My garden thinks it's Spring

The temperatures are low, there is snow in the South but my garden thinks the winter is over.   I was so pleased to see this cheery yellow bloom brightening up the dreary outdoors.

Today has been a good day.   Good, because the DBEM was well enough to come with me to the shopping mall where we crossed off all the items on her shopping list.   Then it was off to the Post Office (watch out for a package Little Brother), the Library, a drive through the park to see the field of daffodils and then home.
On the knitting front I have almost completed the left front of the cardigan, so will then do another page or two of the Quaker Christmas.  I seem to maintain momentum better with short bursts like .this, besides which there is a deadline on this cardigan so I must keep up speed.   I am knitting in NZ merino 4 ply yarn which has an immense mileage per ball.  Unaware of this I bought 15 balls and will only use around 8 for the current project.   What to do with the remainder has been perplexing me for some time.   I even read a couple of Elizabeth Zimmerman books to see if I could design my own?!  However, my faithful English Womens weekly magazine had a pattern  which will be perfect for what I want and will use this yarn so I am happy.   A short sleeved cardigan is on my list of wardrobe planning for The Great UK Trip.
So all is well Chez Nous and the DBEM has just consulted her calendar/diary to tell me that she hasn't had a "good Saturday" since 17 June.  So she is Very Happy.

Progress

This week I have made real progress on the Quaker Christmas Sampler and am almost at the half way point.  

When I get there this project will get a rest and I will need to return to the knitting - I need my cardigan by the end of September!

This evening I managed to attach the floral K to the book cover and am pleased with the results.   It sure does brighten up the black watch tartan fabric from which the cover is made.
The DBEM is unwell and today has been a dressing gown and pajamas day.   She has had a couple of these this winter.   This too is a sign of progress - of sorts.
Jo of Serendipitous Stitching aka Blogger Extraordinaire, hosts a Blogger of the Week.   Do pop over and check it out;-)   Thank you Jo and 'kia ora from Down Under'

Warm feet

A slight detour from the planned path of the Quaker Christmas Sampler.   The DBEM needed new bed socks to keep her chronically icy feet warm in bed, but she can't wear ordinary socks as they are too tight around her lower leg.   Last winter I tried altering a baby bootee style shape, with limited success.   So this year opted for these TV slippers.   Success :-)

And the Quaker Sampler is about to turn the lower left hand corner.  

Now off to another date with my needle.

Hard to find...

Today the DBEM is still unwell but as this is the first day to see the sun after a bad storm and a "polar blast" we decided to wrap up warm and take the newly washed car for a drive.   A local park has a pond and is a "dog friendly" zone so we sat and watched the dogs chase balls, each other and the ever patient sea birds.  

On the way I stopped at the "Hard To Find Bookshop" - not that the shop is hard to find you understand.   It is named that, as they stock otherwise hard to find books.   Little Brother had asked his library for a book I recommended but they couldn't oblige. I thought I still had my copy but a lengthy search proved memory false, so today at this bookshop, the obliging assistant directed me up the stairs, around the corners and I found exactly what I wanted.

The knitting is at another "have a rest" place with the back and two sleeves completed.   I am well on track to have this finished by the desired due date so it is back to the projects.

A toss up between the Hardanger Angel and the Quaker Christmas Sampler.   I really need to get half way on this project and only three and a half chart pages to go to that mark.

Why the sampler not the angel?   I am still debating what to use for the "body" of this angel as she is taller than number one.   That puzzle is paralysing my ability to do the necessary lacework to complete her.

Meanwhile I need to get dinner ready.

Chores Day

Chore number one.
Up early to do baking for the DBEM's treats.   Ginger crunch, chocolate chip biscuits and a gingerbread loaf.   Can you guess that teh DBEM likes ginger?

Chore number two.
I braved the crowds at Pak n Save and did my grocery shop.   Oh what a test of patience that was.  I do dislike shopping!   Usually I go one every four weeks but on the journey home I vowed to eke this out to six weeks....we shall see.   The car boot was completely full and there were several trips up and down the stairs to unload.

Chore number three.
As a reward to self I called at the Library.   Now this pile of books is calling my name and Fred Forsyth has tempted me from my knitting.

Chore number four.
And, the K is finished.   I need to have a finishing day sometime soon.  This is destined to be a circular "medallion" on the front of a notebook cover.

Now my last "chore" for the day is to watch Antiques Road Show.

Good night all.

What makes my garden grow?

Tonight we have watched a recorded session of The Amazing Race and in so doing my Flower Initial has grown.

None of the flowers I talked about last night!   But roses, solomon's seal, periwinkles, viola and some cyclamen have now been "planted".   Hopefully this will be finished over the weekend and I can get to and make this into a notebook cover.   Strangely enough despite not really liking this type of embroidery I am thinking of stitching an M for myself:-)

And the flowers are blooming...

No, the knitting did not get started.   I picked up another project and am making good progress now on the Flower Initial.

As a lover of counted work I never find free style embroidery easy but this is coming along well.   This choice of shot silk from my stash was not the most inspired choice as the colour makes a hard base to match floss but so far so good.   Hopefully in the weekend I will get a photo in natural light which may show everything up a lot better.

Unlike the Tin Man

Unlike the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz,  I have a heart and hearts aplenty on my Hardanger Angel.   The foundations are all laid now with just the lace work left to do so I am taking a break.   This is the bottom border of the gathered skirt - the gap between the kloster blocks will be lacework.

My next project is to put some more flowers on the floral initial -  primroses, cyclamen, lavender and something yellow, maybe some forsythia?  
And then I really must get back to my knitting.   One sleeve, a left front and a right front and a collar to go and already it is July.   The winter will soon be over so I need to get going on that.  
So much to do, so little time.   Yesterday I had a 10 hour day but today was able to finish at my standard 8 hours and so got home a little earlier.   However I spent an hour writing an old fashioned letter with pen and paper which has taken care of most of my evening.
Back with some progress tomorrow (or the next day...)