Friday Blurble

Ahhhh Friday again, how whizzy and wonderful this week has been!

I love my Friday morning potterings around town when I visit local shops and the market to stock up on produce for the weekend. I'll try and photograph the fruit/veg stall one day to show you, it's really quite visually lovely with all the beautiful, colourful fresh produce on display. Today I bought a couple punnets of English strawberries, I love how they come in a variety of shapes and sizes (unlike the supermarket ones) and are deliciously ripe and sweet. They really do need to be eaten pretty much straight away whilst still a little warm from the sun. Little B and I shared a whole punnet on our way home from playgroup today, sat in the shade of a weeping willow beside the canal. The strawberries hardly touched the sides, they tasted incredible.

Also in my bag today was a bundle of English Asparagus which I am really looking forward to smooshing up tomorrow. My love affair with this seasonal vegetable has not let up over the years (I laugh to myself when I recall this post), and I continue to think rather passionate thoughts about devouring these gorgeous spears.

When I came home from the market this morning, I unloaded my bags, put a fresh coffee on to brew, then ran up to the attic eaves to rootle around in my rather large box of Home Textiles. I was after a table cloth, a dash of summer colour to throw over the brown wooden outdoor table. A big improvement, but the table was missing a little floral something. I pondered over it a while, then decided on a sudden impulse to walk up to the park and gather some cow parsley. I remembered that a few of you suggested enjoying it outside instead of bringing it inside, so that's exactly what I did. The sight of it on my table has made me so happy today, I've loved being able to sit and gaze at it as I've sat eating, drinking and hooking.

I had a little play with hook and yarn this afternoon, trying out a few ideas from my new book.

The above sample is a variation of the "terraces" pattern on page 79, although I had to do it my own way. Sorry Jan Eaton but your pattern was really difficult to read and I just couldn't do it your way. My way worked out pretty good though, and I've got an idea for using it to make a small square cushion cover. It's a fabulous colour-play pattern, I'm quite excited by the idea of playing with it on a larger scale.

4.30pm now, and we are in that sweet lull that comes after the school run and before meal-making time. A friend called by to enjoy a little bit of Friday Afternoon Yummies. This tends to happen most Friday's, a spontaneous gathering of friends and neighbours, lots of children coming and going, a few nibbles and a glass of something delicious and chilled. My current Friday Afternoon tipple of choice is Demi Sec Cava. Oh it really does hit the spot rather nicely. Those bubbles! That fruitiness! Divine. So funny, I just had a look on the supermarket website for more information on this drink, and discovered the "tasting notes" for it.....Fruity nose due to the varietal blend and the short bottle ageing. Harmonious on the palate with apple and hints of toast. Very well balanced, good freshness and pleasant acidity level. Who knew all this could be applied to my drink????? Apples and TOAST??? Hahahaha, gosh I laughed out loud when I read that. I so wish my memory was good enough to recall those sentences, I would really love to be able to say all that just to hear the uppity words tumble out of my mouth.

Ahh, this is my back yard wall. Little B, bored with chasing woodlice, practicing a spot of photography. That kid, how very much I love his company. We've had a sweet, happy, toddling kind of a day together, he is quite wonderful to hang out with.

Now then.....before I toddle off and snuggle up with J on the sofa, I would like to mention three things.....

Thing Number 1 :: Janet Bell. Do you know of this lovely lady?? She is an artist with incredible talent, and moreover she is a super-nice lady you know. That's a print of hers up there on my bathroom wall, I absolutely love love love Janet's work, it makes my heart flip over and wibble with excitement. Janet's blog was the very first blog I ever encountered, so you can thank her for opening the door into Blogland for me. Did I say she was a super-lovely lady? I did? Go see for yourself, bob on over to her blog and say hello...she is peeking back through her own door after taking a baby-break and I'm sure she'd be thrilled to welcome you in.

Thing number 2 :: a wacky crochet tie, isn't it marvellous? Not my creation though, no, this was made by a good friend of mine. You may remember me chatting about this particular friend when I showed you her inspirational blanket?? Well this tie was made for her son to wear at school as part of a fund raising effort for the amazing charity Oxfam. Tomorrow some  of my lovely hooky friends will be taking part in an extraordinary walk to raise money for Oxfam. It'll be an incredible achievement and I am so in awe of them for taking up this challenge. They'll be walking a mind blowing 100km over 30 hours (yikes!), I can hardly get my head around it actually. I promised I would pass on their details in case any of you would like to donate to Oxfam via the Hooky Ladies of Yorkshire. The link to their team page is here.

And finally, Thing Number 3 :: the Sun Is Still Shining here and the sky is a most gorgeous shade of cloudless blue!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yipppeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a fabulous weekend, enjoy every precious little minute of it ♥

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[delf]

Thank you! We'll try to have a lovely (long as Monday is off) week-end. I'll start by going to the market place....your strawberries made me feel like having some too!

[Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy]

mmm asparagus! those spears are definitely devour-able! :) and i love the crochet tie -- so fun and unique! thanks for sharing!

[Gracie Saylor]

Thanks for the link to Janet, Lucy. I had stumbled upon her site once and lost it, but made sure to save it today. I just blogged about some interesting watercolorists today, and am eager to explore Janet's blog more. Happy weekend to you and yours! (:

[eskimo*rose]

Cow Parsley - what a supa dupa little idea for freebie flowers ... my table is looking decidedly bare and needs a bit of dressing to get into the spirit of these glorious summery days, I think it definitely needs a bit of Cow Parsley :o)

[Thistle]

I just want to dive into that bin of yarn on your table. What beautiful, luscious colors.

Your Little B sounds like quite an imp. I'll bet he's adorable. I have a little girl about a year older than him, and I think they'd get along famously.

[Beth]

Oh my gosh - that tie is awesome!!!

[Lynne Gill]

That asparagus looks scrummy. Hollandaise or just lashings of butter? Whatever, it's a treat in store.

How strange you mentioning the cow parsley to be enjoyed outside; when I was a youngster I remember being told by the 'big girls' not to pick cow parsley and take it home as its other name was 'mother-die', and you know, I never dared try it out! I'm sure -well, I KNOW - this is just a superstition, but some of your other readers have obviously heard of it as well.

But gosh, it looks gorgeous on that blue cloth in the red jug. Lovely shot.

[Kate]

Good to hear you so chirpy!Have a lovely weekend.

[Sandra]

My dear, you really know how to live!

[Annie]

I love the beautiful colors in your life

[Emm]

It is so lovely when you have a group of friends and neighbor that just drop in like that. It doesn't seem to happen as much these days - technology has taken over and people tend to "drop in" to someone's Facebook page to see how they are going instead.

Sounds like a lovely Friday - I am just starting my Saturday here on the other side of the world. Unfortunately my weekend doesn't start until 6pm when my training course finishes. If only it was socially acceptable in the corporate world to bring my hooky along!

[Ximena]

Divino todo como siempre!!! buen fin de semana!
Saludos desde Uruguay!!!

[reality Jayne]

Since youre famous in these parts...you should send me an email with your approval of my new shop and i can frame it and hang it up ...teeheee.....It will be a hoot.

[reality Jayne]

Guess what A24?.......I have opened my own yarn shop...
groovygirlart215.blogspot.com
Can u believe???
Guess what else?.....Debbie Bliss yarn is coming to Crumble Town....soon

[Helen]

That tie made me laugh, I have been threatening to make my husband one for a while now. I'm not sure the 'made with love' would convince him to wear one!!!! Isn't this weather great - I feel like a new person!

[Karen]

I got really excited when i read from 'my new book'!!! clicked on it expecting your first publicaton!! How wonderful that would be.
Nevermind, still enjoyed your post.
Karen

[One-oh-four]

Mmmm, L-O-V-E asparagus! Glad your weather continues fine. Planning to enjoy some sun this weekend myself, inspired by you to pack a picnic up. Will get strawberries!

[tinajo]

This was a delicious post in many ways! :-)

[Ellie]

Mmm glad to hear it's all sounding summery up your way. Have a lovely weekend - may it last and last!
Ellie
x

[sue]

what a lovely post--asparagus, hooky and all that marvelous color. A big squeezy hug from California for all the day-brightening you do!