Using my time

 When I come and look after Holly, I regard it as a sort of holiday.  It's actually more restful than most holidays when I tend to want to see and do things.  When I come here I like to "be" and to be creative.  There's a brilliant craft room here where I can make cards, and there's a porch where I can look at the view and click my knitting needles. 

This time I've been making a blanket for a little boy of my acquaintance.  (I mentioned it in an earlier post.)  I wanted to get it finished as T's granny died recently and I think he needs all the comfort he can get.  I was determined to get it finished for him.  And I have.   But Holly seems to have different ideas about who it is for.  

A seasonal pleasure

Summer can be lovely but autumn brings its own delights.  Comfort food.  Leaf kicking.  Autumn colours.

The downside could be that autumn is the start of cold weather.  And the upside of cold weather is finding cosy blankets to wrap up in.  

I've just fetched my crochet blanket from the airing cupboard where it has spent the summer.  And it is beautifully warm.  I am wrapped up and enjoying something totally mindless on the TV.  Bliss.  

Autumn and winter can be a little depressing but they have their own joys.  

TWSTW & HWIHFO

Otherwise known as That Was September That Was. and Here's What I Hope For October

September was quite refreshing in that the extreme heat (by local standards) of summer 2018 was over and activity became possible again. I did quite a bit.

I undertook watering someone else's garden for a week.

I went to a crochet group three times and made a start on a ripple blanket.

I went to to two Women's Institute meetings and two Trefoil Guild meetings.

I baptised a giggling baby girl, led worship on three Sundays, conducted a harvest festival and one funeral.

I had six meals out, usually leisurely lunches with friends.

I went to my craft group and made three cards.

I finished knitting the body of a sweater (my first real garment knitted in the round) and picked up the stitches to knit the first sleeve.

I finished knitting three hats and posted them to the Sailors Society.

The garden is more-or-less ready for winter.

BUT

the sewing machine had a hissy fit so the skirt I had hoped to sew and the Christmas stocking I had been asked for are still in the same state.

I didn't get around to making a freezer inventory.

The dining room is worse than ever.

October will be a new month.

My hopes and dreams so far.

Start scanning the family tree (which my late sister researched) so I can distribute to my cousins at Christmas.

Knit at least a sleeve on the sweater

Persevere with the crochet.

Take a harvest festival.  (How did I let myself get landed with that?)

Get my sewing machine back and get the skirt made.

Make the stocking and wrap the stuff to go in it.

Make that freezer inventory.

Another lazy month!

The First Half

When I wrote it down I was rather surprised at the amount of stuff I had in mind for September and I have to admit it looked crazy!  However, nothing ventured, nothing gained so I waded in.  Here's what's happened in the first half of the month.

1.  Watering someone else's garden.  What I didn't mention was that this involved a thirty mile round trip each time.  The weather helped - I went just four times to supplement the rain.  

2.  Start crochet lessons.  I've been to the crochet group twice so far.  I could crochet already but I couldn't follow a pattern and I could work only in circles and squares.  I've started on a ripple blanket but it has involved a lot of pulling down so I'm not going to show you a photo yet. 

3.  WI meetings.  Definitely accomplished.  I showed my support for Women's Suffrage and I ate a Harvest Supper.  I also won some daffodil bulbs in a harvest quiz - a bonus to be fully appreciated in the spring .

4  One Trefoil Guild meeting attended and the second is later in the month.

5.  The baptism is today.  Also I suddenly got bookings for Sundays.  I've taken a service today with less than two days notice.

6.  Three meals out thus far, one cancellation and three meals still to go.  Does that add up to the four I had planned?  

7.  I've declined seven Harvest Festivals.  I love going to them but hate leading them.  However, I've also said, "If you're desperate . . . "

8.  The big accomplishment is that I have made 94 Christmas cards.

Can't stop though.  Lots to do.  Only one hundred days to Christmas.  (Sorry about that!)