Lovely things

I have framed my finished cross stitch, I included the fabric (even-weave) details and the designer and title of piece, I have gifted this to our local haberdashery shop, she does sell most of what you need, I just thought she would like to be able to display a finished item. Sarah the owner was delighted. 

Hubby's new rose has bloomed, I do love the deep red, it is planted in my newly made flower bed, which was the old herb bed, just 4 buds this summer. Behind the transplanted flowers are blooming, I can't remember their name. I am looking for a huge white daisy for the other side. 

These coleus are a love of hubby's, so I was pleased to purchase these locally. 3 plants and loads of shades, they should grow huge and will need bigger pots. For now they are pretty on this table, once they get bigger I will take cuttings, they are very easy to propagate. 

I got this from a local maker, the page is laminated, so when George tries to write his own name, it can be cleaned, for now we will get him matching the letters of his first name, it's a good start for him. It does have his last name on there as well. Simple first steps.

Asda was busy on Friday morning, we got most of what we needed, we did not see many empty spaces on shelves, and we were home by lunch time, it's a medium sized shop over two floors. I did go looking for a couple of tops, but saw nothing I liked, I prefer plain tops, most had a design on. It was dull all day and really windy again, later in the evening we had a heavy downpour, my 3 water buts are all almost full now, which is pleasing. 

Saturday, I was home alone hubby was out until mid-afternoon, I had a lazy start, I have been feeling so tired in the past couple of weeks. Daughter is staying at home, her hubby has Covid, each day they are testing, he is positive and she is negative, hopefully soon they will both be free of it. My brother is finally negative, he still has a bad chest. We both had a negative test on Tuesday. 

I have been trying to finish things off and get a few task done, 

1. Framing my work was on my list, 
2. I have to sort the buttons on Molly's round cushion, 
3. I have my knitting to do, still not finished my back. 
4. I plan to make my felted trifle this weekend, 
5. I would like to start making Launa Lupin and some of her friends. 
6. Oh and my summer bunting. 

So Saturday after doing some housework, I pottered in the garden for a couple if hours, did all the dead-heading, moved a few pots, had a tidy in the greenhouse. It stayed cloudy and blowy, we got the heavy rain about tea time, so water buts will be full, hardly any steps, but I'm OK with it, I have walked loads this week. My list above will get sorted soon. 

You can tell Glastonbury is on and Wimbledon is due to start o tomorrow, it still cloudy and wet here, fingers crossed it clears up today, we were hoping for a BBQ, 

Who loves a list, with things crossed off

I got my sock yarn out and started another pair of Christmas socks, these are ladies size, so a quicker knit, it's good to have something simple in my hands.

 This simple stripe works on many levels, below is the change over side, and almost every time it works smoothly, carrying the yarn over each row keeps it neat and hardly any ends to sew in. 

My crochet blanket is growing, 

I am loving the mixed colours squares, more photo's soon. 

Back at the end of March I made a list of things I wanted to do, I have crossed 3 big task off the list, and worked on 2, my book and BSL course. I have started another pair of socks for a Christmas gift. 

I have added a couple more task to my list, it feels good to be looking at my WIP and bringing them out to see them grow and hopefully get finished. 

These list will be never ending, but it's good to focus my mind, the recent few wet days have been wonderful, the garden water buts are full again, and gives me crafting time inside. I do feel sorry for anyone without outside space, living in a flat at these times must be hard, and with children even harder, Daughter Su is forever explaining to Will why they can't do things, they do have a garden so he can play outside.
I'm having problems with my shoulder and back, both ache, both stop me doing things, I now realise with my shoulder, it's not about lifting things, I can't stretch and do things, often that chore is just within reach, and I have to now stop reaching. My back I twisted when lifting a pot in the garden and now the low back aches if I stand or sit for too long. Nothing can be done with my shoulder and left side, it's issues leftover from so many operations in 2010 & 2012, I do have tablets to take away the nerve pains I get, but they make me sleepy, so I only use them at night. The back will mend it's self, until I twist it again. I'm not feeling sorry for myself, just frustrated and annoyed, I do so much without thinking, and then I suffer.
So with the wet weather and my aches it's craft time, other than sewing machine and loom, both not good for my back, so knitting and crochet time, I did look at my hexagons I have loads ready for stitching together, I will hang my head in shame, the linked post was from 2016, hummm, just maybe another for my list.

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.