Remembrance Sunday

This morning I have been listening to my local radio as they broadcast the Remembrance Sunday service from the local cenotaph in one of our lovely city parks.

I was thinking how a time for remembering has changed so much over the years.

My generation all know a family member who was conscripted into the services to do their 2 years national service, such a lot of men saw active service and sometimes their memories were recounted to you, sometimes not as they struggled themselves to forget what they had seen.  You were brought up remembering your forebears especially on this day, the second Sunday in November each year and you learnt about it a lot in your history lessons.

With the onset of the computer age and media we remember those who are serving each and every day more so now as news of the conflicts are brought to us via the news service, be that on our phones, ipads and computers and into our homes through the news on the television screens.  Some of the sights you see are just so dreadful you can hardly imagine the traumas the young soldiers today face each and every day.

We see our servicemen brought home to Royal Wooton Bassett, a town given the honour of being called 'Royal' in honour of our war dead that return there from overseas and make their journeys to their families so they can lay them to rest.  The streets are lined with people who just want to pay their respects to those men and women who served Queen and country.

Earlier this week the younger royals Prince William and his lovely wife Kate hosted the Poppy Day event at Kensington Palace whilst Prince Philip and Prince Harry made the annual visit to the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.  All of these men in the royal family having first hand experience of the forces.  Today saw the Queen herself honouring her subjects at the Parade and Service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, featuring a main service followed by a March Past of both ex-service men and women and civilians in Horse Guards Road.

Not only in these modern times do we have the Royal British Legion raising funds for our soliders with the annual poppy appeal but we now have the charity Help for Heroes that does all kinds of fund raising in all kinds of countries and carrying out all manner of things to provide our wounded and lost servicemen and their bereaved families with the help and support they require.

Today there is no prejudice, you can be any nationality or faith and we should all come together to remember.

God Bless you All xxx   

Saturday was the meet up!

Not a good start to the day, it was drizzling with rain when I awoke and the sky looked very black.

It improved as I ate my breakfast and when I arrived at the station in plenty of time for my outward journey......

 

the train was then running late, no idea why.  I did arrive at my destination in plenty of time though and was met at the station in Nuneaton by two friends.  We walked to the pub... yes, the pub..... we sit in the private lounge away from the rest of the drinkers lol

 

There were 10 of us this time

 

and lots of lovely stitching and beading work on show

 

The theme for this times goody bag exchange was 'sparkle and fizz' 

 

Clare had made little cupcakes and under each was a raffle ticket and as you picked a cake you received the bag corresponding to the ticket you chose

My bag came from Jane and was full of lovely things. 
Thank you Jane. x

 

We are all avid readers and have a book exchange too. 

The books are wrapped to hide their titles

I chose the pink one, front left, which was from Clare. 

Thank you Clare. x

 

The Needlecraft Haven forum sometimes has adverts on it and this year it was decided that the money from the raffle would be used to stop them appearing. We raised enough for about 5 months of advert free forum time.

 

Lots of lovely donated gifts in the raffle ....

I won some lovely Chapstick in a pretty tin, these will be so useful with the upcoming cold weather.

 

There was lots of chat and fun and even quite a bit of stitching going on.  I took Part 3 of the Jardin Prive with me and managed to finish it off over the weekend after I got home. 

 

Thank you Lindsay, Rachael, Clare, Tina, Lisa, Jane, Lynn, Maggie and Clare's mum who came along with her quilting, for such a lovely and enjoyable day, I look forward to seeing you all again in the spring.

 

I've been naughty this afternoon and had an hour adding this weeks little shepherd to the Plum Street Samplers design, I don't normally stitch in the daytime but when I printed it out earlier it was such a little bit that I thought go on, get the needle out do it lol. 

 

 

I hope you all had a lovely weekend spent with those you love and care for.

 

Challenge reveal and a new outfit

Good afternoon readers...

I hope all the people in the south of the UK are safe after the stormy weather we had last night and earlier this morning.  Wind speeds have been recorded at 99mph in some parts.  It was not as bad for us as they had predicted but it's so sad to read that some have lost their lives and others are suffering damage to their properties from falling trees and flooding.

If you could see the sunlight that is flooding through my window right now, you would not believe the difference from the heavy rainfall and darkness of earlier today.... british weather... ho hum!

Yesterday was reveal day for the October challenge chart chosen by Christine at Needlecraft Haven.  She chooses some lovely designs for us. This little one from Homespun Elegance was the choice.  As usual I found I was at the end of the month and 'oh no, reveal day, better whip up something fast' so just a quick simple finish so as not to be in detention (again!).

 

A new doll for Isabelle's Christmas pressie to accompany the pram we have bought is going to be getting a new wardrobe of clothes too.  Here's what the knitting pins have made this week.  I'm hoping that the putting on of these will help her develop her motor skills with the buttons etc.

 

 

A bit of excitement to look forward to this week.  Saturday is the twice yearly meet up of the ladies from the Needlecraft Haven forum.  It'll be lovely to see some friends again that I haven't seen since April.  We're having a book swap and a goody bag exchange, it'll be a fun day. I'll tell you all about that next time.

 

Have a lovely week yourselves, and now we have put the clocks back here in the UK we should all get and extra hours crafting in each evening.... if we are lucky.

 

 

Who's a silly stitcher then?

It's been quite a productive week on the crafting front.  The weathers been dreadful, rain, rain and more rain, so lots of time spent inside cosying up on the sofa.

A couple of knitting finishes ...

Christmas pressie socks

   A free pattern at Ravelry called Blueberry Waffle Socks

 

Isabelle's cardigan using the bamboo 4ply sock wool.

 

A new stitching start ...   

CCN - Santa Village - Reindeer Stables

 

and then a disaster was found ......

 

The Jardin Prive SAL - a stupid mistake by someone who should know better!

 

 I had completed Part 1 & 2 and it was looking lovely.  Took it off the frame and OH NO!!! the fabrics too short for the other parts.... how can that be .... 

 

I opened the fabric drawer and took out the bag with the antique white fabric in and there on the top was a lovely piece just the same as I had been stitching on.... except.... this one was considerably longer.  Yes, you guessed it, when I cut the extra off I put back into the drawer the piece I should have been stitching on... aarrgghhhh.... all that wasted time.  No point frogging it, and as hubby said, the verse doesn't read too bad and could actually come to a conclusion as it is.

 

So, out came the longer piece of fabric and a new start on Friday last week.  I worked like mad all weekend and we now have Part 1 & 2 completed again

 

 

They make a nice pair!!

 

No measuring of fabric needed last night when I added more on the Plum Street Sampler SAL

 Part 4 added - I choose Mary's Sampler 1

 

Another Christmas knitting project going to be started tonight, I can't possibly do that wrong... can I??

 

Have a lovely week

 

 

Goodnight Cathey

Just heard the news ..... a very sad day...

our friend Cathey aka Pumpkin is at peace and free from all her pain and suffering.

 

My thoughts and prayers are with Catheys family and friends at this sad time.

 

Thank you Katie for finding the strength in your heart to let us all know and to share with us some pictures of the happy times you and Cathey shared together. 

 

She will be missed greatly by all

 

  

A loving {hug} to everyone who knew this wonderful lady who has

left a little stitch in each of our hearts.