Eleanor's Sports Day

Earlier this week Grandad had to do Sports Day duty as I was away.
Eleanor was delighted to see him, even though he found it hard to know where she was, a school full of 6 and 7 year olds all look the same when they come rushing onto the playing field.
Love the hat Eleanor!

The hurdles

Skipping

Running

"Javelin" throwing

Ball toss

Ladder running

Side to side jumping

The Bath Mat finished

I got so excited watching the Tour de France yesterday I crocheted until I ran out of 'curtain fabric' so during the adverts I rushed into my Happy Room found a pink fabric I liked, quickly cut it into 11/4" strips and then back to the TV and viola! a finished bath mat.
It is lovely and soft to the feet and just the right size, PLUS it used up some of my stash fabric, gave a donation to a worthwhile charity [ see previous post] and kept my hands busy... what a great deal.

My new bath mat

The crochet bath mat!

On the spur of the moment I decided to crochet a bath mat, I had been thinking of it for some time but not sure I could do it.
I found somewhere on the www with the idea of taking a bed sheet cutting off the corners and then making a 1" slit ripping the fabric to the next corner, cutting round the corner and the ripping to the next corner etc etc.. this making a huge pile of about 1 to 11/4 inch fabric all in one continuous length.
A trip to the local Red Cross Charity shop and I bought a pretty turquoise and pink curtain 58 x 72 inches for £3. It seemed a shame to cut it up but once I started the ripping process it was great fun and I ended with a VERY long piece of fabric which I wound into a ball.
Using a number 15mm crochet hook, [about the size of a finger!] I cast on a chain of 24 stitches, which turned out to be only 23 when I counted them on the next row.. hey ho!
With Wimbledon tennis semi-finals on the TV I managed to get started and now I'm really enjoying making my bath mat.

The curtain being ripped up!

A few rows of crochet.
Enough for one foot? in the bathroom.

Raspberry season

My Winter raspberries do not seem to realise it is still summer and are already producing fruit.
Last year they started cropping late August and throughout September.
I am now picking a tub full most days and they are delicious.

This first crop picked the end of June were made into jellies.

Off Roading with new friends

Some time ago Chris was contacted , as Rep for GLASS [ Green Lane Association] by a couple that were planing to holiday in our area.
Yesterday we arranged to meet them and their son to travel the lanes and byways of Leicestershire.
The weather was perfect, lovely and sunny but not too hot.
10am saw three fairly clean Land Rovers meet at Husband Bosworth and we introduced each other. Sharon and Paul with their son Paul both in Discoverys.

Being the only one of the five us that loves to read "tulip" maps I map read us around the course, plus Sharon and I opened and closed gates most of the time.

It was fun getting to know each other via our CB radios or on the driving breaks for food!

At one point the CB crackled into life "stop" and Paul and Sharon had a wheel problem which meant removing the wheel and a stone that had jammed into something underneath [ don't ask me what!]. Having overcome that problem a little while later Paul [son] was stopped by the police saying he had a light out, probably caused by the off-roading. He was asked to fix it and send in a report that he had done it, luckily the police man was nice and did not give him a fine.

All in all it was a great day ending about 5pm and I do hope we meet up with our new friends from the Cheshire Land Rover group.

Lining up to go through a gate

Chris is first through the water splash!

Paul and Sharon next

Paul hoping there is no problem as he has no snorkel!

My favourite sign post. All roads are
gated or unsuitable for vehicles!!

Fixing the wheel

Paul Jr. Sharon and Paul

Book v Kindle

A friend lent me this book, The Last Runaway by Rose Tremain. 

It tells the story of a Quaker girl from Dorset England who emigrated to America in the 1850's with her sister who was travelling to get married. 

Stories of slavery, quilting and life in a strange country are wonderfully interwoven.

I am usually a slow reader and found holding the book a problem so bought the Kindle version and then could not put it down.  A great read.

The Sewing / Embroidery machine cover

A busy sewing morning making my Embroidery / Sewing machine cover.
I had already completed the machine embroidery so just needed to put it all together. A few [ to say the least!] false starts and a lot of unpicking I managed to get the lining put together.
Next came the top which went together far easier.
I am pleased with the finished cover even though the sewing machine is facing the wrong way!
Note to self... be careful when mirror imaging items that have a definite right and left side.

I now deserve a White Magnum ice cream and some Wimbledon tennis!

Abigail's Sports Day

The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot as the children lined up for their Sports Day at Irthlingborough Junior School.
Grandma [me] and Grandad had been asked to attend and we found a place right opposite where Abigail and her class were sitting on the grass. I was so thankful to have my new walking cane seat [ see previous post]. The two hours of the races went by very quickly with Abigail running in the 200, 400 metres and relay race.

and we are off...

come on class 5MG

Abigail's near her teacher

we are winning!

time for a drink and rest

exchange at the relay race

waiting for the relay

Abigail racing to FIRST place

waiting for the off

around the last bend  in the 400m [A's 2nd]

showing off her 1st, 2nd and 3rd badges
WELL DONE ABIGAIL

The Milking Stool

Since having my knee replaced I find standing still for long periods very hard, and tomorrow I am attending Abigail's Sports Day which means lots of standing around.

Hopefully I have come up with the solution and purchased a walking cane seat, it folds flat to be used as a walking aid and then with a quick movement the little seat moves for perching. Chris said it looked like I was going out milking cows on it [ three legs!] but who cares if it helps.
In fact I can see lots of use for this handy gadget and it will be going on holiday with me and anywhere where I have to stand in a queue.

Wimbledon

The reason for my lack of blogging is TENNIS !  I cannot abide most sport but I love watching the tennis, especially Wimbledon. There were some thrilling matches at Eastbourne and yesterday I was pleased to see Andy Murray win his match but the most exciting match was Jo Wilfred Tsonga, which has still to be completed this afternoon.

However I have been working on the machine embroidery part of a cover for my Brother 4000D. For two years or more I have been meaning to make one and at last have it all cut out and embroidered, just need to make the piping and sew it all together.

The watch bracelet

With all the hot weather my watch bracelet has become rather tight so I decided today I would go into town [ a rare occurrence] and get them to put the spare link into it.
I needed a couple of new bras so put them and some food shopping on my list of "to do" while out.

While taking a short cut through one of the larger stores I spotted some cotton cut off trousers, and to cut the story short, walked out that store with two pairs of trousers two summer tops and a long sleeve top that was on sale ! They are all in colours I never wear but as I approach 70 years old I need more colour in my life! So roll on Summer I'm ready.

Ready for the next holiday!

Gym Fest 2014

Saturday we travelled to Stoke on Trent to see Abigail perform at the Gym Fest 2014.
The theme of the Fest was the Commonwealth Games which will be held in Glasgow Scotland and groups of children came from as far away as Scotland and areas of England.
The event was set up as a non competitive gymnastic performance seven years ago.

The opening performance was from the Northampton Rhythmic Club of which Abigail age 10 3/4 is a member. They had the prop of a ship and performed sailing into Glasgow it was really special, especially for a very proud Grandma [me]!
The group also performed the closing ceremony.
All the acts received a commemorative medal.

Abigail is front far right

Jenny their gym instructor giving a helping hand
Abigail is front row 2nd from left

Blankenberge Belgium

Home again to a mountain of washing!
Our week in Belgium was very nice and extremely hot. I was unable to post pictures while in McD's for my last post so here are a few to catch up our holiday.
Most of the time we just lazed around and wandered up and down the promenade right outside our front door.

Approaching the Euro tunnel

Driving onto the train for the 25 min
tunnel crossing the English Channel
Surprised to find they are celebrating 20 years
since it opened.

View from the front door on our
first evening

A visit to Sluis Holland
The bells in this Church are just wonderful to hear

Chris relaxing with a drink in Holland

A visit to friend Gerda who owns the shop Ajour
in Brugge. If you want wool  this is the shop for you!

Driving into Brugge across the canal

Festivities in the centre of Brugge
around the corner from friend Michelle
who was working in a Souvenir shop for the day

Learning to crochet, many mistakes but it was
a fun project and learning curve.
I now need some real help when I get home!

A quick McD note

Friday 6am we set off for Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel. It was very busy with everyone travelling to Arromache for the WW2 commemoration.
We drove along the coast stopping at a pretty sea side resort to eat our packed lunch, then finally arrived in Blankenberge Belgium to find our studio apartment.
We are right on the prom but do not have a sea view as we face inland which is rather a shame.
However this has turned out to be rather good as it is quiet, where the front apartments are very noisy.
It is a holiday weekend here in Belgium and very hot so everywhere is extremely busy and parking is horrendous !

After settling in and dining in a nearby restaurant we visited my friend Vera for the evening sharing many memories.

Saturday we drove to Sluis in Holland and wandered around the shops, eating in a nice little restaurant and then travelled to see a friend, Gerda in her shop Ajour. I bought a set of 20 crochet hooks!

Today is Sunday and still very hot and busy everywhere, we had a lazy morning and then drove in the centre of Brugge to meet Michelle a friend I had not seen for 14 years!  We are now in McDonalds more to use the Internet than anything!

Just off to see Vera again.

Life is beautiful progress

I have spent most of the day cleaning house or packing, we leave for Belgium on Friday via the Channel tunnel for a weeks holiday. It must be over ten years since I was last there so I am really looking forward to our visit.
The reason for having to pack two days in advance is that tomorrow [Thursday]  is our monthly IAM meeting at my house and we have visitors tomorrow evening then we leave the house around 5.30am Friday!
Its definitely all go around here.

I have been working on my Life is Beautiful Quilt so thought I would show you the progress so far. I intend to take some of the hand embroidered squares with me on holiday just in case we have bad weather.
I have used white 100% cotton with circles of fusible pellon stuck to the back, then surrounded with hexagons.

The first seven designs

Reverse with papers left in hexagons
 on the outside edges

The Spring Window

I have managed to put together my Spring window and outlined the blocks with clover 1/4 inch wide black tape. I am not sure how I am going to finish the picture, whether to make it into a square or leave it the shape it is.

Machine Embroidered Spring Window

Family Visit

Over the weekend the family came for a hot dogs and hamburger meal. It was very exciting hearing all their news.

Abigail had spent 5 days in Scarborough with her school and then flown to Spain for 5 days with a friend and her parents. She looked very grown up for her 10 years and had a wonderful time.

Richard and Jacqueline took Eleanor [6yrs]  to France for a few days, it was her first stay in a Hotel [ they usually self cater] and first time on a ferry. Eleanor said she enjoyed the croissants for breakfast and staying up late!