Full on Autumn

The weather has taken a turn after all that sunny weather of a few weeks ago, it is now feels well and truly like Autumn.  I absolutely love this time of year, well, except for the rain that is, but on Saturday the weather stayed dry and sunny for our visit to the Autumn Show at the Three Counties Show Ground in Malvern.  This is the second year we have visited the show and we enjoyed it as much as we did our first visit.

The vintage caravans were there once again, In smaller numbers I think this year, but they were still lovely to see and all look so cosy inside.  This one even had a bow window with leaded panes,

One of the things I love seeing is all the giant vegetables, although this year must not have been such a good year for growing pumpkins as the winning ones weren't as big as last years winner.  Still impressive nonetheless.

Will you look at the size of the winning marrow! 70.7kg.

That's 155 lb or 11st 13lb

I've no idea if they grow these especially for these shows or if they are a fluke, either way that's a monster of a marrow!

The winning flowers, I do love a dahlia, but again, not as many on show as last year

There were all the same sorts of traders as last year as well as gardening talks cooking demos and stalls selling a variety of items, garden related, gifts and clothes too.  The tickets are not cheap, (£20 if you pay in advance, £25 on the day) but It Is a whole day out and there is a lot to see, so good value I suppose.

While we were in the middle of the heatwave at the beginning of September I couldn't wait to create my own little Autumn celebration in a tiered tray.   My first attempt at this and I'm rather pleased with it.  I've included some close ups of the pillows, Pumpkin Spice Everything and Welcome Autumn were finishes from this year, Pumpkin Spice Farm Is a finish from a few year ago.

Dream by Cottage Garden Samplings and Quaker Pumpkins drum sit on my mantle in the sitting room

This time next week will be October 1st, honestly, where does the time go? 

It's going to be a busy last week of the month but hopefully I will be back next week with everything I've managed to make in September.

Have a good week all

-X-

Summer's last hurrah

 Summer decided to make a comeback this week, just as the children went back to school! July and August were mostly a washout but this past week we have had temperatures of 30°C every. Single. Day.  Phew, It's been hot too hot to walk about really but you know what they say, only mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun! Ha ha.

Mark had a few days holiday this week so we decided to take a little over night trip to Upton on Severn, a pretty little riverside town about an hours drive away.  This was the view from our hotel room.

The town itself Is just one street really but there are a few interesting shops as well as the usual charity shops that seem to be in every town nowadays.  There was a lovely fabric and yarn shop and I might have bought some sock yarn home with me -  Only one ball though, I was good 😁

There was also the loveliest cafe / book shop that I've ever seen.  We spent a happy half hour in there, but I could have quite easily have curled up on one of the many chairs dotted around with my book and a cuppa.  In my dream house I would have a room like this, with bookshelves full to over flowing and big squishy sofas and leather armchairs.  In reality that's not likely to ever happen but I can dream 😉

Henry's Cafe and book shop - Upton on Severn

This was one of the houses along the river, Isn't it beautiful? Oh how I'd love a nosey round inside there!

 Now I bet this would have a room to accomodate my dream library with the squishy sofas🤣 

We had a lovely breakfast on Saturday morning and then set for to explore Tewksbury,  another historic riverside town a short drive away. 

The town of Tewksbury grew following the building of the Abbey in the twelfth century, the ground being consecrated in 1121.  Tewksbury is also in the History books as being the place where the Battle of The Roses took place in 1471 when The House of York were victorious over the Lancastrians.

Each July the battle is re-enacted at the Medieval Festival

Tewksbury Abbey, which apparently has the largest Norman tower in Europe

The town still has some lovely old black and white buildings, this one has a date under the window, 1765.  Hard to believe that these building have survived so long, I wonder if buildings of today will last as long, they certainly wont be as pleasing to look at if they do. 

If you love to browse around second hand bookshops then this certainly is the place to come! 

This was one of two book shops that I got lost in for a while.

We really enjoyed our couple of days away and didn't have to travel too far to have some time out and some lovely scenery.

September in the garden - We still have some bits of colour here and there, although It won't be long until I have to empty the planters, most are past their best now.  A lot of things haven't done as well this year, not as many roses and the hydrangea flowers haven't seemed to have lasted so long, the red one has been particularly disappointing, the leaves have been very small compared to how it looked last year.

I don't think I will plant as many pots up next year, the garden falls to me to look after as Mark has no interest in gardening at all, he will help If I ask but he wouldn't go out there on his own accord so I  may as well make it easier on myself.

Update on Molly - Since I wrote last time Molly had to visit the vets again, this time she spent two nights there.  I took her back because she hadn't pooped in two days.  Turned out she was a little dehydrated and constipated, the stitch they put in wasn't helping as there wasn't enough room for her to pass what was there.  Poor thing must have been so uncomfortable!

They took the stitch out, gave her a relaxant and put her on a drip to rehydrate her, she has also had a vitamin B12 jab to help increase her appetite.  After all that she finally 'went' and they were happy for me to collect her on Tuesday.  

Fortunately she hasn't prolapsed again, she will have to continue with lactulose to help her and have another vitamin B12 jab next week then the vet will want to see her again about a week after that.  Her blood test came back all ok so hopefully, (crossing my fingers), this is all a result of constipation, which can be sorted.

She's been out in the garden enjoying the lovely weather this week and I hope she will be back to her usual self soon

-X-

My Stick6in2023 finish and our little holiday

Another two months of this year gone already and so It's time to share my forth stitched piece for the Stick6in2023 SAL hosted by Martina and Manuela 

Number one was chosen for the months of July and August, for me this corresponded to The Reindeer by Cottage Garden Samplings.  

This chart was one of my purchases from last Autumns Nimble Thimble meet up so I'm super happy that it hasn't been waiting too long for me.

I used all the recommended DMC threads, the fabric is 32 count Belfast linen and I managed to find a suitable frame from The Range.

Isn't he beautiful?  I'm really happy with how he turned out, I've put him away for now but he won't have to wait too long to be on show.

The number 6 has been drawn for our next piece and I can't wait to get started next week!

last week I had a week away with Joanne and the children to Butlins at Minehead.  If you are from the UK you will know that Butlins holiday parks are mainly designed for children, (although they do hold themed and adult weekends at different times through the year).  

The weather was kind, it only rained one day and we even managed to have a day on the beach, which we all enjoyed so much despite both myself and Joanne saying we didn't like sand we had as much fun as the kids!

It's just lovely to see children's happy smiley faces doing simple things like digging in the sand and riding on the fairground rides, Jacob does love to go on the rides and laughs the whole time.

Jacob taking in the pantomime

Bonnie meets Bonnie Bear :-)

Joanne had booked some shows to see, so we had Pepper Pig, a pantomime, which was as good if not better than any I've seen, a magic show with Steven Mulhern and a Animal versus Dinosaurs show which was excellent.

I came back feeling more rested than I thought I would considering it was an activity filled week, Bonnie declared it the best week ever, so I think It's safe to say that she had a good time too!

~~~~~~~~~

That's all the fun stuff, now for an update on Molly.    Unfortunately she did end up going back to the vets last Sunday night, they put in a stitch to hold everything in place but she has only pooped once in the week and I could see she wanted to go yesterday but couldn't, so I booked her in for another visit this morning.  That's where she is now, they wanted to keep her overnight because she was still constipated and was a little dehydrated, they are going to take out the stitch and give her something to help her 'go' and give her some fluids, they will also do a blood test to make sure there is nothing else going on.  Potentially she will have to have another stitch if she prolapses again when she's 'been'.

  I've tried to call them to see how she is but they were doing a change over and will call me later.  I have everything crossed that she will be ok.  

-X-

Hello, is there anyone there?

I disappeared there for a while, It wasn't intentional just busy with other things.  As well as not writing a blog post I've not been reading all of your news either, I'll try and catch-up over the weekend, although not promising as I'm off on a little adventure with Joanne and the kids next week and things need to be sorted and packed for that.  But more about that when I get back.

July was a slow month for any crafty makes, I finished a pair of socks, sewed another small bag and fully finished a previously stitched ornament, not bad considering everything else going on, (another bedroom decorated and the loft re-insulated), but I always expect more of myself.

First off are the socks......These are the Rose City Rollers socks by Mara Catherine Bryner.

I lost the ball band, (again), but I'm pretty sure the yarn is another Mr & Mrs Rabbit yarn.

I like the rolled cuff and they are very comfortable, I'll definitely be making more of these in the future.

There was plenty of fabric left over when I made Bonnie's little bag and she asked if I would make one for her friend's birthday so they could have the same.  I'm pretty sure there is still enough fabric to make another one, certainly got my money's worth from that particular purchase :-)

I also finally got round to fully finishing the little PS peice I stitched back in April

There are only a couple of weeks left of the school holidays, those six weeks or so have gone really quickly! I've only had the children a few times while they have been off as mums and dads have taken holidays from work to either go away or just have days out.  Jenny James and the boys made it back home safely after their wild fire escapade in Rhodes.  Their luggage was sent on a couple of weeks later, although they are still missing their hand luggage which contained the boys Amazon tablets, headphones and Olivers Nintendo switch and games, as a ten year old boy you can imagine how he is feeling now not being able to play minecraft with his friends!  Fingers crossed these bags will turn up eventually but as there were thousands of people evacuated or moved around that they may well have to accept that they will not get them back

  

I had the boys for the day on the Monday after they came back from holiday, as Bonnie was out for the day with her friend, (the one I made the bag for), I offered to have Jacob too and we went to Stourport for the day.  There are loads of things to keep the kids occupied there in the Summer, the small fair is open and they had great fun on the rides, Oliver and Arty on the water dingy was hilarious to watch, Oliver was playing it safe then Arty pulled the wheel to one side and they kept spinning around, he is such a little devil, so funny though.  Managing 3 boys on my own was a challenge but I came through unscathed, albeit shattered.

Oliver and Arty won a fish on the fair, Arty wasn't too bothered but Oliver bless him, he was so excited, they haven't got any pets so this made his day.

Notoriously fairground fish don't last too long but as I write this they are still going strong :-)

There have been another few outings since which I might mention another time because I don't want this post to be too long.

This morning I've had to take Molly to the vets, I won't go into detail of the mess I got up to this morning but you can have a guess when I tell you she has a rectal prolapse. 

The vet did a procedure, (again you can guess what!) and fingers crossed it will stay put, if not she will have to have it stitched.

Poor thing, she must be so sore but is on pain killers and lactulose now for a few days so will hopefully be feeling better soon.

Right I'll leave it there for now, It will be time to show our finish for Stick6in23 when I post again :-)

Take care

-X-

P.S.  Just in case you are wondering, Molly does have her own lovely bed where she would be much more comfortable, but no, she is choosing to lie, rather awkwardly It has to be said, on the mat!

Not the holiday you would want.

This sewing box was a car boot find quite some years ago, I remember mum being with me at the time and buying it for me.   I've wanted to do something with it for a long time and last week It was a job I finally got round to.

I think It came out pretty good and hopefully I can make more use of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some of you will have seen or heard the news about the wild fires on the Greek Island of Rhodes.  Unfortunately my eldest daughter, Jenny, James and the boys flew out to Rhodes on holiday last Wednesday and their hotel is in the middle of all this chaos! 

Naturally I've been worried sick, but they have been evacuated to a sports hall in the north of the Island and are safe, thank goodness.   James has just texted me to say they are now being transferred to a hotel somewhere in the north.  They had to leave their luggage at their hotel so don't have much with them, I suppose If it's at all possible luggage will be transferred to the new destination, but some roads are still closed, a hotel close to the one they were in has burnt down!

Jenny said the locals and volunteers have been absolutely amazing bringing food, drinks and toiletries and even offering to put holidaymakers up in their own houses, Jenny has had two very kind people offering to take them in, she did decline both but only because she thought it best to stay where they would get updates on goings on.   They were only going for a week but I know they will be glad to be on their way home as soon as possible now, and I'll be glad when they are all back safe and sound.

Thinking about all the holiday makers and people who live on Rhodes today 💔

-X-

A productive June

June went by so quickly, how can we be halfway through the year already!  It's definitely an age thing, the older you get, the faster time seems to go!   I do try and make the most of my time each day, and this month as well as the things I was working on, I've also tried to get some of those languishing  projects fully finished.

Firstly, the things I started and finished in June.

My first attempt at lace knitting in a sock.  These are the Rosie Lee socks by Twinset & Purl.

I really enjoyed knitting these, they seemed to knit up quite quickly too, probably because the lace section made knitting more interesting.

  The yarn is Lace Hankies by Lay Family Yarn

My second pair of socks for the month, I know! I was on a roll, lol. My first pair of trainer socks.

I didn't follow a pattern for these, I knit 12 rounds of ribbing and 10 rounds before doing the heel and then my normal length for the foot.

You will notice that they are not 'twins' they are not even 'sisters', more like 'cousins' 😀

I have no idea why the yarn behaved so differently on each sock!

I still love them and no one will know what's inside my trainers 😉  

The yarn is from Mr & Mrs Rabbit, who no longer dye yarn, which is a shame because they did the most beautiful colourways, unfortunately I misplaced the ball band so don't know this colourway.

My next finish is something you haven't seen in progress, It's the Trescao Jumper by Along Aven Anna

I actually finished this in April, but then realised I didn't like the garter stitch hem and cuff, so I pulled those out and re-knit them in 1x1 rib.

Obviously too warm to wear at the moment but it will do nicely for Autumn and Winter.

My last knitting finish is also something I started a while ago, it's a cardigan for Bonnie and it has been waiting for quite a while for me to sew up the sleeves and put buttons on.  Good job I made a larger size!

The yarn is James C. Brett Stonewash.

I have one sewing finish for June.  You may remember that when I took Bonnie to the craft show at the NEC in March she chose a pattern for me to make her a bag, along with the fabric, and here it is.

This came out way better than I expected, the only fiddly part was the top stitching around the top edge.  It was supposed to be a little present to go in her birthday bag but she saw it when she came round one time and wanted to take it home.   My daughter has asked if I will make another one for Bonnie's friends birthday this month, there is plenty fabric left to make another one, I just have to buy some webbing for the handle, so that will be a little project for July.

And last but not least, I had two cross stitch finishes in June.

The first one is another Autumn pillow.  Love how this turned out!  I used the called for threads with the exception of the border which should have been black and I switched to a dark grey.

Pumpkin Spice Everything by The Scarlett House

My second cross stitch finish is my Stick6in2023 piece.  

For the months of May and June the number 3 was generated, and for me that happened to be the number I had allocated to another Autumn chart, Pumpkin Hollow by Little House Needleworks

I chose to only stitch the top half of the chart because I wanted it to fit onto this wooden pumpkin blanc I bought from Hobbycraft a couple of years ago.  I dry brushed the blanc with some paint from a match pot and I think It came out cute!

That's all my finishes for June, not too bad considering It's been a busy month.

The weather has been mostly good and everything in the garden has shot up, it's been keeping me busy watering, dead heading and generally keeping it tidy.  The roses have been lovely, the first blooms have just about gone now but there are some second ones appearing and, I had my first poppy, just one, lol.  I've had this poppy plant for about three years and this is the first flower it's produced, I've left the seed head hoping that I can harvest the seeds to plant more

We also finished decorating our bedroom this month,  it took a while because Mark only has the weekends to do anything.  Mark panelled one wall and put in wall lights and we had a guy come and spray our wardrobe and bedside tables.  We also had new carpet and blinds and I'm over the moon with the result, It's so light and airy I can't wait to go to bed at night, lol.

I've taken the boys out a couple of times for tea and went strawberry picking with Joanne and these two rascals.

I think the ate their fill of strawberries while we were picking! I made jam with my haul and for a first attempt it came out pretty good, so I've been told.

I've continued my weight loss through June, I'm now 18lb's down, still jotting down everything I eat through the day and keeping track of calories, it's just become something I do now, and It's working.  I haven't eaten any cake, chocolate or sweets since April and I have to say I haven't missed any of those things at all, I eat almost everything else, just count the calories, calorie deficit works, who knew! 

My plans for July - The number 1 has been generated by Martina for Stick6in2023, this will be our project to work on during the months of July and August, I made a start on my choice on Saturday.

I'll pick another stitching project to work on and rotate them each week, that worked for me in the past so I need to get back to doing it that way.

More decorating is on the agenda, we are re-doing the smallest bedroom

there's not so much work to do in there, the radiator has to be changed but as far as decorating goes it's just a matter of painting, so should be a quicker process.

If July is as busy as June was I probably won't post again until the end of the month but hopefully there will be more finishes to share 😁

Have a great month!

-X-