Its been a while...........

but I couldn't stay away any longer especially when I had such a lovely comment from Diane .

Eldest child has been home now for 5 weeks from uni. Its been lovely having her home, the only downside being the fake tan on the white towels and the once more squalid state of her bedroom, but that's not that bad is it? Tonight she is cooking us all a lovely meal with 'come dine with me recipes' and its all looking highly professional so far. Back tomorrow.

We picked her up from York before Easter and stayed overnight which was a real treat. The three of us had a real lovely afternoon walking round the city before a slap up meal and then back to the hotel ( I love staying in a hotel, mainly because of the laundered sheets!)..........next morning early Herb and I did the city walls and he showed me his old school which is now St Johns uni.




However the real high of the past few weeks was the Yorkshire sculpture park.....it was an amazing day out and I don't believe it would have to be just a love of modern sculpture for this to be a real treat. We were a mixed group, 6 to 60 and we all really enjoyed the day. True the weather was glorious, like summer, which helps any day out along but also the sculpture was fab (my favourite was definitely the wonderful Sophie Ryder and Henry Moore pieces). The 'bunny 'pieces as my niece called them are really amazing, made I think from galvanised wire and the kneeling sculpture stands probably 25 feet. Wonderful.



the park, views, exhibitions all a real treat....and its free to get in (£4 to park) how much better could it be. We took a picnic but there is a cafe. ....As you can tell, I'm a real fan of the place...please go if you're near Wakefield you wont be disappointed.


The low of the past month is that I've not felt great and am awaiting the results of a whole range of tests. It really brought me down, so much so that creativity has gone out of the window unusually for me. I've started and abandoned lots of projects(except this little experiment which is now with the other half started pieces dumped behind the sofa). However I am a lot more positive now and am sure all will be ok. Those few words D made a difference...thank you

what next......

Having failed to get onto any degree course for fine art, youngest has a new plan. Can you guess? something that maybe would cause a shiver in the heart of any parents of a 17 year old...........yes you guessed....she wants to go travelling to Australia!

This is a girl who when she was about to miss the train returning from York recently, kept texting in a frenzy for a solution to getting home because she couldn't think of one herself!..she is the most adorable, loving, fun kid.....but maybe not particularly street wise (or is that just a mother talking?)......AUSTRALIA!

I managed a weak smile, Herb never looked up from the paper. ''yes of course I've always wanted you to do the travelling I didn't....lets talk about it later''...I said as I hurried to the computer and dashed off several emails for foundation courses in art.

I have a very dear friend...........

whom I love very much. He is a wonderful man, who I have know for over 20 years and who is really the best friend any woman could want.

We have shared the best of times and the very worst of times in those twenty years. I can talk to him about nearly everything, he is a wonderful cook, we love to talk about hopes and dreams for our families, we share problems, he is the life and soul of every party (which I am definitely not) and his version of 'Amore', is a must at any event.

He is the snappiest dresser ever( its the Italian in him) and I can't imagine not having him in my life. On top of all that I am very close friends with his wife, godparent to one of his children and we share all occasions. We even went to Italy together several years ago, with the blessing of our spouses and had a wonderful time eating our way through Tuscany.

Today my friend is 50 and we are off tonight to celebrate with him and the family. They have had a very tough decade and my wish is that the next 10 years will be kinder in every way.

Well, what do you buy this man as a present.......these which I know he will adore, he's a sucker for a label. Happy birthday dearest friend.

o

Thank you.....

for all the kind thoughts and words. Of course she got back safe and sound, floating through the door at 1 am declaring it the best night of her life! One of the band had held her hand , gazed into her eyes and sang just to her! Ah.......should I spoil the moment, telling her how worried I had been all night, rant and rave about how stupid she had been to get in the car with an inexperienced driver in those conditions.............No of course I didn't, after listening to all and I mean all the details, I casually mentioned that maybe it hadn't been the best of ideas, she paused, 'that's why I didn't tell you she said'.....before floating up the stairs, leaving me to wait for the effects of the strong coffee to wear off and calm down..........who'd be a parent.................we would!!!!

am hopping mad..........

and more than a little bit scared. Arrived home late after visiting an old friend after work, the motorway was treacherous with driving rain , the usual maniacs that drive lorries and the 4 x 4's that don't have their beam on but might just as well have as they are blinding you being that much higher up(I have a small car!) ....only to find that youngest has gone to her JLS concert in London, which I knew about, not in the friends car, that I thought ( she been driving for 18 months-which is worrying enough).....oh no, they have gone down the motorway in these filthy weather conditions, with a friend who passed her test 3 weeks ago and has never driven on a motorway in the day never mind tonight...........I am trying to be calm, but just want her to walk through the door! am sat here pulling at my hair as it turns white.

disappointment.......

Thanks for all good wishes friends but she didn't get in. That's two interviews and two rejections. So we are all really disappointed for youngest and a bit worried. As we've started talking to friends who are going through the same process this year, it seems the economic downturn is having a big effect on university places and that will only get worse next year with the proposed cuts to funding. Last year eldest had no interviews, she just had to get the grades. This year most of youngest's friends are having interviews for all different subjects, and not many offers, one maybe two. Even the really academic straight A kids.

Youngest did set her sights high, so we will see how the next two go, then maybe scout around for any one year foundation art places that are left.

Its hard to see your child so disappointed!

On the crafting front I was really chuffed this week to sell two things I've made. This (obviously when finished)and this. My friend asked me to make them so she could give them as gifts, but she did pay me. The embroidery I already had so I just framed it,(forgot to take a snap) and the scarf took me about 2 hours and looks really good in the grey.

The blanket continues to grow. Apologies to those who tried the link for the pattern. The site seems to be down. If anyone wants a copy let me know, I will try and get you a copy.( I only have a paper version)






Yesterday I went to a book sale and bought all these lovely books for £4.50. I love old books like this one given as a prize 50 years ago, beautiful pictures of France and this slim cookery on french recipes. The penguin box set of cookery books was a steal £2.00, I love the writing of Elizabeth David and Jane Grigson, and of course Nigel can always be relied on.

the craft books are excellent. Don't you just love these 1970s pictures of crochet loveliness.

Snowy Saturday.........

My intention today was to change the header picture above to reflect my more positive approach to the year now that January is almost behind us, some emerging bulbs, cavorting lambs, sunshine....but what did I find......snow. A whole white world, yet again. Enough is enough I say.


Indeed I intended to rant about the roads in this country after a journey to Norwich that should have taken 1 1/2 hours took 4 and the trip to Lancaster and back was 10 hours instead of 8. Both delays due to lorries.....but I'm not going to.......its a beautiful day despite the snow and we have good friends coming over today so I'm happy. Risotto will be made, wine will be drunk and smelly cheese eaten. Bliss


Lancaster was a long day. Youngest had her interview while we did another tour of the art department, accommodation etc. She loves it there and we think it would suit her very well but.......we found out they have reduced the number of place this year, 27 out of more than 150 applicants and half of those will go to students who have done a foundation year so effectively she is trying for one of 14 places! My heart is heavy on this one friends.

Progress on the snowflake blanket is good and for those that asked this is the link for the pattern /www.artoftangle.com/snowflake.htm.

My main creative thoughts are in the direction of the Bargello needlepoint ( I do tend to flit all over the creative spectrum, as you may have noticed)......I love this type of needlework and have just rekindled my interest and started a new group on flickr. So if you give it a go..............it is incredibly quick and easy to do, please let me know and share. have a great weekend one and all.