Snowdrop Fairies and Pastel Sheep

I have been going through my old patterns, most of them hand drawn and copied on grids from books or magazines. It has brought back a lot of memories for the family wondering who had what toy. Here are just a few of them.

 

 

 

I have thrown lots out. I am much more inclined to make smaller toys now. The big ones take up so much stuffing.

I seem to have been doing a lot of amigurami. I have plenty of wool to choose from!!! Maybe its the cosy evenings by the fire or warm lunch breaks in the garden room. 

The children love the tiny toys and so do I. Whenever they visit they let me know which ones they like.

I vividly remember my own Mum knitting a little dog one winter afternoon as we sat by the fire. She sewed it up and gave it straight to us. I was enthralled.

So when the children ask, I am happy to give the toys to them, with that memory in mind.

Here are some of them.

                                             Pastel sheep

                                             Easter bunnies

                                             Snowdrop fairies

                                               Little mice

                                               Tiny kittens

                                                And alpacas

I`m not sure the alpacas are that recognisable but they are cute anyway.

I find a lot of these patterns for free on pinterest and I am very grateful for the ideas. I usually adapt them to suit myself and I am learning a lot.

The craft trolley will be brimful by the time camping season starts. Unless some little boys and girls have other ideas.
 

 

 

Scented Candles and Mystical Mists

Valentine`s Day has been warm and sunny. People have been out and about in t.shirts.

We have had a lovely day and treated ourselves to several little presents.

These jewel-like primroses were three for £5.
 

A lovely scented candle from TKMax.

                              Some new everyday china.

Our favourite soap.

And of course some flowers ....

.....with the added bonus of a few cuttings.

These are my new stud earrings from Steve. I love them.

After the sun went down a mystical mist descended over the field ....

....... we raised a glass and christened the new dishes with a veggie moussaka.

Finishing off with M and S chocs.

Happy Valentine`s Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fruity February

On Saturday I was at the garden on my own. It was dull but not cold and I did sit outside for my teabreak, listening to the incredible birdsong.

I began weeding the fruit net trying to get rid of the nettles which grow so tall, just as we want to pick raspberries. Nettles are a VERY successful plant, spreading by runners and seed.

I can`t bear to pull up all the forgetmenots in the next row but I have used strips of carpet to discourage more weeds. I might try to find a wider piece.

I noticed the new long grass path is thickening up and is dotted with so far, a lot of poppy seedlings. I may scatter a few more of our saved seeds there.

My next job was to tackle a patch of couch grass that has established itself between veggie bed and path and entwined round rabbit wire. I broke away the wood edging and lifted the wire. I am increasingly finding the wood edges to be a nuisance, even though they define the beds more. Then it was a matter of digging and picking up every single strand of couch grass root. 

The rhubarb nubs are just protruding. This year we should be able to harvest some, now that it is established after the move.
 

Today its back to normal with Steve and Paula there. Glorious sunshine. Warm enough to sit outside for our teabreak. We had a visit from Buddy the dog who seemed very pleased to see us but I`m sure he is missing Anne. 

I weeded round the blackcurrants. They have a lot of buds so we might get a better crop this year for the jam. Lots of nettles here too.

 Steve worked on the first flowerbed replacing the now, very old rabbit wire. It has done well. It must have been there for 10 years with quite a few post replacements. Funny to think for our first few years there was no wire needed round the beds  .... that is until the rabbits discovered all the nice juicy veg.

The new posts are recycled.

Paula and I ended up weeding a large veggie bed, when I could drag her from lazing in the sunshine. The weeding is a pleasure as the frost has loosened the soil making it all very easy and even the manure lumps are breaking up.

A lovely morning to be out and about.