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

 

 

 

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    

 

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

 

 

 

Staying inside on a stormy Sunday

Storm Ciara hit the UK overnight and is causing havoc in many parts.

Neighbours have fences down but so far we seem to have escaped the worst although it is still raging and will be for the rest of the day. 

I told Marlene I would take a photo of my amaryllis on the kitchen window sill and you can see the rain battering the window outside this morning.  Mine's still tight in bud but there are 5 leaves as well.

The orchid has 3 lovely flowers with more buds to open.

 

The yak blend socks are finished.

 

I didn't try to get a matching pair from the 100grm ball of wool.  Just casted on the second sock and knitted.

 

 

 

The close up shows the lovely colours in the wool, the above picture looks a little darker than they are in real life.

 

 

I said I would like to try some different things this year. 

 

What about English paper piecing, and here are a few hexie's I've been making.  I'm enjoying giving this a go.  It's very therapeutic.  Not sure what they will make into, but that's half the fun.

 

 

A baby gift is on the knitting needles now and knitting up quite quickly.  

 

I've been cosy on the sofa this afternoon catching up on blog reading and of course writing this blog post and now as it's just past 4 o'clock, it's time for a cup of tea and a slice of cake - typically British!

 

I hope you are all safe and storm Caira hasn't caused you any damage.  I know some online friends who were travelling this weekend and hope they have safe journeys.

 

love and blessings

 

Julie  



Yak .. but it's really nice

The weather has not been ideal today for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, we really should have done it yesterday when it wasn't raining.

 

RSPB official logo

 



I think the birds know which weekend it is and go off on holiday! 

 

Nowhere near as many different birds that come to our feeders as usual but we still have a good count that we have sent off online and it's always good to take part. 

 

I wonder what will be the most popular bird seen this year?

 

Chinese New Year began this weekend too.  The year of the Rat.  Celebrations planned in the city starting today until Feb 8th, many organised by Cosmopolitan Arts.  We have a large multi cultural population at our university and many come from China to study here.

 

I found this lovely depiction of the Year of the Rat online.  It really caught my eye. 

 

Wouldn't it make a great cross stitch project?

 

 

This past week I've been knitting, no stitching still. 

 

DH bought me this surprise hand dyed sock yarn for Christmas. 

The two other items were included in his parcel for free from Snuggly Stars Yarns.

 

 

The wool is a 70%Merino with 20% yak and 10% nylon, it really is so soft to knit with.

 

I took a picture earlier this week to show how it was knitting up ....

 

 

but before I posted, hey presto and sock number 1 is finished. 

 

Not sure if this is the left or right sock!

 

 

Thank you for visiting and welcome to the new readers, I see there have been a few this past week.  If you leave a comment I can come and visit with you .....

 

Some online friends are going through some tough things healthwise at the moment, sending {{hugs}} and love in support to you. 

 

Wishing you a lovely week ahead, next weekend we'll be moving into a new month!!

 

Love and blessings to all

 

Julie 

 

 

Caring and sharing

Our weekly knitting group met again after the holiday break on Friday and it was lovely to see the ladies and the 1 gentleman who knits.   Yet more Christmas food eaten as one of our group is a WI judge and she had made a Christmas cake for us to try - it was delicious.

I had a surprise, a serendipitous surprise.......

Catching up on blog reading earlier this week, I saw over at Winwick Mum that Christine blogged 19th December that she had an exclusive booklet in Knit Now magazine Issue 111 for socks and not wanting to forget added it to my shopping list to purchase a copy when I went to do the weekly shop Friday afternoon hoping that the issue was still available.

I'm all for saving money and a bargain but I wasn't expecting what happened at the knit group, i did not get to buy the magazine in the end.   One of the ladies had the magazine bought for her and she is not a sock knitter.  She offered me the booklet and sock blockers that were the cover gifts as she would not use them. 

 

We have such a wealth of talent at our group.   Another gift that came my way was a bookmark which looks right at home in my new read.

 

A close up of the little charm on the end shows knitting pins and a little jumper. How cute is that? 

 

 
As this post is a knitting one here are some Christmas gifts I knitted.  The pattern is free at Ravelry.  You can find it under Susie Rogers' Reading Mitts.   They were a hit with all who received them.

 

 

 

Enjoy your weekend
 
Love and blessings
 
Julie