Changing seasons

There is a cold bite in the air this morning, even the cat is a bit shocked. Autumn is on it's way. Thoughts turn to feeding the birds extra, they will need the extra foods, and stocking up on enough food for them this winter. Winter this year is rumoured to be a hard, cold one due to El Niño , and seeing as our summer was so changeable i do wonder if the predictions will be true. But a cold winter also means more chance to stitch, craft and watch films in the early evenings, and though fibro will probably be nasty, i'm planning Art Therapy for the days i can barely move.

Last night, i manage to finish the hot air balloon i was stitching. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, and i have a feeling it will end up in my son's room. He certainly likes it a lot.

My next stitch project i haven't decided on yet, but housework is the main order of the day, and keeping an eye on the curry in the slow cooker. The smell of the spices is already appealing and will a welcome meal this evening. I'm planning to do a Belgium cake this week too, using a Cranks recipe from 1982. It will use up the jar of mincemeat that is in the cupboard and like most of their recipes, it is sure to delight the taste buds. Their book, which my gran brought is well loved and much used, even after 30 years and it's also my turn to book for when it's soup season. Their Chunky Bean Soup a much loved favourite!

So as my son heads to school and the cat explores his domain, time for me to depart, washing calling.

Slow pace

The bright colours stand out and the design is finally finished. I'm delighted with how it's turned out, and i admit resting my ankle has proved a blessing, as it has re-newed my love of cross stitch. This floral design is so cute, and i'll be happy once it's framed and on a wall somewhere. Perfect design for the end of summer.

The design that i'm doing now is a small hot air balloon , which is driving me a little batty but it's such a lovely design, i'm battling through. I'm counting once, twice and trice and still make the odd silly miscount which i have to unpick and re-do, but i'm enjoying the challenge, plus the chance to catch up on a film or two. It only has three colours, all of which mix well, and gives it a slightly masculine theme. Hopefully it will be finished by tomorrow so i can use it for either a card, or a coaster, or framed in a small painted hoop. Or my son will ask for it, to go in his bedroom. We'll see.

Yesterday after doing the recycling, we had a mad moment. 5 snails which were in one of the recycle bags, (did you know they like eating paper?), were placed on the table we have in the garden. I grabbed the chalk and a track was drawn. Their prize, a couple of leaves of kale. After a very long wait, snail number two made a dash, number 3 climbed over number 4 and 1 & 5 just slept on. Number 2 finally won, and with number 4 being second. Number 1 & 5 still slept on, even when at one point number 3 climbed over them.

All in all it was a daft moment but great fun and though none of them were Turbo we enjoyed ourselves and in the end all the snails got some kale, before retiring under the table, away from curious cat and very hyped child. Proof also that some things that free to do, can be so much fun.

Have a good day all.

Progress

A sign, bright and to the point, and as i read the sign, what happens, i slip, on the wet floor of the public loo. If the irony wasn't enough, a pulled ankle is the result. So today, i put yesterday's incident behind me and help my son get ready for school, for real this time, no confused dress rehearsal. His hearty lunch is ready, his bag packed and the tie issue has been sorted, though i admit i'm very out of practice. Let's face most of us females only ever wear a tie at school.



And now with the morning chaos out of the way, my son kills time watching cartoons, before his chaperon arrives, and i grab a few moments to enjoy my cup of tea, and rest my ankle again. I know i have the food delivery to deal with this morning, but i also have a couple of recipes i want to find, but also i must rest this ankle, so stitching will be on the cards too. As you can see i've made a little more progress with this cute design, and i'm hoping to finish it, either today or tomorrow.

I've also finished off a design that i started over 8 years ago, maybe even 10 years , thinking about it. I say finished and it is, well as far as i can go, due to the chart being missing, without a trace. But to finally have it at this stage is a good moment, one less UFO ( Un Finished Object) to be ticked off the list. I have a few Bang On The Door designs still left to stitch, and hopefully with my renewed love of cross stitch instead of reading. I still have my cardmaking but i've decided to take a break, one to renew my ideas as i've hit a block on making them at the moment, but also so that i can re-arrange my supplies so that it's a little less chaotic. I know i have christmas coming soon, i know 3 months away, but i need to start early if i intend to make plenty for this year, and also make some for PDSA to sell after all the help they have given us.

And now, my son has gone to school, his face beaming with excitement as he went on his new journey, his smile bright against the grey skies, and oh so smart in his uniform. I admit to a wobbly lip, my little boy is now a young man but i am so , so proud. He's come a long way and i see him going much further at his new school.

Enjoy your day.

Confusion and joy.

We got up early, 6 am. Breakfast was shortly after and then the get ready for school, new school. The smart uniform put on carefully, after normal every day tasks were completed. Then the getting nerves sorted, both the child's and mine. Excitement filled the air. Awaiting the arrival of transport was the final task. But where was transport, the time had drifted on and still no taxi. Were they stuck in traffic? A phonecall to the chaperon found no answers, so a call to the school. Training days! All became clear, two more days of holiday for my son, and confused we settled back into holiday mode. Uniform hung up, lunchbox put in fridge and jeans and tshirt became the items to wear again. In the confusion of dates and letters, i'd got it wrong. Thursday was his start day.

So today, a new plan afoot. Washing machine is doing one of the tasks and the cat is out exploring. I'm settling down to try and rest, a flare up of the fibro has made both fatigue and pain worse, and i know i must rest to prevent it worsening. So stitching will on the agenda, i'm determined to finish this, and soon. There has already been some progress and i'm enjoying the design and it's bold colours.

The colours i have changed slightly, using bright Venus threads instead of the pastel-ish Anchor threads listed in the key. I think it's worked quite well and i look forward to hanging up the design, on a wall somewhere.

So a day of confusion, has turned into more quality time with my son, and a chance to relax for a little while longer.