11/365 - lovely candle gift

Today, I was lucky to be given a gift from my friend Dawn.  She is not a pink lady, but she also knows that I am, so she made my little box in the pinkest card she could find!  :)

Inside the gift box was this lovely candle..I am not sure how she does it, but the decoration on the candle is actually stamped!  So clever.. 

And on the other side of my candle, Dawn has put this very delicate and multi coloured butterfly.

 Much too pretty to light....yet, anyway.  If you fancy seeing some more of Dawn's crafty cleverness, please go along here to see her blog!

:) x

10/365 - Adding to the family :)

When I used to live in the States, I had a little bird.  It fair broke my heart to leave him with his adopted mother when I came back to this country to live.

However, I hear every now and then from my friend, and today I am able to report that Stanley is doing really well in his new home.

I'm also able, after not having any feathered friends for almost two years, to introduce you to the newest members of my little family.  Si (on the left) and Dave.  

I couldn't be happier to have them living with me and Purl!  

:) x

9/365 - Time in the garden

It's been a funny old day today!  I had an appointment set up for my annual gas safety check...supposedly the fella was going to come between 8 am and 2 pm.  So, I was up, bright eyed and bushy tailed..and waited...and waited... and waited. 

And gave up waiting at 5.15 pm!

The office did have the decency to ring me and say they would reschedule though.  

So, with all that waiting time I was able to spend a little time outside, dodging raindrops most of the time!

And on to the photos for today..  I planted a little chrysanthemum in this pot..it was a reduced plant in the shop.  Poor little thing..just needs some water and a bit of love, I reckon.

This pot is one which my grandmother had for many years before she died.  When my own mother passed it to me earlier this year, it looked as though it was empty.  But then, it has sprouted up with lots of healthy looking greenery! 

In the back garden, I found more courgettes to pick...to add to the little collection.  Seeing as how I'm off this week for a few days, I plan to make some courgette cake.

Todays' baking though, involved this bowl of blackberries which I picked.  I took a crumble over to Mum's tonight, and we had a nice dessert!  

I do love fresh "stuff" from the garden!

:) x

8/365 - My birthday 2013

I am finishing up a pleasant day here.  Very quiet really...just me and Mum, kicking around a bit.  But nice.

It began with Church.  I like the C of E services.. peaceful and it just recharges my batteries. 

Then, after going home for a cup of tea, we headed off to "see" my Dad.  I'm not posting the picture of his flowers we took him....(I cut a red rosebud from my front garden)....but this is the rose bush we had planted in his memory. It was even prettier last weekend..  I confess that I am missing Dad more and more these days.  And having my crying jags about it too.  Maybe it's because Mum isn't so ill now, and so I have time to think about it?  I don't know...but I did feel his absence today very keenly.

 You see, today was my birthday...the first one without him around.  So that's why he was so missed, I suppose. 

I was a bit spoiled by the family...Mum gave me a little bit of money (as well as a dinner out... I don't think I will need to eat again until oh... Christmas maybe!  :D  Lovely meal...)

and these delights are what my sister, brother in law, niece and nephew gave me.  

The rest of the day was passed peacefully, drinking tea, knitting, watching television and napping!  Darn....it sounds OLD!!!!!!!!!!

When it became dark, Mum and I went outside to set off my fountain candles...I've had them for a couple of weeks now...and it was fun to see them fizz and sparkle away!  Mind you, it's getting a bit chilly these evenings now!

And then, when I got home to my place, it was time to put up the cards around the mirror..always seems a good place to put them somehow.

 It's not been a bad day...now, where's that chocolate!  

:) x

7/365 - my new bookcase and my lovely fish friend

I've been having a quietish day today.  It's the first day of my week off and to be honest I've felt as though I had a spare limb or something.  I did find things to keep me busy though!

My sister recently bought herself some new bookshelves for her lounge.  Her husband managed to get them put together for her yesterday, so I have also got a new bookshelf in my lounge!  I know it's second hand...but I'm pleased with it.  And what I was really pleased about was that it isn't too heavy to carry..especially as I live in a first floor flat!

You can see the lamp on the top, the books, the cross stitching lamp which came to me from my aunt earlier this year..and on top of the shelf is where my little Purl, the goldfish, lives.

My small little creature!  But I think he's a pretty fella!

:) x

6/365 - progress on the charity knit

I suppose really that these pictures ought to wait until Monday, but well, why not today, huh?

Basically, this is the progress I've been making with the colour block charity blanket.  I had been doing so well with emptying the basket of the odds and ends of yarn..as you can see...then I was given more.

So, the end is not in sight yet!

Anyway, this is the project so far..no, I haven't stitched anything together yet, but I did lay it all out to see how it might work.  More blocks to do, and then I'll have to get busy sewing.  

:) x

5/365 ... Knitting...Finished projects

I don't remember if it was last week, or when exactly, but I finally finished the baby blanket which I've been working on (off and on) for heaven only knows how long.

It was a pattern I've wanted to do for ages...called Tumbling Blocks.  And I knitted it up in 4 ply white acrylic yarn..easy to wash which is an essential when dealing with babies (in my opinion anyway)!

Anyway, here it is, spread out on top of my bed.

I folded it up for the second picture, so you might be able to see some more of the pattern detail.

And then, because it's so much fun, :) , I looked through my box of other finished knitting projects, which include scarves, jumpers, mittens, wash cloths... hat...  before...

....putting it all away again!