Gearing up for summer

 The UK had its hottest day of the year so far yesterday, reaching about 25C where we are. It's definitely feeling like summer is just about here, and we've eaten lunch out in the garden most days.  We've taken the winter wrappings off the big fountain, and put out the ornaments that live in the shed over winter.  Unfortunately the little water pump in our other plastic water fountain didn't make it through the winter, attempts to plug it in resulted in repeatedly tripping the RCD protector for the house, so the pump is toast.  Maybe the scaffolders squashed the cable or something. We then gave the shed a big clear out, it was a disaster zone.  

And because summer is coming, our little caravan has been in for its annual (expensive) service, and we've taken three car loads of caravan stuff over to put back in it. I was not impressed to take my duvet and pillow out of their storage bag and find they were covered in cat hair - the cat had obviously burrowed in and made herself a nice cocoon over the winter.  Hopefully this summer will be without any more car trouble.

I've been working on my new travel daypack this week, it was going pretty well until after I took this photo, when I came to do the final assembly.  I managed to put both strap buckles on backwards, so those need to come off again. And there are a few puckers here and there. But overall it has turned out pretty well. I've added all the same hacks that I enhanced the original one with: hidden passport pocket on the back, trolley sleeve, extra zip pocket on the front, internal lap top sleeve, internal snacks pocket, and twin water bottle holders.

I'm just finishing up the third cross stitch Houses of Britain instalment.  So much backstitching... but it really makes it.

I've added a few things to the kitchen of my Japanese dollshouse this week, including this faux sake barrel. I printed out part of a photo I took of an actual sake barrel to use as the label, and shaped a bit of wooden dowel to be the interior.

I've made a start on the new piece of bobbin lace this week, but it doesn't look like much yet.  And I loaded a practice sandwich onto the longarm and did some practice for the first time in a couple of months.  It seems to be working a lot better after its trip to the workshop so that's good.

Now that I'm home, I've returned to the decluttering project and have flogged several unwanted items on Facebook this week.  Including the rucksack I bought for my first holiday after retiring, to Italy, when I discovered that I am now too old to comfortably carry my worldly possessions on my back. It's gone to an energetic young woman who does expeditions, so that's good.  

I've spent a lot of time this week scoping out a possible trip to Norway next year. I've never been to Scandinavia and of course there is the knitting, and the hardanger. Travel there is reminding me of New Zealand: lots of fjords and mountains in the way when trying to go places.  I'm off to Latvia next for a knitting holiday all about knitting Latvian mittens, I hope it's good. I haven't got very far with my own attempt at a Latvian mitten so I may take my project along for advice if I'm feeling brave.