Charity larks

I just read a funny story on a blog about a bag and a charity shop. It really made me laugh. Do have a look here 
It reminded me of a friend's escapades one day and set me laughing about that too.
I remembered my friend, James telling me a story.  He had spotted a must have wet suit in a charity shop. As he told me the story it was still very fresh in his mind. It had only just happened that afternoon. He was just a little traumatised by it which made it all the more hilarious. Bearing in mind we were both living in darkest Herefordshire, not known for aquatics of any kind. Just the idea of a wet suit is kind of strangely other worldy. Anyway he decided to try the wet suit on for size, in a rather pokey changing room. The suit was quite snug, a little tight maybe, but nevertheless probably worth getting as you never know it might well come in very handy for a bit of wild swimming.

The hilarity occurs when he tries to remove the wet suit in a little shop. With only himself and a couple of very sweet, elderly volunteering, charity shop girls. He just couldn't pull it off. So all he could do was ask for assistance. You can just imagine how mad a scene that would have been to come across. It cracks me up whenever I try and remember poor James telling me and I, uncontrollably laughing.

Charity shops are thin on the ground here in Burgundy. I know of 3 shops, 1 is too far and the other I can go to on a trip to the supermarket. There are depots though, 1 is about to open in April. I've never been to it so I am quite optimistic. The depots sell everything, house clearance.

It's beautiful here today, warm enough to prove bread. I am making pittas for later. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I have included this photo of a caravan that I am a bit in love with today. I really shouldn't look on the internet for 'anciens' camping.

Today I went for a stroll around the garden looking to see if there was any sign of life. The crocus  are the most impressive . I bought a few woodland plants at last years plant sale. I am pleased to see they have survived after the extreme winter freezes we get. I have yet to find Comfrey, maybe someone will have some this year. My Borage is resurfacing as is the Honeysuckle.

Pulmonaria or Lungwort
These plants above and below withstood the frosts here. They flowered early but then the severe weather knocked them back a bit.  It's a good addition to the garden, as are all the Borage family, for attracting  bees. This is believed to be because of the blue colours that they are able to see. They belong to the family of plants known as Boraginaecea. They get the name Lungwort from the silver spots on their leaves said to resemble lung disease. I find them fascinating, the little bell shaped flowers begin pink/ violet and move to blue as they age. The silver spots or folia pockets, presumably these are hairy areas, help cool the plant down. The idea is the more spots the leaves have the more sun they will tolerate.
The plants retain their foliage until late winter so mostly deciduous. They grow well under trees like hazel trees.

I have discovered a native one growing beside this one. The native one has longer leaves and is more sun tolerant. I will go and take a picture in a minute. Another great thing about this plant is that it's usually undervalued and thus very cheap. Mine were only 50 cents.

Sweet Williams from seeds. They have yet to flower. The wire is a bit of protection against geese.

I took this earlier today. I notice the little shoots have been slightly burnt by a drop in temperature over the past couple of days. The Magpies and Jays seem to be jostling for space and  are screeching around the valley. 

While the temperatures dropped last month to -12° I moved to sock making, I had no idea I could manage this but with a pattern from Ravelry I mananged to learn. I now have a task to fulfil, a pattern for the neighbour translated to French. 

Yesterday I began to plant seeds in my verandah. I bought lots of seeds from LIDL this year 29cents a packet here.

New paintings looking at field boundaries.

More socks from Charity shop wool. French Blue is my current obssession.

I love the reverse of these rag rugs. This is a rug made from a sheet dyed with walnut hulls 

gathered from my tree. It's quite fun ripping sheets, takes a fair few for a sack.

Sewing purses from scrap denim.