And another week whizzed by!

The first snow flurries this morning when I got up to do the dogs!  Although it didn't last I think the weather is definitely becoming more wintery.  That said it's a brilliant sunny morning despite the temperature.

Yesterday while Luna was at puppy day care I managed to fit in a dentist appointment, go visit my Lovely Mum and sister and left the slow cooker doing a big batch of chicken and veggies.  Today I'll turn it all into ready meals and pies for the freezer.  I also did a big batch of bolognaise and made up some pasta bakes last night.

Luna after a day in puppy day care!! 😴😴😂

Earlier in the week I made asparagus and leek soup with the asparagus ends I'd saved.  It tasted delicious but it was very stringy due to the end bits.  A bit like eating paintbrush bristles!! I blitzed it and sieved it but honestly wasn't worth the hassle!  I'm a bit fed up with my usual carrot and lentil based soups so I was looking for something new.  Anyone got any new ideas for soups that I can batch make and freeze?

I made some lemon marmalade using up a tin that was lurking at the back of the store cupboard.  It was dated September 2023 but was absolutely fine.  I like the lemon version, sometimes I add gin to it once I've taken it off the boil.  This time it's just plain old delicious lemon 🍋

I've been painting some of the high up bits in my kitchen and filling in dents and holes around the utility room.  I can do wee jobs while Luna is around but save the big ones for when she's at day care.  In the evenings I've been sock knitting plus I kept going with the crazy Victorian style patchwork, just for practising my French knots and blanket stitch.  You can't see all the frayed edges in the photo but it definitely wouldn't stand up to be used on a bag which was my original idea.  I loved doing it though! 

I've been trying read more at night instead of watching YouTube but my varifocal glasses aren't helping so I suspect a visit to the optician is on the cards next week to check my eyesight.  Might even do some Christmas shopping while I'm in town to make it worth my while 😮😂

More wee jobs!

This is pretty much how my days and nights go when both dogs are together 🙄🙄 Luna is a whirlwind!  She always look so serious in photos but she has bags of sass and a very naughty streak!!

Then she looks angelic when she's asleep!!! 👼

It's been another week of wee jobs.  I'm in the routine now of making butter regularly and baking a sourdough loaf every week.  I slice the bread and portion up the butter then freeze them.

The buttermilk gets used in scones (I'm getting better but they're not perfect!) and I use some of my sourdough starter to make sourdough pancakes.  Again, I freeze them all and always have a 'treat' on hand to stop me buying 'treats' at the supermarket.

I've been painting some wooden trimmings to finish off some of the rough edges in my kitchen.  Rather fiddly but I hope it makes it look better.  Photos to follow when finished!

I've been playing around with some Harris tweed scraps trying some Victorian style scrap patchwork.  I had an idea to make a big piece to turn into a bag but the tweed frays too much and it's too thick to turn in the edges like you're supposed to.  But it's been fun trying it and I'll do something in the future but use my many cotton scraps of fabric instead.  I'll think of something else to use up the tweed.

Building work started today on repairing the damaged walls on the extension.  So far they've found extra stuff needing done like replacing a rotten windowsill and fixing a crack in the corner of the roof.  That's the problem when you start doing repairs, you find even more things needing fixed! 💰 But it has to be done to pass a Home Report inspection to put the house on the market!

A finished project for once!

 

I made a hexie from some of the leftover fabric from the quilt my lovely mum made for my bedroom.

I stitched it onto a large piece of the purple fabric.

I did a small running stitch round each hexie to stitch it on and make it look slightly 'hand quilted.'

I stapled the fabric to the removable cushion pad with my new staple gun.

And my bedroom chair is finished and good as new at last!

Edited to add this photo of my quilt 💜

And a close up

It was nice to do a project from start to finish in an afternoon as a lot of my craft projects are long term ones.  Most of the time clothes are covering this chair but it'll make me smile any way!

Snow and other stuff (bit of a chatty one!)

 

Finally got some snow that's hanging around!  A couple of inches overnight and it's currently snowing.  I'm noticing I'm really cold today (I guess it's the not moving around) so I'm fully tucked up in my bed.  Tuppence wasn't happy this morning when I let her out.  I stood in my dressing gown trying to clear a patch in her enclosure so she didn't need to stand on actual snow.  She just shouted at me!! 🐔  Emma did a few zoomies and came straight back in!

I had my in person doctor appointment yesterday.  My lungs/chest seem to be clear, I just have a stubborn infection that won't shift.  So I'm on stronger antibiotics.  They've really knocked me for six as I'm actually feeling worse today.  Hopefully it's the whole 'needs to get worse before it's better' kinda deal.

My GP was actually a gynaecology consultant before she became a GP so is an expert in women's health.  She's very much in demand at my surgery and you have to wait several weeks if you want to see her.  We had a long chat about my recent general health, immune issues, tiredness, lack of quality sleep etc.  Without going into too many details I'm also now on estrogen.  I've felt for ages that despite my healthy eating and trying to stay active something was 'missing.'  I never thought I would need HRT.  I (wrongly) thought it was for women who were having terrible menopause symptoms like mood swings, hot flushes or depression.  I have no symptoms or so I thought.  Tiredness, weight gain and immune issues are in there too!!  I'd never have thunk it! Always good to keep an open mind and I do trust my GP. 

So when I went to Te$co to collected my prescriptions I had a 20 min wait.  "I'll just have a wee look round while I'm here" turned into me spending £30 on a dress, goats cheese, a bottle of Diet Coke and a tub of guacamole (I absolutely love guacamole!!) 🥑  Instead of getting a plastic bag I spotted this Emma Bridgewater reusable tote and couldn't resist!!  My spending this month is still well within budget but I didn't plan this wee splurge.  Hey ho!

I'm still keeping busy.  Now got 8 flower hexies sewn together and 5 single ones.  Next step is adding them to the quilt.

I've reached the heel flap stage of my sock but I've had to stop.

I broke TWO of my Brittany Birches needles and had to order a new set.  Hopefully they'll arrive today or tomorrow.  Annoying but I have had these needles at least 10 years and they're well used!

I also frogged a jumper I started knitting ages ago.  My style has changed over the last few years plus this was definitely too small!  If I'm wearing a jumper now I like it to be big, baggy and comfy.  I still love the design (Owls by Kate Davies)  but would rather it was a baggy style.  The yarn is a lovely pure natural wool and I have a plan for it plus the remaining unused balls.

Bit of a chatty blog today.  I feel I'm finally on the way to feeling a lot better than I have for ages.  I think I'll be off school for another week (or at least part of next week) as I want to go back when folk can say "You look well" instead of "You look terrible, should you be back?" 🙄

Resting AND Keeping Busy?

 

Can you keep busy and rest at the same time?  I'm trying to do both!  I've never been one to just sit without a project or book in hand.  I have no option but to rest just now as even going up and down stairs leaves me breathless so I'm making sure I have wee projects on the go.  I've been making more hexies to add to my quilt.  Progress photo as of this morning!  They're laid out across a UK double bed.  All the fabrics were free to me, donated by my lovely mum and her quilting friends.

Some of the fabrics are just scraps, big enough for a 3" hexagon but some are full fat quarters.  No longer wanted for whatever reasons so I got lucky! I'd rather not cut up the larger pieces of fabric just for hexies so they've been waiting patiently for a project.  And I think I've found one in my Youtube browsing!  Karen at Just Get It Done Quilts explains it HERE in 5 Ways to Use Ugly Fabric 😆 The fabrics I have aren't that ugly, they just don't go together.  But I love her design for a quilt that isn't too precious to be used.  It's on my Summer holiday project list now!

I knitted a few more squares for my sock blanket with my leftover sock yarn. I found a stash of them when I was looking through my fabric so need to get those stitched together and take an updated photo of  the blanket.  It's getting big!  I can't remember when I started it but it was definitely in my previous house so at least 8 or 9 years ago! 😲

I knit, sew and plan out my garden and allotment while sitting on the sofa or lying propped up in my bed.  I've not managed a full day out of bed yet for over a week.  I'm just achy and tired and more than a little bit grumpy!!

Eunice

 

The stormy view from my bedroom window this morning!  You can just about see the Gargunnock ridge in the background.  Luckily Central Scotland seems to be missing out on the worst effects of Storm Eunice.  We're used to this run of wind/rain/sleet/snow in Winter so are well prepared.  Although my son had to turn back home this morning as the motorway into work in Glasgow was down to one lane and there were several accidents! It took him 90 mins to travel just a few miles. I hope everyone manages to stay safe where you are!

I'm still feeling pretty rough, waiting for the antibiotics kick in.  I'm not sleeping well as I can't lie down without choking and coughing.  I'm exhausted.  I'm spending most of my time resting propped up in bed, watching stuff on my laptop while knitting or sewing.  I found a pile of hexies so have stitched them into flowers for my ongoing quilt project.  I need to lay it out to see how big it's getting!

I sent a message to my Headteacher this morning and said I wouldn't be in school next week.  I have to really focus on my health and get my immune system functioning properly again!  To be fair to her she was suitably sympathetic and told me to take care of myself but I know she's given people a hard time about being off work in the recent past.  

I'm sure it applies to many professions but dragging yourself into work when you're not well seems to be encouraged and applauded by managers.  They say things like 'self care is important, just ask for help' but you're made to feel guilty (implicitly or explicitly!) for taking any 'extra' time to get back on your feet.  I know I returned to work in November a week too early and definitely should have taken more time last month after having Covid.   I'll be summoned to a meeting with HR when I return as I now have had 4 spells of absence in the last 9 months: fractured ankle, chest infection, Covid and  another chest infection.  Interestingly all directly caused by where I work!!

When I was off with Covid last month, the first time I left the house after my positive test was to go back to work.  How dumb was that!!  Next week I'm going to try to get outside (weather permitting obviously!) and go for a wee walk or go to the shop.  If I'm still not able to do that by the end of the week I'll be taking another week off.  I'm taking this very seriously!

Day 5 - Fabric, fire and fat

It's been rather chilly here with quite a few snow flurries yesterday and today.  I stayed inside and added more hexies to my quilt.  I worked out I've got about 300ish stitched together, all by hand.  I think I'll need about 1200ish to make a double bed size quilt.  So not a quick fabric project then! 😂

It was exactly a year ago today that I got my proper allotment plot.  By coincidence the Spring newsletter arrived by email and I was glad to see that unlike the council run allotments nearby, our annual rent remains the same.  £26 for a full size plot, £13 for everything else.  My plot isn't a full size one 😉 Costs are low because it's run entirely by volunteers.  I popped down today to finish clearing some rubbish and cutting back the old woody raspberry canes.  I do like a good fire 🔥

In the corner underneath some overgrown grass and canes I found a wee rose (not a great pic.)  I'm assuming some kind of rambler so fingers crossed it grows now it's got light and space.  If it thrives I could train it along the fence as I'm trying to create a prickly hedge as a natural barrier to the deer and any would be trespassers.

I made this ridiculously tasty nut loaf for tea tonight.  It's from the Fast 800 cookbook.  In an effort to shift the belly fat that has been gradually accumulating since I turned 50, I'm trying the Fast 800.  If you've not heard of it you can Google it or click on the link below.  In the last 5 years (seriously the minute I hit 50 I've become a walking middle aged clique!) I've tried to lose and keep off some excess weight.  And failed!  I keep reading about how age/hormones etc etc make it harder for women in their 50s to maintain a healthy weight so the science in this way of eating makes sense.  It's a tough 2 week start but then after that it becomes easy.  I've already lost 2.5kg (5.5lbs) quicker than any other way I've tried.  It's not for everyone but so far so good for me!

Some info HERE if anyone is interested.

Day 3 - Easter Sunday

 

HOORAY!  I was allowed back out today but as it was rather cold and windy I didn't stay out long!!  I popped down to the plot just to check on everything.  I'm so glad all was ok 😊

I took Emma with me.  She just loves sniffing around, pretty sure she smells mice/rats! 🐀🐁  Luckily there seems to be no sign of any rabbit activity on my plot.

She plopped herself down at the open door to enjoy the sun out of the wind while I made myself a coffee on my wee stove,

Real coffee! 😋

I took this photo to show the quirky shape of my wee shed.  I think it was a bespoke build, designed to fit into a certain space at the house I got it from.  The front is brown (yuck!) but the rest is forest green.  I love the shape, it's very me!!

As the day was rather cold and windy to be outside I spent the rest of it sewing some more hexies and reading.  I'm steadily working my way through the bags of fabric scraps my lovely mum gave me.

I've lost my original template sheet so need to figure out how to make more paper templates the exact size.  I think they're just 3 inches so I'll find another one online.

I'm currently reading Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now.  It's been around for a while and felt like a good follow up to The Road Less Travelled.  Apart from the tiny print (probably need reading glasses now!!) it's easy to read.

I've watched a few of his videos on YouTube.  I like his calm voice.  I might download the audiobook version to help me sleep at night. I do like to listen to a nice soothing voice as I drop off. 😴

Day 2

It's been a rather rainy day here!  So much for my initial plan of pottering in the garden between the predicted light showers!!  I did harvest some more potatoes for my tea and picked some lettuce and beetroot leaves.

I drizzled them with some of my home made chive flower vinegar. It's such a pretty pink colour! It was a simple but delicious side salad 😋

I had some sorry looking apples left lurking in the fruit bowl.  No idea what variety but they were rather small.  I gently poached them with a tiny bit of sugar.  That's my dessert tonight sorted with some Alpro custard! 😋 I didn't want to waste the peelings so I've started a batch of home made apple cider vinegar.  Never tried to make it before so we'll see if it works!  It's just apple peelings, sugar and water. Free vinegar, so worth a try! (loads of instructions on Pinterest)

I rounded up the finished hexagon flowers I've made this week to stitch together and join them to the quilt.  Each flower takes about 40 minutes to make so I usually make one a night while I'm watching something on tv in the evening.  I'm just making this for fun and to use up fabric scraps but in my head I'm imagining wrapping up my future grandchildren and saying things like 'Can you find the red bus?' 😍

Sue from A Smaller and Simpler Life has sparked an idea for a plan to get myself organised for the next 7 weeks. Watch this space 😉

Day 1

Last week I was very excited to see this asparagus shoot pop up in my new raised bed.  Even though it was tempting, I know it will be a few years before I can harvest them.

Today my 5 crowns looked like this!  I had planned to spend the first day of my holiday in the garden but heavy rain stopped play. So I've been inside instead.

I've been making some patchwork hexies from scrap fabric so added a few more today.  All hand sewn and made from fabric that was no use to my Lovely Mum and her quilting friends.

It's slowly growing.  It's totally random as long as patches made with the same fabric are not touching each other.  It's a nice easy project to work on at night or on rainy days.

As always the first day of the summer holiday has been a lazy one.  I have so much I want to do so I need to make a plan! 

Day 11: Cook, Clean, Clear and Create

Tonight's cook was a home made healthy pizza. I'd been looking forward to it all day.  It really was delicious!

My create project was to finish a purple square I started last night.  That makes 6 in total.  I really enjoy making these! I'll do 3 more and then get started on the quilting bit.

My clean and clear for today was to clear out a bit of the garage so I could put my road bike and turbo trainer back in there.  I ended up doing more than I thought but my garage is tidy again and I can access my bikes.  I took a full car load of 'stuff' to the recycling centre.  I always feel good when I do that!

I added the finishing touches to my family room/den.  I bought a plain red lampshade (£12 in B&Q) for the floor lamp and paid a whopping £3.50 for red curtains on Ebay 😂  I've also ordered a rug to disguise the horrible carpet until I can afford a new carpet.

I crawled into the eave space where I've got loads of things stored and looked through the assorted pictures from my old house. I forgot there were so many!!  I found a couple that I thought would look good.

Sadly there's not much I can do about the hideous fireplace!!

The TV isn't connected to an aerial but I can watch DVDs on it.  The cupboard contains my school stuff.  My new rule is if I can't store it in the cupboard it's not staying here.

I have several more boxes ready to take to school so my study is a little messy until that happens.  And as for my dining room again...

*sighs*