Flowers and Stitching

I love being surrounded by flowers and plants and the month of May was an exceptional month for them in different forms.

Our granddaughter arrived on my birthday with a bouquet of flowers that had been bought by her on behalf of her cousin and his girlfriend who live far away in Berkshire.  She thought I would like a bright selection.

Our granddaughter and her boyfriend also brought us these orchids.  Aren't they a gorgeous colour?

From our daughter-in-law I received this cushion that she had made decorated with crocheted flowers. The embroidered panel had once been given to her by my late mother and it was thoughtful of her to incorporate it into the design of the cushion. 

Above, if you look closely you'll see Bobby, our granddaughter's first soft toy dog.  Because of much cuddling the top of his head had become worn and his eye needed a few stitches to secure it in place.  She asked me to do a few repairs on him.

I darned the delicate net fabric covering the soft material and stitched on his eye. (Before and after photos). When our granddaughter comes to collect Bobby I'm sure she'll be pleased with the result and also happy to have him back with her again. 

Here is the embroidered tablecloth that I showed you in my last blog post.  Now I shall start another project as I have two different tapestry pieces to work on.

May has been a good month for rhododendrons and these are the ones under the birch trees in the local park.  It was a damp day.  When I came out of the library I found that there was drizzly rain so I didn't stay long to take photos.

This little robin came and landed at my feet.

Yesterday our eldest grandson and family came to visit on their way up to see the other grandma who lives further north in York.  The sun was shining and after lunch we had a lovely time in the garden.  No photos of the family this time, but instead a photo of the pot plant (a bromeliad) that they gave us.  We were also given a stand for the mobile phone that we can use when we do face-to-face phone calls.

Thank you for your visit.  I hope you have a lovely June.  I understand that it's officially Summertime!

A quiet day

I was hoping to wake up to the sight of a bright sunrise as has been the occasion on some days recently, but instead we have had fog (which has now lifted) and rain.  The light level is low, but there are several close work activities to get on with after the usual morning household chores.

On Saturday I went to the library to take books back and borrow others.  I've been reading non fiction books about nature and walking recently as they're books that are informative and I can dip into them.

Our library book group read The Salt Path last month. I was full of admiration that Raynor Winn and her sick husband managed to walk this well-known coastal path, wild camping along the way after they had found themselves homeless.  It touched me on the endurance of the spirit in the face of adversity as well as attitudes to homelessness. There are some wonderful descriptions of the natural world by the coast as well as the stories of coping with the rough weather, the author's husband's ill health and the lack of money to buy basic items we usually take for granted. 

The Apple Orchard - Pete Brown

The Running Hare: The Secret Life of Farmland 

- John Lewis-Stempel

The Salt Path - Raynor Winn

The book that I reserved and picked up from the library that I'm now reading is The Single Thread written by Tracy Chevalier, an author I enjoy.  So far I've read eight chapters and I'm finding it one of those books that's quiet and thought-provoking at the same time. 

The dust cover  says -   'It is 1832 and the losses of the First World War are still keenly felt.  Violet Speedwell, mourning for both her fiancé and her brother  and regarded by society as a 'surplus woman' unlikely to marry, resolves to escape her suffocating mother and strike out on her own. 

A new life awaits her in Winchester.  Yes, it is one of draughty boarding houses and sidelong glances at her naked ring finger from younger colleagues, but it is also a life gleaming with independence and opportunity.  Violet falls in with the broderers, a disparate group of women charged with embroidering kneelers for the Cathedral, and is soon entwined in their lives and their secrets.  As the almost unthinkable threat of a second Great War appears on the horizon Violet collects a few secrets of her own that could just change everything....'

Other indoor activities I have planned on rainy days such as today are crocheting and sewing. (I will complete the double bedspread soon and will definitely stop as we get into the Christmas prep period). I brought the tapestry back last year from a trip to Italy. It was something I was working on there and I should finish it.  I'm making up the pattern but using the instruction book to learn some of the stitches.

The light has improved a little if I sit by the window and I have some mending to do.