Quote of the week

Found this one in Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Mineral; it made me smile, and put into words exactly how I feel a lot of the time when reading pompous tripe on the net!!!

"It's just the high-mindedness that rankles; when moral superiority combines with billowing ignorance, they fill up a hot- air balloon that's awfully hard not to poke".

........... part III...........

A walk around the garden - part II

A walk around the garden......

I think my back garden is looking really nice at the moment - probably a bit untidy or weedy for some, but I love it! took the camera with me this morning. Everything going on really well, so pleased with all that - promises of good harvets from the greenhouses and vegetable garden, lots of soft and tree fruit, lots almost ready to plant out. The extras will go on the table by the gate, hopefully get that sorted this weekend. The sun is out now too.................. :)

Hard work

"It's hard work, but it's all we've got".

This was relayed to me yesterday by my OH, who heard a report on radio 4 about fuel poverty in the Western Isles; fuel poverty is said to exist when a household spends 10% or more on fuel, whihc seems to be the case for a large number of people in the Western Isles. The above quote is attributed to a man who has gone back to or continued cutting the peats for fuel. Some folks up there never stopped, but it looks likely that more people will have to take up their peat cutters and go out and get it. This is coupled with the plans to build a very large number of wind turbines on Lewis, as I understand it, much against the wishes of those who live there.

I can't find the exact report OH listened to (very grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction, give me a link, etc, thanks).

I think the opening quote above will become more frequently heard in theh coming years as things become harder generally for a lot of people. Time to get ready *now*, start preparing as much as possible to make the ride a little less rough for you and yours. Worrying and uncertain times.

Nice easy day.........

Not much going on today, which was nice, so fairly relaxed and unhurried here; garden still sodden, so inside it was. Was interviewed this morning by a chap writing a new book on Dorset - what it's like to live here in the 21st century, so enjoyed that, looking forward to seeing the book next year I hope. Asked him to put a positive light on our village 0) which he assured me he will. Then took a notion to cut out some blocks, ended up completing the 7 I need for a quilt-along on the CL forum, so need to get the sashing prganised for that. Good chunk of reading with the Barbara Kingsolver book - some interesting recipes in there I would like to try, inclduing mozzarella - speaking of which, am awaiting a home made pizza about to be delivered out of the oven..............Today's pics - the view from the front kitchen window into the blowsy front garden, lemon curd I made last night for the WI coffee morning tomorrow, and some of the stash I used for the new blocks I compelted today.

Very fruitful day.......

..........and it's only 4pm! Here in Dorset, we are very lucky to have Dorset Arts Week running every two years:

http://www.dorsetartweeks.co.uk/; in our village, we have three venues this year - the Blackmore Vale branch of the Embroiderers' Guild, a stained glass artist who does prints and drawings as well, and a very talented weaver. We set off out at noon today, Bean and I in the pouring rain to visit the venues. Started with the Guild, up in the village hall. I'd been got at by a friend up the road to join the Embroiderers for a while now, but wasn't sure what their work was about, thought it might just be straight embroidery. No, all sorts of textile work - quilting, embellishment of every kind, bags, freestyle embroidery, pictures,, figures, goldwork, the lot. Decided to join, so Bean and I will have another monthly textile-related meeting every month :0) They had an excellent sales table too, so came away with some rather nice fabrics for a quilt I am working on, plus some delicious purply boucle for embellishing the felted bowl I made this morning. Very pleased, very inspired, and Bean is now ensconsed in the kitchen with my machine having a go at free form embroidery........0) Next door to the hall is Rosemary Levy, a very talented weaver, with lots of rugs and tapestries on show, along with cards, postcards, etc. Lots of pinks and greens and smoky colours, purples, WIPs on the looms too; she is a friend of ours, so we stayed for a cup of tea, lots of talk about textiles, travelling and boats, and ended up with the offer of a free coop that will suit a broody hen and chicks admirably! On the way home, we dropped into Ann Whitehead for stained glass, prints and drawings; I bought a very pretty little stained glass flower for Bean. Ann's prints of local countryside are lovely - lino cuts, black and white, my favourites. Her actual studio was open too, for a look around, and I saw the piece she is currently working on at the moment.

Brilliant, inspiring, nice to know there are such talented people close by. So much I want to try and to do and create.