Shuffling

 I started tidying the sewing room today. 

I had thought of early lunch and a walk...but the weather saw that thought and said HA!!!

Every time I put my nose out of the door thinking there was a break it started raining and blowing again!!

I found yet more bike stuff...I hope it will all fit in the car...and that a lot less will come back after the cycle jumble!!

The material for the patchwork cushion cover turned up, so that has been washed.

That is to make a cushion cover with the zigzag patchwork squares that I started in Mātangi in February '24!! I bought the cushion and this other fabric last year!!

It will be done....eventually!! If I can afford to go again I should take it with me to show the fabric shop in Mātangi!!

Anyway today the internet has been fair company..keeping up with friends and family afar.  Sometimes I'm sure that I spend too much time on there...but quite a bit is useful time spent.

Plus there is learning French and keeping up the learning with news emails and reels .

I'm reading a Brief History of France..a little every night...it is fascinating how the roots of so many things that we take for granted are actually in France. 

And a small interesting fact....the company producing the seeds that I bought in a Limoges supermarket...was started in 1734...

gallery and after

 

The sun stopped hiding!!

and I saw some interesting furniture on fb

you'd have to keep the sideboard top clear..

then this coffee table.

You can see the makers' account name, have a look at them..lovely work. They probably have a website if you are not on fb.

I had nobody through the gallery door for the last three quarters of an hour!!

When I arrived home, instead of hibernating for an hour, I hard pruned the hardy fuschia bush. The birds had eaten all tbe fruit so it was time. It will grow back just as strong next year. 

There are three other bushes that will be pruned, but tve birds haven't finished tbe berries yet

Tools

 I was asked today to photograph some of my favourite tools....and found the peeler that I have been hunting for in the kitchen!!

What tools do you use "out of place"?

I look in the kitchenalia corner of antiques and charity shops...I adapt other things to suit and find textures...

I'm not sure where the orange thing came from...other textures can be from netting or the polystyrene disc under a frozen pizza...

organising

 

Getting things ready for the cycle jumble at Glasgow Velodrome a week tomorrow.

I have two days at the gallery this week, so getting this lot in one place made sense.

Mostly in mushroom trays plus a couple of boxes. This should fill the back of the car. 

No frames or compleat bikes this time.

Hopefully a decent amount will go. Even if it goes to the dealers, it will be gone!

The tomatoes are gradually ripening

and the bad news is that the microwave oven appears to be on the way out.

It has lasted 2¾ years...2½ if you take out the time I've been away..far less than usual.

Consumer rights say that things have to last a reasonable length of time....but what is that for one of these, before smoke appears from the inside works?!  

One positive thing is that if I don't get a replacement I'll have more room on the bench!! It cost £80 (special offer) in January '24, who knows how much now?! At the moment there are other things to spend money on...like the work to put in the front fence and gates that I have. (job has been viewed, just awaiting the quote)

Dragons...and rain....and fire

 Heavy sharp showers today after a rainy night then pleasant morning. You can see the next eave of rain approaching!

and when I got there it was bright sunshine!

Conversations in French today, learning some phrases that don't get into an ordinary dictionary. 

I wonder if there is a French phrase dictionary? ( of the polite one anyway!!!)

It is a special book week in the library, ad half term here starts on Monday..

I must go back and hunt down the others!!

There was also a display  in the reference library about the fire service here and its history. There were three personnel when I arrived...and they agreed that they needed a "stop press" board...

Over the past five years we have lost a number of buildings that gave Ayr history and character.

Yesterday it was the turn of Hourstons department store.

Empty for a while, but apparently plans approved for its development and use while retaining its character and history.

The first photograph was by someone who happened to be in a nearby fairly tall building...they reported the fire first...Now tell me how a fire starts on the top floor ???

organising

 After breakfast today the man from the local fencing came to look st the job of putting in my fence and gates across the front. 

I should get a phone call with a quote, hopefully tomorrow.

I gave the studio  brief sort out today , mopped the floor, put the six foot long table with folding legs out there. (This usually was used at craft fairs and village carnivals)

it only just fits....but at least the stove isn't lit yet!!

Then it turned wet and cold, which is no incentive to stay there!!

I spent a lot of today watching track racing. Do I miss it...yes, in some ways.  It would take a massive amount of work to get back to it I think.  I think getting back to riding my bike regularly will be enough!

That will build energy for furthering my art career. Which is hard work building back up alone.

So, early night tonight...while the wind whistles through cracks and roars around the house!!

Cordially

 Ha!...read from the bottom up this time!!

This afternoon's entertainment!

Brambles (4 pounds) Elderberries (1 pound) (Blueberries (1 pound) A Thumb of fresh ginger, a couple of star anise

 two big cinnamon sticks and a dessertspoon of whole cloves...and half a pint of water.

All that was put in a large bowl over a pan of simmering water for about an hour until defrosted then softened...the rest you can see from the photos.