Keeping safe and carrying on ...

 

It's been a week of ups and downs moodwise and healthwise

 

I've been practising some mindfulness listening and doing gentle exercising each day

We are still shielding at home, 72 days now

 

 

 

Here's some things that have been passing the time this past week -

 

 

Time spent doing a little colouring. I do love Peter Rabbit

 

 

 

 

I finished reading A Single Thread, the latest by Tracey Chevalier.

Started this new book one of my book group ladies passed on.

 

 

 

 

My granddaughter will celebrate her 9th Birthday next week.  A very different birthday for her this year. 

 

 

I stitched this card, a free chart at crosstitching.com called birthday panda.

She loves pandas.

 

 

 

 

A cake was made and shared with my over the road friend.

She picked it up off our doorstep when she passed by on her daily dog walk.  

We waved through the glass of our porch and had the best conversation you can like that.

 

 

 

 

 

DH and I were sharing a kit kat and a cuppa at the bottom of the garden.
 

Next doors kit cat, Jasper, wanted to share too....

"If I fits, I sits"  that's his motto!

 

 

 

 

 

A member of the community garden where DH is Chairperson rang the doorbell, she waved from the road and pointed to a parcel on the step.

 

Inside was a bundle of leeks for us she had harvested and shared - very tasty.

 

 

 

 

DD dropped off half a coconut cake she had baked to share with us. 

  

 

 

As you can see cake is featuring a lot in our week, but I am pleased to say the scales tell me that I am still the same weight I was at the beginning of the lockdown (result).

 

 

Sending love and blessings from our home to yours

 

Stay safe, take care and have a good week

 

Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gifted Gorgeousness ~ MAY

 

 

 

 

It's mid may? 

 

Can you believe it...  time for this months Gifted Gorgeousness post.

 

 

The chart for this pretty heart was the Winter challenge over at Needlecraft Haven.

 

I stitched mine, finished it with the pink heart lace surround and it went off in the post last week to Clare at Aimetu's Stitching to brighten her day as she faces the challenges illness and accidents bring.

 

 

I thought I would share these couple of gifts that I had this past week too.

 

A neighbour and I have been friends for over 25 years and one year for her birthday I bought her a rose bush entitled 'Friend'.  Every year since, she has always given my the very first bud that appears, it's become a tradition. 

 

 This year, even though we are not seeing each other at the moment she delivered the bud and left it on the doorstep for me so I could still have the first of the season.   The scent of it is so delightful. 

 

 

 

 

DD had a bunch of spring flowers delivered to us by post. 

That was a surprise!

 

 

 

It's the smallest of things that brighten our days at the moment isn't it?

 

 

 

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

Learn more here.

 

 

Warmest wishes, love and blessings from our home to yours

 

Julie

 

Gifted Gorgeousness - APRIL

 

 

 

I shared the secret Easter exchange underneath some pretty tissue paper last time.  We had a virtual exchange on Easter Sunday and posted a picture online of the finish we had stitched as some post offices are closed so not all could be sent out.  We are saving them and posting out when we can.

 

As it's been shown on the forum, I can share my Easter exchange gift with you, but not say where it is heading and who will receive it.

 

The design is from a very old magazine called The Gallery.

 

 

The next two are to be Christmas gifts.  Stitched a while ago but received the finishing treatment this week.

 

The Winter challenge at Needlecraft Haven. A free design by la Comtesse & le Point de Croix and the chart from her blog can be found here.

 

 

 

Miss Santa by The Little Stitcher, this design was in a magazine (JCS I think)

 

 

 

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

Learn more here. 

 

I hope all is as well as can be for you at present and you and your families are safe in these strange times.

 

Love and blessings

 

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