast of the materials.

Then, last weekend after I'd worked on the Saturday, I changed out of my work duds and of course reached for my jeans, boots and fav shirt. I was horrified to see a huge tear on the back - the fabric has just worn thin with use and love. So reluctantly I had to put on my second favourite shirt (which is so not favourite at all in comparison!) However, the thought of adding patches of love and stitches rather excited me.

In a rather simplistic Boro mending style, I matched embroidery floss to both fabrics and quietly stitched rays of  sympathetic colour. I wanted to reinforce the material of the shirt as well as embellish the patch.

Feeling rather happy with my mending, I shook out the shirt to inspect and found that the other elbow was looking a little thin .... well that meant a bit more mending didn't it...?!

This time I tried a more 'organised' pattern and with a nod to Sashiko mending this time I made long waves of colour. I may be a teeny bit in love with this patch...

Mending my shirt was important - not just the act of making a favourite shirt last a little longer, not just a rebellious act against fast fashion and the throw away society, not just a process of creativity - in a strange small way - I was not just mending my shirt, it was my way of symbolically mending what is happening. 

A form of self care too.

Shadows

When I wrote my previous post - I felt a little numb - it felt rather frivolous wittering on what was occurring in my day when there is dreadful aggressive self-aggrandisement by a dangerous man against normal everyday folk who are suffering at his immoral hand. 

On Saturday, whilst at work, I was invited to walk around a local nature reserve which we are affiliated to, and as I felt my head was full and needed clearing, I accepted. Due to time constraints we yomped at a very quick pace, up and around and back in just under an hour and a half - nearly five miles later the fog in my head although still there seemed less oppressive.

On Sunday once we'd completed a few home chores Himself laid out a local walk we could do after lunch.

 He knows that I love this particular route, one that includes a short drover's track that we affectionately call 'Hare Lane'. It is not guaranteed to spot hares however we have seen them there often enough for the track to be awarded such a name. As we walked through 'Long Lamb Field' we decided that we would like to see not only hares but lapwing and curlew. 

Despite the chilly breeze, the gentle spring sunshine was so warming, so hopeful. We traversed up and over our boggy hill ridge into the next valley surrounded by the plaintive trill of first a single curlew then a couple and finally small drifts of birds. They flew on large curved wings following the line of moorland grasses, landing and whistling then setting off again.

We stopped and gazed at the valley view and I noticed our shadow, us two and a dilly dog.  It confirmed to me that we are so lucky - we are not anything special or amazing, but we are who we are and we do what we can do - we have donated, we certainly care and am sending positive love and light to those who need, thank you Vix and thank you ALL who commented and confirmed that you too feel the same and do care. I thought of you all, thought of Ukraine as we listened to the melodic trilling of lapwing, freshly returned from their coastal overwintering. 

It made me realise that life does go on, the weather has improved, summer birds are returning and spring bulbs are hosting hungry bees.

We turned for home, the air was cooling despite the sunlight. Moss had thrown herself into every mud puddle she could and was sporting a thick layer of dark mud and a silly grin on her face.

Again a walk helped release the fog in my head, it is still there but a lot more orderly. Thank you again for your comments - they certainly helped too - here is to hope and positive mindset and love xx

 And yes - we saw a hare. A large male who bolted from beneath an ancient hawthorn - then stopped. He sat up, ears tall and watched us for a moment as we stood still and held our breath. Then in a blink of an eye - he vanished into the moorland grasses.

💙💛

 

It feels a bit trite waffling on when so much is happening, 

I am trying in the words of Desmond Tutu to 'Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world' - I hope he was right. 💙💛 xx

Sounds, sights and scents of Saturday

The rustle of heavy paws across the duvet accompanying a rapid tractor-strength purr. The quiet background chatter of the radio presenter cheerfully announcing the next generic track by another cloned singer desperate to be heard.

The murmurings of low conversation, an occasional scrape of a wooden chair against the floor, the clink of teaspoons stirring, slurping of hot chocolate followed by sounds of satisfaction. The heady scent of coffee and chocolate filling the air. Then the busy street filled noises of a rural market town as we return to the car.

The splash of a river bound dog hurling herself into the chilly water, the clink of selecting pebbles to skim. The audible gasp of minor triumph as we lark along the edge. The chinkle of pottery, glass and metal in my coat pocket as I walk. Not all worth keeping, litter will be dropped off in a bin.

A piercing whistle as we are observed by a robin - just an arm's reach away. Eldest's cellphone making electronic sounds as he takes the bird's photograph.

A sharp fragrance of fresh air, a tinge of bitter green and leaf mould circulating as we walk along the narrow path between a wild tanglement of hedge and old bulging stone wall.

Flashes of hope for spring with the tiniest leaf buds appearing on the hawthorn.

The crunch-thud of boots alongside the mill pond known as Sagar's Lake, coots craaking, mallards peeping and quacking. 

The sight of the woodburner crackling away warming us after our walk as we nurse mugs of tea and eat shortbread pigs.

The turn of a page of a recently charity shopped book, the distinctive scent of second hand novels. A strange and intriguing little story - odd yet enjoyable.

A whistling snore from an afternoon-nap-taking cat - who on gentle stroking - grunts a dozy meow followed by a brief attempted purr. 

Twitching paws and eyelid movements confirm a dreaming dog as she sleeps in front of the woodburner. Her tongue has escaped and occasionally curls and flaps as it dries to a crisp as she sleeps.

Saturday - you were wonderful xxx

PS and now (Monday)? well the constant metallic pitter of rain on the window, the wittering on the radio in the background, the sigh of a bored dog, the clack of the keys on my laptop and the curl of the fresh scent of tea.

💙🐾☔☕☔🐾💙

Snow work

 'A snow day' was decreed by the boss and after cancelling today's volunteers - I have been working from home today. I am on with a photo-project for an exhibition in the event room at work. Over the course of a year I have taken at least a gazillion photographs and as part of an upcoming event some of the images are to be used as part of the display. 

Have you ever tried to narrow down said gazillion images to a select few? I eventually managed to choose 125 - sectioning them into seasons - then took them into work for a further pruning.  Well, that didn't happen either! 

So this morning I spent a fair bit of time turning all 125 images into montages, hopefully capturing the essence of the garden, the seasons, the weather and the fun (and hard work). I now have 20 montages which is a much more manageable amount to display. 

They will hang alongside empty seed packets, vintage and children's tools as well as sketch plans for a new ornamental flower bed to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. I think - if I can make it work - I will create a kokedama or two and add a couple of seasonal wreaths (a festive one for the winter section and an 'eastery' one for the spring zone) all of which will hang off branches attached to the walls. Well I can't say I have a boring job now can I!?😁🌱🔨

Right, I'll finish my lunch then get on with some garden designing - will be lovely doing good old fashioned paper and pencil type work! 

Enjoy the rest of your week xxx

Stormy

There seems to be a welcome lull in the weather at the moment, Storm Franklin was rather boisterous overnight and the trees have angrily danced and twisted up until about half an hour ago. It is still very breezy and the sky is a mass of fast moving greys and grim but it is now a bit calmer .... 

Yesterday, as we sat finishing off our breakfast mugs of tea and coffee, the dog and cat both vying for prime position in front of the woodburner, Himself talked through a route we would be taking. I had asked for 'an adventure' and although the weather discounted a decent walk out, we packed a picnic of samosas, sweet potato and onion bhajis with a thick lentil soup. Collected coats, hats and boots, camera and binoculars.

Going out in the van has the glorious luxury of being able to heat food which, when the weather is as dismal and chilly as a rain-filled windy February, is wonderful.

We expected, but were shocked, by the amount of water everywhere. Several roads that we'd planned on using were impassable and had us changing direction, others, although under water, we could drive through (carefully......And yes, that is a road in the picture above - just look at the water shooting through the base of the wall on the left).

Moss usually sleeps at my feet in the cab - there is plenty space but today she seemed to want to watch the world go by, so I shifted over to the middle, put her dog-seatbelt on and she gazed out at the passing drenched scenery.

We drove up to a naturally formed lake somewhat unusual in the Yorkshire Dales - Semer Water - where Himself took Moss for a quick dog break. Just as he went down the lane to check if the bridge was open, the weather unleashed a barrage of rain, wind then hail. It must have been one of the shortest dog-piddle-breaks in living history but it was just long enough to see that the bridge disappearing under the rising water. So, no - we could not continue, another division was required.

We turned for home - buffeted by winds and sharp sleet showers as we trundled back down through the Dales. Once back we dashed between the house and the van as we unloaded, Moss suggested rather firmly that she would like her dinner and the cat pointed at the quietly simmering fire with a cross face reminding us that we were the primary fire tenders and we had failed!! (Don't worry the house was lovely and warm, the fire  just was not a huge burning pyre as she would like it to be haha)

And, now as I type this - the lull in the weather has flown away with a gust of wind and the rain has returned .... so I shall do baking, washing and finish off some commissioned garden related work. Stay dry, stay safe and here is to storms passing by x

 

Snow

Thank you for your lovely comments for the sneak preview of the spring inspired arrangement I'd started on Friday morning, a little later the mum of the bride, a new volunteer and I, plus mugs of coffee, sat down with tiny bits of foliage and snowdrops to create the prettiest possible arrangements for each table. 

I showed the ladies how to assemble the mini displays using catkin branch 'nests' I'd made a day or two ago, tucking in ivy fronds, pussy willow and snowdrops then using moss to finish off the look. It was a rather enjoyable couple of hours and it seems that they loved doing it too. I have been promised photos of the event with the arrangements in place.

As the afternoon progressed, the stormy weather turned a little more wild so we decided that it would be better if we left work before it became too difficult to drive on the motorway.  I, along with every other driver on the road, bumped and bounced our way home as the winds gusted across the lanes. Happily I got home safely and curled up with a mug of tea and a dilly dog in front of the fire and listened to the storm railing around the house.

Saturday (today) was strangely calm with clear skies despite dire warnings by the weather forecasters of snow and heavy rain. So, once at work, with one eye on the sky I tackled a few jobs with my young volunteer. (He is always up for an interesting debate or discussion and our conversations can range from politics to ancestry, hair colour to flesh eating bacteria - told you they were varied!!)

Suddenly it darkened and in moments we went from dull winter's colours to completely monochrome as masses of huge sloppy flakes fell. It was very pretty and for quite some time the snow did not stick and none of us at work were concerned. Then we noticed that a substantial layer of snow had gathered and the flakes were now small and hard - the air had chilled and the snow was here to stay. So once again, after making sure all our volunteers and visitors had gone home, we closed early and left. 

This trip was a bit daunting as the motorway was covered in snow and most of the drivers were crawling carefully - except for those who weren't and tore down the other lanes flat out... their choice. But, like yesterday, I got home and now am curled up with a tea (well it's my third seeing you asked...) in front of the fire.

Storm Eunice - although some places in the uk really suffered, here locally we were more 'inconvenienced' than in danger - I do feel for those who unfortunately lost power or had trees fall damaging their property and hope that they are safe and warm.  We have been very lucky.

Moments and snapshots

The radio is on filling the room with sound, while Moss sleeps on the carpet in front of the woodburner. She looks so relaxed and the tip of her tongue is sticking out .... 

The air is gently fragranced by a wonderfully vintage rose scented candle. The flickering light makes the walls appear to waft and shift as they change colour by the glow of the flame. 

Himself's gift of roses and lilies still look beautiful and are a daily reminder how lucky I am.

•,¸,.•´♥`•.,¸,••,¸,.•´♥`•.,¸,••,¸,.•´♥`•.,¸,•

This morning I had the pleasure of creating a large spring inspired floral display for an upcoming private event at work. Although not complete - I will be adding snowdrops and ivy tomorrow - I was quietly pleased how it turned out.

A 'nest' of catkins, damp moss, straw and birch twigs surround the open mouth of the jar and if you stand near and close your eyes you can smell the woodland floor.

Small paper hearts hang from the twigs and tomorrow I will be finishing off the individual table decorations - vintage miss-matched china jugs, cups and sauces will be filled with snowdrops, catkins, rosemary and eucalyptus sprigs, twigs and moss.

They are destined for an afternoon tea hen do - I hope the weather plays nicely..... Storm Eunice you are not invited.

•,¸,.•´♥`•.,¸,••,¸,.•´♥`•.,¸,••,¸,.•´♥`•.,¸,•