Monday 12 December 2022

IT IS…..

 ….09.15 am and the temperature is - 3. We have some wonderful cobweb sculptures…



…and the fog is rolling in…

.. if this continues we will be having a “white Christmas” this year x

It did snow a little last week … but soon went x

Stay safe … and warm. X

Diane x

Wednesday 9 November 2022

QUILT GROUP…..

 … this month is all about Christmas makes. I have been asked to help out with one of the makes, mine is ….

I have made up my packs …

.. and am ready to go x Wish me well x lol

Stay safe

Diane x 

Thursday 3 November 2022

EVERY. MORNING….

 .. I go out and feed the birds ,and then walk around the garden to see how it has fared over the night x

There is not much colour left as it gets colder….

.. mostly we have a LOT of brown and orange. I found some unexpected brown…

You just never know what you will find. x My grandsons are wondering if the fairies shelter there overnight x Got to love a child’s imagination x

Stay safe

Diane x

Monday 31 October 2022

AT OUR….

 … Quilt group we have had an ongoing project for 2022 related to appliqué. The idea was to take an inspiration photo postcard or painting and make a piece… no bigger than A4, using appliqué.

I started one …. Then LIFE happened. My dad became ill and then died .. so all went on hold. When everything settled down and I returned to my project …. oh no ! I won’t say I hated it …. but !

SO.. an new inspiration picture was found…


… and I began again. THIS…


.. will be my entry for the completed piece. I am MUCH  happier with this one x 

I used raw edge appliqué to begin with, then layered organza over the top… this (hopefully !) gives the illusion of distance. Then I appliquéd over the top of this , adding beads and quilting stitches to add texture.

The entries are not due until the AGM in January .. but we all know the season that is RUSHING towards us !

Stay safe

Diane x

Sunday 30 October 2022

HAVE YOU EVER……

 … googled. “What do an octopus eyes look like” ? LOL I know what a question! 

The reason I ask is because one of my grandsons request for Christmas is …. You guessed an octopus! ( I did not ask why!)

I have made it and wondered what type of eyes to use ….. oh my goodness ! What a rabbit hole that was x lol

Here is the result…


. It is kind of fun x

I also finished an ENORMOUS rabbit for my granddaughters Christmas box..



.. it turned into a labour of love x It is super chunky and WRECKED My hands x Good job I do love her x

Over the next few days I am planning to finish a couple of projects … so watch this space x

Stay safe

Diane x

Tuesday 18 October 2022

MY GRANDSON ….

 … who will be 7 next week “announced “ that he was going to make biscuits ALL BY MYSELF!

Slightly alarming, to say the least,,',,, however this was his result ..

The learning curve was steep, and included the fact that when told it was a good idea to get them out … listening is a good idea ! lol However he did very well and wants to do more x So a win x

While the oven was on I used it to make some sausage rolls…

.. and now the slow cooker has a chicken casserole bubbling away ..

If you pop in the biscuits and sausage rolls are GONE I am afraid … but the casserole smells wonderful x 

Stay safe

Diane x

Thursday 13 October 2022

THIS LAST WEEK….

 .. we have had a LOT of this…

.. and some of this…

SO .. it has been an inside sort of time….. also I have had my COVID and FLU booster jabs and I wanted to be inside and drink tea xx 

 . I made a new badge for quilt group…

My old one(s) are no longer fit to be seen! lol

I also read this book..

I have had it for a while but never picked it …. WHY ? I do not know because it was funny and a good read ! Going to find the next in the series now x

The next book is

We will see how it goes x !

I have not been in the garden very much , we have some colour left




.. but it is sadly coming to an end …. Time to be planning for next year x

The slow cooker is bubbling along this morning … I wish I could share the smell x It is our “bottom of the fridge” soup. ie. Lentils and what ever I can find ! Today is half an onion half a pepper 2 rashers of bacon and a bit of ham, a stock cube and some water x My mouth is watering x lol


Stay safe

Diane x

Wednesday 28 September 2022

I WAS HOPING…..

 … to get into the garden today.However it is POURING with rain , so,, that is NOT happening! I have been in the garage and into the UFO pile…. I would like to say it is only a small pile. ….   but that is only in my dreams ! lol x

ANYWAY I found a pile of crochet squares, and I have begun the process of stitching them together….

.. there are some left…

Mmm not enough to make a full blanket… I did not keep a record SO I do not know which pattern I was using , or what size hook … need I say more!! 

I am going to find a small hook … it is all 4 ply. Wool , and begin working around the edges… and work it out as I go. lol Who needs a plan!

With the rising price of energy we all need blankets, I will be warm as I work and everyone else will be warm when I am finished … win win all round

AND my UFO pile will be very slightly smaller!

Stay safe

Diane x

Monday 26 September 2022

MY YOUNGEST GRADSON….

 … like many children has a towel with a hood that he LOVES, however it is getting far to small for him. His mum had “a chat “ with him and Father Christmas is going to bring a new one … green with a frog hat!! 

So  I did a little research and found a pattern to make a friend to go along with it..



I have to say the toes were a challenge. X lol BUT I love it x And hopefully so will he! (The towel is fun too x) 

Stay safe

Diane x

Saturday 24 September 2022

WE WOKE TO…

 …this view today…It is beautiful, however telling myself it is mist  (NO it is fog !) does not disguise the fact that Autumn is here x

I must finish off telling you how  we are developing the garden… remind me  lol .. while I was doing my morning walkabout I spotted these lovelies….





We brought a lot of ferns from my dads garden and some “friends” hitched a ride x It is lovely to see reminders of my parents coming to life in our new garden.

Stay safe

Diane x

Friday 23 September 2022

I AM ….

 … not normally a TV watcher, however, after the news of the death of The Queen I knew there was going to be some going on x

SO, it was off to the stash to find SOMETHING to keep my hands busy……… NOW I have a new blanket for my granddaughter…

J


It kept my hands occupied, used up (a very small amount ) of the stash… and gave me a diversion when it all got overwhelmingly x

There was some of this sparkly yarn left..


… so she has a bunny for her Christmas box too



Stay safe

Diane x

Wednesday 31 August 2022

YOU KNOW THAT….

 …feeling that you are just in the mood to get “stuff” done? Well I woke up with that today x

By 9.00 I had changed the bed , got the washed bedding on the line, watered all the pots and was taking these…


… out of the oven x Sorry all eaten now … big and little kids in this house LOVE home backing x

THEN… this..

… came in the post x WELL that put a stop to the work!!!! lol

Hope you are all staying safe 

Diane x

Sunday 14 August 2022

IT IS THAT TIME…

 ..of year when the new school uniform has been bought…


…and SOMEONE has to sew on the labels…..

I am doing a few each day to TRY and make it less of a chore . There was quite a bit of  under the breath muttering going on … mostly related to the number of items THEN I realised that next year at this time there will be a new member of the school community when the youngest grandson starts …… and that means TWICE  AS MANY items and labels! SO I am now enjoying there not being so many! lol

I managed to get a third pot to use around the last drain pipe..

and potted it up..

The heatwave found us …. despite our effort to hide! PHEW !

Stay safe x

Diane x



Monday 8 August 2022

HERE IN THE…..

 ..UK there has been a heatwave ….  In the south. There have been warnings and health awareness notices. Here in Cheshire, and other points north ,we had …. THREE days of heat and then THREE WEEKS of rain ! Hey-Ho x  mind you it is lovely today x

However back to what I have been doing in the garden, ….between rain storms that is x

As we come onto the drive … past the new Alpine, rockery…. the drive way continues past the back of our house and becomes our neighbours drive. This is a “dead” area for us, just about the only time we go out there is to bring the bins in and out. HOWEVER we do se it every time we drive in. SO I bought some of these…





I love them! Whoever developed them gets my vote for a special medal x lol x

I have 2 in place at present with lavender…. And as this area gets whatever sun there is they are LOVING it ….. and the smell is wonderful x



These are the 2 pots on the corner 


More  garden adventures soon. X 

Stay safe

Diane x