FO Friday.

I did it, I actually made a garment that fits and was exactly what I was wanting. It's a blooming miracle. Shame it's too hot to wear it at the moment.

I absolutely love it and am impressed with myself for actually finishing something.

I omitted all cuffs and the neckband and am so pleased I did its really comfy.

This was a really easy make given it was stretch fabric, Terry Cotton, and I don't have a serger, I was a bit dubious. But it went smoothly.

Its a mash up from the styles on  Simplicity S8947, I made the shortest version and omitted all fancy bits. Great size range to this pattern as well, UK size 4- 26. Would recommend this pattern and am definitely going to make some more for the cooler months.

I also managed to finish this book

I really am not sure about it to be honest, its sent in NewYork around the 1940's and is a woman retelling her story. It was very much a slow burn for me, I did finish it but it was a slog towards the end. I don't know whether my feelings for this book were impacted because it was a book club read ( not keen on book clubs not doing another), or that we are amidst a pandemic and I have brain fog or the impact of my dad dying whilst  just starting to read it . Its like I need to put it away and come back and read it again another time, not sure I would though. It was a shame as I had high hopes for this book.



WIP Wednesday.

I’ve been itching to sew something but just couldn’t settle on a pattern. I think this lockdown period where I have generally been wearing comfy clothing and the knowledge that I won’t be going away anywhere soon has just got me in a slump. 

But I found some terry cotton in my fabric stash and thought why not make something cosy to wear. Had a simplicity pattern for a long sweatshirt which matches with the fabric perfectly. So today I am going to start on it. Am going to chop and change around the 4 sweatshirts on the pattern and see how it goes.

I’ve never really sewn with stretch fabric before and don’t have a serger, but as it’s a comfy for home project so it will be a good learning curve for me. 

Quite looking forward to giving it a go and you never know I may have a finished object by Friday!

Shopping and Cooking.

Up until now I have managed to shop local and eat down all our stores. But the time had come to knuckle down and face a superstore.I dillied and dallied over which one to go to and locked at the sites to recommend the quieter times to go.

So this morning I popped in to see step mom then headed out to Morrisons.

It wasn't actually that bad, only 3 people before me queuing to get in, a trolley waiting that had been sanitised and I was off.

It was like going into Ikea, a route had been planned out for you so I headed off into the unknown. 

 It was reasonably quiet in there and most people were social distancing but others didn't have a blooming clue.I managed to get most of what I wanted other than dried basil and some yeast, I overspent but I put it down to the excitement of being let lose to shop.

I am now stocked up for at least the next 2 weeks, so shouldn't have to venture out for a while.

Yesterday I made up some minestrone type soup for my lunches this week, I'm still on that never ending weight loss dream, I find that if I have food planned I can manage better so given I'm not working this week and have no structure I'd better at least make an attempt to eat healthy.

An add popped up on my Facebook account 2 weeks ago for an offer for Slimming world for free for NHS workers so I snapped it up. So I'm trying to be slimming world friendly.

My group leader recommended this book for ideas

Its not a  slimming world book but has meals that adapt to most types of diet. I had a look through and found a Minestrone soup which sounded nice.

I used up most of the veg that was turning and substituted some small macaroni pasta as I didn't have any small pasta for soups. But I ended up with not a bad soup that will last me 5 days, or until I get bored of it and then freeze it.

 I also used up the ageing kale and made Krispy kale to go along side it.

Over the last 2 weeks I have managed to lose 5 lbs which I am quite pleased about. I'm enjoying slimming world much more in this time of social isolation as its all done via the internet and classes are by Zoom. I don't need to go and listen to the whole group and then clap everyone, I do find that quite patronising and tedious and always puts me off going.

 The group leader is great and the others that I have 'met' via Zoom seem nice.

Maybe this time I might actually crack it.

This is my goal

Riding on Perranporth Beach

Pic from Reen Manor Riding Stables,

I had a horse when I was younger up until about 16/17 yrs and so want to get back in the saddle again, this is my goal,  Lose 60lbs and for every 1lb I lose in weight I will put £1 into a jar so when I hit target I will have the money for a 2 hr beach ride....

PS, yes I do need to lose that much weigh else the horse may buckle beneath me....

A lockdown Holiday.

Friday would have seen the family head off to Ilfracombe to start our holiday over to Lundy Island.

We should have sailed on the Oldenburg on Saturday Morning, we stay over the night before to make sure we are there ready but also to meet up with  our friend and share a meal.

Lundy is one of my favourite places, I love the peace , quiet, nature and total getting away from everything type of holiday that it is.

But it wasn't to be, staying home and staying safe is what it's all about this year.

Instead we have rebooked for next May and I am taking a staycation.I immed and ahhed about whether to take a week off given I can't go anywhere other my back garden and a local walk, but I think I just need a break from work and a few restful days after Dad's death and all that came with it.

So this week I aim to finish reading City of Girls, finish my roadside beanie and a pair of plain socks and actually drag my sewing machine out and complete a project, I may even do a blog post or two.....