Currently…

Listening to : Choral Evensong on Radio 3. Lots of Purcell, just what I like.

Watching: still Trapped. I’ve got used to the slow pace, and we did have some excitement – just when the case appeared closed, it turns out not to be – although that was obvious, given that we are only half way through. Still lots of interesting knitwear to enjoy.

Reading: Making it Up, a book of short stories by Penelope Lively. I’m not usually a fan of short stories, but these are excellent – you find yourself reading faster to find out how each one ends.

Making: this is the completed sock. I am now working on the second iteration of the toe of its pair, after my increases went agley.

The October to February sections of the ‘2018’ sampler are sewn together, although I still haven’t found the December 2017 to October 2018 part, which are on the room of boxes. Wensleydale is currently trying to make space in the garage so we can move the remaining boxes out there until after the building work is done. (When I say ‘we can move’, I mean, of course, that Cheeses Major and Minor will kindly volunteer to do so.)

I’ve now officially started the 2019 sampler, in which I can choose whatever colours I like. Anyone who knows me will not be surprised by what I’ve chosen.

Feeling: that it might, just about, be almost spring. The header photo is the view from where I’m sitting. Note that the door is open. (Also note my lovely new curtains. Thank you, A.)

I can’t see the primroses, crocuses and solitary daffodil from where I and, but I know they are there. I can hear sparrows, and earlier this afternoon there was a thrush, something I haven’t seen for years, and a flock of 7 magpies flying about. I know magpies are Marmite birds, but I love their colours, and apparently they are not really major predators of small birds. Not as bad as cats.

Anticipating: a busy week. Now there’s a change.

Currently…

Listening: to Katherine Tickell on Amazon Prime. Lots of Berlioz on Radio 3 is too much of a good thing.

Watching: the new series of Trapped. The first series was excellent – so far this one has not grabbed me as much. However, there is lots of lovely Icelandic knitwear, mostly, but not exclusively, worn by hairy Icelandic men. There was a particularly interesting hat.

Making: the socks have got back to the stage they were at when I pulled them back.

The sampler is finished!!! Well, the 2018 section is, only two months late. The last sections need to be sewn together, which I have been postponing because my sewing threads were Missing in The Room of Boxes, or MITROB for short. I’ve now found them, so I can sew them up, but I’ve done something to my hip which means I can’t lift things. In any case, the January to October 2018 sections are still MITROB.

I’ve started the 2019 version: no pre-determined plans for this one, though I am still working my way through Carolyn Anbutter’s Open Canvas.

I’ve also finished the big insomniac drawing, which is now a book. (The layout of the lyric looks a little odd because the red section is the cover, so has the first and last parts of the quote.) it’s a bit messy because of too much mind-changing and inadequate rubbing out, but I’m pleased with it.

Feeling: relaxed. The painful hip is a nuisance, but it’s a good excuse to sit with my feet up, and it’s getting better.

Anticipating: It’s half term next week, so we have a couple of days grandparenting, which should be fun. That’s after they’ve been to the dentist, but thanks to our lovely dentist, they regard this as a treat.

Currently…

Listening: to Choir and Organ on you guessed it – Radio 3.

Watching: a new series of Shetland. Yes, I’m an Anne Cleves fan.

Reading: back to Lissa Evans’ Old Baggage. I’m not very far in to it, but I’m already engrossed.

Making: socks from some of the wool I bought at the Southern Wool Show. More accurately, remaking, as I got part way up the leg and realised there was no way they would fit my well developed calves.

The sampler has made slightly better progress. There are two places I sit in our sitting room – by the window during the afternoon, and by the fire in the evening. Telling myself that if I’m sitting by the window, I should also be embroidering seems to have helped – unless I’m drinking tea or leaping up to take photos of the sky, which I’ve done quite a lot today.

All I’ve done for the second big insomniac drawing this week is to print some papers for the collaged teapots l’m going to add. However, I did a smaller doodle, exploring a suggestion in Shelly Rhodes book, Sketchbook Explorations to vary the scale of my mark making. When I’d finished it told me it wanted to be another fold book.

I also tried a couple of pop-up accordion books from Hedi Kyle’s The Art of the Fold. I love the architectural look of these – I have lots of ideas for other versions but so far I haven’t got round to them.

Feeling: up and down. In the continuing saga of family members gettting caught up in events that make the news, Cheese Minor’s partner was sent home early on Thursday, as she works near the Ocado depot which caught fire. We made a lunch date for Friday, but she got called back in, as the fire service had got it sorted. Good for them, less good for us. The best thing is that it has been a week in which progress seems to have been made. Our terrace has been washed in preparation for some repairs which need doing, and it is now a lovely buttery colour instead of grey with grey patches. We have our curtain pole and we’re picking up the cleaned curtains tomorrow. And the fabric for new curtains for our big window has come. It cost an arm and a leg, but I think the curtains are going to look warm and spectacular, which is what I’m aiming for. All baby steps, maybe, but it’s good to feel that progress is being made.

Anticipating: going with the flow. The VHC is not very well, which may lead to a rearrangement of grandparenting, but we have a Plan A and a Plan B in place. We’ll see what tomorrow brings!

Currently…

Listening: to nothing. I’ve not got round to turning the radio on, so all I can hear is tinnitus and W. putting his cup down.

Watching: the last of this series of Vera. I’ve read this one, but I can’t remember how it ends, and they may have changed it anyway.

Reading: as a change from fiction, I’m reading Shelley Rhodes Sketchbook Explorations. It’s very good, lots of ideas and inspiration, like the line ‘a drawing can ever be too small or too quick’. I know I need to loosen up, so I think there will be tiny rapid sketches in my future.

Making: the shawl is finished and blocked. It’s not as asymmetric as I expected, but that’s not a problem. It will be packed away now till its recipient’s birthday.

The sampler creeps along. I think once I’d failed in my plan to cover 12 colours from the colour wheel in 12 months, my motivation slumped.

I’m more likely to spend spare time taking photos of the view, or making books: this is the flip flap tab book from Rachel Hazell’s book Bound, which is quick to make and fun.

The second big insomniac drawing has also slowed down a bit – it’s been a busy week and although I’ve had bad nights I haven’t felt like drawing. Cheese Major got caught up in the M3 traffic jam on Friday night, (he covered 70 miles in 8 hours) and I couldn’t sleep until I knew he was home. Then I was too stressed to sleep even though he was home, or to draw.

Feeling: despite the stresses, it’s been a good week. With help from Cheese Minor, we’ve got the dining room free of boxes and in use. It’s a lovely sunny room and it’s nice to eat in there, although there’s a lingering smell of something sweet and musty we’ve got to get rid of. It got better when we took down the curtains left by the previous owner and we’re hoping a good clean of the carpet will help too. If not, in due course it’s going, and the walls are going to be painted in case the smell is lingering in the wall paper.

Anticipating: a slightly less busy week, which may involve taking down curtain rails in preparation for hanging our own curtains, which need a pole. They won’t go with the decor until the walls are painted and the carpet replaced, but at least they’re ours!