An email from the Blackforest

As you probably know, I am, and I really don't know why, a Morris Dancer.  It's a long story but to cut it really short my husband's crazy about it and if you can't beat them, join them.  Also, I feel quite strongly about tradition and feel it's part of our English heritage which should be saved.
Anyway, I've been exchanging emails with Silke from the Blackforest who stayed on our CL, and told her to look at various u-tube videos of the morris dancing - she was interested in it.
Like all Morris sides the Garston Gallopers, have particular clothes to wear and we have to stick to the purple and green which is our village colours

 

 

Anyway, Silke told me that " In the Blackforest we have traditional outfits, too. Usually those clothes got worn more in the South of the Blackforest and there are plenty of different kinds, depends in which village one lives. The most famous “Tracht” is the one from the village Gutach were the unmarried young girls wear a hat with red ball on top, black for the married ladies …"

So there you are - tradition!

Meanwhile I have been getting on with my knitted blanket

Every evening I try to quilt for an hour, then knit for a while.  I'm really enjoying doing it but still so slow - still, I love the Autumnal colours and modular knitting is really fun.

Our Medallion course starts up again on Wednesday - I wonder what lovely quilts we'll see.....

A Carolynne's Cabin Weekend

I was very hopeful that we were going to be snowed in yesterday.  When I went to feed the chickens, there were the tiniest flakes of snow coming down and by breakfast time I looked out on this

 

I was very excited but after about seven and a half minutes it had stopped.  So that was that.  Hope it's not all we're going to get this winter.

 





So the Saturday of sledging was not to be, but someone had something else up his sleeve..... 

 

After breakfast Jonathan turned to me and said, "Joanne, I've done something....".  The look on his face was very familiar.  Jonathan has a place in the village he likes to sneak to when I'm not around.  It's called Carolynne's Cabin and it's his idea of heaven.  It's in the old shop and Carolynne and Colin buy and sell second hand furniture and antiques.  

 

I wasn't surprised to hear that he'd been down to the cabin on Friday and had made some amazing finds (they always are).  He had, however, said I had to approve before he brought them home so I went down to the cabin to have a look..... and it was full of very familiar things!  As I looked around I saw Victoria's old table, a couple of small tables, pictures, a mirror - all things that used to be in our house - even an old alpine horn!  Anyway, there are now two more chest of drawers from us, and we have a new (old) chest of drawers, a cupboard, a pair of table lamps and a picture thrown in for free.  He just can't help it.

Meanwhile we have a problem with our roosters.  Three of my chicks have grown into cockerals and they have started to fight.  There is nothing more horrible - they are so vicious, and you feel so sorry for the ones being picked on.

Look how the big one in the middle of the picture is stalking the one running off to the right.  The poor thing was covered in blood.  We are going to have to get rid of three of them - I've asked Jonathan to do it tomorrow while I'm at work.



 

A beautiful Day

Well, a beautiful, crisp, cold and sunny day with blue skies - and what have I done?  Not taken Reuben for a walk, that's for sure, and he's making sure I know he knows by giving me long, meaningful stares and stretching full length across the floor like a bored teenager.  Bring on the guilt.....

I've spent the day on our Spring schedule.  We had a meeting yesterday (okay, a brilliant supper at the John O'Gaunt in Hungerford) and had a final discussion on what should go in.  Jackie said her favourite workshop was the primitive stitchery we did about five years ago

 

I love this Primitive, Americana type stuff.  In the workshop I have a signed Warren Kimble print which is one of my favourite things.  This stitchery was inspired by a book called Prairie Blessings by Kim Klassen - she would collect old stitcheries and penny rugs and then paint them because, she said, she can't stitch.  I decided to take them back to fabric.

Anyway, as a result of this I spent the morning making a springtime stitchery which we will be doing a workshop on in March

Not quite finished yet but nearly there.

Then I finished off the schedule and will send it out once it has been checked.  There's lots of interesting stuff going on; quilting, stitching, knitting, micro-macramé-ing and we have a few workshops on Saturdays.  Of course, we'll have a new beginners course starting the first Wednesday in February so we look forward to inviting new people to the world of quilting!

Anyway, I'm quite exhausted now so after I've fed the dogs I'm going to sit down.

The other annoying thing about it being such a bright day is that I can't believe how many cobwebs there are and how much dust there is in this house.  This weekend is going to be the big clean.........

Normal Days

So - all back to normal then.  I took down all the decorations this morning and then spent a very long time dusting and hovering.  Usually I'm quite energised by getting everything back to normal but this year I found it a bit depressing.  Anyway, reviewing my gifts I spotted some more home-mades

Truffles made by Victoria

and Basil Olive Oil and Chive Flower vinegar made by my sister Belinda

The pink of the vinegar from the chive flowers is so pretty.

Reuben got very bored and naughty while I was so busy and is in the dog house

because he took his frustration out on the knitted head

I was very cross.

I used the last of the Christmas food to make Devils on Horsebacks in the Hole

And finally, just to prove Christmas is well and truly over and the new year has begun, my orchids are coming into bloom, as they do every year

So pretty.

Over Christmas I received a lovely letter from Silke Herrmann and her husband who stayed on the CL this summer.  They sent us lots of lovely photos and these are my favourites

It all looks so lush and green - be a few months till we see this out the window again.

Finally, I gave my mother a book of this blog for Christmas.  She enjoyed it very much but said there were too many pictures of quilts other people had made.  I said, "that's because I never finish anything" to which she replied "so you keep reminding us...".

New Year's resolution Number 2 - only talk about finish in the positive.

2015 - Bring it on!

Well, the Christmas holidays are winding down and I was very pleased when Victoria told me today that it's Thursday, and not Friday as I thought, so I have an extra day!

My resolution is to learn how to relax and not to always be thinking about what I should be doing next.....we'll see how it goes.

George and his ringing pals rang in the new year at 11.30 last night and I stood outside listening.  We had a good evening with friends playing (very competitive) games of Humbug and then at midnight the champers flowed!

To blow away the cobwebs I went for a very long walk this morning (not early) and East Garston was like a ghost town - everyone shut up in their houses: understandable considering the dank, dark day it's been.

After a New Year buffet lunch I settled down and finished our Christmas puzzle

Very satisfying but there were two pieces missing - I wonder if my sister took them (she has history).

Then I looked at all the crafty presents I received this Christmas

Yummy biscuits from my nephew Sam and he gave me an old book he found too

Veronica at my quilt club does this so I'm quite keen to have a go (but I shan't be making a waistcoat.
A bunch of knitted Christmas trees from Jacqui ( I held them upside down at first and wondered why she'd knitted me green carrots).

A micro-macramé Christmas tree from Carolyn

A winter picture from Richard

A head band from Sandra (kept my ears nice and warm when I was out walking)

And a knitted head from Harry

(everyone should have one)

So, what a crafty lot of friends and relations I have.

Anyway, A Very Happy New Year to everyone and look forward to seeing you at our workshops!

Christmas Stuff

Having just dropped Victoria and Ben off at Southampton for their journey home to Jersey, I thought I'd reflect a bit on all the goings on.  Most of it I've seen through the fog of an awful virus (it spread through the school like wildfire before the end of term) but it's on it's way out now.

The house was decked with holly and ivy and the tree was chopped down and brought home by Jonathan and George (along with a deer, squirrel and scottie dog).

My sister and her partner and Ben and Tori arrived on the 23rd, and then on Christmas Eve we had a few friends and neighbours round for Chilli, drinks and carols

It was a lovely evening.

Christmas Day arrived and we went off to church.  Victoria was pulled to the front to light the Advent candle and so we could applaud her work on the kneeler she'd made (which made me laugh).  Then  the service began.  Little Billy Tulloch went up to the front to do his reading.  I thought he did so well, putting a lot of effort into it and he was word perfect.  Then he stopped and did a little cough....then three more..... and then he threw up spectacularly.  I'm afraid to say I thought that was funny (but I did feel sorry for him) - but even funnier was having Rev Cawte carry on with the service with Freddie Tulloch hard at work with mop and bucket behind him!

Christmas dinner went well.....I took the sausages wrapped in bacon out of the oven 5 hours later:

Jonathan was very pleased with his singing, flying Snowman although I didn't get it to work properly until yesterday and a visit to the garden centre where they told me how to work it.

and Ben and Victoria liked their Beach Picnic Quilt I made them

Boxing Day we danced at The Swan and it was a lot of fun.  Cars were stopping so people could take photos and a number of shoot vehicles went past honking their horns.  The last time we had so many spectators was when we danced in Lambourn for the very first time.  About 15 people lined up to watch and we were thrilled until the bus came along and they all got on.

This morning was the East Garston Fun run and I enjoyed watching it with Reuben.  I'd have loved to join in but I'm not as fit as I'd like to be

And I'll leave you with the perfect Christmas Picture (ie, the two hours they weren't glued to their phones or watching cartoons on tv or sleeping in)

Enjoy the rest of the Holidays!

Bright Lights!

Just after George and I got back from seeing the poppies in London, our friends Trevor and Elizabeth Gore invited us to a Christmas service they go to in London.  They ask us every year, and we always say no, but because I was so excited at having been to the big smoke, I said yes.

As everyone knows, for the past two days I have been worried sick - what to wear?, what to do?, who will I speak to?  Anyway, I did go, and had an amazing time.

First we did a little bit of shopping and admired the lights

Fortnum and Mason's was beautiful

Then we went for a wonderful tea at

Then we went on to St George's, Hanover Square

for a really beautiful service.  The musicians and choir were amazing - it was incredibly uplifting.   It was also very exciting to hear the readings by people like John Sessions, Ian Hislop, David Nicholls and Dan Stephens.

We ended the evening at

where I made a new friend (sort of)

Then, as we were going through the foyer a (shortish) man in a tartan jacket strode past us, with his blonde wife who I smiled at thinking I knew her, followed by another couple - the man had spikey black hair.  It was Rod Stewart and  Ronnie Wood!

Meanwhile, back home things have been getting more Christmassy.  On Sunday we went to our own Carol Service in East Garston - it always looks so pretty with all the candles

And the Pitch and Stitch gang entered into the spirit of Christmas by meeting our Christmas jumper challenge

Hilarious!

And I finally got all my Christmas cards in the post - with special stamps I ordered from Royal Mail - I wonder how many people spotted them?