Advent.

Closing.....

Dear friends,
I am not saying Adieu, just Au revoir for the moment.

My intention was to close this blog completely,it has been going since 2007, but I'm not sure that I want to let it go altogether. I have thought and prayed about this decision so much.

My husband's health fluctuates, he can be very frail at times, and my days are very much taken up with being near him. A week can be full of medical appointments, running from surgery to physio to hospital and so on. And at other times I am busy doing all the day to day householdey/gardeney things

I have found lately that it has been harder and harder to write, often because life doesn't change and I have nothing of interest to say. I think when the thought of writing a post becomes a worry, it is time to stop.

I will miss my contact with so many of you, but hope not to lose touch altogether.

Who knows, maybe one day a Phoenix-like new blog will appear.

Innocent hats (2)

I have somehow managed to delete the previous post.

Sigh.

However, just briefly, many of us are knitting little hats for Innocent smoothie bottles. When the bottles are sold by a supermarket, with hat, a sum of 25p goes to Age UK, a charity dedicated to helping older people.

I know that over several years over a million pounds has been raised.

I emailed Innocent to ask how much was raised last year, and they kindly sent me these facts.

2014 raised £215,000, enough for

40000 blankets

20000 hot meals

10000 emergency heaters.

It really makes knitting a few tiny hats worth while.

Quilts

Just a few of the quilts exhibited recently in our Church.

To see the stitching more closely you can click to make the photo larger.

Loved these Autumnal colours. This lady has embellished with buttons, lace and satiny fabrics to give shine and interest.

 One of my favourites, but then I love blue and white in any form.

I like the wording that this quilter has incorporated in the design. 

I wish I could say that I came back inspired to start, or even restart, my patchworking.

Days away.

We have been away for four days. We were so fortunate to find a lakeside lodge, one of eight, all disabled friendly, within an hour and a half's journey.

There were ramps, wide doors, a wet room bathroom, grab rails etc.

Anyone who has tried to go on holiday with a disabled person will know how important these things are. Though of course, an able bodied person could enjoy this place also.

Below is the view from our lodge, overlooking this lovely lake where people are permitted to fish.

Having wonderful weather we sat out on the deck and read books, drank coffee and enjoyed time without phones or computers!

 Every now and then we had visitors, of the clucking kind...just checking to see if there were any crumbs.

Often on the deck rails we would see Nuthatches and other birds.

Our lodge was a small one, but with so much space inside. There were bigger ones but we loved this one. Immaculately clean, nicely furnished with good quality curtains and furniture, pretty crockery and a super kitchen recently renovated. Having a dishwasher and a washer/dryer made me very lazy!

 Although we didn't use them, there was an indoor pool and a games room free to use.

The current owners took over two years ago and have spent so much time and energy bringing this lovely place back to a superb standard.

There were hanging baskets and flower planters everywhere, just adding a special touch.

But for me, nothing could compare with that view.

Busy week

The week has flown by.

Family were down staying nearby, and brought these exquisite flowers. I don't think I have seen such amazing coloured roses before.

A very beautiful sunrise the other morning, not terribly well photographed through my bedroom window.

Carpet fitters last night and this morning came to remove one carpet (the last of the previous owner) and bring in a lovely new one. 

Furniture moved in and out by our extremely helpful family, who have sadly gone back to their Manchester home now..

Here's a bit of the sitting room, no longer floored in dull grey-green, but in fresh pale carpet...Sea Breeze by name, wonder why?!

I'm very happy with it. The room looks lighter and brighter.