Blog Archive

Feeling better

Hello, and thank you for stopping by,  I am so pleased to report I am feeling much better now.  Maybe the little whiff of spring we have had over the past couple of days have helped shift the last of the germs.  There certainly has been a little bit of warmth of sun and I have enjoyed being out and about with Daisy Dog, after a few weeks of just not feeling up to walking long distances.

We spent a bit of tine down by the river and Daisy decided she wanted to make friends with the local heron, chasing him across the fields.  He was blase about this whole encounter and took flight, only to land a few feet further on, for her to run after him again.  Eventually he became bored with this game and flew off, leaving Daisy and I to continue our walk.

"Come back, Mr Heron!  I only want to play!"

I also had a little potter in the garden, deadheading the primulas and admiring the hellebores.  I love hellebores and wonder how such a beautiful and delicate flower survives such harsh winter weather.  We bought a few new ones at Killerton House (National Trust) last year.  This one had lost its label over the winter, and I can't remember what it is called, (note to self:  use my garden journal properly!) but it is such a beautiful colour.



After the half term break last week, we resumed our meet ups at Cooper's Creative today, and what a lovely afternoon it was, catching up, laughing, chatting and admiring each other's projects.  I met a lovely lady, who had travelled up from Cambridgeshire, and it was like chatting with an old friend.  We swapped email addresses, and I know we will keep in touch.  I treasure the time I spend with my friends there, old and new, and it is one of the highlights of my week.

I called in at the brilliant Keelham Farm Shop on the way home, picking up some lovely handmade pasties for dinner, as well as the loose ingredients to make my own muesli mix, which I mix together in a large glass jar, ready to serve for breakfast.  I include a whole range of nuts, as well as dried fruits and seeds.  Yummy!



It certainly is lovely to feel more like my old self again.  I have also been doing a bit of sewing, which I will tell you about next time!

Take care, Donna x 

By Special Delivery

Hello,

I've been very quiet lately as I've not been feeling quite the ticket.  Just struggling with the various viruses going around, but lack of sleep due to coughing, a pounding headache and sore throat that makes swallowing painful, (the current delightful virus), have taken their toll and it's all been a bit exhausting.

Today, though, I wanted to stop by and show you the Very Exciting Project that I finished last evening and have just posted to my Darling Daughter by Special Delivery...

TaDaa!!



I am so pleased with my Paddington Bear, and I made it for DD as a reminder of our wonderful Christmas together, which included a trip to the cinema to see Paddington 2.  She does love PB and I hope he will keep her company on the long days ahead as she finishes writing up her thesis for her PhD.

The pattern was in Crochet Now magazine, and it was a dream to follow. I particularly loved the construction of Paddington's duffle coat, which involved no fiddly sewing up as the sleeves were picked up directly onto the armholes, and the body of the coat was made in one piece up to the armholes.

The yarn used was Stylecraft Special DK and the I think the colours work really well!

Here is the back view:




And here is PB looking ready to march off to Deepest Darkest, well, Oxford...



I hope DD loves him as much as I enjoyed making him.

Time for some more paracetamol.  I'll be back soon to tell you all about my sock knitting, and my other (many!) ongoing projects!

Take care,

Donna x