Crafting in lockdown

I am pushing on with this project, it's going to be a gift and I would like it finished by beginning of December, I am hoping I get all the stitching done in next few days, then I need to find Christmas material to back it. I should have everything I need to finish it in my stash. 

I do not like the design at all for Eleventh day, it is 11 pipers piping, and the design has a house on, which for me does not represent the lines, so typical me I am rejigging this design, I have moved the treble cleft and I am stitching the piper underneath, I am then going to stitch 11 notes. I feel this is in balance with the sixth day, which is 6 geese a laying and the design shows 1 goose and 6 eggs. 

The design 12 days of Christmas

Hubby purchased this book for me, as a gift but did not realise it was 2nd hand, so I have it early, I would not have minded at all, but he was not happy, I do like this author, another brilliant read. 71st book read this year.

I have been enjoying my cross stitching and now want to get out my WIP, Torchon O Christmas tree, last worked on here, how quickly time passes once you pack something away. I lost my love for cross stitching a few years ago, I am so happy that Jo popped the 12 days of Christmas sampler up and suggested others stitched along with her. 

I have not done much knitting, but I plan to pick it up again, as I plan to get out my sewing machine, I have a few things to make, get them done so I can post them down to family in Somerset. With the garden looking so good, I don't feel guilty crafting for longer in the day time. 

Sunday was a dull and dreary day, we stood outside at 11am with other neighbours for 2 minutes silence, just another difference in this very strange year, we needed the lights on most of the day, so I sat stitching. We had a very simple day, after the luxury of pizza, takeaways and wine, we needed simple food and just coffee.

Monday it's dull again outside but no rain, my dogwood plant is due today, I hope to plant it straight away, I also have a package of glass for glass fusion due, I have a few more tree decorations to make.  Needless to say our Monday morning weigh in was a disappointment, expected but our weight went the wrong way. 

Another birthday

The best birthday cards always have huge writing inside, made by tiny hands, this year I have had lovely cards.

My friend got me this mug, I won't use it for tea, but it will be used in my office/craft room, probably with needles in it, she got herself one as well, as she loves knitting and most crafts. 

It would not be my birthday, without a really good bottle of wine, and this is my favorite, we enjoyed it with a Chinese takeaway, not a birthday gift, but one I have been keeping for this birthday. 

Youngest daughter got this pot a while ago and I was allowed it early so I could plant it up, inside I put hyacinth bulbs,  it came with tulips, but they are in a pot in the garden. There is the start of new growth, not enough to show on this photo.

Youngest daughter, is really thoughtful and gave me this Christmas candle early, I wish you could smell it, it's everything Christmas with a lovely hit of ginger, she purchased 4, for MIL, her stepmum, herself and me, all given early so we can have the most wonderful addition to the month of December. 

It's a strange birthday, my cake was cut on Tuesday with my friends over for coffee, and then enjoyed by Will and daughter on Wednesday, we finished it on Thursday and Friday. Hubby got me our Pergola as my birthday present, he wanted to buy me jewelry, but there was nothing I wanted, and I won't buy something just to have it live in a box in my drawer, he also popped £50 in a card, as he felt we would both benefit from my main present. 

We had a lovely day at home together, and shared a takeaway from our favorite place and the above wonderful bottle of wine, sadly just the 2 of us, normally we would have some family here, but like so many, it's life now, making the best.

On Saturday I was 65, how did than happen, I don't feel 65, but then how should I feel, my dear mum was old to me at 65, and I don't feel old, I feel much the same as this post 5 years ago. I retired from work a couple years ago and since then I have been enjoying life with hubby, loving I have so much time with Will and George. I know I am lucky, I am healthy, and that's a big plus, I had my battle with breast cancer back in 2010, so I know illness sucks at our age.  

November Garden.

Cyclamen are looking good, I have loads of these around the garden, only a couple of plants are new this year, all the other have come back, such good value in plants. 

The begonia's are hanging in there, these stay in these raised pots all winter, there are cyclamen in the same pots, but as yet we can't see them. The raised soil level in these chimneys drain well, so tender plants survive our winters, which are also mild. 

Behind my small fence is my shady pots, these are full of buds, it's a shame we can't see them from the house, they do look good, I have snowdrops planted in here as well. I am thinking of taking away the pots next summer and planting straight into the ground, in hope some of the plants grow through. 

The side bed is empty, the water butt is sorted, I have also moved my wormery, I have replanted my big daisy at the front end of the bed. We have decided to get some dogwood for beside the water butt, good winter colour and it will shield some of the butt. 

Wormery now lives next to the greenhouse, in front of the raised bed, the watering can is there to catch the worm juice, this was another scruffy part of the garden. I'm not sure if the stand with my succulents will stay in front of the huge rhubarb pot, it's a case of watch and see. 

Winter has arrived in our garden, after a couple of dry days we have covered the wooden table an chairs, there is no room for them in our garage. We have packed away the canvas roof from the pergola, as yet we have not heard from planning department, but it was always our plan only to have canvas roof on in summer months. The small green metal set stays out all year. 

We have had loads of dry sunny but cold days, enough to allow us to do the final winter tidy outside, we both enjoy being outside together, the patio doors have been open alot after all the visitors earlier this week. The garden is looking really good, the wild birds are down all through the day feeding from the Magnolia tree, we have almost stopped the squirrels coming in, they destroy so much, we now only put sunflower seeds in the feeders, the small birds love them, and the starlings aren't interested. 

I have ordered a dogwood plant online, hopefully it will be here soon, I will be able to plant it straight into the garden. I am at the point where there is nothing to do in the garden, everywhere is sorted, I have no space left, next year I will only have space for limited bedding plants, I have planted 2 more Salvia hotlips around the 2nd yellow rose bush, I did take a couple more cuttings just incase any of the plants fail over winter. 

It's a good feeling when everywhere is as I want it, not sure how I'm going to get my gardening fix next year, maybe I should suggest I start using the garage roof, I could pop veg in pots and grow up there, can you imagine what hubby would say. 

Maggie thanks for sharing your good news in comments on my last post, everyone loves planning a wedding, can't wait to see photos.

Day 1, round 2

I have done the correct body length, so I thought I would start the sleeve for Will's jacket, I'm knitting this on the round, I started with a set of DPN's and then when enough stitches I am using my sock circular needles. I am enjoying this design, and  looking forward to very little stitching together. 

I want to knit some textured colourful balls for George, just simple shape, I added the colours myself, I have different yarns to use, so they should all be different. This is yarn left over from Will's scarf.

I am super pleased with this glass fusion, firstly I manage to add the small top glass ring, so this ornament can be hung on a Christmas tree, secondly I saw this design and wanted to try, W for Will. Sadly I made a second one G for George, which shattered in my kiln, I know why it shattered, an error of mine. I have placed an order for more of these large disc and the small rings. For my own reference I fused this for 8 minutes, plus another 2 minutes. 

Our Magnolia has had a big trim, I do love this tree, I was a bit shocked to see all the leaves gone, but our tree surgeon knows what he is doing. On the plus side, less leaves to pick up in the next few weeks. 

Monday we had the tree surgeon in the morning, I spent a couple hours in the garden cutting back other plants, they left me a big tub of shredded tree, which I have popped over my raspberry bed, should do the soil loads of good. Later a friend popped in, we won't see each other now until after lockdown, we shared a lovely chat together.

Tuesday after loads of heavy rain, we woke up to a sunny cold morning, towels were quickly washed and on the line, at 11am a few of our sign class friends popped in for a coffee and cake (hubby made rich chocolate), just 5 of us, including hubby, enjoyed our last meet for a while. 

Wednesday, we had George whilst Will went swimming, daughter and Will came back and spent the rest of the day together, again just 5 of us, we won't see them until December. It was a fun day, but along with sadness, as we will miss this little family the most. We celebrated George 1st tooth coming through, he is a year old later this month, sadly another thing we will miss. 

So today is 1st day of second lockdown, we have not been out much this year, so it should not make too much difference to us, I plan to craft my way through it. We did not do a last minute shop, there is nothing we need, egg, milk and fresh things we will get from our local Co-op. Next week we have a fruit, veg and packaging free shop is opening in the village, we are excited and prepared to pay a bit more and use the shop as much as we can. 

I am not watching too much news, with USA elections filling so much time and all the negatives around the virus, both are important, but both are dragged out, has anyone any good news? 

Stay safe, follow the rules, or we are going to have a long hard winter.