So much has happened since the last posting taken on our Golden Wedding Day. It was such a happy day.

It is very difficult to write this but at the moment my life is pretty much in a state of flux as I cope with the very sudden loss of my lovely husband in April.  Life will never be the same again I know but I am still taking very small steps to decide which way to go from here.

The year has been punctuated by all the "first days" without him--birthdays, 53rd wedding anniversary and now Christmas is nearly here. In a way you are ready for those things but it is the unexpected moments that catch you out like spotting the red squirrel, the nuthatch, a beautiful sunset and turning to point them out to him and he isn't there.

People talk of stages of grief but it doesn't prepare you and everyone copes in their own way. Looking back over eight months my totally overwhelming feeling is thankfulness. I am so very glad and grateful that we found and loved each other for all those years, for our family of children and grandchildren and the fun we had along the way.
I miss him so very much.
RIP my love.

Picture heavy catch up. :o)

 It has been quite a year with one thing and another and I am afraid my blog has suffered because of it. Thanks to everyone for all the nudges to get posting again!
Things are really looking up now and a lot of loose odds and ends should be resolved soon. :o)
 So it's time for a catch up!

 

It was our Golden Wedding Anniversary in August and on the day itself we just went up to Crummock Water and had a picnic. We have been so fortunate to have had a happy,whole half century together.  

The weather was kind and there was a "glass on the water"------pure magic!

The fantastic summer we have had this year was just what was needed to get things growing again along our river wall after the rebuilding work.

 

Because of the weather we have been outside a lot but I have still been sewing, knitting and crocheting.

 

 

In July an anxiously awaited grandson arrived! All well. :o)

 

This was my contribution to the P&Q magazine's 250 Shades of Red competition. It is pictured in this month's magazine. 

 

This is a clothesline basket made just to prove to myself that my Bernina really can sew rope! Would you believe there are 25 yards of rope in it?

 

 

 Came across some white sweat shirting fabric in my stash so used some of the lovely Paisley patterns in my Bernina 830 on the fronts and back of a jacket.

 

When it was done I popped it in the washer and dyed it a sort of dark dusky pink so that the embroidery is now tone on tone.

  

 

I rarely use patterns for quilts but Love Entwined caught my imagination as it is based on an C18 coverlet. Our house is at least as old as that so I thought it would fit right in even done in more modern colours. The pattern is all still freely available thanks to Esther's generosity.

 

 I am amazed that I have nearly finished it and also how big it is! Would you believe there is a three seater sofa hidden under it on the above picture!

 

 

 

Last corners ready to add.

 

 

 

Last border ready.

 

 

Also downloaded a pattern for Bionic Gear Bag from Craftsy. It gave me opportunity to use fabric on which I had tried out one of my own applique designs that was just the right size!

 

It gave plenty of practice on inserting zips as well as making inroads into my stash!

Just testing

I haven't been able to blog for ages--this is just a test to see if I have found a way round the problem.

This is just a picture of Rosie after her operations in the summer. She didn't need a bandage over the wounds and can escape a lampshade collar so a bit of old tee-shirt was ideal for stopping the long ends of her stitches irritating her. (As a quilter I resisted trying to hide the thread ends for her!) :o)

May garden update--picture heavy!

Thought I would take some pictures of some of the garden whilst the grass is actually cut! If I blog them it will remind me what was out when and which I need to remember to prune.

All the trees have either been grown from seeds/cuttings or as small (less than two feet high ) plants.

  

The first two pictures are from inside! The orchid has flowered almost constantly for about six years now. It has never been potted on or fed and it gets a drink when I remember so I have been very lucky.

The house plants are thriving. I love the colours of the leaf and the flower of this pelargonium. Often one or other is more attractive or they don't quite "go". I think this is Vancouveri? 

The drive down the right. The box hedge is needing another trim but the white geranium is flowering well. The box hedge keeps it from flopping.

There's the white geranium from another angle looking back to the front lawn.

This is the entrance to the "field garden". The tree in the middle came from a packet of seeds that were supposed to be Pagoda trees. Whether it is or not I still don't know but it is a lovely shape.

This is another view of it.See that clump of rushes beneath it to the right? A willow tit or a chiffchaff (not quite sure which) makes a tiny little nest in it every year.

Just past the Pagoda tree is the first silver birch. Not much of it shows as it has Clematis Montana and Honeysuckle right up to the top and hanging in curtains from it. That is a variegated Wiegela with the pale pink blossom.

On the left in the foreground is an Acer. Behind it is the Mulberry though it is not in full leaf yet. To the right is an Amelanchier.

This is a pine that I grew from a pack of mixed seeds. It grew almost horizontal at first but has now decided to reach for the sky. It sheds clouds of pollen if you brush against it. It looks like a peacock's tail with all thouse cones.

Looking back down towards the Pagoda tree and the redwood.

This is towards the bottom corner with the Japanese Larch to the right and to the left is a Japanese Cedar. This as a soft red bark that peels.

Up behind the silver birch towards the hedge at the end of the garden.

                                 That Pagoda tree again.

The redwood in the middle and a plum tree to the left.

Looking back uphill.

Cherry to the left and Japanese Larch to the right. Underneath is a carpet of greenery which for the life of me I can't remember the name? Is it a cross between Heuchera and Tiarella? It pops up everywhere and has a lovely perfume especially in the evening.

This is just one of the buddleias spread around the garden to encourage the butterflies. There are so many butterflies already this year! Last year we didn't have very many at all. The mild winter and heavy blossom this year have given them a boost.

Back to the Redwood again.

Some more perfume around the bottom of a pear tree.

The azalea is past its best but the forget-me-nots are still going!

It has been a long few months.

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 We had a very sad and upsetting end to 2013 and start of 2014 so not much creative stuff has been done.

We became even more familiar with this bit of road even though sunny, dry days like this were rare at the beginning of this year.

We also got  became very familar with this view over Keswick.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    


It is spring now and time to get motivated again! There is a garden to get sorted,for a start, before Mother Nature takes over!



Check out this double rainbow. The colours were incredibly intense!

 

So long since I blogged -some pictures of our favourite walk.

The river is low here but it has been high since this was taken.

Tranquil meander by the hostel

Past our neighbour's garden

Through the old kissing gate.

Rosie waiting for me to catch up.

Rosie watching dogs in the river . Nothing would induce her into cold water!



Are you coming?



Love how the sun comes through this horse chestnut tree.

The leaves were just beginning to fall.