Sunshine days

It's been so lovely to have some sunny days and actually manage to get out in the garden in the fresh air, January and February aren't very good months for me but a little bit of sunshine does wonders for the soul. 

I have a few things to show, I finally finished "Ladybugs and Bumblebees" after about three new starts and goodness knows how many changes of thread, at one point I was ready for throwing it but I got it out a few weeks ago and everything seemed to drop into place. I still don't like the pale colours, they hardly show up but it's done.

Ladybugs and Bumblebees by Country Cottage Needleworks

I know I should have ironed it but until I know how I'm going to finish it, it can stay as it is.

I also joined in with the ladies at Needlecraft Haven in their Valentine exchange, this is what I received from Deb, lots of lovely goodies and the chocolate was yummy.

 

This is what I sent to Clare, I'd had the pattern for a while and just needed the right reason to stitch it.

Happy Heart Heart Day by the Trilogy

A late birthday present came through in the post and it's just the right time to stitch it, pansies are such pretty flowers.

And a little bit of Spring to lighten the days,

I've done a little more knitting and a bit more stitching but no photos of them so they'll keep until next time.

Sue xx

It's been a while again since I've been on here but I've not been idle, far from it. We've redecorated the front bedroom which is looking lovely, just need to find some new bedding to go with the colours we picked. The kitchen has had a move round as we had to have a new cooker and after they'd installed it we found that the smalll oven door wouldn't open far enough for me to move the shelves. We decided to move it to the other wall which meant other cupboards being moved around but we managed to get it in some sort of order so that we could cook the Christmas dinner.

We had a lovely Christmas albeit rather noisy with five boisterous grandchildren running around and after three days of thirteen people being in our tiny house I was ready for a nice relaxing few days before we have another family dinner tomorrow for my birthday. No cooking for me this time as DH has said that he will do it all........we shall see.

With all the work on the house there's not a lot of stitching or knitting been going on but I did take part in two lovely exchanges which I haven't shown yet.

The first was one that I do every year with a small group of ladies, mostly all in Canada but I did get two of my daughters to join in this year. I had a lovely present from Jennifer; she sent things that represented Canada and a lovely stitched piece.

 
These are the gifts that I sent to my partner Donna.

The second exchange was with the ladies over at Needlecraft Haven, these are the gifts that I sent to my partner Dusty.

                                        
                                        And this is the lovely gift that I received from her.

I'm hoping to get back to my knitting and stitching next week when everything has calmed down, the diet doesn't start until then as I'm sure to get some chocolates for my birthday and it would be rude not to eat them.

I hope everyone is looking forward to the New year, I know I am. It's been a bit up and down healthwise this year so hoping that the new one will be better.

That's all for now,

love and hugs, 

Sue xx

Autumn is here

I love this time of year when all the leaves are turning to their rich golden colours, a fire lit in the evening and hopefully some good TV to watch while I'm stitching. The only problem is that the spiders like to visit at this time of year and I'm not one of their biggest fans.

I finished another little stitch last week,

Gingerbread House number 2, by Country Cottage Needleworks.

I also put a few more stitches into Never Stop Dreamingby Design Works. Hoping to get some more of this done during the week, it's been hanging around for a while.

While I was clearing out my craft cupboard I found this jumper that I was knitting for DH ages ago so I've spent a few hours doing a few more rows and hopefully one day it will be finished. Goodness knows when though as I am such a slow knitter.

Last weekend we had Lily and Callum come to stay, Lily wanted to make cakes but all Callum wanted to do was play on the computer so I didn't get a photo of him as all I could see was the back of his head.

Youngest grandson Alex modelling a new pattern that my eldest daughter Sharon was testing out for the designer.

And these were a present from DH, just because, one of my favourite flowers.

Lots of wind this week and plenty of windfalls from the apple and pear trees that need sorting out, we've had a good year for fruit but not so good with the salad and vegetables, I don't think they liked the hot weather that we had.

Thank you for dropping by,

love and hugs,

Sue x

40 years on

Last Saturday me and DH celebrated our Ruby wedding. 19th August 1978 was a lovely sunny day and we got married at our local registry office in Burton on Trent. It was a quiet affair, neither of us wanted the big white wedding but it was a wonderful day. Our honeymoon in Wales started off badly as we ran out of petrol and had to spend our wedding night in a car park in Bala waiting for the garage to open so we could finish our journey but it's a memory neither of us will forget along with the thousands of other memories that we've shared over 40 years. 

I'm still trying to keep up with some stitching and I managed to finish this one, a lovely quick stitch.

Strawberry Sampler by Lizzie Kate.

My latest book which is a lovely read if you like wartime sagas, the next one in the series is
Telegrams and teacakes which I'm eagerly waiting to read.

There's not a lot left in the garden, everything has been given a good haircut in the hope that it might produce a few more flowers before the end of the season.

And the pond has needed a lot of topping up over the past few weeks.

And just to finish off a couple of photos of the cats, Gizmo at the top and Troy  underneath. Neither of them have liked the hot weather so they are both enjoying the cooler days at the moment.

Thank you to those who keep popping by and I'm sorry if I haven't replied to some comments, it took me a while to start getting them through again.

Until next time,
love and hugs,
Sue x