So that was April!

I've had another pretty slow and leisurely (perhaps lazy is the better word!) day today.  It has been a mixed day with periods of lovely sunshine interspersed with rain.  Quite windy as well.  I just couldn't be bothered going for a walk today.  I still feel very slow and sluggish so hoping this feeling will lift as I don't like it much, I also don't like the pain that seems to go with it.  It is funny when you go through a period of time with less pain (while on steroids) when it comes back you remember just how bad and awful it can be. Although I have weaned off them much slower this time, than back in December when I ended up having to go back on them, I still think perhaps it wasn't quite slow enough and I should have gone down to an even lower dose than ending on 2.5 mg.  I will try to ride it out for the next three weeks, and if still don't feel right, I will have to phone the Dr.  

I did however make another little bear this morning, and I am really pleased with him.

I sat and quietly sewed this morning.

The hardest part for me is sewing the soles of the feet into the legs.

My view as I sew is never boring!

I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful view, even when I don't feel the best, it is good to look out at this and smile.

These pieces are all ready to be sewn together.

I stuffed the stomach before I put the joint in, so had to undo it and then re-stuff and sew it up again!

Here he is next to the little wood carving I did in Rotorua last year.  How I have missed visiting 'home' and my parents this year.

I think he has a certain innocence about him.  

So although I feel  lethargic and not quite right and wish I could have ended the month on a bit more of a high, I can look back and think I really have achieved a lot indeed, and should be proud of myself.  It is not easy doing it all on my own in a new place, in 'lockdown' and not having time to have formed any new friendships and meet  people.  I am lucky that I have many hobbies, and enjoy being creative, it keeps me busy when not up to being out in the garden.  

Thank you to everyone who has been leaving such lovely comments and encouragement, I really do appreciate it.  Stay safe wishes sent your way.

Working Wednesday

Today I worked on finishing the TRDs I have been making.

This group three - all now dressed.  One is still missing shoes, as I can't quite decide whether to give her any or not.

This is group four.

These ones are a combination of group one and two.  (One missing that I gave to my neighbour)

A circle of tiny rag dolls.

The complete group, plus the cat I have made this month.

Some of these will eventually go in my Etsy shop, but I can't see that being for some time, as it will be when it is safe for me to go to the post office, and my NHS letter says that won't be for at least 12 weeks.

I have had this kit for years, so decided it was about time to make it up.

All the pieces are pre-cut.

Turned out rather a funny looking guinea pig!

This side is better.

The afternoon was drier than the morning, so once I had finished these, I went out for a nice walk.  

The ploughed and sown fields are starting to look green.

A pretty overcast afternoon.  Relatively mild, even though it was quite windy.

The sea was quite rough.  Not sure what my camera lens is up to - with the sea being curved!

In this one the curve is in the opposite direction.  Very strange.

Big vehicle carrier out at sea, and just to the left of it is a big oil tanker at anchor.

A bit far away to tell exactly what this bird of prey is.

He was really doing battle with the wind!

As I arrived home some seagulls were doing a circuit.

I managed to capture a couple in flight.

It seems incredible that there is only one day left in April!

Teddy Bear Tuesday

Today has been pretty dreary and damp, so I decided to spend the day sewing, although I fizzled out in the afternoon due to the headache I woke with not getting any better, so I went to bed for a few hours.  Felt a bit groggy when I woke, but headache was gone and after dinner I went for a walk.

Many many years ago in my 'other life' as I call when I lived in NZ, I used to make soft toys to sell in my Dad's shop.  A couple of years ago I brought the patterns home from where I had stored them at his place and today I finally got them out to make something.  I didn't have any fur fabric so decided to use a tea towel I had that I had been saving for something 'special'.  I have had the tea towel a fair few years as well!

Pieces cut out and ready to sew together.

Pieces sewn together ready to stuff...the head has already been started.

Finished Teddy!

I'm pretty pleased with how he turned out.

With the other two new bears I have just made.

As I mentioned above I went for a short walk this evening to help clear the cobwebs...

When I got down to the bay there was a couple having a bonfire at the other end of the bay, which was a little surprising.

As you can see pretty dreary, but it stayed dry for my walk.

The lighthouse.

Hawk or Buzzard?  Photo not brilliant as only had my little handheld pocket camera with me this evening.

These are in someones garden that I see on my way home.

Hopefully I will get the little dresses made for the TRDs tomorrow as I would like to get them finished before the end of the month.

A Busy Monday.

It felt rather surreal this morning, perhaps even eerie... the sea was very calm and there were about nine ships at anchor.  

I had a funny feeling in my stomach, and for the first time I think I felt frightened.

Partly perhaps because our little dog Percy has not been right since he came home from his last chemo treatment ten days ago, and had a fit yesterday morning.

But party because the future seems so uncertain.  Seeing these ships stationary just brought it home...especially as I know that there is a similar scene in the Philippines where my son is currently at anchor on his ship.

There were more seagulls on the rocks than usual as well.  More than just the two I photographed.

I spent a little time on my favourite beach.  All I could hear was the waves gently lapping the shore, and the waterfall running down the hill and onto the beach, plus the occasional bird song.

The water was clear.

Pretty cowslips have started to flower.

I watched some cormorants on the water and on the wing for a while.

Before I headed on.

A solitary fisherman?

Not sure if he was fishing or heading round the bay.

The sun came out and it turned into a really nice day, although still very calm and still.

I spent the rest of the morning making 11 pairs of bloomers for the TRDs.  These just need the legs and waists gathered once they are fitted on the dolls.

I tackled the climbing plant that had almost obscured the front bedroom window.

Before

After.

I still need to get the ladder and trim it back from the guttering.

The afternoon I spent in the garden, another three round bin fulls of nettles which I then wheeled down to the steps to take down and round the front and into the garden waste bin.  More tingling and stinging this evening!

I cleared all the weeds and nettles around the gooseberry bushes.  Forgot to take an after photo.  The gooseberries already have tiny fruit on them!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I planted some tomato seedlings into bigger pots.

I watched a robin on the fence.

I also enjoyed watching two buzzards doing acrobatics in the air.  They were calling out as they were flying this way and that.

Earlier I had also watched a crow chasing one off.  It was really chasing it.

After the gardening I worked on a tiny bear which I managed to finish.

Here he is with Johnathan.

This evening I decided to make use of the AGA being on and made a fruit cake.  I'll look forward to having a slice with my mid-morning cup of tea.

So my strange morning, turned into a rather productive day...keeping busy is a good distraction from other things.