Bank Holiday Weekend - White Peak Embroidery, Abbey Park

Oh isn't it lovely to have an extra day off work to enjoy time with others. Saturday morning Mrs A and I were off on our travels again. Now this may sound crazy but we took an 80 minute car ride to visit one shop! Madness I know and it was all my idea! But back in February or March of this year I found a new sweetie shop but as I was with Mr P didn't really spend very much time having a look. Now don't get me wrong Mr P is wonderful but I didn't like to keep him waiting in the car for hours on end, so I opted to take my partner in crime back to White Peak Embroidery,   in Darley Dale, Derbyshire. Now what I had not realised at the time was that four doors away was another shop owned by the same people called Heirs and Graces. So this time I went armed with birthday money and a shopping list. I've got a new project in mind and needed some new embroidery stash! I do not think we have anywhere in Leicester that sells anything like this shop does. Not only do they have sewing supplies but also lots of wool, books etc. Needless to say we ended up staying there a good three hours! The other shop sells a huge huge variety of fabrics. The most I have ever seen outside of a quilting show. Oh boy I could have spent a fortune. I saw so many adorable fabrics that would have made wonderful dresses but hey ho I only have one birthday a year and only have so much time in a week to make things. This is what I purchased.

I'm sooooo excited about this new project, as it is something I've never done before. I keep waking up at night thinking about it! Sad aren't I? Will share more about this project once I've got going on it.

Now the wonderful owner pointed us in the direction of these wooden things. I've seen them before and never really stopped to see what they are for. But they provide a frame to attach whatever sewing project you are working on and there are special nails to hold the fabric taught. She said they were better than hoops and when I got home and had some time I finished off a project on the frame and it was fantastic. So glad she pointed them out. She also runs various different classes and I think one day we will be back having one. She's a wonderful lady and I'm sure she must make a great teacher. Oooh nearly forgot to show you what Mrs A bought....... with her birthday money.

Little project that I finished....

Now I suggested to Mrs A that we would be at the shop for about an hour - so the consequences of being there longer meant that when I got home I had precisely one hour before my family descended. In that time I had to vacuum and dust, make a spaghetti bolanese and a steam pudding. They arrived just as I was putting the pudding to steam into the bowl. Wow what timing! Amazing what you can do when pushed! Now if you don't like babies then it's time to switch off! I note that I took about 130 photographs of the grandchildren in two days! Don't worry I'll pick just a few to show you!

Ayla's favourite position to fall asleep - on her daddy, being hugged. Much rather sleep like this than in her bed. But she does sleep all night in her moses basket - so you can't complain.

Rowan is a cuddly child and loves to give out cuddles too - just like his mum (who still sits on my lap for cuddles  - so privileged).

He often enjoys trying to play the piano, like grandad, and amazingly doesn't just bang on the notes with his fist.

He spent ages standing on this stool watching the chickens. He tries to say the word "chicken" but it's such a difficult word for a little one to accomplish. So we are trying to get him to say "hens" instead.

On Monday, yesterday, the sun was shining and so we headed out to Abbey Park. Shamefully Mr P and I have lived in Leicester for at least 8 or 9 years and have never been to this park. We will be back. We had a wonderful time. Rowan loved being outside and walking. Golly I have no idea how far his small legs carried him.

We all had fun throwing blossom over him! He walked all the way to the miniature train line and then part of the way to the swing park. Then had a ride on grandad's shoulders.

This was followed by a walk around the pet corner, but his little legs were getting very tired and so we headed back to the car to retrieve the picnic. But by the time we sat down he was exhausted and had a tantrum. It was soo funny to watch and we had to be careful and not let him see us laughing - bless him.

But after a good cry and throwing him self onto the grass he suddenly stopped and decided to eat again! Oh the trials and tribulations of a toddler.

Meanwhile Ayla has been fed too and is looking all cute in her buggy.

Well for a short while until she too ends up on grandad.

We were going to walk back to the miniature trains but poor Rowan was too tired and so we headed home so that he could take a nap and grandad too! Now I have to say grandad has been very much in vogue this weekend. I was useful for cuddles and food supplies! But grandad was the hit. Even as they were leaving to return home Rowan was rushing up to grandad with MORE books to read! It was very sweet, but as I went to remove the books in order for them to leave I was in Rowan's bad books and he refused to kiss me goodbye - bad grandma!

It was sooo lovely to have time together and it only took about an hour to get the house looking normal again!

OK change of subject - tomato plants. You remember that last weekend I planted two tomato plants, suitable for indoors. Here's a reminder of what they looked like last week.

 Oh boy what has happened in one week! I'm worried that I have been bought the wrong plants, or someone has swapped the labels!

 Plant One......

Plant Two............

Golly if this is a weeks growth what size will they end up?  Perhaps I should turn this question into a competition? Well I think I have exhausted you all with my weekly gossip. Hope your week is a good one.