A wonderful weekend

I've had a lovely weekend the weather here has been mild and sunny and there is no way I was going to stay in.  I believe we're in for a cold snap next week so enjoy the good weather as much as you can, is my motto.  I cannot stay indoors cooped up all day. I have to have a daily dose of fresh air (whatever the weather) after that I happily settle down.  Whilst I am out and about I'm constantly on the look out for interesting things to share on my blog, like I said I will endeavour to keep up to date with my blog.

So what have I done since my last post well truly inspired by Lucy at http://attic24.typepad.com/ I went out and got me some flowers as last Thursday here it was dull and raining and I felt I needed some colourful flora to liven me up.  I had seen this French Style planter in my local market so I knew where I was going to head as part of my errands for today




I know the lovely scented hyacinths are in full bloom and in fact are past their best, but they make my kitchen smell nice and they make me happy.  I plan to plant some Tete a tete miniature daffodils when the hyacinths have finished.

Friday back to work for just one day, my normal working week starts again next Monday.  I work full time so I will have to establish a blog routine within my normal routine.

Saturday a gloriously fine weather day!  After all hands on deck to pack away Christmas we then piled into the car and headed off to Wales for the day.  I am fortunate to live close enough to North Wales so I can nip in to take in the fantastic scenery.  You will see this is a regular occurrence, this week Llangollen canal path was our destination and here are some photos (see I'm getting the hang of this now )

An arty shot of a house right on the canal overlooking Llangollen, what a fab place to live!

I love the interesting shapes in this tree root, I can't imagine how much longer it will stay upright

Can you see the Troll face in the middle?

Llangollen Castle City Bran

I love love love the classic canal art

This boat was named Jamming - reggae inspired

After seeing the fantastic canal boats all personalised by their owners we all got to talking about how we would decorate ours if we had such a luxury.  Himself loves vintage cars so that would be walnut and leather and possible clasic Racing Green, H a techno geek would have solar panels and LED strip lights and all gadgets he would require, F would like a Formula 1 motor racing theme.  Myself would be shabby chic, gingham clashing with polka dots, Cath Kidston vintage styling.  Oh if only !!

One thing I forgot to mention is when we go out on our jolly weekend jaunts himself will drive the car.  I can drive its just that its his baby and he prefers to drive himself.  I am happy to be a passenger and gaze out of the window that's if I'm not knitting or crocheting.  Yes yesterday I was crocheting an owl hat http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/09/crochet-owl-hat-pattern-in-newborn.html at 70 miles an hour, now that is fast !! 

And the rain came back !!

Well I get a day off work with my family. We could have a nice day out rambling somewhere scenic; but it rained and it rained and it rained !
Himself is getting over a bout of man flu but is actually looking forward to getting back to work to re-establish his normal routine, he's a right barrel of laughs!  We all feel the same at this time of year, too much excess over the festive season and too little exercise, isn't that why people make New Year resolutions. His answer to the rain is to park on the couch and watch trashy day time TV zzzzzzzzzzz.  I don't think he likes being home with the family and I'm still waiting for him to answer that very question - hmm !
Anyway, umbrella out and I trot up to my local village for some provisions for today's meal, a Thai style pork fillet dish.  I won't eat it as I don't like meat but I love cooking.  On my return to the kitchen I prepared a Thai marinade and left the pork to rest in it. I then made a rice pudding which I have never ever made before (apart from opening a tin).  I have fond memories of my mum making rice pudding and my siblings fighting over who could have the share of the crispy coating off the top.  Yuk I never liked the skin off the top and was happy to leave the squabbling to the rest of the family.   I recall one time when Mum forgot to put sugar in and another time when she forgot to put the rice in.  With this in mind I followed the recipe www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/rice_pudding_85172 to the letter and it turned out very well. Proper comfort food for a dull miserable day

As the oven was already on I also made some Banana & chocolate chip muffins.

And still the rain came down and still he lay on the couch.  After dinner was completed and all the chores done I settled down to watch my hero Batman in the Dark Knight Rises www.thedarkknightrises.com/dvd/  wowww!  Rainy days aren't that bad after all .

Well having spent New Year' eve in with Messrs Beechams and Kleenex, oh and Mr Covonia dropped round for a beverage I decided to get out in the fresh air today.  So off to  Thurstaston Country Park we went www.visitwirral.com/attractions-and-activities/wirral-country-park-p7711 and boy was it bracing, there was rolling surf a super strong wind and hundreds of people with the same idea.  There were group after group of ramblers and families all seeing their New Year start with a very fresh walk.

I even managed to use my camera on my new phone, this technology is fantastic.Firstly I had to get it out of it's new case, yes I yarn bombed my phone within hours of receiving for Christmas from himself.  I had small granny squares made from some leftover sock yarn so I stitched them up and ta dah !

Then I got snapping, they're a bit rough as it was blowing a gale and I'm still learning how to use the thing !

And off we go against the wind !

Lovely blue skies after all the horrible rain

After my lovely walk we're all back in the warm with a Vegetable Mulligatawny soup on the hob (made from fresh myself I might add).  I'm off to devour it then back to my crafty corner for the evening with a good movie I think :)

Well reflecting on 2012 I didn't do very well with my blog did I.  Note to self  "Must try harder".  Well I'm still crafting and still doing my Yoga (now that is an achievement for me !)
I had to be creative for Christmas as I was asked to make a Darth Vader helmet for my 6 month old niece, Martha, now affectionately referred to as Marth Vader.  I will post pictures when I get a nice one.
My knitting is getting known around friends and colleagues and orders are starting to come my way, I could have a thriving business if I knuckle down to it.  This may be a good thing as my job is under threat of redundancy, but hey ho every cloud has a silver lining.



It may be the opportunity for me to change my life to something I dream to do, something in the arts and crafts.

New Year resolutions are being made, the first one is to use up my wool stash, and how am I going to do this? By joining this group on Ravelry  www.ravelry.com/groups/12-months-of-christmas-2013, I vow to create at least one gift a month to give to my friends and family next Christmas.  I'm halfway through my first Owl wrist warmer, a brilliant easy pattern from December's issue of Mollie Makes



I love love love this magazine it is truly inspirational, it also has a fantastic website www.molliemakes.com if you love crafts you will not be disappointed.

I have no excuse not to maintain my blog as I now have a proper phone which will make it easier for me to update and add photos etc.  Another resolution get blogging !

I'm off now to rest my achy fluey body, curl up on the couch with my ginger tea and my knitting.  A quiet but happy new year I hope.

Happy New Year to you all xx

As predicted I'm useless at Blogging.  I'm always too busy, but I have had a couple of days of work and therefore have been crafting again.  Here is a Lavender Mimi Mouse.  I purchased the very first kit of this design to be sold to the public from "Cool crafting" when I visited her stall at the Vintage fare at Liverpool St George's Hall recently.  It took me a couple of hours and was lovely to do.  I want to make a large one and use it as a doorstop, I'm even considering doing it in some denim off cuts I have to make it more hardwearing.  Here is the website for you to visit, she also had a lovely owl design and birds of paradise 
 www.coolcrafting.co.uk

Well I've got a few days off work, half term with the boys.  What to do on a cold grey " don't know what to do today" sort of day ?  Well we batten down the hatches and have cookfest, so far Banana, Cherry and white chocolate muffins, Banana bread, Broccoli & Stilton Soup and home made Cornish Pasties www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/7776/cornish-pasties 

While all that is cooking I'm off to put my feet up with my knitting and an old movie on the TV.   I've also got my eye on my sewing machine and my unfinished patchwork quilt.  When do I find the time to go to work, I'd never be bored ?

Today I went on one of my favourite walks here in Wirral.  Thurstaston country park which is on part of the Wirral Way http://www.thurstaston.wherewideweb.com/wirralway.html.  I donned my flower power wellies and was at one stage paddling in the sea like a big daft kid !!  Love it

It was misty today so we couldn't even see across the Dee estuary to North Wales and the river was still with no tide.  We skimmed stones, himself was the champion with a total of ten bounces from one pebble, I just can't master this art !!

The steps down to the beach

What I love about this circular route we take is that we travel in one direction along the beach and head back using the path along the cliff tops through the country park.  I'm always on the lookout for anything that might interest me or inspire my next craft project.

This made me laugh,  a rogue industrial glove had somehow got lodged in this sculpture, like a dismembered hand !

I found these lovely little toadstools growing on a a log aren't they a fantastic colour?

I swear that this cheeky little robin was posing for my camera, he sat watching us for ages not shy at all

 

 

  I was thinking today that this year I may actually commit myself to complete the Wirral coast walk the full 15 miles http://www.visitwirral.com/whats-on/wirral-coastal-charity-walk-p44258.  I've been wanting to do it for years but always forget to register, I'll have to start hassling my friends to see who will be my walking partner, I also need to think what charity I will collect my sponsor money for. Watch this space.....