Sea ,surf and Mandy Island



New shoots on my geranium



Outdoor bulbs

Narcissus

Seedlings.

Today has been a day of rest, I slept really poorly, I woke in the night and hubby asked if I would stop throwing myself around the bed as he was unable to sleep...I think I was unwinding after so many interviews this week.Despite being calm ,confident and in control on the outside ,I think my subconscious was in melt down.I have one further interview on Monday, for  a local job that would suit me down to the ground....so all things positive, they too will offer me a position and I will then be able choose which will best suit my new life style  :-).
The greenhouse is slowly starting to blossom, several seeds have now broken through the surface, my narcissus shoots are all about 15cms tall and even the ones out side in pots are all coming up. All combined with this mornings fabulous sunshine ,does make you feel that Spring is truly just around the corner.

Resting dog nearly on my crochet.



My Valentines gift .

 Yesterday hubby also had an interview , I went along for the road trip and took along my knitting, once I had exhausted the bookshop I sat in the car and got on with the knitting. I did of course find two books of interest, The Hamlyn book of vegetables and Food for thought   Simon Courtauld,both having different recommendations and histories of garden produce.I would have happily sat on the shop floor and read them,but this seems frowned on these days or maybe only acceptable in charity shops........

Mandy Island.

Boy talk.



Drying wings in the sun.

 Several of my sons friends made their own way down to visit, I think the had quite an eventful drive down culminating in a £60 fine and three points. The did a tour of the beach and local amenities ending with a pizza and doughnut supper, its been great to see them, hear the laughing and the mass destruction of food, but so miss girlie time, seven males and me , feeling a trifle outnumbered.

Still am pleased to have finished the feather and lace neck warmer, it was really fun to knit and am thinking before I seriously turn to baby knits I will make a couple more to put away for Christmas.

Pancakes, Maple syrup and knitting patterns

Today I went to Truro,something I seldom do, but a nice change from our rural indulgence.

Truro is a pretty City,with plenty of small interesting shops as well as all the High Street staples we all come to expect these days, but without loosing too much of its character.

After a light tea came all the fun of pancake day, two pans going at once, one with GF pancakes and one with traditional pancakes, served with soft brown sugar, maple syrup and lemon juice ......very happy.

This evening  I have been looking for my next knitting project, its still chilly here so am considering a nice lacy neck warmer in feather and fan stitch. I also have 3 friends expecting babies in the next few months ,so a few more baby items required to make up their 'new arrival' gifts, I love these baby slippers.

Feather &Fan stitch.

Neck warmer

Baby slippers

Charlestown and finished cardi's

Today has mainly been about homework,  preparing for tomorrow.

Small canon at the teashop.

All work and no play is not the lifestyle I have chosen, life is too short and not  how I propose to spend my time here in Cornwall.

So once all the I's had been dotted and the T's crossed we decided to take a turn around Charlestown. It was cool and dry, the tide was the furthest out we had ever seen it.

 I did feel a little sorry for a bride & groom and their guests having their wedding photos taken on the quayside, they were freezing in their satin dresses and dress suits.A beautiful backdrop with the tall ships.

We were not the only couple out for a stroll, two white doves were patrolling the sea wall.

White doves.

Today's new shoot , yes just the one.....was the first Hibiscus.

Charlestown.

The ballet cardigan is now pressed and stitched together, I like its versatility, don't be concerned I will not be appearing in a leotard and tutu any time soon, those days have long passed.

Completed cardigan.

Picot edging.

Wool supervisor

Sea glass and picot edging.........

Don't you just love Sunday? especially in the winter,when you know that what ever the weather...warm full bellies will follow Sunday lunch, I love roasties.

Porthluney

Sea glass

The weather is still on the bleak side, but the tide was in our favour, so after prepping lunch we took the dogs down to the beach so they could run off their excess energy.I however stroll, I have become a beach scavenger, I arrived armed with warm clothes against the wind, several cameras and a collection bag. The objects of my desire are sea washed glass,any shells with a pearlescent finish and off course driftwood.Projects will follow using all these goodies,but for now I am getting collections together,  as the summer approaches there will be less raw materials for me to collect.

Verbena

Cola scented geranium.

The greenhouse did hold two new smile factors,a second Sweet pea and my first cream Nasturtium.I was also pleased to see all the new green shoots appearing on the Pelargonium and Verbena.

My reconditioned deck chairs.

You can never have enough Daisies xxx

While looking to do 'indoor' garden jobs it was nice to dust down  my old reconditioned deckchairs, I made new seats for them and decorated the backs with contrast pennants,I have also unpacked all my garden lamps, tea lights and stands, which will good for summer tea parties.

The house this afternoon was taken over by sport, first England in the rugby and then followed by the African Nations football final, which left me free to get on with some more knitting, all pieces now complete, the picot edging finished. Now just the pressing and all the sewing up left to do,so hope the ballet cardigan will be completed tomorrow.

Winding down ready for work, everything in its place .................

Button heaven, these are my most recent finds waiting to be put in their button tins and jars.

Pattern boxes and magazine files.

Thread boxes and fat quarters.

Button tins and jars, stuffing and crimble fabric.

A sense of harmony has been restored to my work area, I have managed to shred 2 black bags of incriminating paperwork which is now suitable for the bottom of Alvin's [my pet indoor rabbit] cage. I have also recycled  a selection of boxes and 'odd' magazines where I only required articles and not the 'whole', plus of course all the non incriminating paperwork, where does it all come from?, I have very few paper bills these days , unyet I seen to have more paperwork with my personal details on in the post than I ever used to get.

Evil twin '2' in production.

Opal sock wool.

Tidy shelves =tidy mind?

3 Empty chairs.

Having a good tidy up and clear out, gives you an oppertunity to see and remind yorself what forgotten treasures you have have hidden away in paper bags and at the bottom of old boxes, it also is a good reminder of things that are not quite finished, but should be .

So now I have a new to do list, the Opal sock wool was a treat when I was away a couple of weeks ago, I have never used 'sock wool' before, so will be very intrested to seehow much better it will wash and wear , rather than using 4ply etc. Have several patterns to choose from, but think as the wool itself  is rather colourful I may go with a plain pattern.

The Floral cross stitch is the 'evil' twin to one I completed a couple of months ago and needs  rinsing, pressing and making up into a cushion cover ready for the 'new' lounge.

Evil twin '1'.

And next is to make up my lists of whom is getting a homemade present this christmas, but before I get carried away with these I must finish adding all the buttons to my completed baby knits . The main problem I can see with this christmas's production is the fact that I will be unable to share the finished items with you , as the receiver may be taking a sneaky peak here to have a look !. And of course there is the christmas card production to consider, I dont make my own cards during the year as have so much on  on a day to day basis , but I do like to make as many of my christmas cards as I physically can, I think it makes them more personal, plus it eases the lack of personally made gift, as would have to dedicate my entire year to Christmas if I was going to make everyone a present .

So I guess thats me organised for a few weeks at least, have cleared some chairs so I can of course have some company whilst stitching, stitch and bitch [a small local sewing group I hold at my house when my shift pattern allows] can begin again from next week, I have buttons to sew, crochet blanket to finish, cushion cover to make up , socks to experiment with and crimble production to start..............of course and life to fit in ........family , work ,pets etc etc ...........