Smokey Friday.

I was not very happy this morning to wake up to the smell of bonfire.  Our neighbours lit a very early morning bonfire, and it spoilt the whole morning (actually the whole day!)  as it was too smokey to spend any time in the garden front or back.  I had so much to do in the garden as well, so was pretty frustrated and annoyed.  So inconsiderate, as it wasn't really necessary to have a bonfire in my opinion.  

I cut out some bears first thing in the morning, but it was getting so hot inside that in the end I took myself off for a walk to the local bay.  It was nice and fresh down there so I spent a little time just sitting looking at the ocean (and eating an apple!)  

I was able to sit out the front late afternoon, but the back garden still smelt smokey, so I sat and stitched up a bear on the decking while listening to some Glen Miller and Vera Lynn.  

I had to laugh at the antics of a couple of magpies in the garden, one in particular who took a great liking to the bird bath..

Here he/she is on top of the gazebo seat.

Just after its bath...and it was funny to see it actually rolling around on the grass drying itself. Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to get a photo of that.  

This one didn't have a bath, but is looking very sleek and smart indeed.

There they go.

This clever crow and found a piece of bread from somewhere and had brought it to the pond to soften it to make it easier to eat.  They are so clever!

I sat in the evening and stuffed and stitched some more bears, but didn't get them finished.

Two on Tuesday.

Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions for names. I would have probably chosen one - if I hadn't already thought of 'Kiwi Wight' Bears, made by Kiwi Girl on the Isle of Wight before I saw the comments left.  I've got an emblem in mind that I would like to eventually get put on some labels, although I have no idea where I will get them done!  An example of which is on the tag below on the bear that I have made for one of my neighbours for her birthday tomorrow.  

So yes I made another new bear today for the discerning among you who spotted that this bear is different (slightly) to the one I made yesterday.

In fact I didn't just make one...

I made two!

Here they are together.  I love how they turn out different, even though I used the same fabric and pattern.

And then there were three!  Why three?  Well I wanted to keep one for myself, which is the first one I made, one will go in my Etsy shop, and the one on the right for my neighbour.

While I was sewing I watched the sea and the garden and a crow having a good old time washing itself in the pond.

A real splash!

It also spent some time investigating tasty titbits from the garden.

You can just see some in its beak in this photo.

So it was actually overcast and very windy this morning, hence deciding to have a real indoors type of day...that as well as aching too much to feel like doing battle in the garden or going for a walk.  The wind has now dropped and it is turning into a nice evening and I can finally see some blue sky and some sun, albeit late in the day.

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!

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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.