Delight!!!

Such a delight to be able to sit and crochet,crochet and crochet with the occasional break to cool off in the swimming pool or pop out for lunch. We aren't going away for summer holidays in fact we don't very often do in the summer as we have it all here ,the sun,the pool,the beaches, plenty of socializing,occasional BBQs with our neighbours and lots of quality time for ourselves.

I have managed to finish off my wedding present to my great niece and send it off to the UK, all in plenty of time as she is getting married at the beginning of September.

Blocking sofa throw

I call it the Happy family sofa throw. It looks great after blocking and I added a little something extra so it would be that little bit more special.

Can you see them?  A little crocheted bride and groom sewn onto the corner of the throw.

As you can see I used the Granny ripple pattern,hook Nº 4 and DK yarn. The edging my own invention... just what seemed right.
 It was a wonderful stash buster as I used up loads of wool from my stash.

I have had time for more too (love to say that) and made a sun catcher as a birthday present for my sister. I didn't use any particular pattern just copied an old doily that I had. I did about three quarters of the doily's pattern up to where it fitted into the hoop.  I used Schachenmayr Tahiti Lace Peach Beach variegated cotton and a 2.00 hook. Lovely Lace cotton and in fact I am going to use the same cotton again but I have chosen a different shade for that, Bermuda;it is for a shawlette.

The bit of purple on the right is a little silk butterfly

The hoop is an old embroidery hoop which I covered in dc and a Nº 5 hook using Catania Grande. I have covered plastic rings like this in the past but never anything as big of this ...it was a bit tedious as the hoop was thick and awkward to hold. I think I would like to find a thinner metal hoop if I do another one. Something similar to the ones used for dreamcatchers.   The glittery bits and beads from my beads jar.

and ...hold on to your horses there
here's a photo of me ....a rather wet me ....feeling cool and relaxed :-)

keep well

Amanda :-)

Finding joy in the little things.

The little things in life......

I have often mentioned I have no garden and that I quite envy people who do have one. 
 I am no gardener. I don't have green fingers like my mother and grandmother had. They both had exceptionally beautiful gardens and were fervent gardeners.
A garden is certainly one of the things I still miss from home.
My longing for a bit of green scenery in my home is somewhat appeased by having plants on my small balcony. They do extremely well there actually and I presume it must be due to a greenhouse effect that is produced from the sliding glasses panels we put in some years back which make it into a type of conservatory.  They also seem to thrive on the AC water I water the plants with. We don't do much else except occasionally feed the plants during the summer and give them some new top soil. That doesn't mean they all thrive of course.  A lavender shrub I bought has been struggling and struggling to survive but it has dried up, so that is going in the bin tomorrow.  
I got quite a lift this morning to see this little hanging plant I bought last year has produced a delicate little pink flower. I am being particularly careful to keep it well watered and the sun blind down during the morning as we get the full scorching morning sun on the balcony. I am hoping there will be more flowers.
I have no idea of the name of this plant.   I think it was a plant Sr P bought for me at the street market.

As I am being able to relax a little more during the summer months although I still have some classes throughout July I find I am quite enjoying the little things even the mundane things like having time to do a bit of baking

Cream cheese choc chip cookies ...went down very well with the family.

Choc and Apricot Muffins and Cherry cupcakes.   They disappeared "pronto" !

and Pear cake which I made this morning.      It isn't like that anymore either!

Delight of delights.... I have also been able to get back to my crochet.
I am making this sofa throw for my great niece who is getting married in September. It is nearly finished. I am doing the last row of the edging to night.  

 I will display it better when it is finished and I have blocked it too.

Well that's all for now.

Keep well

Amanda :-)