On the home front ... (in two parts)

 I started this on the 31st of January, but rather than delete and start again (now that its 14th February!), I will leave it and add an update...

Part 1: The local haberdashery store finally got some more of the wide, dark green, bias binding in, so now I can finish the mats I started before Christmas.  I have been using the one I did get finished, but it will be nice to get the rest done...

After a beak in knitting due to the very hot weather, I got back to it recently.  I have 2 strips (of the 5) done on the blanket...

And I'm still in Miss Read mode.  Although I've had these 2 on my shelves for a while (both picked up at the op shop) I hadn't read them, so it was nice to have a new read (even though I know all the characters) rather than a re-read...

The summer weather has been horribly hot and windy, resulting in LOTS of headache days for me, but on the good days, I made a start on this little area in the garden which I will edge with bricks (brought from the Deloraine house) so I can get the plants in the ground rather than in pots.  They do so much better in the ground...

the dead one is one that Marnie brought over hoping I could resurrect it, but it was too far gone, unfortunately

Part 2: Today...

As I finished on the garden report, I'll start this part with an update, that I did this morning...

hope I can get it finished soon...

I made it to the Saturday afternoon sessions of the Mennonite conference, and I've ordered some books from them (they sell Rod and Staff books).  They had to order some from the US (that they didn't have in stock) and will let me know when they are ready to pick up.

Speaking of books...  I'm still in Miss Read mode and bought this one (secondhand) from eBay.  Another one I'd not read...

And I've almost finished the third (of five) blanket strips...

I won't have enough of the colors I've been using to do the rest, so will probably incorporate some other colors as I don't want to buy more yarn. Did I really say that!!! :))

Here's a photo from one of my recent morning walks...

I love a cloudy day...

And I'm loving these two that Natasha sent yesterday from snowy Connecticut...

While we're on a winter theme, from my Miss Read read :)

"It was Miss Clare who first pointed out that Fairacre School was one hundred years old.

It was a bleak Saturday afternoon, and we were enjoying hot buttered toast by the schoolhouse fire.  Outside, the playground, and beyond that the fields and distant downs, gleamed dully white in the fading light.  It had snowed every day since term started over a week ago, and from the look of the leaden skies, more was to come...

Indoors we were snug enough.  Between us, in front of the log fire, stood the tea tray, the cups steaming fragrantly with China tea.  The lamp glowed from the bookshelf behind Miss Clare's white head, making a halo of her silver hair.  Miss Clare knows Fairacre school well, as she was both pupil and teacher there for many years, and was serving as infants' teacher when I was first appointed as headmistress, until ill health caused her retirement..."

And speaking of hot buttered toast and tea, it sounds like a good idea...

xx