Knitting Moments.

Had a little mad moment and decided to knit a bathmat! I have been teased about this on the weekend away - with folk saying things like "you just go and buy one" etc etc. Well here is the finished result and Mr P is happy to have it!

Apologies if you are eating your breakfast and have been exposed to bare hairy legs! Think I may need to give the mat a trim!

I have also, at long last, managed to finish another small project. I thought this would be a quick thing to knit but it took ages. The pattern starts with casting on 20 stitches. Then the first row you knit 8 stitches and turn and knit through the back of those 8 stitches. Next knit 6 stitches and turn. Then 4 stitches and turn. Then knit 20 stitches and start on the other side. Problem with this is you never get to build any speed up and with it curling it feels as if you are never getting anywhere! Well here it is.

Here is my teddy modelling the scarf!

Bare legs, teddies what next?

Tuesday I had an email from Drops Design. They had some free patterns and this one for crochet hearts appealed to me. Click here for the free pattern.

I know I'm probably mad - perhaps having a senior moment, but I like them!

Now I've saved the best for last and I sooooo wish it was my work but sadly it isn't. This is my friend Mrs A's work. It is the most fabulous log cabin blanket knitted with Noro Yarn. I believe she squirreled away balls for many years to make this project and it was well worth the effort - don't you think? The first picture is to give you some idea of the size.

Then I started messing around with my camera and just love the cartoon effect!

Well sadly I cannot blog any longer - phew some of you are saying. But I must get ready for work. Have a good day.

Church Weekend

The weekend was spent away in Derbyshire with some folk from the church. The journey there was a bit of a nightmare as it involved getting through Leicester by passing two road accidents and trying to get onto the M1 at rush hour time, on a Friday - not recommended! Then the sat nav decided to take us off the M1 through a very creative route which felt as if we had travelled the breadth and width of Staffordshire and Derbyshire. Hey ho we eventually arrived at Willersley Castle, just in time for dinner! The food was very tasty and substantial. The weekend was lovely especially for the older members who spend a lot of time at home on their own. Well I reckon they stayed up later than me. I toddled off to bed ti watch and fall asleep to Death in Paradise. It's one of those easy, light hearted murders. Just what you need, along with a glass of red wine, to fall asleep to!

The next morning I pulled back the curtains and was able to enjoy the view.

Now Mr P and I headed out for a long walk to Bakewell, but for some strange reason I got a third of the way into the walk and felt extremely tired. Against all my usual feelings I agreed to turn back and so we only ended up walking about 5 miles! Very out of character for me as I do not like to give in. So instead we drove to Bakewell and parked a little outside the village and walked in.

It was a lovely day but bitterly cold. So we headed to a special cafe - the home of Bakewell Puddings. There Mr P had a Bakewell pudding and I had a toasted teacake.

I did try some of his cake but I was not so keen as it was very sugary. But the teacake was homemade and delicious. Guess I am in the minority - judging by how many people were eating the puddings.

Then we needed to walk the calories off and so we had a mooch around the quaint town.

Then we drove back to the castle but we did have a stop at White Peak Embroidery in Darley Dale. Oh it was a divine shop and I could have spent an absolute fortune! Amazingly did not spend one penny - think I have become sensible and know that I do not need anything for the time being.

Sorry this is not my picture - but I am guessing the shop does not mind me using their picture! Especially as I am advertising their business. I really recommend this shop. Do have a look at their website and visit the shop. They have loads of beautiful embroidery silks, fabrics etc and then a wonderful array of exquisite wools. Plus there is a lovely cafe - where perhaps you could bribe your partners with!


Back at the castle for a hot steaming bath to warm up in and then more food! The evening a quiz was organised, and the team that had Miss J won! No surprise there - she is a quiz genius! The youngsters stayed up till about 2am playing monopoly whilst us oldies retired to bed.

Mr P and I had to leave early as he was taking the church service back in Leicester but I do believe the others had a good morning which ended in more food!

Being Spoilt - The Woman In Black!

Oh I doooooo love birthdays, especially when they are mine! It's just so nice to get spoilt and have some special attention. At Christmas presents and cards get swamped with all that is going on, but when it's my birthday there is time. Time to enjoy opening the cards and reading them properly.

Mr P has this card lined up for some sermon illustration!

Now the person who sent me this card - I did not realise that they knew me soooo well. I have porridge virtually everyday!

In fact currently I am stock piling them from Aldi, as I noticed last year they stopped selling the flavour I like during the summer!.

Now this cheeky one came from my dad!

Think my kitchen sometimes looks like this when I'm busy preparing one of Jamie's 30 Minute Meals!

The next card was designed and created by some friends who know me too well!

Hopefully some of these cards have amused you too! Now time for my presies! No little hands to help - all mine to enjoy! I am now the proud owner of two cycling helmets. This is going to be my weekend one that I use when I have my basket on my bike instead of my panniers and sensible grown up hat(to go to work)! Don't you think the flowers are great and will go with my happy buntings?!

I do so love getting parcels in the post and having to see them everyday till my birthday wondering what it is! This was my joy!

Some posh crochet hooks - not tried this make yet, but they do look good and fun with their cheerful colours.

Now I started journalling about a couple of years ago - I'm not very good and I'm certainly not displaying my attempted artwork here for you all to laugh at, but I do enjoy trying to draw. Hence the next present.

Now when I took the next picture I had done some work but last night I am about three quarters finished doing the embroidery. Cute isn't it?

I did also have some wine and sweets but can't take a picture as they've gone! Don't know how!

Another lovely scarf - think a girl can never have enough scarves! Also some more earrings.

I've been wanting this CD for a while now as the choir I sing in have performed two of these pieces. Ola Gjeilo is an amazing new composer and I love his work. Do listen to him and see if you like his music.

Now these books have been taken off my wish list! I love books! Just in case you didn't realise!

Trouble is I just don't have enough hours in a day - my eyes won't let me stay up later than 11pm to do crafting. Golly this going to work lark just gets in the way of crafting time. Would like to persuade my employers to let me work for two days and get paid as if I was working five days! Sounds reasonable to me!

I also had money - which I shall look forward to being able to spend at some later point. As you can see I had some fabulous presents, which I shall be able to enjoy for a long time. Sadly I had to go to work on my birthday but Mr P organised a treat for the evening. We went to the Curve Theatre.  We went to see The Woman In Black. This is a scarey novel written by Susan Hill. There were only two actors - Malcolm James and Matt Connor.  There were very few props, but the lighting and sound effects were amazing. Definitely worth seeing if this play comes to your area.

Well another year older and now entitled to a Scott 55 Railcard! Whooppee! So I was spoilt and I shamelessly enjoyed it! Hope you all have a good week and keep wrapped up warm if you are in the colder parts of the world or if you are in the fortunate position of having sun then keep creamed up!

Approaching Another Birthday

Usually January, for me, is one of those long months that has to be endured after the joys and business of Christmas. This January has just gone and half way into February and I now feel as if I am just surfacing. Thank goodness Mother Nature hasn't been waiting for me! I have finally noticed her screaming at me! So today, after church, I decided I needed to honour her and go and visit some of her beautiful delights.

I'm sure, in past years, I have seen masses of snowdrops by now but I guess the cold winter has delayed their onset.

Now this flower is hiding her beauty and so I had to contort myself into an unlady like stance to get a picture of her true face.

She shouldn't hide as she is magnificent.

The crocuses are gearing up for displaying their wares.

I was amazed as to how much colour is already out and I had gone about being totally oblivious!

It's lovely to see buds appearing, new life to come.

I've no idea what shrub this is but it had a lovely perfume.

Golly I have to take my hat off to Mother Nature - she takes so much care with her painting and designing.

I have managed to do a little bit of knitting. I wanted to knit a hat with some Drops Nepal Yarn but the Drops pattern I chose I just could not get to grips with it and so had to find another pattern to use. Anyway at long last I achieved a hat! Ta dah!

It's very difficult for me to take a selfie - but this was the best I could do!

Oh well you get the idea!

Now as I approach my birthday I have been getting emails with special offers. Now I thought this was kind. So here was one from Ask Italian.

£20 voucher how lovely - but then I got to reading further down the page!

Got to spend £50 first! Mmmm what a disappointment!

Never mind Mr P was really lovely to me yesterday. As I have not been too well for the last few weeks he spent a large chunk of Valentines day helping me with housework and gave me some lovely roses along with a bottle of red wine!

Tomorrow my birthday! Wahay! There have been cards and parcels arriving - soooo excited! Well wishing you all a good week whatever you are doing - BUT do take time to have a look at Mother Nature's handiwork.