Ohhhhhhhhh how I love love love love L♥O♥V♥e this time of year when there is an abundance of green greenery!
I took my Dad and Lady B to walk in our local patch of woodland yesterday afternoon, and as you can see, it was absolutely glorious. Fresh and vibrant, full of dappled sunlight and stunning colour. I felt my heart swell and my soul lift up to the treetops to sing and dance.
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:: wild garlic just starting to flower ::
:: bracken leaves just starting to unfurl ::
:: gorgeous little wild violets in abundance ::
:: the most incredible tree roots ::
:: the river Wharfe at Bolton Abbey ::
:: walking into Strid Wood ::
:: climbing the high path up through the trees ::
:: breathing in the fresh, slightly damp leafy air ::
:: the bluebell bank, but sadly no blue yet :o( ::
:: due to the cold weather, the bluebells are late blooming this year ::
:: descending down through the trees, loving all the green greenery ::
:: back down by the riverside, a still, reflective part of the river ::
:: playing about on the river beach ::
:: watching the Little People plop pebbles into the still water ::
:: happy family times ::
:: the pathway winding onwards through the trees, it's almost time for coffee ::
:: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, a delicious Sunday morning cappuccino ::
♥ We enjoyed a really lovely few hours this morning walking at Bolton Abbey. I absolutely love the woodland at this time of year, being surrounded by all that bright green freshness is so good for the soul. I was hoping that the bluebells would have been blooming by now, but alas they are very late this year due to the cold weather (last year's bluebell walk was on May 6th). Will have to try and get back there again in a couple weeks time to drink in the blue. The Little People enjoyed the walk, it was peaceful, happy and fun. They played (even Little Man), they chatted, they ran around together. We had a lovely stop at the Cavendish Pavillion to refuel with milkshakes and coffee, and despite the damp, it was warm enough (just) to sit outside. I'm loving these regular Sunday outings of ours, I'm so glad that we are managing to make it happen each week. ♥
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On Monday morning, I went out for a walk up the hill and into the park.
Early pearly sunshine and long shadows, the grass still damp with dew.
At the bottom left of the park runs the canal and I was all set for some waterside wandering.
It was only seven ay-em and nobody else was about. I saw not one soul.
The day was sparkly and bright, the water perfectly clear and still.
The brightly painted boats were all still asleep, with cosy curtains drawn and a feeling of sleepy tranquility.
It has been a busy weekend on the canal as our town held it's annual Waterways festival.
Many, many boats had sailed in for the occasion and were moored two deep in some places.
I love the colourful details. Of course I do, I am a true colour junkie :o)
I had a bIg smile for this bicycling parrot with his basket of flowers and his rainbow wheels (which spin in the breeze).
I love the floral accents too, and it was lovely to see so many beautiful rooftop planters full of spring flowers.
Rooftop flowers of a different kind were equally charming.
Flowers and rainbows, balloons and bunting, it was very jolly along the waterside.
I think this has to be my all time favourite boat with it's beautiful front garden and stained glass doors. I wish I could have seen inside.
I love this picture. I love the way the clouds reflected in the water makes it look so dreamy and light.
The canal basin is at the heart of the town and was full to bursting with boaty activity. Even on this quiet early morning it felt exciting and festive.
Leaving the bustle behind now, this is a branch of the main canal which has a small beck running alongside it.
I stopped to gaze at these newly unfurled beech leaves, and thought to myself that I really must take the family to walk in the woods at Bolton Abbey very soon (remember the green greenery?)
I love this old bridge. We sailed underneath it a few weeks ago, Little B and I.
We took a completely impromptu ride on a small tourist boat one Saturday afternoon, passing right under this bridge on the way to the castle. It was magical hearing the journey narrated through the eyes and voice of Little B. He was more than a little excited.
This is a favourite spot of ours, beneath this weeping willow tree. It is very green, shady and cool in the height of summer, and is often a place that we stop to rest.
I just remembered that last year we sat on that very bench, Little B and I, and consumed two whole punnets of strawberries between us. Playgroup to home, via the market and the willow tree.
Ahhh, home again, walking up the cobbled street to arrive at my back gate. It was a lovely wander and amazingly I was only gone for half an hour. The Little People didn't even realise I was missing until I walked in the back door.
I love wandering around my neighbourhood. It's a pretty special kind of a place to live.
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We continue our quest to create some Outdoor Family Time every weekend, usually a Sunday morning. With each week/outing it gets easier and the vocal complaints have now dwindled to very mild do-we-have-to's. Persistence pays off, as does chocolate bribery.
Yesterday the weather wasn't especially nice with a thin film of mizzle hanging low in the air, but we weren't put off in the slightest. We are heading out, we have flasks of coffee and chocolate, we care not if it is damp and grey!
We live very close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and there is stunning scenery to be found just a short drive from home. Yesterday we went to Malham, well more precisely a mile or two up the road to the magnificent Gordale Scar.
This is ancient limestone landscape, and the scale of it is quite mind blowing. It is huuuuuuge. The hillsides tower a good hundred metres above the footpath.
J and I know this area well, we have been here many times over the past twenty years yet we couldn't remember ever bringing the Little People here. They really enjoyed the drama of the scenery and couldn't wait to get around the corner and right into the gorge......
....as you can see it really is spectacular. Pretty wowsers eh?!
Believe it or not, this is actually a footpath. Uh-huh....can you see a couple of people beginning their climb up the side of the waterfall there? Well that's the footpath. We told the Little People the story of our own climb up there once, when we had been camping in a little tent nearby and decided to do this walk one morning. Our book described this part of the path as "a mild scramble", jeez, that author told a big fat lie there. It is a knee-knocking, heart lurching rock climb, made a hundred times worse by the fact that you have such an audience watching your every leg trembling move. I remember that I was wearing little flowery shorts, and some black mary jane style shoes to make that climb, so funny! I didn't even posses walking boots back then, I used to walk for miles across the countryside in those black shoes which I loved to bits.
We drank coffee and consumed chocolate in the gorge, then wandered back down the path in the mizzle to visit this other beautiful waterfall.
This is Janets Foss, a rather magical place with fairy stories attached to it.
We decided to leave the car parked here and walk the 1.5 miles along the stream to the village. The walk is lovely, starting out in this gorgeous woodland, then opening out through fields and pastures.
I loved the green greenery of moss and wild garlic, so lush looking with the delicious scent of garlic in the air as we walked.
It took about an hour for us to walk to the village, ambling along at Little B's pace. But eventually we arrived, crossing over the stream via this lovely old stone bridge.
We had booked a table at The Buck Inn and were very much ready for lunch. Which was rather delicious and enjoyable I have to say. This pub is very warm, cosy, relaxed and homely inside, and children are made very welcome.
After lunch, J and Little Man set out to walk the 1.5 miles back up stream to pick up the car, while I parked my ample backside on that lovely wooden bench there and supervised the other two. I know I've said before how much I love watching the Little Peeps at play, it really is one of the best things in life. They devised a game that was a combination of hide and seek and tig, so funny to watch. Then there was a game involving stick racing in the stream, followed by some general running, jumping and climbing.
And then the welcome comfort of our car arriving and the slow winding road home-wards through the glorious spring countryside. A good day. Very, very good.
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I have to tell you I'm having a delicious week. Busy, but delicious.
It's been wonderful to finally feel a little smidge of warmth in the air. I have loved walking about town with Little B, allowing him to lead me the extra-extra long way home from toddler group via the old Corn Mill, the woodland (past the house that keeps chickens) and the canal side. Walking from A to B the long way round has been really enjoyable. Gosh, that boy has so much energy. It fizzes out of him from the minute he gets up (at 5.30am) and carries on fizz-popping throughout our fourteen hour days. Even total strangers comment on it, he just seems to radiate energy somehow.
Our sweet little piggies have been introduced to the joys of outdoor grazing this week. They are indoor dwelling pets, and it has simply been too cold and damp to put them outside before now. We purchased a run from the local pet shop and they are doing a stirling job of trimming my overgrown grass. Yipppeeeeeeeeeee, no more cutting the grass for me!
We decided on a walk this afternoon (up a stupendously long steep huff-puff hill) to spend an hour at a lovely peaceful rural field/park. It's known as The Rec, as it's not really a park as such, but there is a bit of play equipment for the Little People and a well placed picnic bench for Mums. The sun was warm! Yes, really it was! I removed my cardigan!! I even felt (shock horror) a little sweaty at one point. It's been a good half a year since I sat out under a truly warm sun (probably October when I was in Provence), and it made me feel super-happy today.
Even my flowers this week look as if they've been touched by warm sunshine. These tulips came from the supermarket and were a mere £1.80.
I just love the way the light shines through the petals making them look as if they are glowing.
The light in the studio is pretty awesome I have to say. Even on gloomy weather days it feels light and bright, and when the sun streams in through the windows, well it's pretty marvelous. As you can see, I was hard at work at my desk on Wednesday. Hard at it. Well you can tell can't you?
I'm in the process of trying out some new yarns for future crochet workshops, getting used to the colours, getting a feel for the yarn and how it works up. I spent a while familiarising myself with the colour palette, which basically involves drinking coffee and having a bloomin' good play. Lining them up, arranging them in groups, making notes of the colour codes etc.
I need to catalogue the colours cos I like my yarn to be naked. The paper wrappers get in the way, so as soon as I've noted it all down in my notebook, I whip em off. This yarn is pretty fabby. It's Drops yarn, do you know it? Drops Design is a Norwegian company which produces all sorts of different types of yarn. The one I'm using here is called Paris, it's an aran weight (5mm hook) 100% cotton and comes in 45 brilliant shades. I'm also trying out some different merino weights, I'll show you more of those very soon.
Now then, do you like my new jug? Affectionately known as my "Ken", the arrival of it on my shelf has made me really rather ridiculously happy this week. I have lusted after a Ken of my very own for a long time. Years. Many years. And last week seemed to be the right time for a little personal, spontaneous splurge.
For those of you who don't recognise the Ken reference, I shall explain :: the jug was made by the very talented and successful ceramicist Ken Eardley. His style is very distinctive and easily recognisable, and I absolutely love the simple quirkiness of it. His work is highly collectible and in great demand, and there is often a lengthy waiting list if you should wish to buy one. My Ken came from the wonderful Janet Bell Gallery, and luckily for me and my spontaneous impulses, Janet always keeps a stock of Ken's in her shop. I told her "red flower" and she emailed me a picture, and that was that, I fell in love and nothing would have stopped me from getting my hands on this beauty.
This is a picture from Yellow House Art in Brighton, showing an amazing range of Ken's ceramics. they look fabulous en masse, I think I need to be careful that I'm not forming an expensive addiction here. Steaaaaady. One Ken will have to suffice for now. But oh I love the blue leafy jugs. Love 'em I do.
The lovely Julia Crossland has been unwittingly aiding and abetting my Wanties with images of her gorgeous paintings feauturing Ken jugs. This springtime one is especially sweet don't you think?
Talking of sweet, Little B made me this heart yesterday. We had an hour or so in the afternoon when we were trying (unsuccessfully) to rest a little before the school run. He got out the Hama beads and decided all by himself that this is what he would do. Each bead was carefully selected with tweezers and placed on the peg board with great ceremony. He loves tools of any kind I've noticed. He loves doing stuff with tools. Or sticks. Or bits of string. We have lots of things tied up with string in our house. Or wrapped in sellotape. Busy busy happy happy.
The blue blue sky this morning made my heart soar skywards. Same again tomorrow? Oh I very very very much hope so.
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Thank you all so much for taking the time to write to me this week, your understanding words have been so very much appreciated I can tell you. The post holiday Adjustment is going ok I think, well I feel a little brighter today at any rate.
We took an easy family trip out on Sunday morning, a few miles out of town to one of our favourite places for Fresh Air + Views. It was a very straightforward outing which involved a short drive, a short walk, and a short refreshment stop. Landscape appreciation, coffee and chocolate, deep breathing, laughter and chatter. It was good.
I have been busy this week and I've done a lot of walking. On Tuesday I had a meeting for Yarndale, which involved a gorgeous stroll through the park and up over the hill to the auction mart on the egde of town. The landscape is all of a sudden shaking off it's winter colours and greening up again, and I am very, very happy about that. I got so fed up with the washed out, mucky winter colours. Yarndale things are looking really great I have to say, and we now have over a hundred and twenty exhibitors booked (oh the growing list is sooooo exciting!).
Walking back through the park I was bowled over by the yellow carpet of celandine flowers in the woodland....so pretty.
I noticed that leaf buds are budding too, and it is very reassuring to see that Spring is really starting to peek in. I just wish it would warm up a touch, it is still surprisingly chilly here in my patch.
A little bit of pegging out always lifts my spirits and it's one of my favourite domestic chores (along with making my bed).
Something else that lifted my spirits this week was a gorgeous package of yarn. Well it wasn't so much a package as a huge great big box....there were layers of yarn beneath what you can see above. Yes multiple layers!!! It's almost too exciting for words, honestly, un-belieeeeeev-able. More about that deliciousness coming very soon, I've got lots to show you.
This morning I managed to finish my latest project and I've got quite a
bit of Cotton On left over. Not sure what to do with it yet, but I'm sure
something will spring to mind. Will make a little Ta-dah post as soon as
I've managed to photograph the article properly. It's a little tricksy to
capture on camera as it's something wearable, but I'm working on it. I just had a look at the pictures I took today and my overwhelming thought was that I really badly need a hair cut. Unkempt is the word. Can't have my bad hair upstaging the crochet, that would never do.
Today has been a gentle, quiet, pottering sort of a day and miraculously consisted of six (much needed) child free hours (gosh how I love and appreciate my wonderful in-laws). I spent part of the day pootling in town, part of it pottering at home, and part of it working in the studio. The latter destination was such fun! I made my first tutorial there this afternoon, and even though it was piddling with rain and rather grey outside, the light at my desk was still fantastic.
While I was there, I opened up my cupboard cos I realised yesterday that I forgot to show you it's Mod Podged Liberty inner. Happy happy.
I took this picture about an hour ago, at 8.45 pm, hanging out of the Attic window (the sloping velux at the back). I hope we are in for some Shepherds Delight tomorrow, I would be happy 'bout that.
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Ps....would you like a Yarndale bag featuring our amazing Patchwork Sheep? They are available to buy on the website, £4.50 to UK destinations, and £8 worldwide, with FREE P&P. Perfect for toting about your yarn. Mine has been everywhere with me today xx
One of the things I most love about being on holiday is the large amount of time we spend outdoors as a family. Whether we are by the coast or inland, in a house or Connievan, it feels great to simply be outside in the fresh open air together. Pottering, pootling, playing, picnicking. Walking, running, jumping, balancing. Lounging, laughing, chatting, pondering.
Since coming home from our holiday in Dorset, J and I made a joint decision to take a few hours out of every weekend to be together as a family, out and about. A weekly outing of some sorts. It's an easy thing to say in words, but not at all easy to make it happen. It takes planning and preparation, effort and enthusiasm. But it is perfectly do-able if we are determined to make it happen and ignore the plaintive resistence from our offspring. The trick is to get out of the door as early as possible, with a promise to return home in time for lunch. A few hours kids, that is ALL. It won't take long, promise.
Of course, once we are actually on our way, it all becomes much
easier, especially if we keep the journeying short. We are very, very
lucky to live close to such glorious countryside, and there is no
shortage of nearby places to go. On Sunday morning we chose Riverside.
Miraculously, we had parked the car by 9.15 and set off to walk along an
easy footpath beside the river Wharfe. We were headed for that small
river beach on the left side of the river, but chose to walk along the
right hand side first before crossing over via a lovely stone bridge.
This is a beautifully built bridge, quite grand compared to the little rustic ones we usually come across in the Dales.
The footpath passes under a stone arch....
....then steps take you up to walk along the top of the bridge and down the other side.
Here
is the beach look, a lot smaller than usual due to the river water
being quite high. But it is a perfect place to stop, rest and have a
play.
A
mixture of sand, pebbles and grass, it's not that dissimilar from being
by the sea, although obviously the sounds are different. No waves
breaking, but there is the equally pleasing sound of bubbling, gurgling
water as the river flows and tumbles over rocks and pebbles. And the sound of
the wind in the trees is blissful. Bird song too, more peaceful and
tunesome than the squawk of seagulls.
The
Little People absolutely love riverside play. There are grassy hillocks
to climb and turn into castles and fortresses. There are flat stones to
skim across the water, and there are smooth, rounded pebbles to stack
into towers. Actually, this tower was my own work. Well, I did have my
Little Assistant helping me, but his help was mainly verbal. Chatter,
chatter, chatter.
Just like on a coastal beach, there is often treasure to be found on river beaches.
River washed glass.....
....and
fragments of pottery. None of these treasures were found by me. They
were found by J and the Little People and sweetly gifted into my
outstretched hand. They know me well.
We
spread a little picnic blanket on the grass and enjoyed some mid
morning refreshment. White bread rolls spread with butter and jam,
chunks of dark chocolate and a flask of fresh coffee.
J
and I sat a while and watched our Littles play. I think this has to be
one of my favourite pastimes, and it fills me with such happy pleasure to
watch my children play outdoors. I love their physical energy, their
inventive games interwoven with stories. I just love to see them content
and happy with the natural world (and each other) to play with.
It
was a windy day on Sunday, but on the beach we were relatively
sheltered. Gradually we noticed that the clouds were being blown across
the sky and the sun began to peek out. It was absolutely blissful to
feel the warmth of the sun on my face.
J
went off to the waters edge with Little Man who has developed a
remarkable talent for stone skimming. I continued my lazy appreciation
of all that I could see, hear, touch.
I lay down (another of my favourite pastimes) and watched the sky.
I
watched the scudding clouds race across the blue sky and I listened to
the wind in the bare branches. And I listened to the sound of my family
chatting, shouting, cheering, laughing.
It was wonderful.
After a while I got up and took a little wander. Admired some tiny yellow flowers....
....and the pure clarity of the river water. Sunshine, ripples and dancing shadows.
A great place to play for sure.
Just
before 11 now, and by mutual consent we all decided to say goodbye to
the river beach. The wind had suddenly whipped up a notch and despite
the sun it felt very cold.
On
the return walk, Little Lady found this amazing birds nest at the side
of the river bank. She was absolutely bowled over by it, the first birds
nest she had ever seen. We placed it back where we had found it,
although we did bring the feather home with us to add to my collection.
Such a lovely few hours, such simple pleasure and happy family time. We had the best of the weather too, as by the time we were driving home across the hills, we could already see the rain heading in over the valley. And not long after we arrived back home, it absolutely chucked it down.
I am writing this and thinking to myself that I really hope the memories of that morning have entered into the hearts and minds of my Little People and lodged hard and fast. I so so so wish for them to remember it all, to treasure the memories just as much as I do. Fingers crossed.
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It is still unbelievably wintry here in my patch. It remains very cold, only just above freezing, and jeez there is still snow sitting on the hills. I keep looking out at the view and willing it to start greening up a little, to look at least a smidge as if Spring is round the corner.
On Sunday the air was all of a sudden very slightly warmer. Still grey and wintry looking, but just about possible to shed an outer layer and stride out without shivering. After some tremendous effort, all five of us made it out the door on Sunday morning, all at the same time, to go and do the same thing together. Increasingly hard to make this happen these days, as the Little People have their own social agenda and tend to dig their heels in re Family Outings. I was glad I dug my own heels in on Sunday and forced The Walk, for it was a good one. We walked up a steep grassy field to take in the view. Always a good thing to get up high and remember where you live. There's the Attic Window look....fourth one down! You see it? That's home!
After the steep, grassy up hill climb, there is a steep, grassy downhill run, then a stile, then a track into the woods.
It's a lovely, simple circular walk (well technically it is lollipop shaped), providing greenery, gentle exercise and fresh air. The greenery was a bit thin where the trees are concerned, but look.......
...the banks of wild garlic have started to sprout fresh, vibrant greenery! Yippeeee!! That surely must mean that we have entered early spring!
I think we walked for about two hours. It was slow going due to Little B only having Little Legs, but he walked the whole way round with enthusiasm and happiness radiating out of him. He is such a sweet outdoor boy.
The relative warmth of Sunday was short lived, and the past couple of days have seen us back to shivery cold. The heating is permanently on and we are wishing we hadn't run out of coal and logs. The blankets are still in full swing, hot water bottles still warming the beds at night. Hasn't this been the longest winter?
I am glad for my colourful, cosy home, as despite the current messiness it is a warm, happy place to be when the weather is cold. I'm still going with the Spring bulbs indoors, I love having them on the mantel. My lovely mother-in-law bought me this latest pot of hyacinths on Saturday and I'm looking forward to the pink flowers and heady scent.
I have been adopting my usual slapdash method of parenting this week with the Little People being home from school, particularly with foodie stuff. We tend to graze in the holidays, although after all the indulgence of Easter last week, I am making a conscious effort to provide healthy grazing fodder for us all. No more chocolate, crisps or sugar laden bakery products for a while....I've replaced them with a large selection of fruit, wholemeal bagels for toasting, and hummus with crudités and breadsticks.
I've been having a bit of en egg fest of the healthier variety this week too and treated myself to these pale blue beauties. They are an extravagance really (£1.99 for six eggs), but oh they are wonderful. They are made by very clever chickens called Old Cotswold Legbars, and I adore the soft colours of the shells.
Inside, the yolks are a magnificent orange colour and taste divine. The past few days I've been up early with Little B for tea and toast, then making myself a brunch around 11.30. Poached eggs on toasted wholemeal bagel. Deeeeelish. If this has picture has made you long for a poached egg, you can read more about my poaching exploits here.
I've had plenty of hooky time these past few days as the Little Peeps have been very good playing amongst themselves. As is usual for us in school holidays, we've had small hoards of visiting children in and out all day, and I just count the pairs of shoes in the hallway to see how many are in (total of 8 yesterday, although not all at the same time). I'm finishing up a new project which I started whilst on holiday, and it's giving me a huge amount of pleasure and satisfaction. I managed to work out the mathematics for the design yesterday by drawing it all out on paper, so there will be a new pattern to offer you very soon....I hope you're going to like it. Yellow tulips too this week, they look lovely in my button jug.
Haha....I had to include this picture, kind of a visual confession! I found half a bottle of sloe gin in the cupboard left over from Christmas, and for some obscure reason yesterday (around 4pm) I just fancied myself a wee tipple. It felt incredibly naughty.....drinking gin in the afternoon with a house full of children, what irresponsible behaviour?!!! But oh my, it was absolutely wonderful. I only had that one weeny glass and I sipped it slowly over the space of about 45mins while I did a bit of crochet before cooking dinner. I had this blissful warm glow afterwards, I felt like I was radiating warmth. Which was pretty good considering how cold it is at the moment. Never mind layering up with clothing, just crack open the gin bottle! Eh-hem. Well, it was just a one-off spontaneous thingy, so don't be worried.
Right then....on that naughty note I will love you and leave you for now, and go make a stack of buttery toast for my hungry children. Back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We enjoyed a really lovely family walk today. It wasn't a particularly pretty day with heavy clouds and low light levels, but it was surprisingly mild and very still. This is one of our favourite go-to places when scenery, fresh air and gentle exercise is called for. It's a quiet reservoir only a couple miles from the Attic, and a circular walk round it takes less than an hour. It is just enough.
Trying to get the Little People out of the house at the weekend is becoming surprisingly hard work, it's like trying to prise a limpet off a rock. They cling to the comforts of home, they protest loudly, they complain about the boredom of Walking For Pleasure. It takes determined effort to organise even a short outing such as this one. And yet.....once we arrive they really do seem to forget they didn't want to come and enjoy it very much. Lots of running, paddling, throwing, climbing, jumping. Little B is thankfully not that way yet, he is always up for an outing. He spent almost the entire time pretending he was a racing car (he did stop racing long enough to lob many rocks into the still water). I love how young children choose to run everywhere. Such energy and physical joy.
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#1 :: I've loved looking upwards as I've walked around and about the place. It's made me so happy to see the most beautiful blues skies and feel the gentle warmth from the bright winter sunshine.
#2 :: I've loved pottering around my town, visiting friends, the market, the park and local shops.
#3 :: I've loved seeing my two boys slowly recover their energies and appetites, kicking those germs into touch. We've eaten lots of fresh fruit, salad and veggies this week.
#4 :: I've loved watching my Little People at play, both individually and with each other. Some very sweet role-play games have been taking place (we are at home for half term this week), and the pop up tent
#5 :: I've loved seeing my little clump of snowdrops get ready to open their petals as the sun shines down on them.
#6 :: I've loved making (and eating) an incredible new snack/addiction which is thankfully a little healthier than tiffin. These are curly kale crisps which I learnt about on Hannah's lovely blog Homebaked. Half a bag of sliced curly kale with a drizzle of olive oil massaged in and a sprinkling of sea salt. Spread on a baking tray, bake in oven at low temp (150C) for about 25mins until kale is crisp. Utterly delicious.
#7 :: I've loved putting a few stems of baby narcissus into the old glass bottles on my bathroom windowsill. They completely light up the room and make me smile every time I walk in.
#8 :: I've loved using this bar of handmade soap bought from a local shop. My last soap (wild rose) from the same shop ran out a few weeks ago and so I treated myself to a new one...it smells lush.
#9 :: I've loved browsing through this beautiful book-zine at bedtime. The pages are filled with colour and inspiration, it's quite wonderful. More info here.
#10 :: I've loved getting this book
#11 :: I've loved taking a train journey through the cold, frosty landscape with Little Lady today. We went to The City to shop for clothes (her) and pretty things (me), and had a lovely time out together. She is the sweetest companion, I found I laughed a lot in her company.
#12 :: I've loved bringing these sweet new tins home to the attic, they are of course from Cath Kidston. Destined to go and live very soon in my new work studio. Shall I say that again? Uh-huh...that's right...s-t-u-d-i-o. The most exciting, wondrous developments happening here behind the scenes. Squuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeal! More of that very soon.
#13 :: I've loved coming home from The City with exhausted achy feet and flopping down on the sofa to drink tea from my new mug. Cath Kidston again, I LOVE this new design called Daisy Rose Check.
#14 :: I've loved (LOvEd-loveD) opening up a surprise parcel today, and finding this incredible piece of handmade fused glass inside. A very generous and beautiful gift from a lovely Attic visitor, Charlotte I can't tell you how much I love this, you have an amazing talent. When are you going to open an online shop? Perleaaaaaaase?! ♥
#15 :: I've loved having a crochet idea, working on it before breakfast (not particularly successfully), pondering on it all morning (whilst shopping in The City), tweaking it in my mind, then coming home and re-working the imagined tweaks. And it worked! I made a little hooky daffodil! I have in my mind to create an Easter Wreath, similar in style to my Christmas one. Think lots of crocheted spring flowers, leaves, pretty ribbons, buttons, feathers, decorated eggs, pom poms (of course) and an Easter bird nestling at the bottom....oh cripes, the giddy shivers are back again :o)
#16 :: I've loved looking forward to going to the coast, yaaayyy! This gorgeous looking building is the youth hostel at Whitby, and we've booked a family room to stay here tomorrow night...it's right up on the top of the cliff next to Whitby Abbey. I am really, really looking forward to it, we leave tomorrow morning for two days of seaside pootling. Fingers crossed for good weather, well dry weather (without snow, hail or rain) will do nicely.
See you when I get back from beside the North Sea!
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