Easter ~ not as we know it

 

It's the Easter weekend, a very different one for everyone this year with the lockdown in place here in the UK and across the world in lots of other countries too

 

Hubby and I have been at home for 29 days now.  We are not allowed out for the daily exercise.

 

I had a phone call from the GP to say I needed to go to the surgery Wednesday morning for my routine chemo blood test, apparently it was safer for me to visit there gloved and masked than for a nurse to come into my home.  Must admit I was scared, but all went ok, didn't see another person other than the receptionist behind the screen and the nurse who took the blood and then back home 'shielding' as they call it. 

 

 

What's been happening here recently?

 

My little tree is filled with Spring/bunny ornaments

 

 

 

A couple of Easter cards arrived in the post ...

 

 

 

I stitched and made up the Easter exchange for Needlecraft Haven.  It's a secret under the pretty tissue paper and will be mailed out later when we can.

 

 

 

 DH has been busy playing with a puzzle.  Time to break it up and start a new one.

 

  

My daughter delivered a food parcel last week.   We've been so grateful to both of my children for their help in feeding us.  We have now been awarded a weekly slot from a local supermarket which begins next week. 

 

Inside the food bag that was left outside the door was a surprise.  My granddaughter Isabelle had put in her latest read.  She had finished it, really enjoyed it and wanted me to read it so we could chat about it when we had a face to face phone call.  I read the first book of this series after she finished that one and this is Book 2.   I've read it and it is a funny childrens book and I can see why it is popular. 

 

I've knitted a pair of socks. 

 

These are using the Pairfect wool by Arne and Carlos.   It's been in my stash for quite a while and seemed like the perfect opportunity to do some mindless round and round knitting to help me to relax.

 

Instructions inside the ball band tell you to pull out from the middle of the ball of yarn, and start as the yellow stops and the colour begins (forgot to take a pic of the start, this is the end of the ball when I had finished the socks, but you get the idea)

 

 

  

 

Knit the rib till the colours begin and continue until the solid colour starts for the help flap, continue as normal along the foot length and then you get the solid colour for the toe - of course there would be a little of the black extra in the foot length if you wanted it longer than I did.   You pull the rest of the yarn (black in my case) until you get to the yellow again and follow that until it re-starts the black for the second sock making the perfect 'Pairfect' pair.

 

 

 

The only thing I wasn't keen on was the actual length of the cuff and leg.  The rib is much longer than I would normally do thus making it quite a long leg length.  DH likes it and it fits so all good.  

 

 

 

Would I buy it again?   Probably not.

 

I'm reading a new book (recommended by Justine).  It's about a guy who runs a vinyl record shop.   Inside the front cover it gives you a link to the playlist of the records mentioned in the book.  I've listened to that, very entertaining.

 

I did read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and the follow on The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by the same author, both of which I enjoyed, so fingers crossed this one is as good.

 

 

 

 

 Yesterday I listened to the Good Friday service online by our city cathedral.  The organist playing from his own home. The readings by the congregation in their homes.  It was quite different but I wanted to support those who had taken time to make it happen this year.  We usually have actors and a street play in the city which is very well attended. 

 

This afternoon, I sat under the big umbrella in the garden and listened to an online meditation.  I'm so thankful for my garden right now.  Looking out of the conservatory windows and seeing it come to life is as good as being sat out there for short bursts.  The recent few days of warm weather has really brought it to life.

 

I hope you enjoy your Easter weekend in the best way you can

 

 

 

 

Love and blessings from my home to yours

 

Take care and stay safe

 

Julie

 

 

 

Scavenger Photo Hunt - MARCH

Joining in with  Kate at I live, I love, I craft, I am Me 

 

Like  many of the photo hunters this time, I wasn't going to take part with everything that is going on.   

 

Reading the other blogs and seeing their pictures, I decided I would, if a little late.

 

Birthday

 

Celebratory bunny I made a couple of years ago for a friends 65th birthday 

 

 

 

Jazzy

 

A spot of jazz being played on the river

 

 
 

Flag

 

 

Exhibition from the Leicester Tigers Regiment

 

 

 

 

Three

 

 

It would have been my late dads birthday next Wednesday April 1st and this one came up in the archive when looking.  Here he is with 2 of his chums, taken about 1959.  Dads the middle one.

Happy Birthday dad x

 

 

 

Cushion

 

Gift from my granddaughter Isabelle

 

 

My own choice

Meet Alfie, my granddaughters best friend, he's enjoying a little facetime chat with nanny but missing his cuddles!

 

 

 

Take care all, stay safe

 

love and blessings

 

Julie  

 

 

 

p.s. I'm too late to add my name to the link up, but you can visit Kate's blog to see who else has taken part for March

 

 

 

Mothering Sunday

Amidst all the chaos surrounding the world at the moment with Covid-19, here in the UK there were celebrations in all sorts of ways today as people made the best of things as it was Mothering Sunday or Mothers Day as it is now called.

 

I have been very lucky in that I have been able to see both my children in different ways.   As we are keeping away from everyone due to our health issues it was difficult.

 

My daughter left a bouquet and parcel for me at the door which DH sanitized and I opened.  We then had a nicer time on facetime chatting where we shared fun and laughter with her, her partner and my granddaughter and their little dog.

 

 

 

 

DS delivered a parcel too which got the sanitizer treatment before I opened it and we had a very brief chat as he stood so far away we had to shout at each other whilst I was inside the hallway and him outside to protect us.

 

DS is so caring.  He said if you are to stay home you might as well be comfy, I bought you some new slippers.  He has been out all day in his medical capacity helping others.

 

 

 

Lovely cards from them all too ....

 

 

 

 

Today was also DS's 35th birthday. 

I baked a cake and sent him a pic of it this morning with DH and I singing!

 

 

 

 

Many mums have not been able to see their children and I think many who have angel mums or angel children have found it a very hard day, perhaps much harder than they usually do. My thoughts have been with you.

 

Stay safe and do the best you can. 
Enjoy the enforced quiet times that are being forced upon us and of course don't forget to say the words 'I love you' to those you care about. That little phone call or text message might mean more to them than you realise.

 

Sending my love and blessings to you all

 

Julie

 

 

Boing, boing ... it's Spring

As I woke this morning the radio came on and 'Today is the first day of Spring' was what the happy chap was saying.   'Smile and welcome it into your world'

I've welcomed it today -

I changed my seasonal frame  :-  Goodbye winter ... hello Spring

 

 

There has been a little sunshine in the sky as well as lots of fluffy clouds today.  Much better than the rainy days we've been having.  Thank you Mother Nature

 

 

I walked in the garden and took note of the spring flowers and the bright colours

 

 

 

 

 

The whole world is living in uncertain times right now with Covid-19.  Things are changing hourly and we all need to find the happy and positive things in daily living. 

 

With my weekly chemotherapy and DH's heart operation that finally went ahead earlier this month so he too is vulnerable, we have been safe at home keeping the door firmly closed to all for a while.   My children have delivered food parcels when they have been able to get things and kept in touch by phone. 

 

I'm learning new things about technology.  It is such a good thing right now for everyone with exercise classes and peaceful and calming ideas online as well as the news that we all need to limit in our heads for our own wellbeing, but I do feel for those elderly who do not do it and are home alone. 

 

Many friends have been in contact to check on us, and we've called others.  I've never chatted so much on the phone, having fun and laughter as well as talking about how things are affecting our families and we've been supporting each other.

 

Some simple things we've enjoyed ....

 

I made a victoria sponge cake and filled it with homemade jam from the pantry.  That sparked a chat remembering the blackberries we harvested last autumn and that then brought the subject up about this years growing season at the community garden and how would that pan out over the coming growing season and months ahead?

 

 

I've knitted himself some hand warmers as he's feeling the chill still a little at times

 

 

A squishy parcel arrived filled with wool from a sale I couldn't resist last week.   

 

 

I've been reading quite a bit.  There is a list of books read this year in the left hand side bar.

 

A little stitching for an Easter exchange, but that might have to be postponed and celebrated later in the year.

 

Sending my love and blessings to you all as we walk this uncertain pathway. 

 

Keep your chin up and I hope you too find happy moments in each day. 

 

Stay safe and take care

 

Julie    

 

Gifted Gorgeousness ~ March

 

 

 

Three gifts to share for March's Gifted Gorgeousness post :-

 

 

A baby boy due next month for my oldest nephew and his wife.

 

Exactly the same blanket as his brother had for his new baby girl last month

 

 

Wrist warmers knitted for a friend with arthritis

 

 

This one is an oriental poppy and is going off in the post to Clare for her 'Bouquet Tree' for the Christmas tree festival at the church. 

 

I know a few of you are stitching a flower to add as well. You can read all about it here and add your name if you would like to make one for Clare's tree too. 

 

If you are not familiar with Gifted Gorgeousness, you can visit Jo's blog to find out more.  GG was started in 2015, a day of the month to share things that have been gifted to you, or you have gifted to others since your last months post. 

Learn more here.

 

Waving a hello to new visitors, there have been a few this past couple of weeks, nice to see you!

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie 

 

 

Gifted Gorgeousness - FEBRUARY

 

 

 

Gifted Gorgeousness is the brainchild of Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching which has been running for a few years now

A post to share anything that you have gifted to others or that has been gifted to you since your last blog post

 

 

 

 I've been knitting a baby blanket for a baby due next month

 

 

 Just the right size

 

Close up of the 4 row pattern 

 

 

 

I shared February's lovely valentine exchange in the previous post

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie

 

Happy Valentine's Day Exchange

Sharing the love ....

 

 

Today was opening day for the Valentine's exchange at Needlecraft Haven

 

The brief -  Choose a pair of socks with a theme of red or pink, flowers or hearts.  Enclose two threads matching the socks and a card

 

I opened the most fabulous parcel from Christine

 

Beautifully wrapped......

 

 

DIY socks?

 

Inside were super soft socks with a unicorn eye mask attached, two anchor threads in such pretty pinks and a lovely rose card. 

 

The DIY parcel was an added surprise of a ball of Regia sock yarn for me to make my own additional pair.

 

 

 

The perfect colours that match my avatar of Bagpuss

 

 

 

 

I sent to Justine .... 

 

 The socks, threads and card

 

 

 

I also enclosed a pair of hand knitted red socks too

 

 

 

 

The whole parcel I sent

 

 

I hope you enjoyed a lovely Valentine's Day with thoughts of those you love in your hearts and minds.

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie