Who'd have thought it?!

When I was 14 or 15, instead of (or more likely as well as) my Jackie Annual, I was given the Marks and Spencer book of handicrafts for Christmas.   I was thrilled with it and couldn't wait to start making lots of wonderful things.  The Tatting was attempted many times, but I just couldn't get to grips with it, and I yearned to make candles, but that needed a lot of expensive kit, but then I came across the Macramé pages.  Well, for the next couple of years everyone got macramé plant hangers for Christmas.

That was, however, in the long and distant past......until my friend drew my attention to this:

in the Guardian's Weekend Magazine!

Macramé indoor plant hangers are trendy again!  A few years ago my mother had given me back a couple of the hangers I made (presents to my mother are like boomerangs - they all go back to the giver eventually) and I have used them in the greenhouse.

 

Meanwhile, I have spent the last week working on our workshop schedule;  we have workshops on Quilting with Lynne Johnson (- lots of them!), Valentine Bear making, Knitted Headbands, Folk Art Stitcheries, Skirt-making with Robyn, Little Hexagon Drink Mats, Quilts based on children's drawings, Crochet with Helen Cubitt, a Zipped Make Up Bag,

and

Macramé!!!!!
I wasn't expecting that!

Millie and the Joy of Quilts

I would like to say I'm happy that Millie has discovered the joy of quilts - but I'm not.  This little dog who looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth -

has discovered the joy of (chewing holes in) quilts:

What a naughty little girl.

 

As soon as we leave the room she turns into Miss Agility, climbing on cupboards and chairs to reach anything chewable.

 

I had cleaned and cleared the utility room so everything was put away - except for the eggs which after collecting I put in a basket.  The other evening I heard strange sounds from the utility room and on investigating discovered that Millie jumped up on the side, had a quick munch of an egg, tossed it down to Reuben to finish off, then picked up another one.

 

They ate at least 8 eggs.

 

They deserved any tummy ache they got.

 

Now NOTHING is left out, ANYWHERE!!!!

 

 

On a happier note, I am working on our new schedule of workshops, which should be winging its way out to you sometime next week.......

January Surprise

I just went over to Maidencourt to see our little January surprise!

Isn't she cute?

She wasn't a complete surprise; the bull had got into the pen with the heifers last Spring, and Jonathan noticed that one of them looked ready to calve, but it was unplanned.

Here's mum

Now we wait until Valentine's day when the official calving is due to start.

When I got back, all the chickens came steaming up to me because they reckon it's teatime

Remember our rescue chickens?

all skinny and naked....

I wonder if you can pick them out now:

Only four of them survived, but they have plumped up and have full coats of feathers and although they let their heads sink when they sit down, they look very happy running around.

I was also pleased to see this morning that the birds have discovered the birdfeeder my nephew gave me for Christmas

All good news!

Just How Much Luck Does One Person Need?

Just went upstairs, went to look out the window and was confronted by this:

I know bird poop on the window is supposed to be lucky - but this is more like a Jackson Pollock!

Anyway, hopefully it bodes well for our workshops, which will be starting shortly.  The first Pitch and Stitch of 2016 will be this coming Tuesday, and then Sandra and I will put our heads together and figure out some exciting stuff! - any requests will be happily considered!

 

Happy New Quilting and Crafting New Year to everyone!

The Twelth Day of Christmas

Today is, I'm sure, the 12th day of Christmas, so I'm pleased to say that, as I said I would, I've finished the Santa figure - Sandra gave me the kit about 5 years ago so it hasn't taken that long:

He's a funny little chap made from an "All Stuffed Up Holiday Felt Friend" kit from the US.  He stands about 2' tall.  Unfortunately he looks a bit cross - not as cross as I got trying to put him together though!!

On the 30th December, I was driving Ben and Victoria back from the airport when we came across a tree that had blown across School lane.  It was about to snap the main electricity wire providing power to East Garston, so the Electricity Board were called.

Within two hours they had sawed it all up without even switching off the electricity!  I don't think people in the village know how close they were to being without electricity!

A Different Point of View!

The other day I received some lovely photos through the post from our German friends Silke and Peter, who have stayed on the CL the last couple of summers - I really hope they call by again this summer.

Well, as we looked through the pictures we realised that a lot of the views around here we take for granted, and that when seen through another's eyes, the familiar can be seen quite differently.

Last Summer I moaned constantly that the garden wasn't doing anything

Actually, it doesn't look too bad.

Jonathan couldn't figure out where this pretty pond was

- it's the one at the bottom of the drive!

This is a view of the farm from across the Valley:

And these two pictures were taken along the old railway line and down the lane by our house - their dog Chack gets along famously with Reuben:

And then we all know Reuben never goes on the Caravan site because he isn't allowed, and also that he can be quite unpredictable with people

 

So what's that all about then?

I know the cattle look lovely as they stroll back and forth across the field:

And I know we get brilliant views of the moon, but I can never take pictures of it:

So thank you very much Silke, for reminding me that I have a lot to be thankful for.