Thoughtful Friday No. 54

"Realise what a unique and shining star you are.

No-one who came before you,

No-one that lives today, and

No-one that comes tomorrow

Can walk, talk, move and think like you."

Og Mandino

Thoughtful Friday No. 53

"Do not forget that the value and interest of life is not so much to do conspicuous things...as to do ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value."
— Pierre Teilhard De Chardin

Goodies

Look what arrived in the post for me this week! A beautiful pink parcel from Pink Purl from one of her delightful giveaways. And inside the parcel was these gorgeous balls of turquoise yarn, a chocolate bar and a dear little note. Thank you Tracy!

Does anyone know?

how to add and change the size of the picture in the header here at blogger? I have tried the 'shrink to fit' etc and been on a couple of video tutorials but my personal photos seem to be too large and the free banner I have had as a header just doesn't fit properly. I would welcome advice here. I guess there is some editing of the Html and I have done this once (having taken advice from a blogger help forum and taken out the width etc numbers). I really want to change this and get it right and I have a feeling that it can't be that hard!! Help from those who have done this successful would be so appreciated. Thank you.

Crafty Endeavours!

The handles for one of my latest felted bags have now been put on.

The beginnings of a cushion cover for a friend of daughter no.1
The second attempt at socks, this time for daughter no.1. Still need to perfect this technique but a sock knitting course is up and coming this month so hopefully....

The hands are very busy right now sewing these hearts along the edge of my disappearing nine-patch quilt which I am aiming to give to my mother in law in two weeks time!!!

And here's someone who would just love to get under that quilt for a snooze!

Thoughtful Friday No. 52

"We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope."

Martin Luther King Jnr

Thoughtful Friday No. 51

In memory of my very special friend 'M' who passed away on Wednesday morning, having lost the battle with cancer of the liver: I will miss her so very much.

"The best prayer is to rest in the goodness of God,

and to feel that goodness going to the

deepest part of your need"

Mother Julian of Norwich (14th Century)

Felting, Felting, Felting!

I have been having a lot of fun recently making these felted bags. There is something very therapeutic about the process - a bit like making bread! Daughter no.4 came home for a few days this week and we felted together - me showing her the process. She decided she wanted to make a clutch bag and this she certainly did - beautifully!

Thoughtful Friday No. 50

"And the day came when the risk (it took) to remain tight in the bud

was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

Anais Nin

How does your garden grow?

I love this stage in the year when so much is green and vibrant and when little seeds I have planted are now springing forth:

Don't you just love the smell of Basil? And for the first time I have had success with some lettuce (mazuma I think?) in a pot

Then there is the little strawberry plant in a pot which I have had for several years now and which keeps on producing fruit - just outside the kitchen door where I can see the red ripe berries

And then there's the potatoes which I planted at the end of March which are doing very well indeed. In fact even better than this photo which was taken a couple of weeks ago now - where does the time go?

I wouldn't call myself a gardener but I am learning and I love the fact that it is very much a question of 'have a go and see what happens' rather than about being too precise. The lawn needs another mowing but here it is freshly cut with the evening sun casting lattice shadows across it

I'm off to the garden museum in London today with a very dear friend who is off to South Africa on Saturday for a month to work with vulnerable adults and children with aids. I shall take my camera and share some pics of the museum and it's apparently wonderful cafe, (www.gardenmuseum.org.uk)another time.

Thoughtful Friday No. 49

"Live one day at a time and make a masterpiece"

Anon