Vintage Scarf

Take one vintage scarf with a hole in it and repair, as invisibly as possible.

That was the challenge that I faced when I bought this pretty scarf on Etsy.  

I believe that it dates from the 1950s and after that minor repair and a good press, it looks as good as new.  I love the bright colours of the seaside design.  Just the thing to go with a vintage sweater that I have on my project list, if ever I can find time to make it.

Remembrance

The Crosses
 

I stood there before the crosses 

glowing white in row on row

Everyone a young life cut short

as the names upon them show.

The dates they died below the names

tell of wars now past and gone

Passchendaele, the Somme, and Mons

of battles fought, and lost or won.

History remembers, as it should

these men who fought and died 

Whilst for their families left behind

a dull sorrow tinged with pride.

The faces of boys held now in Sepia

who died in days long gone

yet living on in memories 

and hearts, still holding on.

Yet despite the hurt and grief here 

what with horror makes me fill

Is that when I look behind me

there are more new crosses growing still.


Bill Mitton

Deck Renovation

The days are getting shorter and the opportunities for working outdoors are limited as we approach mid-November.  The garden work has been delayed due to cold, wet weather.

One of the projects which was started involved raising the level of the bottom deck.  For some reason, the lower level was so far down that it was impossible to actually have a conversation with anyone on the upper level without staring at their knees!

The lower level has now been raised and is secure on new piers, but the deck boards still need to be replaced.  It is looks like this job may be postponed until the spring and the boards stacked up until the warmer temperatures return.

On Our Street

The leaves have been blown down since Saturday when this picture was taken.  Winter is fast approaching now and with it, hail and snow squalls.

I'm late getting into the garden this year and have lots of bulbs still to plant if I am ever to have a good display of spring colour.  I did manage to plant snowdrops, crocus and bluebells, but I still have 120 daffodil bulbs to get into the ground before it starts to freeze.  They should have been in weeks ago, but better late than never.

Thought For The Day - Part One

Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities

because as has been said, it is the quality which guarantees all others.

Winston Churchill

Autumn

This afternoon has been devoted to clearing the many leaves that fell on our garden in the windy conditions of the last few days.  This is the second clear-up this week, though it would be hard to tell looking at the condition of the garden.

I had intended planting bulbs, however, by the time I'd raked and bagged the leaves, I had run out of energy.  I'm hoping to make a start on that tomorrow.

Vintage Jacket

I started this knitting project in March and I've been very slow in completing it, mostly due to lack of time.  It is actually quite an easy pattern, even though it looks more complicated.  There is only a four row repeat to produce this lace pattern.

I put this project aside some weeks ago to make the baby matinee jacket featured in another post.  I finally got around to blocking the pieces and started stitching them together.

The side seams and sleeves are stitched now and I have the rest pinned in place, but I'm still procrastinating.  I even have the ribbon for the hood.  If I can only find a bit of free time this weekend,  maybe I will be able to finish it.

The pattern is by Susan Crawford and can be found here.