(Local drainage, called a rhyne – pronounced reen. Good place to spot kingfishers)

Pootling around the little lanes on the Somerset Levels, today. Honestly think I could do this all day. Every day.

Before heading home, we stopped at our favourite road side stall, picking up strawberries and asparagus. I made meringues to go with them, when we got home. Sprig of spearmint, a dollop of cream and a sprinkle of chocolate. Perfect.

Definitely a good ending to the weekend.

I am notoriously bad at starting a project and not finishing it. A few slip through the net and make it to the end but most languish. Maybe forever. As my husband can testify, I can walk over unfinished projects, for months, without batting an eyelid.

At work once, I went through one of those tests to evaluate what kind of team player I was, as I moved jobs within the company. I was not a finisher. I was a starter though and an ideas gal, so they shifted me over to research and development. It suited me.

Several jobs later, I still haven’t mastered the finishing thing. I thrive on the journey.

So steps are my only hope. Small steps. Playing to my strength, this week has been full of small steps.

Crafting

I picked up my knitting again. It was in danger of moving up to a whole new level of slow fashion. I’ve found it difficult to concentrate on the lacey knitting, when others are around. You seriously do not want to be doing intricate, ninja stitches while answering random questions. Fired at you out of the blue. Being teens and tweens, my children choose questions requiring in depth answers, that they know I won’t be able to resist. Usually prompted by something in the news, school or from a documentary.

I needed a plan. I took some alone time and finished the leaf edging. I’m now on the run-of-the-mill type stitching. No fear of leaves turning into dinosaurs, while answering their questions. Yes, they can fire questions at me again. I know they will.

I dyed a handful of sheep fleece for an eco project I’m working on. It is a step along the way to the bigger project. I finished up a packet of old Kool Aid and used solar power for the process. I’m looking forward to the next stage, so who knows, I might even get around to finishing it.

Growing

Last weekend, we finally sorted out the full cricket gear that youngest needs. He’s started his third season and seems to be keen. Up to now, I’ve been reluctant to invest as he can borrow from the club. Along the way, I’ve seen others get their kit and then lose interest in playing within weeks. My thinking was, that if he was still keen after two years then, maybe this was a sport worth pursuing. He now has the helmet, leg pads, gloves (look like robot hands), bat and a bag to hold it all in. His father took him up to the club’s nets to try out the kit. One of those occasions when the boy came home a little bit taller than he left.

Middle daughter got her Lamda exam results back this week. She got a distinction, with 100% for one of her pieces. I can see her confidence growing. She doesn’t grab the limelight. No desire to be on stage. It is about having confidence in herself.

I’ve been working on the furry hound’s recall this week. We’ve had plenty of woodland walks. He’s a faithful hound, but sees no reason why he has to take the same path as us. Especially if there is an interesting scent. This week, I have been making a concerted effort to take smelly treats with us. Mainly German sausage. I’ve noticed a big difference. He is more likely to walk the same path. He may hang back and sniff a clump of grass, but when I call, he comes running. He is walking with us more.

Fingers crossed this becomes a habit for him.

Listening

I’ve been listening to a few Ted Talks this week, on growing food. It’s so interesting to hear other peoples’ approaches in different parts of the world. Anyway, one talk I found really interesting was by Ron Finley – a guerrilla gardener. He talks about living in South Central LA, which is known for its drive by shootings and drive through takeaways. Seems the drive through takeaways were killing more people than the drive through shootings. So he started planting up the grass areas beside the streets with food producing plants and encouraging people to eat it and join in the growing. As he so nicely puts it “grow ya own food is like printing ya own money”. He’s funny too. You can see it here.

I can’t help admiring people that take that kind of first step.

The seedlings in my raised salad beds are coming up. Long lines of miniature plants at the moment. Guess that means I’m printing my own money too……

Joining in with Anne’s Word of the Week, with my word “steps”.

(Stitchwort and Bluebells)

Leaning on my spade this weekend, I couldn’t help imagining all the yummy food that would (hopefully) pop up in the raised beds I was working on, given time. I’d added compost to improve the fertility. Sown the seeds. Added water. Nothing else to do, but stand back and imagine all the mouth watering, gourmet meals this summer will bring. Given time.

This week has been about enjoying the small things. Something for all the senses. Often unrushed. Mostly something else setting the agenda. Turn-up-and-you-may-be-lucky kind of moments.

Sunday, we went to a car boot sale at one of the neighbouring villages. Never quite sure how these events will go. Will we find anything? Will we be the only ones there? As it turned out it was big and bustling. An experience for the children. I found pie dishes. I’ve been looking for these for a while, second hand. No point buying new. Just a matter of time till my path crosses someone else’s clutter.

I made a bowl cosy to go with them. Felt good to work with the fabric again and turn 2D to 3D, and into something useful. I’m going to make more, so all the family can use them too.

May Bank holiday we got up before the crack of dawn. I mean that in the literal sense. Getting the teens and tweens out of bed was remarkably easy. We headed off to a different nearby woods for the dawn chorus and the bluebells. It was noticeable how the woods woke up. Sun not quite up and the birds in full voice (recording posted on Instagram). The scent of the bluebells grew as the light did. We saw deer rising and even a young hare crossed our path.

 

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A post shared by Cheryl (@cheryltimetocraft) on May 5, 2019 at 9:25pm PDT

It was magical.

I love how the stitchwort and the bluebell are shoulder to shoulder.

Other happy moments this week:

⇒ Went for my first run for a long time.

⇒  Watched youngest playing his first cricket match of the season.

⇒ Middle doing well in a surprise test. She’s come a long way.

⇒  Eldest spending the day at a university

⇒ Baked a banana, chocolate and oatmeal tea bread, to use up some bananas. This is so good. Chocolate and banana cake is now my favourite kind of cake. Highly recommend. I used a recipe from Waitrose. (recipe here, just in case you want to give it a go)

⇒ The fragrance of potting up my tomato plants. All grown from seed.

So many moments to enjoy. Simple. Basic. I think I like it that way.

Joining in with Anne’s word of the week linky. My word is Enjoy.