17... Sweet 17♥ counting on memories

There are some days, some walks, some views, something that etches a memory deep deep in to me and every now and then it re-surfaces and I find that I smile just at the thought of it. I can easily fall back into that walk, that view or that day.

This walk, gentle and definitely designed with me and my sore knee in mind, is one of those wonderful ones.

We'd walked along a canal, admiring the narrow boats - we have a little game we play. The boys and I 'choose' a narrow boat - extolling it's virtues, admiring the paintwork or marvelling at the bric-a-brac on the tops. Then as we walk along we either 'swap' or 'keep' our boat with the next one we see. On this particular walk we were spoilt for choice with a glorious hotch potch of narrow boats all recently painted ready for winter, chimneys chuffing out woody scented smoke and wheelbarrows filled to the brim with firewood. The autumnal colours were at their richest and the reflections in the still water were clear and precise.

We had followed the canal, diverted into the town (Ju24 will know which one I mean) then back out again to meet the canal. On the way we found a humpbacked bridge........with this sign - perfect for today :)

Once we'd rejoined the canal, a young swan slid alongside us and very politely asked for a nibble - which we quite happily provided. We lingered, admiring the bird and marvelling at the beauty of her plumage.

Our walk then returned back along the water's edge back to the car. Bliss.

Today's post was a little later than usual - I spent a lovely afternoon chatting with a good friend. Tomorrow will be another good one - I am on a yarn shop forage with fav-sis-in-law and my mom - what wonderful way to start a Friday :)

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18♥ and still counting down

As I sit in the gloom of an early wintery morning, the house empty of boys and Himself.
Just me. 
And two tear-away terrors as they rampage through a box full of things.
The kittens see a game in anything and everything. But why do they insist on climbing up the inside of my pyjama trousers  - ooOUCH!


18♥ days and still counting down.... today's picture is a boat filled canal. They chug up and down, plying their trade. Some are 'bus-boats' taking folk from one side of the town to the other, some are tourist attractions with sight-seers shivering as they pootle passed swans and floating litter. Their faces appear grim - they don't seem to be enjoying their treat - it's too cold. 


Some of the narrow boats are homes, cheery and warm looking as wispy trails of smoke waft from little chimneys. These boats have pots of herbs and piles of fire wood balancing alongside bicycles and wheelbarrows on their tops while others are for hire with brightly coloured folk art flowers adorning their sides.  


I've been in one that was a home, briefly visiting a woman to drop off a letter. She shared her boat with her 14 year old son, two dogs (something small and energetic and an irish wolf hound) and two cats....there wasn't much room to move let alone live. It was a strange disconcerting feeling looking out of a porthole and seeing a duck at eye level.

Any hoo - 18♥

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ERrrrrr counting again? 19♥

The festive lists are getting longer and more urgent for this week - so this posting will be brief but probably will have a gratuitous kitten photo....or five.


In the grand scheme of counting down - I now present to you 19♥


At the beginning of May this year, we spent a couple of weekends up near Appleby in Westmorland. We explored the villages and walked all over the place. One of the villages we bumbled into was this one, where the green was long and winding, filled with casually grazing sheep and busy hens. A narrow strip of cottages and houses were sleepily nestled either side of the green while a gently moving stream meandered through it's heart. We had parked just outside of the village and were enchanted as we walked through. The boys spotted the swing so we wandered over for a closer inspection......

Of course to youngsters - swings were meant for swinging on - but we were rather taken by the iron work on the top -

19 E☼R 53  

it was interesting to think how long the swing had been in place and how many children's bottoms had sat on those seats........!




As I type, the girls (kittens) are racing about on elephant sized feet, killing their toys and beating up a small card box that they have claimed for their own. For such small and potentially delicate creatures they don't half make a mess when playing! There is such a stalking and a pouncing and lions and tigers and rough and tumble that I fear for the safety of my feet and my house!!Oh they are such a ( naughty) delight =^.,.^=

Holly-butter-wouldn't-melt-in-her-mouth

Lily - 'helping' put the decorations up, she is now in the process of 'helping' take them down again......

Holly doing the cute thing and 'helping' the decorations not fall off the foot stool. You mean you didn't know that a cat makes a perfect paper weight?

Holly -- err once again showing her 'helpful' side and lighting up our lives!

Lilly has been as equally helpful but she does it a such speed that all her photos are blur of red fluff! 

Must go,

Have a lovely day and wishing you happy thoughts

hawthorn xxx

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

CAN YOU COUNT ON THE PIRATES? 21 ♥

A couple of holidays ago, we were doing some geo-caching which needed us to follow various clues into an ancient church yard where we had to find gravestones with numbers and names. With these details we were then able to complete the clue. I find old graveyards very interesting, brimming with history and personal lives and in particular there is something intriguing about gravestone inscriptions.


This one, in a few words, raises so many questions.


So, due to some pirate-type-action - today's number 21♥ is now presented to you -

It is a soggy Sunday, but we don't mind. We've got homework to do, chrimbly pressies to wrap and cards to write. 

We have finally put up the tree (with a fair bit of help from both the boys and the kittens...) 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday - looks like it has finally stopped raining :)

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ps - I can't share ANY crochet updates - which I am finding frustrating coz various recipients read this blog!!

22♥ and still counting down

Last summer (eek that seems eons ago) we spent a glorious warm week in Northumberland. Our holiday spilt lazily into southern Scotland as we trundled around from stream to stream, from coastline and wooded valley to keep cool. We stopped at a small barely moving ford. The stream slipped languidly over the road and dropped into a rocky pool. Flies hummed in their thousands above the water but thankfully showed no interest in us.


Himself pulled up and parked the car in shade and we delicately dipped our feet into the surprisingly cold and refreshing water. The boys and the dog ventured through and back the ford, relishing the relief on hot feet. Himself and I sat back and watched, and all the while, we were being observed........
by the provider, and the rest of his herd, of number 22♥

The kittens are fast asleep on the shelf next to me and I can hear tiny whispy snores and little cat dreams.

Later we will be putting up the decorations - so am expecting kitten and boy chaos! The kitchen is calling as it gently emits festively spicy smells, our sun cake is waiting to go into the oven and I better go and finish it.


Enjoy what's left of today. 

♥ COUNT DOWN - 23♥

Today's heart -
Organised for me by Eldest. L♥VE 


We had gone over to watch Settle festive lights switch on (oops - missed it by 10 minutes........ *sigh*) so we wandered around the town looking at the lights and the shops and Eldest spotted this one for me. He took my camera and voilà thanks to him I can now present to you:

23♥

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!