Soon be June argh!!!

Almost the end of May and my June wordplay has only just been started. I do not like this one as much as the others so I suppose that is why I have been procrastinating,do like that word,but not the outcome.
Hope you are all well and that those that aren't and I know a few that are not, I wish you well.
I have had various and many appointments with Drs, nurses and dentists this month ,but hopefully I shall begin to get answers very soon.
Anyway I do not want to bore you with health problems, so I shall say I think I have a few nice pics to show you and hopefully I will not have to ramble on too much.
So lets start again, the header is a picture of our apple tree it is so pretty just now, the blue sky is a bonus and we have had a few of the yellow duster moments in this past month,
I had not realised it was a month since I last posted . Oh my!!

The header is taken through the branches too looking toward the house. Do you remember me showing you the picture of the squirrel stealing the bird food. He has blotted his copybook,  we found a chewed connector wire just outside our front door. I did not realise what it was but Martin did,but could not figure out where it was from. On looking up to the roof he realised it was from the Solar panels we have . Nestled quite comfortably between the roof and the panels was the squirrel. Now I got quite amused ,whilst Martin got more and more irritated. I felt a bit like Pam Ayres when she was saying she got a big stick and knocked the parrot off his perch. Firstly a long stick with 3 canes attached were poked between the panels and the roof. no joy!. He just moved a little higher. Then came the steps and a mortified dog, he has a thing about the steps (they are used to stop the smoke alarm and Ollie associates these and gets very worried).Anyway squirrel just turned his back and I swear he was laughing. Then came the hose, no wouldn't reach, next came the power washer which eventually he took exception to and moved.  This took an hour. Martin was not impressed and said if he had a gun he would shoot it. I was not impressed with this statement. The next day he was there again not repeating what words were used,Bad Squirrel was not in it.Sorry I have gone off on a bit of a tangent.He was not there yesterday!!!!! Kate composed a poem for her brother when he had a squirrel in his loft. They had pest control in , it went like this there was lots more and if you would like to hear it I will ask her if she still has it.
Clearing of throat. My name is Cyril squirrel esquire and this is my tale of woe, for I have been  evicted left with no place to go.

On the 10th May it was Kate our daughters birthday and Caitlin asked if she could come over for dinner after school (they 2 older ones pop in a lot) and could I help her make a cake for her mum . I am not the worlds best cake maker but of course said yes . This is the finished result, and I did not get a piece.

She was so proud of herself and almost wanted to eat it there and then.

She had filled it with strawberries and cream too. Well done Caitlin, I think she can make another when she comes again tomorrow lol.
Needless to say Kate was so pleased. Her children did her proud,and she had a lovely day. We went out to lunch with Kate and her hubby Iain as the children were all at school.I forgot my camera dur! However when we went out a couple of weeks ago to the Inn on the sea wall at Portland ,I did get this of our son Graeme and his wife Sue.We took them out for their anniversary ,both my children will be celebrating their Silver Wedding anniversaries next year. Ella was at school so she missed out, it is not very often G &S have a day off on the same day of the week.

This one was the other half and the view of Chesil Cove.

For some reason this one does not want to go in the middle.So my dears that is the days out and occaisons in May.Or at least up to now. Stitching wise I have got a little to show you. My Monday stitching with Sally on the latest sheep virtue Peace is coming along and this time I have a "shorn" sheep I am enjoying stitching these so much but not sure how on earth I will finish them. I would like to stitch the new Mystery Sampler which will be released shortly. Anyone else doing it? 

Scuse the hoop marks but I needed to show Sally where I am up to. Another work in progress is the one I will be working on in the parlour with the girls over at Needlecraft Haven. This is the Tea Room and I cannot say I am happy working on this one so much . Cannot say why but maybe I shall like it more when it has its border and title.

Again it is a  little creased.

I have a few finishes to show you ,a couple I don't as I forgot to take pics . If you want  a look at those you will have to go to Shirlee's blog http://farmhouseponderings.blogspot.co.uk/ and scroll down to May 16th post. I promised Shirlee that i would stitch her Know your own happiness ,along with a few others. As you may know I ended up stitching that twice more than I needed too as I lost them to the land of lost things,they were such tiny pieces of stitching that I must have put them in the bin by mistake. I still have one to stitch for Margaret at some point. I did say not to hold their breath and how glad am I that they didn't. Anyway she was really pleased.The others I have finished are this one which is a free design by Cosmic Handmade by Caroline Hofstebe entitled Sweet Strawberry which will go with the others in my berries basket.

This was stitched over one on 28 count fabric.Then I did a bit of an experiment .I stitched this design by Atelier Soed Idee entitled The Spring Tree, I did it over 2 and then over one . I really enjoyed this design and I loved the finishing of it although it did take me a while as I did all three in one day.

over 2 on 32 count with one thread.

over one with one thread.On 28 count fabric. What do you think?

A close up of my little felt heart .

So that is all I have to show you in the way of stitching . I did get a little stash come this week.

These are designs I want to do for my berries basket. 

I also had a new book after catching up with the story of Burracombe. These are a nice gentle read and to me I can relate to the places mentioned as they are set around Dartmoor where we have been so many times. The shops mentioned by her in Tavistock are places we have mooched round and they really take me back there. 

 Snowfall is the latest book and is the seventh in the series. 

Well my dears I must think about getting dinner prepared for the other half as he is at work today .Jack popped in lunchtime his tyres looking a bit flat could he borrow some money to put some air in them ,as he had gone off to college without money today , he said thanks nan I will pay you back tomorrow. To him I said we wont go broke over a couple of pounds Jack . It is so nice to see them even if its for a little loan. Tomorrow Jack will be here for lunch and Caitlin for dinner in the evening, I wonder when Sam starts school in Sept where Caitlin goes will another be joining the dinner queue. 

So until next time for those that are poorly a Big Hug , and I hope I have not sent you all to sleep with my ramblings. thanks so much for sending me a little note or even a few words it does help brighten the day. 

Much love 

Barb x

It is almost May ,tomorrow in fact,so as I finished Mays Wordplay I thought I would share it a day early. I do like stitching these and I think this one is lovely. I did not put the american flag on the bee hive though,just added a few more bees.When I finish one of these I just cannot believe another month has disappeared it seems to happen more frequently too!!
Anyway a pic of May on the header and one taken in the little plants that are doing rather well.

In fact a few pics to show you of the flowers in the garden .We bought these daffodils to put in tubs and although they seem very late they are rather lovely.

At the bottom of the garden not fairies but these scented narcissus.

I have a bunch of these indoors and the scent is divine, although Kate dd,does not agree she hates the smell. We also have a new addition to the garden to join the peacock (supposed to be a chicken that Martin made 5 years ago.He did a course with our local vet (now retired), he has a fabulous sense of humour and made life size animals out of paper maiche that adorned his practice waiting rooms etc.

Anyway he ran the first workshop for our craft group and this was the piece that came home.



I still think it it more a peacock than a chicken ,much to Martins disgust. Anyway they did  another a few weeks back and now we have Gordon too ,well that is what I call him. He is a goose , and I think he actually looks

like a goose. He gets this curious nodding motion,ever so slightly  when the wind blows .Well my dears I hope you are all well ,or as well as can be. Thanks for the well wishes and the comments. Perhaps before giving you an update on the stitching, I had better answer anyquestions asked.

1.Vickie you asked how I made my sheep woolly- I borrowed Carins idea and used Vicki Claytons chenille thread fine white .It is a little difficult to see where you have been when you  stitch with it but it is just so effective.

2. Carin as regard Julies blog ,I think you have realised who the Julie is and as she has just won a giveaway you had then I do not need to give you her blog link.

3.Not really anything but a comment , Carol not only are we stitching in the parlour, you are doing the Wordplays too and also I see in your reading list you have read Peter May's trilogy The Blackhouse, The Lewis Man, and Chessmen. Gosh that's spooky.

Any questions in the comments I shall answer or try to next time.

OK I had better show you some stitching had I not. Well as you know my friend Julie came to visit and she kindly stitched me a little something. I was asked to keep it secret until the reveal day had passed. I think Christine has not posted yet but I have decided to show you anyway as it is almost May. Hee hee Christine just a gentle reminder.

So here is the Snow flower diaries freebie made for me by Julie.

Isn't it just so sweet the little wind chimes catch the breeze coming through the door. Thanks Julie as you know the things I receive are all around me and I am so blessed to have you as a friend.

Well I did the same thing and here is mine as a gift to Cath of the stitching chicken, the title says it all she loves her chooks. I sent for some chicken buttons that I spied and also some chicken fabric.

And this is the back.

I also did another design by this designer and sent it to my friend Jane who has been having some trying times lately- Jane send me mail to let me know any news please. Jane has a lovely blog called Buttons and Stitches. She has 2 dear little bunnies named Tilly and Oscar who I would dearly love to cuddle. They have spring fever I am told at the moment and so as Love is in the air I thought I would stitch this .

Ok I got this far and also did more and when I came to look at the blog this is as far as it got ,so how did that happen. Now comes the question with how long it takes me to do this blog at least 2 hours is it worth it for it to do that to me. ARGH!!!!
So now I have to remember what else I wrote. Also those who left comments because I must have published it perhaps you will read it again.Oh I do not know what I am doing.
Here is a pic of the back ,the button this time is in remembance of Buttons who is over the rainbow bridge.



She was delighted with it and now I have my very own shelf in her home.

These were both done over one on 28 count fabric and I have to say I was pleased with the way they turned out. I have also been stitching for the dresser . I like little tea designs and have had this for a while, by the Sampler Girl again stitched over one and adorning said dresser.

Another in a Jane Austen tea cup. I am really pleased with it.,and a really quick stitch too.

So only one more to show you and that is The Tea room which will go on dresser when finished, I did not stitch alot  last week as I ran out of thread for the rooms ,but that has been addressed so I shall be back building tomorrow ,or I may be letting the tree come into bloom , Progress so far,

I started a berry design for my berry and bird dish on Monday with Sally as Peace has not arrived yet. In fact family wise it is far from peaceful. Kate is going through the mill, Caitlin is being bullied at school it has been reported by the P.E teacher she witnessed it . In a way it is a relief as there has been real problems with Caitlin wanting to go to school . At 15 she has an important year ahead and has to get her act together.It has been heartbreaking to her though. Now at 10 she has Sam being bullied too. WHAT is wrong with some of these children.

Well my dears I am now off to put the feet up and peruse these that came this morning. 

So now my dears I must love and leave you.Take care and hope I shall speak toyou again soon.

Hugs 

Barbx

A very important visitor came to stitch with me this week.

Hello it is a little while since I last wrote a few lines, and as  an exciting occurrence(for me) has happened this week now would be a good time for a little catch up.
Since writing to you last- April has arrived,yes it is that long. I finished my April the day before April started and as you see by the header it is now hanging on the fireplace. I have started May but I am way behind due to having a few health problems during March. Anyway I still have a few days to get May completed .Here is where I am with it.

As you can see I have not done a lot on this . 

Easter also has been and gone as this bunny has too. It took me a little while to pluck up courage to eat him ,he was just so sweet.

I did have a little help though!!. Back to stitching and I have been stitching along with Sally on our Monday nights with the flock and I had a little finish this week. I have not stayed completely true to the design as I have got woolly sheep and the little stitched heart did not show up so I used 2 little red heart buttons instead, no idea how I am going to finish these . Time will tell. 

These were stitched on the same fabric but they look different in the photo.Now awaiting Peace.

I was treated by my dear hubby Martin a couple of weeks ago, I have been admiring Portmeiron china for years and he decided the dresser needed a little change so now here I have a new tea service along with other pieces I have collected. 

I am really pleased with it now.I am now hoping it will stay tidy.

Last Sunday I was absolutely thrilled to welcome a blogging friend who I have been in touch with for 4 years, through Needlecraft Haven and never ever thought I would get to meet. Anyway to me she was/is a very important visitor and when she said she was coming to spend a week in Weymouth staying with her hubby in a cottageand she wanted to come and spend some time with me ,well you can imagine I was nervous but very very excited.They both came on Sunday and I was presented with these.

Aren't they just lovely,they are now almost fully open and look really elegant. I was also presented with a small stitched gift which I cannot show you yet. Also with this which is marking place in my book now.

I know some of you that read this will know who my vip was but if you can bear the woman in black in the photo ,here in blue is the one and only Old Bagpuss ""Miss Julie"".

You also have to excuse all the gubbins behind me . My corner is stitching and books I am afraid. I so admired Julies frame , and ordered one the next day!!oh by the way this was taken on Wednesday evening when Julie came to stitch in the parlour with me. Thanks Julie you were great company and I was sorry to see you go when Paul came to collect you.I look forward to you maybe getting this way again. We did not get much stitching done in fact I only managed a table set with a teapot,Oh well I stitched on it last night to make up for it. Here is the progress on The Tea room .

Sorry it is a bit fuzzy.This morning I opened the door to the postman and this was handed to me , I now have my own ,thanks for enabling me Julie.

I have put May on it and I shall be taking my first stitches on my new frame this evening.I have no real other news as this was the highlight of my week. I do have a couple of little things to show you though that have been sent off as gifts but I will show you those next time.

So my dears on that note and I am sorry it is not very long this time -will try harder, I expect Miss Julie will be telling you all about her visit somewhen soon. Will give you alink if you do not know where to find her next time. Meanwhile someone has come out of his /her winter slumbers and has remembered where the seeds hang.

The wigwams have been taken off now and hopefully everything will start to grow. Take care my dears and if you have been watching Broadchurch the suspense will soon be over.!!!!!

Hugs n stuff

Barb x 

P.S. would love a comment if you can spare a few moments.

Hunting for a little house in the country for the parlour maids

The title may be a little obscure to some so will endeavour to explain. On a Wednesday I post on Needlecraft Haven a little message to all my Parlour maids. We choose to stitch a design from one of three designers (sometimes there is more than one of us doing the same design) the designers are Little house needleworks,Country cottage needleworks and lastly The Sampler Girl . We have been discussing various rooms we may have and always enjoy our evenings in the parlour. The annexe has been added to enable those that are doing LHN  series Santas village .On Monday of this last week ,Martin and I took a drive out to a small village that is on the outskirts of Weymouth. To look for our Little Cottage in the the country so I could play pretend with the ladies . Are you with me so far?!! Anyway this was the Cottage I chose to photograph and "wish" it was mine. I thought the end of the cottage could be the annexe and the window  next door to it could be the parlour. I have shown the ladies and they would all like to come stay in this virtual cottage of ours.
This is in a little village called Sutton Poyntz and has a lovely duck pond which is fed by the River Jordon. Alfie our youngest grandson was baptised in the River Jordon one Christmas Season a few years ago.Then we sang carols but thought we may get odd looks if we started singing carols at this time of year.lol.

Sorry it is not very clear . Here is the river Jordon where Alfie was baptised.

At the far end is the duck pond and yes ducks were a dabbling up tails all. I did not manage to get a pic of the up tail though just head down.
It really is a pretty village and does not boast any shops only a pub called the Springhead. I think i shall be getting a reputation of the woman carrying dog biscuits as I was lucky to meet a few dogs and they were lucky too as they had dog treats much to their owners amusement. Ollie was not with us, he would have been in with the ducks. I also needed to have a sheep fix,and did not want to take Ollie as although I do not think for one minute he would chase them he may bark at them. He loves Country file and whines at them on the T.V. For those of you who are not in this country this is a programme about the countryside ,farming and lots of lovely animals -and sheep!!!!! Anyway I digress,hope you will not be bored with this post it may be a long one. We wandered about willynilly and found a friend who I could have brought home with me.

He/she even let me pick it up for a cuddle. I like cats but Martin is not too keen they upset his asthma . Although he was ok with the two we used to have and he was ok with Misty cat. I think he just wants me not to nag him that I really really need a cat!!!!!!!!!. Another good reason that Ollie wasn't with us as I think the cat would have not come to greet us ,and Ollie would have pulled someone's arm out of its socket ,as he would like to make friends hmmm so much !!!!Round the corner from here were some beautiful daffodils in a garden so of course the camera came out.

In the wall of one of the houses was this sundial and also if you look at garden after that you can see ,well can you spot it, a splash of blue a bluebell. So pretty a little haven to sit in.

It reads life is but shadow.

The bluebell is about a third of the way up from the bottom on the right hiding in the yellow. So we then said good bye to the ducks ,

Just had to take pic of the weather vane , it is a little blurry as it was windy.

So now  think I had better show you some stitching before I show you where we went next. This was our wedding anniversary by the way and we had just been out for lunch.Whilst on that subject thanks so much for your lovely comments to us both they were much appreciated.

SO onto the stitching and here is my Hope the sheep virtues I am sal with Sally, I am afraid I imitated Carin and used fine Chenille from Victoria Clayton for my sheep and "ewes not fat you's fluffy"!! So I am doing all these sheep in it.

Just awaiting the wool for the backing. I am also waiting for the next in the series which is Love.I have almost finished April so will let you see the almost finished article.

Next time hopefully it will be finished completely. As I mentioned at the start I meet with the girls in the parlour and  this is The Tea Room or at least the downstairs!

So that is the stitching that I have to show you.
Family news perhaps not so good, Jack eldest grandchild has suspected glandular fever ,but hopefully it is just a bad case of tonsillitis  He has not been able to go to college this last week. Caitlin his sister is having problems at school too. Ella too has school and friend? problems . Oh I am so pleased mine are grown,but let me tell you ,you still worry about the grandchildren.
Now are you ready for Mondays continuing travels. Well Martin knew I had to have a sheep fix so we got in the car and drove down to Abbotsbury. We went along the back roads and just before we got to Abbotsbury proper I espied some shhhhhheeeeepp .

Now don't you think they look like my woolly sheep hee hee.I think the one on the left looks as if it has been eating too much grass. Although the one on the right is quite fluffy too. Maybe they are pregnant.They have a yellow dot on their backs. I could show you a few more sheepies but will just share one more for the view they look at.

In the background is the Abbotsbury Swannery.Which is explained here,

We did not go into the swannery as it is walking and that is a no no. We did go into the little shop and admired this outside.

Then we visited the coffee shop where I was presented with this by Martin ,coffee cake yum but I think it was meant for 2 lol. Martin as you know is allergic to egg so none for him.I did share it with the birds.!

It was even warm enough to sit outside . So there you have our afternoon out but I have a couple more to show you , not many litter bins like this about.

Perhaps if you are ever in this part of the country you may like to visit here. On the drive home we stopped to take a picture as another thing you do not see very often . Is thatchers at work.

This is another a little closer .

As I know he will read this ,I would like to say to my husband of 46 years -it was a grand day thankyou sweetie.
I think also my son Graeme may read this too, so I will say thanks again to him as these are the flowers he sent for Mothers day. This was taken yesterday so they are lasting well Graeme.He wanted to know what we got up to on Monday so I am sending him this way to see. Hope you managed to get to the end it was a bit long this time . So thanks for visiting and I shall see you next time -
Hugs and much love

Barb xx