Planet Ruby Starrs

Trying out my recently dormant creative mojo... First time using an actual pattern for a quilt... and first time using structured pieces on sewing machine.   Probably the last time as well!!!   Its hard work to cut pieces precisely.. and to be honest its tedious doing repetitive shapes and after the first initial placing it lacks any surprises... I miss the spontaneous evolvement of my made up quilts.. its a bit boring knowing how it will look at the end. Having said that I'm liking it still... loving the colours inspired by the autumnal colours of the Acers.. and of course our pink and orange bedroom. Basic pattern and some fabrics are by Kaffe Fassett but I'm using my own colourway and scraps from my stash.  the pattern over estimates the amount of fabric needed so the back will be made up from strips of left overs.    And the finished article... I do like it - but if I were to do it again -unlikely - I would not have so much white in the overall pat...

  A night out on the Toon....  @gostargazing  arranged for Dr Fred to give a series of astronomy lectures in Durham Cathedral under the Moon... Luke Jerrams stunningly beautiful installation of the Museum of the Moon - a 7 metre sphere hanging as if rising in the nave of this rather magnificent building. I saw it at the Natural History Museum but the lighting and location were not as effective as amongst the gothic Romanesque arches... It looked amazing... the lecture was good too.... All Dr Freds talks are sold out but the moon is there for anyone to look at until mid November.

Okay I have been really seriously remiss about posting on the blog..I don't want to give it up but I'm lacking adventures - or interesting things to share - I'm in a bit of a creative slump - I think its my version of post covid lockdown!!! I am reading masses and would recommend The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne and also We Begin at the End By Chris Whittaker... In between I've read a lot of dross but at the moment it seems to be my main pastime!!! So back to the blog...I post on Instagram @rubystarrs quite regular - its easy just use my phone and I don't have to get my computer out so I am going to - for now - repeat those posts on here just to keep this alive while I either find the essence to carry on or lay it to rest completely - so mainly pictures - probably more interesting than my endless ramblings...  Incidentally I also laboured through A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara which I thought in places was beautifully written but mostly depressing and ha...

Orange (single) and lemons (several) on my citrus trees... which were looking a little bit sad outside so I have brought them back inside to administer some serious tlc. They might ripen in time for the equinox damson gin started today.....

In-between this mad social whirl we were suddenly experiencing, Dr Fred had two attempts at going on a balloon ride which I had bought him as a birthday present and in spite of some amazing weather each attempt was cancelled at the last minute due to adverse weather conditions - its set up to try again in September!! So we had some outings planned but they didn't come off so the next excitement happening was volunteering for the Durham Fringe Festival.  I had seen this on line and offered my services as I was beginning to feel a bit cabin fevered and I really felt I needed to get out into the real world and explore a bit of local life and culture - and the idea of helping out at something which was slightly alternative and a new venture appealed to me.   I was asked to help with some setting up early in the week and then to work in the comedy club for three nights over the weekend.  Richard Pulsford - A Bit Rich - crazy clever quick fire one liners - heading for Edin...

Once we returned from a refreshing sojourn in Wales we had some visitors come and stay at Coundon Tower for a few days.  Two extra people and two lively young dogs make for a vaguely chaotic time.. but it was really lovely to have guests and spend some time walking around the local area.. a pleasant walk on an almost empty Crimdon beach and then a walk down the old railway line to Bishop Auckland through the deer park for lunch at a local cafe before retracing our steps back home for yet more cake.    The dogs loved the garden - racing round through all the bushes - poor Vita in her excitement actually ended up in the pond  - no harm done to dog, frogs or newts....   Time always seems to go so quick when friends stay and the house always feels very quiet when they've gone. 

Ok its been far too long since I posted but we have been very busy and I will endeavour to catch up with a series of short illustrated posts over the coming quieter week... for starters...we went camping in North Wales - Idyllic - seriously such a good break and so wonderful to be back in the van... the first day it rained all day and it was quite joyous to be snuggled up in the van listening to rain on the roof doing nothing but reading books and doodling - bliss... Then he sun came out and stayed out for the rest of our trip.  We had found an excellent campsite on the edge of the Snowdonia National park and it was almost empty - so we had a whole field to ourselves - Tal Mi Gnedd near Nantile - fabulous spot extremely pleasant hosts, lots of sheep - even some escapee cows in our field at one point- good facilities and as a bonus, lots of walks just from the campsite. We had a fabulous day exploring crags and lakes locally and then some friends joined us for the rest of the week....

Life is feeling a little more ordinary these days although we watch the number for covid grow daily and consequently we are still being very careful about what we we do and who with - It seems incredible that so many people have given up so much  -missing families - cancelled weddings - missed holidays - lost education... and much more to say nothing of those who are grieving lost ones and some still feeling very much isolated but its ok to have massive crowds at football games and there seems to be a fair few going to Wimbledon as well!!!  I  wouldn't mind but it puts the greater population at risk in the long run - so much for containment but I'm guessing it all about money as usual... there is a definite need to learn to live with covid and measures need to be reduced in a an appropriate manner - but at the moment it feels measures only apply to some and definitely not to sports fans.... rant over.... Coundon Tower now has a complete newly decorated fully functional di...

At last a wee trip off in the van - just for two days wandering the North York Moors - curlews, lapwings, rabbits, hares, fantastic scenery, climbing opportunities for Dr Fred and a fantastic Andy Goldsworthy art trail thrown in!!!  We met up with some friends who were holidaying in Castleton.  We had a scenic tramp across the moors at Westerdale and after an almost (by my standards) intrepid cross country rumble through the bushes, bilberries and bracken we found some rocks to climb... well.... they climbed - I sketched and pondered and read my book while Dr Fred impressed himself by still being able to climb a few routes up the rock.   It was a sheltered spot and while a tad cloudy to start with it morphed into a beautiful evening bringing out the amazing colours across the hill side.  We were quite high up and had fabulous panoramic views across the moors with only the sound of the odd falling rock and birdsong to break the silence. The climbers did very well...

I am aware that I am being less reliable about posting on the blog - after 5 years the novelty is wearing off a bit and also it started as a vehicle to document my uni degree work - now finished... in the first instance this twice weekly recording was a requirement to fulfil a module and then it became quite a good way to evidence my work progress and share life in general - something I've never been shy of - its gained a few faithful followers and quite a few unexpected readers from time to time - and I will continue to add to it but maybe as my life has become a little bit more mundane and I don't really expect my exploits to entertain as many people - well to be honest I never did - it wont be quite so enthralling and as often 😂😂but its been a good way to keep in touch with quite a few distant folk who I miss having in my everyday life.....  This week we shared another partial solar eclipse - the weather was just kind enough to allow us a reasonable view of the sun slowly ...

Last week was positively hectic.... a trip to Lancaster where I managed to finally meet my son and his girlfriend, we haven't seen them for an age due to covid - a lovely wander and catch up and the weather was kind - then a fleeting trip to Coniston to meet up with some old pals not seen for far too long. I had (for me ) an adventurous walk up the valley which included off road rambling , quarry scrambling and breaking out of private premises......and as is becoming common in the Lakes I got hailed on again!!! It was nice to sleep in the van again though - its along time since we had such an outing... We also had an exciting trip to Leeds where we spent an afternoon with my lovely daughter and her girls - hard to believe its been three years since we lost Jay - but it has - and we toasted his memory - then we went to see our very good friends who have finally, after massive hiccups have moved house!!! They found their dream home about a month before we found Coundon Tower and its ...

Meanwhile back at the ranch.... both greenhouses are full of plants mostly grown from seed and some plug plants I have nurtured to a sensible size.   I have lots of flowers both perennial and bedding and some veg - sadly my tomatoes didn't do well so I had to resort to buying a few plants but everything else has really blossomed - I'm just waiting another week before I start planting out.  I'm really hoping to have a lot more colour in the garden this year - there are a lot of established plants all over the garden - its been well thought out but its mainly green and a bit conifery for our taste - so we are still taking out leylandii - and I will add some more architectural plants in - Flax - Banana and I have grown Cardoons from seed - I saw them a couple of years ago while we were on holiday and I just love the size and magnificence of them so I hope mine turn out like that!!! On the nice day this week we went for a fab walk through Binchester Woods.  Full of blueb...

theres snow on them there hills..... We had rain - snow - hail - wind - and glorious sunshine all in one day on our lake district trip last week.... just another little day trip out to find some hills and quiet solace among lambs and sprouting bracken.  Was a mixed forecast but we went anyway and while Dr Fred headed up the crag up a hill near Langdale - the rain came in and I sat eating chocolate under a totally inadequate umbrella  and consequently we got got moderately wet but managed to avoid the worst by having lunch and wee kip in the back of the van - well not exactly a kip but a snuggle under the duvet as the hail ravaged the van - it made us feel very nostalgic for sleeping in the van but still very little camping open quote where we want it!  how to spread out wherever.. Later when the weather settles a bit a went for a wander up  Loughridge fell - Dr Fred went looking for esoteric rocks (and didn't find them) I wandered about and did a little bit of painti...

We seem to be experiencing a life as we knew it again.... A walk on the beach with a good friend from Northumberland - a long overdue get together and in spite of lock down limitations we still seem to have plenty to chat on about... then visitors (in the garden) at the weekend and then a day out in the van..  It was very glorious to get up silly early (for us) with the sunrise - have our marmite toast and then head across country and be parked up in a little layby by 9.00 to have a rambling wander along the valley near Ullswater.  The weather was completely amazing - you just don't get many days like this in the Lake district and we were glad we had made the effort to make the most of it.  There were few people about - to be honest we didn't expect to see any one but we did come across a couple of other walkers. The fields were full of lambs pronking and the grass was full of wildflowers.  We meandered along the valley path for about an hour and then made camp and a...

Life is very quiet at the moment - due to the pandemic we had to forgo the usual Yuri Gagarin first man in space celebrations which was a shame given it was the 60th anniversary -  flying the flag for Yuri (T Shirt actually) as this date is also Dr Freds birthday we did have 6 friends for a picnic in the garden - post snow with a firepit.  We were all wrapped in blankets and ate enough curry and cake to make our bodies keep warm burning calories - but we missed the space tunes and the other party goers but the occasion was marked and we reminisced about the 50th anniversary party in the scout hut near Hebden Bridge where most people dressed up and we had a very tuneful night - much food and alcohol was consumed - good night... 50th anniversary pic 2011... don't have permission for all faces..... This year we didn't even get the yuri bunting out or the CCCP rocket stored under the spare bed, no space suit or dancing light up shoes ..... these days will come again.... Other news...

Adamfrost is back!!! At least I think it is Adamfrost - To be honest I find it quite difficult to tell one hedgehog from another but we have a lot of nocturnal hog activity caught on camera... only one hog at a time which suggests its the same one returning -  I'm ridiculously pleased - We can now use our massive supply of hog biscuits we won last year.    We have also got a huge crows nest under construction in the top of the copper beech tree - we are quite fascinated to watch the crows breaking off tree branches and inserting them to build this massive nest - I'm not sure if have crows in the garden is a good or bad thing - they are very good for eating pests but I think they might scare off other birds - time will tell - they are taking up residence and there's not a lot we can do about it.. When we were in Northumberland we lived next to an amazing rookery but were very saddened by the local 'gamekeeper' one day shooting into all the nests (I'm supposing he...

So today is a day of reflection regarding this last year of surviving a pandemic.... I'd like to be upbeat and positive about this and in fact for a lot of the last year our lives have been mostly that - we are fortunate - nice space, big garden, no money or employment worries, plenty to keep busy with and even little bit of family interaction.... However when I really reflect I mainly feel desperately sad for all that has been lost in in this last year.  Many people have lost loved ones and many more are suffering long lasting devastating effects of surviving the last year,  unemployment mental health issues - domestic violence, deep loneliness -  Retail and hospitality have suffered massively, travel, especially abroad has become a distant memory and the NHS is on its knees but still managing to deliver an amazing service and that is no thanks to a government who have proved themselves greedy beyond belief.  We will never know if a different group of individuals wo...

Well life cant be one long round of crisps and gin - reality kicks in and entertainment remains  considerably more mundane....so I've been a bit giddy in the garden this week.. the sun has really gone to my head it's such a relief to see some sunshine and feel some warmth.  I have washed the 'nursery' greenhouse out.... I swear I'm in danger of getting seriously 'above myself' - 2 greenhouses to indulge in ha ha... anyway one is sparkling clean and swept- even the corners... I got bored then (and very wet) so the established plants greenhouse is still grotty - but a shiny greenhouse and a bit of sunshine is just too tempting so the first seeds are in!  I did a bit of general garden tidying up straggly bits and pruning and moved the plant pots about so they looked more aesthetically pleasing which means at this time of year when they are pretty much empty or look empty I'll just keep moving them about forever -  and also I managed to sell the concrete ben...

Bring on Summer.... We are running out of entertainment options... bored with endless boxed sets - Spotify fills a large gap and the sun finally making an appearance certainly helped with garden chores but after dark we are reduced to such exciting ventures as blind crisp tasting!!! YES... this was our exciting experiment for Friday night.... as self confessed crisp addicts it was building up to be a promising evening if for no other reason we would have to eat a minimum of six packets of crisps!!!  We have been very circumspect about eating crisps recently - basically not buying them so they are not in the house because if they are we just eat them - what else would one do you might ask, well firstly, you might make them last more than one evening - and you might not fall out  about who has eaten them the quickest so getting twice as many... it had got to the point that we only allowed ourselves crisps on very high days and holidays or when we had visitors - none of which has...

Blimey moses its all happening at Coundon Tower... the redecorating is in full swing and Dr Fred is starting to feel the burn!!!!  I'm sure I've said this before but I suspect owning a house with me has come as a bit of a shock... well for Dr Fred even just owning a house....given the circumstances where he hadn't really reached the head space for a purchase - he hadn't actually had chance to think through the options and was still holding, rather blindly in my humble opinion... out for his own personal wish list. This included such fanciful attributes as a 'tower', an observatory and more practical ones like south facing with enough space.  It was a bit of shock when I presented him with the estate agent details of this property which had about as good as a 'tower' we were ever going to find in our price range, and a shed which could convert for star gazing... in addition to being south facing it ticked a lot of other boxes, central to the area we wante...

 I seem to be going through a wallpaper phase at the moment... and usually the wallpapers I like are mostly beyond my budget and occasionally just within - supposing I am creative about how I use them.  Back in the day of my first house renovation I fell in love with an Osborne and Little paper which I remember being astounded at its extreme expense £25 a roll 😂😂😂 - How I wish that was todays expensive..... Anyway I splashed out and put in on the ceiling in our living room - thats at least 25 years ago and its still there - looking good and proving a good investment!!!  not the best photo but you get the idea... Next was the much more expensive Nina Campbell which I put up - causing me to completely change my new kitchen colour scheme - how to tie red and black gloss, vivid green, purple and delphinium blue together - believe me it can and was done!!! I was very pleased with it but sadly it wasn't long after I finally got the kitchen of my dreams aged 52 I upped and le...