Scavenger photo hunt - September

 

I'm pleased to be joining in with Kate at I Live, I Love, I Craft and the Scavenger Photo Hunt for September.

 

The link up post for Sept where you can go and visit other Scavenger Hunters and see their choices.
 You can source a new picture or use one you already have in your albums and this months words were :-

 

BRIGHTLY COLOURD

UPSIDE DOWN

INK

BAG

PATTERN

MY OWN CHOICE

 

 

 

BRIGHTLY COLOURED

 

 

The toy shop at the seaside tempting little ones with its delights and emptying parents purses.  Lots of exciting things to keep you occupied on the beach in the sunshine or a place to purchase something to keep you amused if the British weather is not what you hoped for on your vacation.

 

 

UPSIDE DOWN

 

 

Oh dear, this doesn't comply with the meaning of the word 'upside down'

 

 

 

This does, when the OCD person in me has to store it in the fridge like this. Surely a top should be at the top not the bottom.  It's a good job the fridge door is closed and I can't see the upside down label on a shelf ....aarrrgghhhh

 

How do you store yours?

 

 

 

INK

 

 

May 1986 and we were given a little kitten with the most gorgeous wedgewood blue eyes.  We named him Wedgewood (silly name that was soon shortened to Wedgie).  In 1992 a friend was taking a night school class in art and needed a subject for an ink drawing - this was the result.

 

 

 

It was a great likeness of our fluffy chap, he lived to be the grand old age of 21.

 

 

 

BAG

 

 

I received a gift from a lovely friend in this little bag this month. 

The bag came from a well known supermarket where 'every little helps' - she thought it would be useful instead of a paper gift bag 

 

 

 

PATTERN

 

 

The bright spotty pattern on this garden windmill caught my eye in the garden centre and came home with me 

 

 

 

MY OWN CHOICE

 

 

A replica old railway type tin sign, the words speak for themselves .....

Who doesn't like a nice biscuit when the opportunity arises

 

 

Great choice of words again this month Kate

 

Looking forward to seeing everyones choices

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie

 

 

 

Handmade poppies - not by me

It's certainly seemed like autumn here this past week.  Temperatures have dropped and cardigan/sweaters have had to be dug out of the wardrobe.   We've had high winds and heavy rain. 

 

DH and I have had a little outing. 

 

We visited the "14-18 Now" Weeping Window at Middleport Pottery on the Trent and Mersey Canal.  It's situated in Stoke in the heart of the potteries. 

 

 

It was free to visit but you did have to book timed entry tickets online due to health and safety issues as there is not much space in the cobbled yard

 

 

It was wonderful to see these pottery hand made poppies up close.  A little sad to stand there thinking of all those that lost their lives or came home to their families with injuries and wounds, both mental and physical.  So many families affected.

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling much brighter than I have for a long time, I've found enthusiasm for my projects again and spent more time working on them this week.

 

Little sheep are appearing on my Baa-ble hat

 

 

A couple more leaves on the embroidery

 

 

A  new start in the parlour on Wednesday evening at Needlecraft Haven with Miss Barb.  I know many of you are deaf to the C word lol.  It's a Christmas ornament design and I'd like to send some out to family again this year so decided to get a bit organised early.   

 

 

The Perran Yarn gorgeous merino soft wool has turned into a cosy pair of socks for me.  Hand dyed in Cornwall it really is lovely to knit with.

 

 

Autumn arrives officially this week so the ornament for the Autumn SAL needed completing. 

 

This design is a free one that has been printed off for such a long time and comes from Lynn at Happiness is Cross Stitching. 

The front

 

The back

 

Finished very simply the same as the other two, here they are, just the winter one to add to complete my set. 

 

 

Needle has been out this morning too, but not of the sewing variety.  DH and I have both been to the GP surgery for our annual flu jab.  We both qualify for the first round.  Two different types this year, one for younger people that protects you against 4 different types and the other for over 65's - that's DH - which protects against 3 types of flu. 

 

Are you a Strictly Come Dancing fan?  Tonight starts off this seasons first live show.  I find it hard to sew when watching so I've pulled out a new ball of sock yarn to keep me company.  DH will be pretending to read his book, but if I ask him in a couple of weeks something about it he'll be able to answer and yet he tells me he doesn't watch it.....

 

Happy crafting everyone

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie x

 

 

 

Gifted Gorgeousness - September

 

 

Gifted Gorgeousness - show something you have received as a gift or sent out.

 

If you aren't aware of it you can find out more at Jo's blog, more details at top of the page.

 

Septembers link up can be found here if you want to see other GG participants this month.

 

I've received a lovely shawl last week knitted for me by one of the ladies at a knitting group I attend at the local community centre.  Such a lovely lady who is so kind to others and often gives away her makes.   It's really snuggly and cosy.

 

 

Remember this old deckchair I showed earlier in the summer in the Scavenger hunt post  ......

 

 

The cover was tearing so DH has given it a makeover for me. 

He rubbed it down, stained and oiled it and added a new bright and colourful cover .....

 

 

and using scraps from his wood collection of oddments and the remaining off cut of the deckchair replacement fabric he manufactured a foot stool ..... 

 

 

 

What a great comb for me to enjoy. 

We've still had some warm days so I've been able to sit and read with my feet up.

 

 

The lovely Perran Yarns wool Christine bought for my birthday. 

Couldn't resist the softness of the merino blend anymore so casted on a pair of cable socks. It slips through the fingers so smoothly and is gorgeous. 

 Thanks again Christine x

 

 

 

DS bought me the kit for the Baa-ble hat earlier this year for Mothers Day, I've made a start on it.

 

 

Embroidery kit bought for me a few years ago.  I fancied doing something a bit different so started on this as well last week.

 

 

What's in your GG post this month? 

 

I'm looking forward to stopping by to see.....

 

Many thanks for your visits here.  I see there are some new visitors, waving a hello to you.  Please drop me a comment if you have time, it would be nice to come along and visit with you in return.

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Giving a monetary gift to a charity of your choice 

 

Have you heard of amazon smile?  If you purchase anything from amazon and go through the smile amazon a small amount 0.5% is given by amazon to a charity you choose at no extra cost to you.

 

Give as you live is another site that receives funds when you shop. 

You can choose a UK charity of your choice to support when you buy things from certain online stores etc. Over 10,000 charities are signed up, perhaps your preferred one is there. 

 

My family and I have signed up to the RPUK charity to raise much needed funds.

 

 

 

 

 Love and blessings

 

Julie  x

 

A little R & R

Last week was a very rare one in the last twelve months.  No appointments with hospital, own doctor, specialist nurse or my own nurse.  No tests, x rays or scans.  There was just one thing in the diary and that was easily re-arranged.

With this freedom of the week, we headed off to the seaside for a few days for some much needed quiet time together, just DH and I.

Not all went to plan, I wasn't well for some of the time, but we did manage some beach time.  I sat in the sun shelter - oh yes, another of those rules to add to the increasing list of 'you can't do this'  I'm not allowed in the sun - I read a while

 

and I stitched for a while on the autumn SAL, the first time I have stitched for a few weeks.

 DH played for an hour and a half ....

 

at flying his kite.  The whole length of string was out and it was so high in the sky you can hardly see it.

 

 

He has this fantastic little kite that can be flown by one person alone.  No need for someone to run along holding the kite and hope for enough wind to pull it into the air.  We've all done that haven't we, only for the kite to flop straight to the floor as soon as you let it go!  It's called a pocket kite and has been accompanying us on trips for many years.

 

 

Another day we drove to a different beach and sat watching the sailing boats coming in and out of the harbour. 

 

 

We really enjoyed the time away and were sad when it was time to come home.  The peace and expanse of water really does feed my soul.

 

Saturday was the local horticultural and craft show.  As many of you know DH and I have been on the organising committee for the past 10 years, but retired after last years show.  At the prize giving we were given a lovely rose bush with thanks for our services to the community - ooops forgot to take a pic of said rose bush.

 

This year, I entered a pair of socks in the 'Hand knitted garment' category.  We have so many amazing knitters locally, unfortunately they were not placed.  

 

My little embroidery did well though and won a 1st.  

 

 

The community allotment project which DH is Chair of did really well.  They had 3 x 1st, 2 x 2nd and 3 x 3rd places.

 

This is their entry in 'Container of homegrown produce' which they got a 2nd

 

 

They've been harvesting tons of French beans and other crops at the weekend meet up and handing them out within the community and to the local lunch club for older persons to use.  Just what the project is all about.

 

We've been volunteers with one thing or another for over 25 years, times spent within the schools, at the community centre and other things, its very rewarding.  Do you volunteer in your community?

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie

August - Scavenger hunt photos & round up of the month

I'm pleased to be joining in with Kate at I Live, I Love, I Craft and the Scavenger Photo Hunt for August.  

You can source a new picture or use one you already have in your albums

The words for August were :-

Tea/Tee  

This is the front of a lovely wooden box given to me by a blogger who I met in person a few years back.  She is also a scavenger hunt pic poster .... do you  know who it might be?   No tea inside, that had been drunk when I received the box so I cannot vouch for the poshness of it!


Thyme/Time

Time - a family heirloom clock

 
Aisle/Isle

The aisle at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham in Norfolk.  It's the church in the grounds of the Queens estate. 


Fairy/Ferry

One of the fairies that can be found in the community allotment Fairy Garden.  The children love to play with these when they come to help out.


Flour/Flower

 

I couldn't decide which of these from my garden I preferred so you get to see both the cosmos and the hydrangea.


Own choice
 

 

A selection of DD's 250 homemade cakes from her fundraiser for RPUK (see previous post)

 

You can find the link-up post for other scavenger hunters here.

 

 

 

ROUND UP FOR AUGUST

 

Books read ...

 

 

 

 

Craft finishes -

 

The two school cardigans

 

 

 

A little conversation with Isabelle my 7 year old granddaughter went a bit like this ....

 

Isabelle ~ Nanny, what will you knit now you've finished my school cardigans

 

Nanny ~ a pair of socks (and I told her all about Yarndale Sockline organised by Christine from Winwick Mum blog)

 

Isabelle - Can I help choose what colour to give away - as she was fondling the sock wool stash I was choosing from.  I think we need fatter socks to keep feet warm, a bit like the ones you made for Babar (her special name for grandpa)

 

He had these last August ....

 

 

Nanny ~ there is only enough wool left for one sock so we cant use that.

 

Isabelle ~ What about this one? 

 

Nanny ~ that's another ball with only enough for one sock (although it was the same wool but a different colour)

 

She thought for a moment or two and then said with such delight ...

 

Isabelle ~ Nanny,  when I see homeless people sitting on the streets in the town they look sad, so I want you to knit different socks to make them smile and be happy using this pretty wool

 

So, our parcel that went off to Christine ready for the Yarndale Sockline 2018 contained a pair of odd socks that look like this ......

 

 

and I had one granddaughter that was very excited and happy that we were helping someone to keep warm in winter.

 

Isabelle wanted to write herself "With love from Isabelle and Nanny" on the ticket that was attached to them and I included a note to Christine explaining why she was receiving a strange 'pair' of socks.

 

 

 

So, if you are visiting Yarndale this year and you happen to see an odd pair of socks, you will know where they came from!

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie