Mis-matched seahorses!

Aren't these beautiful?  They arrived yesterday, from M and J, to cheer us up after the house move fell through.  It was such a lovely thought.

In a fit of enthusiasm, I cleaned the fridge out this morning.  Jars had got lost at the back of the shelves, there were empty wrappings left behind and a bottle had leaked.  Everything came out, all the shelves and trays went in the sink and I cleaned all the inside surfaces with a damp cloth and some bicarb.  I discovered I could take all the door attachments off the door, which made cleaning much easier, and the over-powering smell of onion disappeared (we need to get in the habit of storing cut onion in a container).  The pull-out salad tray has been cracked for, well, some time, and I asked N if he could find a replacement part on the internet.  A few minutes later he disappeared down to the shed and eventually came back with a plastic box which was a perfect fit and certainly cheaper than the £25 or so we would have paid for the branded part.  I love it when that happens!

I had a button and button-hole session with the shirt this afternoon, and it's now finished.  I will now hold up my hands and own up to the glaring mistake - the pattern doesn't match on the fronts  :-( 

The seahorses have slipped!  I can only blame my recent state of extreme tiredness to the mis-match.  I have a bit of a thing about patterns not matching up, and now I've gone and done it myself.  I am not perfect and I think perhaps it was a useful lesson for me to be reminded of.  One thing is certain, I am not going to lose N when he wears this shirt, which he loves, by the way, and that really is the important thing.

I've been trying to get a flat shot of my daughter's quilt since I finished it but haven't been too sure how I could do so, but as it was on the list for today (!) I decided to tackle the problem.  I mentioned it to N as I was in the loft looking for some dowelling I thought might be handy, and the next minute he had brought the pole from the clothes-line upstairs, together with some plastic grips he usually uses for woodwork.  I have to say I was suitably impressed and the arrangement worked admirably.  We had to move all the furniture in the lounge so there was enough room for the quilt to hang freely, and N has informed me that it's very heavy, especially when you are standing on a chair, holding the quilt with arms stretched taking the full weight - he's a star!!

A pole along the bottom edge too would have been a good idea to prevent the waviness but at least it's a flat-shot rather than being draped over the bed.

We're off to work tomorrow at the donation centre.  Friday morning seems to come around jolly quickly these days - our time there is always interesting and we never know what might be in the next bag we investigate.  

Oh so tired

The crocuses are all out in the rockery - I thought I'd planted a selection of colours but every single one had come up purple!

I'm tired.  Very,very tired.  The sort of tired that hits you if you've had to stay awake for days and nights at a time, as indeed, it seems that we have; 2 o'clock in the morning is not a good time for me, especially if I'm still awake 5 hours later!  I think the stress of trying to get the 'moving house project' over the line - unsuccessfully, as it happens - has finally hit like a sledgehammer.  We are both completely shattered.  

Life, however, carries on and there was washing to be done, kitchen floors to be washed, appointments to be kept.  Two or three decent nights' sleep will put us right again.  

I didn't attempt the buttonholes on N's shirt today - I didn't trust my hand-eye co-ordination sufficiently to guarantee they would be on the correct side of the shirt front!  Tomorrow I will finish that project and sort out the next one.  

One of the garlic beds.  The very sturdy plant in the right forefront is Elephant garlic.

The garden is coming to life again after the soaking it's had since Christmas.  The ground is still very wet but new signs of life are all around, and very welcome.  

This is the start of this year's potato crop, begun at the end of last year when N came across a few sad-looking spuds at the bottom of a bag in the shed, left over from the summer crop.  Never one to 'look a gift horse in the mouth' (pass up on a freebie!), he stuck them in a trough and promptly forgot about them over winter, so these little shoots were something of a surprise.  We're not expecting a huge crop from them, but even a couple of meals' worth will be gratefully received.  

The daffodil bulbs we planted a couple of years ago have divided and spread through the beds and there are shoots everywhere.  We look forward to a golden splash of colour in a few days time, a sight guaranteed to raise our spirits after the damp gloom of winter.  

I feel the need for some weeding - I need to get my hands in the soil again.

Decisions

This morning we notified the estate agent that we were withdrawing our offer on the property.  Not renegotiating a lower price, but pulling out altogether.  It was a decision that we took with some reluctance, given the time, effort (and money) we have put into the project, but it is definitely the right thing to do and having taken the step, neither of us regrets it at all.  The cost of renovation was escalating beyond common sense, and we could no longer justify spending that amount of our hard-earned money on that property, it simply wasn't economically viable.  We may have taken our time to reach that conclusion, but we're so glad we did.  

The whole experience has taught us many valuable lessons.  You can never ask too many questions, and if the first answer doesn't seem quite right, it pays to ask again.  Quotes and estimates for proposed work are invaluable - although mighty difficult to get hold of!  Little niggles should not be ignored, they often are more significant than at first seems.  Listen to the advice and views of others, but who will pay the final bill?  

Some pieces of Isle of Wight Glass, collected over the years

On the plus side, we are now more than capable of pricing up house repairs and renovations.  And when experts suggest you should build in a contingency fund, they know what they're talking about!  If we view other properties, we shall know exactly what to look for, and how much it'll cost to put things right.

The process has been frustrating, stressful and, at times, exhausting, and we are both pretty worn out.  However, we still have a roof over our heads and we are thankful that we had the sense to walk away when we did.  We still want to move - we might give ourselves a couple of weeks to lick our wounds first - and we are now much clearer what to look for in the future, and what would suit us.  It's actually been very interesting and helpful to realise that what we thought was going to be our dream didn't match up to our expectations, and is not necessarily what we would look for again.  

So, we didn't move house after all.  We've spent two months up to our eyes in surveys, costings and quotes, chasing up estimates, researching on the internet and planning.  We're not quite sure what to do with ourselves now!

I've been plugging away at N's new shirt for the past few days, and with the exception of buttons and buttonholes, it's now finished.  I've been glad of the distraction, and it's another job off the list.  Just another couple of small projects to finish, and then I might look at a couple of quilt tops that have been waiting, extremely patiently (for quite a few years, truth be told) to be made up.  

This evening we sat down to dinner at 5.45 pm, still in daylight, just.  It's March at the weekend, and we dearly want to get out into the garden; the ground is still quite soggy underfoot and we need to do some remedial work to avoid the soil becoming too compacted.  The shed and greenhouse could do with a bit of a spring-clean, and the seeds need sorting out ready for sowing.  Our minds have been so full of moving that we have lost sight of the every-day activities that kept us grounded.  

We need to get back to the basics of a simple life.

Of sunshine and surveys

A distinct lack of posts this week, I've been completely bogged down with the proposed house purchase which has become fraught with complications, surveys are turning up way too many 'nasties' and the list of things that need to be done to the property is growing daily.  Quotes have finally started to come in and we are now having to face some very stark financial realities.  We have spent hours, day and night (!) going over figures, trying to make the books balance.  Mental exhaustion has hit us both.  One minute we're definitely pulling out, the next, we've talked ourselves back into the purchase.  Yesterday we visited the property again and all the rain we have had over the last six or seven weeks has taken its toll - there are areas of damp and black mould in every room.  It was incredibly depressing.  Yes, it can be fixed and we know what is causing almost all of it, but it comes at a financial cost and we're the ones who will have to foot the bill.  

We have done some serious thinking and decisions have been made.  

However, on a much brighter note, the weather has really taken a turn for the better.  The sun has actually shone this week, the rain has been occasional rather than continual, and it's been more of a breeze than a gale, so really we've had a lot to smile about and be thankful for.  And today when I put the washing out, the first daffodil of Spring had bloomed.

The bluetits have been in and out of the nestbox several times (obviously it has passed Building Control, and nothing untoward came up on it's survey!), although we haven't seen any nesting material being taken in yet.

The photo is a little blurred as my little camera is right at the maximum zoom

We have followed the curling at the Winter Olympics - Team GB finishing with a bronze medal for the Ladies, and silver for the Men.  As a nation we have apparently become obsessed with the sport, and particularly the 'sweeping' of the ice the make the stones go faster and in the required direction.  We have to have something to raise our spirits after all this horrible weather!

To take my mind off the roller-coaster of moving/not moving I have dug out some fabric and got sewing.  Last autumn N bought himself some very brightly coloured cotton and asked if he could please have another short-sleeved shirt made.

He won't get lost in this shirt!

I grabbed the pattern and set to.  The instructions seem to have disappeared but it's a relatively straight-forward shirt and so far it has gone together without much problem.  And it has had the desired effect of making me think about something other than blown plaster, loft insulation and guttering!  Thank goodness for needle and thread.

Reading the meters again

A male blackbird in the garden this morning

Every Monday morning I check the electricity and gas meters and record the readings in my household journal.  Sometimes N will also update our online accounts with the new figures, that way we know how much we are spending.  This week I noticed that the electricity reading was a little higher than usual, so we've obviously used more than normal last week.  Didn't take a genius to work out why - we have watched the Winter Olympics on TV most days.  Normally we watch very little television but last week (and this week, too, if we're honest!) we have enjoyed the spectacle from Sochi.  Seeing that reflected in the electricity reading on Monday really brought home to me how easy it is to waste energy, and the reason why I bother to read those meters each week.  It doesn't take 5 minutes to do but it helps us keep our usage in check and we know exactly what our bills are.  It's been a worthwhile habit to acquire and is a small step that anyone can adopt on the road to simplifying your life.

I finally managed to snap a picture of a goldfinch - the flash of yellow always catches my eye.  I've just noticed the big fat buds on this horse chestnut tree - the mild winter seem to be encouraging early growth.  

Now that the jumper is finished I can turn my attention to the long list of projects that was put on hold.  Today I hemmed a dozen rags from an old polo shirt of N's and yesterday I altered a beach dress - two things off the list, neither of which took long to deal with.  Whilst looking through the project box I came across a long-sleeved rugby shirt that I had originally intended for more rags but on closer inspection, I think I might be able to repurpose or upcycle it into a jacket for myself.  It's not something I've done before but I think it could be fun to try.  Some brightly coloured trimming to bind the edges, and buttons to fasten -  I can see how it should look, but I'm not sure if it will.  However, I won't find out unless I try so I shall give it a go.

As well as the North Ronaldsay wool we brought back from Orkney on our last trip in May, I bought myself some Shetland wool, dyed in the most beautiful shades of green, turquoise and red.  Yesterday I wound it into balls, draping the skeins over the back of the dining chair.  I found myself remembering when, as a small child I would hold skeins on my hands while my mother wound them into balls ready for knitting.  I just need to find the right pattern to do this lovely wool justice.

Although we seem to be having a slightly calmer week weather-wise (not as much rain, not as windy and a little milder), the damage caused by flooding continues.  On the southern coast of the Island, one of the roads has collapsed and several households have had to be evacuated.  It is an area that has suffered landslippage in the past, due to the underlying geological layers, but it is nonetheless devastating for those residents concerned.  

The sun disappeared behind the chimneys at 5.30 this evening and painted the clear blue sky with streaks of gold.  Quite beautiful.

Sunshine and blue skies . .

We have enjoyed a really lovely day today - sunshine, warmth and just the lightest of breezes.  This morning we joined what seemed like hundreds of other people for a walk along the beach.

The shingle bank that was thrown up onto the beach during the Christmas/New Year storms a few weeks ago is still there, and we spied some scallop shells in amongst the stones.

Just a few shallow ripples at the water's edge today, instead of the huge crashing rollers we've been experiencing recently.  Here's a container ship destined for Southampton, passing one of the Solent forts.

Our walk took us through Puckpool Park, originally the site of a Battery, built during the 19th century to defend against a perceived threat from the French.  This building was the main magazine, and this morning the roadway in front was several inches under water; the reflection was near perfect.  

This afternoon I met up with an old school friend, and we enjoyed a pot of tea and a good natter at Quarr.  It was a lovely walk there and back, and everyone I met en route seemed happy to see the sun at last!

Finally, a bit of ingenuity from N.  The little plastic cover to the water resevoir in my iron has finally snapped off so N has fashioned a nifty stopper out of a bottle cork and a wooden knob left over from his hand-made boxes.  I think it is just perfect.

Now ironing makes me smile :-)

A labour of love

Finally the jumper is finished!

Almost completed in time for Valentine's Day but N says it was worth waiting for - it is wonderful to make clothes for someone who is so appreciative of the time and effort that goes them.  The jumper fits a treat which is a bit of a bonus, given the number of times I've had to unpick it and the fact it was knitted without a pattern :-o  

The moss stitch and garter stitch detail on the yoke and at the top of the sleeves has worked very well, and although I had misgivings about knitting the welt in moss stitch, it actually looks well on and I guess that's the main thing.  Do you see the little bit of dark-coloured wool at the back of the neckband?  Apparently the front and the back look the same to N - he asked for a marker so he didn't put the jumper on back to front!! 

More wind and rain.  Yesterday on the way home from volunteering the roads were completely awash with run-off from the fields.  At one point the water was right across the road, several inches deep - I've not seen flooding there before.  N took some photos on his mobile but I haven't got them transferred to the laptop yet.  In addition to all the rain falling, there is now so much groundwater it is forcing it's way up to the surface in the most amazing ways - we even saw it coming up between the kerbstones and the tarmac of a pavement, gushing out in a fountain - quite bizarre to see.  Everyone has fingers crossed that the weather is going to calm down a little over the next few days, hopefully giving some respite to those people badly affected by the flooding.  

And finally, on a quick dash to the garden in between the rain, I spied the first crocuses of the year, hopefully a sign that Spring may be lurking just around the corner.  It's certainly been a grey, wet and windy old winter but the evenings are gradually pulling out, the sun sets a little further along the skyline each day, and new life in the garden lifts the spirit and reminds me I have much to be thankful for.  Sometimes I try to make life too complicated when in fact it is the simple things which are likely to put a smile on my face.

Unravelled

The knitting, that is . . . . 

 I don't think I have ever unpicked a knitting project as many times as I have this one :-((   Both sleeves have been knitted up (and cast off) only for me to discover they needed to be altered, so unpicked several inches.  Goodness, is this proving to be a test of my patience.  

However, I am determined to finish this jumper before I start another project - they are lined up ready and waiting! - so I am taking my time and plodding on.  The sleeves are now done again, and fitting so much better; it was worth all the unravelling.  Only the neckline to pick up and knit, then seams to be sewn to finish off.  I am very thankful N is so patient in waiting for this jumper; I certainly didn't expect it to take this long to knit.  I think the moral of this particular story is, in future, use a pattern!

This week has seen yet more rain and high wind.  Across the country floods and gales have wreaked havoc.  And more on the way.  We try to take advantage of a dry couple of hours to get out and walk, even if it's only into town and back, otherwise I think we might get a little 'stir-crazy'.

We are still waiting for quotes for building work.  I can understand that in this weather tradesmen may not be keen to go and price a job up, or that roofers are probably all busy dealing with loose slates and ridge tiles, but if that's the case, please just tell us.  Don't say 'yes, I'll get back to you in a couple of days' if it's not going to happen; there's only so many times we can chase for quotes.  We feel a bit helpless at the moment, just waiting.  Again, perhaps a lesson in patience.  

The local birds tend to take shelter in the worst of the weather, so we don't tend to see many of them unless there's a break in the rain.  In the high winds even the bigger birds get blown about by the gusts.  

This jackdaw was on the fence earlier this morning, they have very 'beady' eyes: 

 and a little later, this pied wagtail was out and about - it's long tail is constantly 'wagging' up and down as it walks.

One of my tasks this week was to cut my hair.  It lasts for about 6 weeks between cuts and seems to go from 'OK' to 'really not OK' almost overnight!  That's when the scissors have to come out and I spend half an hour in front of the bathroom mirror.  It may not be a professional cut but it's generally not too bad at all.  The only bit I struggle with is at the nape of my neck and thankfully N is usually on hand to tidy that bit up for me ;-).  Job done and a few £s saved, not to mention a little less grey hair for a few weeks!

At the start of the week

Over the weekend I worked on the label for my daughter's quilt.  I thought carefully about the wording - the who, what, where and why - and used a laundry marker to write it on fabric, then sealed it by ironing.  I've hemmed it onto the backing and it looks quite neat.  I've also hand-stitched a 'to' and 'from' on the quilt top.  The quilt is now put to one side, waiting for the day it can be collected by, or delivered to, it's rightful owner.  A job well done.

We've been watching the bluetits flitting in and out of the nestbox, but to date we've not seen any nesting material being taken in so we don't like to presume they've made a final decision on their nesting site.  We'll keep our fingers crossed.  The local wood pigeons are getting in the mood, too, judging by the posturing and chasing over the shed roofs!  During all the rain (and there has been a lot more of that) the pigeons just sit on the fence getting wet - the other birds seem have the sense to find somewhere a little drier to wait out the downpours, but not the pigeons.  Perhaps they enjoy getting wet.  They also seem have enjoyed the brassicas we planted last autumn to provide us with winter greens *sigh*.

We went to support the lads playing football on Sunday morning and goodness me, was it cold!  Hats, scarves, gloves, several layers of jumpers, two pairs of socks and a fair bit of jumping around on the touchline was required to keep the circulation going.  Even the youngsters were finding it a bit chilly, and they were running around!  BTW, I have to mention a very fine goal scored by Grandson No 1!!

We've succumbed to our 4-yearly dose of Winter Olympic fever.  Suddenly the nation is becoming fascinated with the finer points of snowsloping, moguls and speed-skating.  Once again we have become addicted to curling and ski-jumping - why anyone wants to hurls themselves off the end of a ski-jump I have no idea, but it's compulsive viewing!  The winter Olympics always seem to me more friendly and relaxed than the summer ones, not sure why but that's the impression I get.  Whatever, we do enjoy watching it.

5 o'clock this evening - the long dark winter days are coming to an end

The days are definitely lighter for longer now.  It makes such a difference to still have daylight at 5 o'clock.  

17.18, the sun is sinking

17.26 - the photo doesn't do the colours justice - beautiful oranges and purples

I had such good intentions at the start of the year, I was going to do a weekly Simple Living progress sheet (originally seen on the DTE forum) but the house move issue stopped me progressing anywhere for a while.  However, I did think it was a good idea and I really want to try to pick this up again, so here is last week's.

Simple Living Progress    week ending  9 February 2014

I made a great meal of: chickpea burgers
I baked: Somerset Easter Biscuits
I preserved/fermented:
I stockpiled: toilet rolls (something of a necessity!) - a really good offer in the supermarket so we bought packs; should last several weeks
I handmade/started to make: finished quilt; knitted the sleeves to N's jumper
I repurposed/recycled: empty bottles to the bottle bank (walked there and                                           back)
I decluttered: the work station where I volunteer!
I saved money by: a careful shop at the supermarket, using a money off voucher to get some very good deals
I sowed seeds/planted seeds/took cuttings of: still a little early in season
I harvested: winter greens
I tried something new: I used the burger press and it worked brilliantly.  
I read/was inspired by: 'Birds in a Cage' by Derek Nieman, a very interesting, thought-provoking and quite inspirational story about how four POWs in WW2 coped with their imprisonment by watching and studying birdlife.
I finally tackled: tidying the spare room
I really enjoyed: a long chat on the phone with my daughter

I must try to be a bit more proactive with this on-going project, especially things like repurposing/recycling, decluttering, trying something new and tackling jobs which I know I should do but which just seem to get put off for various reasons.  Basically, I need to make more of an effort ;-)

Bits at the end of the week

The laptop is playing up again, taking ages to load programs and then crashing.  I think we are fast reaching the point of looking for a new one - oh dear *sigh*.

No let up in the weather, and although we have had wind and rain in copious quantities, there are so many other places, especially in the south-west, who have experienced it far worse.  Here we have had ferries suspended again, and roads closed.  N has had a couple of days in Manchester this week, visiting family.  When I met him on his return, the ferry was running late coming across the Solent and then took a very long time trying to tie up alongside at the end of the pier.  It was rather 'bouncy' to watch!  The sea was really churned up, and there were huge waves crashing over the sand-bar off the beach.  Unfortunately it was too far away for my little camera to get photos which was a shame as it looked pretty spectacular.

From the end of the pier, looking back towards Ryde - the sea was a very mucky-looking brown colour

After a quiet week on the home-buying front, we've managed another small step forward today.  We're having to gather quite a bit of information before we can make each move and sometimes it feels as though we aren't really getting anywhere at all, but the fact-finding will hopefully bear fruit in a little while.  Did I mention there is a 'SOLD' sign outside the property now?  Very exciting, except I can't take a photo of it!

Today we've had hailstorms - quite deafening on the windows and roof.  And more on the way - can't wait =:o

In the kitchen

Although it's rained most of the day, I did manage to get a walk in early this morning.  First week in February, and look at these daffs blooming away:

Perhaps a sign that Spring is not so far away.

I took a quick detour down one of the sliproads onto the beach - really grey and dreary, and that was before all the wind and rain!

The pier to the right . . .

 . . . and more rain clouds to the left

The tide was out, and the sea was the same muddy brown colour of the sands; the low cloud reducing the visibility across the water.

So a few hours in the kitchen seemed like a good idea.  I was full of good intentions at the start of the year, planning to try a new recipe from my baking book each week but the distraction of buying a house temporarily got in the way.  Today, however, was just the day to mess about in the kitchen again.  I started with some ginger fairy cakes (using some of the stem ginger from the gingernuts I made before) - very tasty.  Then I tried my hand with some Somerset Easter biscuits.  I had fully intended to stick exactly with the recipe in the book but I discovered the biscuit meal we bought from Calbourne Mill was almost out-of-date so I used that instead of white flour.  It worked out really well, a lovely nutty texture.

Onion, chickpeas, carrots and celery

These burgers went in the freezer

Finally I made some chickpea burgers.  N had made some great burgers before Christmas using the burger press we 'acquired' from our last trip to Manchester and I had been keen to try out a veggie version.  I had two for my dinner tonight and they worked a treat.  Might try the next ones with a relish or sauce of some sort

And in between pottering in the kitchen, I'm back knitting N's jumper.  Things seem to be getting back to normal.      

The finished quilt

Finally, here it is.  My first full-sized quilt (92" square), made for my daughter's 30th birthday, so only four months late!!  I am thrilled to have completed such a big project - I have learned a lot in the process (primarily that things always take longer than you think), and I am really pleased with the result.

The original pattern comes from an old Fabrications quilting magazine, and was designed by Carolyn Forster.  The basic block is a split nine-patch; dark and light fabrics being divided diagonally with black triangles.  In the photos above, I have tried to show the larger pattern formed by joining four split nine-patches together.

The fabrics were all from my stash with the exception of the black/white fabric for the triangles, and the black border fabric.  Many of the fabrics were chosen because they have some connection with my daughter - scraps left over from clothes I made for her when she was little or which evoke a memory or have some significance to her.

As I don't have room or the wherewithal to stretch a full-sized quilt, I decided to go down the 'quilt as you go' route, another first for me.

One skill I wanted to develop on this quilt was machine-quilting.  I've had a couple of workshops with Vendulka at Oliven, who is a fabulously talented quilter and fabric artist who makes machine quilting look effortless, but I have found it a really difficult skill to feel confident about.  I decided that the only way to get better was to simply have a go.  

The 'dark' squares are filled with a meander quilting stitch, and the 'light' crosses have a feather design - hopefully that shows in the photos below.  I used a fabric marker pen to mark the feather design on first - I'm no where near confident enough to try freehand quite yet!  When it came to a design for the border (I used a chalk pencil for marking), I decided to put my new-found skills to the test by quilting on black fabric with a light thread - I used Mettler silk-finish multi in pastel colours - so there was no hiding.  I confess to unpicking a few feathers along the way, but I got better the more I did and I am very pleased with the overall effect on the borders.  The hearts are hand quilted in double thread. 
  

This is by far the biggest project I have tackled, amazing really when I say I have been quilting on and off for about 30 years.  Up to now I've kept the projects small and manageable, and quick to complete.  But there is something so satisfying in undertaking and finishing something of this size.  I may not be quite ready to do another quilt this size just at the moment, but when the time does come I shan't be daunted.  I have proved to myself that I'm capable.

Normal service gradually resuming

I'm hoping we may have finally got our heads around the fact that nothing seems to happen very fast when it comes to moving house.  We have learned the lesson that we cannot dictate the pace at which we think things should progress; we are learning to accept that sometimes we must simply wait for things to take their natural course.  

So, now we carry on with all those things that we abandoned while we had our moment of panic ;-).  I have hand quilted the last few hearts on the quilt borders and spent some time taking out tacking threads and other stray ends that I'd missed.

I baked bread rolls - things must be back to normal!  For dinner tonight we had some of the delicious burgers that N made before Christmas (not many left in the freezer now), in freshly-baked rolls served with shredded winter greens fried with onions.  Comfort food if ever there was.

Early February, and it is definitely staying lighter longer in the afternoon.  I took these photos at 16.50 this afternoon - I couldn't believe that it was still blue sky so late on.  

The white line is the trail left by a plane on it's way to who-knows-where.  
It has actually been dry all day today (although it's raining again now!)

I have a long list to tackle this week.  I need to seriously organise my time if I'm to make progress, I've done enough aimless wandering around recently, it's down to a bit of hard work now.

The quilt is bound!

I feel like doing a little celebratory dance - I have finished binding the quilt.  it turned into a bit of a marathon, each side taking me about an hour and a half to hem by hand.  But it's done and I feel quite exhilarated.  Now I just need to go over it, picking off stray threads and removing tacking.  There are four hearts that I need to hand quilt and then all that's left to do is the label, although I am toying with the idea of embroidering the information on the front of the quilt.  I shall see how it looks before making a final decision.  But the most important thing is that it is that the quilt itself is finished.  Phew!!

This morning, for the first time this year, we were back on the sidelines cheering grandson at football.  Dry, bright and rather chilly, and the pitch was a little muddy - the football jerseys are going to need a good deal of soaking, methinks ;-)

I'm feeling ready to tackle a few more lists now, ones that don't include anything to do with 'the quilt'.  I think N's North Ronaldsay jumper should be the next project to finish off - goodness knows, he's been very patient waiting for it.  

Just heard on the local news that the Island trains have been suspended yet again, this time due to a landslip further down the line.  We've had some terrific rain and wind the past couple of days with more due tomorrow, de-stabilising trees and soil so more problems seem likely.  We were wondering just this morning if we'll get any snow this year, especially remembering how much we had at the start of 2013.  

We saw the bluetits in and out of the nestbox again on Saturday, fingers crossed they decide to nest there.

The need to tidy up

I'm becoming very remiss at blogging, I've noticed.  I suspect it may have something to do with the uncertainty of moving; this state of not quite knowing what will happen next is having a bit of a negative impact on many aspects of our lives, and really it has to stop.  It's ridiculous, allowing a little uncertainty to knock us off the rails in the way that it has.  The move will happen, if it is supposed to , in it's own good time, and it's no good either of us huffing and puffing if things don't happen when we think they should.  Patience is the virtue that both of us need in slightly greater quantity that we have at present!

In the greenhouse, one of the geraniums we lifted in the autumn has decided to flower again

Yesterday morning found us volunteering again, and it seems to be the one thing that definitely helps us get life into perspective.  It's such an enjoyable way to spend a few hours and it is clearly benefiting us, too.  Now we've been there a few weeks, I feel able to have a little tidy-up of our 'work area' - in reality a small desk, and even smaller table and a set of stacking plastic drawers.  Behind us is a high bank of metal shelving.  The desk in often half-covered in an interesting assortment of 'stuff', which doesn't leave much room for sorting donations.  First things first, the dustpan and brush are employed to sweep the area we stand in.  Then I retrieved a few bits that had fallen under the desk, had a sort out of plastic bags (millions of them) and a wipe-down of the table.  i swept up several times during the morning and gradually our little area began to look a little clearer.  I have already decided that next week I shall have to tackle the drawers - in desperate need of a de-clutter - just a bit at a time.  Why do I bother trying to clean and tidy when we are only there one morning a week?  I do believe that it is so much easier to work effectively and efficiently if your work area is clean and tidy.  For a start, we will have more space to work in; we won't be pushing stuff out of the way; we will always find the things we need (like rubber bands and labels); we won't be falling over odds and ends on the floor; things won't get lost under the table or other piles of rubbish.  It doesn't bother me to tidy up, I enjoy it and see the benefit of a clear work space and I think it will make life a little easier.  

The wind and rain continue.  In a dry spell this morning I managed to get the washing out and dried in the space of less than two hours, it was that windy!  The crocuses in the rockery have come through:

and the cabbages we are growing as winter greens have been attacked, by pigeons, we think:

Whatever has been eating them has made a very neat jobs of nibbling the edges of every leaf!

And finally, I am binding the quilt :-))  Lots of hand sewing - 92" each side takes a long time to hem (and my fingers and hands are suffering from little cuts and nicks which are aggravated by the cold weather) but I am so excited to be so close to finishing this long-term project.  Photos will hopefully follow very, very soon!