Thrapston / Oundle Byways Day

Start of the day

Old Roman tracks

Ruts and blossoms



Wet under foot



Even wetter !

Me driving across a field

Lunch under the trees

Welland Valley

No going into Rutland

Chris leaving a Byway

May Day saw us making a large circle of Byways and lanes around the Thrapston area. It was a wonderful sunny day and the first day many of the Byways are open. The local councils close them from October to April. We were suprised how muddy some of them were as it has been quite dry lately. We passed woods filled with Primroses and lots of Cowslips.. Spring has sprung at last.
In the air we saw Kites flying and the quiet of the countryside made a wonderful change from the pace of normal life.

Sourdough bread

Starter

sponge

Just over a week ago my friend Judith gave me a Sourdough starter, which I have been carefully looking after and feeding.
I have called it Judith as I read that you should name a starter as it takes a bit of looking after!
Last night I took it from the fridge and this morning have set the wheels in motion and mixed it to the "sponge" stage.. yes I have a whole new language to master!
It now needs leaving for a minimum of 2 hours to bubble and grow.
After my visit to Curves Gym I will have my first attempt at Sourdough bread... watch this space!

IAM day

Yesterday was our IAM day at my house.
Seven of us had a wonderful day with lots of laughs.. so many in fact that I forgot to take photos!

I managed to complete another purse and a hot pad made from Somerset patchwork. These together with another quicky gift bag complete the self impossed challenge I gave myself.

Tweets & bag

Managed to finish another draw string bag, and after a "too long" shopping spree find frames for my Bathroom Tweet machine embroidery pictures.

Today is the last day of April and I am doing well on my items I want to complete before a holiday in Mid May.

Left to do: Beads to complete one purse, Somerset patchwork hot mat. Both of which I hope to complete this week.

Setting myself a challenge certainly seems to get things done.. wonder what my next challenge will be?

Abigail's first medal

Today I am a very proud Grandma, as my eldest granddaughter Abigail [age 9] came

3rd in the British Schools Gymnastics Competition in the under 11 level 2 rope solo.

Well done Abigail.

Finishing more items

Baby quilt

Gift bag

Christmas bag

Three more items off the "to-do" list.

The lap size baby quilt was made with fabric from BSK, using the method of joining four strips together, cutting into 8 1/2 inch blocks and rotating one block on top on another sewing all around the edge and then cutting on the diagonals.. easy peasy!

The Gift bag will be used when I need to give a little gift to someone.

Christmas origami bag is made from two squares of fabric, again another easy bag, ideal for a little Christmas gift.

5 more projects completed

3 cushions

2 coin purses

I am still making progress with my 14 items to make and finish before the middle of May.
The three cushion fronts were machine embroidered some time ago. I put zips in the back and managed to get them finished yesterday. The coin purses were a new project and I just love them, used some of my special beads bought long ago to decorate the clasps.

Tadpoles

Due to the terrible weather and continued frosts, I rescued some of the frog spawn from my pond and put it in the Summer house. Now I am the mother of hundreds of tadpoles.. I love watching them.

One of 14 items to make

Verao Bag

Just finished the Verao Bag, one of my "I want to make before the middle of May" items.

It has been hard working on the black, even though I have good light in my workroom and the sun is shining.

I used a black wadding that I had but think the bag would have been better with a thinner wadding.

There are three pockets on the inside and one on the outside, the side ties can be opened to make the bag bigger.

Preparing kits to motivate me

3 cushions ready for backing and zips

2 Bath Tweets need backing and finishing



Somerset patchwork Pot holder



2 Easy bags cut out

3 purses cut out ready to make

Christmas gift bag needs finishing and ribbon



Binding needs hand sewing



Hand bag cut out

I decided yesterday to make up some "kits" to help me finish some things I have been working on, and also start some things I wish to make. I now have 14 kits ready for starting or finishing. I plan to have them all finished by the middle of May. Watch this space !!

Salisbury Plain 4 x 4 Weekend

How deep is this water!

Pretty narrow lanes

Lunch stop

Narrow tracks



Waiting for a passing horse!




Pig farms everywhere




Splish Splash!



Warning signs



More warning signs



Mud everywhere



Tidal wave approaches




Rest stop



Will this car ever be clean again!





7 Land Rovers in the convoy





The CSMA arranged a Salisbury Saunter across Salisbury Plain, we arrived on Saturday and found a 10 to 12 mile green lane to have fun on our own before spending the night at a near by Travel Lodge.

Sunday bright and early we joined thirteen 4 x 4 owners, mostly Land Rovers, for the day. Split into two groups, seven in our group, we set off for a day of mud, scratches and bumps..  The weather was really kind to us and the sun shone most of the day.

BSK BOM #5

Another enjoyable day at BSK Bedford working on our BOM's.
The picture on the left will be cushion number 5.
The picture on the right is attempts to change the size of the BOM #6 which seemed too large in comparison with the rest of the blocks. After 4 attempts I think we have cracked it, and I will try and get it made up next week.

Hamtune Meeting

Last night Sally from Threads and Patches gave us a demonstration of Somerset Patchwork. It has been years since I did this, but it was fun and I now would like to do more. This is as far as I got in the hour.

Gardening - The big dig

Spring is just around the corner [ it must be it's nearly May!! ]

In an attempt to make the garden more OAP friendly the high bank and waterfall in the corner is being removed. 5 or 6 trips to the tip with the trailer loaded have helped, as has a morning's help from Richard, but there is still a long way to go.
When the level is down and bordered to match the rest of that side of the garden the back fence will be replaced. Then for the fun part.. planting it up.

Thursday and Friday

A picture show

counting money!

Thursday and Friday were spent around home mostly making pictures with sequins glue and ribbon.
A really nice meal at the Toby Inn turned into a bargain, as I had managed to get two "kids eat free" stickers and a a special 2 for £12.50 voucher, so the four of us had carvery and icecream to follow for £12.50 !
Friday evening the girls were collected and home went back to peace and quiet!