Birthday, Makings, Grave visit. |

May
18thBirthday, Makings, Grave visit.

It was Hubby’s birthday on Saturday.
I sewed a couple of things. It was all I could think of as he wouldn’t give me a list.
Cushion with polka dots and cakes
With matchign arm caddy which will double as an A4 wallet if he wants to take anything into the car to read. Daughter is still doing her GCSE exams so he is dropping her off and picking her up from school by car. It gives her one less thing to think about.
While on the subject of birthdays, my main present from the family arrived- a painting made by the artist Rima Staines. (Link to her blog).

I went on a class at Patched Pumpkin to learn punch needle. The above is my first attempt set on a wooden paddle. It was a lot of fun, so I think I will be doing more. LOL Just add it to the ever growing things on my To Do List.
It’s been raining a lot here lately. I’m told it’s unseasonally wet. Pretty rainbow across the top of the road though.
Ideal weather for home made soups with toasted bread and cheese. Above onion soup, below carrot and coriander soup.
I made another hen tool caddy -for me this time, so I had to use a scrap of purple. Doesn’t her expression remind you of Great Aunt Agatha’s in Jeeves and Wooster by P.G. Wodehouse?
I call her “Bluebell” though as her sister caddy is Daffodil (yellows and oranges) who currently lives in Ballarat Australia with Annie. Things like threads and small scissors go in the wing pockets, ans she is a pincushion.
Inspired by all the cherry blossom, I made the weighted sew tidy below. There’s a removable bag for scraps, a pincushion with felt bit for needles, and a series of pockets for things like thread, and small scissors, so everything is at hand when I’m at the sewing machine. I have wanted to make one of these for so long. It was thanks to Stina making one and providing the link to the free pattern that I finally got around to it.
Now back to Oxfordshire:
River Windrush Valley
White Hart Inn at Minster Lovell reputed to be the most haunted pub in Oxfordshire. I wished I had time to pop in and see Minster Lovell Ruins at this point but sadly time was short.
We went through Crawley village nestled at the bottom of a hill.
And up the back lanes into Hailey. The above used to be The Carpenter’s Arms pub.
I think this is Middle Farm where my Grandmother grew up. Love the wisteria!
I remember this being a sweet shop run by 2 elderly sisters. Some memories are very clear. 🙂
This is why we’re here- St John the Evangelist Church.
It is a Victorian church built to replace a decayed older one.
My Grandmother knew it all her life.
View from her grave where we laid flowers and remembered her. I am glad she met my husband although we were only engaged when she died. She was a lovely woman who knew so much about the natural world. She would tell me about “olden times” and how things had changed from being rural with a horse and cart to cars.

The generation from which she would normally have chosen a husband was decimated by World War I. So many families were affected in this area losing their sons. I grew up knowing a lot of Miss…… ‘s who devoted their lives to helping others. They knitted for others’ children knowing they wouldn’t have any of their own, volunteered with church activities, and helped their community so much. Such selfless lives. That generation had been raised to marry and have a man look after them, so the cost to them personally must’ve been much larger than to today’s more modern woman.
Porch door.
Inside looking towards the altar.
Beautiful stained glass windows.

Click to read details of the window below the main picture.

The pulpit carvings were of the 4 saints. The above is the symbol for St Mathew.
Symbol of St Mark
Symbol of St Luke
Symbol of St John
Altar view.
Close up of windows.
Close up of the altar rail kneelers made in wools in tapestry stitch (diagonal).
St John
St Luke
St Mark
St Mathew
There was a lively rookery nestling high above the churchyard. I totally approved. 🙂