Grannymar

Some simple door handles provide colour

Pattern

Or a puzzle

Now that should keep you busy until LBC time

When you’re from the country ~ you look at things a little differently…

A Montana rancher got in his pickup and drove to a neighbouring ranch and knocked at the door. A young boy, about 9, opened the door

“Is your Dad home?” the rancher asked.

“No sir, he isn’t,” the boy replied. “He went into town.”

“Well,” said the rancher, “Is your Mother here?”

“No sir, she’s not here either. She went into town with Dad.”

“How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?”

“No sir, He went with Mom and Dad.”

The rancher stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the other and mumbling to himself.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” the boy asked politely. “I know where all the tools are, if you want to borrow one. Or maybe I could take a message for Dad.”

“Well,” said the rancher uncomfortably, “I really wanted to talk to your Dad.  It’s about your brother Howard getting my daughter, Suzie, pregnant.”‘

The boy considered for a moment.

“You would have to talk to Pa about that,” he finally conceded. “If it helps you any, I know that Pa charges $500 for the bull and $50 for the hog, but I really don’t know how much he gets for Howard.”

>

>

>

>

Thank you Darlene for this weeks story.

My early efforts at needlework were mainly for a doll.

A christening dress, a few nighties, A duvet cover with full size clown appliquéd on it and a lampshade to match made to look like a hot-air Balloon complete with a little basket  and from it hanging upside down by a foot dangled a small clown.  Alas the pictures are committed to memory and not to photography of any type.  I wonder if Elly still remembers them?

Then a friend brought me a gift from the Lake District.  She was apologetic that the gift was so small.  It was about 3″ X 3″ in a little gift bag.  Little did she know how that three inch square would open up a whole world for me.

The gift was a small cross stitch kit complete with a picture, diagram, fabric, threads and a needle.  The fabric was blank!  Now I knew why it was referred to as counted cross stitch!  I would have to count every stitch.

I did!

E for Elly

For an idea of the size of the finished work, that frame is 9″ X 7″.  The nerves I felt when starting out soon evaporated and I relaxed into moving from row to row.  From that day on I found cross stitch work very relaxing.  At one time I used the technique to record a Family tree covering six or seven generations.  I worked out the design on large drawing office sized graph paper.

This Bell pull I worked from a Danish Kit back in 1984/5.  I saw a friend working on it and she told me that there were more than enough threads left over to make another bell pull, so she passed them on to me.  I had a piece of fine even weave and some lining in my work box so my bell pull cost me the price of the brass hanger and pull!   It hangs close to my well used fireside.

Over the years I have removed the brass bits, the stiffening and the lining before hand washing it carefully and rinsing well.  I lay it on a towel to dry and press with a medium iron on the back of the work before assembling it again.

A closer look at some of the birds:

Another

And a third

If you have not tried cross stitch before I suggest you start with a kit.

I found this partly worked piece in a box the other day.  To begin with I made one big error!  I folded the fabric years ago instead of rolling it.  I was trying to keep the pattern, fabric and threads in a plastic pocket.  Not good!  I have slapped my own wrist for that error.

You will notice I bound the fabric with masking tape, this prevents the edges from fraying and peels away easily when the work is complete.

The pattern is shown on squared paper and a colour guide with a thread colour guide below.  Stranded thread is normally used and once a length is cut separate the strands even if two or more are required, this prevents twisting, knotting and an uneven look to the work.  Never use threads longer than from your your wrist to your elbow.  With each pull through the fabric you are wearing it a little and eventually the thread will break.

It may sound complicated but I guarantee once started you will be hooked.

Enjoy!

Later in the week I have a date with a Toyboy  A REAL one!  The very Toyboy who first christened me with the name Grannymar way back about 37 years ago!

This handsome young man was still at school when I met him and in essence he has not changed.  Having read Law and worked his way up the ranks, made his fortune - enough to have two homes - one at home in Ireland and another in warmer climes, he retired at 50 to turn his hand to writing full time.  Blessed with the gift for words, I predict he will do well.

All down the years he has never forgotten me, meeting up when possible, sending cards, making calls and now texting or emailing me with news of his life from whatever corner of the world he is in, or just to find out how I am doing.

He checked with me yesterday that there were no hitches to the arrangements and  asked me to pick the venue saying “ Lets hang the expense and go the best and nicest place! My treat.”

I have the feeling that I might be spoilt for the day!

Now I wonder where we should go?

Sweet & Sour Pork

Serves 4
Preheat the oven to 200ºC

1 lb Pork Fillet diced
½ Green Pepper sliced
½ Yellow Pepper sliced
Few Green Beans (optional)
1 Carrot diced    I Onion chopped
8oz can Pineapple chunks drained (reserve juice)

Sauce
1tablespoon Cornflour
1tablespoon Caster sugar
1tablespoon White Wine Vinegar
1tablespoon Orange juice
1tablespoon Tomato Sauce
1tablespoon Sherry
Juice from Pineapple
Dash Worcester sauce
Seasoning to taste

Mix all sauce ingredients together.  Set aside.  Fry onions until soft.  Add peppers, carrot and beans and cook for a few minutes.  Remove from pan and keep hot.  Seal pork in the pan and then layer with Veg and pineapple in a casserole dish.  Pour over sauce
Cover and cook at 200ºC for ten minutes, then reduce oven to 190ºC for 30 minutes. Test and season to taste.
Serve with boiled or fried Rice.