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

This mozzarella, ham, and summer white truffle pizza is so good it must be a sin!

#pizza #dinner 

Momma! There's a monster in here!

🧟‍♂️😻

Can we keep it?

#crochet #cats #Watson #HugMonster #RandomActsOfCrochetKindness #RandomActsOfKindness #RAOCK #kindness #CrochetItForward

Update on us:

20:55 hrs.

I spent the day recovering from running errands in the heat yesterday, crocheting and listening to Terry Pratchett while Mr. C sorted through old paperwork.

Thank goodness I have him to look after me. He cooked us a delicious dinner of pork chops, steamed potatoes, peas, and carrots which went down well with a mug of tea and an episode of 'Cadfael.'

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

Mr. C says:

Update on us.

19:00 hrs

Another scorcher spent indoors apart from a brief walk to check the postbox. We had a late breakfast and listened to Peter and The Wolf narrated by Sir John Geilgud as we ate.

I had a brief nap and then spent the rest of the afternoon sorting through old paperwork going back some twenty years. It was interesting to find old payslips from my supply teaching days and brought back good memories of all the schools I had worked in when living in Hertfordshire.

When I decided to call it a day and joined Fair Damsel upstairs, I was met with the sight of Watson looking cute. Fair Damsel said that she had done it just for me because she'd been on the bed until she heard me coming upstairs.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams. 

😊☄️🌻🌞

Looking at a Flower Coaster pattern by Rodi Crochet Studio (FB) I thought, "That looks like the sun." So, I made one with yellow, blue, and white cotton yarn. I think it looks like the sun and clouds. What do you think?

⛅️

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HH77LGNoh/

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

Tuesday the 14th is Bastille Day aka La Fête Nationale (French Independence Day). Since I don't expect to be out and about on the day as most businesses will be closed, I decided to give out and leave to be found tricolor good luck butterflies today.

#BastilleDay #FeteNationale #crochet #RandomActsOfCrochetKindness #RandomActsOfKindness #RAOCK #kindness #CrochetItForward 

Sweet dreams, Sunbeams! 

Fais de beaux rêves, Rayons de Soleil!

🌞❤️🌻❤️😻😻🐦‍⬛

#Watson #cats

I think I'm getting addicted to making hug monsters. I made a big ball of odd scraps of yarn and I just let them come to life. Each one is unique.

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

le deuxième chaton

#crochet #kitten #RandomActsOfCrochetKindness #RandomActsOfKindness #RAOCK #kindness #CrochetItForward

Clearly I still need practice writing crochet patterns. This is actually the first one I've ever released publicly. I've made another edit to clarify the instructions. Next time I write one I'll ask for volunteers to test it before release. 

Free Crochet Pattern

by

Osquer Campbell

Feel free to make and sell this item if you wish but please credit me as the pattern writer.

#crochet #pattern 

TUBULAR CAT

Abbreviations (US terms):

MR - magic ring

R - round

SC - single crochet

Inc - increase

Dec - decrease

FLO - front loop only

Repeat steps between ** the number of times indicated.

Work in continuous rounds.

Instructions:

MR leaving a long tail to chain cat's tail when finished.

R1

8SC in ring making sure to leave the long tail on the outside. Pull tail to close MR.

R2

*SC, Inc* x8 (16SC)

R3

*SC, Inc, SC* x8 (24SC)

R4

*3SC, Inc* x8 (32SC)

R5 -24

32SC

Begin stuffing

R25

*SC, Dec* x10, 2SC (22SC)

R26

FlO *SC, Inc* x10, 2SC (32SC)

R27 - 40

32SC

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Embroider face.

Finish stuffing.

Sew a flat seam across the top from side to side.

Sew diagonally across each top corner to form ears.

Tie a piece of ribbon or Chain60 around the neck into a bow.

Use long tail from MR to Chain20 to form the cat's tail.

I was inspired by a picture of knitted kittens by Julie Martin in the Random acts of Knitting and Crochet kindness group on FB. So, I freehanded a crocheted version. I think it turned out really cute. I'm going to make more to release into the cat distribution system. I hope they find the people who need them.

#cats #crochet #RandomActsOfCrochetKindness #RandomActsOfKindness #RAOCK #kindness #CrochetItForward

Last night I told a friend about hearing a pair of tawny owls calling outside our windows. I said I thought they might be making baby owls. My friend said, "The world needs more owls." I agree; so, guess what I'm crocheting today.

🦉

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

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

Today's glimmer is:

When I went outside to admire Mr. C's refurb of the picnic table he found and presented me with a lovely feather.

#glimmer 

Well, I nearly gave myself heat stroke trying on my creation. I don't like the way it fits as a cocoon cardigan. It's very unflattering and the shape doesn't show off the squares well at all. So, plan B. I'm going to turn it into a poncho.

#crochet #LiveAndLearn 

 

Update on us:

17:35 hrs.

Mr. C and I both spent the afternoon working on our latest projects. 

I got all of the squares for my coat of many colours joined. Another day or two and it should be finished, just in time for the weather to get really hot again. I guess I won't be wearing it out and about for a while.

Mr. C's picnic table renovation is much more appropriate to the season. He just has to wait for one last repair to cure before finishing the painting. I'm delighted with the colour. We're going to see about getting a new sunbrella. We'll be having tea in the garden before you know it.

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

Mr. C says:

Update on us

23:43 hrs

It was a cooler start to the day and I was up early because I needed to visit Intermarche for a few essentials. I had thought that the supermarket opened at 07:30 but when I checked online I discovered that I was mistaken and I would have to wait an hour or so. I filled the time by munching a bowl of cornflakes, swigging a tasty mug o'tea, and practising my french.

Once the shopping was done, I cooked our breakfasts which went down well with a few of our favourite songs on YouTube. It was still cool outside so, we opened the windows and enjoyed a refreshing breeze which made a nice change.

In mid-afternoon, I continued work on our bench set and had been happily sanding away for about an hour when the temperature soared again. I persevered but within fifteen minutes I was sweating cobs and gave it up as a bad job.

Just after six, I remembered that Fair Damsel had said that she wanted to take a photo of a field of sunflowers I'd passed on the way home. We set off in the camper and took the side road at the back of our lake which would take us in a loop so that the passenger window would be facing the right way for her to take the photograph. She took several photos along the way, including this one of the woods.

A tasty dinner of pork chops, boiled potatoes with peas and carrots was the ideal accompaniment to an episode of Shakespeare and Hatheway. We're watching Jaws now.

All's well in our world, Sunbeams.

😊☄️🌻🌞

I've made more progress on my cocoon cardigan. I've added two of the sides made from the smaller squares. Two more to go and then I'll stitch it into shape and add cuffs and trim.

#crochet 

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

Today's glimmer is:

Mr. C took me for a drive to see the sunflowers.

#glimmer #sunflowers #flowers