A journey back in time...

...to the days of the Crusades.

Hello everyone, hope all is well with you and yours.  Sun is shining again this morning, which is such a bonus.

A few weeks ago, while I was on a bit of a break from blogging, I was lucky enough to return to what I think is one of the most amazing places on earth - the beautiful Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.  I just love it so, so much.  The people are so welcoming, the hospitality offered to visitors is humbling.  And the places you can visit - it is like being in a history book!!  As a child I loved to read stories about the Crusades, Knights, etc and when in Jordan this time I insisted upon visiting this place:

The Crusader Castle of Kerak.

It is AWESOME - the sheer size of the place is staggering.  Have any of you seen the film Kingdom of Heaven starring Orlando Bloom?  Well, this is the real castle where a lot of the film is set. 

A few glimpses of the sheer majesty of the place:

I love this view through the archway.

So amazing to think that the people I have read about in history books would have looked through the same archway.  Imagine all the things that would have run through their minds...as a little girl I used to hear the stories about this part of the world and dreamed that one day I would be able to visit.

There are three layers of underground passages to explore, it is staggering how these were built over a thousand years ago.  And even more staggering that the building has survived so well.

Of course, all this adventuring makes for a healthy appetite, here is a little something I cooked up for us when we got back to base:

This is a dish called Maqloubeh, it is rice, chicken, aubergines and potatoes with loads of spices (I made my self a meat free version as I'm a vegetarian).  There were no leftovers so it must have been OK!

Hope to be back again soon with some more photos of my trip.

Helenxx

Springtime Potholder

Good morning...and isn't it wonderful to have a Bank Holiday Weekend!!!  Such a treat, and so, so needed.

I thought I would share a photo of a crochet potholder that I made a few weeks ago for one of my sisters-in-law. 

The pattern was from Simply Crochet Magazine.  The yarn is 100% acrylic so nice and easy to wash.  But my sister-in-law says that it is too pretty to use and she is going to hang it up in her kitchen as a decoration!!

It is in fact really functional in that the crochet "fabric" is nice and thick and would really protect your hands when lifting hot pots off the stove.  I loved making it as it was a great portable project to have nearby for those spare 5 minutes here and there.

I'm hoping to make some more soon when time permits...

In the meantime I'm hoping for a bit of decent weather later so that I can potter about in the garden!

Have a lovely weekend, Helenxx

British Quilt and Stitch Village

Hi everyone, hope you are well.  Seems ages since my last post.

During my bloggy tea break I have been up to all sorts of things, including a lovely holiday, more of which soon.

But thought I would start my return to blogland by sharing some photos from a lovely day out I had yesterday with my bestest friend Sue, her lovely daughter and my daughter.  We went to the British Quilt and Stitch Village.  I had never been to one of these events before so was very excited!

Sue, and our two daughters had their work on display - this is the work completed jointly by our lovely girls, we were so proud of them

 

 

They used batik and then embroidery, I think it is stunning.  Then of course we have Sue's awesome creations:

The work on display made me feel a bit intimidated if I'm honest !  I have included a few of my favourites below

And then of course there was the opportunity to add to the stash of fabrics, buttons and threads.... all to be put to good use when Sue and I embark on our next Monday evening project....

Well it is good to be back in blogland!  Hopefully will be back again soon...

Helenxx

Time for a bloggy tea break

Hi everyone

Hope you are all well and looking forward to spring - a few signs of spring happening in the garden here...

Life has been very very chaotic since my return from Granada, hence my absence from blogland.  Darling mums illness, work, UCAS applications and uni interviews (super son no.2 has got an offer to do a Media HND next year which is fantastic!), Uni exams (super son no. 1 who is in year one of an Electronic Engineering degree) AS exams (super son. no 3) and GCSE exams (darling daughter) MSc dissertation (me) then I got ill as well... I feel shattered just typing this ;)

So Im going to take a little blogging break for a few weeks - take some time to take stock, spend time with my loved ones, slow down, eat well, pick up hooks and needles again, and get some sleep (hopefully). 

My dear crafty currency partner - your scarf is now finished - yay!! - and will be in the post next week.

In the meanwhile, I hope you all have a good few weeks, hopefully I will have lots to share when I get back.

Much love, Helenxx

Granada Grandeur

Hi everyone

Well, Im beginning to surface again...darling mum is much better thankfully and getting back to her usual awesome self.

I finally picked up a pair of knitting needles for the first time in weeks a few days ago.

The sun is shining.

So I thought I would share some precious memories of one of the most beautiful places I have been fortunate enough to visit - Granada in
 Al-Andalus, Spain.  My darling husband organised our trip to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary.

To say the Alhambra is breathtaking is the silliest understatement ever....

...although it is said that a picture says a thousand words.  So I thought I would put a montage of some of the photos I took and put some music to them. 

Enjoy!

 

Helenxx

Where to begin....

Hello everyone - seems ages since I visited blog land.  Hope you are all well.

What a roller-coaster month it has been - first off, I was whisked away on a wonderful romantic getaway by the lovely Dr H as it was our silver wedding anniversary!  What a fantastic 5 days we had, we went to Granada in Spain to see the breathtaking beauty of the Alhambra.  I shall never forget it, the beauty of the place is absolutely beyond any description - simply magical.  Will share photos soon hopefully.

But, on landing back in the UK we were met with the news that my darling Mum had taken really ill on the day we were due to return.  She is 87 and had been sticken by a severe bout of flu - even though she had a flu vacination in the autumn as usual.

So it has been terribly worrying, we have all been spending as much time as possible with her. 

And today, 2 weeks later, she is finally starting to make a good improvement - she has even started telling my brother off which is a really good sign ;)

So huge apologies to my swap partners for the sheer disorganisation on my part in getting things sorted and posted.  But the days have just slipped away and here we are fast approaching the end of February.  I have done no crafting at all this month which is really unusual.  But have had no time and with all the worry with darling Mum no inclination to craft either.   And have only had time today to catch up on personal emails, so have emailed my swap partners to explain.

Hopefully will be back soon.

Helenxx

January Photo Scavenger Hunt

Hi there!

Well, here I am late for the first scavenger hunt of the year - tut tut.  But there are perfectly good reasons for this, which I will share soon!

But, as they say better late than never -

from top left then clockwise -

BLUE - a picture of a little local stream
PRODUCE - a fruit and veg stall on a market stall
WARM - yummy hot choccie!!
COLD - snow!

REFLECTION - in the park
12 - my birthday!
MAIL BOX - in the snow
STATUE - made to commemorate the olympics - I think it is supposed to represent synchronised swimming...

SIGN - for our bike path network in town
VIEW - in the park in the snow!

Well, must dash off, back soon.

Helenxx