The Storm

This is the view we woke up to yesterday morning

I am quite sad that our view has changed forever.

I was also quite sad that we were without power for 26 hours!  Not ideal - but thank goodness for friends and family who provided food, showers and a warm place to spend the evening.

A rainbow appeared just as we were leaving to go to friends for supper.

Thanks to those who commented - Matt got back safe and sound yesterday - albeit a bit grubby!  And tired!!  (I don't think he has slept during the day since he was about 9 months old!)  As you can see, he got home and crashed!  :)

Now to get yet another load of washing in the machine.

x

Winchester

Whilst Matt has been away in Biarritz, playing rugby and having fun with the school team, we worked, and have managed a couple of days away.  Not quite Biarritz, but Winchester was really nice.  It was quite a luxury to have a grown up "little holiday".  In fact the last time we went away on our own was when Matt was away with school.  It does seem very expensive child minding, if I'm honest!

Assuming you don't want to view my entire collection of photos - over 100!  Whoops!!

Here is a flavour of our little trip……

Using Tesco vouchers we stayed in this hotel

Once we had unpacked, we went for a walk along the High Street - such blue skies for an October day (not like now at all!!)

An unusual drainpipe

The Great Hall

Inside you can see the Round Table

Beautiful walk along the river, past the Mills

King Arthur

Stunning Autumn colour

Peace & Tranquility

Medieval Stables as we approach the Cathedral

Our hotel room overlooked the side of the cathedral.

The following day we went inside.

Jane Austen is buried in the cathedral

11th Century ceiling and wall paintings, which had only recently been re-discovered.

We spent several hours in the Cathedral.  Not something we could have done if Matt were around!  Bored and grumpy teenagers don't add much to the occasion.

We also managed a trip to the theatre.  If you get the opportunity to see this show - it was brilliant.  We are not dance fans, but fancied a theatre trip whilst we were away - and thoroughly enjoyed it.  

Keep warm and dry, and lets hope the storm isn't as bad as the forecast.

(And that Matt gets home from France safely in the morning!)

x

Inspiration

I don't know where this week has gone.  I knew I'd been busy in the office, but didn't think it had been that onerous, so I am not sure what happened with my time.  I think that when I've had some free time, it has been grey and raining outside, and I've been in the office when the sun has come out.  Matt had a rugby match on Thursday which we watched.  Not the boys best performance, maybe they held back as some of them are off to France tomorrow on tour?  (Lucky boys - not so lucky mum having to get him to the airport for 5am!  Do Sundays really start at that time?  Not for many years here!)  And I really can't think what else I've done!

But I certainly don't recall sitting down either - so it must have been something!

I have seen some lovely Autumn inspired photos, and colours on various blogs this week. The leaves here aren't such vivid colours yet.  Another week or so I would imagine.

Today, has been spent washing kit which came home from school yesterday, getting it dried and ready to be packed.  My husband helped my son pack, which left me with a couple of hours to do the garden - except it rained, really, really hard.  So, I had no

option, but to craft!  So with other peoples Autumn ideas buzzing round my head, I thought I'd make a couple of cards.

Choosing my colours

Cutting out

Layering

Two finished cards

Now for an early supper in view of the early start tomorrow. 

Thanks for popping by - enjoy your weekend.

x

And a cushion to match

As I had a little yarn left after finishing the ripple, I decided to make a cushion

And I'm pleased with how it all looks in Matt's room (and so is he!)

A nice quick and simple project.

Although a little nerve racking towards the end - there was only just enough yarn!

x

A Wet Sunday

Yesterday, the sun was warm.  Pottering around in the garden was so enjoyable.

However, today is somewhat different.  Cold, wet and windy!

When the view outside is like this

A spot of this is required!

Cranberry and apple muffins

Using Lucy's recipe

I am sure there were more when I took them out the oven! :)

A very hungry wet son returned from rugby at just the right time!

And this afternoon, I have sorted my yarn stash!  

I have more than I thought - particularly as there is another bag with my WIP in!

Hope you are having a great weekend.

x

A different school run

Evening

I've been visiting my sister this week, which has been fun.  She lives a few hours drive away, so although we chat often, we don't get to spend as much time together as we'd like.  So this was a bit of a treat for me.  

I thought I'd share the walk back from school with my nephew.

Out of school, and past the church.

Families haven't tended to move away, so not only is the churchyard carefully maintained, but the family names on the graves are still in the village today.

 A rather lovely house next to the church - the Virginia creeper was stunning - my photo doesn't do it justice!

 A "need' to stop at the part to collect conkers

 Looks like rain is on the way ....

 But there was still blue sky in the direction we walked

We made it home in the dry :)

 My sister and I managed a day of shopping, coffee and chatting yesterday, and then today it was time for me to come home.  Another motorway journey - which didn't quite go to plan.

Still - that meant a couple of hours at a service station - thank goodness my crochet was handy!

Off to catch up with the washing now.

Bye x

It's Finished!

Finally!

 After a few many months

It's finished!

Worth the wait?

Matt thinks so!

:-)

Thank goodness

Now what shall I do next?

x

PS - Just in case you didn't recognise it - the pattern is Lucy's - here

Yarndale - Number 2

To say we were a little excited would be an understatement.  I know 40 something women really shouldn't squeal like that - but we did.  And we had fun!

We squealed when we saw Heather from Patchwork Heart.  Sorry!  

I squealed very loudly when I spotted some of my flowers on the bus! :)

 The bus was pretty empty as we were going in the opposite direct to most people.

This turned out to have been a very good plan.

 The we walked to the studio.

 It felt slightly surreal seeing somewhere that you have seen in photos.  Thinking you know it, and the people involved, but really have no idea.  However, Lucy and Tracy's studio is just as you would imagine.  Wonderful light and colours.  I think I might have squealed here too!

 Another blog I love is Bunny Mummy. Jacquie was in the studio.  I spotted her lovely daffodil brooch.  She joined us for a cake and drink at Coopers.  Jacquie took a photo - I'm afraid that even with a cooked breakfast a couple of hours earlier, I was too keen to eat my flapjack to take a photo. :-)

We then took the Yarn Walk to Yarndale.  We were a bit like overly excited school girls, but it was lovely to feel we had been involved in a small way by making bunting.  Reading Lucy's blog, gave an insight to all the hard work before the event too.

 Despite some yarn bombing being "re-homed", it was great to see the ducks.  Can you see the 3 of us taking a photo?  Many more people were stopping and pointing out the ducks and taking photos.  Even non-Yarndale folk.

 What a lovely park to walk through.  This tree in particular was stunning.

 Lucy's work maybe?  We straightened a few "woolly leg warmers" along the way.

 Almost there.

 I wish I were this creative.  This bunting was spectacular!  I loved how it looked on the stone wall.

 We've arrived.  Goodness it was busy!  I tried but failed to spot any of my bunting.

 Rather than just buying yarn, maybe I could have my own alpaca?  Or maybe not.

We shopped and stroked yarn, and chatted along the way.  A wonderful way to spend an afternoon.  I couldn't have asked for anything more.

 Time for a cuppa in the sunshine - sitting outside on the grass - at the end of September!!

 As we left to go back to the hotel (and a jacuzzi!), after a wonderful day, we couldn't help spending a few minutes admiring the sheep

 and views

 Stunning!

 On Sunday we decided we hadn't quite had enough of Yarndale - so we went back!  It was much quieter, so we were able to take a little more time looking at bunting - and I spotted one of mine!  It made me feel good to know it was in the entrance as part of such a stunning display.

 Lucy's cosy corner was a bit quieter too (thank goodness for Lucy.  I don't know how she coped on Saturday!)  An amazing lady, and so kind and patient to speak with all of us.

 we spent an hour or so crocheting here with other crafty people.

 As I say, Lucy was so kind to let us have a photo with her.

 Are you still with me?

We still weren't quite ready to start the long journey home, so we walked back along the Yarn Walk into Skipton High Street.

 Luck was on our side - we saw the puppet parade through the town!

 Time for some lunch, and then we had to make our way back to the car.

 Back along the canal

Such a warm and friendly town.  Everyone was so nice to us, taking time to chat along the way.  So different to here!  I love Sussex, but I have to say Skipton is a pretty special town.

Sadly it was time to go home, and the least we say about the journey home the better.

Lots of traffic - but that meant we had time to chat and reflect on a great mini holiday. 

Off to go and sew the ends in on the ripple now.  Almost there!

I might even post again soon - but won't promise!

x