I’ve been waiting for good weather to block my Ana Lucia shawl, and it’s finally, finally here! Today’s top temperature is going to be the highest so far this year.
We have had so much rain and unseasonably cool temperatures that apparently during June more soup has been sold than suncream. I know I’ve definitely never snuggled up with a hot water bottle at this time of year, or had such weedy looking tomato plants. They are catching up now. In fact the veggie garden’s looking good all round: there are flowers and pods on the broad beans, the kale, beetroot, mangetout, red pepper plants, salad leaves and French radishes are flourishing, but the carrots are still invisible. Maybe they’ll appear? Maybe I’ll be sowing some more in a week or two.
Next I thought I would finish joining my Coast blanket squares together and make a start on a border, but it’s not ideal to be covered with blanket squares in this weather. That task will wait until cosy autumn evenings arrive, unless our summer changes. Always a possibility in England…
This week I’m reading an advance copy of The Missing Family by Tim Weaver. It’s due to be published here next week if you read the blurb on GoodReads, linked to above, and fancy it. When I requested a copy from NetGalley I didn’t realise it’s 13th in a series about a detective who specialises in missing person cases, but it’s not proving an issue. The story is compelling; it’s twisty and jumps back in time to grisly findings in the USA and forward to the titular family here in Devon. I cannot yet work out how it’s all going to connect together, which is the hallmark of a good crime mystery thriller.
Also I’ve just started listening to Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I’ve heard heaps about this book, and after yet another mention from someone at my bookclub last week thought I would try it. So far so good, although I’ve only heard a few chapters.
What are you up to at the moment? Is your garden flourishing? Are you busy making anything? Reading recommendations are always good too.
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Linking with Kat and the gang for Unravelled Wednesday to share what we’re making and reading.
Hello from England on a VERY rainy day! Hope you’re all well and your week is going smoothly?
I’ve just had a fairly swift pitstop in a café while waiting for a friend to have her hair cut. While there I made a start on what should be the final block for my Coast blanket. I had already joined all the pieces together, but looked at it recently and wondered what an earth I had been thinking? It needs one more block so it’s wider, rather than being FAR too long and narrow. I know that I had planned to do a substantial border but even so… the blanket as it stands would cover my feet and go over my head, by a very long way! So I’m going to undo the continuous join and make it three blocks wide, instead of two. I don’t really mind because the joining was fairly fast to do and I enjoyed it. Plus, I’ve got more Hayfield Spirit yarn left, I don’t think it’s been discontinued (famous last words?!) So I shall enjoy some simple crochet for the next few weeks.
I managed to get a table in the busy cafe in a well-lit spot, put my coffee on the table, got out my glasses, hook and yarn and then realised there was no chocolate sprinkled on the top of the mocha. It’s just not a mocha without a sprinkle of chocolate! I feel like that about cappuccinos too, although rarely drink them. Mochas are an occasional treat. Although I realise that was my second this week and it’s only Wednesday. I won’t have another for a while. Oops, and I’ve just this minute had an alert from Costa to say that I’ve now got enough reward stamps that my next will be free. I’ll try for delayed gratification…
I’m now reading the latest in Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie series (amongst a few other books) and like it. It’s taken me a little while to get into the story, because the premise intially seemed a little strange, or maybe it was me? Reading two crime thrillers might be one too many at once. In this one there’s lots of strands and subplots going on, which I enjoy as they make for an interesting and complex read. It’s set during Lockdown in Edinburgh, Scotland and is reminding me of aspects of that time I’d already forgotten; particularly the only exercising for an hour rule (guideline?)
Thank you for your tips last week on trying to source another ball of Katia Silver Paint yarn for my shawl. I haven’t been successful so far. I will keep looking, but I think I’ve probably missed the boat. It’s shade 100, in case you’re reading this and you do have a stray ball tucked away in your stash. Fingers crossed!
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Joining in with Kat and the gang again, to share what I’m making and reading this week.
MAKING great fires in the log burner! Does that count?
COOKING warming veggie curries; pumpkin & chickpea and a peanutty aubergine recipe
BAKING Scottish Shortbread. Delicious!
SIPPING a few hot chocolates lately. Well, it’s cold. 3° yesterday, 2° today. Brrr!
READING Mad Blood Stirring by Simon Mayo (and listening to it on Spotify)
WAITING for snow. First snowfall nearby last night
LOOKING very wrapped up when out. All the woollies. Wearing my rainbow bobble cowl at the mo and wrapping my purple Hitchhiker scarf on top when I go back to the car
LISTENING to The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny podcasts by Danny Robins
WISHING Christmas presents magically bought and wrapped themselves
ENJOYING lights and sparkle when out and about
DISLIKING Christmas trees and decs up in early November. Soon it’s going to be Christmas from the day after Halloween…
APPRECIATING any sunny blue days
EATING toasted goats cheese, rocket & red onion chutney toastie in a favourite cafe today
LIKING the mocha that always accompanies it. Strange combo maybe…
South Kensington, London. What a beauty
LOVING heated car seat and stirring wheel. A car with gizmos
BUYING a Star Bar recently, then dropping the last bit in the gutter
MANAGING to forget about a third of all I need to remember
WATCHING Ant & Dec in Australia. They make me laugh
HOPING for a good December
LISTENING to be audiobook of Mad Blood Stirring by Simon Mayo (on Spotify)
WEARING black jeans, green top
VISITING The V&A: Gabrielle Chanel, Fashion Manifesto
NOTICING how one person with a (very) loud voice can dominate a space. Shoulders went down in the cafe when they left
FOLLOWING …it’s macabre, but so many death announcements today …Shane MacGowan, Alistair Darling, Henry Kissinger and Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill in Brookside, a particularly English soap opera)
SORTING photos. Where do you store your digital photos? Cloud? Lap top? External hard drive?
GETTING organised with lists, but not much action
COVETING I can’t think of anything. A chateau maybe? A castle?
FEELING relaxed
HEARING a buzz of conversation, South Oxfordshire accents
How are you? What are you up to at the moment? Tell me three things?
Visiting: Blenheim Palace to see the rooms decorated, the theme was the story of the Snow Queen this year, magical and so Christmassy on 23rd December. Perfect
Making: Mulled Cider, again
Making: Rainbow salad sprinkled with mixed seeds, a lot of crunch drizzled with a lemony, sesame dressing
Staring: at the beautiful sunsets
Cooking: Spicy rice with mixed peppers, mushrooms and tender-stem broccoli later. I need another meatless meal, it’s come to that point in the week. I found a Facebook memory which said similar on this day a year or two ago. Though I opted for fish pie back then
Visiting: Waddesdon Manor Christmas on 18th. The Manor was decorated nicely, but the weather for the outdoor market and illuminations eeek! It was only 3 degrees with pelting rain for the whole time. I became cold to the bone, brrrr!
Reading: a very promising advance reader copy of a novel to be published next summer. It’s about a heist planned by an all women team, in London in 1905. As I read I keep seeing it as a film, the writing is very cinematic. If the other half is as good I’ll tell you more about it near the publication date. I really hope it continues to be this good, I’m enjoying it so much
Wondering: about joining a book club but unsure I want to read others’ choices, especially as the first of next month is by Matt Haig. I’m not a fan, so far
Looking: at the sparkles on the Christmas tree
Listening: to music
Wishing: for a happy and healthy New Year for me and mine, you and yours too
Enjoying: crocheting by the Christmas tree, my bobble cowl is really growing. I can do around 40 minutes at a sitting, a couple of times a week. It’s slow crochet, but better than no crochet
Appreciating: the texture of this ball of Hayfield Spirit yarn, it’s got a crunchy crispy texture and great stitch definition
Sipping: Twinnings Spicy ginger tea. Tasty and warming while I am
Eating: Artisan du Chocolat salted maple caramels, bliss!
Liking: Crimbo Limbo very much; this chilled out time which is like no other during the rest of the year between Christmas and New Year
Loving: Carols From Kings College Cambridge, such a Christmas Eve tradition, did you watch it too? I know it’s broadcast around the world. Did you join in with Hark the Herald and realise it was pitched too high, for the choir boys? Tee hee
Buying: tea bags, peppers, red and yellow tomatoes, hovering over reduced parcel toppers and eco friendly twine for next Christmas and thinking “Nah! I can’t face it buying it all again.”
Feeling: reflective
Managing: a verbal Gold Star from my excellent physio therapist yesterday, for my “self-mobilisation”. December has been a challenge; full of exercises, walks, hot water bottles, massage, stretches, Sarah Keys Back Block stretches before bed. If you know, you know…
Watching: Ghostbusters, Knives Out, Ghosts Christmas special (made tears roll down my face at the end remembering those who have gone), Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing Christmas Special, The Snowman, The Snowman and the Snowdog (Someone is always so sad when the dog dies) Mrs Brown’s Boys (terrible, but traditional) The King’s Speech on Christmas Day (not the film, the actual King.) Tonight it might be Detectorists Christmas special or the second Knives Out film or…
Noticing: it’s lighter later, or is that wishful thinking? It’s lighter 2 minutes earlier every day from 21st after all
Hoping: those who have been unwell over Christmas will be much better soon
Wearing: relaxed house clothes, leaning against a hot water bottle. Prob unsafe, but far more comfy than a lumpy wheat bag
Following: our own agenda this week, while calling in to see older relatives regularly, we know we’re lucky to have them
Sorting: out how to use my new Contigo mug
Getting: lots of lovely things to use, drink and cook
Coveting: another year of Spotify Premium, mine ends on Sunday. I’ll miss it
Hearing: Holding onto You by Olivia Broadfield, one of the tracks on my ‘Soothing’ Spotify playlist, but it’s Goal of the Century which still makes my heart lift everytime it begins to play. I’ve been gradually adding to the playlist for years, it’s gorgeous. Perfect for Crimbo Limbo week
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How are you? Have you celebrated Christmas, had time to chill, or is it work as usual? Either way I hope you’re healthy and have escaped the lurgy. I’ve know so many have been affected this week, I’ve sent much love and healing vibes to them.
It’s my blogging birthday on New Year’s Eve on Saturday, eleven years! 11. WOW.
The Little Room of Rachell 
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