Catch up after a week ‘away’

Here we are the last day of March and the sun is shining, even if it is temporary! Two days in the 20s then back to the cold!

I have not been well for a few days, and didn’t even make it out for a walk for three days, but today I feel somewhat better and we drove to the car park at Spratton  and walked towards the Creaton Rd. We had not been along this old railway track in this direction and it was very pleasant, with lovely views and interesting Marsh areas. 

Only a few people about all saying hello. Such a nice way to start the day.

Back home we were greeted with the Red Arrows performing a fly past 

Hard to get the phone in camera mode before they were out of sight.

Catch up news.

I received a great gift for our Anniversary from myself !!!

Four new ArtBin boxes to complete my collection on one of my cupboards.

Now to get projects organised into them.

Three table runners and two place mats made from my March Hope blocks completed.

 

One sock completed using my own pattern as I could not follow the instructions in the book I had.

Finally I removed the leaves banner from my mantelpiece and hung up a few Easter things.

I really need to improve this display, but it will do for now, looks bright and cheerful.

A new walk this morning

We travelled a little further to walk the same old railway track this morning. 

It is a nice sunny day and the wind has dropped so it made for a pleasant walk.

Parked in the car park to start our walk towards the Kelmarsh tunnel.

Spring is in the air.

The moss on these stumps looked like a fairy glen.

The path is good and mostly dry, it was so peaceful and lots of bird song, only saw one cyclist the whole time we were out.

Definitely a walk to try again.

49 years

Today we celebrate our 49th Wedding Anniversary.

The memories we have made and are still to make are so special.

25th March 1972 Swanspool Registry Office, Wellingborough.

Spring is officially here

It was the Spring Equinox on Saturday 20th, and although we have had some sunny mornings it is still very cold.

The March Walking challenge continues.

Week 1, 23058 steps

Week 2, 23089 steps 

Week 3, 25338 steps.

Each week I seem to be adding a few more steps, but it has really affected my sewing and crafting time. 

I am definitely a morning person and prefer to walk in the morning but then I get nothing done the rest of the day!

These pretty violets were spotted on a recent walk.

I also have a lot of paler violets in my garden, such a welcome sight.

My daughter in law sent me some flowers, LOTs of flowers

  

These three vases plus another I didn’t photograph. Cannot have too many flowers.

The jar on the right [originally holding a candle] has the nicest message I could not throw it away.

Recipe for love. A spoonful of smiles, A cup full of kisses and a handful of big hugs.

Although my sewing time has been drastically cut down I managed to make a new table runner

Machine Embroidered the design in the middle of each block instead of quilting it.

Now need to make some place mats to go with it.

Also made three Easter Mug rugs. 

The rotary cutter was a little treat and I show the back as it has an easy way to change the blade which is why I bought it.

Women of the Bible Quilt

My Women of the Bible Quilt is finally finished.

Pattern by the Stitching Tree.

Long Arm Quilting by Janie Rowthorn.

Blue is such an unusual colour for me, I am so Red Red everything Red !

Forgot to take a photo by the backing is red poppies!

It has been so interesting making this quilt, where there are different size blocks each of the 40 representing a different woman from the Bible.

I struggled with the completing and binding due to the weight of the completed quilt, it has been a long time since I made one this big. I did however sew the binding on by machine, which I am happy with.

Very muddy walk yesterday, in fact we had to abandon the plan and return home to wash trousers and shoes !

I managed to complete another pair of socks 

Legs and feet look so big from this angle !!

You never know what you will see on a walk!

Waited until 9am to go for our walk today, the wind has dropped and although chilly was not as cold as it has been.

We started locally and walked along the old railway towards town, it had been quite some time since we had done this walk. The path was dry for a change, we have walked through so much mud lately.

At the start of the walk a row of painted stones had been left along the side of the path, this seems to be the IN thing lately, and I love looking at them.

We were not expecting to see the next sight, a large goat making itself known high on a climbing frame.

It had a partner standing behind the fence just out of sight.

The ornate mile marker still stands, showing mileage to Northampton and Market Harborough.

Then we came across a structure made from twigs and branches.

Someone had put a lot of work into this ‘hide’.

Fortified with a hot chocolate I am ready for my day. 

Collected the Women of the Bible quilt from the Long Arm Quilter and now need to get the binding cut and attached to it.

Mothering Sunday

A huge surprise, a blue car pulled up outside our house on Mothering Sunday it was Abigail’s car and she was driving. Her Dad sat with her as its only the second or third time she has driven it with its L plates on. The journey was about 13 miles and she looked worn out! Apparently a police car had followed them, which is enough to make us all feel guilty even if we are not. After a little chat on the doorstep, she asked her Dad to drive home.

I so long for them to be able to come into the house like a normal family.

My steps for last week totalled 23089, 31 more than my first week.

I had an appointment for a BP test and blood test this morning so walked to the Doctor’s, where the door is locked and you have to wait until you are called before going in through all the Covid questions. 20 minutes standing in the cold no wonder my BP is high!

I walked back through the cemetery and the blossom is appearing on the cherry trees[?], a welcome cheery sight.

At last I have the binding on my Elephant quilt.

Really love this pattern, might think of doing it again.

I used a backing fabric from my stash and a multi coloured binding.

Backing and binding.

Brixworth old railway walk

This mornings walk was made more pleasurable as there were a number of interesting painted signs hanging from branches.

I assume a local children’s group had made them.

Beautiful blue sky, but very windy and a bit wet and muddy underfoot.

  



  

  

What a great activity for the children @muddy Boots and Books.

Busy Wednesday

Up early this morning, yeast put to rise at 6.30, back to bed with a cup of Barley Cup, up again at 7.15 to work on bread and have breakfast.

Bread dough put near the radiator for its first rise while we went for a ‘wet’ walk.

Glad I have waterproof boots, but it was nice to get some fresh air walking along the side of the railway.

Bread then had its second rise and into the oven for exactly 30 minutes. I left Chris to get it out for me while I dropped off a quilt at the Longarm quilters [staying safe dropped at her door, no contact].

Two loaves left to cool.

Decided to make an ipad holder, followed a YouTube instruction.

Very easy to make, had to use pudding rice as it was the only rice I had !

My iPad has a cover containing a keyboard, so is quite bulky, this works great.

Postman then arrived with an arm full of parcel..

February Sew Sampler box is full of goodies and fabric that I love, the bobbin with the pins in is actually a magnet for holding pins in place.

Everything in the box is great and such a nice thing to receive on such a wet windy day.

I also received the latest Jolly Bar book Number 3.

Pat Sloan’s group will be making a quilt from this book next month, so I HAD to have it.

Something else I HAD to have was two pieces of fabric from Lady Sew and Sew.

One has gone as backing for my latest quilt, the other is the most adorable frog fabric.

With the early morning start and all the excitement today I need a nap!

Love to hear from you if you want to leave a comment

Diana 

Trains, Steps and holidays

We started our day with a walk along the side of the railway.

 

Graveyard of railway carriages etc.

Always loved this seat with its, square, triangle and round hole in the uprights.

My first 7 days of walking every day except Sunday  total 23058 steps, whereas the week before [and my normal weekly steps] 9629.

Do I feel fitted ? Slimmer ? NO, but I guess its doing me good.

Today is the 8th day of the Hope block of the day challenge

8 blocks on my design wall.

Then we went on holiday to our front drive !

Chris making a cuppa hot Ribena 

Playing Domino UNO, in our nice warm and cosy caravan.

Saturday sewing and knitting

Section 2 of the Women of the Bible quilt is now put together 

Three more sections to go before I can sew the 5 sections together, then make a decision about borders.

Ordered fabric for the backing and batting, so need to get this top finished and it can then go to the Long Armer for quilting.

Todays Hope Block

One down one to go....

The pattern from Winwick Mum took some understanding, and a lot of back pedalling! 

I have never worked from a pattern that says knit 32 sts then turn, when I am knitting with 64 sts on DPNs.

Got there in the end, and loving the colour.

Day 6 of my March walking almost did not happen, Chris is suddenly busy with the rescue service and unable to leave the phone, we always walk together. However at the start of the month I printed of a March month page and have been filling in where I go and how many steps, so I went for a walk on my own. Still undecided if Sunday the Day of rest means to walk or not to walk ? I will see how I feel after the church zoom service.