Tub pond adventure, right hand makes

The hot weather led to the water levels dropping in the tub pond we inherited in the garden. It was clear that there was hardly any room for water where it was choked with roots.

This is what the 1m diameter root ball looked like. I chopped a few bits worth saving from it, and tried to wrestle it into the wheelie bin. That is where things started to go wrong. I'm not in my 20s anymore so struggled. not only did I end up looking and smelling like a swamp beast from the dripping stagnant mud, but I sprained my wrist.

So feeble!

I've spent the last few days trying to do things just with my right hand, and going crazy in the 30+c heatwave.

Christmas Tree crochet lap quilt got a border in sock yarn. I felt it needed a zig zag finish in red so I used stash acrylic for that. All the other yarns have some wool in, so it is very cosy.

I can now officially say that I have used up my sock yarn!

Challenge won!

I was now bored so I crocheted an uninspiring 100% wool 50g ball.

I needle felted into it to create "Dreamtime".  It has curls at the edge, a feather earring I dug up on the banks of Lake Coniston years ago, silk fibres, angelina foil fibres, and lastly beads. When you walk past it it moves and glistens as if several layers of mist are creating a veil between worlds. Just the effect I wanted! 

However it wasn't what I had planned to do with my week. I had wanted to get more parcels made for charity. So I turned to my clothes. On Project Runway (big fan! -love Tim Gunn's gentlemanly manners) they referred to a collection for a season- 7 outfits with mix and match bits. A big click went off in my head. I had so many "it will do for now" clothes. Then there were the tatty things which didn't fit well, and the "I thought I would wear this more often but don't" and the "I remember when" heap. Don't get me started on the "I'll wear it one day when I'm that size, but I bought it because I love it" pile. 

Ahem.

So I whittled things down. I'm not saying that I want to feel like a goddess in everything I wear, (a lovely look when I'm up to my elbows in mud!) but everyone ought to have one outfit in a season which does that job. If you don't, you have my full permission to go into one of those lovely air conditioned shops to find one. However my catch is that first you have to fill a carrier bag of the ill fitting, don't wear, it'll do for now, tatty, clothes which are holding you to a past which doesn't fit the brand new you who woke up this morning. 

Fill a carrier bag for charity this week!

My morning coffee magpie was in her usual spot this morning. The thrushes and blackbirds have started eating the rowan berries. Everything is happening so incredibly early in this heat. I am so ready for Autumn rain and mists, wearing my Autumn Collection and my newly knitted socks. 

Please let me know how you get on with filling a bag for charity. I don't want to feel like I'm alone in my hoarderly ways.