Scrappy blanket

 I'm rather pleased with my knitting, it's growing, I still have a few different shades to use, I have completed 7 sets and will do another 2 before reusing shades. This is one end, the clips are only used to hold the ends flat for these photo's. 

The middle section

The other end.

I am enjoying the colours on this, normally I would stress about placement of colours, this time I'm relaxed about them, there are 10 coloured patches on each row, with 26 stitches, I knit and turn on decreasing stitches to make the design, on the second row there are 9 full coloured patches and a half design each end, I am doing the half sections in an off white yarn so they all match. I am using all my 4ply stash yarn, only balls which have been started, I'm knitting using 3.25 circular needles, I have worked a system to ensure all the different yarns don't get too tangled. I've been really good and stitch all the ends in after each row, this is 8" or 20cms, so a long way to go. The real pleasure in this design is allowing me to use all of my 4ply yarns, some are slightly thicker, but it does not matter.

The boiler service man arrived at 8am on Thursday, we were ready for him, we always have to move the fridge/freezer to give him room to work, it was the same guy as in previous years, he was quick, clean and tidy, happily no issues to report. I had a sleepover at daughters on Thursday night, helping out with bedtime and breakfast on Friday morning, I missed this month's WI meeting, family will always come first.

Friday Will was happy to go to school, no disliked lessons that day, sadly George has mirrored Will's behaviour and daughter struggled to get him in the car, at school his 1 to 1 will come and help on bad mornings, they park in school grounds. Having a second person to help makes all the difference, both little ones get their me time and settle quicker at bedtime, George is at a stage where he knows what he wants, sadly he's not always able to achieve it by himself, he is mirroring Will, who at 9 years is going through an independent stage and not liking a couple of his school lessons, some mornings he can be difficult. Molly is still only 4, she is independent in most things, but still wants and needs her mum. As I have said before both schools are brilliant help, together we will get through this, we just need to support our daughter, I never want her to feel alone.

I'm posting this on Friday evening, I plan a lovely lie in tomorrow morning and have a me time, it's much needed.

Mid March

This year I have found almost all the buds from our magnolia tree on the ground, we had only a few flowers and most of them are here, I have been reading up on any issues which would cause this, hubby thinks it the squirrels, we saw one came on the tree and broke another bud off and chewed it, blasted furry pest.

It is a real disappointment to see this beautiful tree bare, it was a young tree already in the garden when we moved here 17 years ago, we do keep it a small size, it was lopped almost two years ago, other trees in the area are full of pink blooms. The leaves always form after the blooms. 

 This is the third book I have read from this author, not my favourite plot, a dysfunctional fragmented family get together for nan's 80th birthday, what could go wrong. Book 22 read this year.

My daughter suggested I read this book, a new author to me, a brief affair and a pact to murder each others spouse, is it ever a good idea, even if you have a better plan. I could not put this book down, book 23 read this year.

Another great book, family is everything if you all get on, the story follows 4 different women, 2 sets of "mother and daughters", it unpicks lives lived and how not to meddle with others. Book 24 read this year.

It's been a nothing week, the weather reverting back cooler, we have seen some nice sunshine, we have both spent loads of time reading and listening to music, our smart speaker will play anything we like, normally from 70's and 80's.

Monday I deep cleaned our downstairs bathroom, I plan to deep clean a different room each week, I have already done our bedroom and en-suite, I also did more work on my 2025 blog book and some knitting on my blanket. Tuesday I worked in the greenhouse, sorting small plants into bigger pots, my peanuts looks to be growing, finger crossed I get them to plants. Soon I will have loads of plants to go outside, making space for seed trays. 

Wednesday I spent morning with daughter, she was feeling blue after a couple of hard days with George, who has been getting upset and not able to say why. For much of the time, as a single mum she is on her own, school is being really helpful, what we all require is him to take test for autism, daughter and I both believe he is showing many markers. Will and Molly both try to be good, but at 9 and almost 5, they are both still very young, we help as much as we can, daughter needs as much support as she can get, sadly her soon to be ex has moved to Europe and sees less of them, so no physical support. 

Today the rain is due with vengeance, it's cold for us, no sunshine, so a day inside, we have our boiler service due this morning, it's only a few years old so not expecting any issues, I will do an clean up stairs, then relaxing.

Wildlife pond

I have been working on my pond, not the garden around, that has been great this spring. My pond last summer had loads of slimy weeds, which wrapped around plants and floated across the surface, making the water messy. Firstly I purchased a barley hay bundle to pop into the water, which helped, next I got a small pump and two air-stones to oxygenate the pond, I did not want lot's of gushing water. I need to move plants along the back to try and hide the container.

Spring flowers, daffodils and cyclamens, I can see buds on other plants, the grasses are looking good, I do need to raise the front corner, it has dropped, it has always been the lowest corner, the water level at the back is an inch lower then I want it. It has become the drinking spot for Lilly, she sits in the same spot as Grace sat, I keep fresh water inside, Lilly is not interested, I have tried filtered and rainwater, she still prefers to drink from the pond.

Finding a newt and then a second one in the pond has cheered me up, I have seen a couple water snails as well, I did check, newts love grasses and wood piles to hide in, I have both in this back corner. I do love the collection of pebble around this pond, they have been collected over the years for use around my garden, I just pulled them all back to here. 

Hubby spent his time on cleaning the patio, he wanted to get it done using his power washer with a special attachment, it was tiring rather than hard work he told me, he also uncovered the garden furniture, I moved my spring pots to along the slate by the lawn, we can still see them from the house. 

Most of the time the pond requires no work from me, I wanted it to become a natural environment, without chemicals or other foreign additions, I was desperate for frogs, but decided rather than adding any myself, I would wait and see, it was never my intention to have fish here, they eat too much of the wildlife I wanted to attract. The small garden around the pond has settled, this is a sunny spot for part of the day.

Our garden is now ready for spring, purchasing the growing bulbs helps me fill bare spots, I am completely happy with our spring garden, I can see so many buds on shrubs, so much promise. A couple wet days were good for any new plants, it also gave my back time to rest and relax.

Saturday was dull as expected, everywhere was still wet from the rain, we did walk to the village for a few bits, I did some knitting and then read later, hubby made a lovely mushroom risotto for tea, a lazy day. Sunday we had Will and George early, mummy and Molly went to a party, they were back for lunch, we all spent the afternoon together, later after a quick tidy up, packing away all George's cars we sat and read.

Saving Doug

I brought Doug (from UP), home, he's a favourite of George's, he came here in a bin bag with all his stuffing separate, George and Molly were playing in their bedrooms quietly, mummy found the poor thing in bits, another job for Nana. I have done major surgery on his face he is all stitched up and back home, I did check all his other seams as well.

I do love this author, always a very easy read, Life can be good, but what do you do when people start hurting your family and yourself, well she does fix other peoples problems. Book 20 read this year. 

Another good read, I love how this author always has the answer in plain sight, so far I have never worked it all out until the reveal near the end. A couple goes to remote Scottish location to help save their marriage, will it work. Book 21 read this year.

It was world book day again this week, Molly has a growing set of books, all focused on people through modern history who has changed our world, she loves the book Queen Elizabeth by Racheal Riley, so here she is all regal, this girl loves to dress up, George went as Batman, Will went for an army costume. Molly has been queen before, seen here with George and Will as her guardsmen.

Will wanted a Hussars jacket for his costume, we used a blue fleece, I added golden stripes to the front, decorated the collar and cuffs, no swirly decorations on sleeves or buttons, I added epaulettes. I could only get cheap gold tape, which frayed and was a nightmares to stitch, I hate the finished item, Will loved it, most stressed I've been in ages. Far to ashamed to post any photo of my work here.

I have done more on my knitted blanket, I now need to stitch the ends in, I am keeping to my promise to do at the end of each colour section, as I have said before there is no rush to get this done, I am enjoying the process and that's the main point. It's not a project I enjoy doing in the evenings, I need to be able to focus and count without interruptions. 

I have watched Small Prophets, just 6 episodes, I really enjoyed the simplicity of the story, this weekend is the final of Pottery throw-down, we have enjoyed it again this season, we don't watch much TV. Hubby has enjoyed Silent Witness, which I never watch, I get annoyed how the main two, know almost everything and solve the mysteries, they just irritate me.