RSS

Category Archives: charity

Sewing, Sheep and Clematis

My next project is sewing scrub caps. I’m trying to do the same process on each cap in turn to save time. Here they a have all been pinned and two have been tacked. I’m hoping to get them sewn tomorrow. The weather’s been so good that I’m gardening much of the day too, today planting the Sugar Snap Peas and potting up the Kalettes (Flower Sprouts)  that I have brought on from seed and prepping the box for them with shovel loads of compost.

The lambs spend much of their day being really sedate, just munching away at the grass near to their mothers and then suddenly, they all gather and race around the field, jumping and scrambling and leaving their mothers munching and murdling at their youngsters.  It seems the lambs have reached their teenage ‘years.’ I have not managed to video them yet as their moments of madness are sudden and brief. Here is a peaceful video for you, full of birdsong.

Another Clematis has come into flower, Huldine, very pretty with its touch of green in the white and its purple centre.

 

Tags: ,

A Lane, A Lettuce and Camassia

The phone rang this morning and it was our local nursery to say that our baby veg plants were ready to be collected so we went out! It was actually quite exciting to go out in the car for a ten minute ride each way, constantly on the alert to be stopped by the police who are doing a great job of encouraging people to stay at home. We were ready with our explanation for our journey – collecting food. We hoped they would understand that it would be all food in a few weeks/months and that would be that. We weren’t stopped!
Here then are one of the lanes we travelled along, one of the lettuces that I planted this afternoon and one of my favourites, Camassia flowers.

Ten of my scrub bags were collected this afternoon. I have saved one for the young woman that I used to teach who is a Nurse in Yorkshire. She and her husband, both nurses, have taken the huge decision to send their two boys to live with their Grandparents for the duration as S and her husband are so frightened of taking the virus home. I can’t find words to describe how that makes me feel.   People use the word heroic to describe our frontline carers – that’s a truly heroic thing to do and my heart goes out to them all.

 

Tags: , , ,

Isolation, Walk and Sewing

The poet, Kim Ridgeon has written very movingly about isolation. Like me, he worries about those whose views, in isolation,  are just bricks and graffiti, who have nowhere beautiful to walk and he expresses that so clearly. He feels he wants to do something, as we all do, and here he is, doing something – writing poems that touch our hearts and set us thinking. I thank Kim for the permission to share his poem with you here.

Our walk today took us across the railway line and along some lovely lanes with the gift of open skies.  We are so very lucky.

I feel the same need to ‘do something’ and though I write for myself, my gift right now is being able to sew. I have made eleven scrub bags which will be collected tomorrow and sent to wherever they are needed. Although I am a political animal, I rarely show that here but I have very mixed feelings about being an amateur sewist doing my bit along with everyone else in the national movement to sew scrubs, caps and bags when our government has let the side down so very badly. NHS and other care workers are dying for lack of PPE. Clapping on Thursdays is good but proper funding over the last ten years would have been much better.

11 scrub bags

Thank you ribbons

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Lovers’ Lane, Wild Garlic and Raindrops

Just a short walk today as the weather is very murky and I have spent the day sewing for Cornwall Scrubs.  We went down the road, through the park, along Church Lane and then Lovers’ lane where we foraged for Wild Garlic Leaves which I stir-fried to go with our Jerk seasoned Basa. On the fence between us and Sue-next-door is a beautiful Akebia Quinata, now flowering. 

These flowers are tiny, maybe 1cm across.

 

 

Tags:

Treasures, Sewing and Bread

Getting the raised beds ready for veg planting, the lovely Mr S was turning over the compost heap and came upon some long lost little treasures,  a cut glass dish, a favourite knife and a tiny teaspoon.

I’ve been cutting out and starting to sew scrub caps today. The fabric is left over from making duvet covers for our twins when they were babies, some 40 years ago! They have asked for bright and cheerful fabrics to be used.

We’ve made a loaf today with the lovely flour we were given and the fresh yeast. It’s very good  –  crunchy crust and pleasing texture – and it tastes delicious!

 

Tags:

Tulip, Leaf and Sewing

I’ve had a very quiet day today, buoyed up by the love of friends and family. Here is a tulip, photo taken late afternoon and glowing.

The Corkscrew Hazel we planted to mark our friend’s 100th birthday almost a year ago is coming into leaf.

I was featured on the Cornwall Scrubs page!
“One of our volunteers explained why she was sewing for Cornwall Scrubs. Sally gave a clear reminder as to the sacrifice the NHS staff are making for us.
💙
“I have a young friend who is a Nurse. She and her husband, also a Nurse, have taken the huge decision to take their two boys to live with their grandparents so that they don’t bring an infection home”⁠ ⁠
💙
So while I know we will miss our families and friends over Easter please remember that “we will be together again.”

 

 

Tags:

Forget-me-Nots, Glass and Sewing

I have just found this! Somehow yesterday, I forgot to post it!

I love seeing the first Forget-me-nots in the garden. The plant came from Mum and Dad’s garden in Truro after Mum had died and has seeded itself every year since in memory of my lovely Mum.

Before I cleared up all my glass, I finished off my newest piece and here it is for you to see.

I have washed the fabric, ironed, cut out and pinned ready to make the porterage bags for the scrubs that others will be making.

Mum is here with me too as I use the patchwork pincushion that she made about 40 years ago! They are her pins too.

 

Tags: ,

Bubbles, Sunset and Scrubs

With the help of my brother in Atlanta, Georgia, I am learning to make Sourdough bread. Here is our starter at Day 3.

We went out to clap for the NHS and all carers again this evening and there was a pretty sunset which I captured in the side of my car.

A new group has been formed in Cornwall and in the 24 hours since it started, 550 people have signed up. The group is called Cornwall Scrubs, a Cornish group of volunteers making scrubs for hospitals, GPs and Carers in Cornwall. Today I cleared my glass workroom, put everything away and tomorrow, I will set it up for sewing. I’m going to be making the porterage bags for the scrubs which can be made out of any cotton fabric so I can use up stuff I have in.

 

Tags: ,

Today’s Walk, Donations and Growing Lambs

It was lovely that on our walk, while keeping two metres apart, everyone smiled, said hello and wished each other to stay safe. Here is a view from TheGreat Flat Lode looking out over St Euny Church  and over to the sea on the North Coast of our beloved Cornwall.

Last week, St Petroc’s, the local charity for the homeless, put out a call on Radio Cornwall, for towels and soaps. We put together a couple of bags but could find no way to get them to Truro. Today a young woman who works with the charity came by and picked things up. Being homeless in today’s circumstances must be just about impossible but St Petroc’s are doing a wonderful job.
A donation came my way today too, of some very lovely pieces of glass. These belonged to our Dear Neighbour Bill Mitchell and S has just given them to me and I thank them both. I think these pieces will make a beautiful Tree of Life.

The lambs in the back field are growing. We love watching them bounce about and here share a joyful few moments with you.

 

Tags: , , , ,

Invictus Trust, Eggs and Mini Eggs

My choir, The Suitcase Singers, collects for two charities each year. This year our local one has been The Invictus Trust, a Cornish charity set up to help youngsters with mental health problems. Please do click on the red link to read more about one family’s wonderful work in memory of their son and brother.

When their hens are laying, we get delicious fresh eggs from our Dear friends, today in a delightful 4 eggs container.

It was a day for a treat, some mini-eggs!

 

Tags: ,