A Grey Day

Hello everyone, thanks so much for all your lovely comments on my last post, very much appreciated as always.  I hope you are managing to stay warm today.  Here we have seen rain, sleet, and on higher ground, snow, it hasn't got light all day and it is so cold it feels raw.

But, there are some things that are definitely cheering up my day...

The scent is intoxicating...

This one should have been blue, but hey, it is still stunning....

Hyacynths... so beautiful, and especially on a day like today...

Little reminders that Spring isn't really too far away.  

Have a great evening!

Helenxx

Crochet Blanket Challenge - week 4

Good morning everyone - a very dull and dark start to the day here in the middle of the British Isles, after horrendous thunder and hail storms yesterday.  At least where I live we have thankfully been spared the dreadful floods that have so badly affected other parts of the country, my heart goes out to all those that have been caught up in that over the past few weeks.

Well, even though it has been an extremely busy week I have managed to make 2 squares to contribute to the steadily-growing blanket project.

Would you like to see?

Loving the colours...

Surprising just how soothing some hooky time can be, the gentle repetition of the stitches and the satisfaction of making progress on yet another square...

Here are the two squares completed this week....

When I was having a little walk down memory lane looking at some photos from 2 years ago I found this, my first attempt since the 1980's of making granny squares:

After making these (for a bloggy swap) I didn't make any more until last autumn when I hooked some to make up into cushions.  And now, somehow, I have become quite addicted to them.  Never thought I would say that as I had previously found making them quite, ahem, boring.  Not tiresome, just boring.  But I think at the moment what I need is a nice, soothing, crafting project like running up squares for something that, in the end will (hopefully) be a large, reasonably impressive outcome.  While making them I can really let my mind relax and wander .  I find myself thinking about a lot of things whilst hooking away, but not stressful thoughts.  I can concentrate on how the yarn feels, the scent of the hyacinths blooming on the windowsill, the sound of the rain (or indeed hail!) on the window, the sound of the cats purring as they sprawl on the carpet at my feet.  All very soothing, very necessary things to be aware of - the simple, little things that form part of the pattern of my life.  And yes, I can think to myself, it isn't all work, work, work, there are so many precious moments to be made the most of.

Hope you have the chance to appreciate the simple things today!

Helenxx

Reasons to be cheerful - part 2

Hi everyone!

Thought I would share a few things that have made me feel cheerful recently:

 A walk through the park on my way from one appointment to another.  A great chance to grab a bit of fresh air and appreciate some very welcome sunshine.

A bit of window shopping - I love this craft materials shop, the staff are very helpful and friendly, I have attended a couple of their evening workshops too, always a lovely treat.

I love the skies at this time of year just before dusk.  And I also love the skeletal outlines of the trees against the sky.

And finally, how could this little chap not bring a smile to my face?

One of the training providers I visit regularly has a small holding, where some of our more challenging students find working with animals and the land really rewarding and calming.  This little chap always comes along to say hello to me, and his face was just so cute I couldn't resist taking a quick snap!

What is making you feel cheerful this week?

Helenxx

Crochet Blanket Challenge - week 3

Good evening everyone - wow am I feeling tired today!  I only had about 4 hours sleep last night, my brother in law had arrived back from his 4 week break and called us from Heathrow to announce he would drop in for a coffee and a break - this is all great but he arrived at our house just after midnight!  I then drove 90 miles today for my job, and have an evening of thesis writing to look forward to...but thought I would just drop by and share my progress on the crochet square front for last week.

Even though last week was very hectic, what with work and study, somehow I managed to make 7 squares - not one a day, one day I made three and other days I made none.  But I am really chuffed I managed to make so many...

I now have 26 squares made, here they are all together:

I can now see a blanket taking shape!

At least I know my efforts will be appreciated, here is my cute cat Tiger asleep on a cushion I crocheted a couple of years ago:

Have a lovely evening!

Helenxx

Crochet Blanket Challenge - week 2

Good morning!  A very grey and damp one here, but as I have to do a morning's work on the final analysis of my research project I don't really mind - I'm aiming to wrap up working on that for today at around 2pm so if it could brighten up a bit at that point that would be nice :)

I realised that I hadn't posted about last week's crochet square progress.  I managed to knock out 4 (3 above target, sorry, couldn't resist putting that in, as an education co-ordinator I am always tracking "added value" regarding the grades and qualifications achieved by the students I manage!!).

Here they are together:

The colours in the photo are not quite as they are really, the blue of the top right square is much more subtle and "washed out".  Teresa had noted a similar issue with her camera when taking photos of some beautiful purple irises - must be something about that part of the colour spectrum.  But have no idea what!

Anyhow, here are all the squares made so far:

...that makes 19!  As the squares are made from 7 rounds of treble clusters and one finishing row of double crochet they are quite a decent size, the length of this little group together is around 1 yard (or about a metre for those of us who work in metric measurements).  So a good start has been made even when things slow up a bit.  And they might, as just before Christmas I ordered myself a little crafty treat, it arrived this week (all the way from the States).  And it will keep me out of trouble for many, many, many hours!!!!  So crochet squares will be made in and around that new project.  It will take a lot of concentration and effort, and progress will be, by the very nature of the project, a lot slower than crochet.  Crochet will be reserved for those times when I want to craft but don't really have the energy for strict concentration.  Any ideas, dear friends, what the new project could be?

Well, had better make a strong cup of coffee and get those research sheets out.  Will treat myself to a bit of hooky time once I have finished for the day (my poor old brain will be too worked out to tackle my new project!).

Have a lovely Saturday, Helenxx

A Birthday and a Bloggiversary!

Hello everyone, hope you had a great weekend.

I certainly did as it was my birthday yesterday (btw thank you so much to all of you who sent very kind greetings).  I had a lovely day being totally spoiled by my loved ones.

I ate this (made by Darling Daughter, oh my word it was a scrummy confection!)

spent a lovely day at home, surrounded by cards, flowers, candles

got lots of lovely gifts, and managed to get some of this done:

DH cooked us a fantastic meal, and I even had a visit from a dear bloggy friend!  All in all a wonderful day.

And, today it is the 3rd Birthday of this little blog!!!  I cant believe that I have been blogging three years, my goodness, where does the time go??

Will be back later this week to update re the crochet blanket challenge, it is going quite well at the moment I have to say.

Have a lovely evening, Helenxx

Reasons to be cheerful - part one!

Good morning everyone, well, we have made it through to the first weekend after the return to routine!  It has been a very hectic week, and I must admit to going to bed at 10 o'clock last night as I was exhausted!

Mind you, I was up at 3 in the morning the night before hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights...I did see some very pale streaks in the sky on the northern horizon that definitely wasn't cloud or con-trails from a plane, but whether these actually were the aurora borealis I cant truthfully say...but I would like to think that they were.  I have always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights since I was a little girl, hopefully one day I will be able to travel to one of the Nordic countries to see them  in their full glory.

Anyway, this morning I got up bright and early, glad to see that the rain has cleared away for the time being. 

Those of us of a "certain age" (and my age goes up tomorrow as it is my birthday!) will remember the Ian Drury song "Reasons to be cheerful" so may well smile at the title of this post.  Today's post is just that - things that are making me feel cheerful today!

First up, pots of spring bulbs - I usually buy these on my return to work after the holidays to cheer me up. 

Hyacinths, these are the pink variety:

and my favourites of all, the blue:

I love the wispy, mossy covering on the soil.

Some sweet little daffodils to complete the collection:

these cost £3 all together for the three pots, bargain!

Loving these little USB lights arranged around one of my Moroccan lamps:

Certainly a cheerful, cosy sight on these cold days of winter.

What is making you feel cheerful this weekend?

Helenxx