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.

For the boys

I got the sweater vests finished before going to see the boys tomorrow.  I took the photos and then noticed that the bottom red pattern is different on the two vests!  I knew the top would be different as the bigger one had more rows, obviously.....

For Laurie

For Rufus

I went through the last two bags of yarn and this is what I decided to keep

actually the 4 large balls of white at the back I'm not keeping bit on the shiny side for me

I now have two bags to go to the Medway ladies on Thursday.  I've sorted it all and bagged it up to make it easier to look through.  Hopefully they will find something they like.

I spent the afternoon trying to find a home for everything I have kept.  Basically I don't have enough room in my cupboard to see clearly, so I will get some plastic storage boxes and have another sort.

I have a big bag of yarn set aside for the orange shades Ten Stitch for Rufus. I just need to get on and finish the one for his bedroom.  I then have pinafore dresses to knit for twin girls due soon; would you believe I have to go buy yarn for these, unless I can convince the youngest to go with something from my stash.

Just a peek of whats coming through in the garden

more signs of Spring

Now the snow has gone, there are clumps of Snowdrops popping up all over the garden, a few Hellebores also showing through the general mess that is my borders. 

A couple of completed cardigans for my future niece

And my WIP's - I have never had so many, I really am getting into bad habits

Signs of spring

After weeks of mild weather we awoke to a bright and frosty morning

The bulbs are emerging. The aconites have been out for a couple of weeks now, their bright little heads a welcome sight in the past dreary days

Flame berries in the seed pods of the iris.  I love how they are decomposing, leaving a casing of chiffon

I have the day to myself. No plans. I have put a wash on. Waiting in for a parcel to be redelivered.  My cold is progressing, more irritating than anything.  Funnily, 35 years ago, on the eve of our wedding, I had a really bad cold, feeling rough, not that it marred the big day.  35 years - Coral or Jade depending on whether you are traditional or modern.  We won't bother with either on Sunday, just a nice lunch out, time to ourselves to reminisce.

Hubby just sent a text - puncture on the M11 southbound, not a good start to his day.

Judy, hope you are feeling better today - she has a cold virus too.

Also - I'm wondering about starting a knitting/craft group in my garden room.  My worries, that no one would come.  Should I do it?  How often should it run?

Is Spring on its way?

I don’t know if you have noticed but the mornings are getting lighter. I lay there yesterday with the light peeping through the curtains thinking, must be time to start those early morning walks. Got into work to find an email from the youngest saying that she thought we should start walking again. Obviously a case of great minds… this morning at 6:30 found us wrapped up warm, there was a frost to embark on our first morning walk of the year. It was lovely, good to be out bright and early, only draw back was that part of our normal route was flooded so we had to back track. The normal dog walkers were nowhere in sight so obviously the local dogs have been getting a later walk/or no walk whilst the mornings have been dark.

My garden is showing signs of new growth, lots of snowdrops and the hellebores are budding up nicely. We have a large amount of bird life, in particular pheasants, 2 cocks and 7 hens taking refuge from the local farmer who breeds them for the shoot. Someone should tell them that shooting season is over and to give my borders a rest. They seem very partial to the bulbs that are coming through especially the bluebells! They also scare the life out of you when you are walking in the garden, rather than keep quiet they fly up making one hell of a noise, don’t know who is more frightened them or me.

So all in all it looks like spring is finally on the way, more of this sunshine please. We’ve had our fair share of wet stuff in one form or another this winter. Though what’s the betting there will be a hose-pipe ban this summer….

Plants in the garden

Bluebells in the mint


Love Lies Bleeding


Emerging fern


Wisteria on the wall

Just a few plants from the garden. Spring is such a pretty time