Sunday 22 May 2016

Mud, a monsoon and a little light sewing








Today was one of those days when you feel you've really earned a sit down. It's a blissful feeling.

The littles were at camp on Friday/Saturday and some of today, and today there was also a football tournament. I was helping out at the tournament, so all in all I was there from 9am until about 4.30pm. I got a bit wet on the way home, but that was absolutely nothing as to how wet the other half and the littlest boy got. There was some sort of monsoon event and they arrived back with water literally running off of them.

Can you imagine the washing? Camp, which included an assault course requiring commandoing along in mud, and football and torrential rain. I've lost count of the number of trainers, wellies and football boots I've cleaned. There is washing everywhere. But oh how soundly the little people are sleeping. I sometimes think that good sleep is proportionate to the amount of mud they encounter. We're off the scale today.

I balanced the weekend of sweets, sausages and pizza by making fish cooked in herbs tonight with brown rice and green vegetables. Followed by fruit. There were mutterings about chocolate cake, but I held the line and health prevailed. We've had too many days without enough fresh stuff lately. A lot of very speedy meals.

I've been reading Emma Bridgewater's memoir, which is full of delightful Englishness. In case friends from afar aren't familiar with her, she founded a successful pottery business back in the 80s. You can see her stuff here should you so wish. I do love the new vegetable garden designs. Alas they are not destined for a clumsy person such as me. I dropped four plates all at once on Friday. I do find they all break far more easily when they go down in a group. I tend to buy my china from the charity shop. It's a lot less disappointing when you drop a 50p plate. Although maybe if I had a big plate that said "Gardener Extraordinaire" on it I would be more careful.

The memoir is a nice light and enjoyable read, and it inspired me to dig out the patchwork quilt I'm making again as she talks about the quilts she's made. I'm not feeling it with yarn at the moment, but a little light sewing this evening will be just the thing. Wishing you a restful evening with your feet up too. CJ xx

15 comments:

  1. you definitely deserve some quiet time (and some vegies!).
    I don't drop plates but I do smash glasses while doing the dishes, so I have plastic tumblers :-)
    enjoy your sewing; the fabrics are lovely.

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  2. Your quilt looks lovely - those owls are so sweet. I can't wait for the big reveal. I love the look of your book too. Someone else mentioned it to me recently; I think I'll have to keep a look out for it at the library. Hope you've recovered from your mudfest! xx

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  3. Your quilt looks very sweet - I like the soft colours and patterns. It certainly does sound as if you earned a rest. I must say I don't miss the days of cleaning muddy camp gear or scraping football boots/cross country trainers at all. I hope you find time this week to do some more sewing and read your book.
    Cathy x

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  4. Gorgeous post. Maybe a patchwork quilt is what I need to make, as I'm not feeling it with the yarn either. I very much like the look of that book. Xx

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  5. You certainly do sound as if you deserved a little you time, I certainly don't miss the piles of muddy camping kit. Love the sound of the book, I must look that one up. Take care.

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  6. You know EB's plates are thick things. I have dropped them more than once with no breakage occurring so I think they might be made for you ;-). Incredibly heavy rain here yesterday too. And thunder. I'd just started planting out seedlings. Your quilt looks lovely. I shall look forward to seeing more in due course. Have a great week my dear xx

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  7. Your weekend sounds exhausting, but sounds like it was worth it as the little people seem to have had alot of fun. The quilt looks lovely. I have never made one and don't plan to anytime soon, but i am in awe of people who complete such amazing projects. Wishing you a less busy week :)

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  8. I hope that you had a relaxing evening to make up for what was clearly a busy day. Flighty xx

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  9. Ooh, I fancy reading Emma Bridgewater's memoir. I do love her stuff. We have tiled floors over here though and I hold my breathe every time we wash up. I'd be so scared to use her lovely dishes. Hope you have finished the washing by now...

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  10. The weekend was a bit of a wash-out here, too. I can imagine your washing – mine hasn't been so bad as only one of my children was camping. He slept exceedingly soundly, too :-) Your quilt looks lovely. Quilting is something I've always thought would be incredibly satisfying and creative to do but know in my heart of hearts that I probably don't have the patience. I am full of admiration for those who do :-)

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  11. Sounds like some time with your book and sewing was very much in order. I'm always breaking stuff here. I swear there's some gremlin living in our kitchen cupboards which hurls pots what feels like every time I open the doors. Wish EB would come up with a bounceable range.

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  12. Your sewing and reading time sounds blissful. I would love to have some of that myself. Tomorrow is the last day of school, and it will be both calmer and crazier after that because I'll no longer need to run around like a madwoman but I won't have any time alone either. Such is summer vacation. :) I would enjoy reading that book. I look at her pottery all the time on eBay but it's never affordable enough for my taste, mostly because of the shipping rates from the UK. I like to read memoirs of designers and other creative people. If you get the chance, Kaffe Fassett's memoir is a very pleasant read. I hope you're having a good week so far, CJ. :)

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  13. It sounds like you really earned your restful evening. I love your quilt - such pretty fabric. I've made one or two patchwork things over the years. I find hand sewing quite restful.I look forward to seeing your finished quilt.

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  14. I love your mud theory x and agree wholeheartedly x

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  15. Isn't it great if the children are all soundly asleep and you have time to sit and stitch and read? Mine our of synch unfortunately, with the big one sleeping in the morning, the middle one not much at all and the little ones early in the evening. Mud is absolutely essential for a good nights sleep, works for me, too. The other day I threw myself on the forest floor on purpose just to get covered in it during my lunchtime jog and before meeting a student. I slept like an angel but my reputation has suffered a bit. Love your stitching, the colours of your quilt are so pretty and calming, I feel totally relaxed just admiring the photos. Have a lovely rest of the week. x

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