-Enigma-

Hello @oceangirl. Hope all goes well for your sleep study. How do it go in hospital? Hope you are feeling better. Just in case you missed the post on the forum thread under "Looking after our well being" - I have changed my username from OverTheEdge to -Enigma-. If you wish to tag me at any time please insert the dash - before and after my name (e.g. -Enigma-). Otherwise I won't receive any notification. Sending a warm hug 🤗 xxx

@CheerBear Good to read you put your feet up yesterday and got 40 winks. Today you have school prep with the LF, I hope it all goes well.

@Shaz51By the sound of it, things were busy in your neck of the woods yesterday, I hope that means a rest day today. Sundayitis, sounds good to me. I'm hoping for a quiet one myself. I might drag out my xstitch, not sure yet.

@Former-Member Yes your post is most helpful Thankyou. I am emotionally withdrawing from the visitor and gently moving forward there. She does have the best sence of humor, so not all doom and gloom, just things can become huge at times. I'm presuming nursing duties are on your to do list today, I hope you get some down time also. We are headed for 19, a warm one for us. I am enjoying feeling the sun warm my bones, it's been a long cold winter.

My fur baby is resting on my knee atm watching the world go round. Not long now til Christmas and decorations will be along all the streets. An exciting time for children, the rest of us, hummmm, another year gone.

I might head out into our garden and pull out some weeds then let the day just happen. Neighbours and home and away have a replay on to today, I might watch them again. What do you have planned. Warm thoughts.

Good morning @Maggie@CheerBear@Appleblossom@Shaz51@soul and everyone

I remember @CheerBear the dramas of that first day back to school blues. And yes, getting them out the door was an achievement in itself lol. What do the children enjoy doing most during their holidays? My friend shared a photo of the most beautiful crocheted shawl that I have ever seen and I thought of you straight away - thought I would share it with you.

Hi @Maggie

Good to read that you are moving forward with the visitor. That is what I had to do for awhile with my daughter, emotionally detach. It did take awhile for her to realise I was not going to budge from my position (give in to her demands etc) and it doesn't happen over night but after awhile she saw that I stood firm and meant business and she eventually respected that and me more. So yes, it will all work out my friend. It's just a shame we have to do it. Good to also read that you both still have a laugh - it really is the best medicine 🙃.

Wow, Christmas sounds like such a magical time of the year where you live. The street light decorations sounds dreamy - something right out of a novel. I would "love, love" a photo of that. I use to love Christmas so much, not any more. If I could go bush that time of year I would again (or Tassie, it sounds like a wonderland). It's so commercialised and touristy here - hustle and bustle, everyone comes from all over to visit with loud parties etc, and together with the bad memories my peace flies out the windows. I must be getting old haha. I do love the Christmas songs in the domain though. The beautiful part is seeing the joy in children's eyes though. That's the special part.

I can just see your fur baby sitting contently on your knee. I miss my little fur babies I use to have. I would get another but not sure if the cat would like it lol. Your sounds so cute.

You watch Home and Away! My husband tapes them religiously! Can't miss an episode. He is totally obsessed with it lol. My good friend is the same. I am the odd one out there - I will stitch away while they watch it. The weather sounds perfect there. It has been pleasant here too but a bit warmer at around 25 degrees. The breeze coming through is so refreshing. It is a beautiful time of the year to soak up the rays in the garden. Enjoy.

My husband wants to take me out to our new home location and have some lunch there in the restaurant. I am a little hesitate as he hasn't been well but may go there for a bit and see how we go. We love the atmosphere there as it's very picturesque with the lake, trees, sea and golf course. Something nice to get lost in.

Going to the shops for me is a chore as it is so chaotic. I love being in the peace of nature. I avoid crowds as it adds to my stress levels. Look forward to hearing how your day went 🤗xx

Hi @CheerBear

I thought you might like it. The colours are really gorgeous - it's a stunner. What exactly is overlay crocheting? It sure creates a beautiful effect. I am really looking forward to seeing the pic of your blanket/rug 💕

Hi @Former-Member

Overlay is where you create a background with an effect over the top by using different rounds/rows and different parts of the stitch. It gives it some depth and texture rather than being a flat piece of work.

These are the last photo/s of my blanket I put up

You can see the overlay effect above as some of the stitches stand up and cross over/between rounds. The photo at the top doesn't do the colours any justice I think.

When I uploaded these I was at part 12 out of 18 parts and I am now about to finish part 13/18 which is a pretty purple pattern. It's the most deliciously soft and thick heathered (flecked) yarn, which was a real treat to buy as it's quite pricey, and the only reason I was able to use it was because I recieved a gift from a relative. The gift came just after I finished a nearly six month adventure making my first one, which is this one here

This blanket kept me going during the hardest time I think I have ever had. I started it in refuge and finished it just after being released from a stay in a mental health facility earlier this year. It's my "journey blanket" 🙂

I can definitely appreciate how valubale craft/art/any form of creativity can be as an outlet and distraction during tough times

Thank you for reading @Former-Member 🙂

(now to hit post and see if this formatting has been mashed 😉 )

@Former-Member That is the most stunning shawl, soo colourful and beautifully done. Did you manage to go out for lunch with hubby and check out your dream home site?? A walk on the sand I hope. I've had a lazy day, planted my strawberries, a downer day, but there's always tomorrow and another sunrise. It ended up raining here, so I don't think we reached 19.

@CheerBear As always, your work is greatly admired by me and many others. I've never seen layered crochet before, it must be a special technique. I did a basis shawl years ago, the three triple, three straight, I really mean basic. I actually had trouble holding the hook. I looked like I was digging the garden rather than a relaxing craft. Sad what some can do with simple tasks. Lol. I hope your household is a tad quieter tonight.