A Little Shy In The Park...

On Saturday, Liz, Jon and the girls collected me and we went to Holt Country Park. I think our last visit was back before lockdown! It was a beautiful day - we began with Ro and Jess enjoying the playground [swings, slide, zipwire etc] Then we set off to walk through the trees. Rosie in the lead, I was behind her, [she is nearly as tall as I asm now!]then Jess and Jon, with Liz taking pictures ...

It was sunny, and a little cool, but the ground was mostly dry and firm underfoot. Suddenly Rosie stopped - she had come to a place where there were fewer branches overhead - with a clear few up the bank covered in gorse, to a clear blue sky. She called out to me 
Catch the beauty, Grandma!

What a lovely comment! She went on to explain to me that we all see nature in our own different ways, but she thought this was just beautiful. And she thought it sad that others did not appreciate it, or take care of it. Such enthusiasm for creation gives me hope! 

We walked on together. To the south of the park is Holt Lowes, where there are Dartmoor Ponies. The rest of the family caught up with us. We admired these beasts but did not attempt to stroke them or touch them in any way. [Please note Ro's amazing K-Pop hairdo!!]

Then I said 

No, that looks like two water tanks. No, it is a sculpture...

It is called The Carved Men, and Rosie sat and had a chat with them!

We walked on to Tin Can Alley - a brilliant arrangements of cans tied on a beam with pine cone missiles to make a form of Coconut Shy. Simple yet clever. The cans do not get lost, and the cones are easily replaced [and when the cans are all hanging, you can 'play' them with sticks like a percussion instrument] Liz and I both felt the Men's Shed could use this idea!

Then on into Holt for a delicious lunch in Holt Fish Bar - helpful staff, very family friendly, lovely chips! 
Sunday lunchtime they all came over to Cornerstones for a Roast Chicken Lunch. The house is full of flowers and cards. I feel extremely loved. Grateful for them all...Catch the beauty, feel the love

Monday Merriment

Three things which made me smile over the weekend
First, in a toyshop in Holt, Steven Seagull/Seagal. Seems quite appropriate really, one appears in films, and acts violently, grabbing people's possessions. The other appears on Cromer promenade, acts violently, dives in and grabs people's crisps and chips!

Second, Saturday afternoon, Jess decided she wanted to do crafting with Grandma. I insisted we went through the arts and crafts book and made a list of which activities she thought she might like to do in future [to save time later] Then she opted for making a dino "Keep Out!" sign for her bedroom door "for when I want to be private, Grandma" ... enter at your own risk!

Third, I have a lovely teardrop shaped soap dispenser in the bathroom. The grapefruit scented liquid was used up long ago. Steph sent me the picture below. She knows me too well!
It's always a good idea to start the week with a smile, if you can!😃

A Pause In Lent #4

Today is Mothering Sunday. Thank God for those who have 'mothered' you - and pray for those whom you have 'mothered'. And pray especially for whom today will be difficult, for whatever reason.

Invisible Threads

Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday. No, I will not call it Mothers' Day. I'm grateful for all those who 'mother' others- whether actual family members [mums, grandmas, aunts...] or older. close friends, who care and support the younger generations. I'm truly grateful 

• for my Mum, an amazing woman who achieved so much despite so many difficulties along the way, not least very poor health. My greatest role model 
• for my grandmother who taught me so much - about faith, and good family values [and sewing] 
• for all those 'aunties' around me as I grew up, close family friends who cared for me, encouraged me, supported me
• for teachers, youth leaders, and older work colleagues who gave invaluable advice and showed infinite patience

And now I am the grandma, with daughters, and grandchildren looking to me for love and support and care. During half-term week, I was so conscious of the strong bonds that hold our family together, the love between siblings, parents, children, grands... [women and men]
A couple of weeks ago, my blogfriend "Fat Dormouse" shared a beautiful song "Invisible Thread" by Neil Hannon [Divine Comedy] which is all about parenting. About loving your children with all your heart, desperately wanting to protect them from the bad stuff - but having the faith to let them fly. [Neil had me at the brilliant first line!]

"Invisible Thread"

I'm sewn into your collar, you're stitched into my heart

And though I know you've got to go, it's tearing me apart

You're stitched into my heart

Now go, spread your little wings and fly

Smile, you don't need a reason why

Leave if you've got to leave, just know

There will always be an invisible thread

Between you and me

I used to think that no one could keep you safe but me

That only I could guide you through life's crazy tapestry

But now you're guiding me

So go, spread your little wings and fly,

laugh, you don't need a reason why

Leave if you've got to leave, just know

There will always be an invisible thread between you and me 

Everything's connected, the fibres intertwine

The birds and bees, the flowers and trees

And even you and I

And when the time is right we go

Spread our little wings and fly

Sing, we don't need a reason why

Cry if you want to cry, but this is not goodbye

There will always be an invisible thread

Between you and me     [Neil Hannon/Divine Comedy]

 

 

Invaluable Threads

When machine sewing, my thread of choice is Gütermann - a family owned company, founded in Vienna in 1864 who continue to produce excellent products for home stitchers., and industrial purposes. So I was really excited when we went over to our local "Scrapbox" Sale last Saturday morning. 

There was a pile of small pink stripy paper bags [12 x15cm - a bit bigger than a postcard]  beside a basket with a sign. I did not need telling twice. I rummaged through the basket and took out all the Gütermann threads, and ignored the old, half used, non-G cottons, many of which were snapping and beyond use. And packed eleven of them neatly into the bag.

~two as new 1000m reels of cream sew-all thread @£10 each ~unstarted 200m pink machine embroidery usually £2.50~200m red quilting cotton, £3.50~some multicoloured threads,~ various other sew-all spools. I estimate around £40 of threads. Well, everybody tells me that free motion embroidery 'eats up the threads' so this will be useful. And the basic black, white and cream, are invaluable in the workbox.

I was also looking for a 4mm 80cm long circular knitting needle. I got a bag containing three of these, plus a 5mm needle for 20p! Just one would normally be £3.  Bob found some tools and also materials for picture framing which he specifically wanted.  

Do you use Community Scrap Schemes?  
What bargains have you found?

More free motion practice.

I used some random thread and "scribbled" Also did some zigzag stitching.

It really does use a lot of thread !

What3Words?

Are you familiar with what3words? It is an alternative way of finding a location, using a unique combination of 3 words for every location on the planet. For instance, Foulsham Baptist Church

• street address is 50 Station Road, Foulsham, Dereham, Norfolk
• postcode is NR20 5RD
• latitude/longitude 52.688146/1.620782
• OS grid reference TG448162
• what3words ///harvest.encourage.collected

[actually, if you check the other side of the chapel it is ///knee.local.organist  - but that doesn't sound like a very good thing to do in church!!]

We were listening to the end of the local BBC news, and the announcer said "Coming next, The One Show, with Alex Jones interviewing Hero Fines Tiffin" I turned to Bob "What did she just say? It sounded like a what3words location."

I looked it up ///hero.fine.tiff is in Queensland Australia, and ///hero.fines.muffin  is near Marrakesh, Morocco.

I had misheard - Hero Fiennes Tiffin is actually a real person from the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family Ranulph is an explorer, Jake is a conservation director in Norfolk, and brothers Ralph and Joseph are actors. HFT is nephew of the acting brothers. [but no relation to HFW the cook from River Cottage!] 

Well once I had established he was a person, not a place, I watched the interview. He was in a Harry Potter film [which I have not seen] And his mum's a film director, and father is a cinematographer.  But according to the director, he was cast for his ability to 'find the darker space' and 'having a wonderful haunted quality' ...nothing at all to do with family connections, and Uncle Ralph playing Voldemort!

He was being interviewed by Alex because he is the star of the new series "Young Sherlock" on Prime. So we have watched some of it. It's a long way from Arthur Conan Doyle's sleuth - and seeks to portray the youthful antics of Mr Holmes. His father is played by his Uncle Joseph, and his brother Mycroft is Max Irons [son of Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack] One feels these acting dynasties are producing a lot of nepo-babies.
What did we think? Bob described it as 'a bit pretentious'. The plots are ridiculously contrived, and I cannot see how this tearaway is going to become the measured, thoughtful Sherlock [who is always Jeremy Brett in my head, in the same way that David Suchet is Poirot] there are nods to the future [the young copper Lestrade, and the senior copper who wears a deerstalker] and it is produced by Guy Richie. But it is a bit of slapstick fun with some very shaky plotlines.

If you like crime on TV, Sue in Suffolk did an excellent blogpost yesterday, with a great round up of what's on.  Marlow Murders #3 airs next Wednesday [18th]  They have finished filming Strike, and that's due later in the year. The lead actor, Tom Burke is son of actor David Burke [now aged 91] who played Watson opposite Jeremy Brett's Holmes, his co-star Holly Grainger is currently in Capture #3. Lots of plots to watch right now, and in the months ahead
///what3words ? How about ///who.dun.it ?

A Purrfect Gift For Someone?

Lyssa blogs here , and we have followed each other's blogs for many years now. She recently asked me if I would review her latest book [acknowledging that I am not really a 'cat' person!] and I said I would. 
The title intrigued me, as there aren't any domesticated cats mentioned in the Scriptures [although there are quite a few lions and also references to leopards] The Egyptians were very fond of cats, and these felines occur in their religious ceremonies. What was this about?
The book is in fact a collection of true anecdotes about the author's three cats, Smudge, Smoke and Shadow. Their behaviour, and their fascinating homelife serve to illustrate all sorts of important principles about life, laughter, love and long-suffering.
Each chapter is headed by a Bible verse which emphasises the point being made, the lesson to be learned. as the story unfolds.
The book is an easy read - either sit down and work right through it, or pick it up and just read one tale at a time. Even as a non cat-person, I found myself entertained, amused, and sometimes challenged by the moggies' antics, and wondered how I would have responded to some of them. Owning cats is certainly a character building experience.
I have a few reservations about some Bible verses being used out of context, but this isn't meant to be heavy theology, so I won't knock off too many stars! And it is not just for people of faith.
I think it would be a sweet little gift for a cat-lover of your acquaintance, and is available from Amazon. The book  also contains fewer calories than an Easter Egg which is another point in its favour.****
Purrhaps you know someone who would like a copy...Update-please read Lyssa's comment below