Merry Christmas

The strangest of times for everyone. I  never thought i would experience anything like it in my lifetime.   So many lives lost and so many people who have gone way beyond their normal occupations to keep us all safe, fed and helping those in need.

I have not been around in blogland for a while but that does not mean i have not been thinking of you often.

With my health problems, a major mental health meltdown and living on the outskirts of the only city with restrictions since the beginning of this pandemic and having to shield at home since March and still continuing to do so has been very challenging.

A simple quiet Christmas for many.  Apart from loved ones for lots of us.  I hope you have been able to find comfort in some way as you celebrated your Christmas in the safest way possible for you and your family.

It's been just hubby and myself here today with phone calls and chats with the wider family. 

Sending Christmas wishes from our home to yours and wishing you good things in the months to come.

Thank you to those who have been in touch whilst i've been away, it really meant a lot.

Take care, stay safe

Love and blessings 

Julie 

30 Days Wild & welcome Summer

I've still been posting my pictures from the garden, but didn't get round to posting them here

Day 12

Lots of rain so lots of snails were out

Day 13

Catching the breeze

Day 14

Pollen caught on the leaves

Day 15

Clouds that look like an undersea adventure...

Can you see a submarine and shark?

Day 16

This strange chap landed on hubby's arm

Day 17

Who lives in a house like this?

Day 18

Gifts from feathered friends

Day 19

Too much rain, fungi popped up in the lawn

Day 20

Mr Blackbird enjoying his breakfast

 

It's been a strange spring this year

 

People have spent more time in their own gardens and had experiences and learnt about things they don't normally have time to see and watch grow.  Nature has inspired many.

Adults and children alike have taken up growing things for the first time and are learning to grow foods to feed their families. That really excites me. 

I hope you too have enjoyed this years strange Spring and wish you a lovely summer to come.

 

 

Today we enter into Summer.  The solstice sunset last night and todays sunrise was streamed live by English Heritage from Stonehenge.  So many all over the world were able to share live.  I watched them both.

 

 

 

Today here in the UK it is also Fathers Day. 

Yet another celebration during this pandemic that will be so different.  My thoughts are with those who will be having their first Fathers Day, who have had babies during this current time and with those who have angel dads.

To all Fathers, have a lovely day, embrace the love shared by your family.   

 

Take care, stay safe

Warmest wishes

Julie

Gifted Gorgeousness - JUNE

 

 

 

 

 If you are not familiar with Gifted Gorgeousness, you can visit Jo's blog to find out more.

 

GG was started in 2015 and was a time to share things that have been gifted to you, or you have gifted to others since your last months post.  Anything gifted counts. 

 

 

 

A parcel arrived a while ago.  Kindly sent by Justine for me and the community sewing group.  Many thanks Jusitne, I'll pass it on.  Ladies who have never done cross stitch will be so excited to try it. 

 

 

A gift for DH 

He's been making lots of tea these past few months and worn out our old tea cosy, so I knitted a new one

 

 

 

 

 

 Wishing you peace and calm as people venture outside more and anxiety levels increase for some.

 

Be careful, take care and stay safe

 

Love and blessings

 

Julie

 

 

Sewing and embroidery

A week passed by here at home ... i'm going to say it again ...... how did that happen? 

 

A  few days since i wrote most of the wording to this post.  I've tried for the last 3 days to get blogger to upload pictures, today it finally let me do it

 

We are fine, hubby and I get on really well.  Reading,  crafting, gardening, him DIY, phone calls, video calls, baking, tea breaks, plenty keeping us entertained and busy.

 

 I've tried ribbon embroidery. 

 A kit purchased a few years back at a craft show.

 

 

I was asked if I would try and make some cotton face masks so me and the sewing machine have made friends again (and got on just fine).  

 

I've made 7 like this in differing fabrics.

 

 The Big Community Sew (Patrick, Esme and others from the Sewing Bee)

 

 

Watching Springwatch 2020 and still posting my daily pictures for the 30 days wild. 

 

Here's a catch up of my postings

 

Day 4 - London Pride growing well

 

 

 

Day 5 - Spending far too much time watching these characters

 

 

 

Day 6 - Rain - a lot of it

 

 

 

 

Day 7 - Poplar trees in a neighbours garden really rustle in the wind.  They are about 75 feet tall and are home to so many birds, squirrels and even a woodpecker which comes onto our feeders sometimes.

 

 

 

 

Day 8 - Bark on my pear tree.

Lots of bugs being eaten from there by the birds.

 

 

 

 

Day 9 - Strawberries.  A few delivered to us from the community garden. Volunteers are still venturing there (one family at a time) and keeping the crops growing for the community to share. The first of this years crop shared with us too.

 

 

 

Day 10 - 8.05pm 1 flower, 8.15pm 2 flowers.  This plant was given to us.  not sure what it is, but the flowers only come out in the evening and die the same night.  Evening Primrose style?  Anyone know what it is? 

 

 

 

Day 11 - Something burrowed under the fence during last night from next door.  Wrecked the plants!  Wildlife Trusts think maybe we have a visiting hedgehog?   More investigation and evidence needed.

 

We've been spending a lot of time for weeks watching ospreys at one of my favourite local places on their online live camera. It's been really exciting watching the parents arrive back from afar and lay 4 eggs.  Maya (female) and 33 (male) are catching fish and raising their 4 chicks so beautfully.  They grow so quickly and are so fun to watch.

I've started a new knitting project, something I have wanted to make for a long time.  I'll share that with you next time.

Love and blessings from our home to yours

Take care, stay safe

Julie

 

 

Finding something that wasn't lost

 

When looking for something I came across a bag with some crochet granny squares in it.

 

There were 16 actually, made quite a while ago.

 

How could I have forgotten about them?

 

I thought I'd used all the sock wool oddments on the vintage looking blanket here, but obviously I had other plans at some time for the leftovers before I started that.

 

I looked at the squares for quite a while and played with them, tried different combinations.

 

Whilst in lockdown I've added rows to each one, joined them together and added a border to make something useful.

 

 

When I made a wool order in late March, I added on 2 balls of green, mustard and cream that were on sale, in the hope that it would bring the squares together. 

 

 

It's a nice size and doesn't look too bad. 

 

At least the squares are not sitting in a bag anymore.

 

 

 

 

The first posy of this years sweet peas, they've enjoyed the recent sunny days

 

 

 

 

June 1st was the first day of 30 Days Wild

 

I decided to take part this year. 

 

It'll be a little different and will be the wilds of my garden as I still have to stay home until told otherwise, but it will be a challenge that I'm looking forward to.

 

Day 1 - As I walked round the garden, I noticed this beauty had opened her petals perfectly on June 1st so had to start me off. 

 

 

 

Day 2 - buzzy bees doing their thing

 

 

 

Day 3 - today it rained and this little chap came out to play.  I did try to coax him to turn round, but he's a little shy and didn't want his picture taken so kept his back to me before he hopped off.

 

 

 

I hope your June has started off well and brings some happy times as well as continuing with the social distancing and taking care to stay safe.

 

Love and blessings from our home to yours

 

Julie