Midnight Ride...........

The Eve of Hallowe'en - or All Hallows' Eve  - or Samhein.....
How fast this year has gone!
Aren't the Autumn colours just so lovely - the reds, golds, russets glowing where the sunlight shines through the leaves on the trees........
I do love Autumn......

And it's Hallowe'en tomorrow!

I have been so far behind this year, I still don't know what to start on - or finish! - next! I'm pleased to say the shawl I started to crochet recently is nearly finished now and I'm pleased with the way it has turned out.
I have managed to finish - stitching, not making up, as you can see! - Midnight Ride, by Blackbird Designs. I do love the witchy crow, with her tall hat, riding through the night sky on her trusty broom....
I shall finish it into a little cushion, I think, with some black, starry fabric and some of the trims pictured.......
I just need more time! (Don't we all ?!!)

This morning, I made a pumpkin pie.....

My daughter loves them.....

My husband, not so.

He says that the 'colourof the purred pumpkin puts him off......

I'm not too surprised. It has taken me many years to get him to eat any vegetables apart from peas and potatoes.....(yes, really!)

So I'm not at all surprised - just resigned........!!

We're busy at the moment, planning home improvements - it's either that, or a move, and we're comfortable here - it's just all the dust......

Still, it won't be until well into the New Year.....

What are you all doing for Hallowe'en?

We will just be staying in, and leaving the spook tabular stuff to the children......

Perhaps we will get some Trick or Treaters......
I hope so - they have some brilliant costumes these days!

Hope you all have a happy and safe Samhein!

Back soon.......

A New Week.......

To be honest, I'm really glad that it's Monday! I love the weekends, but the last one was one I'd rather not dwell on.....
I've spent the entire weekend in agony with really painfully muscle spasms on the left side of my back. The pain has been awful, and it came along with nausea too......... Not nice!!
My dear husband ordered me to rest today - feels awful, doing nothing - but it does seem to have helped......
The spasms seem to be lessening.......
I did start a bit of crochet earlier - just the beginnings of a shawl in some green pure wool worsted I was given. I'm finding this particular hook is making my hand hurt a lot, so a new one needs to be bought, I think......

The picture above is of our beautiful cat, Freddie. He is lying in 'his' chair - an old one we keep just for him. We have had him nearly nine years now, which makes him, we think, about fourteen - a good age for such a big cat.
He is an old boy now, and spends a lot of time asleep, and I am so sad because I don't think we will have him for much longer.........
He was a rescue cat - his previous 'owners' cast him out when they moved house, and he was left to fend for himself.......
How people can treat animals - any animal - like that - and much worse - I shall never know - or want to.

Hope all of you out there had a lovely weekend.........

Back soon.........

A Little Stitching For My Grandmother......

I started this little sampler some years ago. Yes, I know - the time has just flown by, and it was put to one side and forgotten about.
It's not very big, and I found a design I liked by Brenda Keyes in one of her books, and stitched on a 32 count linen with DMC threads, it fitted the frame perfectly.
My Gran loved to knit and sew, and living in a time when there wasn't much of anything to be found, she knew how to make ends meet, so her talents with needles were always useful.
This little frame was in her bedroom, and I just managed to save it from the skip (my sister is a de-clutter freak) along with a few more cherished possessions.
So, quite a few years later, here is a little band sampler - I think Gran would like it.

This week is just flying past again!
Last weekend, we had a big tidy-up in the loft, and had quite a few bags to take to the charity shop on Monday!
I really didn't mean to buy anything, but.........
Just couldn't resist this..........
It's a pretty little bone china tea cup and saucer with all the flowers of Canada on it.
Isn't it just lovely?

And then I saw this......

A beautiful little pressed glass scent bottle that just had to come home with me.......

My poor husband wasn't too impressed!!

Then yesterday, we changed our car. I always feel so sad to see the old one go - after all, it had become a friend, and even had a name, Hyacinth.......

Yes, I know I'm rather strange.....

At the garage, husband was thrilled with his new  car, and the salesman gave me these......

Lovely flowers, and so kind of the garage.

So, as if that wasn't enough for a whole week, and it's only Wedneday - look what came in the post today!

The Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments Magazine arrived late last week - always looked forward to with anticipation!

But - I couldn't find a Halloween Ornaments Magazine in this country at all this year.......

So - this lovely magazine arrived from the U.S.A. Sent by a dear friend!

Hard to believe that just three days ago it was in California.......

Thank you so much for thinking of me!

What a busy week it has been with no time for any stitching of any kind!

It has turned chilly and misty outside now, the lovely sunshine of last week now a memory....

But, a bowl of homemade soup and crusty bread followed by crumpets by the fire.....

Oh yes, I do love the Autumn......

Have a lovely week......

Back soon.......

Of Mists, Mellow Bits And......A Hidden Dragon......"

Can it really be October already? Where has this year gone?
It has been a busy few weeks, here in our little bit of Worcestershire. My husband seems to disappear in to the garden most days, and is sweeping up the fallen leaves as I write.
I do love Autumn. Every season has it's blessings - but Autumn is my love. All the colours, sounds and scents - everything just seems different now.
The garden is winding down, ready for it's well-earned rest and the last of the apples and pears are being picked.......

These are Russet apples, picked about an hour ago. It has been a good year for fruit.

Our daughter and her new husband are making cider with the crop from their trees!

I'm afraid I'm boring, and will stick to pies, crumbles and chutneys!!

There hasn't been too much time for stitching of any kind, and I miss it. I did make a patchwork cushion though, for the cat! Poor Freddie is an old lad now - he's fourteen, which is a good age for a cat - and he needs a little comfort. He seems to like it, though he has spent hours basking in the lovely sunshine we have had recently.

A surprise gift from an old friend......for no reason at all! This huge bag of yarn! It's a double knitting yarn from Stylecraft - I have never used this before - in such wonderful colours!! It is to make a blanket designed by Attic24 - and the hook is itching to start.........

What a wonderful gift - thank you, my dear friend.it is time to bring him in - our little dragon who keeps an eye over the garden....I think he is frost proof but I should hate to loose him to the cold weather to come, so better safe than sorry....

I've made a Shepherd's Pue for dinner tonight, and there will be leftovers for tomorrow - perhaps I will find some time to pick up some (any) stitching then!

I did make a Victoria sponge cake this morning. Filled with home-made apricot jam.

This is what it looks like now - and, in case you're wondering - I didn't have any!!

The flowers are lovely Autumn crocus, and here is my patchwork cushion, just made from scraps.

So, that is all for now. 

Hoping that you are all enjoying this lovely Indian Summer - even if it is Autumn!!

Have a beautiful weekend

Back soon...........

White Lace And Promises.............

Our lovely daughter was married two weeks ago. So many busy weeks leading up to the big day!
Even the rain could not spoil things......
Beautiful dress and a handsome Groom......
The photographs will be ready soon to share with you.......
The cakes were admired - and eaten! The scent of beautiful cream roses filled the air!
I made this little Romantic Heart for the Bride to carry - filled with Lavender from the garden......
Pale blue silk overlaid with Ivory antique lace, finished with silk ribbons, Ivory and dusky pink silk roses, and tiny ivory rosebuds......
Yes, it was a wonderful, bittersweet day, the day my was married..........

Have a lovely week!
Back soon.........

So Many Sweet(?) Dreams.........

It might well read 'Happy Christmas' on this little ornament finish, but I am certainly not feeling the least bit Christmassy!!
I finished this a couple of weekends ago and rather enjoyed stitching it. But, I haven't even had time to think about picking up a needle since......
A week today, our daughter will be married. I am so happy for her and her lovely husband-to-be! I am also very tired!! Even our poor cat, Freddie in the picture above is tired - though what he does all day apart from sleep is anyone's guess.......
The cake(s) are made - but they need to be iced, and trying to find just what I need in shops locally is a nightmare. I'm sure it will be all ok - after all, we love it when a plan comes together, don't we?!!

It's just that I'm dreaming of wedding cake - and icing - and not in a good way.......!

I keep trying to convince myself of the long and lovely stitching afternoons ahead next week, when there won't be a wedding cake in sight.......

We can all dream, can't we?

Have a lovely week (with or without cake.......)

Back soon..............

Sampler Blues

This is just a little finish that I've had framed - sorry about the awful photo quality......
It is a pretty little sampler design by Jane Greenoff, that appeared in a very old copy of a needlework magazine quite a few years ago now. When I finally got round to stitching it, it didn't take long at all - in fact it took me longer to get it framed.......
It hangs now in our upstairs bathroom, and I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out - don't you just love blue and white combinations..........

There hasn't been any time for stitching of any kind, these past two or three weeks. Our lovely daughter is to be married on the 25th of this month, so it is all systems go here at the moment....
I have made the rich fruit wedding cake, which is being iced and decorated almost as I write! The is to be a sponge cake, too, to be made nearer the day, for the guests who don't like fruit cake.....
Then there are all the other thousand-and-one things to think of - and do........
Not forgetting the 'little surprise' I have planned for the bride - if time can br found........
Yes, it has been a rather busy month that us about to get even busier............
And I miss my stitching...........
Happy Week to you all........
Back soon..........

Using Up The Blues...........

I have been trying to have a tidy-up this week. You know, a good old de-clutter as they say, and, of course, I'm getting nowhere fast!

Every time I find something that could - might just - be given to the charity shop, then I can suddenly find at least a hundred or so reasons why I should keep it....... Even if I know I said that last time I had a clear-out, too.....

Still, three bin bags and two boxes have left the building.....!

On Monday, I sorted through all the odds and ends of wool I'd accumulated, and it was surprising how much there was. 

Of all the colours I found, the blue ones caught my eye, and it began to wonder what to do with them. There wasn't enough for a big project, but just enough to do something with, as I thought they were too pretty to not use.

So, I started this little bit of crochet, intended for a little cushion when it's finished.......
I've only been crocheting - is that how you say it? - for a few months, and find it so relaxing......

I'm using four different shades of blue, and so far, am quite happy with the result!

Much nicer to do than watch television........!

Hope you are all having a good week......

Back soon.......

Such An Awful Day?............

It has rained here the whole day long. Everything is grey, dismal and very soggy.
The cat won't even think about going outside (I don't blame him), my husband has moaned about not being able to prune things outside (the plants are quite pleased, at least) and my poor little Grandchildren both have a nasty cold. To top it all off, I have just 'done something' that has deleted every one of my photographs. I am tired and cross and am going to bed (so there!).

But.... And there is always a 'but' isn't there?....... The birds are still singing, I've had a lovely afternoons' stitching, the flowers are still in bloom, if a little wet, and tomorrow is another day.

A lot of people would be grateful for another day, even another hour. A lot of people are in pain and despair tonight, and here I am moaning on about such trivial things as a wet day and a tedious evening, when I should be grateful and thankful for all that I have.
And, believe me, I AM grateful and I AM thankful for each and every day, I just forget to show it sometimes.

So, whoever you are, and whatever your situation - take care of yourself and those you love, and be very grateful for this rainy day.

Back soon....

A Little Bit Of Something Blue.........

What a difference a day makes! Gone are the dull drizzly bits from yesterday, replaced by bright warm sunshine! Doesn't it make you feel so much happier when the sun shines? You don't even mind that the blackbirds have stripped every single cherry off the trees - well, not too much, anyway!

The Hydrangeas have come into flower, and the colours are sheer perfection. How many different shades of blue do you think are in this one?

Has anyone had a 'couldn't resist it' moment? This was mine today! I do love red and white fabric, and so when I saw this - well, the rest,they say, is history!
Now - any ideas as to what I can do with it?!! I'm really looking forward to starting something new!

Hope you all are having a lovely, sunny day, wherever you are.......

Back soon.......

My Summer Breeze.....

Sweet peas from the garden - it is so hot out there for the plants. The strawberries keep coming thick and fast - this really must be summer!
It  is my lovely daughter's birthday today!  She has always been my Little Summer Breeze - and here she is now in her early thirties! Where did that time go? Forever in my heart, I am so proud of her!
It has been to warm to stitch! Even the Flying Geese are resting today! I will get the quilt done, but this weather is making me lazy!
I'm still very new to blogging - so you will have to bear with me until I get the hang of it all - and - hopefully! - post a lot more photo's of my stitching!
Back soon...........

It has been a warm day! So much nicer than the rain - the sunshine just makes you feel happier, doesn't it?
I haven't found time today - yet! - to stitch. I did manage a little crochet this afternoon, and a part of the morning was spent with Flying Geese - the sort I am hoping to make in to a quilt! They are all ready now to be pieced together.........

It is a good year for the strawberries........ Another big bowl of them has appeared as if by magic on the kitchen table! All picked by my dear husband! And to be eaten tonight with ice cream......... Just the thing for the close of this very warm day.
Back soon....