I was so pleased to get .....

All those lovely comments last time -they are very special to me. I still hope (one lives in hope) to be able to answer when I learn how. I know you must think of me as a dinasour and you are not far wrong!Thankyou all anyway .They help brighten my days . Also welcome to my new followers - Today I am going to start off by thanking Marly of Samplers and Santas http://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.co.uk/, for her free design . I was reading her blog and saw this.

This I stitched for Claire who hosts Needlecraft Haven,she recently lost her dad and I thought this summed up how she must be feeling. If you have someone you would like to stitch it for anyone or just as a memento of a loved one then pop over to Marlys blog and click on the freebie chart in her sidebar. Claire has a better pic on her blog http://aimetu-clare.blogspot.co.uk/ I had a little bit of bother with the bottom of the ornament which I was annoyed about,it is stitched over one on 28 count fabric. Although it was for a sad occasion I really enjoyed stitching it. So that is all the finishing I can show you for now, although I have finished an exchange piece that cannot be shown yet. Last night I stitched a little on Quaker Diamonds but not enough to show maybe an update next week. Tonight Mrs Darcy will be in the parlour with me again writing her memoirs. I do have a few stash items to show you - I know what you are thinking -Will she ever stop ?!! Nah I need something to do in my dotage don't I. So without more ado here are my latest additions. I have received my charts from Colleens birthday voucher . my birthday was in February and I have e mailed the company a few times to ask where they were.I had given up actually. At last this week they arrived and although Colleen now seems to have gone awol thanks Colleen I shall enjoy stitching these.

Also with these two came March doorbells. Just forgot to put it in this photo. This week I just could not resist the temptation from The Primitive Hare,I ordered Endymion and some fabric from Isabella that she hand dyes called Old Salem ,because I had already paid postage and she only had to post the fabric,chart was pdf, she put the amount sending a chart would have cost into some sweet little charms. She really is a sweetie to deal with. If anyone fancies a SAL with this one let me know. It uses DMC threads. As I said chart is available from her.

Her parcels are so prettily packaged. The lily of the valley are just outside the lounge window and I seem to be picking them for all and sundry at the moment . I think this is the best year yet.More pretties to show you later. This is May doorbells and all my gast threads to stitch them ALL? with. What is the betting when I come to do it, WHEN!!!!, I will be missing one .

So now here is March doorbells.

We had a bit of a weekend last with a visit to A&E for Sam our 10 year old grandson. It started with a bee sting after he fell into a bush in the garden. That was Saturday. Sunday he got stung by a wasp . Then to top it all he fell off his bike while out playing and broke his left elbow and wrist. So a nee nah job to hospital. He has to see the consultant on Friday of this week. Poor him and Kate, she said she will need loyalty points soon. He apparently as done a good job on his elbow. Well my dears shall we take a trip round the garden (don't look too close).

Scuse the washing line. I have decided to come out of the comfort zone this year and have a mown path from the top trellis to the bottom of the garden so it looks like a meadow. Hmmm how long will that last I wonder. The top third we shall keep mown. Martin is quite pleased as it means less work for him ,but I probably will think it looks awful in a few weeks and he will be hay making lol. Oh these were just meant to share with you,dear little granny bonnets or Acquellia (spelling hmmm) .

The other beauty out in the garden is the Rhodedendrum ,it does not last long though so make the most of it.

So for this week that is all ,hope you weren't too bored. As a little thankyou would you like a piece of cake.Coffee or fruit. With a regency mug of tea.

Take care my blogging friends and to my dear friend Sally ,hope you have a very speeeeeeeeeeedy recovery sweetie. Hugs n stuff Barb x

The long and winding road-

Ashley Chase Walk

Well not really a road ,more a country lane, we used to walk here when I was more able and  one day last week I felt I needed to see ,oh you are way ahead of me aren't you - sheep yes ,but bluebells too. This "road" leads to a wood which after splashing through a stream (well that was a few years ago) you climb a ravine and find in a clearing a ruined church. There are also a couple of headstones and the whole place is a mass of daffodils. The whole walk is about 5 miles. No way I can do that, I did not even get to the wood,but it was nice what I managed. On the way here we saw some little lambs and they were oh so close ,but as soon as the camera man climbed up the bank ,they shouted for mum and off they went.

We  came upon the bluebell wood and were surprised they were not fully out,as the ones in the garden are almost over. So here you are an English bluebell wood, can you smell them. Since the last time we were here a big sign saying Private has appeared on one of the trees ,so we could not let Ollie off   his lead

to run..

We drove a little further and  came across a little group of Older Sheep ,in fact I thought one was dead as it it was laying with its eyes shut. I have never seen a sleeping sheep. By the time Martin had reversed into a  layby and gone to take the pic for me ,it had woken up.

Of course this is not all about sheep , there are some of these too lol.

Also this animal was having a whale of a time.

When Ollie has a stick or a stone thrown he has to try and bury it ,for some reason best known to himself!

A last look at the English Bluebell. Such a pretty colour.

I expect you are wondering if the stitching has taken back seat. I have not done as much as I should have.

I did finish the Shepherds Bush Poor Robin,

Next week sees a new Shepherds Bush design but I cannot show you that as it is a private exchange and so a secret until Sally /Colleen receives it. I did finish a little something that I loved when I saw it ,it now sits on the handle of the Tea cupboard.

The design is by The little Stitcher and stitched over one on Sassys fabric,the cup and Saucer is from The Pemberley Collection that my Dh ordered as a little surprise for me from The Jane Austen Centre in Bath. He also bought me a lavender quill to go in an old pewter inkwell I have. Also some paper and envelopes.

This is progress on Mrs Darcy which will be worked on in the parlour at Needlecraft Haven ,maybe I shall be finishing this in a few weeks time.

I am also working on an exchange piece for Needlecraft Haven but that will be under wraps for a while yet as opening day is not until June 30th. I have also sent another little finish off this week so when that has been opened I shall be able to share it with you. You will have to excuse if this is a little disjointed ,back on pills and my brain is a little scrambled. Please leave a comment if you would like to. I hope you are all tickety boo and thanks for coming to visit. Would you like a cup of tea?

Take care Hugs n stuff Barb x