miss marie's miscellany

I'm hooked!

I started a cushion cover using a ripple pattern. In at the deep end! My living room decor is a mustard yellow colour (the choice of the previous owners which I hated at first and now love)  so all the furniture and accessories are quite neutral, with the odd splash of brighter colour.

So I've chosen greens, blues and browns with a little purple thrown in for a bit more warmth.

 

 One evening's crochet.

And another.

I'm getting there.

 

Almost finished.

So, in the great tradition of all knitters and crocheters of starting something else before you finish one thing, I found a pattern for a bag using squares in this book, and have decided to adapt it  to make another cushion cover!

This is a bit brighter,almost Christmassy,  but the colours compliment the decor well too. 

I like switching between the 2 different projects. The squares are quite quick to complete, 20-30 minutes, so they are good for a quick fix, and the ripples are good if time is less hurried. But I'm enjoying it so much. Very therapeutic! It's official,I'm well and truly hooked!

Tulips

A quick post today,as I'm having a few gremlins with my internet connection. Normal service will be resumed by the weekend..

I love tulips, so here is a collage of some of the loveliest of late, a mixture of indoors and outdoors.

Weekend collection

A whole weekend off, that's a rare treat. On Thursday evening, I felt so tired I thought I'd spend it lying in a dark room, but by Friday morning I was up to speed again thankfully. Here are my highlights:

1) A couple of long lie-ins, much needed! So nice to be able to turn over and go back to sleep!

2) Curling up with a good book

3) A new houseplant

I think it is a Christmas cactus!

4) Feeding sister no.1's cats

Tullulah and Chloe!

5) A lovely meal with friends

They brought me a present to add to the collection of hearts!

6) Crochet

This is my latest project, more of which later in the week.

7) A trip to Edinburgh armed with Easter eggs and flowers to visit  sister no.2, brother-in-law and 2 little nephews.

8) Lots of gardening.

I spent 3 afternoons digging for victory, so I think I deserved the following!

9) 

Well, it's not Easter without a bit of chocolate!

Hope you all had fun too, dear readers!

Happy Easter

Wishing you a happy weekend!

In the pink

Lots of new blooms in my garden, and especially lovely are all these beautiful pink flowers. Just the right cheery and colourful note to celebrate a much-needed long weekend off work!

Crochet progress

It's slow going, due to being very busy at work. But there is definite progress being made, and I have a few more stitches in my repertoire now.

Some little motifs, good for stitch variety and changing colour

And I'm practising ripple patterns

Baby steps, but I'm not wobbling around anymore!

Seedy

It's that time of year, when a gardener's fancy turns to thoughts of a bountiful harvest and beautiful blooms. Here in Scotland, it's been a bit too cold to start sowing seeds much earlier than the last 2-3 weeks, but finally spring is in the air, and it's definitely time I got my hands dirty. 

 I'm lucky to have enough room for 2 good sized vegetable patches. When I first started gardening 4 years ago,  my enthusiasm outweighed my inexperience and I tried to grow far too much......now I only grow what I know I'll eat.  I love being able to go out into the garden to pick something and be eating it only minutes later - the taste is so fresh and delicious. 

I already have these sprouting seedlings, broad beans and peas.

I start these off indoors, as bitter experience has taught me the seeds are deliciously appealing to mice, and if they don't get them, the snails and slugs will devour the young shoots before they can flourish. I'll give them another few days on the warm windowsill,  and then into the garden they will go.

 

Carrots - these haven't worked out well before now, as my soil is heavy with quite a bit of clay, so I decided to try this small round variety,  'Parmex',  designed for windowboxes and containers (which you can just see on the left in the first photo above).  I'm also growing parsnips, 2 different kinds of broccoli, beetroot and a different variety of broad beans for a later sowing. I may try and fit a few leeks in too!

chitting nicely!

 

Colourful !

Trying something new too.

There will be flowers too, lots of those, but I'll keep that for another post, to follow soon.

Now all I need is a few months of sunny days, with a little light rain at night ......perfect growing conditions, I can but dream. 

Tripping the light fantastic

Dancing at my friend's birthday ceilidh..... the whirling of the dancers and the glowing lights of the hall echoing the party atmosphere......good times!

i heart hearts

After a little retail therapy the other day, I arrived home with 2 heart shaped items. 2 more heart shaped items to add to several already in my possession. I am drawn to the heart shape. Apart from its romantic connotations, it's such a pleasing and beautiful form, curved and voluptuous. It can be sewn, crocheted, baked, eaten, drawn and even planted in the garden.

I loved this when I spied it on the shelves. Great for all my potions and lotions.

And this little box too.  

Heart-warming!

Days like this

Warm spring sunshine. Just the best feeling.