The 8th of February and a special significance.

Hello all  , this must be a record of sorts - I seem to have bombarded you with Ollie  the last 2 posts so I  have now  picked  myself up  and although he is missed soooo much, it is getting better. I expect  you will be wondering what significance the 8th is, a date  which I found a few years ago and thought I would share it with you.
If you have already heard about it then ignore the article I am  about to share with you. I have done a few of "my" news  to share too. 
In Japan on the 8th of February is held the Festival of Broken needles.
This is the day when Japanese needleworkers will lay their broken pins and needles to rest.Woman take a day off from their sewing chores and take their old or broken needles to the shrines or temples.
Hari Kuyo is a 400 year old festival  held in Buddist temples and Shinto shrines, Broken pins and needles are thanked for their work and laid to rest in a bed of soft jelly or tofu cakes. Stitchers pray for the repose of their needles ,improvement of their sewing skills and safety from injury when sewing.

Some people believe the tools have souls and they are treated with care and respect.We rely on countless helpful tools which are the result of ingenuity and craftsmanship.Perhaps celebrating pins and needles and  the service they provide reminds us of the many small  things we should be thankful for.

Another aspect of Hari Kuyo is the letting go of personal burdens.Concerns and complaints are shared with their needles passing the burdens onto them so that when the needles are put to rest they take the cares,worries and sadness with them /Who amongst us has not found solace and respite in our stitching.
I just had to share that on here.

So now onto other things,  stitching of my own . I have started the New Year by taking part in the monthly challenge on Needlecraft Haven  ,we are given a free pattern by Christine to download  and stitch however we like last month was a penguin with Happy New year 2016 on ,  as you know 2016 started pretty grim family wise and has gone best forgotten ,I  did not want to put this years date on either so I opted for something different on mine.

I made mine into a little bag with a penguin bar inside. I stitched it over one on 28 which I love doing. That is my first finish of the year. If you want to know how to join us in our Monthly Challenge ,put Needlecraft Haven in your search engine (technical speak here lol).I have had intermittent days stitching lately due to events but I am loving Winter the sal I am  doing with Sally.  Here is how far I have got ,finished R last evening.

Not a very good pic I am afraid.
The sheep one I am doing again with Sally although I am not sure which sheep one she is doing , is Spring Makeover and I have added another sheep to the queue for the bath and some grass and flowers.

I shall start the next row on Friday. I also have  to choose a new  start for tonight and something to stitch in the parlour again at NH . Not sure what to choose. 

Just had a phone call from  the vet ,so I am in  bits again ,Ollies ashes are ready for collection. Oh dear its  hard.

The day after he went we decided to go for a walk  and chose the Radipole  lake  bird reserve. It was a place we had never taken him too and water and birds  to chase would have been too  much temptation for him. The header was the  queue forming  for  lunch.

Some  pics of where we went.

It was a trifle muddy in places but it was nice to get out and see the occaisonal birds.

Lots  of ducks  and  feeding time was in progress,with wellie booted children  clamouring for  food to throw. I remember  doing it  with mine when  they were small.

 We have been trying to get out most days , today I popped into town on  the bus as Martin  is working . I have more than enough ironing to get done  tomorrow .
I  am hoping to get to see some  snowdrops  next week on  my birthday,  another year older. I had to go to Poole hospital  last Thursday to have a MRI scan on my back. I saw the consultant on  Monday last and  he wanted me to have a scan . So we caught the train and  the deed was done . I couldnt believe how quick it was between  seeing him and getting  a phone call to say they could do it  the next day if I liked. Anyway those are the days Martin works  so we went on  Thursday. I  have to see consultant to get results and see where we go from here.
I have been reading and I am well into my 3rd  book of the year. I have of course bought some more and  they are sitting on the ever increasing pile  to read. I find I can  lose myself in a book . These are 3 I have bought last week.

So my dear readers once more I have come to the end  of my post.  Take great care of yourselves and I will be back ,not sure when as it  all depends on  the mood I am in  , hope this has not  been too depressing  a read.
hugs to all .
Barb,