Making list.

2nd sleeve finished, the contrast colours help with the row counting, making it quicker to knit up. 

 I know I'm short, but this is ridiculous, I'm about half way down, loads more stitches so slower pace.  

The last 2 weeks have flown by, both hubby and I have got loads done, the house and garden is looking good, but life is much easier when the sun shines. Hubby has planned a few projects to do, he is going to clean our metal garden table and 2 chairs and paint them green, the same colour as the garage door, he has the paint and the time, it started me thinking so I have made a list of things I want to do, rather than just let the time slip away, so in no particular order.....

• Learn Tunisian crochet, I have seen a video of a blanket I want to make.
• Sew 2 cot quilt covers from a king-size quilt. 
• Sew beanbag from old pair of curtains.
• Finish 1 cross stitch, O Touchan Christmas tree, it's half done. 
• Knit socks for Christmas gifts
• Finish the online BSL course, I love sign language and want to keep going.
• Create my 2019 blog book, this is more difficult, the publishers have changed their format, and I am struggling, but on wet days I can sit and edit.
• Knit from my stash, I have loads of yarns. 

That's enough for now, the list will focus my mind, I still have plenty of books to read and there is always my garden. This week, my lettuce seedlings are showing, I have planted tomato seeds, and am trying to grow a cucumber. I am doing a bit of baking and cooking with hubby, he makes most of our meals, to me it's a chore, but he does love to cook.
I am a list maker, if not on paper then in my head, it helps me, I am OCD about order and control, I do try to keep it in check, so not to overpower anyone, I am lucky hubby feels the same about order, we always have a very tidy house. I feel more comfortable with what is happening in our world, the sense of panic and fear has lowered, it won't ever go away. 

Living in isolation.

If you are fed up with knitting, I'm sorry, but the desire to get this done, is high and I am on a roll. 1st sleeve is finished and fits well, and is the correct length. 

 I can't wait to wear this 

I really want to start my crochet, but  also want to finish this, knitting, it's a very simple design, and I have plenty of time to craft. I have also been sorting out sewing, I have a kingsize quilt cover to cut down and make 2 cot quilt covers, they will be done by Friday, when daughter drops off our shopping. I have also packed the nappies, baby formula and other things we won't need, next time we see George he will have grown loads. Also we have made a pack for Will, some of my children's craft things, a few treats and a packet of cheddar crackers, which he loves. I can leave the bag on our door step. This week when she dropped items off, I cried as she drove away, no cuddles, we do see them often on video calls, but as we all know this is hard.
On line shopping is very hit and miss, we don't want to have to go in any supermarkets, our daughter is finding different ways to shop, she went to purchased fruit and veg boxes, on a farm as a drive through, using a card payment. She is brilliant, and wants to keep us at home, everything is dropped off at door step.
Our neighbours have managed an online shop with home delivery, which is pleasing, but I did leave them with the offer I would collect any shopping for them, but not go into supermarkets. We are semi rural here so it helps with the farm shops.
We are both spending time on line each morning, normally we would move away from our computers much earlier, but we have loads of time, so we are not rushing anything. I try an do housework each day, the downstairs wooden floors are dusty most days, hubby does the laundry and ironing. Later in the afternoon we sit, I knit and hubby reads, I have not picked a book up for over a week, but I have books here to read. If we are in the garden it tends to be around lunch time early afternoon, but there is little to do, other than the green house.
We do not watch daytime TV, I love the morning radio on radio 2. Hubby was given an Alexa for Christmas, we were not sure what we would do with it, but we have found it's a great source of music, we can decide what we want to listen to, it's very calming, just music, no chatter and no Cronavirus.

Green fingers.

Tidy, just how I like it

 This week has been beautiful

 ready for time to sit outside

 I have flower seeds, but the compost is a bit wet, so I will leave to dry and warm up. The seeds are some I won and some I purchased last year. 

 Moving things around to make space

 Even gave the shed a tidy

Most of my metal birds are out.

It is still a bit early to place tender plants from the greenhouse, but we have done loads of tidying around the place. Hubby uncovered the wooden table and chairs, much earlier than other years, but we decided we need the garden this year to be our sanctuary and give us outside space.
I am hoping to sow the flower seeds today, and get things growing, I have already sown a small tray of lettuce leaves, they are cut and come again, so should help soon. I have soaked clean some tomato seeds from a tomato in hope I can grow a plant. I am really enjoying time in the garden, it feels  normal, in these strange times.
I have this week knocked on our horrible neighbours door to offer help, they do not have a car, and online shopping slots are all booked up, hubby made them a loaf of bread, we have been chatting at a distance, I can't watch anyone suffer. I can't do any more for them, I will collect any shopping they book for click and collect.
I have done some more baking making 2 small quiches, using just 2 eggs, it a good way to make a couple of useful meals, only for me hubby is not keen, but he has other things he likes. We managed to get some mince beef, a bit bigger pack than normal, so hubby bulked it out and made 3 Sheppard pies, one is in the fridge and 2 are frozen.

Clicking and growing

More knitting

 The sleeve join is not perfect, 

but I did leave a long end to darn any gaps.

It does look much better than on my 1st try.

 The sleeves knit up quick.

 I will have no sewing together, I love circular needles.

On a different note, please don't judge me, but I am hoarding, I have only taken what I need for the next 3 months, and there was plenty left on the shelves, the fine weather is allowing me into the garden and I feel better for it.

 One compost and farmyard manure for my new big tub and a John Innes number 1 for the flower seeds I already have. These will last the summer and allow me to grow things, I always have the need to grow.

I think the garden is going to be my safe place for the next few months, I said there was little I required, and now I won't be able to get anything, we have no plans to go anywhere. I will post garden photo's next time, I have done loads, this sunshine is really doing wonders for the soul and the garden.
Our fence should have been replaced this week, but that is now on hold, hubby and I have done as much as we can to keep it from falling down.
We have plenty of things which are nice to do at home, our daughter is insisting she will collect our shopping orders, so we are planning to have a peaceful time at home together. We will walk once a day to our local park, but keeping distance from everyone.
We are now freezing one portion of every meal we make, just in case we become ill and not want to cook, we are both feeling OK, and by the middle of the week will have been isolated long enough to know we are not showing signs of the virus. We hope not to need to go out much before the weekend, when hubby will pop to the farm shop again, what we do not have we can manage without.