Fingers and Thumb...

 ...are all numb.. A trapeziectomy, removal of a small arthritic and very painful bone...

Two weeks of bandage and no driving, then stitches out... If this is at all succesful, I get the other side done later..

Meantime, totally numb from the shoulder down, which is Most Curious

Faces everywhere

I was asked to be a "model patient" for first-year doctors-in-training - interesting, not least because one out of the three was engaged, interested, good at follow-up, and pleasant, one was bossy and disinterested, and one so cowed by the second that she dared not speak... I think I know which one I would sign up with as a GP...

And, an Accidental Face in the room, just love the quiff!

 

Long Weekend, and a Smart New Car

Say hello to Mariame - my new motor. She's a Goddess (Citroen DS3) and quite the cleanest and smartest car I've ever owned.. And John's little pensions will pay her finance nicely, which is good.

Long weekend - Easter usually annoys me with its proliferation of Bank Holidays but this year I was so glad to have a few days in the garden (which is looking much better for the attention) and to spend a deal of time in the fresh air... I had to put out two chairs, as otherwise the cat moaned fretfully

And I said goodbye to my mid-life crisis car, my lovely Suzuki Grand Vitara, nice to drive; a mobile skip; always willing; carrier of sewing-machines and firewood and sick people; dented and a bit scruffy and sadly thirsty - but she was always a pleasure to drive and always felt like a properly grown-up (and very tall) car... Sadly, the DVLA managed to fail to make her mine when we bought her, so I have been driving some-one else's car for four years.. I did wonder why she always had to be re-registered for tax each year; shame they don't have a system for asking if you "own" the car you drive, tax, MOT and insure... This knocked a chunk off her sale price, but as she's the first car I've ever managed to actually sell rather than scrap, not such a disaster...

So, I came out of the house on Sunday ready to drive the Great She-Elephant to her new home, only to find that my compost heap was burning merrily... Seems the previous day's burning-of-brash was not quite as cold as I thought when I tipped the ash, and the back edges of the bin were entirely consumed.. Oh, well, needed a new one anyway, now I have no excuse

And this week's Pink Moon was inspirational - I need to spend more time with my Full Moons series

Evening off, though, as I'm as flat as a Proverbial Pancake and need to sit in front of a fire and snooze...

Spring, in the air

and the birds are getting fresh...

I walked to the workshop on Friday, as it was sunny and lovely, and (as well as the lovely lot of firewood laying about) I spotted this little tableau...

 

Cotton Club Show

Here we are - actually out and trading and talking to quilters!

Having had a fantastically busy and productive couple of weeks (a deadline is a most wonderful incentive) we have arrived at the Wickham Market School for the Cotton Club Show - tomorrow (Saturday, 10 till 4) and Sunday (10 till 2) - do come and play

Wickham Market Primary School,

Dallinghoo Road, Wickham Market,

Suffolk. IP13 0RP

Tombola

Amazing raffle

Cafe and group quilts

Quilts below  with descriptions, only a few of a great show

Val's stall...

Other traders, but I didn't manage to photograph everything...

And please do come, there are bargains...

 

February! Lots Happening

Firstly, Happy New Year - Tiger Years are auspicious for those who care about and help others. And my Ragtime Improv Block of the Month launched yesterday

This is one of my Sample Quilts from this - click the image to read more (and sign up?)

Then, I need to post my OCPs* for February, as I have been less-than-prompt with these lately

Perfect fit!

And, how can she sleep like this?

And here's my good friend and co-conspirator Aitchbee at our birthday-breakfast-for-John on 25th January. A good fry-up was had by all...

Not gloomy, just full of sausage...

And, not least, I finally have an appointment with the hand surgeon this afternoon, having waited since November 2019. The last time I came there, John was still alive and I had hopes of a positive result.. Maybe today will be better...

*OCP = Obligatory Cat Post

Officially...

 ... the most depressing day of the year; the last Monday in January. I'm overworked and tired, and finding the gradually lightening days are only just taking the edge off that

On the other hand, sometimes something just delights the eye and the mind - I was walking to the deli for a much-needed coffee the other day and found this little masterpiece on the steps outside the bank

Is it a Banksy? Does it matter?

Just delightful

Tomorrow John would have been 69, and HB and I will go out for breakfast in his honour and memory. He really liked breakfast. I'm amazed how well I've managed on my own, but I do wish I could be cooking his eggs-on-toast for him in the morning

I will take a moment to show H this little treat.

Word For The Year

 Explore

To look deeper at what I have and do and understand, and to look outwards for fresh inspiration

And inwards to repurpose the good stuff

Start and End of The Day

I had to be up early for a hospital appointment (only an X-ray but perhaps, finally, the start of my much needed hand treatment.) 

The sunrise was astounding

South East

Particularly through the cherry tree

And the window

Drove to Cromer, arrived much too early, was seen, x-rayed, and out in a few minutes, then went and found a coffee

The winter exposes structures so nicely

Sunset also spectacular from upstairs

Downstairs through the door

Reflective

And rosy...

Been sewing, planning, taking orders, money on Paypal, maybe things will work out OK after all...

 

Season of Mulch

 Everything is so wet!

Today's roadkill is Squashed Paint Tube

I'm going upstairs and putting the heating back on...