Bags and Grow-bags

Aren’t these bags cute? Granddaughter Sophie and her friend Jennie had to make a stitched item for their Brownie badge so I was called in to help. We used blue felt for the background, ironed on Bondaweb and foil. Then came the Angelina – they were really hooked on that and I had trouble restraining them from an overdose of glitz. A piece of chiffon on top and we were set to stitch – machine, followed by running stitch (giving a good impression of tacking stitch).

They did it all themselves and I think they’ve done a great job, especially as we learned buttonhole stitch for the edges. Quite a hard stitch for nine year olds, with its loops and tension, but they soon got the hang of it.

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I was exhausted – especially with the needle threading. The cry kept going up, ‘I need more string’. I never did get them to say thread or yarn.

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Huge thanks again for all the info on Carpal Tunnel. I haven’t heard back from the doc yet but will call her next week. Funnily enough my friend Elli Woodfsord was having the tests done a week before me. I’m becoming convinced it’s down to the stitching – my hands are so much better since the loss of workroom forced me to hold back on the textiles. Thanks for the frozen peas tip, Wabbit.

Heather – had a giggle about ‘could have been worse’ when Smudge peed in the builder’s sand! You are so right.

When they get the cloning business sorted out I’ll let you know Jude. The temporary kitchen is not really big enough for us both to work in but the current regime of ready meals is working well.

We have had a couple of rather pathetic Brit-style bbbqs, Diane. I refuse to wash those rack things so we have disposable ones. Bet that causes a ‘wash your mouth out with soap and water’ reaction in Oz?

We have not been able to go out together for two weeks so not much chance of a meal out either. The reason is this.

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Two large holes in the kitchen where a door and window should be. Philly wanted to fit the windows to the holes rather than the other way round and they took a week or so to be made. So we couldn’t leave the place unguarded. We pushed a heavy chest against the hall door on the other side and, thankfully, no rape or pillage took place.

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Now we have them and it is great. Here's my new door with a lovely view of the garden, instead of the boring drive.

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Even got the dishwasher going again. I really find it quite fun doing the catering in the workroom but washing up was a pain.

The tyranny of the greenhouse

I was so pleased to find we had a green house here: ordered loads of plug plants and sat back smugly. Then they all came at once, then they sent free extra plants, then it got too hot in the greenhouse. All the potting on has ruled my life for weeks. I've exhausted all my pots and I'm on growbags

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It’s got to go. Anyway it is in the way of this lovely tree-filled view and no way is it a thing of beauty.
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Never mind - the vine is growing well in the unusual April heat. Dear little grapes showing.

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Must go now – plants to water, don’t you know!

Life Without a Kitchen

I wrote this blog yesterday evening and have spent ages trying to format this post. It just keeps ignoring all carriage returns. So apologies, folks and I've now resorted to lots of spots. Thanks for the sympathy and comments on the hand problem. Liniecat – thanks that’s very encouraging and ta to Stephanie for the exercises. I have ordered the power ball, Sarah. Sorry about your wrist Diana – hope it’s OK now. ...................................................................

I had a little giggle about Wabbit’s towel – I’d probably get tangled up and strangle myself, but you have got me thinking about how I sleep. I’m much better in a chair with my feet up – perhaps I’ll take to sleeping in the sitting room. The hands seem better since I stopped using the keyboard so much, so perhaps it’s not the stitching.

Many thanks to everyone who entered the debate on e-books. I think the time has not yet come, as I’ve been reading another Rebecca Stott (she’s great) and her books always have little pics and etchings in them. It has, as you say Rachel, driven me nuts - making the page big enough to see, and then small to read the text. ....

I think the way to go with Machine Embroidery Workbook is to put it on CD or on the web. The basic techniques could be printed out with lots more colour on accompanying pdf downloads. Could also have a Yahoo group. A bit like distance learning but not quite so individual. Might think about that. ..... .

My kitchen is in bits so the workroom has become the kitchen. Am I bovvered? No. Here is a snapshot of our house, taken a few minutes ago. Trev the builder is reinforcing a wall before he knocks the chimney breast down.

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Clive is cooking the dinner in a tabletop cooker, with veg cooking on the litlle electric hob and new potatoes in the microwave. What a treasure he is!

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Smudge is in the 'kitchen' courtyard wondering if anyone will ever fill his bowl.

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Where am I? . Am I helping? . Am I working? . Am I stitching? .

Not likely – I’ve got a new bike and it’s huge fun. Just heard that I sold a piece of work at Ramster so I don’t even feel guilty about buying it.

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I'll have to get off my bike now, as Smudge has peed in Trevor’s builder's sand and he is not happy! Knew it was too good to last!