A quick check in

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that has left greetings over the last couple of weeks. I hope everyone has had an enjoyable time with their families.

I was going to show you a beautiful fabric postcard I received from Australia last week, but I have packed it! I finished J's bedroom and moved him back in, and then have packed up the front room in readiness to start here as the boys are away. Safely tucked away is the postcard, so I will have to show you when I have finished.

Amongst all the activity here, I have managed to finish the back of D's jumper and we have decided on a shawl collar. I am almost up to the raglan shaping on the front. Pictures to follow in a later post.

I have managed to catch up on a few blogs, but it is taking a long time to catch up with everyone. I am really looking forward to getting back into a routine and being inspired by everyone.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend

On Strike

Yesterday, the thought of emptying a bedroom was just too much. J had got engrossed in a book, so we decided we would go on strike for a day.

I took advantage and started a jumper for D. This is going to be an aran sweater using a wool, acrylic mix yarn. We are still debating if we are going to finish this with a crew neck or a shawl collar. I have the rest of the back to knit before I have to decide. It was back to the decorating today, though only as far as getting the room empty. Shopping ans swimming took up the rest of the day. The painting starts tomorrow. After almost a year, J will get a blue bedroom rather than the pink and lilac he has had until now.

Halfway through the month

and the hallway, kitchen, bathroom and toilet have been redecorated. Now there is J's bedroom and the front room left to do. It seems like a marathon and my arms and shoulders are aching. I can't wait until it is all over and I can do some sewing and knitting again, much easier on the muscles.

I did manage to summon enough energy together this evening to sew J's jumper together, so there is at least one finished object this month.

I have a ball of yarn left over from this jumper, so I think I may get a couple more balls and do one for D, probably a different pattern. I think that may have to wait until next month.

Some order has been restored

For almost a week, the contents of my kitchen were in the front room which meant that it was impossible to get near the computer. Finally last night I was able to start catching up with everyone.

We have spent the last week stripping wallpaper and then painting the kitchen. After we had already started, J said we should have taken a before photo. Never mind, you get the after photo which is a lot better. The kitchen now looks brighter and in the morning when the sun comes up, it has a real glow.I am really pleased with the cupboards. They had been green with red handles but have now been transformed. They are now latte and with chocolate handles. Even my landlord was impressed, which is a relief.The highlight of the week was this fabric postcard I received from Angela. In all the chaos, it brought a little ray of sunshine into the house. It is a spring meadow, a welcome relief from the grey sky we have at the moment.

I haven't done anything on J's jumper. When I have had the time, I didn't have the energy even to pick it up. I am hoping I may do some over the weekend as I am now onto the smallest room of the house, which only requires a couple of coats of paint. As it needs to dry between coats, I may get a chance to knit.