Good Friday

It has been a good Friday. The weather has been glorious. Garden furniture out, cleaned and setup. Lunch and dinner in the garden, just like summer.  A batch of peanut butter and pretzel brownies made (no photo as yet) We have spent the day quietly reading. I finished a book and started another. No knitting today so far.

Tomorrow is Farmers Market day so we will go in early to get produce for Easter Sunday lunch. We have a leg of Lamb which we will enjoy with Peter’s mum Anne and Pat.  I’ve not yet decided on dessert though I’m leaning toward something lemony.

The book I finished, well worth the read

Next up - Only a few pages in. So far so good 

My latest project the Gemini top, I’m actually much further on than this, having split and finished the sleeves. Also working on the next colour of this triple block top. More photos soon.

Tomorrow looks set to be another sunny day. Maybe some gardening after the market or a walk. We will see what takes our fancy.

Enjoy your Easter if you celebrate, don’t eat too much chocolate 

Nearly here

Our Easter bazaar in aid of Alzheimer's Research is nearly upon us.  I have been knitting up a storm, much to the detriment of my poor right hand, thumb pain.  Looking forward to giving it a bit of a rest. Most of the knitting is complete, all labelled and priced, packed up and ready to go.

The local village magazine dropped through the door this afternoon and there was our poster.  We have an advert going out on several local radio stations next week too, so we are hoping for a good turn out.  Everyone has been working so hard, and you have already been very generous, buying raffle tickets at local events. We have been begging raffle/tombola prizes and have offers of cakes for our cake stall.  Hopefully the weather will play ball and we can have the bouncy castles and of course there is an ice cream van

Things are perking up in the garden, with lots of spring flowers.  I know I share spring flower photos every year but they are so pretty not too.

So, if you are around the Swavesey, Cambridgeshire area next Saturday 1st April, we would love to see you at the Windmill.  Pop in and say hi, browse the stalls - buy your Easter gifts, have a coffee and cake, leave a donation in the bucket.  For more info check out our Facebook page.  Sally and I look forward to welcoming you.

Easter weekend

It's been a mixed weekend weather wise.  Beautiful on Friday, which was fortunate as we went to Belton House and Park with the girls and the grandchildren. We had a wonderful day and the children and adults had a great time.  It was so busy, I think everyone had had an eye on the forecast and decided Friday was the day to visit.  Even so there was plenty of room for everyone to play and park.

Saturday started dull and grey, we went to town for a bit of shopping and a coffee. Then the afternoon/evening was spent doing what I do best - knitting.

Sunday, we woke to wind and sunshine and managed 3 hours in the garden - cutting back the beech hedges before rain stopped play.  We now have piles of beech clipping all over the lawn, and somewhere there is an abandoned pair of secuteres!  We decided to have a late roast lunch rather than wait til evening, which meant I got in plenty of knitting again.  We watched the final episode of the Night Manager , gripping to say the least, not sure what it did for my knitting tension!  This has been the best BBC drama in ages, well done BBC.  I did get my knitting finished which was a bonus, so have achieved 2 projects this weekend.

Today, bank holiday Monday is currently dry but oh so windy and cold.  No plans as such. Peter is visiting his mum right now and I have had a tidy round.  If the rain stays off we may have to go and collect up all the beech clippings.

Thank you all for your comments on here and Facebook regarding the Cat Cushion and the Simply Knitting star letter, they are much appreciated and I am pleased to tell that several people have started on their own cushion and loads have queued it.

So here are some photos from the weekend.  I hope you all had a peaceful weekend, back to work tomorrow!

Precious booties by Bernat

Hine is a girl by Kelly Brooker

Easter Break?

A break is definitely not what we have had this long 4 day weekend.

Friday was really dull and miserable so we went to town and tried to find hubby clothes for the upcoming wedding - fail.  I thought I hated clothes shopping but he is worse than me.

Saturday and Sunday - scrub, rub and paint would be 3 words that described our time. 22 chairs prepped and first coated.  The men built the bar with Jess giving some instruction. We ate far too many hot cross buns and a lovely roast lamb dinner.  I've had no chocolate, how good am I?

And today, its been an assault on the garden, bushes have been tamed and areas cleared.  Busy time but very satisfying. It will look beautiful..........

So I guess you need some photos now.

Tomorrow, back to work for a rest!  Hope you all had a great Easter.

and finally Easter Monday......

the last day of the 4 day weekend.  Its been busy, fun and productive long weekend.

I have learnt that a lot of women have a jeans dilemma, so I'm not alone.  My daughters say go straight leg, so I guess I will just have to suck it up and take a change.

The chickens have been named Florrie and Annie - after Peter's grandmothers!!  Their personalities are starting to come out already.  Peter rigged up a temporary run extension until he has time to build something substantial.  One of the girls escaped and he found her wandering around the garden.

We have been continuing to clear up at the bottom of the garden and seeds have been planted.  Chard, Spinach, Spring Onions, Shallots, Peas, Salad Leaves, Beetroot, Courgette.  The plants in the greenhouse are coming on a treat

Beans - runner, climbing and dwarf

cutting Sunflowers

Nasturtiums

Tomatoes - late again

Broad beans

French marigolds

and the proceedings were watched over by this little chap

I am hoping that I have done enough exercise to counter all the cake, buns etc I have eaten this weekend, if not then its time to bring out the salads.

I hope you all had a happy Easter.  Roll on the next holiday weekend in 2 weeks time.  And would you believe I've done no knitting for 2 evenings, I need to rectify that right now