Mothers Day Treats

Hello everyone, and to all of my readers who are Mums, a very Happy Mothers Day!

I have received some lovely cards and flowers from my 4 children...

Such lovely colours, really cheerful...

...and also received a bouquet of these from DH...

here are both bunches together, really brightening up my fireplace (I do love flowers)

I also received this lovely sampler box of Yankee Candle votives in my favourite scents from my lot, yes, they are Christmas scents but these are my favourite from the range, I love the cinnamon, vanilla and spicy fragrances so much)

Apparently something else is due to arrive from Amazon tomorrow, so the fun will be spread over an extra day!  They have really spoiled me I have to say.

I popped round to visit my Darling Mum this morning, she is coming along to our house later for dinner.  Dearest Daughter is making a cake for us both for dessert, with caramel flavours and a filling of Lotus Biscuit Cream (have you tried those biscuits, they are often served along with a coffee in cafes, hence in this house we call them "complimentary biscuits".  They are so yummy, full of caramel flavour).

I didn't have a lie-in this morning as we were all up early to watch the Malaysian Grand Prix - sadly our favourite driver had a pretty poor day, due to someone running into the back of his car (cue lots of booing and hissing from the Moonstruck crew) but still a lot of fun to watch.

Well, off to have another cuppa and perhaps a bit of crochet- I could really get used to this being spoiled lark!

Helenxx

On a clear day...

...you can see forever...

Last weekend we went out for a walk in our local countryside.  The sky was so blue...

And sometimes you can see reasonably familiar farmyard friends...

But other creatures might hail from somewhere a little more exotic...

They guard the sheep apparently...

Wonder who lives in this wonderful house...

Such a lovely early Spring day, ideal for a walk with DH, who enjoys climbing hills, so our local Beacon Hill was just the thing.  And I always take my camera so that I can stop and have a breather take photos for my blog...and DH even treated me to a coffee half way around our 8 mile route.  No photo of that I'm afraid I drank it rather quickly!

On arrival home another pot of sunny daffodils cheered me on with the washing up...

Hope you are making the most of an early Spring weekend!

Helenxx

Crochet Blanket Challenge Update - Week 12

Good morning, and Happy Springtime to you all!  True to form, here in my part of the UK so far the Spring has brought some high winds and heavy rain showers, but still some sunshine in between so no complaints.

Anyhow, I thought it due time to post an update on my progress with the Crochet Blanket Challenge.  During the Christmas holidays I had bought into the idea that I could make one Granny Square each week, with the aim to have a decent sized blanket by the end of 2014.  You may have thought "oh, she has gone a bit quiet on her blog about this, probably given up, oh well, it was a big project..." but, dear readers, I have been crocheting squares when and where I can.  I am now on week 12 of of this project (3 months in, oh my where has that time gone?!).  Here are my efforts of recent weeks:

Lovely to take some photos in natural, sunny light...

Here are all my squares tucked into their little bag for safe keeping, there are actually 48 of them in total....

You may have noticed that the pink squares are all huddled together, I am now not so sure I want to include them - do they go with the washed out wintry Scandi shades...what do you think?  Should they stay or should they go? (Will now have the Clash song running through my head for the rest of the day). If they go I can certainly make something with them, perhaps a cushion for my DD...

All this crochet is certainly making me feel quite chirpy.  Other cheerful things this week include this super bargain picked up during the weekly shop at Aldi for the princely sum of £2.99:

loads of lovely blanket patterns (yes, I think I have caught the blanket bug well and truly) and for half the price of a magazine.  What's not to like?

Also, my second eldest celebrated leaving his teenage years behind by turning 20 years old.  DD made this brilliant cake for him (he loves Chocolate Oranges)

Well, must away, a busy day awaits.  Have a lovely weekend!

Helenxx

Spring has Sprung!

Spring has finally arrived!

Helenxx

Moorish Designs

Hello again, hope all is well with you and yours.

As a creative type, I love to observe different patterns - whether these are natural forms (think honeycomb or knots in wood), or man made.  The design and pattern I saw on the amazing buildings in Al Andalus recently totally bowled me over.  Lots of photos were taken.  Here are some of my favourites...

...to me, some lend themselves to patchwork, others to embroidery...such beauty, such precision and attention to detail...all completed whilst the rest of Europe was firmly in the Dark Ages...amazing.  Inspiring.

Helenxx

Portals into the Past...

Good afternoon everyone - and what a great weekend it has been.  Decent weather, albeit a bit breezy and chilly, family round for a lovely dinner yesterday, and a BBQ planned for later this afternoon (eldest sons having mowed the lawns and tidied up the garden in readiness).  It was quite an early start for a Sunday as we were up at 5.45 to watch the first Formula 1 Grand Prix of the 2014 season, quite a race, with our favourite driver coming in 7th place.

With the blue skies we are having I am once more transported in my mind's eye back to beautiful Spain, so thought I would share a set of photos I took of doorways/entrance ways whilst on our recent holiday in Al Andalus...

Cordoba...

Granada...

I find it amazing to think of how many people have walked or looked through these entrances, what tales these buildings could tell if they could speak...

Helenxx