Hiawatha Made Some Mittens

When we bought Cornerstones in 2009, I bought some mats for the bathroom. In 2022 we changed the basin, and I modified the second pedestal mat to fit the shower. After seventeen years those turquoise mats are looking rather sad, so we replaced them last week. Norwich IKEA had a very limited choice of colours, so we went for grey. Yet again I altered Mat #3 to fit round the shower cubicle. 

I am pleased that the old ones can go in a textiles recycling bin - well done IKEA. I must have too much time on my hands - as I was restitching the binding, I worked out that if this set lasts 17 years, it works out at a cost of 2p a week to have a safe, non slip path across the bathroom!

My other domestic sewing involved the adjustable worklamp which I use for close work.

This is a really fancy piece of kit. Back in Leicestershire, I had been hankering after one, but the proper adjustable ones were well over £100. Then one of Bob's electronics catalogues arrived, and there was one for around £15. A tenth of the usual price. He rang them up - and it was an error. But because he pointed it out, they let him have one at that price- a true bargain. It has been so useful. I was concerned that in the spare bedroom, it might get accidentally bashed by visitors [enthusiastic grandchildren] For months it has been wrapped in a Jiffy bag,. Now it has a proper button on case, and it looks much smarter

Two scraps of fabric from a curtain sample book, lined with an offcut of soft thermal curtain lining. I thought it would be a quick job - simple bag, with lining, two buttoned straps. But I somehow got the lining and outer in the wrong order. First I got the thin side inside, and I got the soft side outside, then a mixture...

It took me three attempts to get it right, it was Hiawatha's Mittens all over again!

Of the fur, he made some mittens,
Made them with the fur side inside,
Made them with the skin side outside.
He, to get the warm side inside,
Put the inside skin side outside;
He to get the cold side outside
Put the warm side fur side inside.
That’s why he put the fur side inside,
Why he put the skin side outside,
Why he turned them inside outside.

The 1940's Experiment

Have you come across this blog? Carolyn started blogging in 2009, the year we purchased Cornerstones. At that point, living in Canada, she was really struggling with weight loss, and also with some difficult personal circumstances which meant money was tight. Things had to change...

Her aim was to live in a WW2 Wartime Rations Diet, which she hoped would prove both frugal and effective. After all, the scientists and historians frequently tell us that the British Nation was healthier and fitter in those years than in the years since. Lots of exercise and little processed foodstuff. 

In the years since she has moved back to the UK, lost around 7 stone. She's blogged diligently through the years, celebrating success and honest about lapses. 

She ran the London Marathon, raising money for the British Legion [WW2 connection] And she has posted some fabulous, economical WW2 recipes along the way, started a YouTube series and more

Her latest, brave venture, is to give up her job, in order to fulfil her lifelong dream of producing a book. 

If this sort of thing is of interest to you, do check out her blog or YouTube channel, and watch out for the book. There is far more to living on rations than Woolton Pie, and Potato Pete!

I have enjoyed her writings, I applaud her efforts and wish her every success.

Balls!

Eight weeks ago, I got this book from the library. I enjoyed reading it, and thought the projects looked good. But I've never been one for knitting socks on 4 double pointed needles. Arne and Carlos wrote the book 15 years ago. It was a fun to read,  but no way was i going to wrestle with those patterns..

And then last week, I dashed into Dereham Library to return some books and found they have recently written a follow-up.

The guys started designing more patterns for balls during lockdown, and this collection of 65 balls, [plus seven recipes for Norwegian Christmas biscuits] was published in the autumn. Maybe I could have a go, I thought. And then I remembered a "flat gift" Kirsten sent me a while back [along with a pattern and some lovely blue sock wool]

These are addyCraSyTrio needles. They are a set of three amazing double pointed, folding needles, designed for knitting small diameter patterns [like socks] I wondered if I could attempt a ball.

I decided to attempt a one colour sphere and get the hang of the structure before I embarked on a two colour design. After 3 evenings, with much unravelling and reknitting, I'd got this...

Now I understand how the four section sphere comes together [the motifs repeats 4 times round the ball] And I can see how to stuff it into a globe. Maybe I will attempt a red and white patterned ball. I think it would take me a week to make one The Website has lots of links to their YouTube site. 

Watch this space

Thank you all for your comments yesterday. Especially those from friends in the USA. 

Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly [Micah 6:8]

I try to avoid getting political on my blog. But the words of the prophet Micah are good advice in these days - especially to the leaders of the nations.
In 2018 I went up to London to meet Liz and join those who were marching in protest of the arrival of a certain person. A number of people told me I was wrong to do this. That the President of another nation deserved respect. That as a Christian I should be loving and accepting, even if I disagreed with someone.
My answer then was that I believed that my responsibility was to speak for the poor and the marginalised, to speak in defence of those who could not speak for themselves. To uphold people's right to life and liberty. I have not changed my position on this issue.

While I'm Waiting

My Analogue Bag has proved useful lately. After the fun I had with Wisteria Cottage, I decided I ought to get on and finish all those random little cross stitch kits I have been accumulating...

Here are five small cards, all stitched and mounted, which are ready to use. 

The photo was taken on the back seat of my car. Bob was at his Dr's appointment I waited outside, and used the time to stick the completed stitching in place with double sided tape. 

A good use of my time! 

A Case Of Mistaken Identity?

It was 6pm and dark outside.  The doorbell rang "that will be my package" said Bob. I jumped up and opened the front door. "Good  evening!" I said cheerfully"Good evening young lady" he replied, handing me a parcel with one hand, holding his phone in the other to take a photo. YOUNG LADY? I was old enough to be his mother. I debated saying "I'm neither young nor a lady" but instead I just glared at his camera. I closed the door. Bob was chuckling when I returned to the lounge. I was worried that someone with such poor eyesight was working as a delivery driver. Maybe he just says that to all the little old grey haired grannies... Was he being flirtatious or patronising? I couldn't tell - either way it was inappropriate

But my experience in John Lewis a few days later was even more bizarre. We were engaged in conversation with the assistant about vacuum cleaners. Two people walked past chatting, then stopped and turned to stare at me.

Bob whispered "I think that couple know you" The woman looked across at me and said "Hi!". I left Bob and the assistant discussing Turbo Heads and went over to the smiling couple [who I did not recognise at all] 

"Sorry, do I know you?"

"You're our neighbour Daphne"

"No, I'm Angela from Swanton Morley"

"Well why are you with him?" she said sharply, pointing to Bob

"He is my husband of over 40 years"

"He looks just like Daphne's boyfriend. Doesn't he?" the chap with her nodded

"Yes he does. We both thought 'there's Daphne and her boyfriend"

"Sorry, I'm not Daphne.Excuse me"

They walked away. I went back to Bob and the assistant. 

I wonder what Daphne's boyfriend is called...

Who Is My Neighbour?

Jesus answered the man with a story…A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead…A priest, and a Levite passed him by…But a foreigner, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
Jesus asked the man "Which of these three was neighbour to the man who was robbed?"