Yesterday I had a lovely day over at Busy Bees. This was the all day Pineapple Block course. Andrew gave me a hand lugging my stuff in. This is the only trouble with quilting - it is not really a very portable hobby. As well as a heavy sewing machine, you have large, awkward cutting mats, big square rulers, bags of fabric and tools and a packed lunch. Anyway, we all got ourselves settled and away we went. Sue, our lovely tutor is an excellent teacher. Clear, warm, inspiring and watchful - able to see when people can get on with it, and when they need help. We started out by tracing the block designs onto our Stitch N Tear, then Sue demonstrated the principle behind foundation piecing (the technique we were using). Then back to our tables, sort out our fabric and tentatively make a start on our blocks. By the end of the day, I had a beautiful block finished and trimmed, and Sue had also gone over in detail how we could finish the quilt with sashing and borders, and even ideas for putting blocks together using colour combinations. She had also brought in some examples, a finished quilt top, some individual quilt blocks and a very pretty cushion.
Just as importantly she had brought in a big plate full of her mum's home made pineapple loaf cake, which we all enjoyed with our cups of herb tea during the day. In the afternoon she gave us each a copy of the recipe, so I've come home with a thorough grounding in foundation piecing, plus a useful recipe! What a great day. As with other courses I've done there, it was a real pleasure from start to finish. A really nice bunch of other women doing the course, a fantastic tutor and the pleasure of learning and spending the day uninterrupted in doing a deeply pleasureable and interesting activity. As so often on these courses, it was also fascinating to see how exactly the same block could end up looking so different when made up in different fabrics.
Came home and we had a quiet, peaceful evening. This morning, I did the annual RSPB Garden Birdwatch, an annual mass participation survey of British bird life. This afternoon, we went down to Ikea as we wanted a new rug for the hall and also some new doormats - because of the dogs, we seem to get through these quickly. Andrew took Andy and Boola out for a run this afternoon - they all had a great time.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
It's been a sad week. On Tuesday, Paula came with me over to Busy Bees so we could choose some fabric together for a course I am doing this coming Saturday. This helped us both a bit. The shop is lovely, very small, crammed with fabric and lots of other happy customers. As is usual, you end up having conversations with lots of other customers, ooh-ing over other people's fabric choices and also met another lady who will be doing the same course as me and had also come to buy supplies. The warmth and happiness of the shop atmosphere was good for us both - I am sorry to say though that I succumbed to temptation. As well as the layer cake I had got for the class, I also bought a Moda pack of gorgeous "Candy Bars" - these are like a charm square but cut in half so are 5" x 2.5" pieces. Forty in each pack - four packs. Absolutely lovely. I've been making some Dresden Plate blocks with them, and they have been a joy to do.
The week has been cold, crisp and frosty - lots of ice on the pond and the grass frozen over at the park. Paula has been walking over the park most days - she feels the exercise is doing her good, but it's hard as she keeps bumping into other dog walkers who of course want to know where Jim is. We met her on one of these on Thursday and it was a fresh blow - I hadn't realised how much I had mentally associated her with the dogs, seeing her walking alone was awful. Part of me kept expecting Jim to pop out and do his usual joyful bark of greeting at us, while wagging his tail and asking Andrew to play with him.
Yesterday, we went over to Paula's and she asked us to take a few things like some of the unused dog biscuits, chews and a coat that will fit Booty. A lot of the other stuff like dog beds, towels, leads etc is going to the greyhound charity where it will come in useful for the hounds who are in our care - a mutual friend is picking these up shortly. Going to the house for the first time without both dogs was dreadful - I sat down and immediately started crying. It seemed so empty and of course there were no dog beds, blankets etc. Paula came in and we talked about it and had a cry together. I think some of these "firsts" are always tough.
In the evening, we felt like watching a film, but there was nothing recorded or on Sky that we particularly wanted to see, so watched Leon. It was wonderful - I have a huge crush on Jean Reno, and the film was also noticeable for being the screen debut of Natalie Portman, aged I think 12. She was excellent in it.
Today has been a quiet day. We took the dogs over to the sea wall at St Bride's - it was wonderful. Apart from fishermen perched on the edge, it was quiet and lonely and peaceful and bleak. The dogs loved sniffing everything. Andrew went for a run this afternoon (he went running with Andy and Boola yesterday) and now we're about to enjoy some roast beef. Happily I've got a large and strong glass of gin., which is going down beautifully.
Today has been a quiet day. We took the dogs over to the sea wall at St Bride's - it was wonderful. Apart from fishermen perched on the edge, it was quiet and lonely and peaceful and bleak. The dogs loved sniffing everything. Andrew went for a run this afternoon (he went running with Andy and Boola yesterday) and now we're about to enjoy some roast beef. Happily I've got a large and strong glass of gin., which is going down beautifully.
Monday, January 17, 2011
I saw Paula and Jim last Thursday - he and Boola enjoyed playing together over the park. Since then he went off his food and drink and on Sunday morning we had a frantic early morning phone call from Paula as he'd got stuck coming down the stairs - his back end was struggling. Andrew took them both over to the vet for an emergency appointment, and the news when he returned was what we'd dreaded but half expected. Jim was put to sleep quietly at home today - he went very peacefully apparently.
Paula thinks that Baloo's death hastened Jim's. Although he had lots of friends over the park, having another dog around makes a huge difference at home. Jim was fifteen, very elderly, but such a character. He was a lurcher, with a mainly greyhound appearance apart from his broken coat which was grey (with a great deal of white in his later years). He was quite small, and was a bit intimidated when he first met Boola (who is a huge boy) but they were soon playing together, chasing each other round in circles over the park. Jim had lots of friends and admirers. When you got admitted to his inner circle of special friends, he would greet you with a helicopter tail wag, a play bow and a series of loud Woofs. He adored Andrew and they used to play together a lot.
As is usual on these occasions, I feel a mix of emotions. The dear old boy had lived a long and very happy life - with Paula, every single day was with a devoted owner who gave him oodles of love and every care a dog could need, as well as lots of canine company, both from Baloo and his other doggy friends over the park. When the time came, he was able to go peacefully, in his own home, in the loving arms of his mistress - something any dog owner would want for a much loved pet. Even though I know all this, it hasn't stopped the grief at his departure. Because of our friendship with Paula, and her illness we've spent a great deal of time with her dogs and they both became very dear to us. During her illness Paula has always been worried about what will happen to the dogs, and at least she is now spared that. I do hope though that these two sudden losses will not have too bad an impact on her. Unless you've owned a dog, it's difficult to explain the (very necessary and welcome) discipline and daily structure they bring in terms of providing a daily walk, and the other routines of dog ownership. Paula would struggle valiantly to get to the park with the dogs every day and it was a big motivator for her.
So far, 2011 is not getting off to the best of starts. Andrew and I were both very miserable yesterday and today I've been very low. I spoke with Paula this afternoon, and I've asked her to come with me tomorrow afternoon - I have received the list for a quilt workshop I'm doing shortly, and she'll be helping me choose some fabric - maybe this will help us both. The workshop is for a Pineapple block, and I need to buy a layer cake for it.
Paula thinks that Baloo's death hastened Jim's. Although he had lots of friends over the park, having another dog around makes a huge difference at home. Jim was fifteen, very elderly, but such a character. He was a lurcher, with a mainly greyhound appearance apart from his broken coat which was grey (with a great deal of white in his later years). He was quite small, and was a bit intimidated when he first met Boola (who is a huge boy) but they were soon playing together, chasing each other round in circles over the park. Jim had lots of friends and admirers. When you got admitted to his inner circle of special friends, he would greet you with a helicopter tail wag, a play bow and a series of loud Woofs. He adored Andrew and they used to play together a lot.
As is usual on these occasions, I feel a mix of emotions. The dear old boy had lived a long and very happy life - with Paula, every single day was with a devoted owner who gave him oodles of love and every care a dog could need, as well as lots of canine company, both from Baloo and his other doggy friends over the park. When the time came, he was able to go peacefully, in his own home, in the loving arms of his mistress - something any dog owner would want for a much loved pet. Even though I know all this, it hasn't stopped the grief at his departure. Because of our friendship with Paula, and her illness we've spent a great deal of time with her dogs and they both became very dear to us. During her illness Paula has always been worried about what will happen to the dogs, and at least she is now spared that. I do hope though that these two sudden losses will not have too bad an impact on her. Unless you've owned a dog, it's difficult to explain the (very necessary and welcome) discipline and daily structure they bring in terms of providing a daily walk, and the other routines of dog ownership. Paula would struggle valiantly to get to the park with the dogs every day and it was a big motivator for her.
So far, 2011 is not getting off to the best of starts. Andrew and I were both very miserable yesterday and today I've been very low. I spoke with Paula this afternoon, and I've asked her to come with me tomorrow afternoon - I have received the list for a quilt workshop I'm doing shortly, and she'll be helping me choose some fabric - maybe this will help us both. The workshop is for a Pineapple block, and I need to buy a layer cake for it.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
So after a rocky end to the week, we were delighted to welcome Rita and Roger on New Year's Eve. They drove over in time for lunch and we walked the dogs in the afternoon. In the evening, we made sure Booty was well dosed up on her Valium and sure enough at midnight there was a fusillade of fireworks.
On New Year's Day, I had booked tickets for all four of us to go on a guided walk over at the RSPB Newport Wetlands centre. This is just over from one of our favourite walks, along the sea wall at St. Brides, and is somewhere we've been meaning to visit for ages. I was amazed at how many people turned up - probably about 40 of us. The guides split us into two groups then took us through the reserve up to the coastal/tidal area and then back through the reed beds down to the visitor centre. We were out for nearly two hours and then as part of the ticket price, we had a complimentary hot drink in the cafe. We thoroughly enjoyed it and are now looking forward to visiting again.
By the afternoon, we were all shattered, and most of us had a nap! Another nice meal on Saturday night and on Sunday, Paula joined us for lunch - Andrew did braised pheasant in cider, and it was delicious, followed by an apple and mincemeat crumble. It was lovely to see Paula and I think she was glad to have some company and be out of the house for a bit. After a relaxing afternoon chatting, Rita and Roger headed home around tea time and we had a very quiet evening.
Since then, I've been working on a consultation document for WAG, on proposed changes to the licensing arrangements for dog breeding establishments. It has been a bit of a War and Peace, the first draft is about 3500 words and eight pages long! It's now with some other people for comments and suggestions, before it gets polished and finally submitted.
Yesterday, we popped down to Swansea to see fave aunty Hilary which was lovely. Good to have a chat and catch up with all the news and particularly enjoyed her famous home made mince pies. We exchanged presents and caught up with all the news. After we came home, we finally had our Christmas dinner! It was delicious and we really enjoyed it, with lovely crispy roast potatoes, parsnips, sprouts, cranberry sauce, home made stuffing and lovely turkey. Also enjoyed a really good white Burgundy with it.
Today, after a dog walk this morning, Andrew and I popped into town this afternoon. We visited Clarks and Andrew was delighted to get a new pair of shoes (black brogues) for work and a nice pair of brown leather casual shoes in the sale - only £38 for both pairs! I had a L'Occitane notification of their sale, which entitled me to a further discount, so we went along there and I stocked up, including a birthday present for a friend. We'd told Paula we were going there, and she asked me to get her some shampoo. So, after leaving town, we called in at Paula's on the way home, to drop off her shampoo and catch up with a cuppa. Jim was delighted to see Andrew and they had a lotof fun playing together while Paula and I had a look at what I'd bought in the sale. Then home, sent out the first draft of the consultation to various parties for comments and now we'll soon be enjoying a gin and later some dinner.
On New Year's Day, I had booked tickets for all four of us to go on a guided walk over at the RSPB Newport Wetlands centre. This is just over from one of our favourite walks, along the sea wall at St. Brides, and is somewhere we've been meaning to visit for ages. I was amazed at how many people turned up - probably about 40 of us. The guides split us into two groups then took us through the reserve up to the coastal/tidal area and then back through the reed beds down to the visitor centre. We were out for nearly two hours and then as part of the ticket price, we had a complimentary hot drink in the cafe. We thoroughly enjoyed it and are now looking forward to visiting again.
By the afternoon, we were all shattered, and most of us had a nap! Another nice meal on Saturday night and on Sunday, Paula joined us for lunch - Andrew did braised pheasant in cider, and it was delicious, followed by an apple and mincemeat crumble. It was lovely to see Paula and I think she was glad to have some company and be out of the house for a bit. After a relaxing afternoon chatting, Rita and Roger headed home around tea time and we had a very quiet evening.
Since then, I've been working on a consultation document for WAG, on proposed changes to the licensing arrangements for dog breeding establishments. It has been a bit of a War and Peace, the first draft is about 3500 words and eight pages long! It's now with some other people for comments and suggestions, before it gets polished and finally submitted.
Yesterday, we popped down to Swansea to see fave aunty Hilary which was lovely. Good to have a chat and catch up with all the news and particularly enjoyed her famous home made mince pies. We exchanged presents and caught up with all the news. After we came home, we finally had our Christmas dinner! It was delicious and we really enjoyed it, with lovely crispy roast potatoes, parsnips, sprouts, cranberry sauce, home made stuffing and lovely turkey. Also enjoyed a really good white Burgundy with it.
Today, after a dog walk this morning, Andrew and I popped into town this afternoon. We visited Clarks and Andrew was delighted to get a new pair of shoes (black brogues) for work and a nice pair of brown leather casual shoes in the sale - only £38 for both pairs! I had a L'Occitane notification of their sale, which entitled me to a further discount, so we went along there and I stocked up, including a birthday present for a friend. We'd told Paula we were going there, and she asked me to get her some shampoo. So, after leaving town, we called in at Paula's on the way home, to drop off her shampoo and catch up with a cuppa. Jim was delighted to see Andrew and they had a lotof fun playing together while Paula and I had a look at what I'd bought in the sale. Then home, sent out the first draft of the consultation to various parties for comments and now we'll soon be enjoying a gin and later some dinner.
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