Sunday catch-up

So what happened to August?  It seems to have passed me by completely!
The weather has been almost a complete wash-out, windy and some very very heavy showers, and some mornings there is a very definite change in the air, you can feel that Autumn is on it's way.

I've given up on the summer plants in my baskets, they really didn't do well at all, I went on an outing to the garden center with my mum last Saturday and the Winter pansies were in so I bought a few trays and planted up my 3-tier planter and a couple of pots ready for some Autumn/Winter colour, fingers crossed that these do better.

Today while Mark has been busy playing demolition man inside (more about that in a minute), I have been busy making the garden all tidy.  I love when It all looks neat, but boy do I ache after, lol.

We are once again on a decorating project, this time the sitting room and dining room.
These two rooms were knocked into one by the previous owner and we are putting doors between the two rooms so that there is a division between the living spaces.  I'm not that keen on large open areas, mostly because we just don't have the climate for it and because, well, I just like having a separate dining room :-)
We have decisions to make over fireplaces and flooring, doors and wallpaper, and i must confess that I find it all a bit overwhelming at times sometimes wishing i'd never moved at all, as you know this house is taking a LOT of getting used to for me.  Mark has even said that if I really feel that way about it perhaps we should move again....I don't think I could face that again either, I'm banking on feeling different when it's all done and I can enjoy it

Before decorating chaos descended again I had managed to get those little crochet circles I posted about a while ago made up into a pillow, it's not quite turned how I envisioned it, but I'm happy with my first circle in a square project.

I had intended to crochet a pom pom edging on this but try as i might I just couldn't get it to look right so in the end I just made a deeper edging and folded it over and sewed in place.

We won't dwell too much on the sewing part of this project, although I will say that my first attempt at putting a zip in was not as difficult as I thought it was going to be, sewing the backing fabric on however was another matter entirely!

Next time I might opt for a crochet backing to save myself the stress.

Until next time

-X-

Some stitching! wonders will never cease

Yesterday was the stitching meet up at The Nimble Thimble, arranged through the Needlecraft Haven forum, by Tina this time, thanks Tina :-)

There were some ladies from the forum but also some that were not members of the forum but I knew through some other round about way.

I had a great time, even though my sat nav took me miles out of the way and wanted me to head in the other direction!  I eventually found it :-)

Last week I had started a kit I've had for at least 2 years, a Jane Greenoff, Beautiful Borders Cushion, so that came along with me. 

I managed to get quite a bit done on it, for slow stitcher me anyway, and I did have a few sneaky purchases from the shop too.

I think the Lizzie Kate Autumn sampler will be my seasonal choice for the SAL on Needlecraft Haven this time.

The Tiny Tidings are quite fun looking and I thought would make great Christmas Ornaments for Oliver's tree.

So, It's back to work tomorrow morning for me, can't say that I'm looking forward to it too much, it'll be a bit like being the new girl at school again for a day or so, and I bet there are a gazillion emails for me to go through!

At least I can console myself with the fact that I only work mornings, and that this week is only 4 days as I have got Oliver on Thursday :-)  

There are people with a lot worse jobs than me, I know that I'm lucky to have a job that I do quite like, it's the getting up early and being out of the house I don't like.

I just wanted to mention the book in my last post before I go.

I don't tend to recommend too many books because we all have different ideas of what a good book is, but when I do come across something that I really can't put down well, I like to mention it.

This is the story of 10 year old August Pullman, who was born with a cleft palate and facial disfigurements and his journey through his first year at school after being home-schooled.  The story is split into parts, Augusts, some of his friends and his sister, all have there own story to tell of August and their feelings.

Now this is not a sad story, although there are some tear jerking moments in there, it's a very inspiring story (and funny too in parts), of a little boy who just thinks of himself as that, a little boy like any other.

The edition I read is the re-written for adults version, (below) as the original was aimed at teenage readers, I don't know how different the two books are, I'm just saying.

I'd love to hear what you thought If you decide to read it.

Until next time

-X-

A Late Yarn Along Pillow Post

I'm a little late to the Yarn Along party this week, I did finish off the knitted pillow that I was working on a few weeks ago, all those crochet buttons were very tedious!

I'm not entirely happy with the pattern on this, it was from Ravelry and looking at it now I think the pattern is wrong, I checked, and checked again what It said and I did it according to the instructions but I still think it's wrong.

I might as well share the book that I'm reading this week too, this is my Reading Group book for last month, (I'm behind on that as well!).

I only started reading it last night but it seems like it will be quite interesting.

It's the story of a little boy, August, who was born with a cleft palate, not something that I would usually choose to read, but that's what a reading group is all about. 

If anyone has read it let me know what you thought.

The little circles I shared last time have been made up into a pillow too, just got to get my head around the boarder, hopefully I can share that next time.

I had my second physio appointment this morning and was given some more exercises to follow, at least i'm able to walk without the crutches now.  One of the stitches didn't dissolve and was giving me some problems (and pain) so I had a trip to the doctors on Monday to get it removed, and since that has been removed things have improved so much more :-)

I'm getting used to being at home, loving the peace and quiet, not missing work or the people one bit, lol

-X-