The Weekend

My weekend was somewhat scuppered by a Migraine attack.  I had allowed myself to become VERY STRESSED at work last week, particularly Thursday and Friday which resulted in THE MIGRAINE.  I had great plans for this weekend too, as I was feeling unusually full of energy and wanting to GET THINGS DONE.  C was back in the bathroom putting up more tiles (one wall finished top to bottom, yeah) as I sat and rested.  The migraine tablets took away the pain, but left me feeling like a zombie, as always, and I had the usual blurred vision in my right eye and so was unable to read, or watch TV or do anything, really.

Saturday did start out OK with a trip to the bank and a looksy in the local charity shops but by the time I had arrived home I knew I had to sit still for the rest of the day, otherwise the attack would be severe.  So, Saturday and Sunday saw me 'resting', although by Sunday afternoon I was feeling better and able to see OK and so I decided I would start on my next project :: a blanket for the living room.  Remember the cushion I made earlier?  The wool I used goes so well with the other furnishings that I'm going to use it again for the blanket. I cast on 200 stitches and managed two rows.  I am aiming to do at least one row every day so it grows at a reasonable pace.  I'll keep you posted with its progress.

Autumn

Autumn has well and truly arrived and I'm LOVING it!  I LOVE the colours, the crisp air, the cosy jumpers, the berries, the nuts.  All in all I would be inclined to say that Autumn is my favourite time of the year, except I don't like the cold.  In fact, I HATE being cold.  Its great when you are cosy indoors and have nowhere to go, but when you have to go to work, go food shopping, get on with DAILY LIFE, then I struggle to find any joy in a dripping nose and numb fingers and toes.

Its at this time of year I remind myself daily of all the lovely things that Autumn and Winter bring, and take comfort in the fact that after Winter there's Spring and new hope for a warm Summer.  I collect conkers and display them in a dish ...

lovely, arent they?

And I collect all the Philberts that fall from our nut tree and save them for Christmas and for making C nut and choc chip buns for his lunch box ...

And this year I've managed to get a bine or two of hops to decorate the kitchen

curtesy of our neighbour, Betty.

I've been freezing the hedgerow harvest of Blackberries too over the last few weeks.  All finished now, but I've been offered a couple of pounds of Damsons as well, so my freezer will be full to bursting.  I told C it wouldn't be big enough when we bought it, and with all this hedgerow foraging, I'm being proved right!  I hope to be making jam in the very near future (that'll make some space) but must first make more Whisky Marmalade for His Nibs, as he's on the last jar of the previous batch.  I cheat when making marmalade and use MaMade ready prepared oranges - there's no way I could stand there and peel and pith a pound or two of oranges.  The end result is superb and I can highly recommend MaMade and their instructions.  Soft fruits used for jam making are very easy, you just pop into the pan and heat, no peeling necessary.

The Sunday Roast today was finished off by a lovely Blackberry crumble ...



Yum!

See you all again soon, XXX