August's Photo Scavenger Hunt Challenge

Once again Hawthorn has set us a challenge, one I have to admit did not initially inspire me but once I gave it some thought it was no problem

1.  Blue

Bluebird Electric 1 broke the British speed record for an electric vehicle in 1997. The car continued the tradition of the record-breaking Campbell family as Bluebird Electric 1 was developed and driven by Don Wales, the grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell.  Picture taken on a visit to the Lakeland Motor Museum, Cumbria with our grandsons.

2. Eye

This very beady eyed gull was actually standing on the bonnet of our car in a car park overlooking Spittal beach near Berwick-on-Tweed.  He was watching us eat our sandwiches and every so often would tap the bonnet of our car to remind us he was there and wanting food!!  We were good and ignored him and he eventually flew off to find a more willing family to feed him.  But being so close to him I was glad there was glass between us, that beak looked lethal! 

3. Button 

I bought this very beautiful hand painted antique button for my daughter-in-law as she loves butterflies and collects unusual buttons to stick around her notice board in the kitchen. 

4.  Favourite 

My favourite picture taken this month is of the spread my daughter-in-law and I prepared for her birthday when Hawthorn’s family came across here for birthday tea.  It made a lovely change from scones and cake.  We arranged cut up fruit on plates, stands and platters and served it with tubs of soft serve ice cream and fruit drinks.  Look closely and you can see one candle in the centre of the arrangement on the cake stand – we all sang lustily while she blew out her candle.  (She would not let me put more candles on!!).  The fruit preparation was a bit time consuming but fun to do and well appreciated.

5.  Feet

Jak again!  He slept in the strangest places, this time the magazine rack but he was too long and his feet always hung out. 

6.  Glass 

Each piece of green glass has a story to tell -  the tall bottle with stopper at the back held bath salts and was given to my mother in the 1970’s when she lived in Capetown.  The two small green vases decorated with silver were a gift to my mother and I brought back from a holiday in Vienna in 1956 by a very special friend  to where we all lived in Lusaka in present day Zambia. The tall glass hock glass at the back was one of a pair.  I still remember very clearly how quickly my mother and I ran to the lounge when we heard the tinkle of glasses being banged together by a certain Hawthorn when she was about 18 months old – we did not think she could reach them but she had clambered up. She was not the reason there is only one left – the other broke during one of my parents many moves.

7.  Green 

This picture was taken in the courtyard of a tea room on Lindesfane (Holy Island) Northumberland.  This is really taking green driving to the extreme! It's registration plate showed HEDGE 1. 

8. Floor

This photo was taken in the Quire (ancient spelling of Choir) in York Minster.  Whenever we have friends from South Africa come to stay we take them to York to see the very beautiful and impressive Minster. This tiled pattern on the floor was carried on throughout the whole Minster. 

 9.  Knitted/crocheted

"A TwiddleMuff is a woollen muff with twiddles attached inside and out, designed to provide a stimulation activity for the restless hands of disoriented or confused patients, particularly those with dementia.

When distributed at the hospital, they are labelled with the patient’s name to prevent any cross infection and patients will be able to take them home with them so there will always be a need for many more to be made."

I was asked to make Twiddlemuffs for Airedale Hospital’s Occupational Therapy Department.  To date I have made 10. They are fun to make and use up odd bits of wool.  My friend ‘Threads through my Life’ very kindly donated many different ‘twiddles’ to sew on to the muffs.  I have inserted chunky zips from old jeans in some and put small knitted  toys on a crochet chain inside, attached necklaces from charity shops threaded onto shoe laces so they can’t be broken and other things to fiddle with to occupy the restless hands of dementia patients.  I also like to use fluffy wool in bands in the lining layer as they contrast in texture.  Anyone wanting some small project will find that the OT departments in their local hospitals are only too grateful to receive them.  From experience I find that crocheting them makes a firmer muff and is easier to put in an opening for pockets or zips.  Google Twidlemuffs for ideas if interested.  The measurements and knitting pattern are on line too.

10.  My own choice

This hot weather this month has brought back fond memories of Jak taking advantage of the fan in the lounge.  Actually he took advantage of many things, but was so loved he was allowed to get away with it!!  He would sleep on our bed – making us hot – trying to get the breeze from the fan in our bedroom.