Out and about...

This week we've had a lovely week off of work and have been blessed with decent weather.

After a day of rest on Sunday, we caught a bus to Cissbury Ring

It was bliss, being in the heart of the countryside, so peaceful

Just surrounded by the sounds of nature

with views of the rolling fields in one direction, and across the town to the sea in the other

We weren't just there to take in the beautiful surroundings, but we knew there were plenty of Geocaches to find

It was a fabulous place for finds, and we bumped up our total by finding 11

The next day was another rest day, but we did take a trip to the cinema to see Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children

Midweek and we were on the bus to Brighton. I really wanted to go once I'd heard there were a trail of snow dogs

It seems we're always hunting for something whilst we're out!

It was great searching the lanes and seafront for these amazing doggies, all looking so different as they've been transformed by different artists

The following day we spent more time at home, but with lovely weather we did take some beach strolls, but can definitely feel that its Autumn now as the temperature has sure dropped

I took a trip to the hairdressers for a much needed colour. I've gone back to red to cover those 'natural highlights'

At the weekend we had a visit for hubby's sister and had a lovely day around town, stopping for afternoon tea and fun on the pier

Although we've been out and about a lot, on our rest days with our feet up in front of the tv, I've been beavering away on the mandala

I've managed to complete 3 rounds which I'm very pleased about

To give you an update I'm currently on round 94 out of 111

Despite a change of routine I've still kept on track with my eating

So a great week, relaxing and fun, but tomorrow it's back to reality and work :-/

Santa came twice...

So santa came to visit us again this week, aren't we lucky, spoilt twice!

Mum came to visit us on Monday. We had a nice cuppa on her arrival, and had a natter and catch up. Then our attention turned to the pressies, it seemed weird not putting them under a tree!

Everyone was very pleased with their gifts, even the ones deemed a risk were a big hit! We stopped part way through for lunch and a glass of wine.

For dinner in the evening we had one of those bagged meals, the ones where you chuck the meat and veg and in the bag and pop it in the oven, great when you have guests as it can be left and then hey presto!
Before she left we had a look through some of her photos of various trips shes been on.
All in all it was a lovely relaxing day!

We treated ourselves to a couple of items for the home. Firstly a laundry basket, not very exciting I know, but we've been using a make-shift one, which is technically a magazine rack! Plus we got a food mixer, something we've wanted for awhile, and hoping this will encourage us to do more baking in the future!

I've not managed to do much to my 2014 blanket but I've sewn bits here and there. ..

I have though kept up with this years though, still managing to create a little colourful flower each day..

With each flower I add, i'm loving it a little bit more!!

Cornwall 2014

So this past week we have taken our annual holiday down in Cornwall, to visit my dad. Its not turned out quite like our usual visits, firstly we have gone earlier in the year than usual,  hence the weather has not been so great, plus with hubby's knee still not fully functioning it meant day trips out weren't possible. But of course we made the best of things, spending time with family, relaxing and still managing to see some of the gorgeous coastline...
Its a very long train ride, which actually flew for me as I got engrossed in my book, and thankfully we had some space to enable hubby to stretch out...

We had a lazy morning to recuperate, playing with the cats

a chance to crochet and a spot of lunch al fresco. After which  we took a little stroll around the harbour,  popping in to a few of the local galleries to see the latest pieces.

Oh and we stopped for the obligatory cream tea, of course! 

The next day the weather was changeable so we took a trip to the local garden centre. Garden centres these days have a bit of everything,  not just plants, although there were some beautiful blooms too

We checked out the gifts, books and fishes and there would be no doubt that my favourite would be the bunnies...

And a beautiful, coastal  drive back

I do love how the Cornish hedgerows are left to their natural, wild state

so much prettier than trimmed and controlled. Then it was back round to the familiar sight of the harbour

The following day was the only fine one we were going to get, according to the forecast, so we intended to make the most of it!

The plan was to drive the south/west coast and make some stop-offs along the route

We headed to Marazion and the unmissable sight of St Michaels mount, a sight that you can't tire of, and which changes with each season and change of light...

Further along to Penzance we stopped at LongRock

Going through Newlyn and Mousehole, we made a refreshment stop at Lamorna Cove

We had a hobble down to see the lovely sands at Porthcurno

We had a long stop-off at the Minack theatre, an outstanding outside theatre, a vision from one outstanding actress who carried on with the building of it, right through to her 80's

Surrounded by beautiful gardens

Set with idyllic coastal views

Can you imagine watching a production in such a setting?

Amazingly Hubby managed to combat all the steps, and he said it was worth the effort, but he did pay for it in the evening

By this time the day was slipping by rather quickly and we'd yet to have lunch

So it was a rush trip to Lands End.. But everything closed up and no food was available, my second, and yet again disappointing trip to this destination

So it was onwards to Sennen Cove, where we found a lovely little pub to have our meal

We carried on further north before looping round to come back down, stopping briefly at Zennor for refreshments

It was an amazing, packed day, which we all thoroughly enjoyed, but it did wear us all out...

The weather was appalling the following day, but we all needed time to recuperate 

In the afternoon, there was a break in the clouds

So we took a short drive to Poldhu

where, of course, we had to indulge in a tasty refreshment

On our last day, we decided a town was our best option, so we chose Penzance, which was not too far to venture

We strolled round the town, a stop off to indulge in a bit more cake, and down historical Chapel street

On our last night, we decided to eat out at one of the reputable, 'foodie' restaurants, and the food ceratinly lived up to its name...

Before we knew it, the week had flown by. It gets harder and harder to leave each year, and go back to a town, and i definately hate that we only get to visit once a year. I miss seeing my Dad more often, and its such a beautiful, relaxed, friendly and arty area...

But... Until next year......

Easter...

At the start of Easter week, the weather was beautiful and sunny.

We had a visit from Hubby's sister, and with access to transport we took the opportunity to get out, the first time that hubby has ventured out in 3 weeks!!
We are lucky to have a beautiful lake, practically on our doorstep, which we never tire of!

We took our bread crusts to feed the ducks, although it was only geese that came to us!

After an enjoyable sit down in the sun, we went to a neighbouring village for lunch.

We thoroughly enjoyed our little trip out...

As expected, not much crafting happened, with the busy Easter week at work, although not actually quite as busy as it should have been...
The one chance that I did have unfortunately I had a very sore wrist from lifting, so that meant crochet was off-limits. To stop myself twitching too much I focussed my attentions on another craft. I have some little boxes, that i'd kept from work, which would normally be thrown, but I thought they'd be ideal for decoupage.

But as they have quite a dark pattern on I decided to black it out. This was easier said than done though as all I had was acrylic paint , after a few coats it looks a plain white, but after it dries its completely see-through again!

Today Easter day has been pretty grey, wet and gloomy. But we have stayed in and snuggled up.
I got a lovely box of eggs from my Mum

not the usual chocolate kind though... (some lovely bath bombs)

We've had our hot cross buns

And some Easter cake, sadly not handmade

This weeks mood square:-

Yellow for warm spring sunshine, red for fun and enjoyment, pale blue for tired but relaxed evenings and jade for busy, busy work

Happy Easter...