May.... ing
May... I just love May. It is my Birthday month, the month with two Bank Holiday weekends and also the month that is reliably lovely in Scotland. Having said that, it is rather colder than usual.... but I remain optimistic.
Celebrating my Birthday in style with a BBQ with friends and family. I wanted this to be a party for all the family and encouraged the offspring to invite their friends along, too. The garden and house were buzzing with younger children, two groups of teenagers and of course us oldies. We like a good party at our house. Richard made burgers with his £8 burger press and a "secret" recipe, they were super tasty. Annie made three different cakes and I made salads. The weather was dry and on the cold side but nothing that a hardy bunch of Scots cannot handle.
Smiling because Annie played a trick on me. She replaced the cute photo of three year old Alistair nestled between books and card box in my wee office with a photo of Theresa May. Apparently, it has been there for several days before I noticed. Rest assured that Alistair is now back in the frame and the back of prime minister's print served as note paper and was then recycled.
Enjoying my two quilt projects, the Ice Cream Soda and the postage stamp quilts. I cut into some lovely pieces of fabric my friend Jo sent me (you can see the bundle in a photo above). She knows what I like. I've squeezed in some ice cream soda building blocks from the larger pieces. The smaller ones are cut into 2 inch squares for my postage stamp quilt. I started the latter on a whim because I liked the postage stamp blocks Jo has been sewing for her goddaughter. I thought mine would be for Sam but as one square joins another, I am more and more certain it doesn't call out to be Sam's. Funny that!
Deciding what to do with the Liberty fabric my mum gave me for my birthday (also on a photo above). It is very fine and slippery - a killer to sew, I am sure of it. It feels more like silk than cotton but maybe it will feel more familiar once washed and pressed. In any case, I need to plan carefully so I don't waste it. It would also make a fine quilt back but maybe that would be a bit frivolous? It is tempting.
Buying a new tv because our old one just stopped working. It appears that our preference for a small telly (32 inch) is unusual, most in the shop were gigantic. I like watching the telly but I don't want it to dominate my living space.
Also buying a standing ticket for The Cure. Annie has recently discovered the joys of music that I recognise and a ticket for The Cure was on top of her wish list. I am so glad that her music taste has developed and she is no longer listening to beige music. Beige as in inoffensive but boring.
Admiring the bursts of colour in the gardens, woods and along the river.
Eating lots of green things.
Reading "We are displaced" by Malala Yousafzai. I am enjoying this book, but it makes me sad to read about all these young women displaced by war, civil unrest and poverty. Malala Yousafzai is an amazing young woman, determined and thoughtful. She was interviewed in Woman's Hour a few months back and I really enjoyed hearing her talk. For book group I am reading "The cone gatherers" by Robin Jenkins. Not my favourite read of the year.... It is on the reading list for school children here in Scotland and I wonder if books like this do more harm than good for the reading enthusiasm of young people?
Watching "Surgeons: at the edge of life" on BBC2. As with most BBC programmes, this one is thoughtfully planned and filmed although there are rather more surgical close-ups than my stomach can handle... It is a bit like watching a horror movie between the gaps of my fingers. Modern surgery is truly mind boggling. Also watching Stargate SG1 as light entertainment. I never cease to be amazed about the universal ability of all alien cultures scattered across the universe to grasp the subtleties of English language with so much aplomb.
Looking forward to the next Bank Holiday weekend, when we hope to go camping.
Biting my nails.... Annie is partway through her seven exams and I am quite anxious for her. She has been studying very hard and I hope her hard work will be rewarded with good grades.
Procrastinating over a piece of writing for work.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my humble stories. Have a good few days xx
Celebrating my Birthday in style with a BBQ with friends and family. I wanted this to be a party for all the family and encouraged the offspring to invite their friends along, too. The garden and house were buzzing with younger children, two groups of teenagers and of course us oldies. We like a good party at our house. Richard made burgers with his £8 burger press and a "secret" recipe, they were super tasty. Annie made three different cakes and I made salads. The weather was dry and on the cold side but nothing that a hardy bunch of Scots cannot handle.
Smiling because Annie played a trick on me. She replaced the cute photo of three year old Alistair nestled between books and card box in my wee office with a photo of Theresa May. Apparently, it has been there for several days before I noticed. Rest assured that Alistair is now back in the frame and the back of prime minister's print served as note paper and was then recycled.
Enjoying my two quilt projects, the Ice Cream Soda and the postage stamp quilts. I cut into some lovely pieces of fabric my friend Jo sent me (you can see the bundle in a photo above). She knows what I like. I've squeezed in some ice cream soda building blocks from the larger pieces. The smaller ones are cut into 2 inch squares for my postage stamp quilt. I started the latter on a whim because I liked the postage stamp blocks Jo has been sewing for her goddaughter. I thought mine would be for Sam but as one square joins another, I am more and more certain it doesn't call out to be Sam's. Funny that!
Deciding what to do with the Liberty fabric my mum gave me for my birthday (also on a photo above). It is very fine and slippery - a killer to sew, I am sure of it. It feels more like silk than cotton but maybe it will feel more familiar once washed and pressed. In any case, I need to plan carefully so I don't waste it. It would also make a fine quilt back but maybe that would be a bit frivolous? It is tempting.
Buying a new tv because our old one just stopped working. It appears that our preference for a small telly (32 inch) is unusual, most in the shop were gigantic. I like watching the telly but I don't want it to dominate my living space.
Also buying a standing ticket for The Cure. Annie has recently discovered the joys of music that I recognise and a ticket for The Cure was on top of her wish list. I am so glad that her music taste has developed and she is no longer listening to beige music. Beige as in inoffensive but boring.
Admiring the bursts of colour in the gardens, woods and along the river.
Eating lots of green things.
Reading "We are displaced" by Malala Yousafzai. I am enjoying this book, but it makes me sad to read about all these young women displaced by war, civil unrest and poverty. Malala Yousafzai is an amazing young woman, determined and thoughtful. She was interviewed in Woman's Hour a few months back and I really enjoyed hearing her talk. For book group I am reading "The cone gatherers" by Robin Jenkins. Not my favourite read of the year.... It is on the reading list for school children here in Scotland and I wonder if books like this do more harm than good for the reading enthusiasm of young people?
Watching "Surgeons: at the edge of life" on BBC2. As with most BBC programmes, this one is thoughtfully planned and filmed although there are rather more surgical close-ups than my stomach can handle... It is a bit like watching a horror movie between the gaps of my fingers. Modern surgery is truly mind boggling. Also watching Stargate SG1 as light entertainment. I never cease to be amazed about the universal ability of all alien cultures scattered across the universe to grasp the subtleties of English language with so much aplomb.
Looking forward to the next Bank Holiday weekend, when we hope to go camping.
Biting my nails.... Annie is partway through her seven exams and I am quite anxious for her. She has been studying very hard and I hope her hard work will be rewarded with good grades.
Procrastinating over a piece of writing for work.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my humble stories. Have a good few days xx
Lots of gorgeous flowers in this post and such beautiful colours. Happy belated birthday, it sounds like you had a lovely time with a full house and a party atmosphere. I had to chuckle at the trick Annie played on you, it's funny how we don't notice the things under our noses sometimes. Good luck to Annie, I hope her exams go well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a busy start to your month! Your barbecue sounds like it was a fantastic day. The weather's gone a bit miserable here too. Your tulips are beautiful. I agree with Jo, that it's strange how we get so used to seeing things we don't notice when they change. I didn't even notice that my husband once shaved off his beard! Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. Nice flowers both indoors and out.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Christina, it's lovely to catch up with your news, pretty flowers and fun inside and out. It's so good when you plan events if the weather is nice too. My youngest is starting GCSE's next week! It seems they've been practicing since Christmas. All the best to Annie. Enjoy your material, I look forward to seeing your creations. Cathy x
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! You had some lovely presents - not sure about the Theresa May photo though! :0) That postage stamp quilt is definitely a keeper after all that work. Sending good luck thoughts to Annie; I'm convinced that exams are far worse for the parents! xx
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the fabrics. I was not sure what size your quilt patches were otherwise I would have cut some. I am happily using yours - a little orange here and there gives my other fabrics such a lift. The Cure, well well you are lucky. I would have loved that when I was 18. I went to see lots of Indie bands in Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the early 1990's. Our Montana clemetis from Aldi looked so sad when I bought it but it looks like yours two years on. I am glad I gave it a home. Great ing post as ever. Jo xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! I love the month of May! It's also my birthday month - it was last Friday the 3rd. It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday! Your tulips are so gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday Christina! Sounds like you had a great day. My birthday is also in May. :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best to Annie with her exams!
Lots to love and smile about. Belated birthday wishes. Hoping for warm weather on your camping trip. B x
ReplyDeleteMaybe a skirt for the Liberty fabric? Something simple with straight seams if the fabric is going to be hard to work with. Happy belated birthday!
ReplyDeleteOOh liberty fabric...lovely! Happy birthday to you. I like May too. Fingers crossed for A's exams xx
ReplyDeleteA belated Happy Birthday to you. A lovely catch up post :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I love tulips. And think I should start a postage stamp quilt too, but zero time.... hope those exams go well - i think I'm more stressed about them than the child sitting them!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, the BBQ celebration sounds wonderful despite the weather. Love the liberty fabric and those gorgeous photos of the tulips.
ReplyDeleteBelated Happy Birthday to you, Christina, and a celebration with family and friends sounds like the best group. The flowers are quite lovely and glad the weather cooperated for your get-together. Your daughter has quite the sense of humor and hope all goes well for her exams.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Christina.. looks like you had a splendid day!
ReplyDeleteWishing your daughter good luck on her exams..
What part of Scotland do you live in? We are planning a trip there this summer and was just curious.
*H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to you! It sounds like you're having a wonderful month. Ours has been hectic to the max. Good luck to your daughter on her exams.. I'm sure she'll ace them. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteYour birthday barbecue sounds great fun, hope you had a lovely day. I love that the photo was there a few days before you noticed, that would be me! Have a lovely week. x
ReplyDelete