....... but two! Yes, we had two wonderful cakes this afternoon, although this week Annette didn't bake them, but bought them from a wonderful bakery in Jedburgh. First we had lemon drizzle cake
followed by a wonderful traybake with chocolate on the bottom and coffee icing on the top (this was a 'healthy eating' cake, as the bottom layer was made with porridge oats!!)
I was working on the chickens again (yes, that's a very long term project), but I was also giving some advice to the lovely JoJo, who had come for the afternoon with her Aunt Morag. She is just starting to sew, and it was lovely to see a teenager with enthusiasm for learning a craft!
There has been progress this week on reducing clutter. On Monday I went through all my jumpers and cardigans, and sorted out a large pile (with some belts and a scarf as well) to go to a charity shop
As Malcolm was going into Hawick on Tuesday, he said he would hand the stuff in for me. When he went into the shop, there didn't seem to be a member of staff about, but a customer came over to say that the lady had just popped out to bring a donation in from someone's car and he was minding the shop, and that on behalf of the staff he would say 'thank you very much'!!
You may remember in an earlier post I said that part of the decluttering plan was to finish things, and that I had looked out two cross stitch kits that I had started many years ago. Having done some work on the map of Hampshire, I put that aside to do some of the English Garden Sampler. I have finished the lettering in the centre, which took a long time, as it is worked over a single thread, and each letter has five shades of green!
So having finished the lettering, last night I sorted out the threads I need for the next section - there were only a few to choose from .......
and just a little bit of chart to follow ........
The little bit in the centre is the part I am now working on (the black strips that you can see are magnets, which hold the pattern on a metal board) As you can see from the diagram on the left, as well as cross stitch, there is also drawn thread work. The list on the right shows the threads that have to be 'blended' ...... where instead of the usual two strands of thread, you have to use one strand of each of two threads. When I was sorting out the threads last night, there was one symbol that I just couldn't find - I went over and over the list (there was much muttering of rude words!!) .... then I found another section that listed the symbols for 'beads' .... yes, once I have worked all the cross stitch, then I have to sew on beads as well (I'm starting to remember why this kit was consigned to the cupboard all those years ago!!!!)
Finally, thanks to Sal for telling me that the little yellow flowers in yesterday's post are winter aconites. If you love fabrics, and especially vintage fabrics, then do visit Sal's blog.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, love, Anne