15♥ and14♥ and festive fun

Apologies for not posting yesterday but it was a whirlwind of a day.

It was our annual festive decoration making workshop and along with all the foliage and friends and fun we were 'blessed' with some rather wintery weather.

But first - 15♥- taken in 2009 (yes I do plan and photograph that much in advance - but not necessarily always successfully!) 

We were on holiday up in the Orkneys on a wild-weathery-break. Some days the weather was fiercesome enough to drive us to hiding in museums and cafés. 

We drove over to Stromness and I fell in love with it's tiny part-cobbled part-flagged streets. Some were so narrow it felt intrusive driving through them. So we parked up and wandered the quiet streets. The wild winds seems to be kept at bay by the twisting of the roads and streets, almost thwarting the breeze.

It was here I found a superb number 15 and wonderfully named street - 

My next offering was only taken last weekend,  a quick drive by photo - nothing special but just what I needed.

  

We had such fun yesterday at our festive workshop. A slightly different format but nevertheless, a yummy and successful day.

There were, as usual, such a wonderful array of door wreaths and decorations.....I mean just look at this creativity!!.....

...and this is only some of them, I have just realised I've not photo-ed them all!

I must admit to eating well too - such gorgeous bakings happened and it would have been rude not to try them all at least once, if not twice erhem....

Sadly some of the delicious offerings were scoffed before I realised I'd not photographed them, but believe me - they were yum!

The entire weekend was filled with family and friends, sleepovers and meals, chatting and nibbling,  and now in the quiet house, Youngest and the kittens are sleeping on the settee, Eldest has wandered over to find sanctuary with a friend, Himself is bumbling about (he is always busy doing something)and I have finally found a moment to catch up with all of you - enjoy what is left of your weekend.............

blessings - hawthorn xx 

Ps can't finish a posting with out gratuitous cute-overload - the kittens and Youngest snuggling on the settee after a seriously hard weekend of fun and friends

*in whispered tones* awwwwww xx

I present to you - 20♥

Morning!
Firstly I'd like to thank you for your comments and thoughts, its lovely receiving them - I still get a squeeeee feeling when I see I have comments needing moderating.

Hello Grateful4crochet, welcome to my rather random world, lovely to 'meet' you, I will pop over and visit you shortly :),
Carolina Artesanias - your festive tree comment is gorgeous! How long did that take you?
Angela - a sun cake is a fruit cake (very similar to a Christmas cake) but represents the returning of the sun. We eat it on the 21st December - our Yule, when we celebrate the ending of winter and the returning of spring. We have a special meal that night, loads and loads of candles and tell each other stories, songs, poems and music. I don't sing - I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but I recite poems while Himself sings (beautifully) and the boys play the piano - we usually end up laughing a lot, eating too much and generally have a lovely evening.
Jane , Jak, Ju24, Cat,Liz Sarah and Lovely Lady - kittens = scrummy gorgeousnuss, fluffy yummy naughtiness! They are still quite small, each one fitting in a hand, but they make up for their Lilliput stature with their godzilla catitudes! 
Yes, I will share/show off crochet and other handmade goodies in the new year - good idea - thanks Jane
Lyn and Lovely Lady - my post for the 22♥ and still counting down also reminded me of that warm week, silly how quickly you forget. We all generalise about the weather but when you look back, in between the wet and cold there have been some lovely summery days - thank goodness for blogging :)



Now, back to the matter in hand, today's number for counting down to 2012.

I present to you - 20♥


There are two today, the first is the thermometer in the dispensary where I work, we have to maintain a regular temperature in the room to keep the medication at an optimum environment. This little one is a magnetic version clipped to a metal cabinet.

The second offering for 20 is a speed sign as you enter into the town of Settle. Taken last weekend when we tried to watch the festive lights switch on and failed!

Right, enough waffling, must get on with wrapping, finishing, writing, tidying, sewing and feeding the kits - this next week is going to be full on - I've two festive parties - one on Tuesday with friends since my vet nursing days and the other on Wednesday with our knit and natter for an end-of-crafting-year-celebration and then on Saturday we are going to do our annual festive decorating making thingy! I posted about it here and here. We've doing this wonderful workshop since 2003 and it is still going strong :)!

Now, I must really stop -


Happy Monday to you all xxx

In which I get borderline emotional and start sounding like a minor film star who's just received their first film award...!

Last night was my turn to host our weekly knk (knit and [k]natter) group. I really enjoy our get-togethers, it's a time for nattering (most important) and we get to sample some rather delicious baking.  If we are lucky we may even get some knitting and crochet done! But last night was different, oh there was some nattering and sampling but there was a lot of sewing and concentrated silence too.

It really brought home how wonderful this group of ladies are when, as I was walking towards them I was greeted by this............................

Everyone was either making, sewing or crocheting together squares for Kyōyū kyōyū - share, 'Blankets for Japan'. I really felt an overwhelming gratitude for not only their generosity in time and patience but also gratitude to all the other bloggers and  woolly crafters who have created grannies and knitted squares which the long suffering postie brings to my front door on a daily basis. 

Each square stitched to it's neighbour represents a little bit of compassion and global care that we can share with so so many other people.

SO - (drum roll please and pass me the gold envelope)

Thank you 

 to the all ladies last night (ooh that sounds a little interesting!)

Thank you

to the postie who gives me a quizzical look 

as he passes me yet another soft and squishy parcel covered in interesting stamps

(that sounds odd too!)

Thank you 

to YOU lovely bloggers 

and 

ALL 

the lovely knittys and granny-makers out there who have contributed

***THANK     YOU***

**THANK YOU**

*THANKYOU!*

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For updates on progress and photos of the finished blankets and piles of delightful squares, just pop over to  Kyōyū kyōyū - share, and if you have time please visit the wonderful contributors page and follow the links to their blogs.

Oh, and before I forget - yes please to any more squares! **thank you** :)

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Birthdays and broccoli

Sitting quietly in the early morning gloom, the only sound is the click of the keyboard and the back ground drivel of the radio. Upstairs Eldest sleeps off the last of his lurgy, Youngest and Himself have decamped to school and work. I am so very tired, still weary from my viral-what-ever.

Last night we celebrated a girlfriend's birthday here and it was lovely to see all the gang. We have been together for nigh on 20 years and every couple of months or so we meet up bearing news, food and increasing amounts of wrinkles. Last night's affair was lovely and relaxed, we can just pick up conversations and carry them on as if we'd never been apart.

Happy birthday Christine!!

Now to finish tidying up the detritus from last night.............!

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On the Revolutions front, I have finally started this year's 52 New Things Not Cooked Before - 

Broccoli cheese pie with grated potato crust

A simple enough recipe, shame about the cook (but that's another story) and when I served it at last night's birthday bash - it seemed to go down well. I will make it again with modifications and post the recipe.

Sorry there is no 'after' photo......it got eaten.....completely

A good sign me thinks.

22 (only three more sleeps!!) and a festive knit and (k)natter

What happened to the previous 21 doors?
Are there any more after that one?

We did look and none of the other doors (and we certainly couldn't find any sign of the other 21 ) were numbered. So we will never know.................................

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Tonight we had our last knit and (k)natter for 2010 and to celebrate the season we had a festive one with suitably yummy nibbles and a 'secret-secret' Santa.  This entailed each of us bringing a gift - hand made, without any clue as to whm it was from. As everyone arrived, the gift was then popped into a sack - ably manned by Youngest (correctly attired in a Santa's hat) while Eldest, also sporting a Santa's hat, handed out nibbles and drinks.

The plan had been that once we had all had settled down and had a hot drink and mince pie, that one of Santa's little helpers would take the sack around and we would put our hands in and feel for a gift. This was all agreed upon as being a good idea.

However, we didn't bank on some delicious gooseberry wine or a rather tasty  Chilean Sauvignon appearing so for the non drinkers,  I got out a fruity non alcoholic champagne style wine. This had a rather delightful effect of making one or two rather giggly!

Any way I digress, there followed a rather cheerfully animated debate as to whether we should save our gifts or unwrap them there and then. Suffice to say the general and noisy consensus was to unwrap immediately! Who was I to disagree, especially  I have to say I did really well, I received a beautiful 'mini' patchwork coaster - my description  just does not do it justice.



Of course I had to try it out and it looked so cosy underneath my mug,
just right.


It has been a fun year with the knit and natter girls, I salute them and all their woolly yarns (pun fully intended)

Here's to friendship and fun and a lot more of it in 2011.

Thank you!

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Counting - 3 .... It's Friday!

Counting again - 3rd day into December.

I am so-ooo looking forward to tomorrow - it is our annual festival wreath making thingy!  We started it in 2003 (hence the plaque in the photo) as a fund raising effort for the village garden festival. Now it has become a firm part of our festive Yule rituals. We all get together and enjoy a day of crafting and creating, a day of friendship and laughter, a day of mock horror at each other's choice of music and a day of feasting and fun.

The lead up to it is usually fairly frantic - well, it is for me as I am never organised! Cutting and collecting of evergreen foliage, sorting out ribbons and glitter. Finding or buying bits, making and baking, but it is always worth it - because by the end of the day we all end up with beautiful wreathes, bowers, garlands, table decorations and it heralds the beginning of the festive season.

And the best of it? For me, it is seeing all the decorated doors and windows and knowing I saw them being created by people I know and have shared a lovely day with!

*8things

I was inspired by Magpie Girl's *8things where she 'practice's gratitude' and is thankful for things in her life. As I read it, I realised that I am too very lucky and have a lot to be thankful for. So, here goes:

*1thing- I have a wonderful husband who is my best friend, my confident, my strength, a brilliant Dad to our children, expert sawyer of wood and lighter of fires, teller of corny jokes, leader of expedition length walks, instigator of 'naughtiness',  my love and my life.


*2things - my two boys -  my angels, my beasties, my monkeys, my delight and my despair, my mess-monsters, givers of hugs and kisses and sticky fingers.

*3things - our home - shared with thing one and things two! A warm and loving home filled with clutter and affection.

*4things - my family - both near and far. A text or phone call away. A hug or word shared. A grumble or groan too, but that is the reality of life and family. Without them I would be lost.

*5things - my friends - close or occasional, laughter and gossip, some not seen for ages but when together the length of time just melts away. Support and advice, debate or disagree, days out or days in, friends are precious and I am grateful.

*6things - my job - despite days where I find I have ground my teeth flat, I still bounce back and see something positive in it. The people I work with can make me laugh, give me support, make me mad, irritate the hell out of me, cheer me up and put up with me being - well - being me - that's just got to be good.


*7things - my life - the life I live, where I live. The hills, the village life, the characters and eccentrics that surround me. The access to the countryside so close to where I live. The ability to breathe and hug the sky.

*8things -  today - just to be here, right now, to live, to be alive. 'Life is for living' and each day is a new beginning to enjoy, to share and to love, to craft and create, to laugh and to live - to make it count.

This and that and - oh yes - a bit of the other

Good grief it's cold today. But, not going to dwell on the coolness of my toes and the numbness of my fingers.
Excuse me, going to toss another log on the fire...........

........Back. Now where was I? yes, good grief it's cold today. And that is the last you will hear me mention that.

Now in no particular order - this weekend's round up.

Sunday - Remembrance Sunday. Youngest proudly carried the flag down to the cenetaph and stood with the rest of the flag bearers whilst the service stopped the traffic in the streets. It was a bright cold day and the pavement's icy fingers crept through our boots and into our bones. Youngest stood there in his cub uniform - it will be his last call of duty as a cub - he's growing up. I watched as he felt the chill of the air wrap around him and make him shiver. He had refused to wear a coat as it would cover his uniform, one he is so proud of.

In the back of my mind was the fact I had left a cake quietly cooking in the oven.....alone......at home...by itself..... as we stood for the two minutes silence.

I silently berated myself for thinking of the potentially charcoaled baking rather than collective emotion for the moment of hushed remembrance.
As soon as it was politely possible, having snatched the flag from youngest's frozen fingers, shoved him into his coat, passed the flag to a startled senior assistant leader, grabbed shivering youngest and a rapidly-turning-blue eldest who was hanging onto a tooth-chattering giddy dog - we ran up the hill home. Leaving behind a bemused Himself.

Frantically smiling apologetic excuses as we ran gasping through the returning church goers.

...Sorry....excuse me....cake in oven....excuse me.... oops sorry....cake....oven...burning.....  

All the time dragging in breath and dragging children, coat flapping and camera bouncing we returned home, my legs like rubber - the only thing that kept me going was the thought of rescuing my poor cake.

We burst into the kitchen and I flung open the oven door - and there......sitting all demurely and ready to be taken out was a polite little lemon drizzle cake minus it's drizzled lemon - phew!

Little while later, we all sat, my Mom and Dad, gently defrosting boys and Himself, as we hoovered up the last crumbs of the lemon drizzle cake. Yummmm.

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Friday was fun - Friday was like visiting France. We spent a lovely evening with our French friends and their many other French speaking friends and despite a distinct lack of speaking anything remotely French sounding, we really enjoyed ourselves. It was in the early hours of Saturday morning we finally flopped into bed.

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Saturday was wet wet wet and nothing as enjoyable as the band of the same name.

A bit of bad tempered mooching around seemed to be the order of the day until we bought some paint, found 3 paintbrushes and a paint roller and spent a very good day (despite the rain hammering down outside constantly) and we painted our hall.

Talk about a complete boost to ourselves and the house! It used to be a hideous yellow - yes, I don't know how we lived with it for so long either....... It always felt dingy and dark, but now, sporting ivory white new coat it feels bright and huge!!

(But that is probably due more to the fact we had to take every thing out for painting and have not put it back yet....might not, like it like this)

Monday - oh drat - that is today, back to normal. So excuse me, waffle ending, work about to begin...and I'm cold! And that is definitely the last I'm going to say on the matter (for now.....)

girls-nite

When I was a veterinary nurse and still wet behind the ears, I was taken under the wing of the senior receptionist who over the years has proved to be a life long friend. She introduced me to a 'girls-nite' of like minded women who would meet roughly every month to celebrate a birthday, and on the months there wasn't a birthday then we'd celebrate divorces, engagements, weddings, births and in the absence of any of those, we just met up anyway. 

Over the years we've grown up, grown older, some of us have moved on, moved away, returned but the group still gets together and to celebrate  friendship and to laugh and cry and complain about partners/weather/children/horses/the price of this and the price of that/the state of the world/good and bad,  and we eat. 

And we  eat well!

And last night was no exception - we feasted on a delightful selection as we all bring a different dish. My contribution was a leek bread pudding,**  there was also roasted winter vegetables (the best I have tasted in a very long time), roast chicken, meatballs, green salad drenched in gloriously garlicky dressing, new potatoes, freshly made coleslaw, courgette quiche and pizza.....hmmmmmm. 

Happy tummy :)

**number 34 in my 52 things I have not cooked before - the link takes you to Smitten Kitchen's web site, I did my usual and modified it some what. I will give my version soon. 

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My kinda maths ........

(ADD)

Be given one pair of brand new wellies 

(not a colour I would wear)

(MENTALLY SUBTRACT) 

but know someone who does

(ADD)

Take three balls of different yarn 

(note the colour again)

(ADD)

Blend two of the three yarns

(SHOW ALL WORKINGS)

Find a hook and make a mitten

(MULTIPLY)

Or two

(REVERSE STRATEGY FORMULA)

and swap the mittens for the wellies

(ANSWER =  A POSITIVE RESULT)

Then give the wellies to a pink loving friend 

who I know will give them a good home

Done!!

I love happy endings :)

ps - just need to finish off the mittens and take the wellies to Anglesey to their new home

I have to say I am off to the kitchen to put the kettle on, 

all that PINKNESS has made me feel quite dizzy! 

Phew need to dash off to recover! 

Any one else up for a tea? 

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Sunshine on a rainy day makes my soul , makes my soul, trip, trip, trip away**

**with thanks to Zoe

After a rather strange day at work where we were driven to hysterical laughter causing tears to stream down our faces and to catch our breaths, I came home still unsure where this mirth appeared from and found this delightful sunshine award awaiting me from a sunny blog-pal - summertime dreams.

Wow - thank you very much Summertime D!!

So here goes.....

The Rules:

1. Save the image above and post it to your own blog.

2. Pass the award on to fellow bloggers

3. Link the nominees

4. Let the nominees know they have won by commenting on their blog

5. Share the sunshine and link the person you received the award from

So here goes:

A life of Felt

Colouritgreen

Thursday's Child

bobbypinsboardwalk

Woolfish

Artteachergirl

Attic24 

She Rides a Bike 

Bugs and Fishes 

ook?!

ever green knits

laughingpurplegoldfish

So, there it is, blogs I enjoy, blogs I read regularly, blogs that I can find solace in, inspiration from, blogs I can share in with  the laughter and the sorrow. Some of the bloggers know me, some don't - but that is the beauty of this bloggy world - so come on - let's spread the sunshine!

09.09.10 - One year and beyond Woo hoo - My blog is one year today!

Wow, one year - one WHOLE year!!

When I started it, 

it was as a mix of inspiration from Colouritgreen and Thursday's Child, 

the need to write and post photographs 

and to mark the start of my Eldest son at senior school.

I've met and made some delightful new bloggy friends as well as linking up with existing friends along the way.

 Angela and Jan from Bobbypinsboardwalk are always quick with a lovely comment and encouragement
 as are new friends Summertime Dreams and Artteachergirl. Sarah and Cat and Jak are all regular visitors too.

I have had many more visitors and comments that I am both surprised and delighted to receive as I still find it amazing that people have the time to read my waffle and actually respond to it - so thank you!

SO, a gentle reminder (as if you need one!) just say hi, leave your name, 

no anonymous comments please 

between now and midnight (UK time) on 9th September 2010 

and I will pick a winner at random. 

The winner will notified on MONDAY 13th SEPTEMBER

and coz I am feeling rather generous - I have slipped an extra surprise in the parcel for the lucky winner ssshhhhh not revealing any secrets just yet!

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06.07.10 - Blush

Friends come, friends go, some you remember with wistful longing for their company again, others you remember for the fun you had but know that those times have long gone. Some friends remain firm despite not seeing them regularly  while others just make you smile every time you think of them.

And this lady, fits that bill perfectly. She exudes creative warmth and inspiration, so you can imagine my delight when she asked if she could feature me on her blog -  So - Angela - thank you :) xx

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**Added later -

Jan from Bobbypinsboardwalk has very kindly invited me to join her 'Boardwalk Bragfest' with my 'plantified' 2CV, so I have done so and linked to her Wednesday Party. Thank you Jan :)

25.05.10 - time flies like an arrow...fruit flies like a banana............

Sorry - sorry, but the old ones are the good ones.......!

Now, where was I , oh yes, - last week just flew by (hence the school boy joke), so here is a quick resume.

Monday,

Here I am, sitting in the car taking the boys to school and my mind is on my garden

What to plant out

Where to plant it

Mustn't forget to water the greenhouse

Prick out seedling

Pot on seedlings

I am at home, armed to the teeth with hoe, watering can and huge mug of tea - I am ready!

Later - oh drat (actually I think I probably cussed a little more viciously than that) time for work.

Tuesday

Feeling nervous today - butterflies as big as jumbo jets. We have a meeting later at work - the sort of meeting where - 'You-tell-it-like-it-is - only without actually saying anything or accusing anyone.

The type of meeting where most of the items on the agenda are euphemisms for 'lets-get-it-all-off-our-chests-no-bars-held-go-for-the-throat"  

We have been told that to sort out inter-departmental problems, this meeting is the panacea we need -  Apparently.

I arrive, feeling half pumped up and half terrified.

Meeting's cancelled 

Postponed till Friday 

Great

What a waste of a lovely morning at home - I had thrashed around the garden in a frantic disjointed sort of way. Still - a fair bit of gardening was achieved.

Wednesday

I am about to start on the kitchen garden, the cat is helping by lying on the seedlings - just in case they decide to run away apparently. The obligatory cup of tea has the optional extra of a small fly doing a frantic sort of back stroke. But the sun is shining and I am dazzled by the sheer springlike colour and enthusiasm my garden has finally found.

I am in such a happy state that work is eaten up and spat out without too much of it's usual hassle. Why? Well, I am off tomorrow - took a day off to take fav-sis-in-law shopping (I know - how random and spontaneous) and I am really really looking forward to it.

Thursday

I am saying good-bye and have-fun to the boys as I leave them at school in a decidedly indecent un-motherly way today. Youngest is sulking because he can't come shopping with his favourite Aunt. 

We finally arrive in Ilkley - It's miles away from home but we are here coz we'd never been before, coz it has craft and wool shops, coz we fancied something different and coz apparently it has 14 tearooms and cafes!

10 minutes later my cell phone rings, I rummage around the bottom of my bag.

'Hello....hello?'

They try again 

"Hello? Hello?'

They try a third time,  I rush out of the shop for a better signal.

"Hello mum? it's me, I've left my topic at home....I need it to hand in for 11am...............sorry......"

I am driving back home, rapidly  - picking up the blasted topic, I have to get it to Eldest's school before the dreaded 11th hour. I make it - with one minute to spare.

We finally make it back to Ilkley where we browse and shop and meet up with Angela for lunch. Whilst we are eating, Angela passes me a small hank of earthy greens and browns. I stroke it (an affliction I picked up when I developed the 'wool-obsession' ) I am practically inhaling it's woolly essence and planning what I shall be making with it. 

Fav-sister-in-law passes over a small packet

'For me?'

A wooden crochet hook falls out and I hold my breath and try to squeak thankyou at the same time.

A match made in woolly heaven 

Now to make something

can't wait!

Later - feeling nervous, the postponed meeting from Tuesday is looming over me again. Took my mind off it by going to 'knit and knatter'

Friday

'Now we don't want any tit-for-tat' type meeting" says the practice manager

"We mustn't have a mud slinging match, I want no negative thoughts or arguments, now - has any one got anything good to report?'

A pin dropped as the tumble weed drifted across the room - err nope.

Sigh.

Still, tomorrow we are off to see a part of the countryside I've never been to - Galloway and Dumfries in Scotland, and we are so-o looking forward to it!

30.04.10 - I could have... but then I did!

I could have told you that I had written the best post I'd ever created,
I could have said that I had added the most beautiful photos I'd ever captured,
I could have said I'd taken hours, wringing out every carefully crafted word with blood sweat and tears - and you would have to believe me,
coz thanks to the 'eccentric spontaneity' of power cuts...... you will never know what was actually lost or the cussing and spitting from me that followed shortly after!!


But what I will share with you today is - I am a winner!
I won a delightful parcel of felty goodness from Angela.

Yesterday was a lovely, lovely day, first it was work (but that was just a brief inconvenience!) then I received a parcel, carefully wrapped and decorated, which when I unwrapped the tissue paper inside - I found this...................

What delicious crafty felt treasure is about to appear?

OOOOooooh! 

(I have to say at this point I squealed a fair bit!) 

(I think I may have stamped my feet too)

(I also suspect I clapped my hands together delightedly)

I couldn't wait to wear it.....

So, a huge thank you and **((Hugs))** for Angela for such a beautiful hand felted broach x

The rest of my day panned out really well later too, I met a wonderful friend for lunch and we laughed about things that should have made us cry, about husbands and children, about getting older and not necessarily wiser, about wearing sensible shoes, about gardening and just about everything in between.

I had to dash off to collect the boys from school, dash home to cook and get them ready for their music lesson and then get myself ready as I was off to a 'girl's-nite' birthday bash.  It again was a wonderful evening of chat and food and good friends  (got to stop all this - my waist line will definitely expand!)

So, despite me losing the posting-of-the-year due to a power cut, yesterday more than made up for it :)

27.02.10

Today's Hearts are........

....the life line of a certain computer game.

Today, in front of me as I type is a gang of boys. Eldest is having a sleep over for his birthday and we have five (yes I know, I know - I need my head read) boys staying. The plan is to go on a night time picnic and whilst we wait for it to go dark enough, they are eating popcorn and tortilla crisps whilst building model battleships and robots and playing some sort of storm-battle-star-trek-war-game. 

They had just come in exhausted from a very loud and physical sword-light-sabre-magic-staff-shield-wooden-dagger-bow and arrow game in the garden and collapsed on the floor.

Plans of midnight feasts and ghost stories are being made and friendships cemented whilst the deadly serious wheeling and dealing of pieces of leg0 and Knekx goes on. Oh to be that age again......