Let's go for a walk.

Good morning. I was going to put this out last night, but Oscar had other ideas. He has been in the habit of coming into the house early evening, scoffing his dinner, then demanding to be cuddled. I put a small pet bed quilt in front of me on the desk so I can carry on with what I want to do on the computer. This renders my left arm useless as he lays across it. Typing with one hand takes ages so I gave up. At 10pm he decides he wants to go out, but by that time I am too tired to do anything. 

It started off raining yesterday morning, but brightened up a bit later on. I got my arse into gear, had an early lunch, packed a snack for later, and went off in the car to look for pastures new to explore. 

I have been to Haxey before, as my well worn map shows, but there are some paths I have yet to mark off as 'done'. I parked in the designated dropping off point for the school, a side road which isn't in use on a Sunday. Two others had done the same. 

Walking into Haxey the huge church stands proud in all it's splendour. For such a small village it sure is a massive building. The grounds are beautifully kept, the grass is manicured and the borders around the edge of the building are planted out with a mixture of flowers and small shrubs. 

I would have liked to spend a few minutes inside, but as with most churches these days it was locked. 

At the back of the church is a path leading to the graveyard. I will take a few minutes wandering around there, and sit on a bench. 

As you can see it has turned into a gloriously sunny day. 

This grave caught my attention. All nicely decorated with pretty colours. Very girly. On reading the headstone it is for a baby who lived for only two days. It brought tears to my eyes. Someone has been coming here for the last seven years to keep this tidy. As I sat on the bench a mum with two young children and a dog came into the graveyard. They went straight to it, hesitated for a minute or two, then left by the other exit. I wonder if that was their daily ritual. 

The sky was by now clouding over, and the air was quite muggy and warm. I started off with a jacket in the rucksack, just in case, but didn't need it. 

I crossed Warping Drain, and a railway line, and headed towards the river. A lady caught up with me, going in the same direction, her dog was very keen to keep going at a fairly brisk pace. We walked together for a short time, it was nice to have a chat. We parted at a junction and there was a brief chat further on with a couple walking their two dogs, one very big and one very small. 

I could hear a strange cracking noise as I got close to the river, it became louder as I walked towards it. Sounds like a gun. I hope I was not going to come across someone shooting at animals. I reached the river and saw a man crouching on the opposite bank. I was relieved to see he had a target set up and was aiming for that. 

The River Idle is not very wide. I walked alongside it for a while. Then it was time to head back by a different route. There wasn't a designated footpath, I walked along the verge between two fields and came out on a road. 

I crossed back over the railway line, and Warping Drain, by this footbridge. 

The track then took me into the village of Westwoodside, Amazingly I happened to come across the dog walking lady again. That was a coincidence. I got to meet her rather nice husband as well. 

From there it was just a matter of walking from Westwoodside back to Haxey along the road. Clouds were looming and I hoped I would be lucky. Not so, it bucketed it down. I didn't bother to get the jacket out, I would have got soaked just putting it on. The brolly was handy so that would have to do. I was fine, The rain was coming from behind and I marched on. It was a shower so no harm done. 

I nice afternoon out and seven and a half miles walked. I need to do some work in the garden today, and maybe make a start on the five shopping bags I cut out yesterday. Plenty to do. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Buried treasure

It's raining. I think I will do a spot of housework today. Mayze is very enthusiastic when it comes to tidying her litter box. Even with two boxes she manages to scatter the grit over the edge. She has always used the smaller one but the scattered grit was worse than this. I thought that putting the big one alongside it would solve that. Nope. I keep the dustpan and brush nearby. 

Enjoy your Sunday. Catch ya later. ilona

Eight of the best. (Edited)

Eight out of 26 photo's taken last night of the sunset. I went to Home Bargains to stock up on cat food, it was 8pm when I came out. I thought there might be a nice sunset and it might be a good idea to hang about while it developed. I drove around looking for a good viewpoint. There is a lane at the back of the Industrial Estate. 

I sat in my car and watched it, waiting for the moment. In my line of vision is a Power Station, belching forth steam from the cooling towers. It drifted in the breeze for a short distance then disappeared. A heavy dark cloud hung low over the sun making it even more dramatic. I tried different positions and zoomed in a bit.

At 5.30pm today. A different picture.

The background is fuzzy as it focussed on the pylon and turbines. 

Getting darker now. 

I walked past this spot today, it was 5.30pm. What a difference three hours make. 

I rang the camera shop this morning and the nice man talked me through how to alter the settings. I hope the videos will load much quicker now. 

I finished the green floral bag this morning, the one I showed on the video. Now I am going out for a walk. I got caught in a massive thunderstorm yesterday. Thunder, lightening, hailstones, the lot. It was quite exciting. 

Thanks for popping in, Toodle pip.  ilona

Coffee chat with Mayze

I'm up with the lark this morning. I made this video yesterday, it's on yoootoooob now. 

I was out shopping last night, cat food from Home Bargains. Pleased I took my camera, I was hopeful for a good sunset. It was spectacular. I'm sorting the photo's out, more about that later. For now I have some moderating to do, and emails to reply to. 

Catch ya later. toodle pip.   ilona

Reflections

 Good morning. Bright and sunny here, there is a crispness in the air. Two days of no walking so I have some catching up to do. I see several people walking around the village on a regular basis. One lady walks with her friend, sometimes alone. I said to her once why doesn't your hubby join you on a walk, he would enjoy it. She said, no he won't do that, he likes his tele and his beer. She is slim, him overweight. A year has passed and he is dead, she is still walking. True story. 

I don't spend a lot of time looking back, things that have happened in the past can't be changed. I concentrate on today, and what I can do to get the most out of life. Just lately I have been thinking about the direction the world is going and I don't like what I see. They call it progress, but things are changing at a rapid pace. 

People talk about the good old days, but there were hard at times as well. People were supported by their local community, people mucked in together. There has always been conflict and disease in some parts of the world, caused by clashes in religion, race, and the unequal distribution of wealth. There will always be the have's and the have not's. And now the plan is for everyone to be the same.

The problem is that the custodians of the New World will not be the ordinary people, it will be those who are the wealthiest. Up to now those with the largest amounts of money have called the shots. It is they who have led us right down the garden path, it is they who will lead us into oblivion. 

As I see it we need to get back down to our grass roots. Small local communities helping each other. Globalisation is not the answer. We have seen the influence of those in power as they inflict their one size fits all regime on the world. They ignore the individuals needs and rights. They bulldoze their way through society, dividing and driving a wedge between the rich and poor, so that people blame everyone else for their predicament. 

The world is not one group, it is many groups, with many levels of poverty and wealth. If the elite want to sort out inequality and make the world a better place for all they must use their wealth to level things out. But they will not. Amazon will grow bigger, robots and artificial intelligence will become normal, and food production will be dominated by the big players. 

It is the elite with the money who are destroying society as we know it, and people are going along with it. I hate to say this but we need to start back pedaling. People need to adjust their expectations of what they want from life. Do they want to be permanently hooked up to a screen as they are already, or do they want human face to face interactions? Do they want every single thing they buy delivered to their door, so they never have to step outside? Every Amazon purchase is another nail in the coffin for small businesses. 

If you want to retain your individuality get rid of your smart phones, and start using cash locally for your purchases. That would be a good start. 

My stomach is telling me to eat. I have mushrooms and eggs on toast for breakfast. Might chuck something else in the pan. I'll cut you loose. Have a nice day.   ilona 

Just clouds.

I managed to get a walk today while the sky was blue. The white fluffy clouds hung almost motionless, hardly a breeze to be felt. I gaze at them for a few minutes and my imagination takes me to another land far away. I feel as though I could walk up that mountain over there. Clouds are fascinating. 

 As predicted the sky darkened soon after I got back. Heavy rainfall fell but was gone again after a few minutes. 

I am looking out of the window now and can see the sun going down behind the houses. There are clouds of white, and all shades of grey. It will be an interesting sunset tonight, but not a spectacular one. 

I am having a glass of wine after my dinner. It was three cheese and onion croquets, a potato in the microwave, iceberg lettuce,  three small mushrooms, four slices of cucumber, with an onion and garlic dip. Simple and very nice. 

Thank you for popping in. We'll catch up tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona 

Small bag to make, with instructions.

Another windy and wet day, and more sewing. This time it's a smallish pouch which could be used in a variety of ways. Closed it is 7 inches by 5 inches, and has a boxy bottom. This is the first one I made, it is so simple. There is very little stitching involved it could be made by hand as well as machine. A strap could be attached to the tabs on the sides to hang it around the neck, or a thin belt could be threaded through them. It could be a purse, or even a camera case.   

This one hasn't got the tabs, I forgot to put them in. A wide loop could be added at the back to thread a belt through it, to make it a bum bag. 

I added velcro to fasten the flap down. You could have a loop and button, or a press stud.

 

The boxy bottom is achieved by some clever folding, no stitching required. 

If you feel like having a go, it only takes about an hour to make. Make a few notes when you first watch the video, then go back to it for reference. Thanks to the yoootooobers for putting these bag making instructions out there. 

It looks like we are going to have a Boot Sale in the village, a lot of people are interested. I shall be joining in, if the weather is nice. 

I did a late Aldi shop last night, not as late as I normally go because it was a Bank Holiday and they changed closing time from 10pm to 8pm. It was raining so that keeps people at home. As usual the shop was almost empty, one other person came in and picked up a basket. I was the last one to be chucked out at 8pm. I just made it back to my car when the heavens opened and the rain lashed down. I filled up with petrol at a convenient 24 hour garage nearby. As I arrived back home the atmosphere was very mysterious. The rain had almost stopped, there was a heavy mist hanging in the air, and the sun was glowing through the haze. A perfect rainbow could be seen over the houses.  

I think I might need to take my chances and go for a walk now as it's stopped raining. Still windy though. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip. ilona

3 different bags

Good Arfternoon, it is cold, it is wet, so I am staying indoors. Yesterday I made two fully lined bags by following yoootooob videos, today I have made another one. There are several different ways of constructing them. Makes a change from the simple shopping bags that I normally make. This one has a plain white lining and is 13 inches by 12 inches. 

This one has a floral lining and straps with a trim around the top. It is 12 inches by 14 inches. 

The first one I made has a plain red lining with a floral trim around the top. It is 15 inches by 16 inches. 

If you want to make the last one here is the video on how to do it. Make notes in the beginning on the sizes of fabric needed, then stop start the video as you move through the stages. It's simple to follow. 

Now I'm going to look for another video to make another bag. This is why I don't make sewing tutorials, there are plenty out there to choose from. No need to re invent the wheel. Are you keeping busy on this Bank Holiday Monday? 

Tattybyes, C U L8TER.   ilona

Big spender

There was a notice come up on our village page about a Boot Sale in a neighbouring village, so I went to have a look today. More out of curiosity than to buy something. It was like what you would call a garage sale. The sellers set tables up outside their own house and the browsers either walked around or drove their car to each location in turn. 

There was a map but I didn't need one. I know the village well, I used to deliver the Parish Newsletters there. It started at 10am but I didn't notice the advert until gone 12 o clock, so I was a little bit late arriving. 

Everyone was very friendly, nice to have a chat with a few people. It was due to finish at 4pm, but I noticed that some were packing up early. I bought a few small items for a grand total of £1.40. Some of them were charity stalls. The notices said everything is free, a donation would be welcome. 

This is a fairly new thing round here, a bigger village is doing one in a couple of weeks time. It's a good way to pass things on which are no longer wanted. A good opportunity  of getting some walking in as well. A quick look at the church while I was there. 

I wonder if they might start something like this in my village. Maybe it will catch on. 

Billy was waiting with his harness on when I got back. He really looks forward to his walks. I bought him a teddy to add to his collection, only 10p. 

Thanks to those who have checked in with their walking miles, it's good to see that people are still keen on this challenge. Anyone who hasn't done so can check in at any time, just go to the page and send a comment with your progress report. 

Thanks for popping in. Catch ya 2morrow. Toodle pip.   ilona

Happy Mayday

 Good morning. The sun is back, that's a relief. I had a little potter in the garden yesterday in between showers, that was all. No walking. I did some washing which had to be brought in and draped over a drying rack. I shall hang them outside again today. There is a heavy knitted hoodie/long jacket which my friend gave me. I want to add some colour to it with some patchwork trimmings, or maybe some embroidery, haven't decided which.

I found some more rope, it's white and clean, so I am making another bowl. I fancied making a lined tote bag so I cut out the fabric last night, maybe I'll sew it together today. I found a pattern on yoootooob which looked pretty simple to follow. I don't normally follow patterns, but in this instance I can't be arsed to make one up myself. Brain fog. 

If the weather stays dry I will be off out for a walk this afternoon. I finished April on 348 miles, so I am ahead of target. How have you done? How is your walking going? This is where members of the International Walking Group check in so we can cheer each other on. 

Pics from the archives. I know, it's not autumn but I like these. Local park. 

It's a Bank Holiday weekend, enjoy. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

How to make plastic flowers

A new batch of flowers has been made. Colour to decorate the garden. Easy to make if you want to have a go. Follow the instructions on the video, ask me questions if you like. 

For decorating borders or pots. 

This video took seven hours to load onto yoootooob, even after I altered the settings on the camera. I need to look into this. In the past it has taken between two and three hours. 

It's a bit dull today, a dog walk is planned for this afternoon. It's the last day of April on Saturday so check in day for the International Walking Group will be on Sunday. A third of the year has gone already, the target is 333 miles. Have you reached that. I look forward to hearing from you. 

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

Blue sky again today.

 Hello. A few pics from my walk today, I did eight miles. Beacons like this are dotted all over the country. This one hasn't been lit for a long time. 

Although it looks very sunny, it was very windy. I put a big jacket on. At times I was too warm, then the wind came and I was glad I had a furry hood to keep my head warm. 

One of my favourite spots, overlooking the river. The tide is out and the sandbanks are visible. 

There are a lot of yellow fields at the moment. 

This is a very strange house, it's very tall and narrow. It's a bit neglected, I'm not sure if anybody lives there, or if it is part of the house next to it. 

I took a photo of this pylon once before. It looks like there is a sun shining in the middle of it, but the sun is behind me. It's a metal plaque that the sun is bouncing off. 

You might remember me mentioning these cabins in a previous post. It's a day centre for children with learning difficulties. They have now got a garden, with a lawn, decking and seating area, and flowers in pots. 

This hare ran across the path in front of me and stopped in a field. A chance to see if I can zoom in and get a pic. It was a good distance away. I am liking this zoom lens. 

Another opportunity to play with the zoom. This is about half a mile away. A bit grainy but still quite a lot of detail. 

The video isn't ready yet, so that will appear tomorrow. It's taking a long time again, even though I have altered the settings on the camera. 

Thanks for popping in. Catch ya tomorrow.  Toodle pip.   ilona

Booking out.

 Hello. I paid a visit to the library van yesterday. This is a picture of the old van, Stan has a much newer version now. A table is outside on the pavement with plastic boxes on to deposit books returned. 

I like chatting with Stan, he has been doing this job for a long time, but I have decided that the system of someone else choosing my books for me, isn't working. A lady in the main library puts together bags of books based on which categories the reader has chosen. Stan tells me that she is overwhelmed with work. After quarantining the returns, she has to put them back on the shelves, then fill the bags up with other books to be put back on the van for collection. She must walk miles. She gets no help, it's a lot of work for one person to cover 300 readers. 

I have been getting books which I have had before, and books in which I have no interest at all. They have been placed in the bedroom for bedtime reading, or on the coffee table next to the easy chair. Most of the time I just glance at them, now I am not even getting them out of the bag. A quick peek inside is enough to tell me I won't like them. 

So I have said to Stan that I won't be needing any more books, until they change the system and I can choose them myself. At first I didn't mind this new way of doing things, it was fun to get a pick and mix bag. But now it's a chore, and not fun, and they just clutter the house. 

I said I will call round for a chin wag sometimes. We always have a great conversation, it would be sad to lose that. I missed him when he didn't come at all during the lockdown. Maybe it will get back to normal at some point. 

Thanks for popping in. Hopefully uploading a video this afternoon. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.  ilona