Travelling

Lovely daughter has been learning Portuguese and now she is off to Brazil. While she is there she will be living with families. What could she take as presents for the smallest children? Then I remembered that when our other lovely daughter went to China, I made finger puppets. I started off with gingerbread men. Then I branched out into jelly babies. There is a slit in their backs so little fingers can slide down into their legs and make them run along. In China they were a success and it delights me to think that they may still be making children smile there. So here they are, lined up, no luggage, waiting to fly off to Brazil, maybe with a packet of real jelly babies to keep them company...

Knitting for babies

There are going to be two new babies in our family this year, so Anne are I are reaching for our knitting needles. My mum was a great knitter and kept lots of old patterns. I found this little booklet in her folder. This is an essential list for the best dressed baby in  1952.......on the front cover you can see a picture of Nurse Vincent who wrote the pamphlet. She writes that you will need 4 long sleeved woollen vests, 4 pairs of woollen knitted leggings, 4 woollen knitted nighties, 6 day gowns, 4 pairs of knitted boots reaching to the knee, 1 large knitted woollen shawl, knitted bonnets, woollen gloves.... and so the list goes on. She also tells you how to boil cow's milk, adding sugar and cod liver oil for a new baby, but that's another story. So Anne and I had better start knitting. There's not much time if we are going to produce all these vests.........

Sharing and loving

Over the last two weeks there have been dreadful arguments in the garden. Over the coconut bird feeder. The robin found it first and it's his. There's no doubt in his mind, except when the squirrel arrives. Then he takes a back seat and grumps from the privet hedge. But otherwise he thinks 'It's mine all mine, want to fight about it?' As soon as anyone else arrives to feed, he is there. Wings whirling, red tummy sticking out and hurling abuse at the unsuspecting visitor. Blackbirds bluetits, even a woodpecker are seen off. And then he perchs smugly takes the occasional peck at it, he's won the day. Again. Until a beautiful hen robin appeared and now he's in love. 'Come over any time and share my coconut shell.... no strings attached.... I don't expect more....' he sings. ' I've found a lovely old teapot wedged into the hedge, it would make a great home for a family...' Will she fall for him? Ignore his bossy ways? He has a very beautiful red waistcoat after all, he's a handsome chap.... 

Spring walk

Pam, her three dogs and I have  started taking walks together. I'm not very fit but I reckon if a Cairn terrier can do the miles, then I can too. On a lovely spring day we set off from a village  nearby. We passed a tiny church, went inside for a look and came across this fellow. He lay peacefully snoozing in the sun, little dog at his feet and two angels at his head. Fully dressed in chain mail. With very stylish shoes and spurs. Rather a narrow hard place to lie, and he had been there for some time in his sunny resting place. We sat  with him for a few minutes then with our own little dogs we were on our way again.

Theft

I have been meaning to mend the stitching on daughter's Ugg boots for some time. They are clumsy boots which seem to make people  shuffle rather than walk. So I mended the unravelling threads and sprayed them with  suede protector. But I had never tried a pair on. What would they feel like? So in went my feet and what bliss! Warm cosy toes, a soft feeling under my heels and draft free ankles in the sewing room.... I  was reluctant to take them off and when I did my feet were freezing, so I put them back on.... and now they have been stolen..... by her mother... and I don't intend to give them back!  I am shuffling happily with very warm toes.... and rather snazzy tights too....

Bravery

On Saturday I went on a hunt in the garden in the faint hope there would be snowdrops. Maybe in some sheltered corner there would be a sign of the spring we all long for. There are some other bulbs  showing above ground and tiny buds on the shrubs, but closed tightly against the cold wind. We need to make a big decision about the raspberry canes.... whether to dig them up and plant anew, but that requires much armchair thinking and leafing through gardening books and  plant brochures..... So no snowdrops yet. But there was one flower  bravely putting a head above the rim of a pot. A sweet little face, a bit pale, so delicate but perfectly formed. I shall carry on  looking for snowdrops too. It can't be long now!

Aerobics

Happy New Year everyone! And in the hopefulness of the new year my mind has turned to aerobic classes. But not for long..... I feel a bit lazy about it really, so maybe yoga with Pam would be easier... But in everyday life there is lots of exercise. There's hoovering, running upstairs, lifting shopping in and out of the car. But some people go to extremes. Stretches and bending which go a little too far. People should think carefully before they attempt this one...........