Our wet weekend

See my reclaimed, rescued chair.  Isn't it lovely.  I found it one morning when i had arrived at my destination.  The idea was I would park about 10mins away from where I was going then when I was finished I could have a look about the shops before going back.  Well.....arrived and out in the street was this chair and stool upside down.  Not one to not notice these things I had a good look.  I probably should have knocked some doors but it was really early so I stuck it in the back of my car and hey presto, it's here.  Not everyone in the house likes it but my wee guy and dog do, and so do I so that's fine.  The chair is now upstairs in my bedroom where I have a fantastic view right down the other street.

I am revisiting a granny square blanket I started ages ago.  I've no idea where I got the picture to copy from so I'm afraid I can't post back a link but to be fair, by the time I've finished the blanket I will probably remember.

It was health week at the kids school and joe was to design a smoothie.  I'm not sure that custard is exactly healthy but it was low fat and there was strawberry and peach.  The crushed flake on top was not healthy.  At all.  But was lovely.

A speckled egg.  Really speckled. I don't think I've seen many of those.

Loom bands are quote the thing in our house just now.  It's quite addictive and I have even started a few myself under Jessica's expert instruction.  I am trying to do some Attic 24 type colours. Well,  like Lucy's rainbow cup anyhow.  

I have to bid a sad farewell to my Wonder Woman cup.  It had a nasty accident coming out the dishwasher so I told and it is now no longer a working cup,  oh dear.  What I spied from my window yesterday evening was a grown man,  on one of those y flicker scooters.  Off he went down the street.  A bit odd but not that odd,  it was Saturday night after all.

Pacman donut.  It was national donut week so it seemed only right to buy a few of the tasty dudes.  I asked for the sparkly ones much to the bakery assistants amusement.  And here is my jess pulling a face worthy of blogging.  I love her expressions.

I recovered these cushions for a friend.  She had a rocking chair and wanted to recover so I offered. It didn't seem like too massive a job and I think I've done well but the bottoms are a bit untidy, not that you can see. I didn't go with zips,  I wasn't that confident.  I really hope she likes it.  I facebooked her photos so she has seen it but not on her own chair.  This is my reclaimed chair.

This is my latest a finished granny square blanket.  I started it months and months ago,  probably last year?  I spent ages yesterday tying in all the ends as though I thought I had crocheted over a lot, I clearly hadn't.  I used lots of my stash of wool,  which hasn't made must of a dent.  It really hasn't.  I must have had loads.  The square is really big,  it just doesn't look like it.  It's draped over my reclaimed chair up in my bedroom now.  I love that chair.  It's my thinking, blogging and snoozing chair.  Thank you whoever threw it out,  it's made me very happy.

Book Club Books

WLast year I joined a book club.  I was looking for something to challenge me a bit.  Something different from watching repeats of the same shows on BBC3.  I have a thing about watching obsessive compulsive programmes but that in itself was becoming an obsession of its own.


So, I joined a book club in Glasgow, at an Oxfam Bookshop that my cousin runs.

The first book we read was a biggie  Bring up the bodies, Hilary Mantel  I cheated a bit though, I downloaded it and listened to it while I was dog walking.  Perfect!  I really enjoyed that book.  Wasn't sure at first if it was going to be my cup of tea but it was all about a challenge, wasn't it.

The second book I am struggling to remember. It might come back to me.

The one after that, Birdsong by Sebastian-Faulks  I really loved that book.  I must have been very ignorant about the first world war.  I just didn't realise.  Of course it was a war and people were going to get killed but the way they were sent out into the fields and there was no plan.  Just killing. Its hard to put into words.

Then we read The Crimson Petal and the White  Didn't like it at all.  Not one bit.  Read two chapters and that was enough.

Second last up was The Power and the Glory, Graham Greene.  Im still reading this.  Well I say still, I have went back to it.  I didn't get a chance to read it in time for the discussion at the book club but when they were talking about it and all the sections they liked, it gave me a taste to read it.  I have finished the book we got last week  Fahrenheit-451 already.  In under 1 week.  Yes, I am very pleased with myself for that one.  I thought this book was very thought provoking.  A bit scary to think it was written a while ago and yet today there are similarities.  People do go at 100 miles an hour through life.  Not me, couldn't be bothered moving much faster than I do.

So thats us up to date with the book club action.  Three weeks till the next meeting so I may have the Power and the Glory finished by then.  I do have a cheeky other book an the go that I downloaded tonight though so I may have to go between the two.

What I love about using a talking book is that I can crochet and listen, walk and listen,  just sit and listen but I can't listen in bed or I fall asleep. 

The last few weeks goings on

Yes, going to the beach is lots of fun with a dog.  Even when the dog goes in the water then comes out and rolls in the sand.  And repeats this several times.

My belle boo looks a bit wild there.  She almost looks as though she can fly.

My other half has been making home brew by a company called Brooklyn Brewshop. This was a porter IPA and it was lovely.  So tasty and not to mention strong.  I drank maybe less than half and woah!  legs were feeling a bit weird, haha.  2 bottles later was party time.  Plus I didn't have sore head the next day either which is always a bonus.

The slightly less than enthusiastic litter picker

My wee family all taking part in the beach clean.  The Eco council for the school organised this for a few weeks ago and it was quite a success.  The poor beach does get a bit of litter and it's not because there aren't bins.  Some people are lazy.

Our local firestation had an open day with lots of emergency vehicles for the kids to see and ride on if appropriate.  The favourite though was this old fire engine.  It had a really loud horn and it was going off a lot!

I can't even get for a bath thee days without my belle at my side.  I'm surprised she hasn't tried to jump in.

Nothing quite like a Maeve Binch novel.  This is a lovely collection of stories.  I'm pacing myself,  just a few at a time.i can't believe there will be no more.  Over the years I have read many, if not all of her wonderful books.

Smoothie time.  I try to have a fruit smoothie every day.  I think this one was spinach, celery, blackberries, banana, yogurt and something else but I can't remember.

Sewing Classes.

A few months ago I heard that a new sewing shop was opening up in Saltcoats and that sewing classes would be starting there.  To say I was excited was an understatement as there wasn't anything close by that was teaching total beginners.

Diane that runs the classes is lovely.  So friendly and encouraging. Saltcoats was really needing this type of shop and the classes.  I love to think that I can make things for the kids though my daughter is at the stage where she might not be wanting to wear anything mummy made.  How uncool of me to suggest it.

So,  6 or is it 7 weeks later,  I have made a hold all type bag,  a make up bag and Diane is now working on showing us how to make a top.  I'm learning loads about how to move the fabric through the machine;  I didn't realise how much I had been pulling the fabric through.  The way I have been shown is so much easier and probably obvious to other people.

So, back to the top.  We have fitted the tops to ourself cut out the fabric and sewn the shoulders and neckline.  Interfacing has been put on the neck and top stitching has been done on the inside of the neck.  Now for the zip at the back.   We have been practising hard with the zips.  I have my top and zip home with me to practise on for next week though on my machine it may be a bit more tricky.  My machine is an old singer and she is a bit of an older lady now.  She pulls fabric through to the side a lot (it's not me honest) and I'm having all sorts of tension issues and snapage (yay for technical speak).

So here is a few pictures from the class.  I'm still a bit shy about asking to take pictures.  Silly me.

We are using a Janome Sewist at the class.  Rather that than lugging my singer down just for it to show me up in front of folk by snapping and wandering to the side.  I love it really.

This is the start of my lovely top that I'm very proud of.  

I always imagined doing necklines to be very difficult and way beyond what I was capable of but it was actually okay.  I won't say easy as if it was that easy we (Diane and I) wouldn't have ripped it back a few times.  Heyho, you live and learn.