Saturday 4 April 2015

Stitches, eggs, birds, bikes



















This week I dug out the cross stitch I've been ignoring for months.  I've been inspired by Jennifer's beautiful work.  I loved her post about the one she's just finished and had carefully framed.  I find the one I'm doing quite small to count.  It's definitely best done in daylight, although my usual time for sewing is late at night.  Maybe why it's been malingering for so long.

The photos of the castle and the church are from the end of term.  The school had a lovely Eucharist service.  The late afternoon light was glowing through the stained glass windows, candlelight was flickering on ancient stone walls, the gold cross was gleaming softly and the smooth even notes of Bach played on the organ were tumbling over each other.  It was utterly enchanting.  The woman in front of me was checking her iphone.  I wanted to say to her, "Look!  Listen!"  These moments don't come every day.

At home we've been watching carrion crows building a nest.  They've collected their sticks and carefully slotted them onto a branch.  We checked the Birds' Eggs book, which says they'll stick it all together with mud and then line it with moss and grass and feathers to make it nice and soft for the chickies.  It'll be a shame if we can't see the chicks because the tree has burst into leaf, but I suspect that that is what will happen.

I snapped the flowering quince from the car park of Aldi.  Beauty bursting out all over the place.  It's one of my favourite spring flowers, along with magnolias and camellias.

The kale shoots are from the garden, an early spring delicacy.  In the house the tomatoes are doing well on the windowsills.  I've put foil behind them to reflect the light and it's really helped stop them leaning too much.

At the wildfowl and wetlands place there's a swan nesting, magnolia blooms fading and an avocet egg was laid while we were there.  Several swallows have been seen as well.

We spent a damp afternoon at the museum yesterday, marvelling at all the stuff.  So many wonders, natural and manmade.  The skeleton is of a wandering albatross.

This afternoon we went on a bike ride to make up for not using much energy yesterday.  What is usually a two-hour ride took three hours today.  There were numerous hiccups, but it was still a pretty good ride.  I feel ten times better about life when I've had some exercise, especially if the countryside is involved.  It makes me think I should take up running or something.

Anyway, that's all.  Have a lovely Easter, I hope the sun shines and there is chocolate.  I'm off to set the Easter treasure hunt now.  Enjoy.

35 comments:

  1. When I read the title I worried that one of your boys must've had a wreck of some kind...I'm glad that wasn't so! Happy Easter!

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  2. We went for a bike ride today. Well, I walked and the little ones cycled. I should have cycled, too! The dog and I were completely shattered. Still, it was a good outing. I noticed today some enormous pigeons on our kale, it must be the spring shoots they were after. I didn't have the energy to chase them away but seeing your photo, I think I should have. Have a lovely Easter Sunday. xx

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  3. I'm so glad to see you're working on the Winterwoods piece! I really enjoyed that one as well the Midsummer Sprigs I just finished. I'm happy to know I've inspired you. It's not the easiest stitching to do, I agree. You've made nice progress with it. It sounds like you've had a good break with the boys. I wish you all a very happy Easter.

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  4. Your sewing is beautiful, and so are your photos! I've just found your blog and an really looking forward to reading back - it looks really interesting.

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  5. Oh how I loved each image.. I think I have that kit but haven't even opened it yet.. must do.. and the story of the church and the music and candles and ancient stone and stained glass.. *swoon*. I send you good wishes for tomorrow..

    *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
    *H*A*P*P*Y* *E*A*S*T*E*R*!*!*
    *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. This is all just so lovely, beautiful and wondrous. I do hope that you have a glimmer of the richness you are creating for those exceptional boys of yours...and of course for you as well. It always makes my heart sing and my face stretch out in a huge smile to see these precious, just precious times you all share. You all are truly recording moments of such grace to be written in each of your hearts, never to be taken for granted nor forgotten.

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  7. Your embroidery is going to be lovely - I know what you mean about only being able to do it during the day. Someone recommended a 'daylight' bulb to me but I haven't got around to finding one yet, so can't tell you if they're helpful. Such a shame about the woman on her iphone - sadly, it seems to be a sign of the times. You seem to have had some fantastic days out - I'm very envious; so far, our holiday has been mostly revision for my girls. Wretched exams! I'm hoping to drag them out for an Easter walk today. Have a very Happy Easter. xx

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  8. What lovely spring photos. I agree with Ellen about all the lovely, precious memories you are building for your boys. Happy Easter.

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  9. Happy Easter. I know just what you mean about people looking at their phones rather than watching their kids production or service. That moment will never come again but the email will still be there! Oh well, their loss. X

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  10. Beautiful stitching, I like the neutral background. Re: Veggiemummy's comment, I find a daylight bulb really helps if you're stitching at night. It's useful to help distinguish very similar colours too. Lovely photos, the quince blossom is gorgeous. I hope the boys enjoy their Easter treasure hunt! xx

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  11. Your cross stitch is lovely and your days out with your boys look like great fun.
    Wishing you all a very happy Easter!

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  12. Your stitching is stunning, so tiny. I think blogs inspire us in so many ways, especially when we see someone's beautiful work, it makes me want to have a go myself. Have a wonderful Easter, I hope there's lots of chocolate and that the treasure hunt goes down well.

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  13. Tiny stitches! I did start one like that once, but I was working full time and daylight hours were so not available I never got far. Perhaps I should look that out sometime? If I still have it!
    Have a good Easter, may you eat too many eggs, laugh too many times and find that 'moments like this' come more often than you think if you learn to look and listen for them x

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  14. i always marvel at people with the patience for such intricate work....i think i might drive me mad. but then i tend toward the slap-dash when it comes to arting and crafting....;)

    lovely photos, as always. that really is crappy about the iphone-lady. i gave up my iphone a month or so ago and it's the most freeing thing. now i get very born-again when i see people glued to their glowing rectangles. :O

    hope you had a lovely Easter! [it's snowing here, this Easter Sunday, but i won't mention it}

    xo

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  15. Happy Easter! I enjoyed your pictures, although have to confess the first two left me feeling guilty. I started that cross stitch several years ago, and it is stalled for the same reason you give. It is so small, and even with my reading glasses I have a very hard time seeing the holes to put the stitches through. I tend to work on my crafts in the evening, and this one needs to be done in daylight. The Eucharist service must have been a wonderful experience.

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  16. A nice varied post! I used to enjoy cycling before my knees insisted that I stop.
    Thankfully it's a better day here today so I pottered on the plot this morning.
    Thanks, and you too. xx

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  17. It looks like you have had a wonderful break. Love your stitching.
    Hugs to you and Happy Easter.
    Meredith

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  18. It all looks so wonderful CJ! I can't wait to see more of your cross stitching as it is a stunning pattern! Your walks give me hope for what is to come...those blossoms are amazing! And I want to yell and folks on their phones all the time. They are missing it for sure! Your sprouts put a big smile on my face friend...wishing you all good things this week and a very Happy Easter to you!!! Nicole xoxo

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  19. Happy Easter, hope it was a lovely day, with equal parts fresh air and chocolate x

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  20. Your cross stitching is super, I think that is one of Alicia's too? I always find I feel so good after some exercise, esp cycling in the country - once I'm out I tend to cycle further and further. Sadly it isn't happening much at the moment due to too much work but I aiming to change all that. Enjoy the rest of the holidays
    Caz xx

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    1. Yes, you're right, it is one of Alicia's, her designs are lovely. I hope you manage to fit in some cycling soon. CJ xx

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  21. CJ, I just realized that you linked to my blog in this post. I don't know how I missed that (sorry), but thank you for doing so. I just noticed the traffic I've gotten from your blog in the past day. I appreciate it. :)

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  22. I'd love to try cross stitching! It looks beautiful. That yellow castle look identical to the castle here in the US my best friend just booked for her wedding :)

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  23. I'm just teaching Orlaith to sew, not that I know much about sewing myself, but I think it's a lovely skill to have. Got to get my sewing machine out the box and learn to use that next !!

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  24. In spite of the damp weather, it looks like you had a very nice Easter weekend. :0)

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  25. Flowering quince is one of my all-time spring favourites too. Your kale looks as if it's of the cavolo nero variety. I just have ordinary British kale this year - not sure if we'll get such gourmet-looking flower spikes from it.
    I know what you mean about exercise. My husband and both children (well, 21 and 22) run. I'm going to have to get moving too. Somehow it's difficult to find time, but that's the classic excuse.

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    1. Oops, how could I? My children are 21 and 24! In my defence I am pretty much number-blind.

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  26. So much nature in this post CJ - love it! A long bike ride, birding, and a natural history museum - you're raising those boys right. How amazing to see a swan nesting!

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  27. You know I'll encourage you to take up running :o)

    Lovely set of photos, CJ, and I'm very impressed your boys will do a two/ three hour bike ride! xx

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  28. Beautiful images showing an insight into your activities. I too have marveled at the Japonica this week and eaten kale. Sarah x

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  29. Hey CJ,
    I love the colours of the thread, and their names too. I would have had to ask the woman in the church to put her phone away. How rude. And I'm glad you told me that it was a swan. For a moment I thought it was something different entirely.
    Leanne xx

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  30. Your cross-stitch is very pretty indeed and looks very fiddly too. I like the understated colours. The pink magnolia is gorgeous, and it looks like you've all made the most of the good weather. Hope you're having a good Easter :)
    Cathy x

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