What I am Learning

I am learning that I love my family very much indeed. I knew that already but I`m finding the separation quite hard. 

I appreciate the constant contact with them all.

I am learning how to do video links and talk to more than one family member at a time.

I am learning that there is time every day to do tai chi, yoga and walking as well as starting up our Jin Shin Jyustu sessions again.

I am learning that nature goes on.

 Primroses fill the lanes .....

Bluebells are flowering in the woods.

The blackthorn is in flower.

And lambs are in the fields.

 I am learning how much I appreciate my home-grown food.

I am learning how much I appreciate the people who are delivering groceries.

 

I am learning how much I appreciate front-line NHS workers including my sister-in-law Julia, who is juggling work with child-care. The children are not at school at the moment.

 

I have always loved our garden, but I am learning just how much.

 

I am learning how glad I am that I have so many interests and appreciate the time to do them.

 

Also I am glad that I like my husband as well as love him.

 

 

 

 

 

Kingcups and Fairy Hammocks

The grass continues to grow and grow.

At home we strimmed it before we mowed it, otherwise I don`t think the mower would have coped.

Next time we go to Freshwinds we will take the strimmer plus a few spare batteries.

On Wednesday we paid a visit after quite a few days away.

 I added a few more items to the fairy garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A hammock and an arch.

 The damson blossom was fully out.  Always so early.

The blues have it at the moment.

We filled the last dip in the area behind the polytunnel and with four loads of chipped bark and some old carpet, completed the path.

It looks great. 

I began weeding a veggie bed ..... all sorts coming up .... a myriad of poppies of all kinds, feverfew, old gladioli bulbs etc

The grass at the edge was so long that after I`d cut it to define the bed edge it was yellow underneath.

What a joyful sight the kingcups are

and what a joy to be in the great outdoors.

 

 

 

Fairy with a Funny Face

It was my intention to make three fairies that would be flying over the garden in the warmer months.

I didn`t get far into the project before realising three was a bit ambitious. So I`ve ended up with one.

And her face is a little peculiar. Anne very kindly called it characterful, but I think I am going to have to change it.

I`ve seen some lovely ideas on Pinterest but I ended up doing it my own way, copying the much smaller version I make with wire and beads, just on a bigger scale.

I gathered the things I thought I would need. 

I made the body first by winding old stockings round garden wire, keeping the limbs very spindly.

I used nearly all the old stockings I had.

Then I formed the head. I felt this had gone quite well til Steve told me it looked like a potato!!!

I know what he means though.

The "sculpting" of the head is an art, where one lump of stuffing in the face  can turn it from beautiful into ugly.

 

The next stage  .....

 ..... and the next .....

..... and the next.

The wig took a whole evening.

 I sewed on the button eyes and tried to form a nose but it looks a little screwed up. 

I am worried about unpicking due to the fragility of the

stockings.

For now she will stay as she is until I gather the patience to unpick my stitching.

Here she is in the garden earlier next to the magnolia.

 

Fairies on the Fringe

Recently, whilst doing my usual clearing out, I came across this old fringing. I`ve had it for some time.

I felt the tassels looked like fairy skirts with even a bodice ready-made.

 The tassels were a bit tangled so I cut them away from the braid, strung them on wire and suspended over a pan of boiling water. I then just shook them out.

Next I gathered stiff string, flower beads, crinkly hair and wooden beads.

I threaded the lot together, getting myself into a comfy rhythm to produce 20 fairies.

I think they have an antique feel about them.

 

 And there`s plenty more fringing left if I want to make more.

 

Here they are outside the newly refurbished fairy house, giving it the once-over.

And here they are trying out the newly refurbished gypsy caravan.

I`ve had a lot of fun doing it and trying to ensure items are weather-proof.