Quarts into pint pots - or the gentle art of storage

The workmen are coming tomorrow to start work on the basement. Which is great news, but means that the content of H's study has to be moved over this weekend.  Daughter came over to help and we moved the contents of all the bookcases to the utility/ sewing room, also in the basement, as we couldn't face carrying any of it upstairs.  Fortunately, there was enough space on the work surface which runs around most of the room to stack the books and CDs (in piles three deep and about 2 foot + high all round), and we then added the 4 smaller bookcases and the base and keyboard sections of the small pipe organ.  We can't put the 6 larger bookcases and the CD racks in there as they won't go through the doorway, so we hope the that the decorator will be able to cope with them and the desk and chairs still left in the room.  The large electric organ will have to stay in place in the alcove and be shrouded in dust sheets.

The books at the sink end have been wrapped n polythene in case the plasterer splashes them.

Don't think I'm going to be sewing for a few weeks - the washing will be on hold too, until the organ can be moved back out, as it will be too damp.  I'll have to go over and use daughter's machine if we're desperate!

The main problem, apart from the lack of space for them to work, is that H hasn't yet decided what colour he wants the study painted!  The music room will stay white as it is now but H keeps muttering about red for the study (currently yellow) but hasn't found one that he likes and time is running out.

A quick trip to Ikea last Wednesday means I now have a table and some more storage in my office.  The table's on castors so I can move it easily around the room depending on what I'm working on, and a folding table will give me a place to put the computer.  No excuse now but to get on with the work!

Above is the card I made for Jill on the theme of Windows.  She sent me this lovely stitched card on the theme of water 

based on this photography that she had taken last summer on a trip to the Isle of Wight.

The colours are super and the stitched picture really picks these up - it's a lovely piece of work.  Thank you, Jill.   I managed to post this on Postman's Knock site earlier, but I can't leave any comments on the other posts at present - another of Bloggers little tricks?

The rest of this week's cards are over on the Postman's Knock site.  Go and have a look, they're fabulous.

It's in the post, honest!

Just my luck!  The postcard I made for the last swap, 'Overhead', has not yet arrived despite being posted last Friday morning.  Anyone seen a bright blue envelope lying neglected?  I've sent Jane the photos I took (fortunately I'd remembered to take some) and I'm now hoping to redo it, though it won't be the same as I'd used up some of the materials and will have to hunt down replacements.  Can't help thinking we're being sorely tried at present - even the postal system seems to have taken against us!

In the meantime, here's the one I received from Jo on my water theme.  Thomas Cranmer looking venerable and distinguished in spite of his reputation.  I think it's my favourite to date, though they've all been lovely.  Thanks, Jo.

Art in Action

Totally gratuitous picture of a tea flower.

If any one is contemplating a visit to this year's Art in Action (21-24 July this year), there is a code which gives you a two adult tickets for the price of one in June's Artists and Illustrators which is also a special 300th issue.  The magazine costs £3.95 but as a second adult ticket would cost £14 you're still saving and have the magazine full of interesting articles as well.  The tickets can be used (once) on any day of the four.  I'm hoping daughter and I will go on either Thursday or Friday but we'll go at the weekend if all else fails - she's now a 'cricket widow' for the summer so I shall see more of her at weekends.
Art in Action is held at Waterperry House and Garden which is just south of Oxford and easy to get to from the M40 or A40.  There's such a lot going on that it's a really good day out. You can sign up for a class, go to a lecture or attend a free concert or some other form of performing art event, as well as stocking up on supplies and watching demonstrations.  There's lots of good food and drink on offer but a bit pricey so take a picnic if you don't want to spend on that.   Waterperry Gardens are also open and there's a plant and garden centre.  Go and have a look at the Art in Action website.

I've been taken to task for not posting on this blog the cards I've made so far - I won't say by whom but you know who you are. They're all over on the Postman's Knock blog, but having put the Tiger I made for Concealment and Revelation on the last post, here's my effort on the theme of Tea (a tea tray) - the lady below is under the lift up flap.   I can't find this picture again to acknowledge the copyright if any.  If anyone reading this would like to claim ownership, let me know and I'll gladly give you the credit - it's a wonderful photo.

There's a garden show on at the Three Counties show ground starting today, and a quilting show next week from Thurs-Sun.  Being so close it's very tempting to go and potter around.  Not long now until the Three Counties Show itself - hope the weather is as good as last year.   And a reminder to Judith - there's a Giant Flea on Bank Holiday Monday 30th May!

Hole gone...

The hole and the emergency plumber have gone.  He's made a beautiful job of replacing the block paving so we hope his plumbing skills are as good.  Having had to pay for all this up front, we are now worrying about whether the insurers will pay up and resigned to the fact that at any rate it has cost twice the limit for a claim on that part of the policy - that side of the drive wanted relaying anyway didn't it?  I refuse to cry over spilt milk, and if they won't pay up then at least we had enough to cover it even if the money was earmarked for some other work on the house and changing the car. 
On a brighter note, a nice chap came with huge dehumidifiers and a fan to dry out the walls and we now know the full extent of the problem and how wet/ dry things are.  It will be at least 3 weeks before the walls dry out but it isn't as extensive as we feared and our own little dehumidifier has done some sterling work already.  It looks as if a claim to repair and redecorate after that will be approved so that at least is something to look forward to.  It's just a bit muddly with everything spread around the house - hope no-one wants to come and stay!

On my fourth attempt I've finished my next postcard for Postman's Knock at the end of this week.  Once again I was fine once I gave up the fixed idea I started with!  Can't show you, but all will be revealed on Saturday.

Weather's a bit strange, isn't it?  We had thunder, hail and torrential rain yesterday and today's like a sauna.  I got soaked yesterday as I came out of the dentist's and Waitrose's carpark was awash when I stopped to buy milk - proved our new bit of drive was draining away properly though!  The garden is looking happier but slugs and snails are out in force (see Judith's blog 'Relatively Retiring' on the subject. What are slugs for?).

This is a totally unnecessary photo of my 'tiger' postcard to cheer us all up!   Hope you're having a more exciting time - I was going to say more interesting time but then I remembered 'that'* saying......

Jx

* May you live in interesting times