Time out for half term

Good morning everyone, hope you are enjoying the weekend.

Last week I managed to get a couple of days off work as it was half term, I didn't have the whole week off this time as I have so much to do, but I was very grateful to have some time out from the usual hectic schedule.

On Friday afternoon, after a trip to the newly opened Range store in our town (and delighted with my investment of £1.79 for a balloon whisk AND an ice cream scoop - last of the big spenders or what?!!) I decided to go on a very short drive with my DD around a couple of local villages.  We ended up here for a quick look around...

Mount Saint Bernard's Abbey, it is a monastery very local to our town, a very nice quiet place for a wander around, some lovely grounds and a very interesting building as well to visit.  The church is made from local stone, the photos don't really do the colour justice.  I love to look round places of worship, my days of being head of Religious Studies in a 6th Form College must still haunt me!!

Arriving back home I cooked this cornflake tart, my DS#2 had been asking for this as he could remember it from his days of eating school dinners!

It was declared a big success, and all eaten very quickly together with custard.

Yesterday we had visitors, so much cleaning and cooking, but this morning is grey, raining and dull so a bit of crochet by candlelight is in order...

I am loving my blanket challenge this year, each granny square is made of 3 colours from a palette of 5, with 3 different types of double knit yarn to try to replicate the texture of birch bark.  Each square consists of 10 rows, so takes about 45 minutes to do if there are no interruptions (otherwise the longest it has taken is 3 days - don't ask!).  I have made 17 squares so far as I started the project in April.  I was aiming to do 30 squares in total, but I might make a few more to make the blanket a bit larger, will just have to see how it all shapes up after the summer holidays.

Have a lovely Sunday, and if you are in my part of the UK, lets hope the sun will come out later on!

Helenxx

Cosy Candles and Advent Calendar door 17

 Cosy candles are just the thing for this time of year...

 

I love the wintry scene on this little candle holder..

 

And for today's advent calendar picture - love this idea, simple but so pretty, would make a quick Christmas decoration...

 



image from Google

 

 

Helenxx

Crochet on the last Saturday in October

The last Saturday in October?  How did that happen so fast?  This last week I have had a few days off from work as it is half term in our part of the UK.  I really did need a break it has to be said.  However, my body clock still insists that I get up early... this morning I lit one of my scented candles when I came downstairs...

it is actually one of the new Yankee Candle Christmas fragrances, Candy Cane Lane, it is fast becoming one of my favourites!

I completed another autumnal cushion this week, this time in deep russet colours...

Here it is nestled against the first cushion I completed this month...



That chair is feeling so cosy now!  I love how the colours match the leather of my chair so well.  However, I am trying to tear myself away from autumn colours for a while to complete another, much bigger project.  Just look at all these off-cuts of yarn...

yep, a lot of sewing in ends going on - hopefully I will have a WIP report soon.  So far, so good.  This will be a very cosy project once finished, and I would like it out of the way before I start on more gift projects.  Crochet is so calming, with all the worry of my Darling Mum being poorly recently it has been such a blessing to be able to relax with some hook and yarn, even if only for a few snatched moments here and there. 

Well, must away, the sun is shining, the household is stirring and errands beckon.  But hopefully I can return to hook and yarn this evening for a couple of hours when everything is done and I can sit and daydream once more.

Have a lovely Saturday, Helenxx

Colourful October

This week has been quite trying.  My Darling Mum has been poorly, which has been a big worry, but thankfully she is slowly improving.  Usual stresses at work.  But trying to find little glimmers of colour along the way - after all, this is quite possibly my favourite month of the year.

A couple of weeks ago I finished this crochet cushion in October Oranges -

I always associate October with these shades of orange.  Here is the completed article lounging on my armchair...

it is so squishy and comfy!  Just the thing to cosy up to on these darker evenings.  I am almost finished making another Autumnal cushion, same yarn but different shades - this time rusty reds.  All to be revealed soon I hope!

On with the October Orange theme, I have decorated my mantel with lots of suitable candle holders. 

Cue a few close-ups of my collection...

Rocking the pumpkin loveliness!!

And just to show that there are sometimes colours other than orange in October, here is a sunset from last week...

The whole neighbourhood was lit up with pink for about 5 minutes, then it was gone. 

Hope you have a lovely, and colour-filled Sunday!

Helenxx

Cosy

Hello everyone.

Well, after a sunny start yesterday the weather went downhill, with high winds and heavy, squally showers.

DH and I still managed to do our jog around the Outwoods - one half of the lap we had the wind behind us, but on the final left we were battling against it - but we still made it round!

When we got home it was only 7.30 but the rain started with a vengeance, so it was getting dark.  So I popped a candle in my latest charity shop find, this lovely little tea light holder:

It casts such a cosy light around the living room, I just love it.

Darling Daughter had begged to do some baking for a break from her revision routine, and as she asked so nicely how could I refuse?  And just look what she came up with -

A light-as-a feather, fluffy Victoria sponge, sandwiched together with strawberry jam and fresh cream-

It was absolutely delicious, this young lady is turning into a very talented baker.  She really loves to bake and with a household of six, including 3 very hungry brothers, she has plenty of willing tasters!
I was good and only had a small slice, well I am doing plenty of exercise now so a little treat now and then surely is allowed....

We then settled into an evening of watching the Eurovision Song Contest - something we giggle our way through every year.  I don't watch Strictly, X Factor, Britain's Got Talent or any of those shows, but somehow I really enjoy the cheesy, tacky nature of Eurovision!  No stand out songs this year but still a lot of fun.

A busy day ahead, washing, cleaning, shopping, so had better away.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, Helenxx

Red sky at night, shepherds delight

Hello again

After a lovely bracing walk with my DH yesterday we arrived home just as the sun was setting, lighting up everywhere with the most glorious rosy light

 

 

a beautiful but fleeting sight, then back indoors to light the candles

I just love getting cosy on these dark evenings, how about you?

Helenxx

Loving these in-between days...

Hi everyone, hope you are keeping cosy today, the weather outside is truly frightful, hasnt got light yet (even though it is lunchtime, this is how it must be in Scandinavia at this time of year), lashing it down with rain (at least in Finland or somewhere like that it would be snow!!) and very windy.

BUT - I love these in-between days in the holidays, not quite one thing or the other, and the bleak weather outside makes being inside even more appealing dont you think?

Im lucky in that I am on holiday for a while longer, so Im making the most of these lazy, comfy, cosy days.

I have had time to do a bit of cross-stitching - all to be revealed soon...

...time for reading, these lovely vintage books were gifted to me by Sue from @home - she knows me too well...

Enjoying the cosy candle light, this was a gift to me recently from my DD, she knows me so well...lovely autumnal motif....and the candle was a yankee candle scent called warm spice - I wish you could smell it - the most super, comforting, something-nice-baking scent you could ever wish for...

And yesterday we had a lovely celebration round at mine as my darling Mum turned 87 years young - this is the cake I made for her...

...all gone now of course!  It was a lemon cake, filled with cream and lemon curd.  DH made us a fantastic roast dinner, the evening was full of laughter and memories.  My darling Mum taught me the love of all things crafty and creative when I was little, when we truly did have to make do and mend.  Thanks Mum!

Well, Im off to make another cuppa, and get on with a bit more leisurely stitching.

Have a lovely day!

Helenxx

Midsummer's Night Dreaming!

Good morning all,  hope your weekend is off to a good start.  Mine has now started - I was up at 6 marking coursework, which is now done yay!!!!!  So now in weekend mode at long last.

Well folks, as you know my good friend Sue and I organised a swap based on the theme of a Midsummer Night's Dream.  I was paired up with the lovely Rae.  It was her first ever swap and my goodness, did she make a terrific job of it!!!!

First to pop out of my parcel was this lovely little lady - so beautifully made and absolutely sweet!

Then gorgeous crafty things, ribbon, threads and yarn - all will be put to excellent use I can assure you...

Lovely candle in a votive holder and fabric - just ideal therapy for beyond-stressed teachers...

Chocolate and a pretty card (the card will last longer than the chocolate methinks....)

Just look at this lovely pin cushion in the mini bonne mama jar - I think this teacher will use that idea...just sharing best practice dont you know (aka nicking good ideas)

And get ready to gasp....

Needle felting par excellence - a gorgeous necklace all for me!  In some of my fave colours!!

Rae, you have spoiled me so much - you have sent things I love in the colours I love!

Thank you so very very much - and for those of you paired up with Rae in the future you sure are in for a treat!

I had a lovely midsummer's night at Sue's house where we celebrated the 22nd birthday of her eldest - can he really be that age already?  Seems only a year or two ago since I was holding a tiny little bundle in my arms, scared to move in case I woke him up!  It was a lot of fun (we laughed until we cried) with yummy food (Sue is the most terrific cook) so a great time was had by all.

Have  a lovely day, whatever it is you get up to!

Helenxx