Daughterly Date

My lovely SD messaged me to see if we fancied meeting up on Saturday.  She was goig to be travelling from the Peak district home, and wondereed about meeting somewhere.

She suggested Dunstable Downs, and it was lovely.

When I saw her, I just hugged and hugged her, and I didn't want to let go.

The Downs was  busy, but not overwhelming.  There were loads of people flying kites, some were really interesting.  The weather was good, not too hot, not too cold. 

The kids played with a bat, ball and frisbee ring, and we chatted.     We did a shortish circular walk to see the Cathedral of Trees.

We had a late lunch at the Hunters Lodge, which was a pretty pub, with surprisingly good food.  The waitresses were lovely.  I'd definitely go back there if we were in the area.

It was unexpected, and good to see them all

Especially good to see her though.  She means the world to me.

 

 

Cover Up

We have an electric desk, with a bamboo worktop on, as out kitchen table.  

Since I started using a projector to project patterns,  the table has been solely used as my cutting table  (and a dumping ground).     If we moved it, or adjusted it, or moved the projector,  I'd have to recalibrate everything,  and it's easier to just move it.

Underneath the table is a unit upon which sits my A0 printer.    I bought this when I was printing A0 versions of patterns (before my projector)',  when it seemed less hassle than getting them printed and delivered, 

DH uses the A0 printer sometimes,  so we don't want to get rid of it.   We've talked about putting it in the loft, bur there isn't a lot of space for it,  and I'm concerned that the ink would dry up superfast up there as it's very very hot. 

So, the A0 printer has continued to live under the table.   It's a bit of a dust trap,  and I don't think that's dong it any good.  Some time ago, I realised I could just "whip up" a cover for it.   Every time I dust it (which isn't that often, truth be told), I think the same thing,

Today was oe of those days when I cleaned it carefuly and thought again that I really should  make it a cover.   And then I decided to just do it.

Instead of measuring, I decided to do it on the fly.  I'm not sure which part of me thought that this would end well.  

The fabric wasn't quite wide enough, so I had to sew some together.  I had a brainwave of any idea which was to add some to each end, and use those added bits to box the corners.

It went quite well.  The cutting and attaching was fine.   The two front box corners were better than I expected.    It all went quite quickly.    I had to leave to run an errand, so when I came back I had to do the two back box corners, and then tidy the hen all the way round. 

I thought about using the coverstitch to do the hemming, but decided that I'd put elastic round the sides and back, to help it fit snugly.   I also decided that thes was the ideal time to break out that elastic foot I bought for the overlocker.

I realise that using clear elastic, designed for stabilising seams, was probably not the best choice. However, it wasn't a disaster (it wasn't really an improvement to the item though). 

It isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not a disaster.      Adding knicker elastic to the back, using my never-before-tried elastic foot on my overlocker, was a bit ambitious, and possibly wasn't the best idea. I've had, but it's OK.

The corners won't win any awards, but they really aren't bad (as in "really aren't bad consiudering that I did this on the spur of the moment, made it up as I wet along, and was in a hurry")..  They do the job:  the cover sits on the printer, it's held in place at the corners, the front is straight and neat.

And it will keep the dust off.

Total crafty things this year: 48

Sewing based makes: 
123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)
34) Cover for A0 printer

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks) 

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired. 

D) Heart shaped plate with names of all our pet hens, and had it fired

Uplifting continues

And then there was some pottery stuff.

 I collected my Hen Heart Plate (and Miss Teen's pressie for her Mum, but I can't post that). 

It came out really well, better than I'd hoped.   

I drew round the plate, cut out the heart, marked the centre, and the top and the bottom of the heart, and scanned it. Then I resized the scan to 90%, saved it, printed it, cut it out.   Resized the original to 80%, saved it, prnted it, cut it out;  Resized the original to 70%, saved it, printed it, etc etc. 

I pierced the centres, so I could align them and then drew round each one, in pencil, giving me lines to use to write on.

I hadn't set out to do background colours, it was originally going to be just a white background.   I made a cockup right at the start, and I had to paint over it,  so I ended up painting in each band before doing the writing.

Each "set" of hens was done in one colour, and  the colour changed for the next "set".     It starts with "Delilah", in the centre.    I wanted to do a heart shaped spiral, and the crossovers can be seen where "Not Norman" follows "Siouxsie",   where "Batty" follows "Nora", and where "Pong" follows "Ping" (I've marked them on the closeup)

 I fluffed up near the end, I accidentally leant on "Blondie" while I was putting the dots round the edge.

I'd had to get my spreadsheet out to get the hens in the right sequence.  I know the sequence of the garden girls, and I know the sequence of he Allotmenteers,  but I've rarely ever thought of them all together and I didn't want to miss anyone.

Janet at Hands on Art recommended a particular type of plate hanger, so it's going on a wall soon! 

I forgot to collect my medium sized jug, which I'd taken in to be fired a couple of weeks ago.  I'm going to collect it when I collect the tall jug (DH finally painted his side of the tall jug, and we took it in to be fired when we collected this plate), and I'll post about them then.

Total crafty things this year: 47

Sewing based makes: 
123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks) 

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired. 

D) Heart shaped plate with names of all our pet hens, and had it fired

Uplifting

Despite the disheartening stuff, there have been some 'achievements'.  Firstly, some sewing.

I wanted to make a lighter dressing gown, same style as the one I made before but using brushed cotton.  I bought 4m of fabric (cue eye rolls from DH when it arrived) from Ebay.  This fabric has been on my watch list for months, specifically with a dressing gown in mind.

I used the projector to project the pattern,  which was a bit of a challenge because some of the pieces were cut "on the fold" which corrupted the projected cutting lines a bit. Fortunately there is plenty of ease in the pattern.

I moved the belt loops up a bit on this one.  I'm short-waisted and the standard placing, which I used in my original pink fluffy version, was a bit too low.   Ironically, the standard placing wouldn't have been too bad in this version.

I did the whole thing in one go, and I am happy with the result.  I need to add a kam snap, and I'll do that one morning when I'm wearing the dressing gwn (and feeling better).

Excuse the crappy picture. 

It's soft, light, and comfortable, and I'd definitely make it again.  It was the Compose Robe from Love Notions.

Total crafty things this year: 46

Sewing based makes: 
123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match
33) Dressing gown (LoveNotions Compose) (black flowers on white, brished cotton)

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired

B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks)

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired.

Disheartening

Its been one of those fortnights.  I'm not sure what to say, what not to say, where to start even.

I had a phonecall from the hospital very late one afternoon saying that I was on the list for a 7-day Holter monitor. They'd had a cancellation, so would I like to come now.     I would. I did. It was all fitted and I was back out before the car park charge kicked in.

It's actually not going to be quite 7 days,  more like 6 and a bit, as I have to get the monitor back to them by 10am on the end date. 

It's been very up and down while I've been wearing the monitor.  The daytimes have been much queiter than in previous weeks; the first couple of nights were fairly quiet, and then I had one of the worst nights I've had.  I've just worked it out, it was the 3rd worst night I've had.  I hope the monitor captured it.   

 Last night was another "one of the worst" nights (3rd or 4th, I'm undecided), and even getting up and walking around to let my back and shoulders drain only gave temporary relief.    It was so bad that I did a Troponin test, just in case.  (Which was negative of course, I wouldn't be writing like this otherwise).    I'm shattered, and I'm still suffering the after effects now (headache and shoulder pain)

I hope these things show up.   I've tried to make notes to accompany my button presses,I've been using an app on my phone, and trying to keep the phone within reach.  It's not always easy to do.

I hope they don't take too long to analyse them.

A few days ago I had my Echo, and nothing requiring urgent attention was revealed.  I couldn't see the images, as I was facing the wall.   The operator wouldn't let me lie down "properly", from her point of view she didn't need to see the palpitations.  I'll get the results in due course.

In other news, Miss Teen's dad went into hospital to have a tube inserted in his stomach, ready for him to start Chemo and Radiotherapies on Wednesday.  It was done under local anaesthetic, and it went wrong.      The chemo and radio therapies have had to be delayed, and he had to have an op (under general anaesthetic) yesterday to try and repair the damage, clean him out, and put a new tube in.         He sounds more like himself today, and he's hoping to be discharged soon.  It's not my story, so I won't say  more about it.

 

 

 

Bed-azzled

A few weeks ago I had been excavating the guest bedroom/sewing room so that my amazing exDiL could stay.  

I accidentally found a "Mrs Tweedy's Chicken Pies"  pillwcase,  from a single Chicken Run duvet cover set that I'd bought back when I was making bunting for DH's 60th birthday.   I had the brilliant idea of turning it into a kingsize duvet for the guest bedroom.  I even thought I might be able to "whip it up" before exDiL arrived.

The idea was simple.  Cut the seam off each of the two long sides,  and attach pieces of a sheet which would widen it to the new size.  

How difficult could that be? 

Well, let's just say that I didn't get it finished in time.   It should have been simple.  If I had had more faith in myself,  then it would have been finished in time. 

I did manage to finish it the day she left, but it needed washing so I wasn't able to put it on the bed.  Then  a  couple of weeks later Miss Teen came to stay, and she has her own duvet cover at our house, so it still didn't get used.  

I had been waiting for it to be on the bed to take a pic,  but Miss Teen's duvet cover is still on there as she's likely to stay again soon.

So why am I writing about this now?

Yesterday, I was determmined to finish the job by making pillow cases.   I had one case which came with the duvet cover,  and I needed 4.  So, I attempted to make 2 plain blue cases,  and then I cut the printed one in two two pieces, and gave each piece a bit of backing.

The first, plain, pillowcase was whipped up in record time.  I'd even included a little envelopey bit to keep the edge of the pillow enclosed.    

The second, plain, pillowcase was OK (but not great). Too cocky.

For the two patterned ones, I didn't have enough blue sheeting in single pieces tp make a back (the pillowcase is remarkably wide), so I had to sew some together to make a big enough piece .     That part worked OK.

And then I had to put them together.  The first one was OK,  the envelopey bit was on the printed fabric.  The second one...  I spent ages farting about to get theenvelopey bit perfect.  I used an existing hem on the fabric to make sure it looked beautiful, and I spent ages making sure I had it the right way so that the hem on the inside would also be correct.

Eventually I had it all square and clipped together on my ironing board, and I sewed it.  Beautiful straight edges, lovely job!.    

And I realised, too late, that I had put printed bit the wrong way round so that the printed bit is on the inside.  Or, if the printed bit is on the outside,  then the underside has an overlocked seam across it!  {RollsEyes}

To compound my error further,  I didn't check the direction of my cross seam when I sewed the sides up,  and the dratted exposed overlocker seam is attached in a different direction at each side. This wouldn't have been so noticeable, if I had bothered to change the cream top thread, but I didn't. So the mistake is GLARING because the thread is differnet on each side, so its obvious there is an issue.

I might try and iron it to flatten it, and handstitch one side to hold it down. 

I could try and cover the whole length with ribbon or something, using my coverstitch (did I get that tape foot?  Hope so, as that will come in handy).  

In the meantime I stuck them in the wash, and  now they are hanging on the airer.  I may or may not get round to trying to hide my mistake, but I suspect it will be another last minute fix.

I'm not sure what has happened to me,  there was a time when nothing less than perfection would do.

I'm going to count the "cover" and the "4 pillowcases" as two separate makes. (but not as 5 makes).

Total crafty things this year: 45

Sewing based makes: 
123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband
31) Convert single duvet cover to king size
32) Convert 1 pillowcase to 2,  and create 2 additional plain pillowcases to match

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired

B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks)

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired.

Tears for my friend

Last Sunday, when Miss Teen was here, we popped to our local farm shop to get some sliced meat for an improptu "roast dinner".

We got back in the car, masks off, and I pulled out of my space. As I drove forward, m best friend, who I haven't seen in person in a year because of Covid, walked across in front of my car! She waved. I waved and  I stopped the car (apologies to the poor woman in the car behind me), leapt out and ran to see her.  We hugged and said we'd meet up in the week for a catch up.

I got back in the car and, to the consternation of Miss Teen,  I burst into tears.

I tried to explain to MissT that I wasn't upset, I was just suffering from an overflow of emotion.  She wanted to understand more, so I said I'd try and explain when we got home (because trying to work out how to explain it was just resulting in more overflows).

We got home, and I did my best to explain.  I can't explain it all here in this blog post, because this led to  quite an involved discussion about the nature of different types of friendships, but I will share one the crucial bits:

 My best friend lives 'just around the corner' from me.   I haven't needed to see her in person during the last year because I know she's just around the corner.  Knowing that she is there, that we could see each other if we needed to,  has been  enough.   I've known that when I do see her, we'll pick up as if there had been no year's gap.  

If I had lived further away, it would have been much harder.

However, seeing her so unexpectedly, and then actually seeing her close enough to hug her and talk to her, made the long year of not seeing her seem endless, and I missed her so much, and I wanted to see her properly and talk and laugh and do all the normal things that you can't do by messenger. I had so much that I wanted to share with her, that it hadn't been possible to share by Instant Message,  and she had a lot that she had wanted to share with me.

And because I was feeling that way, and crying, all the other things from the last 18 months all came rushing up as well, and it created a tidal wave of emotion that I just couldn't control... and it came out as tears.

My best friend and I (and our husbands) did meet up a few evenings ago, and it was lovely. Normal.  Both pairs had had a lot of stuff going on, and it was cathartic to be able to share and to have it shared.

They really do have a plateful at the moment, and I'm hoping we'll be able to arrange another catchup soon.

 

Small Jug

Our local pottery painting workshop had been doing these great "Paint at Home" options.   We had done one lot of things, and I had bought a few items back in January to do during lockdown.

I started one, which DH needs to complete, some time ago.  I'll post more about that another day.

I also did a small jug.    I had got some bottles of  paint, one orange, one black,  with "nibs" in, which made writing easier.  I decided to write the names of the many Hens we've known over the years.  

I grouped the names, by swapping colours, so that all the "got at the same time" hens were together.  Where we had different types of hens at the same time,  I used a bit of coloured paint in the letters to group the hens that were the same breed.

It was much easier writing with this than trying to use a brush.  It wasn't superneat, but it was OK.

I took it back to be fired, and collected it about a week ago. 

 It's very simple, but I like it!

I'd like to try and do then hen names again, but a bit more carefully.  I bought  a plate to go on the wall,  and Janet (the owner) very kindly lent me some more nibbed bottles, with more colours, for this project. 

I've got a medium sized jug being fired at the moment, and that'll be ready for collection  in a couple of weeks.  Because of the loan of the nibbed bottles, I've promised to get my plate and the loan items back to Janet when I collect the medium jug.

I'll get started on that in a few days.

Total crafty things this year: 43

Sewing based makes: 
123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion
27) Burrito rolled bag (from Jane's July Zoom)
28) Replace waistban on massively oversized maxi skirt
29) Salvage DH's Firestorm tee shirt (using stretchyfix)
30) Yet another Heartlight skirt (July) feathers scuba, great pattern matching, good fit on waistband

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired

B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks)

C) Painted bisque small jug (hen names) and had it fired.

Miss Teen

After 17 months, Miss Teen was finally able to come and stay for a couple of nights.  

We were so happy to see her!

She arrived in time for dinner (fish fingers, at her request) on Friday, and left after dinner on Sunday. 

We made cocktails (Seedlip, using the Laverstoke recipe);  she painted a pottery item for her Mum's birthday (more on that in a couple of weeks) while I painted a jug for me; she made a birthday card for her Mum;  we watched some films (Dark Shadow and Nuns on The Run (which wasn't as funny as I remembered),  she made Passata with DH and pressure canned it, having some to take home; we played Ingenious;  we made pizza on Saturday;   we chatted and caught up.

I can't remember what else.  

It all passed very quickly.     

It was so lovely to see her.   I'm hoping it won't be too long before she comes again.                

Cat sick

Both kittens have been unwell,  Shelby was hospitalised and put on a drip. She;s home now.

The cats ate at 9pm on Monday.  On Tuesday, neither was interested in food, and Shelby was sick.  We thought it might be the weather, or hairballs.  Both cats are long haired, so they do have hairball issues.  I have Shelby some hairball paste.  We locked the catflap and ept them in so we cold see what was going on.

Shelby was sick again in the evnening  and was sick in the night. We woke up, DH cleared it up.  When I got downstairs, she'd been sick twice more that we hadn't heard.   She was sick again.    We took her to the Vet immediately.

Bloods were taken, an anti sickness injection given, something else.  We took her home, with instructions to return if she didn't improve.

We set up a camera at the water bowl so we could see if she was drinking (she wasn't). We put another one by the litter tray  to see if she was weeing or pooing (she wasn't)

She continued to be sick. We took her back the next day, and we were fortunate to see our regular very this time.   By now, we were concerned that she might be dehyrating.     Her stomach was a bit gassy, there was no sign of constipation. Another injection.  Phone this evening, and bring her back and we'll put her on a drip if it doesn't improve.

It didn't improve, so we took her back that evening.   She went on a drip, they did more tests, nothing. She refused to eat. 

We took Lewis in on Friday, as he was also not eating and wasn't right.    He hadn't been sick, but he must be suffering from the same thing.    He had an an appetite stimulant, and came home with us. 

We were able to see Shelby and say hello, which was lovely, and the two kittens were happy to see each other.  

Shelby had bad diarrhoea on Friday and Saturday, and we were hoping that whatever it was she had eaten was finally out.   On Sunday, she  ate a small amount, the diarrhoea had cleared up, and she was allowed home.

Lewis drank a tiny amount. We weren't so worried about him, because he wasn't vomiting.   He eventually ate a little on Saturday,  and a bit more on Sunday.  He was back to normal food wise by Monday,  and he was fully back to normal this morning. 

Shelby is eating small amounts, and is still a little quiet.   

We're keeping an eye on her. 

Tears for Nora

You may remember that I wrote that we were waiting for Nora to die.

She died today.

For the last 3 weeks she has been utterly detemined not to go.  Each day she ate the tiniest amount, drank the tiniest amount, and insisted on going outside and sitting down, or having a quick walk.

Her foray into the the nestbox in the run (see Waiting, back in July) ended with the girls attacking her and me rescuing her.  She tried again a week ago, with a worse result.  Hens are just nasty beasts sometimes.

Every morning I expected to find her gone, but she'd be sitting in the cratewaiting for me to put her outside.

A few days ago, I sectioned off the Fruit Cage part of the run, so she could stay in there.  I put a nest box underneath the Cube, and she "overnighted" there.  She's come inside every night since, but has been happy spending the hottest part of the day in the cool shade of the enormous Jostaberry.

Every day, she looked determined to live.  She even started to try and eat the odd bit of slightly more substantial food (more substatial than lettuce, tomato, cucumber).   I even kidded myself that she might turn the corner.  She might eat enough to actually start to reverse her decline.  She might be one of those unicorm chickens that reaches the age of 14.

On Tuesday, 2 days ago, she was sitting near the netting.  She's sat there most days,  watching the rest of the flock and chatting with some of them.     Yesterday, they attacked her through the netting. All of them.  It was like a horror film.

I saved her, cleaned her up, and  prepared something else for her to eat.  She seemed her usual defiant self  the following morning.  She went out, ate some grass (another improvement), tootled around.   Had a bit of real food.....  and then she just lay down and went to sleep.  I don't mean that as a euphemism for dying,  I mean, she went to sleep.

I lay on the grass beside her, stroking her. I thought that she would die quietly and peacefully, and quickly.  I cried, a lot.

She didn't. 

She was still sleeping in the evening,  so I brought her inside.  She was obviously dying, and it seemed peaceful, so I decided (perghaos wrongly) to let her slip away overnight,=.

She didn't.

This morning we agreed that it would be best if we helped her along, so DH kindly did the deed.

..........................

Nora was an absolutely beautiful girl.    Her Mum was either Rose or Ruby,  the two Welsh Black girls we got from Castle Farm many years ago.  Her Dad was Roo,  our first home hatched boy.  

She was an amazing mix of the two.   She had brown/black feathers,  where the black shimmered an irridescent green.       

She outlived her twin, Batty, who died exactly 4 years ago.   It was often hard to tell them apart.  In truth, Nora was a bit darker than Batty.  But, like many of the allotment pairs, they were known by their pairname  "Nora Batty" .

She also outlied her daughter/niece, Big Bird (who died earlier this year),  and her daughterBarbara who looked very much like her Mum.  Barbara died just before lockdown.

She lost the sight in one eye years ago, but it didn't stop her.

When she came here, after four girls were stolen from our allotment at the beginning of the first Lockdown,  I was worried that she wouldn't be able to cope with the change.     She amazed me by being a feisty lady.  She got ito full on flying kick fights, many of which she won.

She was a friendly girl,  that came from her Dad's side.  Happy to be handled,  happy to be stroked, happy to eat from my hand.   She was heavy,  relatively placid,  and a real joy to have in the garden.

Who knows.  She might have survived longer if she hadn't had the stress of moving, and then of integrating into one big flock.  It's also possible that the move kept her fit and thjriving for longer - access to grass every day, all day;  no boys;  aways new stuff going on.

I'm happy that I got to spend so much time with her over the last 18 months., and I think she had a good life.

Tears for Elsa

When I was a small child (45 years ago?),  I watched Born Free with my mum.    I cried, a lot, as I ofte did at sadhappy films.

Many years later (like about 5 years ago), I bought some new music for my lovely Orla, and the first piece in the book was Born Free.   I played it , and I cried.

I've played it many times since.

Every time I play it, I can hear the voice of Virginia McKenna (as Joy Adamson) talking about Elsa, just film.

I sat down to play today, for the first time in a long while,  and that book was on the stand.  I played many of the songs.  I played Born Free, and I heard the narration  The bit I remembered was when Elsa came back hurt.

It made me cry. 

I've no idea why I had such an emotional response today. Maybe I'm tired, I don't know.

 Before Covid I bought a copy of Born Free on DVD, but I haven't been able to watch it.      I might try.  I don't know if it will exorcise the tears, or make them worse.