Greatitudes 573 - 607

It was Catherine of Kids and Capers who got me into blogging, but I'd been reading yarnstorm since the Christmas when PC gave me The Gentle Art of Domesticity. That's another story. Shortly after that I started reading Ann Voskamp's blog. I love that blog. I love the poetry of the words, the spirituality of the day to day- very close to the idea of Celtic Christianity. It's a challenge to read, and a challenge to live. And these gratitude posts of mine, greatitudes like the Beatitudes, are my attempt to see the meaning and the joy and acknowledge the blessing in the humdrum. It's taking me ages to get there, but look- I'm over half-way!

So finally I bought the book, but as well as being thankful for the words therein, I am also deeply thankful for MK's critique thereof. It's good to read them both.
More than two weeks ago we were in our secluded Cornish cove, with sunshine! Wide open space; wide, open air; sea sea sea! Secret pools that opened with the tide; reassuring presence of coast guards when you were looking over your shoulder for the tide! Confident, happy suns- running free from tide-line to village shop, from front door of beach house to sand dune's edge. Easy boundaries!
Oh so thankful to men who will happily wander through Tate St Ives and Barbara Hepworth's place because it's your birthday! I think they would have come anyway, but not so happily!
Woolly hat at the end of the land. And tall, well heated shelter from the wind.
Wisley Gardens. Oh my. Not having even a slightly green digit, I was unprepared for the experience that this is! Thankful for the cousins who lent us their annual passes- don't tell... Thankful for the layout that means your children have to see it all, and do it all, and think about it all before they get to the sublime children's area at the back. Thankful for that gorgeous play area at the back!
But very grateful to the inspiration that has a full lending library right at the heart. With a children's section too! And with a so lovely librarian who showed us where to sit, and smiled at us for the full length of time we sat and read, and read, and read, and read!
Loving the Olympics- really! And have less sporting gene than gardening! But we've seen the torch in three places now, Mattman has held one, we have watched the opening ceremony three times, and the telly is on constantly.
Early morning feeding the ducks. Deeply grateful to PC's cousins who allowed us free rein in their fabulous house for a whole week. Such a privilege to hang out in Guildford- you locals are lucky folk! Betty, next time I will be looking you up!

Back home. Solo summer surviving. But there has been Orla's chocolate cake.
There are Ikea glasses which are not so painful to replace.
And thank you, thank you, thank you for Lego!

The story of the Wisley socks

Last Thursday I had a little time of decadence while my (three) strawberries were having a little time of manic hysteria in Hamley's. I also had a little stash of birthday money that I had been jealously hoarding for such a time as this! A moment of liberty indeed!

However, the materials bought in London are not in my mind's eye Liberty socks. They are most definitely Wisley socks. Needles and wool came along the next day, so that in a way we were all creating with sticks.

I liked the colours of the yarn, reflecting their surroundings.

So here I am on my third attempt at knitting a sock!

I took it to Hookery tonight for some tender, loving encouragement, and even some evening sunshine. It was a perfect night! The story continues, in the round...

Solo Summer Surviving: Day Six

So. Never pat yourself on the back and NEVER leave your mobile phone at home. Eleven missed calls. Mattman had cracked tooth at summer scheme. At lunchtime. Jo and I got home after three.

So despite the seemingly great idea of Mattman and his friend having a ball at the local, very highly regarded summer scheme for two weeks, with Jo at Olympics Crafts for four mornings this week, I have nonetheless scored nul points. Above very cheerful photo of token male at Cleo.

Normal service, whatever that may be...

We are home. Two weeks of great activity in Cornwall and Surrey, and we're back to the dirty oven and the rest! Here is the inanimate contingent of the increasingly excited Olympic Supporters Society of Strawberry Land. Covered in stickers from today's Sunday Times. Gave us ten minutes for our weekly dose of Mrs Mills and A. A. Gill.

Also covered in felt-tip, because what else is there to do in a car for nine hours while your parents plot a cross-country route that avoids the re-surfacing of the M6 and just gets you to the ferry on time! Thank you, Stena, for letting us on, and thank you, Jesus, that we weren't being air-lifted to the nearest hospital from a winding Scottish road. Prayers for the motor cyclist.

From the day we spent in London, I'm imagining that the fuss over normal serivce in the capital is all it's cracked up to be! Bon courage, Londres!

4th July Celebrations

We decided to celebrate Independance Day at Hookery not in the Bookery tonight- themed clothing and food. Full details here, where you will spot that Niqi managed to combine crochet with her costume!

Land of the Giants

After two and a half hours logged in and locked in and totally obsessed one morning last week, I somehow ended up with eight armbands for Land of the Giants instead of the maximum four!
The BBC has a super article that explains the event much better than I will, but I'll bet they weren't at all as moved as I was! The sequence where they took "snapshots" of generations of Belfast folk living Belfast lives was fabulous.
And the way in which they built up a model of Titanic, waltzing sadly towards the iceberg was beautiful. The building of Titanic Belfast had been the backdrop for stunning son et lumiere effects from the start of the night, but now its craggy, icy exterior was the main character.
And this is my Jo, perched high over the heads of 20,000 spectators, braving the late hour, and the rain. New generation of Belfast folk living (suburban) Belfast lives.

And finally, just because we're just back from our annual Day Out at Summer Madness, where You Know Who were leading worship, here's a wee dose of You Know Who- giants from my land!