October Days

Hello Friends! 

In other news, I keep a large 500ml refillable pump of 70% alcohol hand sanitising gel on the small telephone stand in the hall.  It's a practice I established when I was caring for my mother.  It's centrally located in my cottage, and makes it conveniently quicker and easier to splodge out a blob if someone comes to the door than it is to wrestle with the fiddlier pocket size ones.  So, I gave this important corner a little seasonal makeover with some of my many pinecones.. 

I treated myself to two new, Autumn fragrance, Yankee Candles.  I love the warm and comforting gentle glow of candle light, and they have a good throw of fragrance that's just right for my living room.  This one is Autumn Glow, full of a soft, seasonal warmth of patchouli, which I love.  It is a rich, deep plum colour, which I favour, and in the dark evening it glows like light shining through a glass of good Bordeaux wine.

I have several Mary Engelbreit books, and haven't forgotten I promised to share my Autumn and seasonal books too!  Another day!

Humphrey Dormouse has a big bag of swag over his shoulder.  I think he's been out foraging the fields and hedgerows for his Autumn kitchen store cupboards.

I wonder if it's full of bright, red berries, like these?

The teacup and saucer is a little charity shop find from a few years ago.  It's by Johnson Bros, made in England, and has a pattern not dissimilar to my favourite and much loved Evesham pattern from Royal Worcester porcelain, but this is by , and was just 50p. Who doesn't love a bargain?

My fat quarters for my Christmas face masks have arrived.  They are so lovely, I can't wait to work with them.  They won't all go for face masks, I love the prints too much and think a patchwork table runner for my entrance might be on the agenda too.  Aren't they just darling?

I have prewashed one set on 60 degrees, ready for mask making, the other set {identical} will make some soft furnishings..  I do wish I ordered yardage now, but then Empress Mills has recently had in some heavenly designed fabrics by Lewis and Irene which are rather delicious too. 

Here's a spot of colouring I did on a heavy printed cardstock using alcohol ink pens.  I wonder if I could use it to refurbish an old tray using Mod Podge and a suitable sealer, for it perfectly fits into the base?

As I type this, Wales is facing the prospect in the coming week of a second three week long lockdown, or "Circuit Breaker" as they are calling it,. to try and stop the spread of the "You Know What" as it is now spinning out of control.  We are approaching winter, and with seasonal colds and 'flu to deal with, this step is being taken to try to reduce the "R" number in order to protect the NHS.  God bless them all!  Why, oh why don't people do as they've been asked and socially distance themselves and wear masks.?  It's such a small and simple thing to do.

It is my birthday this coming week, and it's going to be a strange one.  I can't even say it will be "just another day" because days in our world are not days as we know them at all now.  Although we speak on the phone several times a week, it is the first time in years I will not meet up with my Godmother, who I have not seen since February.  I will be indulging myself with treats at home instead.  Two days after my birthday marks the second anniversary of my mother's passing, and all the sadness this brings will be amplified because I will not be able to light a candle for her at church..  These are, indeed, difficult days but we must all pull together and make these sacrifices to help our fellow humans through this ongoing crisis.

Until next time

Stay safe and stay well

Deborah xo