The long and winding road

Or at least it seemed like it on the way back. It has been so beautiful weatherwise here in the South of the UK, and Ollie persuaded me to do the long walk (well for me anyway) so off we set.

Half way down the road there is a farm track,through the fields but unfortunately no footpath.So onward.

Ah a signpost ,but I do not think I could even attempt the coastal path ,so after looking at the signpost

I came to a field so Ollie and I spoke to the horses,before walking ,oh so slowly home.

There were 2 other horses but as Ollie was getting impatient we just waved at them and left lol.
On my way home I took this ,my mum used to say the cold weather has not finished until the hawthorn has finished blooming. Oh dear will I have to get the thermal vest out again.

Just so pretty though,we arrived home an hour or so later , oh dear did I know it and Ollie just slept ready to go out again in the evening along the Fleet.
However you have come for stitchy news haven't you and boy do I have some - Last Friday I heard the post come through the letterbox, would there be anything for me, a pink envelope caught my eye and some well known writing.
Bless you Julie, my dear friend Julie had sent me a little something(it may be little but oh I know how much work goes into these tiny littles and it is so perfect) she knew I would love ,and here it is.Sorry about the photography .http://juliesstitchingjournal.blogspot.com/
Julie has a better pic on her blog.


I sent Julie a kit I knew I would find a struggle to finish being a biggie, so she kindly sent me a thankyou ,no need ,but a lovely thing to do. Over one on 28 count Lugana and a Prairie Schooler design , Oh Julie I love it and already it has been used so much.Also were a bundle of Vicki Clayton threads oooohh nice. Thankyou Julie..
I also received from another friendly person-aren't stitchers the best, a couple of charts from Sally who kindly sent me the Autumn Spot and Winter Spot from The Drawn Thread. These were to go with the Spring and Summer spots that she passed on to me after stitching them ,last weekend I started Spring -thankyou so much Sally its so delicate. Will keep you updated on progress.
Below that is another new start, does anyone know what design it is? I will add a little each week .HEE HEE!



I also finished a little Rak for Jane who has a blog here
http://buttonsstitches.blogspot.com/
This is the one I forgot to take a pic of.There is one on Janes blog though ,and you will also meet Tilly and Oscar . It is an i-stitch design on 40 count fabby ,which was a first for me.
I don't know if the links to the blogs work but they are in my side bar so you can get to them that way.
I hope you are still with me, I tend to be rambling on a bit this time. I have some progress on In the Kitchen with Jane thought I had better show you this before the girls meet tomorrow night, look at those rosy red apples, I admit to changing the apple word to green instead of red as I thought cooking apples are usually green.

Talking of apples,here is some that will be in a pie later in the year

Some apple blossom on our Bramley apple tree.
Oh the weather has been so kind to our tree peonies ,this one looks like tissue paper and is the first time it has flowered ,the other one is not so far advanced as it does not get the sun so much.

Do you need some more flowers?

This is blooming in the wild part of the garden.These narcissus are almost over ,but they still smell divine,

On Sunday when Mil came over for lunch she took a bunch home as she loves the scent. She arrived clutching these sweet little tulips-15years ago her and dad went to the tulip fields in Holland and brought these bulbs back . I think they were bigger than this originally but aren't they sweet.

Someone else has a little posy, last night was SB salwith Sally and Colleen and we now have a dressed Sophie with a posy, next week I shall start the border ,wasn't sure about the yellow hat but I think it will probably come good.
Here she is just saying hello.

Talking of Colleen , this morning I had this from her in Florida,oooohhh now I wonder what is in here.

I was Colleens exchange partner on Laineys Easter Springtime exchange , I am not sure if I have to wait until Easter to open it, have asked Lainey and Colleen. Just so tempting and now you are wondering too aren't you ,well why not share the suspense. I will let you see when I can.
So now you are all wondering when ever this is going to finish I had better end with a thankful note for all your lovely comments 16 this time ,I also see I have just gone over the 100 followers so maybe a little giveaway may be in order in a few weeks time after Easter maybe.
So I shall ask for you to forget me not -with these little friendly faces
the garden is full of them -shades of blue!

Thanks for visiting and coming on my ramble with me. Take care and keep stitching.
Hugs n stuff
Barb x

It is a Spring Wednesday and the sun has his hat on.

Unlike Lucky who cannot find her hat anywhere. I think she must have dropped it in the bit bin I keep by the stitchy chair and it got put out with the rubbish. I have almost lost my Sajou scissors in there . I had to empty the outside bin to find them before that got emptied. So Lucky is hatless.
What a beautiful spring day it is, I have been into Weymouth and took advantage of pre season quietness. Soon it will be bustling again and not a square inch of sand to be had. Not that I am one for the beach ,in days past maybe ,but not now. Sand sandwiches etc oooohhh no. However I have a finish to share with you , I did this from the Blackbird Designs Stitchers Journey ,over 1 on Sassys fabric . I did alter the lighthouse to red stripes, but was pleased with the result. Then what to do with it , oh well I found this hessian bag that I got for £1 and thought I would do a seasidey themed bag. I did not realise how hard this was to stitch on to and thought I had it straight. I should not think !I am not good at it. It is not straight , I do not do straight! when will I ever learn, I am going to do crooked sea designs on it , so it looks as if it was on purpose !!lol. I really ought to unpick it and do it again but........



I also had another couple of finishes which I cannot show you, as I bought some jiffy envelopes today and wrapped said finishes and put them in envelopes ,before I had taken pics, DUR!!! I think the senior moments have become a little on the longer side , I am hoping the recipients will post pics for me.

Last weekend was Mothering Sunday,my mum always called it this, not Mothers Day and I stick to the tradition. My dear Son Graeme was in Jersey with his in -laws who were celebrating their golden wedding and his mil 70th birthday. If you remember she had a massive stroke last year , so it was another hurdle for her. She is progressing well.Anyway Graeme came down and left me a parcel as he would not be here.He did phone when he was in the shop and asked if i would rather have something for the garden or a sheep, Just no contest,was there?!!!! He did phone me on the day as well which was nice . You are all waiting to see what was in the parcel aren't you . Well here she is ,this is "Dorothy".

Dorothy is the 'mummy' sheep with the sheep jumper on. I was thrilled of course. This little window is right by my stitchy chair in the lounge, please excuse view from window it is the neighbours garden.
I did not see Kate either as she was working and did not finish in time to get over. I did see her the day before instead though and this is my pressie from her.

A little something for me to admire on the step by the back door.
I cannot visit my mum as she is an angel mum, or her grave as she is too far away. So on Saturday I planted up (her girl ) as I call her with some pansies for thoughts.

Martin was busy mowing and pruning at the weekend, when he wasn't getting in a two and eight with the portable greenhouse that he bought. It was a bit too portable when the wind blew. He has now fixed it!!
On Monday I did my SB night with Sally and Colleen , and I started Sophies Roses, again it is in the very delicate shades that SB are so famous for. I am not sure how well it shows up on the fabric for you but here is a glimpse of the dressing of Sophie.Hope Colleen gets her memory fixed soon she is being missed.

I finished my 11th book of the year yesterday, I seemed to have slowed down with my reading.
Before I post my last pic , I must just thankyou for the comments you continue to leave in my little post box, I do appreciate them all and you are so kind about my ramblings.
Well last pic coming up,the ladys that join me over at NH on a Wednesday night (that IS tonight girls, here is my progress In the Kitchen with Jane.

Take care you all, and watch those stitchy fingers if you are in the garden playing with mud it plays havoc.
Hugs n stuff
Barb x

Sunny Sunday

All at once I saw a host, a crowd of golden daffodils:
Hello all of you out there in the land of blogging, it is a beautiful day here in the South of England ,birds are singing , and you get the feeling spring has sprung.
Today we visited the garden centre to get a couple of new roses (Anniversary present from the MIL). Whilst there I couldn't resist grabbing the camera, the smell of these was divine and I brought a couple home ,just for the smell.

This is the time of year for new beginings and that is what I will be showing you -my new beginnings this week.

This is my new start last Monday with Sally and Colleen, thankyou all by the way for your comments on The Journey , I have it wrapped up awaiting what to do with it. Perhaps I will just bring it out when we have a guest for their room. Anyway this is Lucky the Shepherds bush kit I received for my birthday from Colleen, I just could not face a really large one, he/she is just so sweet and well sheepie. Thankyou Sally and Colleen for allowing me to continue my Journey with Lucky and you.

The next one was my TSG and Jane new start on a Wednesday night over on Needlecraft Haven ,this time I am in the kitchen with Jane. It is a quote taken from one of Janes letters to Cassandra and I am loving the colours.

I have had this kitted up for some time and it called to me from the evergrowing pile that it really needed to be next!Of course when Tanya informed us she was having a TSG sale this week ,I REALLY should not admit to this but just couldn't resist getting these on pdf. I can blame the friendship one on one of the Ladies on NH SAL as she is stitching it-also it has a white furry creature on it lol.

The next one , oh I know you are all shouting 3 new starts this week! but I HAD to stitch this one as it spoke to me as soon as I saw it in my new Stitchers Journey book from Blackbird Designs. Lots of lovely designs in it but thought one start from there would be enough!!

It is being stitched over one on Sassys Fabric and I am adapting the 'special stitches'. I did start it as the chart but decided it would be too big so hope it will still do the design justice.
So there are my 3 new starts - cannot count either as there is another sitting beside me and I cannot say what it is or show you as it is a giftie .
This week Martin and I celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary, just to say the romance is still there .

On that day it was also Red Nose Day for Comic Relief and to do something funny for money Caitlin our grandaughter decided she would sit in the sea. BRRRRR it was a foul day on Friday and quite cold but the sea was just a tad cold. Just to prove she did it-

Did that make you feel chilly-I think she did too. She raised £70 so she did well.

Martin also had a finish this week he made me a kite for my window.

My thanks go to all of you who continue to leave me comments , I must learn how to send you an answer via your comment post. Life is a steep learning curve for me these days lol.
Well I am not writing reams this time, I do love reading what you think of my little offerings though and I have one more to go to get to the century in my followers.
So I shall leave you with another springy pic and wish you a happy and sunny stitchy week.

Hugs n stuff
Barb x

200 years

In 1811 Jane Austen wrote Sense and Sensibility -which was then designed by Tanya of the Sampler Girl into this piece- that has been finished by me and now has to be framed.
Tracey gifted me the chart and thankyou so much as I loved stitching it. The years are 1811 and stitched date 2011 exactly 200 years. I have a Sampler Girl thing and love her designs ,so on Needlecraft Haven I have a Wednesday SAL night devoted to Jane Austen and or The Sampler Girl designs. If you want to join us you would be more than welcome.
I have had my 2 new charts come and for now I am calling it a day until I catch up on some of the ones I have. It will be buying threads now I expect ! Well that is the plan anyway.lol


I just had to give in to these as they have sheepies on.

Well I have not a lot of news to tell you ,but we did go to our friends 60th party on Saturday held at an upmarket hotel in Poole.On our way there I espied some little baa lambsies in the fields but we were on a dual carriageway and we couldn't stop for a picture so that is why you have not got a sheep pic to drool over lol. I did take some piccies of the outside of the Hotel, you may even get a glimpse of me ,which in itself is a rare event.
Here is the outside of the hotel.


The Hotel overlooks Poole Harbour and Sandbanks, an affulent place on the South Coast with homes here fetching millions of pounds.
Apparently twice a day the ferry to France goes by the Hotel and Celia said it almost looks as if the ship is coming into your room it seems so close.
Well this is just a little catch up as I said not much news.
I am stitching (hopefully) grandchildren allowing ,on the SAL with Colleen and Sally. I think we have decided to have a week at home this week on account of me having to take 4 grandchildren with me. So is it to be The Earth Gatherers or Lucky hmmm still have not decided.
This is where I have got to on Autumn ,N almost finished.

Last -shall I post this - well I did tell you I was pooh bear shaped !!!


Left to right Martin love of my life,Celia our friend who is 60 today and you would not think she is defying the specialists by being alive ,her daughter is the "girl" at 33 who has just had a heart attack, Norman her hubby and last but not least the me on the right. I am so sorry to inflict that on you! I was in pain there and having a problem standing upright and no it was not the alchohol.
On that note I shall leave you and after the shock of actually showing you a photo of me I will probably be away a while lol.
Take care you all and I will if I may join with you in saying a prayer for all those in Japan, it is unimaginable what they must be having to deal with and I really feel for them. An overwhelming disaster on such a tremendous scale in more ways than one.
Nature can be so cruel.
Bye for now
hugs n stuff
Barb.

Have you got your dancing shoes with you

Well hello on a fine spring day and doesn't it make you feel sunshiney inside and out. I had a wander down the garden this morning the Hazel has catkins on about 3" long ,I have 2 contorted ones and was tempted to cut a twig or two but Martin is not a lover of the pollen they are full of.So instead I took a pic of the camillia.

Anyway the title was have you got your dancing shoes ,you may dance along with me because here are the finishes I have to show you, as you know I have been stitching with Sally and Colleen my Journey with Shepherds Bush,and this week I am happy dancing. In fact the girls and I danced so hard on Monday,I have had to have the feet up all day yesterday. Mind you the soothing lavender had me nodding off. As you can see I have finished it into a lavender pillow(can you smell it).

I am not sure what will be next as I had a birthday present from Colleen and this is what she sent .
So do I stitch "Lucky" or do I do a biggie hmmmm decisions.
I also had a gift for Janes birthday that I had stitched, it is a Blue Ribbon design and I also filled this with lavender ,got a thing about lavender. Do you like lavender may I ask.I also sent her a Fobbles gift voucher so I am looking forward to seeing what she is going to choose.


Talking of birthdays - Jane did send me a gift voucher from Mary Kathryns Handicrafts and I chose these, and on Janes birthday! they arrived here ,thankyou so much Jane I got these for my birdie wall.



As most of you have seen Julies blog, and the baby box I sent for Amy and baby, well I popped into Weymouth this morning to meet my friend Jean and when I got back I saw propped up on the doorstep a long green box. Inside were these:-

12 pink carnations ,gyp and fern. Such a sweet thought and totally unexpected. Thankyou Amy they are beautiful and you really shouldnt have done that. You need your pennies for the pink!!!!
I also had another suprise this week (goodness me) this came from Hazel (quietly stitching) ,bet you cannot guesswhat it is .it begins with an S , and here it is.


I had a bit of a deciding moment! should I put my crocheted sheep on my scissors or keys ,as you can see the scissors won. I did wonder if Hazel had been busy with her hook, but she mentioned in her note that she saw it and had to get it for me. I do not know what I have done to deserve such generous and sweet friends from the stitching blogging world ,but I am so touched when an unexpected comes in the post.

These next few goodies were ordered by me, and ohhh I also have another couple coming (bad girl ,bad girl) The Stitchers Journey book from Blackbird designs ordered from Down Sunshine Lane -Amy is brilliant. Just have to stitch this one that is in the book,as I live by the sea.


From Thread Bear I ordered these and want these done Now too !!



I am hoping that these designers will let me catch up before they show me anymore temptation! I seem forever to be playing catch up.
Of course I could always ask Kate dd if she wants any more to do. As you know I like to try and run one theme into another and talking of Kate here is her progress on Celtic Autumn (changed colours) ,she has not done loads and was a bit concerned I was taking a pic to show you. Silly girl -you are such nice people!

So one more finish to show you ,Jean my old school friend bought me the cream lanterny thing and I said I knew exactly what I wanted to stitch to go in or out of it.This is what I did.

A closer view,

I stitched this over one on 28count slightly spring Sparklies fabby. It measures about 2inches square. Lark by JBW designs and the "Lark" words I put on the back.
On Saturday we are off to a friends 60th birthday party, hope I may have some pics to show you as it is being held at lunchtime in a rather up market hotel . You may remember that I told you a while ago that she had major heart surgery ,she is being put on the transplant list at the end of the year. She did not think she would live to be this old,sad but she is so positive. Anyway she had a call from her son in law her daughter has had a heart attack and will have to have a bypass and is also suffering form unstable angina she is 32 with an 18month old toddler. Life is so unfair at times. So if you are reading this and suffering I do wish you well and hope that you know folks do care and from one here in particular "if you need a hug,you got it".
Well now off to re read this in case I have written a load of rubbish ,well why change the habit of a lifetime . I should finish S&S tonight on the Jane /Sampler Girl SAL on Needlecraft Haven. So another finish coming up and maybe next time i write I will have the other 2 charts I have ordered -now where did I put that needle.
Take care sweeties
Hugs n stuff
Barb x