Monday Madness

We went over to Kings Lynn to collect my embroidery machine [a long overdue service] and Liz and the girls came with us. We had a fun time exploring charity shops. Then we came back to Cornerstones. By our front door is a green bin for parcels. I keep a brick in it, to stop it blowing over. When we come home, we lift the lid, and usually say "just a brick!" Rosie has shortened this now to JAB! Today Jess ran to the bin and said Jab! But on the doormat was this card

We checked the parcel bin again. Then the big wheelie bin round the corner. The parcel was there.

Fortunately the bin was otherwise empty. But that is not a safe place!!!

The other bit of post had the most wonderful address

I love the idea of Bob Almond at His Shed.

He went off to do stuff, as did Liz. I was with the girls.

I'd promised Rosie she could have some nail varnish I didn't want. 

Jess volunteered to paint my toenails for me. 

I was given no choice about the colour.

I really must get her Auntie Steph to give her some tuition!

The things we grandmas do!

I Spy With My Little Eye...

 ...Something Beginning With S

Wednesday morning was Superb 

It was The Swanton Shed Summer Mardle

The guys had really outdone themselves with their contribution to
the Sumptuous Spread - and so much seemed to beginning with S

For Starters, we had Smoked Salmon canapes

Sausages cooked on the Stove

Slices of cake, Sparkling Water

Sweet little plum tomatoes

Selection of sweets, Scones, freshly baked, Sausage rolls, Salads

The sunshine was beautiful, we were grateful for the shade of the big red gazebo.

The sky was so blue...

This marks the end of another year of 'shedding' in which we sadly lost one of our members, after a long illness - but gained some new friends in the group.

Lots of positive projects accomplished to benefit individuals and our community.

Now there's a break for a few weeks - and back in the autumn for more planing and polishing, sanding and sticking.
I am really proud of these guys, for all that they do together, building strong friendships as well as benches and notice boards.

Restored!

 Bob spent £2 on a pair of chisels at the fête on Sunday. They were in dire need of restoration [my word for this year] The blades were blunt and rusty and the handles were grubby. One side read "Marples", the other "Wm. Marples & Sons, Sheffield, Eng,." with a shamrock logo.

Bob had recognised the brand when he first saw them, and did further research when he got home. Marples were reckoned the foremost tool manufacturing company in England for 200 years. 

These ones are from the mid 1950s and feature the distinctive " split proof" red and yellow plastic handles introduced then. If you really want to know more about the company, this site will tell you every minute detail! The Hibernia Works were amazing. 

Bob cleaned and sharpened the chisels, now they are useful again

A before/after shot. The guy selling the stuff [cleared out of his late uncle's garage, he told us] clearly just wanted to get rid of things. He asked if I minded my husband picking up old rusty chisels and things? Did Bob have to conceal such purchases, and hope to smuggle them home unnoticed? 

I said no, I have no problem with it. I know he will fix things then find a good use for them himself, or give them to other people who will use them. And furthermore, as I have four sewing machines, and associated equipment, I cannot  complain!

My embroidery machine is being serviced at the minute, but my main one has been in use this week. Pictures will follow! 

Saying Goodbye

Thank you for all your good wishes for Bob. The meds have kicked in quickly and he is recovering well [I know this because his appetite has returned!] This is a good thing, because we are both due to be at funerals today - he is going to one locally [a friend from Men's Shed] and I am driving over to Yarmouth for my cousin Peter's funeral. Unfortunately both services are at 1pm.
My cousin Daphne, his older sister, has been helping him so much in recent years since his wife died suddenly. Fortunately she and her husband Cliff live close by. Cliff has had two other family bereavements since Christmas

Whilst it will be good to meet up with my cousins, it is for a sad reason. I hope the love and support of family and friends will be a comfort to all those who are bereaved at this time.

Shedloads Of Stuff

We held a yard sale on Saturday, to raise funds for the Men's Shed. Bob in the coachhouse with lots of tools and stuff, me round the corner, under the Shed's Big Red Gazebo, with stuff that wasn't tools or shed related. We'd told our neighbours we were doing it, and half a dozen others joined in with their own sale tables. The weather was kind, we had publicised it widely on Social Media, and put a big sign out on the main road.

There was a lot of fetching and carrying, and a lot left.  
We had a few visitors, not a lot - and made about £30. I am beginning to think that sewing BBQ aprons was an easier way of fund raising! A couple of guys expressed an interest at coming along to Shed Sessions, and I had good chats with some of the locals and their dogs*. 

Over the course of the weekend, Bob has developed a nasty cold, and I think I am catching it now...

Today will be a Slow Day - I don't think I should go to Craft Group in case I have a sneezing fit. 

A quick mention of  Heather, who has been following Tracing Rainbows since March 2015. I did not know this till we actually met in person last autumn, and I discovered she lives less than 3 miles away. So we meet for coffee and chat sometimes. She has become a really good friend - I hope she has a lovely day today, as it is her birthday. 

* speaking of dogs, my latest sewing challenge from a neighbour "Ang, can you mend this do you think? It is my favourite bra, I left it on the bed, and the dog has chewed right through the strap!" [if I manage the repair, will she become a bosom friend?]

Close Friendships

My Dad used to have a poster like this. A reminder that we cannot pick and choose our neighbours- but we are still called to care for them. 


We've had quite a few new people move into the Close in the past year - none of them is a trombone player, as far as I can tell.

But we are blessed to have some very pleasant people around us.

I was busying planting beans, when a lady walked round the corner, with her dog. "Are you Angela?" she asked. I said I was - and she said she wanted to say thankyou - her daughter is one of the newer residents, and she just wanted to thank me for making her girl feel welcome, and helping out [in a very minor way] when she needed assistance. I thought that was very kind.

I have been learning even more about Sewing Machine Maintenance from the guy next door - he helped me to fix a machine for a teenage friend last week

Another gentleman spoke to me as I was pulling out the wheelie bin - to say thank you for the Yard Sale which Bob [and his Shedmates] are organising next Saturday. He is hoping to have a few bits outside his garage.

When I was putting out the yard sale flyers [with help from Jess and Rosie] I asked a guy round the corner if he'd be interested in taking part. He wasn't sure. I said I'd been really pleased with the plants I had brought from him at a previous Yard Sale. He turned up this week with a tray of 7 plants for me [Cucumber, courgette and tomato]
"How much do I owe you?" I asked. "Nothing, just return the pots and trays" - what a lovely chap!

A Week Of April Anniversaries

If you read Sue's post yesterday, or Mary's, you will know there are some great poems out there celebrating April. I cannot agree with TS Eliot's assertion that April is 'the cruellest month'. For me, this past week - April 10th- 17th is one of joyful celebration and gratitude for so many good things in my life.

1955  April 10th
Easter Sunday
The year I was born. Back then, the fathers had to wait outside the delivery room. They told Dad I'd got the cord wrapped round my neck and was unlikely to survive the birth. But I was ok [and he was late for church!] 

2009 April 15th, Wednesday
54 years later, we took possession of Cornerstones - our wonderful bungalow in the heart of rural Norfolk

We still wake up every morning marvelling at God's grace in providing us with this lovely home.  When we first bought it, we were living in Leicestershire - our daughters were both in London.

2018 April 14th, Saturday
Off to Manchester for the wedding of daughter Steph to her beloved Gaz. In the past eight years they have achieved so much, moving house, both succeeding in their careers, and best of all, becoming parents to two gorgeous little boys.

2021 April 12th, Monday
A week after Easter, Bob retired from being minister in Ferndown. With the help of masked friends [lockdown rules!] we packed our belongings in to a van and drove the long road up to Norfolk. Next day I left a message on the fridge.

Retiring in Lockdown was difficult. I really felt for Bob who didn't get the razzamataz his college buddies did when they retired in 2019 or 2022. 
But here we are - five years on from retirement. I'm grandma to four lovely children, and 'auntie-mum' to Julian in Romford.
We are happily involved in our church, and our community.  

The family are thriving, and we have lots of good neighbours - although since 2009, many of the residents have moved on and we've made more new friends . Cornerstones has become a place of love, peace and joy. The new kitchen is fabulous, the solar panels keep us warm and the garden is growing. He's Shedding and I'm still Sewing [and blogging]

So this week in April will always be a special one for me, full of happy memories. There's a lovely old song that begins "Oh how good is the Lord, I never will forget what He has done for me"
I hope I never do

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

One Potato, Two Potato...

Wednesday dawned bright but very cold. Bob was organising the Shed Christmas Mardle [A 'mardle' is an informal get together to chat - it is an old Norfolk term] So out early, to put up the big gazebo, and another bring-and-share event. Bob had his little gas BBQ stove, and was warming up mulled wine, Another guy had an extension cable and an airfryer- and was heating up sausages, arancini and cheese balls in the back of his SUV!  I was too cold to take any pictures. Louise invited me to the farmhouse to show me her front door.

She'd been to a workshop and made a decoration with foraged greenery [holly, ivy, rosemary, bay etc] Years ago, people got moss and wired it to a frame, or wrapped a wire hoop with straw, to make the basis for a wreath. Then everybody bought 'oasis' floral foam and it was easier. Then this plastic, non-bio degradable product rightly fell out of favour

I was intrigued to discover that this decoration is made with a potato at the centre. It was placed with its flattest side down on the table and then holes were made [with a bbq skewer] and gradually more and more greenery was added. What a clever, moneysaving idea- and it can all go straight into the compost bin after Christmas! Here's a video showing you how to do it. Louise's daughter had also used a spud as the base for a lovely table centre [ easy to bore a hole for a candle if you wanted to]

Admiring Trees, And Tracing Rainbows

Yesterday afternoon I drove into Dereham to see the Tree Festival in the Parish Church. They did their first one last year, and have clearly worked hard to make things even better this time. Ten more trees than in 2024, but also better laid out and clearly numbered. Quite a few trees had the same decorations as last year, or the same stuff with a few bits added. There were better refreshments too! Lots of business and charity groups represented. Thank you to all those in the community who worked so hard on this.

The Sally Army tree was an intriguing wooden construction, with snapshots stapled to the 'branches'

Other trees were tall and thin, short and fat, or just regular cone shapes.

The Dereham Men's Shed was another wooden piece, with tools, measuring tapes, and turned wood ornaments. 

The Litter - pickers tree was all 'found rubbish' corks and egg boxes turned into reindeer, and crisp packets heat-shrunk into red and green 'baubles'

The hospital tree had the laser designs I'd helped patients to colour in last year, and the Mothers' Union still had my little felt books - but both groups had added more stuff.

The Forget Me Not dementia group had their interesting green 'golfball tree' again.

The trees were ranged down the side aisles and up into the choir. The Stewards were welcoming and chatty, and the cakes looked tasty. 

They were huge slices, so I wrapped mine in 2 napkins, and brought it home to share with Bob.

The rain had stopped when I came out, and there was a rainbow over the carpark. I watched it all the way home! Just before I got to 'My Tree' I pulled into a layby to take a second photo.

The rainbow's end was a vivid streak of colour going straight down from a cloud, into the field behind the Close! A bright ending to a lovely visit

Christmas Craftiness

What makes something 'hand crafted'? It sure has to be something which requires thought and the 'personal touch'. I have no problem with use of machines - lathes, sewing machines, food mixers etc - because they require a degree of skill to be operated well. But I am uncomfortable with items which are just an 'assemblage'. 

To go online and buy little red trucks, mini Xmas trees and a ball of silver thread, then sticking them together to make a hanging decoration is not craft imho. Neither is polishing a load of pennies with Brasso, sticking them individually on cardboard tags, and selling each for £5 as a 'lucky penny'

I am not selling at any craft fairs this year. For one thing, the only craft I have done recently has been churning out shed aprons. Thanks to Nancy's good marketing efforts, we have just about raised enough to cover the Shed Insurance premium for the coming year! 
Last week I made a dozen aprons, and the striped fabric is almost all used up. Bob will try to sell the remaining aprons at the Shed AGM later this month. I recently borrowed some crafting books from the Library

Margaret Bloom's book was brilliant! A section for each season, and appropriate dolls - covering folklore, fairytales, seasonal and religious celebrations. Good illustrations, clear instructions, well drawn templates...*****  WEBSITE HERE Check out the little video [even more fun at 2x speed!]

Supercraft Christmas is by two German women. Lots of interesting ideas, ranging from simple [put sprigs of greenery in an assortment of wine bottles] to crazily complex [embroider white snowflakes all over a white tablecloth "depending on the size of cloth and your level of diligence, this will take between 5 hours and 50 years"]
I think this one gives you the starting point and you can develop the ideas to suit. Sewing, painting, cooking, many skills - for decorating, wrapping, and giving. There's even a pattern for an apron! ****

55 Christmas balls by Arne and Carlos I know many of you follow these two crazy Scandi guys
The book is such fun, and there are indeed 55 balls, with variations, to try out. The patterns are clear, with only 2 colours per row and short 'floats'. But they are all using the same basic 41 row pattern worked on dpns. [if you didn't know that means double pointed needles, 

then abandon plans to make all fifty five any before Christmas!] But I am still awarding this one **** because it is so joyful, with little quotes, and bits of folklore, and a whole section on 'religious' motifs. Jesus is the Reason for the Season, after all

We called in briefly at the Festive Fair in Dereham on Saturday. I bought myself a pair of ear-rings from Bitzy, in support of the Norfolk Blood Bikes,. She works in the blood unit at the hospital in Norwich. Her stall was all eco friendly, zerowaste and the diverse range of stock was created by her work colleagues. Bob got a collecting box from Abbie, whose organisation recycles ink cartridges He is hoping to raise some more funds for the Shed. We were not tempted to buy anything else! 

You Are Only Seventy Once!

People have been saying that a lot, as we all have marked this significant "Milestone" event with Bob. I think he has been overwhelmed by the kindness and love shown to him.

It was one truly memorable week of events [and good food]

Sunday - cake, singing and a birthday ode with church family

Monday - special meal together, followed by late night opening of gifts and cards

Tuesday - birthday lunch in Norwich with good friends

Wednesday - Kippers for breakfast, then Men's Shed with cakes, Indian banquet

Thursday - Cambridge, seeing many dear friends 

Friday - Julian arrived- fish and chip tea from our favourite shop

Saturday - a family birthday meal, with Julian, Marion and Adrian 

It was good to have a celebration meal on Saturday, between Bob's birthday [4th] and Adrian's birthday [16th]

Also, November 8th would have been the 69th birthday of my dearest cousin Gill - Julian's mum. I was so glad he could be with us.
As well as this mahoosive card, and enamel mug, there have many other cheerful cards and thoughtful gifts. I may mention some of them in a later post. Once again, thank you to everybody who has sent such kind greetings 💓

Happy 70th Birthday, Bob!

 

Really 'making a meal' of the milestone birthday. Sunday we shared the cake with our church family [thank you Charlie for writing a special birthday ode]

Monday - just the two of us, at home, enjoying Bob's favourite  moules et frites.

Today - lunch with close friends in Norwich

Wednesday - small cakes at the Shed with his mates

Friday - Julian arriving

Saturday, us, J, Adrian and Marion having a special meal at Cornerstones

Next week - we will diet! [till 17th, when Denise and Kevin are coming for a meal]

And in between all the eating, there will be cards, and gifts, and celebrations. Because he's worth it 💚💙💜

As The Needle Dances On The Cloth...

The other day a friend came round for coffee - she brought with her a quilt to show me. A beautiful piece of collaborative stitching. Following an accident, her husband had to spend some months in hospital in Yorkshire. Friends from their church made a quilt for his bed - lots of individual patches to remind him of those who were praying for him, thinking of him - and special embroidered motifs and stitched Bible verses symbolising memories and friendships. It was truly special, and I felt so privileged to have the opportunity to look at it and examine the details and the careful work involved in a true labour of love.
Yesterday I spent the entire day making another batch of Shed Aprons. I bought a trolley-bag for my latest machine in Lidl a couple of days ago. It's a lightweight one, just to make it easier to wheel my bag from room to room [I store it in the back bedroom, but usually work at the dining table] Bob took the day very easy, lots of resting [and I had my earplugs in as I worked, listening to vintage crime dramas on radio 4 extra]

Here's a lovely poem called October Quilts. I will make another quilt sometime. But right now in between Apron Sewing all I can manage is a couple of small squares each month for the TwoByTwo project. But as the poem says "Each square holds a story sublime"

OCTOBER QUILTS

In the midst of fall's warm colours
Lies a craft, tender and bold
A tapestry of memories, stitched together
Stories in threads, yet to be told
October quilts, with each block pieced
Breathe life into the autumn air
A symphony of textures and hues
That only the heart can truly share
With every stitch, a moment captured
A memory woven in time
From golden leaves to crisp apples
Each square holds a story sublime
The scent of pumpkin and cinnamon
Infused in the fabric's embrace
As the needle dances on the cloth
A masterpiece takes shape with grace
Squares of flannel, denim, and silk
Layers of warmth and comfort entwine
A labour of love, each quilt unique
A treasure that will forever shine
October quilts, a soothing refuge
For chilly nights and cosy days
A work of art, handcrafted with love
A symbol of autumn's peaceful ways
So let us gather 'round the fire
Wrapped in these quilts, so dear
As we revel in the joys of fall
October quilts, we hold them near.

by Dashaun Rashod Snipes