O is for Ornithology

I confess that I struggled tonight to come up with something for the letter 'O'.

And then I had a phone call.

:)

Inspiration struck!

The friend I was talking to has a particular liking for birds..birds of prey particularly.  And, all of a sudden he started to wax lyrical about a kite he'd just seen.

And gradually the conversation I was having was all about birds..which led to being about my Mum, who has a love of owls.  I think this may be a lifelong appreciation, but the Snowy Owl is the special favourite, because she was known as Snowy by many little girls going through the Brownies!

And me?

I love birds too.  :) 
 I don't dare to put a bird table up in my garden, because of the number of cats around.  It seems as though I'd be asking for trouble somehow.

However, if I had these guys living in my flat with me, I'd be quite satisfied!

N is for Needlework

I don't ever remember NOT being asthmatic.

Childhood was a bit difficult at times...lots of hospital stays and I was never able to walk far or take part in sports at school or at clubs.

Mixed blessing I suppose, because my Mum decided that she needed to teach me how to stitch, knit, crochet... all sorts of needlework.

Embroidery, although I have done some in my time, has never really "floated my boat" very much.  But give me cross stitch and knitting... any day of the week, my friends!

I'm not going to put lots of pictures of all the projects I've completed on this post - have to save something for after the challenge is completed!  But this little kit I found languishing in my mother's cupboard..so I stitched it up, and made it into a card.  

As for knitting..well, there is more than one project on the go, predictably for me. :)

The baby blanket is still growing..

and this one is coming along too... I picked up enough cotton blend from the charity shop, really cheap, to make myself a white top which will be great for bowling...  

Don't know what I'd do without my knitting or stitching.. 

:)x

M is for Maniacs

It was going to be for Music.

But then, when I logged onto Facebook, I saw the various posts about the bombs which went off on the route of the Boston marathon.

News from The Telegraph.

M could also stand for Murderers, Maimers 

Sometimes words really do fail me.

L is for Love

I love hand made items in my home.  Most of them I've made myself..some have been gifts.  Rarely I've bought them.

These hearts were made by me at some time or another. They've hung in 4 different homes.  Three of those were in the States.  But now they live on a pretty stained glass door, which leads into my lounge.

The heart is, I think, the international sign for love, yes?  It seems that everyone knows it, whatever language you speak.

When I moved in here, I was happy for me, but a little sad for the couple who had just moved out.  They were splitting up.  The cats had been divided..what I mean is, one went to live with her, the other with him...so they were topsy-turvied too...

On the first morning I was here, I found evidence that once they were happy.  On the bathroom mirror.  After my shower.

And I haven't a picture of this, but there was the unmistakable heart, which one of them had, at one time, drawn on with their finger.

It took me some time to clean it off.

I've been in a particularly happy frame of mind today, so, with that in mind..

Love is just wonderful

and

it makes the world go around.

:)x

K is for Kung Fu

I know..you all thought it would be for knitting, didn't you!

But I thought I'd tell you about some other activities instead.

And yes.... I bet you all thought I'd forgotten about K day..truth is, I've been out and about all day until now.  And although it's after 1 am, I haven't yet slept, so I'll post!  And anyway, I am waiting to hear if someone gets home safe...  :)

So, anyway.. as I said.. K is for Kung Fu.

After the break up of my marriage, my self confidence was at an all time low.  Then, wouldn't you know it, I started to get ill...then had a surgery...none of which helped the confidence.

So, when the surgeon gave me the all clear to do more activity, it just so happened that the local martial arts school ran a special on kung fu classes.  And, as I was DARED to do it, I signed up.  Never imagining how good it was going to be for me, both physically and mentally.

The class I went to was not large..again, this was good for me.  

I don't really have any pictures of me 'in action' .. but I can promise you that I floored some of these fellas. :)

The teachers..Shifu's.. were all so patient.  And so confident that anyone.. ANYONE.. can learn martial arts.. and sure enough...after a while, I took tests..  :)

Well, they were nerve wracking events.  All the parents of youngsters watching me..a rather "well padded" adult making a twerp of herself on the mat!  :) While the little nippers glided effortlessly through their forms!  

At the end of it, I was absolutely exhausted...but so very proud of my accomplishment.

After having taken classes for over a year, my health suddenly took another steep decline.  I found I could no longer do my side kicks..front snap kicks were difficult.. and well, the decision was made by me to call a halt.  By the time I stopped actively participating in the class I had passed a few more tests, with the stars to show...

I'm glad to say though, that my former teachers and classmates remain good friends.  A martial arts family is a close knit one. 

And I will always be grateful.

:)x

J is for Jam

I haven't made jam in a good half dozen or so years.

In my previous life, pre separation and divorce, I made loads of jam.

Every year.

I planted the strawberries, picked the fruit and everything was done from scratch.

When I visited home, before the post 9/11 era, I stuffed my carry on bag with jars of jam, to give to all  my family members as gifts.

I made the little cloth caps for the jars.

I was a real Susie Homemaker.

:)

This year, I hope to get back to making jam.  

I'll go to the local pick your own, I think ...

Sadly I don't have any photos of my old shelves, stocked with full jars..

but when this year's efforts are done 'n dusted, I will show you photos, ok.

This seems like a pretty good recipe to follow!

I is for Inspiration

Crafty types find inspiration in all sorts of places.

Yesterday, Dawn and I took a trip to Woking.  It was a rather cloudy, showery sort of day, not so good for gardening. But brilliant for shopping!

I was picked up and as the "chaffeur" drove, I clicked!

It didn't seem to take very long to reach Woking and then our destination loomed ahead of us..the Promised Land of Crafting!  :)

Now, the last time Dawn and I came here, we congratulated ourselves heartily on "escaping" with bills less than £10.  Could this possibly happen again?

Somehow, we both knew the answer may be a resounding NO as we saw the signs up for sales and discounts.  Because how many knitters and crafters can pass up a free ball of wool if you buy two other balls of the same wool?  

I do just love this shop though...the ideas abound.  Stamps for making cards.  Paper. Envelopes.  Paint.  Brushes.  Cross stitch kits.  Models.  What else ...jewellery to make.

Honestly, if I retired tomorrow I would be thrilled.  All the time to devote to my garden and my crafts...what  bliss that would be.. 

After wandering downstairs for a while, we headed 

upstairs and found just what we had been looking for!

You see the signs saying "Clearance"?

This, my dear friends, is why neither one of us got out of the shop without paying more than £10 !

As we browsed the aisle of so many colours, so many thicknesses, so many ideas... well, it was then that both of us pulled out our cameras at the same time..and it me who made the joke about Yarn Pornography!  

So glad I got Dawn's reaction, without it being a blurry picture!

It was a fabulous afternoon out.  Jill would be very proud of me for coming home with some stamps and many ideas for card-making projects.  :)  

Also came home with some lovely sock yarn...and some threads.. a small cross stitch kit..and a head full of ideas of wonderful things I really want to make.

So yes, Hobbycraft stores equal Inspiration in my book anyday!

I'd recommend taking up some sort of craft to ANYONE!  Honestly, the feeling of accomplishment when a project is completed..a hand-crafted gift is given.. well, there's nothing like it.

And it's true what they say...

Knitting is the new yoga!

:)x