Crocheted blanket.

Been busy using up odd balls of yarn.  An easy crocheted blanket made of "granny" squares.  Don't know who it is for but maybe good to keep this granny's knees warm in the winter.

Up-cycled cushion

The latest in my home made cushions. The idea for this cushion came from the book Patch by Cath Kidston.  In fact it looks very like hers as I used similar colours and also backed it with pink gingham.  I used patches from old embroidered table clothes and table mats which were brought into the charity shop but were too stained to sell. Also some of my own old embroidery in there.  Hers had piping round the edge but I used bias binding (home made).

That time of year again

Yes it's the time of year when I start looking for signs of spring. We are having such a miserable wet and windy winter. We are fortunate to be in an area that is very unlikely to flood but parts of the country are have a really bad time.  I do worry about the wind blowing my rather large trees down but so far the only problem has been a large amount of very small branches which blow off my silver birch tree.  These are always blowing off but maybe more so this year.

So far it hasn't really been very cold this winter and like last year my potted geraniums haven't been killed off by frost. There is still time though.  I also have a potted chrysanthemum which has been outdoors and is showing signs of new growth

The earliest I have seen frogs in the pond is 14th February. That date is approaching so I am keeping watch every day for signs of them arriving.  It was later last year and I missed it.  I missed checking one weekend and on the Monday the pond was home to 11 batches of spawn. 

I had my bird boxes put back up a few weeks ago by a very nice man called Richard who runs a project called Project Nest Box.  I happened to mention on a local group on facebook that my gardener hadn't put them back up for me yet after he had them taken down for me to clean them.  A couple of days later Richard arrived and fixed them for me.  So far I have seen several bluetits visit them but not sure if they have started nesting yet.  I also saw a cheeky robin peeping into one when a bluetit popped out and chased him off.  I will keep you updated when there is any action there.  I have also bought a new feeding station for the birds and it is proving very popular already.  A few weeks ago when I was doing the Big Garden Bird Watch I saw hardly any birds.  The last couple of days I have seen bluetits, great tits,robins, greenfinches, chaffinches, starlings, jackdaws, collared doves, wood pigeons and feral pigeons.

A bluetit enjoying the peanuts. 

As usual the first flowers to brave the cold are the delicate snowdrops.

There are a couple of crocuses in flower. I used to have quite a lot but they have gradually disappeared. Just yellow ones left.

The only other colour is the primroses and not many of them just yet 

The daffodils are growing fast,  Wonder if I will see some on St David's Day

Birthday Flowers

Yet another birthday has passed this week and I had some lovely flowers.  

 First a lovely arrangement from hubby

Sunflowers from my daughter Sophie

Chrysanths from my friend Rita 

I was also treated to a lovely birthday tea, at the Raspberry Tea Rooms at Llanyravon Manor, by my friend Edwina.

New quilted patchwork cushion.

For Christmas I requested a rotary cutter and board and ruler so I could do some patchwork and quilting. I had done a bit before but thought the job would be easier with the correct tools.  My first attempt is a quilted patchwork cushion which I found on one of the many craft blogs that I like to look at which is called Sew Mama Sew.  Eventually managed the cutting with a little trial and error but I am pleased with the outcome even though some of my corners don't match very well.  I made my own continuous bias binding for the first time too.  Now to try one a little different, maybe arrange the triangles in a different pattern. 

Grandchildren

I have not posted again for quite a long while so must start Thinking about it!  Made a start today with a new blog heading photo.  This was taken in November at Jakob's 10th birthday party.  From left to right they are Jasmine age 6 who is Jakob's sister and is the artist who did the face painting, Me holding Safeya who will be 2 in April, her brother the scary spiderman Zachariah who is 4, Smiley Stuart who is 11 today and Jakob the birthday boy who was distracted as usual.

Forgotten hobbies

Not blogged for a while so thought it time I did.   I have been trying to sort through cupboards and book shelves in an attempt to de-clutter a little.

Today I have been looking at stamp albums.  I used to love collecting stamps as a child and I think it helped me to learn a bit of geography.  This included where different countries were and what their names were in their own languages and well as their currency and who their monarchs were.  When I go to the post office to post overseas I have to ask for stamps and they just print out a label now instead of giving you stamps. For me part of the excitement of receiving mail has always been receiving a new stamp and even today I cut the stamps off any envelopes and keep them in an envelope with the idea that some day I might get round to putting them in an album.

 Children today don't seem very interested in stamps at all.  I have tried to instill an interest in stamps in all my children when they were younger and Darius received his first album, together with a lovely collection of Australian stamps, from my mother when she first met him on a trip over when he was five.   In turn all of them have started collections at some time.  Sophia found her small collection when she was sorting her room last weekend.  She remembered doing it for her collector's badge when she was a Brownie.

Today I plan to show the albums to Stuart to see if he might be interested.  When Imran was young I started sending him first day covers whenever one was issued.  If I missed one I sometimes bought a presentation pack instead.  Looking through the album of 59 first day covers and presentation packs I wondered if they might be valuable.  I was so disappointed when checking on ebay to find they were selling for about a pound each.  Only sentimental value then!

So many subjects are covered on stamps.  There is always a new set every Christmas and also to celebrate anniversaries of different organisations.

Christmas 1991 

75th Anniversary of Scouting

Not sure where this one came from but I think it was the start of the collection

Sport is well covered too, this one for football and we also have one with golf courses on. 

Historical event are also depicted on stamps

From the Civil War 1642 - 1651

  

To the D Day landings of  6th June 1944.  

This one I sent to Sam as Imran had lost interest by that time. 

This set were issued for the opening of the Channel Tunnel on 6th May 1994.

This set commemorate the 50th anniversary of the George Cross in1990

Green issues are also covered

I like the animal and birds ones as you might guess. 

This is the latest one which I bought this year

I think the collection is one that I won't be parting with unless of course one of the children want to claim it.