Crochet Blanket Challenge - week 5

Good morning everyone.

Well, the first day of February has arrived - where did January go?  It was a very busy month, with birthdays, the return to work, thesis writing, GCSE coursework deadlines, University offers, etc etc - I feel as if the whole month flew by without me catching my breath.  And of course for most of the month the weather was frightful.

But this morning, on this first day of February the sun is finally shining....

Thesis and coursework have been submitted (some fingernail nibbling going on whilst results are awaited), university offers have been accepted, work is back in full swing, birthdays have been celebrated.  And somehow, in and among all this, I have managed to keep going with my granny squares.  And even more incredibly, this week I have managed to complete six new squares:

so now there are 34 squares in total...

when I see them all together like this I can really see the blanket taking shape.  The squares are big, seven granny rows then an edging of double crochet (sc for my American friends).  I am already beginning to think about possible colour combinations for the blanket edging.  Possibly varying degrees of grey I think....(no sniggering please!) And I think each square will need another row of the colour I finally decide upon for the joining up process.  I think about 80 squares in all should make a pretty big blanket, when including all the edgings.  

To be honest I cant believe how much progress has been made, it makes me feel strangely and unbelievably contented arranging the squares, counting them up, and thinking about the colour combinations.  The colours are somewhat more restrained than how they appear in the photos.  

I am having a lazy morning for the first time in weeks, and looking forward to going up to Manchester later to have an evening out with relatives.  Will be getting the crochet hook out shortly for a while though first.

Hope you all have a lovely Saturday, and that the sun is shining wherever you are!

Helenxx

52 Weeks of Happy 1/52

Hi there!

Just a quick post today - I have seen quite a few bloggers taking up the 52 weeks of happy challenge and rather liked it!  It seems a lovely way to ensure that we take time to really acknowledge what has made us feel happy.

So, amongst the many, many things that have made me happy this week is our trip out yesterday which included this favourite place of mine

As you can see from the date stamp, this is an old, but favourite photo of mine, taken at this time of year though - and yes, the place is Matlock Bath.  I dont know why but I have always loved the place.  When I was little we used to go every autumn for the Venetian Nights boats, fireworks and illuminations.  Its just a really nice spot for a potter about, with more challenging walks nearby if thats what you feel like doing.

The weather was very gloomy yesterday, so no photos worth sharing.  But a lovely time out with DH and DD all the same.  Eventually we ended up in Manchester to do a bit of shopping in some of specialist food shops we like up there, followed up with a delicious Middle Eastern meal at our favourite eatery!!

I could really get used to this being on holiday lark...I guess I need to work though to finance the hols ha ha!!

Hope that there is much this week that is making you happy. 

Helenxx

And the Winner is....

Morning!

Wow, what a response to the Moonstruckcreations Birthday Giveaway - thanks so much to all of you who joined in.
So, this morning, my trusty blogging secretary (darling daughter) listed all the entries and put them into a bowl. 

She shuffled them about thoroughly

And drew out the winner...

Who is....

Well done!  I hope you will like the little treats that will wing their way to you asap. 
BUT... then we got to thinking...so many lovely bloggers joined in the fun, why not draw out two more names and send them a teeny surprise treat?  So DD drew out two more names - who are:

 and

Well done to you all!  Please email me at moonstruckcreations@hotmail.co.uk with your contact details and I will get the goodies in the post to you asap.

Thanks again to you all for joining in - Ive been overwhelmed by the response. 

I will be holding another giveaway in a while when I creep up nearer to 100 followers so watch this space!

Have a wonderful weekend - Im off to Manchester shortly to visit family and have a meal at a fabulous Middle Eastern eatery - falafel sandwich and fatayer for me, yum yum yum!

Helenxx

Driving in a Winter Wonderland!

Hi everyone!

A couple of weeks ago we were driving up to Manchester to visit relatives.  Started off from home, no snow, but as we went further north this is what met our eyes for the first time this year

Happily I could enjoy snapping away at the beautiful views as DH was driving!!

Helenxx

Day Tripper!!

Hi everyone!

I was lucky enough recently to take some of my students to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

It was a lovely spring day, lots and lots of warm spring sunshine!  As we parked the mini bus this lovely mural greeted us:

The students were amazed at the rather funky looking sky scraper just accross the way from the museum:

We were mind-boggled by these art works created by a robot - reminded me of Spirograph (I used to love that!!)

And loved this TV - reminded us of the WonkaVision TV in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!!

Then just as I thought I had done really well recently using finer yarn to crochet with we came accross this - can you guess what the "fabric" is made of?

the fabric was made up into this ultra fine garment:

We couldnt believe our eyes when we read the information sign...

Absolutely amazing - imagine the skill, not to mention the patience needed to make such a thing!!

I just loved the fact that there is so much beauty and craft in a science museum!  The students loved it, many of them hadnt been to a museum before, which is a shame as they are aged 16-19.  All agreed that science could be interesting and fun! 

The museum backs onto Granada Studios where Coronation Street is filmd.  Sadly the set is no longer open to visitors (it used to be a brilliant day out I remember going there in the late 80s/early 90s) so this signed copy of a Corrie script had to do:

all in all a very successful trip - the young people were a credit to themselves and us.  So what you may ask?  Well, my students are usually labelled as the "most challenging" of young people, many have left school, well shall we just say, under a cloud?  We really are the last chance of gaining education for many of them.  So we see all the challenges, the negative behaviour, the problems etc.  But, once we have been with them for a while, given them due TLC (Tough Loving Care as well as Tender Loving Care!) most will actually blossom into hard working young people who are reaching towards a brighter future.  And just to hear them saying that they will always remember the day they went out with us is just fantastic.

The museum is well worth a visit and the best thing is, its free!  So if you are around the Manchester area over the hols, and you have young kids/teenagers, give it a go!

Helenxx