Sunday evening thoughts

I needed a bit of a break and have not visited here for almost 10 days. The wheels of life have been spinning too fast for me to hop on and off for a quick stop. Autumn has arrived fast and furiously and it has taken me by surprise. I was just about ready to pick elderflowers for a few bottles of spring sweetness but it appears that I have missed the opportunity. I made no jam this summer, not even a teeny tiny jar. Richard made a few jars of damson jam and plum chutney but our preserves shelf looks a bit sad. We'll just have to eat the less loved jams, jellies and chutneys that have been gathering dust. That and buying jars of summer in the shops.

We still have a few apples on the tree but most fell of during the first big autumn gales. The pears, too. We had been eating the apples one by one, on our way out or in but the abundance of windfall was a bit overwhelming and one tired evening last week, I peeled, cored, cut and dried what was in a big washing up tub in the porch. The dried apple rings are wonderfully delicious. Then I turned my attention to the windfall cookers but unfortunately burned an entire oven full of tart apples goodness to inedible crisps. Cookers make a decent dried apple snack because the little sweetness they contain ends up being concentrated and just noticeable. I lost interest in drying fruit then but have since idly queried the internet for advice on dehydrators.

Jack has been test sitting my growing hexagon quilt. He loves to sit on the back of the sofa, watching the world go by through the bay window. I think he approves of the growing quilt, although of course the paper is still in and there is no soft wadding and back. I am keen to finish this quilt, the top at least. I have sewn 497 hexies so far, just short of 200 to go. The wadding for Alistair's quilt has arrived and I might search my fabric box and linen cupboard for a suitable backing fabric.

What do you do with your arms when you are sleeping? I never much thought about it but recently, my arms have been bothering me during the night. I just don't seem to be able to get them in a comfortable position and I am awoken by pins and needles several times a night. Is it my ageing body? Have I accidentally swapped pillows with Richard? Turns out I have (I am that person who labels her pillows because I prefer bedding down in my own dried up dribble). I washed and dried the pillow and I am hopeful. My forearm is still not great, some days I can barely lift a cup of coffee to my mouth. I really am falling apart. Richard and I both are.

On that cheerful note, I shall say good night and return to my stitching. It is still early, still light but everyone is busy with their own thing and I allow myself to enjoy the evening. Have a lovely week xx