What a wonderful day..........

Its a day for counting ones blessings. Yesterday was a very long day spent in the London suburbs. Not the nicest parts of our capital, but the ones that look depressing even in the nicest weather. The ones that feel dirty and dare I say slightly threatening. So today i am back in my country town and enjoying the sun. I have allowed myself to potter, ignoring all the jobs that demand my attention, enjoying the garden.........oh and preparing for Venice on Sunday. Can't wait!

the garden is looking beautiful



such colours...



the colour on this peony is so so beautiful

i love the end of the garden......can you spot' my old man'



the iris' on the pond have people stopping to look ......they are stunning

What do you call......

....a room full of accountants. I had a whole day to think about this on Thursday. A smart location deep in the heart of London town, a view of St Pauls from one window and the GPO tower from the other. Even such views were not enough to distract from the subject in hand. Accounting. Benchmarking. The morning was bearable. Flicking through the handout trying to fit the names and job titles to the people sat around me. Surely they could see through me,I hardly dared catch their eye, I don’t belong here! don’t feel a passion for the bottom line. Oh I dreamed to be spending my day elsewhere. Making something, enjoying the garden,

reading. By the afternoon it was not so good. Even the dedicated started to drift away both physically and spiritually. Eyes were glazing over, doodling was getting creative. Then we all hurried away back to our various corners of this green and pleasant land. Herb got me tea and showed me to the settee. I picked up my crochet and relaxed. Do people know how lucky they are when they have jobs they love? That’s what I tell my offspring, try and find something you love that will also pay the rent.(Youngest made these muffins to cheer me up)

Meanwhile I shall while away my free time in my quiet pleasures.

.......oh and yes a room full of accountants, a depreciation I think.

A Midweek Jaunt

Quite often when the mood takes us Herb and I get in the 'microwave'-what my friends laughingly call my beloved Ka- and scoot off for a little jolly. Maybe to the beach, but more often to a not too distant small town or village to have a little tramp round. This often takes the form of a coffee in the nicest tea shop we can find, take in the charms of said town or village then refer to the ordnance survey for a little walk. Not too arduous you understand but hopefully some nice views, clean air and no traffic noise.( I have a real issue with the distant hum of motorways as Herb would tell you. Every trip involves a moment of stopping and listening.)Yesterday we went to a village with no hum. Just the wind in the trees and lots of birds.

First we went to the wool shop I told you about. I bought more yarn for the granny blanket; the owner was particularly good about discreetly writing down the total as Herb was in the vicinity. While I was there I looked at the dk cotton for my next project. The most beautiful colours but I mustn’t jump the gun, treats in store. I couldn’t spend as much time as I wanted because I could hear a little impatience behind me but I will be back soon, this time on my own.

After the wool shop we drove to a village I had been to before and had a good trek. The church yard was beautiful with the graveyard having been turned into a meadow. And right by the church was the oldest yew tree we have ever seen. The markings on the inside of the hollow trunk were beautiful; my picture can’t do it justice.

As we were leaving I spotted a stall by the roadside advertising the wares of the local farm shop and as we stepped up to have a look noticed the pigs in the field behind charging towards us. A small electric fence blocked their way but we realised the stall also sold pig food which was why they were showing so much interest. A £1 well spent for these magnificent creatures but it won’t stop me ordering from the farm. Youngest child cannot believe I can eat the bacon after stroking the pig, but i can!!

Revision revision revision.......

Not me you understand, I'm just cracking the whip. Well actually more like providing comfort food, a shoulder to cry on when the stress kicks in and a gentle critic of the art work. Both youngest child and eldest child are doing A levels so I am trying to create the right environment for revising.
Calming music, the right snacks, loving words. Is it working....who knows.
Eldest child is glued to the lap top and youngest child is busy mixing oil paints for her final art piece.
This afternoon Herb went off for a game of golf, I got on with the blanket ...growing nicely I must say except I’ve run out of wool.......... and youngest child created a very good Mr Punch.



We had another mad dash to the art supply store about 10 miles away this morning to get more supplies. Goodness knows what poor people do! This final piece has cost a fortune this week. Of course it’s all worth it.

On the craft front a colleague at work brought me back from Holland this
brilliant bag which I’m using to store all my wool and paraphernalia. It’s just perfect....... I’ve decided to block the squares which gives a much better result when all sewn together. Thanks to attic24 for the tip.Tomorrow I’m off to the wool shop for more supplies. I found this fantastic little shop about 30 minutes away in a small village which has the most wonderful yarns. The first time I visited, I walked in with my daughter and we were confronted by a small group of women sitting round a table tucking into what smelt like delicious soup. This it turned out was a beginners crochet session with lunch thrown in...........we made our excuses for a 15 minute walk round this delightful village and when we returned found the same women surrounded by beautiful yarns wrapped over fingers and hooks. I so wanted to join in.
The shop is tiny yet is crammed with beautiful handmade items, craft books, china, ribbons and so much more. I will post a picture after my next visit so you can see how delightful it is. I fully intend to sign up for one of their sessions and intend to only buy small amounts of wool each time so I can keep returning.

Here goes.....

So, here goes. Months of thinking about it and finally put it on the page. This year I have started a new decade and have seriously started to contemplate what a new era this will be. Eldest child will go to university later this year and youngest child next year. That will leave me and 'Herb'- the husband, to occupy this space that has so long been filled with the noise of 2 girls and all that entails. I know, I know, it hasn't happened yet, but I want to prepare so that I wont be a needy miserable wretch when they do eventually go.

Ours has been a house in these past couple of years where everyone congregates, Saturday morning will find the girl's friends squeezed onto mattresses or sofas.....several pairs of strange shoes in the hall, and the gossip from the night before over breakfast.... and I love it.

So ........I intend to gradually fill the space with stuff, metaphorically speaking and this blog is part of it.

I have taken up a few old hobbies, crochet, embroidery and tapestry. Have arranged a couple of trips with friends (Venice in a few weeks-cant wait) , all the stuff that has sometimes been put on hold that I love to do .

Last week I started this new project..........I bought some beautiful wool and inspired by blogs I read I have made a start. Hope you like it.

Even if no one else finds this blog i think i am going to enjoy it....here goes.