Life is beginning to open up again. From today, non-essential shops and leisure activities can reopen. Hair dressers and zoos, pubs and clothes shops. The weather, too, after last week’s arctic blast, might start to cheer up again. There’s talk of the Return to the Office. It might even happen this time, since the Roadmap… Continue reading Life in Lockdown: Relaxing Restrictions
This Week in Crafts: Mouseloft Hummingbird
One of the reasons I took up cross-stitching as a hobby again was because of Mouseloft. If you haven’t come across Mouseloft cross-stitch kits, you’re missing out. They’re the sort of kits which can be completed really quickly, by beginner and advanced stitchers alike. They fit on cards, in scrapbooks, or as patches on pockets.… Continue reading This Week in Crafts: Mouseloft Hummingbird
Beginning Christmas Cards
Now that Easter is out of the way, and with it my main birthday season, I’m turning my attention towards Christmas. I know. Early. We’ve barely got over the last one; we’ve only just started with the longer, warmer days; it’s the midsummer End of Lockdown parties first. But given that what I think of… Continue reading Beginning Christmas Cards
Recently Read: Tears and Laughter
I tripped up a bit during March, with the whole no-buying-more-books thing. First there was a dragon book – The Flight of Dragons by Peter Dickinson – then there was The Corfu Trilogy by Gerald Durrell (but I’m only counting it as one book because it’s an all-in-one copy). M and I tried ITV’s The… Continue reading Recently Read: Tears and Laughter
This Week in Crafts: Easter Cards
Last year, with lockdown still such a novelty, I decided the thing to do, to help keep people’s spirits up, was to make Easter cards. I found a Celtic cross die and had a play. I got as far as making one demonstration idea for my scrapbook. This year, my die, stamp and embossing-folder collection… Continue reading This Week in Crafts: Easter Cards
Cooking with Mrs Crocombe: Saffron Buns
My favourite meal of the year is Good Friday Tea. Homemade, fresh from the oven, hot cross buns. Dripping with butter, or layered with homemade jam (usually damson). There is nothing tastier. I don’t often make hot cross buns because of M and not liking curranty things (also because they’re a once-a-year sort of thing… Continue reading Cooking with Mrs Crocombe: Saffron Buns
Notes From My Office: March 2021
Ah, the beginning of British Summer Time. Clocks went forward yesterday, though it doesn’t feel very summery yet. Still blowing a gale. Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.com It doesn’t feel like we’ve got through nearly three months of 2021. To be fair, though, since the beginning of the first lockdown this time last year, time… Continue reading Notes From My Office: March 2021
Nature Notes: March on the Balcony
The balcony’s beginning to get colour again. Aside from the pale green buds on the magnolia, and the few Pied Piper leaves poking through the soil, the cherry tree is almost in full bloom. It’s very cheery to see the blossom again. Fuji Cherry TreePied Piper M’s been quite busy with the balcony this past… Continue reading Nature Notes: March on the Balcony
Stitch By Stitch: All the Sea-Creatures
After the success of February, and completing the Old World part of the map, I took a breather to do some smaller kits. And then had to do the whole “Just this sea-creature” thing all over again. It’s mostly worked, again. Sadly, there was no Ring Cycle on Radio 3 this time. Instead, I’ve been… Continue reading Stitch By Stitch: All the Sea-Creatures
The Joys of Spring
This last weekend just gone was the Spring Equinox, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Next weekend, the clocks go back and British Summer Time begins. I like this time of year. It’s a time of hope and optimism. A time of sunshine and new buds on the trees. A time when I… Continue reading The Joys of Spring
