After our lovely and much appreciated tiny breath of spring, we’ve gone back to grey and dismal and rain has set in. Actually this is a good thing. If it was a few degrees colder it would be snowing (please Lord, not more…!) and rain is the quickest way to get the snow we have melting fast.

Small corners of the garden are peeping through again – and looking in need of a good clear up too, but there are even some tiny buds of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils peeping through. It won’t be long now!

The dreariness means that even with a flash I can’t get a single publishable photo  – so I’m sorry it’s all words today. Maybe tomorrow will be brighter.

(DH is in Singapore on business and just called to tell me that it’s 30 degrees and he’s been sightseeing. Did I need to know that? 30 degrees – I think I’ve forgotten what that feels like!)

You’ll be pleased to know that my head is still in one piece and there was no reaction to the cleaned up teenager’s bedroom. I’m taking that as a very positive reaction. Effusive thanks would be too much to ask for I think. We don’t seem to be in a phase of life where that happens, other than when friends are here, when a significant transformation on the pleasantness front takes place.  When does this phase pass? Can anyone tell me when I can start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel??

Enough burbling on. Today has been deemed a cinema day – which seems fair as it’s the last day of the school holidays. No 1, No 3 and I are going to see George in Descendants. I don’t care if it’s a rubbish film (which it shouldn’t be – it has an Oscar nomination). I could watch that man all day! No 2 has plans of her own. Then it will be home for a roast chicken dinner to set everyone up for the week ahead.

My quilt is ready to baste – tomorrow when everyone is out of the house and I can take over the living room floor – and the next pair of socks is on the needles. My knee is showing signs of healing and I’ve just heard that a new series of Foyle’s War has been commissioned by the BBC.

Life is good. In a quiet sort of way.

Helen

I’ve had the windows open! I’ve changed all the beds and I’ve been cleaning like a frenzied thing. I bought myself a bunch of tulips. Last night I actually slept in something that wasn’t thick flannel pyjamas for the first time in a very long time!! (Too much information, I know, but this is a radical act in February here, so I thought I’d share it with you!!)

All because the temperature here is wavering at a little above 5 degrees and the sun is shining! Honestly, I kid you not, 5 degrees feels positively balmy after all the Siberian weather we’ve had to deal with recently. The snow is just beginning to melt a tiny bit.

I even – and this could be a BIG mistake – hoovered in No2 teenager’s bedroom. She’s due back from skiing today and after I went in to open the windows to air her bedroom, falling over all the junk on the floor on the way, I decided that I couldn’t bear it anymore. So I had a little tidy up (er hem!), dusted and hoovered. It was really vile and now it looks really quite nice and fresh if you close your eyes to the desk where I piled up all the stuff off the floor. Normally this is something that I refuse to do…respecting privacy and all that, but there was actually rotting food under the bed, and what with the whiff of spring and all, I couldn’t help myself.

I’m not at all wild about cleaning, but I do really love the feeling of freshness and light when the house is clean and tidy and the windows are open.

It has all lifted my spirits considerably! Can you tell?

I also put a deep blue striped border on the Northcote quilt, hated it (far too dominant for such a subdued quilt), took it off and have put a border of blue roses on instead. Much more in keeping. Now I’m just piecing the backing – as I don’t have enough of the blue roses anymore having used some of it for the border. The blue stripes are being put to good use. Once that’s done I’ll find out of my iffy knee is up to crawling around and basting. Mmm probably not, but we’ll see. In any case, progress is being made. Which is a good thing!

All in all a good day – and all because spring is in the air!!

Enjoy your weekend. I know I shall (unless my head has been cut off because of the cleaning escapade!)

Helen

What are you giving up for Lent?

I still don’t know what I’m doing, but I don’t think I’m going to be giving up chocolate (which I’m not that excited about) or alcohol (I don’t drink beyond the odd – very odd – G&T). I don’t think giving up a food item is really up to much. Who benefits when you switch from chocolate to crisps? It’s not exactly going to do anything to improve the state of affairs is it? And just seeing it as a chance to lose weight doesn’t really seem to match the needs of the season.

I rather liked the idea that Alan the vicar in the Archers on Radio 4 came up with – give up gossip and engage in spontaneous acts of kindness. That sounds more like it. I think I’ll give it a try. There is way too much gossip in the world, there really is.

I also thought about doing the 40 in 40 challenge – clearing out 40 bags of stuff in 40 days. As I’ve been gradually clearing out over the past few months I’m not sure there would be 40 bags of my stuff left to take. Even the kids – or two of them at least – have had a chuck out recently. I’d have to tackle my DH’s stuff. Which would probably result in divorce. Better not go there.

At church yesterday our lady assistant chaplain, Sarah talked about trying to live frugally in Lent so that we can give more. Sounds good to me. Living frugally will probably also free up some time to – as she put it – live more meaningfully. Slowing down and taking time to reflect more – on faith, yes, but also on how we live our lives and how our lives impact on those around us.

For a long time I’ve been heading down the path of simplicity – which I imagine probably pretty much equates to Sarah’s frugality. Taking time to live more meaningfully. Not multitasking and doing everything on automatic pilot. Slowing down and actually taking the time to listen when other people talk. Focusing 100% on a child who needs help with his homework rather than trying to combine it with doing the ironing or cooking the dinner. I think everybody benefits when we live frugally. We actually live life to the full – 100% doing the things that we choose to do – rather than a rather unsatisfactory and stressful juggling act. Not shopping frees up rather a lot of time, so does not gossiping, not to mention not spending hours aimlessly surfing the net.

This Lent I’m going to live life to the full…but slowly. I’m going to be mindful of those around me and take the time to listen for little hints that may mean that something somewhere isn’t right and someone somewhere needs a helping hand. I’m not going to let myself be drawn into gossiping and I’m going to take a little time every day to meditate on the meaning of Lent and the way to the cross. Our world seems to be in a right old mess at the moment – and I’m going to do my part by following Alan’s suggestion and engaging in random acts of kindness.

That’s all. End of sermon.

If you don’t do religion I apologise, but this was on my mind today! Quilting and knitting will probably return tomorrow!

Helen

Here are my Northcote blocks all sewn together – on a not terribly bright day. The colors are much brighter than this in reality, but getting a true to colour photo seems to be a big no-no today. I’m now thinking borders, although I should really be thinking DESIGN for the new bee that’s starting up soon. I seem to have something of a block on that count, but there are some vague ideas swirling round in the cotton wool that is my brain, so I guess in the next day or two I might come up with something.

Hmm…. I’ll keep you posted on that score….as and when the creative juices finally start flowing….

I’ll finish off with one of the joys of having teenage daughters…

See what I mean! (Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing – well, this is Switzerland after all!)

Helen

Thanks to all of you who suggested the Fat Quarterly Retreat in London at the beginning of June. Annabella was the one who suggested it first, so a little quilty something will be heading your way Annabella! What is really nice is that the retreat takes place on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Weekend – so I’m hoping that I might even be able to catch some of the spectacular events taking place on the Thames too! Killing two birds with one stone!

I’ve paid for my entrance ticket and my favourite little London B&B has space for me, so now I just need to book a flight and I’m all set. I was tickled pink to see how many of you are going to be there too! I couldn’t resist – it will be so nice to finally meet you in the flesh (so to speak!). Do let me know if there is anyone out there who is going that I don’t know about – and let’s meet up!

I’m also going to take Lindsay up on her offer of a trip to the Harrogate show later in the year too. Lovely! I can’t wait!!

Now that I’m home, I’m supposed to be gathering inspiration and designing the start of a quilt for a bee that will be starting up soon.

I’m finding it pretty scary and seem to have a case of quilter’s block….so true to form I’ve been …..you guessed it….knitting socks instead.

Here  is number 2 of 2012…

Evelyn A. Clark’s  Retro Rib Socks

Knitted with Araucania Ranco Multi.

Very cosy – and probably my favourite sock pattern – because they don’t fall down!

Now there are no more excuses – I need to put my creative hat back on and get on with some quilt designing…

Ooh I think I need a cup of tea!

Helen