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Sunday 30 June 2013

mini trip to london.............

I spent a few days with Kate last week and took my mum with me for a little mini break. We both had a fun time in London and it was so lovely catching up with Kate and Jake - I miss them so much and wish they lived a little bit closer.

I had the perfect job of taking Jake to nursery in the mornings, which is usually Sebs job but he was away on a business trip. Jake is so chatty and he would talk and sing all the way to nursery, it's lovely that he is so happy each morning. I didn't want to break his routine but it was nice to take him in a little bit late in the morning and where possible collect him early


on our way to nursery..................................
The day before I came home Jake came out in a few spots and then by the following morning he was covered in Chicken Pox, poor little man but he has coped very well.

A few months ago I taught Kate how to crochet and she picked it up very quickly - her fist granny square was beautiful .................

Kate's first ever granny square...............
Kate has continued to crochet and being Kate she does nothing by half and is on her way to finishing her first blanket - she has made 105 little squares so far.............

all perfect......................
lovely colours...............
more lovely yarn to finish off the blanket...................


My mum taught me how to crochet so it was quite special having three generations of women enjoying the simple art of crochet together.

We enjoyed our little holiday and managed to fit in some shopping as well as building duplo towers with Jake but time went quickly and it was soon time to get the train home. I am looking forward to August as Kate and Seb are bringing Jake to spend some time with me - can't wait and Jake will have such fun playing with his cousins.

Talk soon x

Saturday 29 June 2013

birthday brunch......................


Yesterday Laura, Zachy and Noah made some pretty paper bunting and a birthday banner which added a nice splash of colour to the hall. Today's it's Laura's birthday and we celebrated with a birthday brunch, which has become a family tradition. I finished making the birthday cake last night, filled it with jam and butter cream, added a layer of butter cream all over and lastly a layer of fondant icing. The final touch was fondant flowers and butter cream rosettes.

Kate, Seb and Jake couldn't come over but the rest of the family called in for a few hours and we had a nice celebratory brunch. We all had our fill of croissants, brioche, crumpets, pancakes, potato cakes, Welsh cakes (my favourite) and strawberries, all washed down with a sparkling glass of bucks fizz - perfect.


Laura blew out her candle and then each of the children had to have a turn too, then we cut the cake and I'm pleased to say it tasted yummy.................

Another lovely family celebration, now it's time to put my feet up and watch a spot of tennis.

talk soon x

Friday 28 June 2013

poorly shoulder.................

I have been suffering with a painful shoulder for a few weeks and unfortunately crochet seems to aggravate it. I have decided to rest my hook for a week to see if my shoulder pain improves - keep your fingers crossed.

To take my mind off neglected crochet squares I have had a cooking and baking day. I started with some carrots, celery, onions, vegetable stock and coriander and made a big pan of soup..............



Then I mixed a batch of sponge using 8 eggs, 16 oz flour, 16 oz sugar, and 16 oz of margarine this made lots of buns and 2 sponge cakes ( to be saved for a birthday brunch party on Saturday)





Lastly a quick tomato pasta for supper......................


I feel it's been a good productive day.....................

talk soon x

Thursday 27 June 2013

nature in the home - a series....................

I am joining in with Lou's nature in the home series and this weeks theme is white. I had fun wandering in my garden looking for simple white blooms to share with you. It always amazes me what I find, this series has really made me look and appreciate everything my garden has to offer.


The flowers are all so perfect that I am going to find a big heavy book and press them between blotting paper - hopefully in a few months I will have beautifully dried flower heads to make an everlasting card.

talk soon x



Wednesday 26 June 2013

yarn along - a few more squares.............

I am joing in with Ginny and her weekly yarn along post. Unfortunately I've not got very much to report this week as my crochet has been slow - just a few more squares to share with you.................


Reading wise I have been dipping back into my Gifts from the Garden book as it has some lovely ideas for jams and preserves. I quite fancy trying my hand at making some and my plum tree looks like it will have a bumper crop later in the year. If nothing else I want to make plum jam and also try bottling some of the whole fruits.

Hope if time permits you will pop over to see the other yarn along posts here

talk soon and thank you for your lovely comments, they mean such a lot to me x

Tuesday 25 June 2013

52 weeks of happy - 26/52...................

Another week and another link up with Jen and four new happy images to share with you................





1. happy smiley Jake......................

2. white stocks smell so good such a beautiful perfume............

3. I love this plant the flowers open in the sunshine - can't remember it's name though............

4. the sun has been shining over my patio today.............................

 another week of lovely happy moments - I hope you have some to share too.....................

talk soon x


Monday 24 June 2013

my garden - a quick update.......................

I promised to show you how my plants looked after I had potted them out into the borders and tubs.
I think they look happy and the recent rain has helped them to get established, I have also added a few photos of my favourite plants that have inhabited the borders for many years.........................



I hope the sun returns so that I can spend some time sitting out and enjoying my garden - fingers crossed as warm summer evenings sipping chilled wine has a nice ring to it...................

talk soon x

Saturday 22 June 2013

does yarn take over your home..................

If you take a quick peek into my lounge it looks quite tidy but as you move further into the room you will begin to notice a "life form" taking over more and more space - the yarn monster!

looks tidy to me.....................



but something lurks by the side of the sofa........................


I think I need to tidy up.....................


 although even messy yarn and crochet piles can look good......................


and the yarn for my new project is hiding beside another chair.



talk soon and thank you so much for continuing to call by x

Friday 21 June 2013

sports day..........................


Earlier in the week I went to three of my grandchildren's Sports Day - it brought back lots of fond memories.........



Alex, Finn and Daisy had great fun and not a drop of rain.

talk soon x

Thursday 20 June 2013

nature in the home - a series.....................



I am joining in with Lou's nature in the home series and this weeks theme is "a gift"
A gift for me would be a beautiful aqualegia flower...........................this one was from my garden.



talk soon x


Wednesday 19 June 2013

yarn along - another project..................

My yarn along project this week involves a new crochet block. I have made lots of traditional granny square blankets and thought it was about time I tried a different pattern. It's still a square but a different style - very simple but I really like it - what do you think...................

It started with my new yarn...................


Then I was inspired by my new book............................


I chose my pattern..........................


Now I am on a roll.........................


I feel a new blanket has just been started...................

Hope you pop over to see Ginny and all of her yarn along followers.

Talk soon x

Tuesday 18 June 2013

52 weeks of happy - 25/52

Another week and another link up with Jen and four new happy images to share with you................



1. my weekly coffee with Barbara - medium skinny cappuccino just perfect.

2. some new yarn - I just adore Drops Lima it's a wool and alpaca mix - so soft and snuggly.

3. the most scrummy blueberry muffin with cream cheese frosting.

4. Peonies about to bloom - my favourite garden flower.

another week of lovely happy moments - I hope you have some to share too.....................

talk soon x

Sunday 16 June 2013

A Sunday outing and afternoon tea - yummy

After a rainy cold week the sun tried really hard this morning to add some warmth and brightness to the day, to celebrate we decided to go out for afternoon tea. My daughter Laura had recommended a little vintage tea room in South Manchester and it was also featured in the Independent’s Top 50 Tea Rooms in the UK.

The "dish ran away from the spoon" is on Burton Rd in West Didsbury, nestling between lots of little independent restaurants, interesting vintage shops, and small designer boutiques.

The afternoon tea consisted of sandwiches, two scones, chocolate dipped strawberries and then three cakes of your choice. After much deliberation I chose roast beef sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, a blueberry cupcake with cream cheese frosting, raspberry and white chocolate blondie and lastly a slice of lemon drizzle cake. Mr R had mature cheddar and chutney sandwiches and lacking any imagination was going to have the same cakes as me, he was persuaded (told) to at least try two different cakes and then we could share some of each others, he then opted for a banana tea bread and key lime pie to go with his blueberry cupcake and scones.

The cakes were truly scrummy but we both failed miserably to eat them all so we have a lovely box of leftover treats to keep us going for a few days.

a box of lovely treats.....................
The tea shop captures the nostalgia of a bygone era beautifully and has lots of lovely vintage memorabilia decorating the walls. Tea is served in small teapots and kept warm under hand knitted cosies which are also on sale alongside the freshly baked cakes - which can be bought and gift boxed for special occasions or just to take home for tea.

What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon ......................we have promised to have more chilled out Sundays together as life can be so busy.

talk soon x

Thursday 13 June 2013

nature in the home - a series.....................

Lou's theme this week was a favourite plant. I have had a Begonia as a house plant for over 34 years - which must almost be a world record. Some years it can look a little sad and then suddenly it will have a burst of vitality and produce a beautiful new leaf.




 I think it's looking pretty perky at the moment - the colours are so vibrant..............

talk soon x


Wednesday 12 June 2013

yarn along - bunting...............

It's yarn along time again and I am continuing with the bunting that I started earlier in the week. I'm really enjoying making granny triangles and it's great to work on something small and very portable. I'm reading a light romantic novel about a chocolate shop in France - fun and not a bit demanding.

hope you pop over to read Ginny's post for some inspiration.

talk soon x

Tuesday 11 June 2013

52 weeks of happy - 24/52

Today I'm joining in with Jen's 52 weeks of happy series - my 4 top happies of the week are...........




1. A lovely sleepover with Daisy and Finn...............

2. My finished blanket......................

3. A Craft Fair in the sunshine selling the last of Kate's lovely designs........................

4. Lastly these beautiful Orla Kiely canister's - just adorable..................

talk soon x