Squirrel Proofing

My view was oh,so much prettier the day before yesterday.

Before I found out why all my bird food was being eaten.When I believed that, when I left here to go indoors, the birds flocked in in droves and ate in all up. Plus the plastic that held the seed feeders together. Now that should have been a give away! After all, what kind of bird eats plastic? Today I got up and out here early. Hoping to see a woodpecker or two. Instead I saw three squirrels! THREE! So, out with the chicken wire. I've covered the bird table (I've incorporated a funnel, through which I can pour seed so I won't need to un-wire it all.) With the aid of two empty hanging baskets I've imprisoned my fat ball holder. The nut feeder has had all plastics replaced by tin.Yes, I do know it's nearly June. I know the birds don't need me. But what self respecting bird is going to want to eat seeds and nuts, purchased in April, in November?

"Life is a great, big canvas and you should throw all the paint on it you can!" Danny K.

On the 

pay it forward/be nice

front. 

I've been making ducks. I was sent a link to 

the little yellow duck project

Go google it. You make ducks and leave them (with a label) for people to find and, hopefully, they go on line and say where they found it. I name my ducks after Ellie, so Ellie can go on line and find her namesakes. I've lost count of the number I've made/that have been found, but I know there's still more.

                        Crochet FLOWER

                               In a variation of                                                  Crocodile Stitch 

Cast on 80 stitches in single crochet

# Ch3, * ch4, dc in 4th from previous * repeat      20, 4 chain gaps

# Into each 4ch gap work *sc,hdc,dc,dc,tc,2ch,tc,dc,dc,hdc,sc*

# Leave a long end on finishing to sew up. 

#I'm seldom happy sewing up flowers, this is OK but feel I could have done better. 

Maybe next time.

          2014 was Pay-It-Forward !

 I made 10 pieces of pink crochet for Wool Against Weapons

Peace protesters knitted a seven-mile scarf to demonstrate against Trident

I went to  Aldermaston to stand in peaceful protest against Trident. And in January I went again, this time to join

CND protesters 'wrap up' MOD with Peace scarf then march on Parliament

Then there was   Drapethedrones . Same size pieces as WAW but in colours. To be draped round the drone testing site at Aberporth. I did a rainbow but was unable to attend the protest

I made 350 Hats for Innocent Smoothies, which I sent to Andover. 

And I crochet a blanket to be given to  kidney dialysis a patient 

crochetime.net

Also, a length of knitted chain to decorate Narberth for the Wool festival in October. May do some new bits for this this year.

Purely selfish... I don't want to be bombed or spied on. I intend to grow old &, should I get ill, I hope someone will care enough to do something nice for me. Hence calling it all  Pay-It-Forward !

It was no hardship to do and on the whole most enjoyable. I haven't come up with a plan for this year yet, I am missing the making but not sure if I want to repeat the intensity of last year. So maybe just a few hats!

I did do a few roses for Valentines day and left them on the train for someone to find. Fun but I'm not sure I like not knowing what happened to them.

                                      An afghan for Mattie

Spiderman for Max

Three Ninja Turtle Hats

Spiderman Hat

Minnie Mouse Hats

Pair of thick socks for Mattie

                                  Snowflake Afghan for Rosemary

And there's more! I just can't remember or I didn't take pictures. At least with this slow start to making this year I hope I will remember to keep better records. 

                             Knee Arthroscopy                                                     re·cu·per·ate

                                                  riˈko͞opəˌrāt/

                                        verb

                                        verb: recuperate; 3rd person present: recuperates; 

                                      past tense: recuperated; past participle: recuperated; 

                                            gerund or present participle: recuperating

1.                                                 1.

   recover from illness or exertion.

                                     "she has been recuperating from a knee wound"                                                   

   On Monday I had my knee sorted. In so much as the hospital have done their bit and now it's just a short matter of time. First rest. Then physio. Then back to better than it was before. That's the plan. Today is Wednesday. My dressings have been changed and my next appointment is a week today. I cannot remember when I last had 'nothing' to do or no one to please, except myself. It's ever so  slightly strange and tinged  with a feeling of it all being over in the twinkling of an eye. As I said...Strange. But I have prepared. I've gotten ahead in work. Made sure peoples are not expect me. I prep'ed my home too! Made sure any projects I want to work on are boxed complete with everything I would need to complete, so no having to search out scissors, ribbons, needles and the like. Made my caravan floor invalid safe. Gathered books, films, music and paper. All sorted.                                                               So this is it.                                              The view from my caravan door.                     One of the bird houses has a nesting pair and if I'm really lucky...                                                I will get to watch the fledge.                                  So I'm feeling really rather blessed and grateful.

2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   

Happy Holidays

Christmas is over for another year. 

Due to a cough/cold/sore throat/bug it has been very low key.

Just the way we really love it.

I have nearly two weeks with no commitments & it's heavenly.

Even the bug that is laying me low is not dampening my spirits.

I seem to come down with illnesses when I have time off.

Bad/good timing. At least I don't have to worry about letting peoples down.

Illness is so much easier to deal with when you only have to cope with home.

It would be nice to be able to taste things though. 

Not much incentive to cook nice foods when it all tastes of nothing.

I was reassured that Christmas dinner was good.

Myself, I'm enjoying making up my little metal flask with Bovril &

drinking it out of the flask cup. makes me smile but has no taste at all.

Soon be better.

I have yet to cosy up with a book.

I will soon be better.

Wishing you, Dear Reader 

A Very

Happy 2014

It's December & time to hunker down!

We sold stuff. 

Not much but some.

I managed to cover my out goings!

Which is truly awesome.

I decided my 'Lucy Wreath' should go.

I'm loving her new one, have you seen it?

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2013/11/autumn-wreath-ta-dah.html

It's amazing.

I want to have a go and as I don't have much space...

It had to go.

To a good home and to become part of a Christmas tradition.

Thee greatest compliment anyone can pay is to Love the Stuff you've made.

I still have all but one pair of my wrist warmers.

The pair I sold went to a young man for two pounds.

It was all the money he had  :)

I later saw him running around with his friends wearing them.

What pleasures you get from such a sighting.

So today, Sunday, I tidied away the crafting bits and bobs and now...

Now the way is clear to

Hun´ker down

v.	1.	to crouch or squat; to sit on one's haunches.
	2.	to settle in at a location for an extended period; - also (figuratively) to maintain a position and resist yielding to some pressure, as of public opinion.
	3 .	to take shelter, literally or figuratively; to assume a defensive position to resist difficulties. I shall try and resist temptations  because mostly I would like to read!  To get truly lost in a good book or two.                                        I have a lovely mountain of, unread by me books.                                                          Oh, and sock yarn.                                                        I want to make socks.

                                                            Toe up socks to be precise!

                                                 I think I have enough yarn for three pairs.

                                               By which time I will know if socks are for me.

                                                           There's also the autumn wreath
                                                   Plus I'll need something I can carry around.

                                                                            So...

                                                             Books for free time at home, 
                                                    out in my caravan with hot water bottles .
                                                             Socks & Autumn wreath,
                                                    for times when I need to make something. 
                                                                   Winter all sorted.
                                                                      Gawn ni 'weld! 
                                                                  Welsh for 'We'll see!'

                                                     

                                                   

                                                            

                                                                      

Busy Making Things

I've been having some fun making stuff.

I decided that,come December,

 I'm going to hibernate with my hot water bottles & a mountain of books!

It has been ages since I read anything substantial. 

I have a four mile walk when I work so I keep my needs trimmed back, 

so my book has to be pocket sized.

Which means I have a back log of big books I'm itching to get at.

Technology doesn't help when you already have the physical object!

So... I decided to pig out on crafting and be ready early for Christmas.

Then I had the offer of a craft table at a local fair. 

So now my sister-in-law & I may have some fun!!!

These are my makes.

I haven't gone too mad.

 I wanted to make things I had been putting off for a while.

Stuff's I had been 'inventing' or tweeking.

 But I don't want to end up with a house full of 'unsolds'!!!

 Pretty much everything is a one off.

I intend making a few more bears & there are some other bits I'm still fiddling with.

It's remembering to take pictures that's my downfall.

I did a pink octopus for a friend & totally forgot to photograph it!

The bottom photo is of wrist warmers. 

Some in mohair, the smaller looking ones.

I have a small pair of mohair, they're fabulous for crafting.

There was a scrap of  mohair,enough to make a pair that just cover my wrists. 

Perfect for not getting in the way but still keeping you cosy.

I'll get back here and note how it all goes.

And maybe with pictures of my other bits 'n' bobs  !

Happy Sunday