Oh, I Love That Book!

I took a book to read in the dentist's waiting room. I had recently decided to reread this book again because I love it. It makes me laugh out loud, and is a good antidote to cold winters and depressing news reports. 
Traffic was good, and the journey to East Harling went very smoothly. I had left home in good time [two weeks before, there was one diversion and three lots of roadworks with temporary traffic lights] so I got there with 20 minutes in hand. I checked in, and then sat down, swapped driving glasses for reading glasses, and opened my book. 
A couple of minutes later, the door opened. In came a mum, with baby in pram, and Grandma bringing up the rear. The chap who was waiting leapt up and rearranged chairs to accommodate the bassinet. Everyone settled down, and then the young woman said "Oh, I love that book!" I realised she was talking about my paperback.

I quickly swapped over my glasses [she was seriously out of focus] and we spent the next 10 minutes talking about EMD's characters, and the perceptive descriptions of the children, and longsuffering husband Robert. I said I had one of those. "Does yours ever complain that he has not had sufficient breakfast?" she asked. "Occasionally" I said. This young Mum was utterly delightful, about the same age as my Liz [who also enjoys DOAPL] "I have never met anyone else before who has read it!" she enthused. "What do you think of the Vicar's Wife character?" she asked. We covered an awful lot of ground before she was called through to the treatment room. It quite took my mind off gloomy thoughts about the possibility of root canal work. [which mercifully did not materialise]
I don't seem to have ever reviewed this book on my blog, which surprises me. I think I last read it during the pandemic, when I was here on my own at Cornerstones, running Grandma's Nursery for Rosie. There had just been an article in the Guardian about the book, and it was already here on the shelf at Cornerstones.
You can pick it up and put it down without 'losing the thread' so it's ideal for an 'analogue bag' It won't be to everyone's taste - but if you are stuck for something different, please do give it a try! It's a first person narrative, similar to Three Men In A Boat in many ways. The punctuation is rather random, and she uses capitals frequently, so characters have names like Our Vicar's Wife, and she skips speech marks. You get a line like Then Lady B. said Did I Want Coffee? and I replied Not Just Yet. 
Perhaps I should write a book in this style
I was in John Lewis, and a Complete Stranger said You are our Neighbour Daphne. And when I said No, I was Angela, she pointed to my Beloved Husband, and asked Well why are You with Him? He looks just like Daphne's Boyfriend...
I suspect nobody would publish it

Great Chieftain O' The Puddin' Race

Great Chieftain O' The Puddin' Race 
We celebrated Burns' Night a day late, but I cooked a haggis with cream sauce, neeps and tatties. And asked Alexa to play Scotland the Brave on the Bagpipes as I carried it to the table [for once, she obliged!] I have no idea what Burns' haggis poem means, and I suspect it might detract from my enjoyment of the meal if I did
I bought my McSween's haggis [serves 2-3] from Robertson's Butchers in Reepham. The butcher was very helpful and I have to say the flavour was excellent.  I'd done rather a lot of veg, and we had much haggis left over, so I made two 'cottage pies' for the next day - neeps on the bottom, then haggis, then mash on the top. 

The haggis is not usually considered a UPF, being made of lamb, beef, oats, stock, onion, salt, pepper and spices. No artificial colours or ingredients. One of the main ingredients of haggis is liver, which is high in vitamin A, vitamin B12 and folate. Heart and lungs will provide some iron, zinc and selenium and the oats included in haggis will contribute to fibre intake. It’s important not to over indulge in haggis as it tends to be high in fat and saturated fat as well as high in salt, so be mindful of the portion size. It was a filling, warming dish on a cold evening. I may serve it again soon, but without the bagpipes! It is relatively inexpensive, and a good ZeroWaste food, using up the offal which is often discarded.
Have you ever eaten haggis?
Did you celebrate with a Burns' Night Supper?

So Very Grateful...

Back to the dentist for a follow up appointment. Good news, everything seems to have responded to the treatment [antibiotics, saline rinses etc] It was an infection in the gum. No need for root canal work etc. In and out quickly, there was no charge for the visit. Return in the autumn for routine check up. Hallelujah!

Home via the ward where my old school friend is in hospital. She's been away from home since November, this is the 7th different bed she's been in, the 4th location. She is looking forward to getting home. I'm so pleased to see her looking brighter, and healthier. I got home at 1.15, Bob was making sandwiches

We'd just finished eating when Craig at Vision Express rang. My replacement frames had arrived. We popped into Dereham. It is wonderful to be able to see properly again, and only need one pair of specs.

I did try to do some 2x2 hand stitching on Tuesday, but it wasn't right, and I ended up unpicking it. I hope to get the bulk of the two patches done soon. Plus I have some sewing jobs lined up for three friends. Glad to able to see clearly enough to sew straight!

All in all a good week, thank the Lord. Much restoration! 

Guess What We Used To Make This, Grandad?

The girls were with us Saturday afternoon. Rosie had asked me to teach her to crochet. So once she was busy making chains, and Jess has realised this was not something she had the patience for, I took her off to do a simpler craft. We made some bunting, and hung it between two chairs.

I had made these all little flags last week, but before she began decorating them, I showed Jess the technique. Its ridiculously easy but you need to prepare them at least 48 hours beforehand, and children must understand that some bits can only be done by a grown up. 

You need lots of loo rolls. Each one makes 2 flags. The instructions in Red can be done by children.  Adults should do the hot water bit!

1. Half fill a jug with very hot water
2. Using tongs, carefully stand a loo roll in the jug
3. Count to ten [child can do that!]
4. Using tongs lift up the tube and turn it over, put it back in the jug
5. Count to five, lift out the tube, shake it a little
6. It will start to unroll, and become two separate parallelograms.
7. Do this with all the loo rolls
8. Lay the shapes on a worktop or chopping board to dry
9. Carefully fold in half to make a "pennant" shape.
10. Next day, when dry, stack them and put a weight on top to keep them flat

Now they are ready to decorate and will hang tidily over a string. You can staple near the fold to stop them coming off! The card is really good for paints or felt pens, or for sticking things on with PVA or Glusticks.
NB You can sterilise loo rolls - place 4 in a cross shape on a microwave plate, and zap on full power for 20 seconds [no longer, they may catch fire] but I reckon this total immersion in very hot water is adequate cleansing.

Watching the rolls uncurl to become diamond shapes is weirdly magical. And people are so surprised when you tell them what the bunting is made from! I shall do this one again i think.  

Spectacular!

In the continuing saga of "things at Cornerstones which are wearing out or falling to bits", the latest casualty - my glasses. Wearing them to read in bed, I fell asleep and bent them out of shape. Repeatedly!  And on Sunday the 'arm' snapped off completely.  

The guy at Vision Express could not have been more helpful. He said that for £25 the [rather expensive varifocal] lenses could be put into new frames. It should be less than a fortnight before I get them back. I'm very grateful for his help.

My older black framed glasses are OK for distance, so I can drive in them - but I really struggle to read. I splashed out a further £5  on a pair of cheap reading glasses with blue plastic frames. I can wear these in bed without worrying too much. And will go on doing so even after I get my others back. 

So I'm wandering around with two pairs at once, swapping over when I need to read something or do closework like sewing. Looking like horologist Steve Fletcher!  Julian was very sympathetic, having just had to replace his glasses at significant cost. He sent me this...

At least I don't have to buy a complete new pair, I only got these in May, and my varifocal lenses are pretty costly. Eyeglasses were first invented around the end of the 13th Century, about 150 years before the printing press. Which makes all those phenomenal embroideries, like the Bayeux Tapestry, and Opus Anglicanum even more amazing, 

Those stitchers had no means of magnifying their work. Some guilds restricted the hours of work, and insisted it was all done in daylight, to protect the eyesight of their needleworkers. 

I started wearing glasses when I was 30, what about you?

Breadsong Buns

 In the autumn I read this lovely book and really enjoyed it. I was delighted to receive it for Christmas, along with the instruction to "make the cinnamon buns, Mum" So here is my first attempt at them. They were very tasty..

They are a sensible size too. Not so big that you wonder if you should only eat half, but not so small that you want to eat two. 

I love the instruction for rolling the.spiral of dough like a snailb- then stretching the last bit across the top and underneath "as if it's checking its undercarriage"

The buttery cinnamon dough is flavourful, the simple milk and sugar glaze is quite sufficient. You do not need extra frosting.

[Recipe here]

Jesus, The True Light

Today marks the end of the Week Of Prayer For Christian Unity. The chapel doors will be closed this morning, as our fellowship joins with our Anglican friends in the Parish Church up the road. These are our brothers and sisters in faith- and it is good to worship together sometimes. Meanwhile Bob is preaching at the United Service at the Parish Church in Dereham 

The prayer below is from the Churches Together website. The lovely photo of the Northern Lights over Dereham is from my dear friend Heather who lives just a few miles away, and took this shot from a bedroom window last week in the early hours of the morning. [Thanks H!]

Lord Jesus Christ,

You bring us together in all our diversity,
as family and church.
In the face of so many situations on earth,
where hope has given way to despair
and hearts are wounded and emptied by disappointment,
renew our strength and unify us.
Help us to share Your hope wherever we find ourselves.
You are the true Light,
who casts out the darkness of sin,
despair and brokenness,
who shines into our hearts, releasing
the joy and the true hope of Your eternal love for all.

Amen.   

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?"

Swallowing, Snorting, Rinsing, Spitting, MORE Swallowing...

 My 'health regime' is getting more and more complicated. I was managing OK with swallowing a few pills just after I wake, and before I go to sleep. And then I added into that the whole sinus saline snorting thing [it is helping, I was aware of that over Christmas when I went to Manchester without my kit] 
But then my dentist noticed problems with a gum infection around one molar.* 

Now I have to rinse&spit with another saline solution three times a day, and take a large antibiotic tablet ['swallow a glass of water each time, and do not drink any alcohol until at least two days after you've finished the course' said the Pharmacist 'otherwise you will have a very upset stomach']

I am diligently following all these instructions. If these extra things do not clear up the infection, it appears there may be some root canal work necessary...
*I have not had any toothache, for which I am extremely grateful. He just spotted the problem at my routine checkup on Wednesday.

Are You A Bag Lady?

Specifically, do you have an analogue bag ? [nb if you read TikTok, you may spell it analog] I came across this term recently. The idea is that many people would benefit from less time doomscrolling on their screens, and participating in activities which do not require a screen has positive effects on mental health and wellbeing.
So in order to do this, you prepare an analogue bag which you keep with you throughout the day, or leave by your armchair in the evening, so you always have a positive activity ready to hand. I first read about it here.

What's in your bag? well it could be a newspaper or paperback to read, a book of sudoku or crossword puzzles, a sketchpad and art materials, a piece of knitting or crochet, a small embroidery or quilting project... you get the idea. This will help prevent screen burnout.

The name comes from analogue as opposed to digital. Slow technology. I'm all for this idea - but I imagine many of you are reading this and muttering "this isn't a new thing, I've done that for years..."

I always take a book along when I am going to see the Doctor or Dentist. They call it the waiting room after all - so it is good to use that time doing something fun. Similarly long train journeys go so much better when you can finish your knitting or do some stitching. I know Kirsten and others make use of portable art kits. 
When the girls were small, they knew Mummy usually had a boredom bag to hand - containing a storybook, some paper and crayons, a couple of finger puppets, a toy vehicle, a small canister of bubbles. Liz and Steph have done this with their children. You do not need a large tote bag - just a few things inside a small zip bag, enough to work on a little project, rather than get out your phone and start tapping away.

We were given a lovely food hamper at Christmas, and I am thinking of designating that as my 'analogue basket' for the lounge. I've found a longterm knitting project I would like to work on. To have all the components tidily stored there, ready to bring out when I want to knit [and later in the year, carry outside to work in the summerhouse] would be useful. Such activities definitely contribute to the restoration  of a good state of mind, helping us to unwind, leaving the stress behind for a few moments. And because they are easy to pick up and put down again, this works well for those snatched minutes. We cannot all go for an hour's calming walk in the forest, or randomly take an afternoon out to work on the sewing machine - but these little interludes of creativity and joy can do so much good. Really old blog readers will remember that black and white film of a potter's wheel which the BBC used as a filler between programmes [you can find the whole 'interlude' series here] OK, that was on a screen, but it was a good 'time out' interval.
Do you have anything like an analogue bag already? 
What would you keep in it?
What would you put in a bag for the children?

Sew Christmassy, Sew Sparkly...

 

This is Kirsten's December patch. She used a piece of Christmas print fabric [I am sure I had a scrap like this, years ago] 
Each little rectangle has been overstitched with backstitch, running stitch, satin stitch etc. It has given this small square a wonderful dimensional quality, it is like a miniature quilt!
Wisely she avoided trying to stitch metallic threads, and worked around the parts of the design printed in gold, which emphasises their sheen. 
Having made so many attempts with metallic thread on my snowflakes, I think that was sensible. It does twist and knot alarmingly.
It is very Christmassy, what with the star, the tree, the gifts, a snowy windowpane and the conifers - as well as the hints of snowflakes, holly, a cracker, a crown, bunting and an elf's hat. So much detail in a piece no bigger than the palm of my hand. 

My flat gift for December was a lovely rust silhouette which may be hung in the greenhouse pro tem whilst I consider a permanent home for it
This is about 15cm high. It reminded me of the wonderful art work of Rob Ryan, which often features birds. 
Rob has recently published a book about his work, entitled "I thought about it in my head, and I felt it in my heart, but I made it with my hands" which ought to be a motto for handcrafters everywhere! 

Here's a lovely Rob bird design for Kirsten as we work at our collaborative stitching.
We are both late finishing the December piece- so our next 'swap date' will be Valentine's day. But I am not doing anything 'hearty' I have another idea which I need to work on...

Cut the Mustard!

Question -What foodstuff does this remind you of?
Answer- Pigs in Blankets!
A huge thankyou to Jean in France for sharing her recipe for cassoulet made with leftover Pigs In Blankets.

Mine looked pleasantly similar to the photo on J's blog, but a bit more orange! But it tasted really good - and the quantities for four served us two good meals. My Le Creuset was the right pan in which to cook and serve this hearty dish.

Yes Jean, as you warned, the bacon does unwrap itself from the chipolatas, but a genuine cassoulet will often have sausages plus separate chunks of pork. I put some carrot chunks in mine, and served with hearty slices of brown bread for 'mopping up' 
Warm and filling on a cold day. 

WARNING I checked out Mary Berry's original recipe [here] from which Jean adapted hers. MB adds a Dijon mustard and sage garnish to stir in at the end. As the sage is still growing happily outside, I decided to make some. Onto each bowl, I put a dollop of the golden sauce, flecked with chopped green leaves, and vivid lemon zest. "You are supposed to stir it in" I explained. It looked pretty. But it was way too mustardy, even for Bob! Next time, I shall be sure to cut [out] the mustard.
Allegedly, mustard crops in East Anglia used to grow to 6 feet high, and had to be scythed. If the blades were not sharp enough, then they wouldn't cut the mustard - not sure if I believe this explanation of the phrase, but I love the Norfolk connection

I picked up this little white beauty in the 50p bin in a CS on Monday.
I already have a blue Colman's jar for my English mustard, but I thought this white one from Essex would do beautifully for my French mustard. Liz gave me the tiny wooden spoon some years ago, hand carved by one of her friends.

Sadly Colman's, having been bought out by Unilever, stopped producing mustard in Norwich 6 years ago [after over 150 years] but the Wilkin family in Essex continue producing their preserves [the family have been farming there since 1757, selling preserves since 1885] 

Darned Good Inspiration At My Fingertips

During those cold days when I could not find my better, black gloves, I wore my old blue ones. They are cheap Poundshop 'Magic' gloves. I think I bought them one day when a visiting grandchild had cold hands. They fit either hand - but unfortunately the tips of the index fingers have worn through, and the thumbs are wearing thin. 

At first I thought I would just darn the fingertips, then it occurred to me - if I left them 'open' I would be able to unlock my phone and use it without removing my gloves. So I strengthened the thumbs, but stitched round the edge of the top of the fingers. Success!

Unlike the youngsters I know who type phone messages with their thumbs, I am very old fashioned and use my right index finger, for typing and biometric access. As both gloves have holey fingers, I don't need to worry when I put them on. You can probably buy access gloves like this premade on the internet somewhere. 

Winter Wonderland

Just after Christmas, I was going out in my car. It was completely frosted up. I sat in the driver's seat, and marvelled at the morning sun shining through the patterns on the windscreen. Isn't this lovely? I cleared it all away, then drove safely to the Supermarket. I decided my much delayed December TwoByTwo should be a snowflake pattern. I had some lovely deep blue satiny lining fabric on hand [I'd made Nick a Magician's Waistcoat] So I found some silver thread - thick and thin, beads and sequins, and some ice-blue embroidery floss.
I couched the thick threads into a 6 pointed star then added other stitches plus beads and sequins to give sparkle.
There are many types of snowflakes - mine are stellar dendrites, which means they are star shaped with tree like branches. 

I had started working on them before the snow came at the weekend. I went out to the bin on Monday and realised how cute my footprints were. I stomped around for a while making pretty patterns.

How crazy am I? But sometimes nature is amazing, isn't it? 
I could have used my embroidery machine, as I bought a set of snowflake patterns when I made my neighbour's Elsa dress three years ago ... The snowflake shapes were machined, but then over three hundred beads and sequins stitched on.  
But our TwoByTwo is strictly a hand sewn 'slow stitching' enterprise.
And as we are producing the patches two at a time, we will be finished double-quick!