Rainbow colours

Yep...it is a lot of sewing thread!  It was causing loads of hassle when all these reels were thrown in a tray so I applied some thought (took me a while, brain doesn't work too fast) but eventually found a solution.  Just needed to convince someone else that this was a good idea. 

We bought some thin dowel from B&Q and Les came up trumps with this board.  It works brill...easy to see all the colours and stops them from getting tangled...I can recommend it to all you keen sewers out there..

A knitting time of year

I have some easy knitting on the go...and getting great pleasure from it, especially as I haven't done any for ages.  These fingerless mittens are really simple and suit my way of working.

Now I've worked out how many stitches and rows I need, the only pattern is in my head!  I'm using Aran yarn, with some wool content and adding stripes and embroidered bobbles from yarn leftover from other projects.  They're becoming addictive though...just can't stop making them.  They're brill to wear, very warm, and I can shop without taking them off.

If anyone would like the details I will do a post of the pattern...as best I can!

Another little gem

It's taken quite a while to get the name of this plant to stick in my head, but I've still had to look up the spelling, so here goes...Schizostylis.  Otherwise known as Kaffir lily...much easier.  It's incredible how it only starts to flower in October and continues into winter.  Such a vibrant pink too, an unusual colour for this time of year.

Ordinary but special

It's a well-known shrub this winter jasmine, but I love to see it growing against our trellis...it's right next to the garage so I see it every time I walk outside.  You can only admire something that flowers at this time of year.

Hope to start posting more, after such a long break...call it an end of year resolution!

Christmas Door Ring

You need some florists' wire and a wire ring (from the garden centre). Collect some moss from your garden, or buy some also from the garden centre. Use greenery and holly, preferably with berries. Use some ting-ting and ribbon for decoration. Collect some pine cones, and if you like, spray them with gold paint. Working in a clockwise direction, wire in the moss. Cover this with the greenery, again working in a clockwise direction and wiring in to secure. Add pieces of holly and wire in some pine cones. Finish by adding a loop of wire or ribbon to hang, some ting-ting and a ribbon bow at the bottom. Easy and homemade!

Harvest

Margaret and I have been remiss lately - but we are back. One of the things we have been busily involved in was (and still is) harvest - both at home and also helping with decorating the church. Harvest in the countryside is full of colour, bounty and

- hopefully - gratitude for what we have.

Flower Festival

In addition to well-dressings, another local summer tradition is the flower festival. This is a great opportunity to get creative. One of my favourites, this year, was in nearby Flash (some say the highest village in England). Their theme was: "Books" - a clue, perhaps as to why I liked it.
Meerbrook's theme this year was: "Saints."
Our only problem was the weather. On the Sunday, it rained hard, having an impact on visitor numbers. It

was beautiful, though