What a Malarkey

I'm really not sure this not going out to work malarkey is right for me.....I seem to be spending an awful lot of time doing not very much at all.

Yesterday I spent most of the morning considering the various things I really have to get on with, such as cleaning up the greenhouse, sorting out the garden, going through my clothes, doing a bit of mending, perhaps even finish decorating the bedroom or start decorating the office, and clean out the chickens.

So I went out to admire my lovely new Buff Orpingtons,

and then I came in and made some candles.

Today I went through the same list of jobs, and then found myself making blackberry jam.

I think I'm drifting a bit.....

Earlier in the week though, when I was a bit more motivated, I went to 'Martin & the Magpie' - my favourite florist in Hungerford.

I love this shop because as well as beautiful flowers, they have quirky plants and little bits of  'this and that' to look at.  Well, I went in to buy flowers for a friend, but, just like at Christmas, something caught my eye which would make a lovely gift for me:

An indoor plant called String of Hearts.  I don't really like indoor plants that much, but I thought these trailing hearts looked so pretty - and, of course, they were hanging in macramé potholders which I happen to have a few of.......so, it's found it's way out into the workshop!

The only thing I have been good at is taking the dogs out for at least 3 miles everyday.  The weather over the last week has been extraordinary - hot enough for shorts some days, then into waterproofs, then into sweaters - and me and the dogs have seen a few things that made us look twice:

A fairy ring

 

Old Man's Beard covering everything

 

The men out drilling and rolling

Bits of fungus

And then yesterday evening a beautiful double rainbow

Off to the Ally Pally tomorrow, so I can get lots of ideas for more things to not do......

The Joy of Crochet!

I can't believe the Knitting and Stitching Show at the Alexandra Palace has come around again!  Last year when I went I bought the Janie Crowe kit for the Magic Lanterns blanket....and I'm still working on it.

I took it over to Jersey with plans to crochet in the evenings - and it came back exactly the same!

I put it in the corner of the lovely room we had at the Omarroo Hotel

and I didn't pick it up again until I packed to come home!  Obviously I spent far too much time cooing over my little grandson

and swimming in the sea

and even though we got stuck over there an extra day, still didn't have time to sit and crochet.

I really need to get a move on though , because it will be beautiful when it's finished...

Crochet is so easy, and quick, so I really have no excuse.  This Wednesday we have the Mandala workshop which is a great way to learn some basic workshop stitches, so if anyone wants a go there are still places available.

There were some lovely pieces of work on Tuesday - Louise's Penny rug looks lovely, and having real old pennies from Eileen to sew into it makes it so authentic.

Anthea's Trip Around the World quilt that she started at our Spring workshop is now ready for quilting:

She was so pleased with it, and the speed of the method, that she's going to make full size quilt for her bed using the same technique!

I haven't been completely lazy - after being somewhat bullied by Sandra and Lynne regarding the 'homeliness' of the workshop, I went out there and blitzed the place so there's lots of space again:

I am pleased with it but had to smile when some of the Tuesday ladies said they preferred it when there were piles of unfinished projects lying about! - I didn't bin them, they're just piled discreetly under my table!