Going to the Library

 I've always liked libraries. When I was little a mobile library used to come to our village and I remember climbing the steps up to it and being very excited about choosing books. Then, when we moved into town, the library was the first place I was allowed to walk to on my own - after a re-run of my Mum's "what do you do if a strange man asks you if you'd like to see some kittens?" talk (she knew me well). It wasn't long before I'd exhausted the possibilities of the children's library but they wouldn't let me use my library card in the adult library. So my Mum gave me her card to use instead; they didn't like it but couldn't work out a way to stop us.

Anyway, after two years of being housebound with Long Covid, the library was the first proper outing I managed on my own and I go there regularly now. It's a good place for me to cope with as it's nice and quiet, not too many people and no loud music or noises. And I still get excited about being able to choose books and take them home with me.

I have to limit what I borrow as carrying too much makes me breathless and reading itself is very tiring now. So I tend to get books that are picture heavy so that, if I can't managed anything else, at least I can look at the pretty pictures. A few weeks ago, I borrowed this one ...

I thought it looked fun and I have yet to find a craft that I don't like. Look at all that pretty weaving on the back cover.

The author recommends perle cotton no. 5 for the bracelets but the nearest I had was no. 8 so I had a go with that.

It reminded me of making macrame plant holders back in the early 1980s with my Mum; I suppose it's really the same thing, just on a smaller scale. I got better at it as I went along but wasn't particularly enamoured with the result. Then I thought of trying the same pattern with some knitting cotton.

I enjoyed this much more; you can see the texture of the knots at this scale which I really like. Here's the finished bracelet.

Apparently, you're meant to tie them on a friend's wrist and then they leave them there until they fall apart. a) I didn't want to give my bracelet away and b) what about washing? Luckily, the finished band is stretchy so I can knot it together like this and still slip it on and off.

There are lots more patterns in this book so I may have to borrow it again ... or add it to the list of craft books I'd like one day. As you can imagine, this is a substantial list.

I particularly like the one that looks like it's made up of woven ribbons.

I changed my library books yesterday. This is what I chose ...

... a craft book, a plant book and a history book. Those should keep me busy for a while. 

Before I go, you might like to see my newly strengthened garden wall. It's nice not to worry about it falling on me (or one of the cats) when the wind blows.

Paul the builder dug up a treasure for me when he was setting one of those posts in place and I've been excitedly showing it to everyone ever since.

It's a very long, very old nail that would have been handmade by a blacksmith, hammering it into shape. Isn't it wonderful? This house was built in the mid 1890s so I don't know if it dates from then or earlier, when the land would have been agricultural. The house walls at the back of the house near where it was found are single brick so it seems a bit long but who knows? It's my new favourite thing.