June wrap up

Its almost the second week of July, but heres my June wrap up! Last month of the end of the financial year - and can I say as a farm owner/manager Im proud to say I got all the superannuation, wages etc squared away by june 30 as well as zero (yep zero) emails in my inbox - sadly it doesnt look like that atm but it was for a short time! Farm wise the mornings have been often below zero, and drizzly rain - just enough to keep things muddy Im glad I dont milk very often anymore and virtually never in the mornings - just the cup of tea deliverer to Gary in the shed, but I do get up at 5am to do the bull selections for cows as we are currently AIing (not articificial intelligence - artificial insemination) This is a bit of a passion of mine, I dont want to breed show cows but nice looking cows that do all the right things - good temprement, milk well etc and if its a red and white holstein Im in heaven But enough of the farm stuff - Im sure you would like to know what I finished! Fistly a pair of socks (I feel like its been a while since I finished a pair?) I love the colour of these - the pattern is A Little Hocus Pocus Socks and the yarn is from Skein yarn in the colourway Vision of You. This yarn I think Ive had in my stash for at least 10 maybe 15 years and the contrast heel and toe yarn is from Obsession Yarns The pattern was a challenge in a Ravelry group Im on and its a great pattern with just enough pattern detail to keep you interested

Im liking making small little projects so heres a couple I finished - a cute little pincushion with a pocket for scissors

A pouch for bibs and bobs with a clear plastic pocket (this was tricky and the first time Id sewn that)

And finally a cute set of coasters with sashiko embroidery on them

On the reading front - Ive finished quite a few! Firstly the physical books

Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Must admit I chose this book as it had the most beautiful cover. Its the story of two sisters who enter a competition on a nearby island with the prize being a single wish Its fantasty (of course) I really struggled with this book and sadly its a single star for me

The Fallen Woman by Fiona McIntosh - this book is set in Edwardian england and is the story of Jane Saville who is forced by her mother and sister to take on the raising of her sisters illigitimate child ane lives her days with her son and friend painting. One day, Guy Attwood, a wealthy and eligible bachelor, is brought into their lives, and soon Jane must take control of the future she wants. There is a lot of talk and history about apples and the story is quite slow in the first half of the book but once Guy is introduced into the story things pick up and some get what they deserve. Id give this book 3 stars due to the slowness but still a good read.

Care by Brooke McAlary - this is a book about caring for yourself - its a pick up and put down coffee table type book but beautifully written and 4 stars And now to the audio books - Im re listening the throne of glass series and really loving it on audio

Book two is Crown of Midnight - What I like about these books as they start straight after how the previous one finished. Celaena is still the Kings Assassin but is not loyal to the King. Three other main characters interact in the story - Dorian the Crown Prince, Chaol the Captain of the Guard and Nehemia who is a princess from another land. Celaena must decide who she will be loyal to and to be true to herself and her heritage. An excellent read and Im already half way through the next book - and its equally as good - of course 5 stars out of 5

Next in the Throne of Glass series is The Assassins Blade - Its a series of short stories that gets you up to speed on the Throne of Glass series - the events that happened before Celaena became the Kings Assassin It was a great read and really fleshed out her character and why she is the way she is - 5 stars of course! So a productive month for the end of the financial year - lets see what 25/26 financial year has in store!