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      Eclectic ramblings


      Bunad purse and silver
      20th May


      Celebration

      17th May saw National Constitutional Day in Norway and I was not to be left out, there may not have been a National Holiday here in the UK, but I baked my cake and wore my bunad (national costume).  Outside of Norway the largest parade for 17 May takes place every year in London and despite the fact that I could not attend this year, I streamed live both to the London and Oslo parades.  A girl wants to feel part of the party after all! 



      To see more about this day and how to make kransekake pop along to my previous post... here



      Traditional Norwegian celebration cake: kransekake


      Exams begin with tradition

      As with many other households across the UK we are at the beginning of exam fervour.  A tradition has been set up and whoa betide us if we now do not follow it, so in true eclectic home style we had waffles for breakfast as a good luck feast before heading off into the hall in silence, with a see through pencil case, you know what I'm talking about right...

      Breakfast waffles

       Sewing for the first time this year
      The Great British Sewing Bee began this week and as in previous years I sat glued to the TV, not being a great TV watcher, this is somewhat unusual for me to actually even know when a programme is starting, but I was there in front of the goggle box with a few seconds to spare.  AND it got me to thinking when did I last dust off the old sewing machine and make something?  The following day out it came and from my chaotic craft cupboard, that everything falls out of when you open it because it is crammed full of 'this might come in handy' random stuff, I found very suitable material and a funky chunky red zip.  I had the beginnings of a skirt... 

      No pattern, so I had to wing it...

      Really happy with the material and red combo

      It's so hard to photograph yourself!

      I'm not entirely happy with it as the waistband is a little large, so really I need to un pick it and trim it all in but I was running out of time and now I wonder if I will ever get round to it *sigh*

      Teaching & Learning

      My day job hours are always reduced in mid May every year and this is my frantic time to make, bake, craft, learn and teach.  It began in earnest this year.  Crochet class number 3 began, (actually the first  course of this year)  Still being a tad nervous at teaching crochet I try and dot my 'i's' and cross my 't's' so to speak for days before checking I know exactly what to do and how to go about it.  I think the first class went well, it was on National Day, so the ladies were treated to kransekake, that seemed to wash down well with the refreshments, what to bake for next week?  Any suggestions?  I like to bake something new for each class...

      Beginning to set out for the course


      And this is week 5 of the Scheepjes CAL, I'm loving it and learning new crochet tit bits all the time.  Ester's videos are totally brilliant, just love it.  To find out more, see this post here


      Watching Ester on the video, although with
       the crib sheet and crocheting at the same
      time, multi tasking indeed and loving it
       
       
      Hard to see in the photograph, but this
      week we made seagull prints on the sand!
      You have to look very closely...
       

       Nature

      What weather!!! you would think we were in April still.  What is right to wear, I seem to get it wrong every day.  I'm either freezing cold or too hot.  Here's what it looks like in my village and garden right now...


      Clematis montana in beautiful sunshine. 
      Can you spot an animal shape?

      Then came the rain.  Leaf of honeysuckle


      The wild flowers are literally having a
       field day with the rain and sun

      Buttercups in the centre of our village

      Such cheery wildflowers


      Everyone's wisteria is in full bloom, ours every
       year is behind by a few weeks, odd!

      Simply stunning


      Sharing with you my five moments from my week and joining in with  Amy
       
        Have a glorious week end 

      APOLOGIES TO WORDPRESS BLOGGERS
      Massive apologies and I have been trying to remember to say this for some weeks, but for some inexplicable reason I cannot leave comments on WordPress.  I write them, click on publish and vamoosh, they disappear, gone into thin air.  I then often try again but to no avail, after now having tried again on two different WordPress blogs I know not what to do to rectify this solution. 
      Anyone, can you help?

      30 comments:

      1. Ahh wisteria, how I love thee. That is a very cute skirt. I like that pattern! I enjoyed your five and I think it would be fun to try to make a kransekake!

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        Replies
        1. Ellen it really is fun to make. My sister does not have any of the specialist tools to make a kransekake and hers turned out brilliantly this year

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      2. Very impressive skirt, I loved the red trim. A very enjoyable five, hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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        Replies
        1. Thank you mamamercantile I think the red trim makes the skirt. Have a great weekend x

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      3. Your purse is just lovely and it was interesting to see the 'kransekake'. It is good to have traditions in your life - wherever you live.
        I have once been in Oslo and remember the Vigeland park and Sonia Henie museum...
        Your wildflowers are so joyful and the Wisteria amazingly beautiful.

        Best wishes from the Helsinki region, Finland!

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        Replies
        1. Popular destinations in Oslo indeed Riitta. I would love to visit your country, it's on my must go list near the top, so hopefully not too long till I do x

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      4. What a lovely post. I'm like you with the sewing bee, always inspired. Love the skirt. I could never achieve anything without a pattern! I like the sound of your crochet class and cake as well! Have a relaxing weekend and good luck with the exams. B x

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      5. It's good to see you've had a great week. I like your skirt, the Sewing Bee really sets us all off sewing again doesn't it. x

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      6. I love the seagull footprints. I grew up by the coast and they hold a special place in my heart.

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      7. Brilliant skirt, well done for being inspired. I love the Great British Sewing Bee too, I'm looking forward to watching it this year. The wisteria is gorgeous at the moment isn't it. One of my favourite things. CJ xx

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        Replies
        1. Thanks CJ. Agree about the wisteria and every year I wonder why ours waits to flower when almost everyone else's is finished!!

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      8. I'm in awe of your skirt. No pattern. That's fantastic. I'd love to take your crochet class. I've been admiring a lot of crochet on Fridays and have decided I need to learn. I think I'll make it next winter's project.

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        Replies
        1. Crochet is particularly great for winter evenings. Let me know if I can help at all Robin x

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      9. I would still celebrate your National Day too, especially if there was cake involved. I love your skirt, black and red go so well together. The Wisteria looks magnificent. With regards to a cake suggestion, The Pink Whisk has posted a gorgeous looking marble cake this week, I am going to try to have a go at it this weekend, its a loaf one too which is always easier to share. Have a great weekend xx

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        Replies
        1. Ooh thanks for the heads up on Pink Whisk, I'll pop over and see. Thanks again x

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      10. Looks like you are doing good on your crochet. I just finished an afghan for one of our high school grads. All 9 grands so far had gotten one. One more to go. Nice that you celebrate your culture far from home.

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      11. Hi Selma, please excuse my delay in writing you a wishing you a wonderful syttende mai. I loved seeing your beautiful bunad and how I wish I could eat a piece of your delicious kransekage! My Norwegian club is having their celebration tomorrow and I won't be able to attend since I'm going to a wedding. Your crochet class sounds like so much fun as does the CAL. Enjoy your weekend my dear friend, Pat xx

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      12. Gorgeous wisteria and clematis and the buttercup field looks wonderful. Have a lovely weekend:)

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      13. Firstly, sorry, no idea about the wordpress thing other than to now be worrying about where my comments on such blogs have gone... I love your eclectic ramblings!!! Seeing your Norwegian things is always a real treat and something I enjoy a lot. Hope that your new crochet group goes well and that you think of something delicious to make for tea break!! Thank you for taking part in Five On Friday, I hope you have a good weekend!

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      14. So much beauty around you. My senior boy just finished 2-1/2 weeks of exams. Phew! So glad that is over. Saw your skirt post on IG. Turned out great for winging it. I've had a problem with my posts sometimes not updating on other blogs. With all the changes always going on, there's always some sort of glitch going on.

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      15. The wisteria is so pretty, ours was very early and very sparse this year.

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      16. Sounds like it's been a busy week - baking, creating, sewing! Hope the weather gets better soon.

        Have a great week

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      17. I love your five, thanks for sharing.

        Diana

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      18. Love wisteria. It's the colour and the fragrance. How I would love to come to your crochet sessions - not because of the refreshments you understand! I didn't do well with GCE Needlework - all those zips to fit, patterns to convert etc., but I enjoyed making sack dresses at home. I'm watching the Great Sewing Bee programme just to see who goes through and who doesn't. I have problems with commenting on Wordpress blogs trying to work out the system and some that have verification switched on need a full URL. Sometimes I'm successful in following through and communicating and sometimes not. With eyesight probs and lack of patience this slows me down. Sorry to miss anyone out though. Thanks for coming by my blog and leaving a comment.

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      19. What a good five, Selma. I'm going to have to catch up on iplayer with the sewing bee, I missed the first one. Sorry to hear the lovely Patrick is absent!
        Your skirt is great, love the red zip and trim :-) xx

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      20. Your skirt is so pretty - the red trim takes it up several notches! And I'm so glad you mentioned the Great British Sewing Bee. I'm a huge fan, and was wondering if there was another season. Now I'll have to rummage around on the internet and see if I can find it somewhere, since it isn't broadcast here in Canada.
        I hope you find a solution to the Wordpress blog problem. I registered for a Wordpress blog several years ago and use that identity for commenting on WP blogs.

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      21. Oh yes, the see through pencil case. I feel your anxiety having going through it myself with my daughter. Next week looks to be a humdinger of a week for the GCSE's!! I saw that CAL yesterday when I was looking to see what project I was going to do next. I do love the rain colour scheme so will order the wool today - it looks lovely. And to the sewing bee, I missed it! I didn't even know it was on so will have to have a look on iplayer!! Good luck to yours for next week, I think it's more nerve wracking for us :)

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      22. Great to see another 'Five' poster is taking part in The Last Dance On The Beach CAL. Esther's videos are great aren't they, even though I have been crocheting for more years than I like to think about I have still found them really helpful as there have been some unusual stitch combinations in some of these squares - you are never too old to learn new things. xx

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      23. I love that skirt - just gorgeous! The red trim really makes the skirt. And your crochet skills are quite impressive. Hope you had a great weekend.

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      24. The clematis is fabulous! Looks like a topiary. Great skirt. Love the contrast with the red. It's worth fixing if you are not satisfied with the waist.

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      I will always read all comments and will try to reply but it may take me a couple of days, do please pop back and lets get a conversation going...