What a tiring week!

This week has been very tiring, partly because of the weather. In the UK we love to gripe about the weather, it's cold, it's raining again, but the last week has been a change of tune to 'it's too hot'! The weather has been amazing but it has created extra work with the need to water the garden, protect delicate plants from burnt leaves in the sun and remembering to reapply sun screen at regular intervals. This week, when I've arrived at work I've dropped my bag in the office and headed out to the local park for my daily walk instead of taking it in my lunch break. The coffee shop isn't open at this time but at least it's cool enough to walk. The hot weather also seems to make some people cranky and there seems to be more arguments taking place. I like the hot weather but have been taking care to keep hydrated, apply sunscreen regularly and to rest more. Our dogs are being walked in the morning, before I head to work, and quite late in the evening just before the sun goes down. Normally, when we let them off their leads at the park, they run around for ages but for now they are much more sedate. They are also enjoying doggy ice pops to help stay cool.

The heat has played havoc with finishing various projects but yesterday I finally finished knitting the front band on my cardigan. The knitting was finished at 7 pm and then I spent the evening sewing the cardigan together. Final job of the day was to block it. Knitting always takes me ages to complete. I love doing the knitting but my wrists complain after a while and as a result it can takes months to finish a project. I started the knitting in February and managed to complete the back in the month. In total this project has taken 5 months to complete which for me is good. It is also worth it as the cardigan will last several year and be worn a lot during that time. I blocked the cardigan and have put it on our small garden table to dry completely. The white patch is the sun shining through a gap in the leaves of the crab apple tree.

I love the dappling effect of the sun through the leaves. This is also my favourite time to sit out in the garden to do some slow stitching. Unfortunately it's Monday morning, a work day and I have a lot of things to do to make my own life easier, so slow stitching won't be happening until this evening.

This is a brief post as I wanted to add my slow stitching finish to Kathy's link up party before it closes. Pop over to Slow Sunday Stitching to see what everyone has been up to . Later today I'll think about what I achieved this month and also what is happening in July. At the end of July I also have my trip to The Festival of Quilts at the NEC to look forward to.

Take care

Lyndsey