Posies block for July and a front entrance challenge...

 

It was a busy day yesterday so I wasn't able to share this month's free Posies pattern until this morning. You can read about that further on, but for now, let's look at the July block. I found the sweetest little bird on one of my old Tilda fabrics and used it to fussy cut the pot...

The rim of the flower pot is a separate scalloped shape which is also appliqued, and the flowers this time are one of my favourites, tulips.

UPDATE...

POSIES was free until January 1st 2022.

The complete 2021 POSIES quilt pattern is now available from my ETSY Shop.

Now to the reason I was unable to share the Posies block on the 1st of the month as is usual, and you know it's a rare occurrence that I am ever late, but yesterday being the 1st of July, I needed to follow through on my mid-year deep cleaning plans - beginning with the front entrance.

I really enjoy cleaning, cooking, gardening and tidying each day, but there are some areas over time which apart from a vacuum and mop, get a bit neglected. I've been walking around the house lately making note of those areas with an intent to begin the second half of this year giving each one a thorough scrub and refresh. 

Yesterday I began with our front entrance. It's affectionately called the 'plant nursery' because almost any plant will thrive there due to the good filtered light and fairly predictable temperature (being not in the path of our air conditioning). It's a pretty little alcove which leads to the front door and I walk past it from the bedroom to the living room many times each day, but as I said, apart from the floors and watering the plants, not much else has been done for a while. 

The "before" photo below makes the area look deceptively clean but when I began removing everything bit by bit a lot of dust, dirt and bugs were revealed.

First of all I noticed how much dust had settled on the plants...

...so I removed them outside and gave them all a good wash with the hose and left them to drain while I got on with my cleaning. Fortunately it was an overcast day so being indoor plants they weren't being parched by the sun.

I'm going to show you the shocking state of things because some of you might be like me and have become 'blind' to areas in your home that on the whole 'look okay' until you get right down and move things away.

The door...ugh.

Beside the doorway...another ugh. 

Behind the door and larger plants...yes, more ugh.

Time to start on a good scrub and refresh!

I use a hand brush to sweep away all the obvious dust build up before anything else, as I find this makes washing areas with a wet cloth later much easier and less messy.

Once I brushed the dust off the door, around the skirting boards and window, the wall shelf, and the book case which we use to hold the plants, I vacuumed everything up. 

Only then did I get the wet cloths and begin to scrub the surfaces. I even made up a paste of lemon juice and bi-carb soda (found this idea online as I have no brass cleaner) to clean the brass door fixtures which are very old and damaged, but they did come up much brighter which surprised me.

I polished the book/plant case, mopped the floor and brought the plants back inside, before deciding what to keep in the front entrance and what to change. 

A couple of hours later and the area looks, feels and smells wonderful! 

How's your front entrance looking right now? Want to join me in this first challenge and refresh that space in your home this week?

I'll do one neglected area each week this month and if you'd like, I'll share them here to encourage you?

LOCKDOWN

Our lockdown ends at 6pm tonight (Friday) and we're so relieved! There's been no community transmission of the Delta variant case brought in by a traveller, and apart from mandatory masks for two weeks, and the usual distancing etc, life can return to a semblance of normality. Hubby goes back to work next week and though it won't be easy selling cars when you have to keep a distance of 4 square metres between you and the customer, I'm sure he will manage. 

The lockdown did not affect Blossom or myself (or my good friend Rosie) as we're all homebodies anyhow. We have food enough in our pantries and no reason or need to go out. 

I did miss out on having Cully May and Rafaella for a day this week but we did a video chat and that was fun. They'll come visit here again next week. 

I find that the more your heart is given over to homemaking, and creating a beautiful and nurturing sanctuary for all who dwell within your home, the less you are concerned about the times of lockdown, for you have enough to do right where you are. 

I've begun a remake of an old stitchery design (here) omitting the applique and using different colours this time as I'll be framing this one for the kitchen. It's so relaxing to stitch in the evening after a very big day around home, for along with the front entrance there were all the usual household tasks to complete, plus some baking.

Cranberry and Lemon biscuits (cookies) and a delicious loaf of bread made using the Bloomer recipe in one of Paul Hollywood's books.

I still haven't made those jam tarts, but I might just leave that until the weekend. Silly I know, but the idea of making an inedible shortcrust pastry really holds me back...quite unlike me! Perhaps I'll see if there's a good recipe for it in one of my Nigella Lawson books. 

I hope you are doing well. Are you able to get out and about more now in your area of the world? Have you caught up with family at last? 

God bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you, and bring you PEACE.

Hugs