Gifted Gorgeousness - May

Mid month, the15th, so that means it's time to join Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching and the other folks who link up to gifted gorgeousness. 

What is it? It's a post about things you have been gifted or that you have gifted to others.  It can be anything at all.  Some people shoehorn in things in the strangest of ways (you know who you are!)

You can find a link-up to other bloggers here that join in.

Since last month I have two finished gifts to share

Hubby's socks are complete, and this Yak/merino/nylon blend is so soft, I think I might have to purchase some of it for myself from Snuggly Stars Yarns.

The second finish is a pair of socks for my mums birthday early next month, its what she asked for if I could manage it.

The first time I have used this sock wool from Cygnet- and its a bit scratchy, but hopefully it will soften when washed and worn a few times.  She's a fan of blue and lilac so this colourway called Airedale should be fine.

I've just come home from a quiet, relaxing and rejuvenating week away at the seaside and I was so pleased to have the gift of my 5 senses. 

The sound of the waves

The sight of the bird life and the beautiful sunsets 

The smells of the harbour at Burnham Overy Staithe and the crab pots 

The touch of a new book purchased at the little independent bookshop in Burnham Market.  I like to support this super little bookshop and pay the full price, not the supermarket reduced one and of course my Book Borrower ladies will all get to read this too so definitely value for money

The taste of a Bircham Bun (a type of tea cake which is one of DH's favourites that are made at Bircham Windmill) with flour they have milled themselves and to a special recipe - this didn't last long enough to get its picture taken!!   

It'll be interesting to see what everyone else is posting for GG this month. Why not follow the link-up and visit some blogs you might not know.

Love and blessings

Julie
 

What did I do in April?

Another month passed us by, that's a quarter of the year gone already.   Warmer days on the way and lots of lovely things to look forward to over the summer months.

April was a good month for sunshine and time in the garden.  Plenty of seedlings to sow and other jobs to get started with.  The full moon was spectacular and the stars seem to be been twinkling very brightly in the night sky.  It's nice to have lighter evenings, but of course that does mean less time for crafting.

I enjoyed sitting, listening and watching the many birds on my feeders. Some have had babies already and have brought their young to gobble up the goodies left out for them.  The cat has liked to laze on the lawn and take in the suns rays. 

I read outside quite a few times during April and 4 books were completed.  Two of them were quite biggies.  The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley came out in paperback on 4th April and is the 5th instalment of the Seven Sisters saga.  Set in Scotland and Spain, a tale of Tiggy (Tygate), finding out about her family and learning about where she originally came from.  This one was as good as the others.  A long wait now till the next one comes out end of October.  The new one will be The Sun Sister, and about Electra.

Kate Mosse, The Burning Chambers is the first in a saga about Carcasonne and set in the 1562.  Minou Joubert receives a letter at her fathers bookshop.  It is sealed with a family crest and inside are just 5 words "She knows that you live".  The book follows Minou and her family, the various religions of the time and troubles in France.  I listened to an interview with Kate Mosse where she tells that originally she had planned for 3 books in this series, but now there are to be 4 as the story has evolved and it would make the other books far too long.  The next instalment is due out May 2020.

 

I've read a couple of Lucy Clarke books in the past.  This one was ok, but not as good as her others.

 

I'd been recommended Rebecca Tope as I do like a quaint cottage mystery, especially one set in the Cotswolds, but to be honest I found it quite dull and boring.

 

Just three craft finishes, too much time spent reading!

 

As I sit here this afternoon the garden is having a good soaking, it pleases me as its been quite dry over the Easter holidays and since. 

I hope May is a good month for you all and you get to spend time with your reading, crafting and doing things that please you and give you upliftment.

Love and blessings

Julie

 

Scavenger Photo-hunt ~ APRIL

Joining in with Kate for the monthly scavenger photo-hunt.  You can see the other photo-hunters in the April link-up post on Kate's blog (I live, I love, I craft, I am me)

 The words for April  were :-

 

Edge

Loaf

Bridge

Mine

Black

My own choice

 

 

Edge

 

Standing right on the edge of the platform to take a picture

(DH took this one, he's the train buff!)

 

 

 

 

Loaf

 

Playing Happy Families card game with my granddaughter. 

I had the loaf family in my hand :-)

 

 

 

Bridge

 

The Humber bridge

 

 

and here we are driving across it on our way to the seaside 

 

 

 

 

Mine

 

The feel of sand between my toes

 

 

 

 

 

Black

 

That would have to be my mood one day this month.  Not possible to photograph that, but what I can show you is the black tape hubby put over the window that was smashed on my car

 

 

 

 

My Own Choice

 

Signs for the community garden newly made children's own growing area. 

Drawn by my granddaughter when she came for a sleepover this week

Laminated by nanny and all ready to put up when we are next there.

 

 

 

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie

 

 

 

 

Gifted Gorgeousness - April (and Easter exchange)

I hope you all had a lovely Easter.  It's been very warm and sunny here in the UK, it was lovely. 

We had a nice family Easter.   An egg hunt for my granddaughter and fun and games played.  Far too much food eaten, but I was good and limited the chocolate intake.

I took part in an Easter exchange at Needlecraft Haven and am including that into my Gifted Gorgeousness post here (for those who don't know about GG you can read about it here on Jo's blog)

 

This was my parcel  to Mary.  The brief was to stitch an Easter ornament, any shape or size, add a sweet treat and send a card.  This time we were allowed to sign the card, often the exchanges are anonymous and we wait till the reveal. 

 

I stitched on some yellow/white gingham which I thought would make a lovely Easter background for this sweet bunny design.

 

 

 

This is the lovely parcel I opened from Clare.   A cute little bag containing two malteaster bunny chocs. Clare also included extra chocs and some sweet bamboo Easter egg decorations together with a pretty card.  Thank you Clare.

 

 

I received a great gift from a friend at my knitting group this month to hold my knitting needles.  It made me smile.

 

 

Regular readers will remember a parcel I received from Justine a while ago with a collection of magazine free card kits for me to stitch for the knitting group 'For Sale' table.  I've stitched up another one of them.  This one is so pretty.

 

 

There are a few online friends who are experiencing difficult times at the moment so sending {{hugs}} to you.

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie

 

 

Cough, splutter, sniffle, sneeze

Ten days into April and i'm here playing catch up.  

 

A drs check up visit and subsequent trip straight off to the A&E dept to be checked out further where i think i must have picked up the cough and cold germs that have been doing the rounds for a while and lots of you have suffered with.  Golly, it's been awful.  Over two weeks later and it's still here, but i'm feeling a lot brighter these past couple of days. 

 

I totally missed the end of the month 'How did I do this month' post

 

So, a quick collage of the books I read in March.... 

 

 

and the few finishes I had.   

I did stitch an Easter exchange but that remains a secret till opening day

 

 

The Scavenger hunt photo challenge end of March that Kate sets, that got missed too. (Sorry Kate, I have taken note of the April words)

 

 

I'd casted on this shawl and have been knitting the odd row here and there. Easy to pick up and add a few stitches/rows inbetween coughing bouts and sleeping!  

 

A free Pattern called Grain from Tin Can Knits

 

 
I saw this wool on Christine's blog back in July when she made a stunning shawl herself (here) and really liked it.  It's James C Brett - Northern Lights and so very snuggly and soft.  

 

Feeling a bit better these past couple of days and the shawl finished, i've casted on some socks.  Simple rib pattern and it keeps the hands busy.  Itchy fingers so i must be on the mend but still sitting a lot to keep the coughing at bay.  

 

The wool is hand dyed from Snuggly Stars Yarns. 

It's called Russet Sunset and is 70% merino with 20% Yak and 10% nylon. 

I've never knitted with yak before have you?  

It's nice and soft and knitting up beautifully.

 

 

 

I've got a good book to keep my company as well.  The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley, the 5th in the Seven sisters saga came out in paperback last week and DS treated me to it for Mothering Sunday - i hope you all had a lovely day. 

 

DD bought me the most lovely and very different type of gift.   She had named a rose after me and the box comes with the seeds to grow it yourself.  A great gift for a special birthday, thought it might interest some of you.   DH has put the seeds into his propagator so we wait for new growth.

 

 

 

Love and blessings  

 

Julie