Update on us:

19:15 hrs.

Mr. C and I had several errands to run this afternoon. Fortunately the high temperature today was only 79°F/26°C.

We started at Le Noz where Mr. C was on a quest for slippers amd sponges. He found neither but, after some delay due to several customers with complications and only one cashier, he came away with 5 tins of Spam.

Our next stop was the pharmacy where acquiring our medications went smoothly.

I'd been having some difficulty using my bank card online and accessing the website; so, we popped into the branch in La Guerche where a kind young woman helped me sort it all out. I gave her a crocheted good luck dolly as a thank you.

We finished off our outing at Internarche where I was able to find Mr. C a new pair of slippers and some sponges that can be washed in the washing machine and are supposed to last for a year. 

We also got a head of locally grown lettuce as all the bagged salads appear to have been pulled from the coolers. Gee, I wonder why. 🤔

I kept seeing a couple about our age with a young girl around the store; so, when they happened to be beside us in line, I decided that she must need a crocheted gift. Of course I got approval from the grownups before presenting her with a sparkly eyed owl. She was delighted and thanked me several times. The cashier also got an owl. She was new but doing a great job.

We gathered up our necessities and treats and made our way home (Isn't home a wonderful word?) for a nice cup of tea and a snack.

Yes, I have access to a plethora of exotic French cheeses, but sometimes simplicity is just what is needed.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams. 🌞❤️🌻

 How now brown cow?

Spot the bird!

Tap to see the full picture.

Eglise Saint Martin de Vertou in Le Pertre

#birds

Update on us:

21:45 hrs.

It was another scorcher today; so, Mr. C and I stayed in and kept as cool as we could.

After watching an episode of 'The Wind In The Willows' with breakfast, I put on an audiobook by Sir Terry Pratchett to entertain us while Mr. C cleaned the downstairs and I worked on a crochet project for the child of a friend.

I took some leftover baked chicken and mashed potatoes along with baby carrots, peas, and gravy and made pasties. 

I put egg wash and a bit of salt on the corner scraps of puff pastry which made them into little crackers. They were a great side with a bit of flavored cream cheese. Mr. C doesn't do cheese, so he had beans with his pasty. We have two pasties leftover.

Dinner was sunbeamadelicious with a mug of tea and an episode of 'Death In Paradise.'

All's well in our world, Sunbeams! 🌞❤️🌻

I can't unsee it.

#Farscape 

A Glimmer is a small moment that sparks joy, happiness, or peace.

Today's glimmer is:

When Mr. C came in from pruning the trees along the driveway to take a break and have a drink of water he presented me with 4 feathers he'd found. I was delughted to see that two of them are clearly magpie feathers.

#glimmer #feathers 

Update on us:

20:05 hrs.

We had a relaxed morning listening over breakfast to a mediocre ghost story that we're pretty sure now was recorded by AI. The delivery wasn't bad, but the pauses in odd places would make even Christopher Walkin raise an eyebrow. 🤨

Mr. C was debating whether he wanted to go out for a few items or take a nap and leave the shopping until tomorrow morning. I pointed out that they were less likely to have his preferred bread at Intermarche on a Sunday and that Le Noz and Super U would both be closed which would reduce his chances of finding Heinz baked beans to nil. 

We are both glad he went today because, at Le Noz, he found Tulip brand luncheon meat (Spam) and, at Super U, he got 10 tins of beans at an excellent price. He also got me some more cheese biscuits and a lovely chrysanthemum. Quelle jolie surprise !

He also took the precaution of putting some deisel in the car in case supplies dry up due to the ongoing conflict. Things around here are dry as tinder and, although the wildfires have not been near us yet, it's always best to be prepared in case of the need to evacuate.

Now for a simple dinner and some 'Death In Paradise.'

All's well in our world, Sunbeams! 🌞❤️🌻

I was delighted to find out that Bonne Maman, the company that makes our favourite jam, also makes delicious little pound cakes. Not only that, but they make the recipe freely available.

Miss Watson doesn't understand why I share them with Mr. C but not with her. Moriarty knows better than to even try.

#Watson #Moriarty #cats #cooking 

Update on us:

18:25 hrs.

Mr. C popped out to Intermarche this morning for a few essentials unaware that I had been planning on going with him in the afternoon to peruse the interesting sales they were advertising.

So, I was going to give it a miss as he had gotten most of the things we actually needed, but he encouraged me and, after watching a paranormal documentary on YouTube, off we went.

Things were looking up when we managed to park in the shade as it wasn't terribly busy.

I had the pleasure of giving a woman with a young boy one of my Hug Monsters. When she handed it to him, his face lit up and he asked, "Un cadeau?" (A present?) When I affirmed this he enthusiastically thanked me several times.

I was also able to give bonbonnières (little pouches of sweets) to our young cashier who had struggled with a complicated task for the man ahead of us and to Isabelle, the overworked manager who's struggling with a shortage of staff.

We returned home with heightened spirits and various goodies.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams! 🌞❤️🌻

My new snood does a wonderful job of keeping my hair off my neck. I really appreciate that as, although it's a little bit cooler, it is still quite humid.

#crochet 

I've been playing with crochet charts. I made a doily. I didnt need a doily. So, I lengthened it, stitched it around an elastic, and attached it to a barette to make a snood to keep my hair off my neck.

#crochet

 I made a bandana.

#crochet 

I really do despair for the fiber arts community these days. AI slop is so prevalent and I have seen countless posts by newer crocheters who have been frustrated or downright scammed by wretches claiming to write patterns. Here are examples of an actually viable crochet chart, the AI picture that claims to be what it makes, and my own result of faithfully following the chart. I found so many mistakes in the AI version it's not even funny.

🙄

#crochet

Yesterday I found a crochet chart for a simple flower online. Last night I gave it a try with double stranded cotton yarn and liked the result. Today I made a modification...

Et voilà! C'est un myosotis! A forget-me-not!

#crochet 

 It took me all afternoon, but I finally finished a crochet WIP that really started almost 2 years ago when I began testing 7 Chakra Squares for @saraismaude (IG).

 https://www.ravelry.com/stores/crochet-a-la-maude-designs

I initially planned to make a wall hanging but was really into tote bags and decided instead to add a few other squares I'd made to make my favourire tote bag design. It turned out really pretty but the large gaps in the squares necessitated a liner. I really dislike sewing. Damnit, Jim, I'm a hooker, not a seamstress! So, I set it aside until yesterday when I cut up an old t-shirt, which I could no longer wear due to the title of a book by She Who Shall Not Be Named appearing on it, and painstakingly stitched it into a quite acceptable liner. I must say, I'm really pleased with the result.

#crochet 

I crochet Hug Monsters to give away as random acts of kindness from leftover bits from other craft projects. I know the Igors (read Sir Terry Pratchett to understand) aren't monsters. They just work for them, but I couldn't resist naming this pair Igor and Igorina. I'm letting Mr. C keep them.

#crochet #HugMonsters #RandomActsOfCrochetKindness #RandomActsOfKindness #RAOCK #kindness #CrochetItForward