A Bit of This and a Bit of That

It's been a bit of a 'nothing' week (what a positive way to start a blog post?!).  A week to just plod, take stock of situations and prepare for the months ahead.  The roads into work have cleared and it's as though everything is waiting quietly and patiently to sprout into colour and life.  This photo was taken on my Friday evening journey home, no cars, no people, just me and my camera and a beautiful sunset to finish the week.

Now, because of the type of week I have had, this post is a bit of a ramble, a bit topsy turvey, back to front, forwards and backwards, a hotch potch of things, no real purpose but I hope you get something from it.

A Bit of History:
I really wanted to get to the Katharine of Aragon Weekend last week at the Cathedral but with the snow and the effort of driving back into Peterborough with an awful headache again, I decided not to,  but I have put a couple of photos from last year to share with you.  The actors that come to the Heritage weekend, and last year's Christmas Fair also act out the parts of Henry VIII, Katharine and their entourage in the Cathedral.

A quick history lesson...

Katharine was the wife of King Henry VIII's brother Arthur and after his death, became the first wife of King Henry VIII (the one he divorced to marry Anne Boleyn), she died in 1536 and is buried at Peterborough Cathedral.  This is her actual burial place and yes they are pomegranates on her grave (which was her symbol).

History in a nutshell I know but I like to keep you interested and the link to a more detailed version of events is here!

A Bit of Gardening:
Now, It was very weird last Sunday morning...the deep snow was eradicated in one night!  We went to bed with still a white glow outside and woke up with a green glow and birds singing.  Had I hibernated and woken up in the Spring??  Well, an opportunity had arisen to get out there and finally do some work in the garden!  On went the wellies and jacket, out came the bulbs, lining and compost and I set to work with the sun beating on my back while I busied myself working out how to line the window baskets (recycling some Christmas left over bubble wrap...yes I resisted the exquisite popping!), getting all the bulbs in, tucking them in and then finishing the lining.  I am SO pleased with the beginnings of my window baskets.  The bulbs probably won't be showing their faces until next year, but the preparation is there and I can now concentrate on the plants that will be placed on top.  My idea is to have herbs, salad leaves, tomatoes, maybe an outside cucumber, peppers and chillies.  The baskets are on a south facing wall and it gets very hot there (well, in a normal summer!), so I think they will do well as long as the birds leave them alone this year!!  I'm going to try the method suggested by one of my G+ advisers, by collecting lint from the tumble dryer and put it in tights, hang these near the baskets and the birds should take this rather than my lining.  Anything is worth a go!

A Bit of Crochet:
During the evenings I have been working on my square blanket.  Just three colours, very plain and I feel 'grown up' making this as they are not loud colours but sedate and reserved.  I'm confident with this one and making it for the main bedroom, it will be brighter than the multicoloured granny stripe that is currently on the bed, and again, I feel it will look grown up and classy.  Very quick to make too!  The pattern is from the absolutely fantastic Sandra at Cherry Heart.  If you haven't already found her blog...do!  You won't be disappointed.

Again, on Cherry Heart you will find her new tutorial on an African Flower Pin Cushion.  I had to have a go last night and this is my result.  Her tutorials are really easy to follow and so beautifully photographed.

A Bit of Knitting (teensy bit of knitting!):
Knitting?  Oh dear, I am really not getting on with this!  Crochet is like picking up with a friend each evening.  I really need to be sold on 'knit one, purl one'!... and it takes so long to make any real progress...I will persevere!

And Thank You!
Thank you to everyone that commented and read my blog last week, I really enjoyed reading your comments, it's like opening presents when I see one appear, and so kind.  I have just started looking at Link Parties and some of the blogs on these, such wonderful, talented people - amazing!  Can I fit in my full time job?!  Maybe I need to invest in a tablet and go to work by train in future to fit it all in!!

So there we are, a bit of a journey this week and you've had a history lesson along the way.

Have a wonderful, peaceful and happy weekend.

Take care.

I am linking to A Favorite Thing, Serenity Saturday, Sunny Simple Sunday Link Party, The Homeacre Hop, Sunlit Sunday