Sleep is for wimps

Well, that is the stance I will be taking, and have always taken it seems.  I have been told sleep and I were not friends from the get go. Over the years I have filled in the long hours in various ways.  One I remember vividly was making croissants one night so we had fresh warm croissants for breakfast in the morning just because I knew sleep was not going to come so I set about to fill some of the time.

I read books in the 90’s by Stephen King, Dean Koontz and I am sure the authors name will come to me later. I got through the nights reading of horrors in these books or the works of Jack the Ripper.  This helped distract me from what was going on in my own life and the pain and horror from a health condition that was very serious.

I’ve knitted countless things, watched The Pirates of the Carribean films over and over with a child that didn’t also sleep and was up with what seemed never-ending ear infections.

I’ve taught myself to quilt, scrapbook, make soap from scratch and spent many hours online chatting with some amazing friends all around the globe.

Yes, I am tired most of the time, but my brain often won’t let my body give in and sleep.  Meditation sometimes helps but not enough to sleep enough.

This is how I ended up learning to knit socks years before it was popular to do so.  Spent so many nights googling and investigating new skills or different ways to achieve something.

Sometimes I lay in bed and my brain goes from thinking that tomorrow I need to remember to buy milk, to thinking how the best way to survive a zombie apocalypse. Yes, as a family we have a plan honest!  Even right down to how to recharge my speech processor batteries with no electric.

OK maybe saying sleep is for wimps is a bit harsh, I would love a full night of uninterrupted sleep and am a little jealous sometimes of those who can sleep uninterrupted and without their brain thinking about stuff like horse taxis and where do you buy one?, how large a fork has to be before it’s counted as a serving fork? or, Who ended up with my copy of The Lovely Bones? How come so many people I know love lemon drizzle cake? If I was on earth before and was reincarnated could it be possible I am related to myself hundreds of years on? The thoughts lead to more thoughts like from wondering if it’s worth getting up and having a cup of water? to why we pay road tax to keep a car on the road but it isn’t used for the upkeep of the roads we pay to upkeep?

Mainly sleep time for me is very hit and miss.   On the other hand, I have taught myself so much and have achieved so much due to the lack of sleep. Am not complaining at all apart from I have run out of subscribers videos on YouTube tonight.

What do you do when sleep evades you?

It costs how much per ball?????

Today we had a check up hospital appointment, all fine folks don’t worry, and on the way home, it was suggested we stopped into a garden centre and the craft store right by it.  While waiting for the fabric pictured below to be cut hubby and I had a little chat in which he made an interesting point and reminded me about my theory on how a ball of yarn is economical entertainment.

The fabric here is a coated plastic/vinyl type of fabric and I commented that the price I thought was really good.  Somehow I mentioned that there were certain tote bag panels somewhere online I had seen and loved but they were a bit expensive really. Hubby then said something along the lines of but it will bring you great joy to make them up and use them so they are worth every penny.  Which, is what reminded me of something I came up with a while back to explain why yarn, fabric or craft materials may seem expensive but if you think about it can actually be quite good value for money.

People craft for many reasons, sometimes it’s economical, other times it’s to have one-off items no one else will have and personal taste. Sometimes its a case of earning a living from your chosen craft.  Some people love the process, others love the end product. For many, it’s a hobby a source of entertainment and along the way learning and trying to perfect their chosen craft.

Those who don’t craft tend to look at a ball of sock yarn for example and say £10 for a ball of sock yarn to make a pair of socks is unbelievable when you can buy cheap socks in the shops.  Whereas I look at a ball of sock yarn and not only see a pair of socks I also see entertainment.  The last time I rented a DVD ( don’t ask when it was years ago!) it cost me £3.50 I think for an overnight hire and I got under 2 hours of film to watch.  Last time I bought a ball of sock yarn it cost me £6 in a sale and it took me a week of a few hours each day to knit the said pair of patterned socks.  I learned a new way to turn a heel and felt so proud and accomplished.  For 14 hours plus of entertainment I spent just £6.  Bargain I think. There were leftovers that can be used in other projects or more socks as accents maybe so the time of enjoyment etc. still keeps giving even after the main project is finished.

Fabric to make said tote bag or a skirt, for example, will have leftover fabric,  This can then either be used in other crafts or a scrap quilt maybe. The ‘scraps’  still have the same worth as the initial whole single big piece of fabric.  It’s not always about the cost of the initial purchase but for me, it’s also about using the materials in the best ways I can.  That leftover 3-inch strip is still as expensive per inch as a metre of the same fabric.

That’s my thoughts for the day from earlier. I probably will order the tote bag panel I mentioned earlier too. Another tote bag is never a bad thing when it will

1. bring me enjoyment
2. keep me amused while making
3. Save the world from a lot of plastic bags when I keep using it.

And, with that, I am going to go and make myself a cup of tea then figure out how to crochet a skull with the above white cotton yarn.  Really want a few to applique on a project I have in mind

 

Knitting the yawns away

The UK’s weather is doing seriously weird things to me at the moment.  Sometimes it’s migraines with thunderstorms and today the rain and temperatures just knocked me with tiredness.  Not just yawns but my head felt so stuffed and foggy I couldn’t really do much.  Luckily my hands were behaving today and I have been known to knit while I am literally falling asleep, so, I did a little knitting to pass a little time.

Recently discovered Red Heart Scrubby Yarn and grabbed my ball and used a simple pattern I used for washcloths before. I can see how it could be used for exfoliating or for dishwashing. Of course in true me style, the photos of today’s knitting do not come up the pretty teal colour they should do. The pink ones are the ones I did a while ago in a soft cotton yarn.

Instantpot ribs

I sometimes think the 2 men that live in my house would eat ribs I make daily if I made them daily. Today despite the heat I decided to make the simplest and quickest of my 2 recipes we enjoy. The other one is better but I am not in the mood in this heat to babysit a wok for a good 90 minutes or so. However, I am a proud and happy owner of an instant pot and used this today.

I took a rack of spare ribs and seasoned them, added a chopped onion and some water in the bottom of the pot and put on the meat setting for 16 minutes. Without an IP I would have just put in slow cooker with the same things and not much liquid to slowly cook all day until needed.  Both ways will give tender, juicy tasty plain ribs

 

After a little cutting into portions of 2 ribs or so basically, all that was needed was anointing or squirting over of your chosen sauce. For the boys today it was BBq sauce.  I placed the ribs in a hot oven for 15-20 minutes to go sticky and develop a nice crust in some areas. Usually, I put them under a grill but I seem to have lost my pan that fits under there.  Even finishing them off on a BBQ would be brilliant.

Given the heat, I felt a bit like a domestic goddess heroine cooking today. On days like this when your fridge hasn’t enough salad ingredients and you need to cook this seems a good way to go. Obviously, it has to be good enough that someone else wants to clear up the kitchen etc in gratitude!

 

 

 

Peg bag

Finally made one. It’s looks a bit bedraggled but it will do the job it’s needed to do.

No pattern used I just traced around the hanger for the top and added some seam allowances. Added some bias binding to the opening edges and used French seams to sew the whole thing together. Even remembered to leave a hole at the top to put the hanger hook through.

I could of used a slightly bigger seam allowance as the hanger is a bit of a snug fit.

No pattern was used just used a friction pen to plan out on back of the fabric. Worked pretty good for first attempt I thought.

I’m amazed it all lined up so well and worked ok. Now just to fill it up with pegs and use it tomorrow. I’ve already got a Mickey Mouse one planned for someone else so now I’ve made all the mistakes the next one should look fantastic.

I’ve been listening to the first audiobook in the St Mary’s chronicles. Enjoyed the last one so much I decided to go through them all again.

If I rush I might get to bed before midnight

Night all

Still in garden mode

We have recently been in garden planning mode, even visiting local garden centers and managing to agree on what we want. Saturday was such a lovely day for walking around and picking up bits.

Not many plants made it home but more novelty things like solar teapots and a butternut squash terracotta Halloween style lantern, well there was only one left and I couldn’t leave it there alone could I?

So many bees buzzing around the flowers I really struggled to catch a few that didn’t look blurred so was pleased with the couple I managed.

Have to introduce you to Wyatt the puppy.  This is my sons and daughter in laws pup. Which makes me Wyatts Nana 😉 He’s such a lovely character and was so pleased to be surprised with a visit from them all on Sunday.

I have done a little more work on my quilt and about to make a peg bag of all things.  Thinking my hangers are a bit big but can always cut them down as they are wooden ones.  Have seen a lot of people using plastic hangers and I do wonder how long they would last? My Mum always uses wooden hangers so I am sticking to them. Actually, have 2 to make as I offered to make one for Son and DIL when they move house soon.  Not sure they will have a washing line but they should be getting on if one isn’t already there. Nothing quite like line dried washing in my mind.

Other than that things have been fairly quiet here. Time is still being taken up with issues at the school but they are unavoidable at the moment. Even realised that I haven’t been managing much reading! I can catch up this week as the 2 evening classes I take are not on this week and my Reiki attunement level 2 has been postponed. So, an unexpected free week which actually I will enjoy as I seem to be plagued by a headache and a very tired body so just all happened at the right time to rest and replenish.

Julie

 

 

 

Quilting, sickness and gardens

It’s been a mad week, sick children to look after, tiredness and a brilliant weekend have all contributed to no blogging. I have missed it too.  I find it relaxing to go over things that I have done or have caught my attention during the day, usually makes for a great end to most days.

Today started with a school meeting in the morning. Followed by a visit to a garden center nearby. Found a little cast iron daffodil bird feeder that is on a metal stake. My Nans favourite flowers were roses and daffodils so I saw these and had to bring one home for our garden in her memory :o)  Found some amazing unfurling ferns that fascinate me and some beautiful feathery soft Acer trees.

I know the daffodil looks like it’s not on a stake, it got placed in between the table slats so it did cause any accidents. Still need to decide where it will be going in the garden

 

The keyhole quilt is coming along well considering I didn’t get to work on it much after I last blogged.  I had the top all sewed together earlier and realised I had sewed the blocks together 5 across by 7 down making a skinny long quilt top instead of 7 across and 5 down. After a session of seam ripping, it came together in the end. I need to give the top so far a press and decide on what borders I would like to put on. It’s been an enjoyable fairly fast and easy quilt top to put together so far. Am hoping to have the quilt pieced and quilted by the weekend as I have a rather special project I want to get on with next week.

 

Certainly is not my usual colour scheme choice but am loving it so far. A friend asked me last week who I was making it for? and I had no idea at the time and am still not sure. It’s creating a lot of interest that’s for sure. Red isn’t a favourite color of mine, I say typing this out on a red laptop! but, this quilt is slowly changing my mind on the colour red.

My thoughts are going back to soap making, I used to make soap many moons ago while walking around B&Q at the weekend after slate for the garden and a piece of wood I decided to give it a go again soon.  isn’t it amazing how my brain works, slate pebble type bits to soap making in a few seconds? Need to figure out what simple soap to start again with and dive in soon.

Julie

 

Keyhole quilt start

It’s been a while since I made a quilt. I’ve made a few small projects and a few quilt tops but not a full quilt in many years. On a quest to use what I have I realised I have some jelly roll strips and decided to use them. I found a tutorial on YouTube by the Missouri Star Quilt Company called the keyhole quilt that looked easy and would work well with what I have.

This evening I spent a while making up a step by step lost and cutting strips to length to start this project.

I’ve written out a 12 step list to get this top made up before the actual quilting. Let’s hope it’s as simple as it sounds and looks

Lovely end to a lovely day. I spent a lovely afternoon over a leisurely lunch with a friend and the time just flew by.

My plan of doing more that makes me happy seems to be going well as I apparently look a lot happier in myself.

Going to get a quick half hour or so of sewing done before calling it a night. Need to also get my audiobook fix in as I’m a big glued to the story I’m listening to at the moment 🙂

Julie

Inventing apron pattern

Last week I was asked about having an apron for my Granddaughter to use for clay work at Rainbows on Tuesday. No I hadn’t but I was sure I could make one.

Bit sad I didn’t have anything girly and thick enough for an apron but I did find this striped thick cotton bought from IKEA last year. A length of cotton twill tape/webbing? And with help of my pattern master ruler and I knocked this up and impressed myself. It even has a pocket!

I’ve almost finished my cold shoulder top to it just needs a button loop and button sewing on. Will try that in the morning I think. I’m really not in the mood to fight with it tonight.

Julie

How I love spending my weekends

Paranormal Investigations or Ghost hunts as some like to call them are something I really enjoy doing. Collecting and witnessing paranormal evidence is amazing. There are times often we debunk things like the rattling chains people were hearing which was me jingling my change in my pocket! You really have to keep a clear mind while sitting in dark old places.

Last night was a visit to Wymering Manor in Portsmouth. It is owned by the church and this is the church opposite. The Manor is mentioned in the doomsday book

I don’t have many photos to share as most of them has a person or two in them and I don’t have their permission to share their images. This is one side of the manor early in the evening.

And this is one of the upstairs rooms. The manor is in need of restoration but you can see how grand it must have been back in it’s heyday

After an 8pm till 4 am investigation I am a little wiped out because my body decided sleep was for wimps. So I have not even checked my audio recordings yet to see if we picked up any voices or noises not audible at the time of some of our times in a few rooms. Hopefully I can get around to that tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile I need to make some aprons for my granddaughters I promised them and make a peg  bag.  All exciting stuff here it seems. After a while without a washing line thanks to a pruning accident my son very kindly put one up today so line dried washing ftw 🙂

I really think an early nights sleep has won the battle of what to do so night all

julie