Anniversaries and learning new things

 This week I joined some members of our WI to celebrate an anniversary. It is ten years since this group was formed.  I joined soon after we arrived here, having been a member of my local WI in Kenilworth, where I had met some great friends, and had been on some memorable adventures, and enjoyed the mall bookclub.   I learnt a lot at the Craft Group in particular with our then President Kay Pluse taking me beyond the sewing on of buttons, and repairing hems etc!

Quite a few activities had been planned to mark this tenth anniversary year, but with gatherings being out of the question, we had a Zoom celebration.  We were sent some cloth and invited to get ready! I can't say I was at all in the mood, sometimes I feel overcome with everything that is happening, but again I had my mother's voice in my head encouraging me to make an effort.  

With no instructions, I had to ask on the Whatsapp group: I was one of the few who did not get instructions, as they thought I would be able to sail through this.  People get the impression that I find things easy, how so?  Maybe I give off an outward optimism and confidence?  This is not put on, but I do find things difficult, and put things off.  I managed to get the flower done by 6pm...then I read the invite , and the little label, and then was reminded that a drink was to be prepared.  

I poured myself a large glass of Kombucha, and arranged my long piece of knitted Hemp lace, and attached the broch, found a lovely handmade vintage top, took a selfie and uploaded it to the group to say I was ready and prepared.

I obviously need to work on hair and makeup which is just a little more than lipstick, get the lighting and the pose right. I still have not been to the hairdresser for a haircut!

This year thanks to Members of Wells WI, I have learnt how to take part in Zoom meetings, started to use my mobile and uploaded WhatsApp, and for this party taken my first selfie, I think.  Then I managed to transfer the picture to my main computer...all small steps for most, a great step for me!

During times when quite honestly I could have curled up, excluded myself from the outside world, and just gardened, baked, gone for walks and cycle rides, I have learnt a few new tricks! Thanks for WIs and friends for keeping me going.

In a Vase on Monday - The theme was set

 The theme was set early this morning, when the I set out the picking from the beans on the kitchen worktop! Purple and Green. This mornings's runner bean harvest was divided between two neighbours, and the purple french beans will be eaten here today.

A quick trot round the garden, a speedy set up and photograph followed.

Hydrangea Paniculata Vanille Fraise, still in the creamy white phase, Linaria canon went, Centaurea montanan alba, Monarda, Verbena rigida, Salvia Amistad. Fuchsia Hawkshead make up this week's bouquet.

Why the hurry?  I was scheduled to meet up with five other fellow WI walkers for a walk up on Mendips.  It was a walk through a pine forest plantation called Stockhill Woods, easy walking, and with loads of chatter.  The forestry tracks were edged with lovely flowering herbs amongst which this Mint, most probably Mentha pulegium aka Pennyroyal. It is much cooler up there, and only five miles away.

Our Leader  too has used a colour theme, so I could be said to be following in her footsteps this week, as we all did in our walk, where the paths were sufficiently wide to be able to pass walkers coming in the other direction keeping our social distance.

More Cycling

Its great to be well enough again to think of going for rides other that to Town to do my shopping.  On Bank Holiday Monday we took advantage of the clear roads and headed towards Wedmore then back through the levels.

We cycled along a ridge with views to the north towards Cheddar, and towards the south down on Shapwick Heath Reserve, and had a stop for a drink at Bagley.  The ride down Mudgly Hill was exhilarating as.  Down on the levels the were many people out walking and cycling on this fine day.

A regular feature now is a get together with WI friends whether it be the book club, netball, or as next week for the first time, a monthly meeting via Zoom.  Yesterday evening Jane came up with ideas of 'outings' of course in ones or family groups, to surrounding farm shops.  It planted the seed for our cycle ride today.  We found Long Drove across Queen's Sedge Moor with some magnificent oak trees, let us straight onto a good cycle track running parallel to the A39.

Up at Middlewick Farm, we happened to bump into the owner, whom we had met previously during a rather nice dinner on our break in Dunster.  Its taken us eighteen months to get round to popping in for a chat again.  The farm shop was well stocked, and had in place excellent procedures with hand washing, and with just one at a time in the shop.  After an icecream, we headed for home and it is sure to be asparagus as a starter tonight!  I wonder how long it will be before we are back for coffee and croissants?

Swallowtail Shawl

It was particularly hot on Friday, and in the small amount of shade by the house, we were sitting having our lunch.  Answering the door,  Mr S returned to the garden with a parcel.  I was intrigued..nothing had been ordered or was outstanding.  On opening the jiffy bag this is what I found.

A note with the one word 'ENJOY' and two skeins of hand dyed lace weight Pure Kid Mohair yarn in the most delicate mixture of lime green and blue.

As I continued my painting of skirting boards and door architraves during the afternoon, with peace and quiet I mused on several aspects concerning this parcel.  There was no postage stamp or cancellation mark to indicate where the parcel was posted...the printed postage paid label issued by the Post Office gave no clue. There were only neat capital letters on the envelope and a one word entry on illustrated notepaper.

Before the advent of emails, easy phone calls etc, keeping in touch with friends by post meant  recognising handwriting, pens and ink, as well as the telltale cancellation mark on the stamp showing the origin of posting areas, time, date etc.  All these would let you know which friend had written to you.  Indeed when I first wrote letters, it was customary to write one's own name and address on the back of the envelope.  Times have certainly changed.

Following on from this, I started to think of who would understand me and my passion for knitting, and my love of fine yarns.  Who might guess that a thoughful present may just be the thing to light a little spark of enthusiasm.  It suddenly came to me....and the handwriting then seemed familiar.  When Kay gave us instructions and directions at our WI craft meetings, or would slip some note through my front door, the short and to the point details were in this script.

A phone call during the evening confirmed my thoughts, and had I checked my emails I would have known, but also I would not have spent such a lovely few hours painting and thinking about the sender.

This is the gist of what Kay had written to me:

Our speaker last night talked about wool, spinning and knitting.  It was a real fun evening.  Lots of noise and laughter as we all tried different methods of spinning. Ancient and modern.  Lots of information and knowledge about different types of sheep wool and lots of samples to touch and feel.  The speaker  takes the wool from fleece to garment all natural processes and materials including the dyes.  After the talk I was looking at her samples and she had some beautiful little triangular scarves, not as beautiful or intricate as yours, but how they reminded me of you.  I am sending you a little gift, as I could not resist it, to knit yourself a little bit of spring.

The Kenilworth WI was a lifeline for me when I moved to that area and particularly the craft group, where over the years I learnt many new skills.  As a parting present Kay made me this beautiful sampler which is now hanging on the wall.

Following our phone conversation I mused on what I would knit.  I looked through my Ravelry wishlists, through my lace knitting books, and notes.  I dug deep, and still could not decided, so slept on it.  It came to me in the middle of the night.....It would be The Swallowtail Lace Shawl

I lost my shawl many years ago...and I miss it. I used to call it my tucker.  And each time I wear it, another opportunity to think of my dear friend.

Out with the old and in with the New

Just as they have been pointing out in the news, I have been aware for a long time that there are mountains and oceans of plastics and lots of non recyclables to contend with.  I still like to have a paper diary, and go for the cheapest as they usually have card covers. 

Back in 2011 I made my first cloth diary cover using some of the techniques which we were being guided through each week by our WI president and craft queen bee Kay.  Ever since I did my first bit of quilting, and that is something for me who had until then just sewed on the odd button or mended a hem that had come undone: First Quilting

The Last Diary Cover was made in 2011, so it has lasted seven years...and will go into the recycling bin.




When I came to change over my diary on the first of January, at first I thought it would just need a good wash as it had a couple of years ago, but then looking at the spine, I noticed that it was starting to fray.

My current handbag...and those who have known me for some time wont be surprised, is still bright and jolly, a sort of mango or pumpkin colour.  So for a new cover I decided to use bits and pieces which I already had in my stash.  Rummaging through I found just the right combination, together with threads, silks, and cotton batting.  In the end I just used a thick cotton quilting thread, in black and also mango.

I found that quilting on the black showed up the dragon fly motifs perfectly.

Here is the finished diary on one of my project bags.  The dragon fly fabric was first used when we were working on a  Cathedral Patch work trial.  I was pleased to make up a bag with it:  Cathedral Patchwork Bag.  This is another project I completed at the Kenilworth WI craft afternoon. When I have a small project on the go, whether sewing or knitting, I gather all the essentials into one of my project bags.

Here is my very cheap diary, for which I paid less than £1...the front cover fits into the sleeve, which can also accommodate all those notes, club membership cards and annual passes etc....

For the inside back sleeve, a little dragon fly motif finishes this off nicely.  This is where I keep all those vouchers....

I've spent a few hours when it was wet and windy outside, completely at ease, in peace, with only needle and scissors, using all the lovely techniques I was shown.  As I sipped on my lemon verbena tea this afternoon...the last stitches were put in place.

I wonder how long this one will last?  Maybe I should make a reserve one?

Needle Crafts

A project which I finished just before Easter at our regular WI craft groups is this 'sewing box'.  There was much cutting, gluing, and sewing with a curved needle.  For the top, I made a dorset button inspired handle, and have started to gather a few things to put in it.

When you take the lid off, the box opens up to reveal little areas to slip in tools, and threads, and a little pin cushion in the middle.

A few years ago, at the same group, led by Kay the leader of our branch of the WI, and amongst other things a wonderful needle woman, who has been known to haunt many a Goldwork course at Denman College,  I made the large 'house wife roll', and needle case.  Luckily I had quite a large amount of the fabric in my stash.

Our very latest project is just starting off, and I am coming to grips, with not letting my threads twist.  So if anyone can give me any tips, I shall be pleased to hear from you.

Just in time..Socks ready for Christmas

Yes...here are my socks finished last night, started last Thursday at Knit and Natter at the Almanack!  Knitted from West Yorkshire Spinners special Christmas yarn, but using my standard 'can knit them with my eyes closed nearly' pattern!


After all an easy pattern is needed for nattering, chatting to hubby, catching up with some of the TV we have recorded, and sitting down to celebrity University Challenge, whilst at the same time having a deadline to meet: New Christmas Socks for my feet on Christmas Day.

Thank goodness they have brought on the oldies for the mini series of University Challenge, and have backed off some of the very difficult mathematics and science questions, so that now we are getting relatively high scores, and so finishing with a more upbeat feeling!

As I took these out to the conservatory to photograph this morning, the story of the Iceland Yule Cat came to mind.  I was introduced to this story by our entertainer at our Horticultural Club Christmas Party, and he haunts those at Christmas time, and eats those who don't get new clothes.  Quite a gruesome story, and probably not one for the Children!    So now the Yule Cat will avoid me at all costs, when I wear my new Christmas Socks!

To counteract this frightening story I offer the lovely WI custom at our group, to offer the Birthday 'Girls' of the month, a posy...this month is my birthday, no surprise there..and I was the only one this month.  Kaye presented me with this lovely little Christmas Tree, which she had very nicely decorated with  mini bunting in the same colours as the bunting we made for our WI Christmas Tree marking the WI's Centenary.  There were the tiniest of stitches catching the smallest of pennants...Thank you so much Kaye, I shall treasure this little tree and in a few days time after my birthday it will be planted in the garden.  When I was born my father planted a lovely Christmas Tree in the garden in Mauritius, and it grew and grew, until sadly one year it was blown down by a cyclone.

Sock Knitting and other seasonal crafts.

Sometimes you just have to thread a project onto a slip of wool and start another one.  Its not often that I do this, but when Kay asked if I would knit up some yarn she had, I was more than pleased and wanted to make sure she would have some cosy socks as soon as possible.  Kay had learnt to knit with long needles which she tucks under her arms, so she is a very competent knitter, but just could not get on with short needles.  Kay is the leading light of our WI and runs our craft group..so I deemed it an honour in deed.  Here they are made to measure...standing on the tissue paper to draw around and measuring with a tape measure at our sewing group got us giggling.  So here they are, finished in less than 2 weeks.

And here are the socks which were temporarily put on hold, but again finished a couple of days ago from another ball from West Yorkshire Spinners.  They give a needle size for 3.25mm.  For socks one uses 2.5mm, so that there is a firm fabric, which is comfortable to wear.    There is usually a problem with the colours after you have turned the heel, such that you almost get a strap effect...and I suddenly got inspired to remove some of the yarn so that the colours continue down the front of the foot in the same sequence, the bands are a little narrower at first since the rounds are longer at the instep, but I am much happier with this.

Sadly our WI is getting smaller and smaller, so are we going to have a big recruitment drive after Christmas.  This didn't stop the committee coming up with some great ideas for our December get together.  Instead of giving each other Christmas Cards, and also have the old Bran tub £1 present, this year we had a lovely range of hand made Christmas Decorations worked on by some members, and we put in a donation which is going to a local Charity. Pat also read a cherry Christmas Poem which had been read at the group meeting.

As well as news of our members who have moved away, or were absent, we sat in groups and had fun time making a hand made Christmas Decoration.  The Room which we share with many other groups is just the right size now after we were in the much larger hall.  We had bunting up marking our 100th Anniversary.  

Our craft group had embroidered pennants with each year date, and each decade was a different colour.  It had decorated the Christmas Tree which our WI group had entered into the Christmas Tree Competition at St Nicholas Church in Kenilworth.  Kay who came up with the inspired theme, and led us in our efforts and Irene had set up the tree.

Just how much glitter and which colours to use...one of our member is driving down all the way to her French Home for the Christmas Break, with one hanging from her car mirror!

Some of us who had remembered to bring our Autumn Craft group projects, set up our Christmas Trees.  We had painstakingly made up the Christmas Tree boxes under Kay's direction...all starting with  shapes of card which we cut from cereal boxes, then with fabric, glue and curved needles covered the boxes and added some embellishments.

The two little miniature nativity scenes are so sweet.  Mine is the green one covered with mistletoe inside.  I had decided to use only material and bits I already had, and did a little ribbon work and sewed on some sequins.  To think that before I had joined this group...I had hardly done any sewing crafts!

In a Vase on Monday - WI flowers

Wednesday last week was a milestone in the WI.  Last Wednesday was our 100th Birthday, and the day of our monthly meeting.  I only just 'remembered' about half an hour before  leaving for our meeting, that we had agreed to 'dress up', and take a nice tea cup, saucer and plate!  What prompted me?  Hubby was watching the early evening news and I heard some local article in the distance.  I made the 'dressing up', gathered our everyday white Wedgewood China, and the little vase full of flowers for the Chairman's table.

Isn't that a lovely tradition?  Each month we have volunteers who make up a bouquet for the table, and also a posy for each person who has a birthday.  Sometimes one person volunteers to make both, or either the table flowers or the birthday posies.  I had agreed to step in to help out someone who was on the rota for the table flowers, but who could not make the meeting.  She was at Denman doing 'goldwork'.  I think Kay must have been on every Goldwork course since the year dot!  This was what I managed to pick quickly from the garden last Wednesday.

Of course there has to be two sides, so that the members have a nice view as well as the Chairman.

In this little Caithness Vase were leaves from Carex comans Bronze Form, which grows so well in the garden, and I usually have lots of little seedlings to give away, some lovely marjoram seed heads, some late flowering Lavender, the three asters as below, Coreopsis Sunfire, Rudbekia Goldstrum, Lysunachia clethroides also known as Gooseneck Loosestrife.  I had dead headed this a few weeks ago and it is paying me off with more blooms, and lastly a little spring of golden leaved Feverfew.

Our speaker cancelled at short notice and Victoria who has master minded and runs the Tree House Bookshop in Kenilworth, stepped in to give us an excellent talk on Vermeer, and the way he portrayed Women in the domestic sphere.  Dr Meir is a specialist in Art History of this period, but also a well loved and respected 'local'.  By the way a lovely yellow silk jacket/blouse the colour of the rudbekia turns up in several of Vermeer's paintings!

But this is In a Vase on Monday, so here is today's bouquet.

Picked again, as last week, in the pouring rain, I am happy with this medium sized arrangement.  The Vase is a rectangular one, which I picked up from an artist at the Cotswold Show in Cirencester back in the 1990's.  The shape was quite unusual then, but now it is everywhere.  There is a nice design etched on it, so even when empty is usually stays out somewhere.  Yes I can say this is still a WI arrangement.  The reason is that I ought to have brought one of the birthday posies home to give the following day to Pat who lives just round the corner from me.  She was out for the day to visit Lincoln, so I slipped the mag through her door, with a promise of a posy from the garden this week, when we got back from our weekend away.  As she called me back to say thank you and was particularly complementary about my flowers, I thought maybe this bouquet would do.

The pink feathers from the flamingos at Coton manor have a similar colour to the dahlias, which came to me as a rooted cutting earlier this year from the gardening club.  With some raindrops still on the petals of the daisies: Aster frikartii Monch, King George, and the smaller flowered one from my friend Penny.

 The pink sedum, I believe is Autumn Joy, and some stems of Rhamnus alaternus argenteovariegata complete the arrangement. Once I have finished this post, I shall take the arrangement round to Pat's.

Cathy is making sure that we think about the warm and sunny days this month with her arrangement, so as an antidote to this pink and mauve arrangement do go and enjoy hers, and see what other Vase on a Monday contributors are posting.

Garden in May

I like making a note of the seasons, and every year it is different.  I love to mark the first picking of the red climbing rose which is usually the first to flower in the garden.  Etoile de Holland this year is doing very well.  With careful pruning in early March, when I picked off every leaf to avoid any black spot, and good feeding, together the grey squirrels not having the buds as their  snack of choice, the plant is now in full flower.  It keeps on flowering all year, with flushes often going up till Christmas.

The first roses were picked around the 15th of May. The colour is rich, the flowers huge, the bud shape beautiful, and the scent most fragrant, so much so that if you put them in a room, close the door, then re enter a few hours later, you cannot but smile and know that no artificial room scent can come close to this.

Each year at the WI in January, we pass round a list for us to fill in our names agreeing to undertake various 'tasks', and back then I thought of volunteering for the Chairman's Table Flowers and Birthday posies, and chose May.

For the Chairman's Table I chose a simple bunch of Lily of the Valley, and in the end why gild the lily, over fifty stems and a few leaves.  Afterwards I offered these to our Chairman, and a couple of days later received a really charming email from Kaye.

For the birthday posies: red roses, lily of the valley and a few more blooms.  I like to pick the flowers first thing, and stand them right up to their necks in a bucket of water, then arrange them later.  There were four birthdays, and I made an extra one in case we had any visitors with birthdays that month.  After making them, I stood them on the front window sill.

Of course like a child, I marvel at the drops of dew, as I walk down the garden early ...I always have

December 2013

There was so much going on, that I just did not get round to downloading photographs or felt like writing up about some of my activities in December.  It seems that nowadays Christmas starts some time towards the end of November, then stops on Boxing Day.  The twelve days of Christmas which started on 25th December seem to be a thing of the past. 

An early Christmas Activity was making a fairy for our WI Decorated Christmas Tree for the St Nicholas Tree Competition. 

As usual Kaye our crafter, sewer, and gold work embroiderer extraordinaire came up with something even the least handy person could attempt.  With everything ready we all met for laughter and conversation, and with Kaye's patience really tested, we ended with a nice collection.  I even spun a tale when Mr S and I went to view the trees on the evening of the High Street Christmas Light Switch on, when every one was in a very good mood, to some people who were stood by our tree puzzled by the decorations.  This had everyone laughing and getting the message.  I explained that as our WI group had had a few people ill with the big C recently, we had decided to have angles with the little pink crossed ribbon symbol, most had lost their hair, hence the little black bow, and one even had a wing amputated, and they were all wearing their pink hospital gowns!

Their numbers were completed the following week by some of us, so that each of our members had a fairy to hang on the tree.  What is nice is that each member was given back their fairy at our December meeting.

This year the season has been a little sad for me too.  I have been thinking of a friend who is facing this Christmas with a big hole in her family, and another one whose husband was sinking fast...I received the news on Boxing Day that he passed away on Christmas Day.

The weather has been wet and dreary, and shopping is not quite the thing for us this year.  We have thought of going a little further afield to a gallery or museum, but the weather is too bad, and we venture forth for local walks between the showers.  

I did have a fancy for a new cooker, for one with a double oven, with windows and  lights, with timers: all bells and whistles and got quite excited about this.   After Christmas I went into a well known store, and after comparing all the wonderful gas cookers available, came away perfectly content with mine! 

Just before Christmas, a spring went in our settee...we pondered this, too late to do anything about this until the shops reopened.  We went to look at suites, sat in them, compared them with what we have, considered what they would look like in our sitting room.  We even got out the receipt for the current furniture, was amazed by how long we had had it. We considered having it reupholstered , tracked down the original manufactures and outlets, it had just been discontinued!  We love the cheerful yellow, it fits us both, we are comfortable on it, we like our furniture so much that if we could have replaced like with like, we would have had no hesitation.  In the end a good clean, and a new spring...I did the cleaning, and Mr S found out how to do the repair, ordered the spring, and today fitted it, and now contentment reigns again in the household.  We know Izzi will still want to climb and look out of the window, so a new precious settee would limit this.

On the other hand, we had our little Izzi to bring us cheer.  She came to stay on her own for 4 days, 3 nights the weekend before Christmas...and Mr S and I spent Christmas day down with which our loved ones which of course includes Izzi...

One of the big themes of this stay was a visit to the local Panto: Humpty Dumpty at the Talisman Theatre.

Izzi had on her pretty party dress and pink cardigan knitted by Grandma, she joined in with  much shouting and singing and there was not stopping her when volunteers were called for to come and sing a song onstage.

There were other activities that weekend: covering our cake with Royal Icing:

Making tangerines studded with cloves to fill rooms with Christmas smells...whether or not they last to add to drawers, I am not sure, since the fruit were very juicy and they were speared rather deeply.

Decorating the tree with Grampy

And thanks to a bagful of felt and templates from Kaye, a joint effort with glue and a little sewing from Grandma when the sticky stuff did not work, a little collection of Christmas decorations:

And lots of splashing in puddles.....my camera battery needed recharging at this point...

With one day to go to Christmas, and one of our bought mince pies tasted, it only took me a second to decided that what we needed is some home baked ones with some of my pear mincemeat I had already made a couple of months ago...Veronica and Izzi also had some great tasting almond pastry mince pies for Christmas day some tiny ones with a tiny star on top...and hey I now have a tiny star from one of Izzi's cookie cutting sets, so next year there will two sizes to choose from.

And finally I posted this picture which I had made up onto Facebook to send friends and family Christmas Greeting, started during my calligraphy lessons, using gold leaf, gouache, and gothic script.