Ep 13: cherries, parcel, update, the conversion of mud.

Cherries!

A casual walk around the veg plots out back, and Lester sees some cherries which are ready for picking, but alack and alas he has no time to do the harvest. So out I go and manage a bowl full, which encourages him to go up the ladder later on, and pick another bowl. Two days later and I enjoy a lovely sunny afternoon getting the pips out of the cherries, and then into the canner, and six jars made.

This was my first canning after a two year break. It felt very satisfying.

Parcel

……and the joys of having a parcel arrive to unwrap, even though I knew what was inside it, which was:

- white cotton lawn, 2 meters, to be used as an experiment in dyeing it a different colour.

-  pale pink cotton dobby, which has little raised bobbles over its surface.

- green poplin, which is less soft than I usually find poplin to be, but it might soften after washing. All the fabrics are to be washed and only then can I know what standard the fabric is.

Crafting Projects…….work in progress

History of Shawls:

Christina Hadderingh. Paid for pattern. Scheepjes Stone Washed. colour 825 and 819 (Malachite, New Jade)

 https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/history-of-trees-shawl

I have finally found the courage to begin this shawl, and it is proving to be a a joy to work on, and not worthy of my initial fear of it. I am three quarters up the first part of the shawl.

 Breeze Summer Crochet Top:

Amira Crafts on YouTube and Ravelry. Free download. Scheepjes Softfun. Colour 2534 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKTllOxMWl8&t=380s

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/breeze-summer-top

I am waiting for some extra balls of wool to arrive in the post so I can finish this project off.  This is my first crochet top, and I am pleased with it so far.

Other work in progress:

The joys of working with mud, as I conclude my efforts at soil blocking, having begun the first part in Episode 12.

And a very mild moan:

My cutting table is out of action for the moment because Lester has ‘borrowed’ most of the surface to spread out the recently delivered parts of  his ‘Make a new computer’ Project. Not to worry, lots of bits and pieces to catch up on.

Sewing is the focus of the next blog…….which is Episode 14

Thankyou for sharing time with me, and I hope you visit again soon.

In love and light

V x

Episode 12: soil blocks, how I manage being 70+

Episode 11: knitting, sewing, gardening, psychic share......

Hello, and thanks for joining me. This was a mixed video, non scripted as usual, so I hope you enjoy  watching a few hours in my day.

Gardening:

I am not a sensible gardener, but a do 'as it comes' one. Two years ago we were going to open a market garden, with a small farm shop and greenhouse to be built by Lester on part of the courtyard. Midway through the preparation of the land I was suddenly taken off to hospital and Lester was offered employment which he couldn't refuse from his previous employer. Things came to a halt, and the courtyard was left with a pocket of waste ground which was surrounded by a ditch, which was not a commercial type of ditch, but one that was deep enough for me not to be able to get across.

This was my project for today.....to start getting the bank of soil back into the ditch so I could use the space to grow things in. I start the video off by kneeling down to be able to talk to camera, but do three starts to the video, two of which were to be edited out later. However, when it came to editing I was unable to change the video in any way, not for any mechanical reasons, but because the Universe sort of put a stop on me doing so, saying that it would take the naturalness of the footage away.

Knitting:

I am still working on the red socks, using the magic loop method of knitting them. I have a little moan about the fact that the Hiya Hiya 2.25 needles and the West Yorkshire Spinners sock wool are not easy to work with, but the fault might lay with me not being used to the smallness of the needles. I usually work on 2.75 circulars, but went smaller because a fellow vlogger mentioned that smaller needles make a smaller stitch, which in turn gives a stronger and warmer fabric. So I shall keep going with knitting this pair of socks. Nearly finished the first.

Crochet:

I had a disaster with my Sandra Paul Victoria shawl. Somewhere in the washing of it two bright orange stains have appeared. Damn and blast and even stronger words were used, but not to worry, I have got a ball of wall left over, so I shall crochet some ditsy flowers to go over the stains, which fortunately are in the centre of the shawl.

Psychic share:

I chatted along about how we take the wind for granted. The wind is the wind, and that's that. We can't see it, the same as we can't see the energies of the Universe. But we can feel the wind,  the same as we can feel the energies of the Universe clairsentiently, if we allow ourselves to do so, or intuitively.

I also chat about being in sync with people, and that sometimes pressures of life throw us out of sync with others around us.

Other chattings:

I did think I might have a Naughty Fairy in the back kitchen of my home because of the way in which the washing up seems to be able to make more of itself. However, on reflection, I come to the conclusion that it is me not liking washing up who is the culprit.

And the little lizard running across the front wall of the house, and the little sparrow doing demolition work on the same wall as it pecks at the lime mortar plaster, and the little bunch of bees taking up residence in the roof of the half barn, just above the doorway.  It is very busy here!

That's it for now, until the next time,

Bye for now,

Vx

DayinLife: 1

Starting off the day, crochet, candle lit in prayer alcove, tarot word of the day, scything, thoughts about getting in touch with land work,  more crochet, chatting, travel prayer, knit and natter trip, sewing towels, prayer for partner, and thoughts about leaving my psychic self at the front door.

I start off my day by lighting a candle, having a cup of tea, doing some crafting ( today it is is the Breeze Summer Crochet Top),  and finding the tarot word of the day, and meditating. The meditation did not happen because I was chatting with you, but the rest I did. 

Time for working in the garden, and the grass having grown to a good height everywhere, I thought I would cut some of it down by using my scythe. So I sharpened it, had more chat with you, then off I went to scythe. Unfortunately the scything urge left me quite quickly, so I needed to have a sit down. Shame to waste time by not doing anything, so handily I had taken my crafting bag with me out into the garden, so I utilised my sit down time by doing a bit more to the crochet top. However, time ran away with me, and I crafted for longer than I intended, which meant I put myself behind with making lunch, which ended up as baked beans on toast, instead of stir fried lamb and rice. 

Helpful Hint:

No tin of baked beans in your larder? Not to worry, I always use tin of haricot beans, rinse them, into a saucepan with a splash of water to stop them from sticking to the pan, add a very good squirt of tomato ketchup (normally Heinz), stir all, heat gently, eat. Here in France we can only get Heinz Baked Beans, and they are very expensive to buy. DIY (do it yourself) baked beans not only taste better but are a third of the price to make. 

Off to the Knit and Natter afternoon in a nearby village (Mondebat), but first I needed to ask a blessing from the Universe for the drive there, that I drive safely with no damage to anyone or anything along the way. I felt this was necessary as I was minus my afternoon nap so had a general dozy feeling in my head. I also asked a blessing for all who were going to be at the Knit and Natter. As  a psychic person I am sensitive to the energies that others give off, which I can absorb like a dried up sponge being put into a bowl of water can. To protect myself, I asked for protection from the possibility of this happening, and wished for a good energy to be between us all. Which it was. 

Home again, and time for some sewing before shutting down for the night. The Towel Project is chugging along, with two towels having been finished, and one tea towel. I then chatted with you about the need to send some healing across to my partner. We are going through a difficult couple of days, and I need to hold us steady via my sensitive psychic self, rather than dropping into my lower self mode of being which will, more than likely, end up with a big argument, which will give us both a bad energy with each other. 

I try to live my life as a spiritually sensitive person, as I get older it is easier. Experience of life helps me, and I know that if I do not pay attention to the needs of my psychic self, then I will not do so well with myself, and if I continue to ignore the situation between myself and my two selves, then I shall eventually become unwell. 

Project Info:

Breeze Summer Crochet Top: Amira Crafts on YouTube and Ravelry. Free download. Scheepjes Softfun. Colour 2534 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKTllOxMWl8&t=380s

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/breeze-summer-top

Thankyou for visiting with me, and I hope you visit again soon.

In love and light

Vera

Crafting Again 2

And here I am again, crafting again after a couple of weeks of inactivity due to pressures beyond my control! With relief I returned to all that keeps me in balance, which is sewing, knitting, and crochet projects........

Knitting: Pale Green Jumper. 

This is my pattern, and the wool is Stylecraft Life DK. I love this wool, it is very patient with the wear and tear I give it, and washes well. I have knitted the back, and am now knitting the first sleeve, making sure that the raglan patterning and shaping of both pieces match each other. 

Knitting: Red Socks 

The wool is West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 ply, and knitted with the Magic Loop method. I am on the foot part of the first sock, knitting on 2.25 Hiya Hiya sharps needles. Although I love the colour of this wool, it does have a tendency to split.

Sewing:

Gardening Apron. Pattern Simplicity 8816. I am pleased with the finish of this apron, and will make more. It is simple to make, although I would not buy denim especially for this project, preferring a more flexible fabric.

Crochet:

Breeze Summer Crochet Top: Amira Crafts on YouTube and Ravelry. Free download. Scheepjes Softfun. Colour 2534 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKTllOxMWl8&t=380s

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/breeze-summer-top

This is an enjoyable make, although I think my tension is probably tighter than the pattern suggested. I shall carry on though, as the way in which this top is written allows for the top to be easily made larger if necessary. 

I like the Scheepjes cotton.

Crochet:

History of Shawls: Christina Hadderingh. Paid for pattern. Scheepjes Stone Washed. colour 825 and 819 (Malachite, New Jade)

 https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/history-of-trees-shawl

I have had a look at the pattern, and decided to put off starting the shawl for now! 

Thankyou for visiting with me, and I hope you visit again soon.

In love and light

Vx