The big tidy

Life has gone on much as usual since the last post - a bit mundane really - a visit to the opticians (not much change in my eyesight, thank goodness)  and a routine blood test!    The routine of photography group meetings and operatic society rehearsals just keeps me ticking along.  

 

Two nice highlights were a visit to Dunham Massey which is very pleasant in its own right, but even more interesting at the moment because of their special exhibition.    The day we went it was lovely weather and the place was crowded with lots of families and dogs enjoying the sunshine.   The daffodils and hellebores were in full bloom and the hyacinths almost ready to flower.   I'll bet they'll smell wonderful when they do.    The exhibition is to mark the 100th anniversary of World War I - towards the end of the war Dunham Massey was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers - other ranks, not officers.    The National Trust has recreated a ward, recreation room, theatre etc. to show how it would have looked then.     We spent a good couple of hours in the house and several more hours in the gardens (and the café). 

 

The other  highlight was the birthday celebration for one of our grandsons who has just joined the ranks of the teenage population!   It was a lovely, family occasion with great food and lots of laughter.   It was his Mum's birthday the following day too so it was a bit of a double celebration.  

 

The big news - and anyone who knows me would agree it is big news - is that I have spent 3 days having a mammoth tidy up of my stash of cotton fabrics!    I do not throw anything away - all the little scraps from previous projects are squirrelled away 'just in case'.    I'm not claiming to have thrown much away but some has reached the bin.  The rest has been folded and arranged in colour order (I'm getting worried now!) and the smaller bits have been cut into strips or squares to use in patchwork.   It may not have reduced the bulk by too much but at least I can now see what I've got!   At least that's the theory. 

 

work in progress - patchwork hanging

So, finally, I've not much to show for the last couple of weeks except another silk cushion, 2 hangings in progress and some very orderly cotton fabric.   Now to start on the rest of the silk, wool, polyester, organza, tulle, furnishing fabric etc. - wonder how long that will take!