Birthday cake ,bunny and flowers

11th March 2011 and it's a certain young lady's birthday.... Fifi looks out for her to return from school. New dungarees,breton sweater and super cool sunglasses today.

Spring flowers for the table: such a lovely cheery sight.

Twas a beautiful day, not sunny but very warm: 16 degrees C already, walked the dogs with no coat for the first time this year and with cardigan unbuttoned. Birdsong was almost deafening in it's variety and volume at Cuttlebrook and buds and leaves are unfurling fast, the trees are ''greening'' up. Miss Y had a lovely day at school though a birthday at school can be less fun for some, not so here! Even a ''maths test without calculators'' had her exclaiming her joy at the fun of it, finishing early and loving her cello tunes at orchestra time. ( as well as the fudge)

And the candles are lit amidst lots of song, Miss Y insisted on baking this cake herself last night

and decorating it too.

A huff and a puff and a blow a blow, blow: wishes are made.

Who is this slice for: can anyone guess? This is all there is left and there's only 4 of us?

Fifi has gained a new wardrobe.

Sleepover party cake, last weekend.

Teddy Bear and Bunny Rabbit crochet clothes

Hey cool teddy what a fab French Breton jumper you have on there.
Sorry about the photos, I have misplaced my camera and this is hubie's which I am not so good with, can't zoom for starters. Bear with me will redo when camera found. These are presents for Miss Y for tomorrow! Minus the teddy, which was bought as a model but is now MINE MINE MINE!!! Ooops did I say that out loud?

My .design in Patons 4 ply cotton

And for cooler days we have the ribbed poloneck jumper in Patons fairytale colour 4 you, washable wool. 4.5mm hook. Fun to do and so quick! Uses just over a ball though and I only had 50g ( needs 60g) so an astoundingly generous and kind lady on Ravelry sent me her remnant as this colourway has now been discontinued. Wow thank you so much kind lady from Birmingham!

There's pink leggings to match but they look good on Bunny FIFI who is very girly but somehow not so good on teddy here, even though she's a Sophie? Or maybe in my mind he's a Tim?

Too hot for ARAN today and it's all bleached out but there's cables galore and basketweave and criss- crossing too.

For the dress I have gone all ''vintage'': vintage plum and old rose pink with a dash of green to spice it up and all in chenille: vintage velvet. The bonnet will follow for Easter: I need to use the bunny as model as her ears are closer to each other and I want to include holes for them to poke out.

Bye bye, see you again soon? All garemnts based on CROCHET FOR BEARS TO WEAR a book

by Amy O'Neill-Houck -I think am working author's name from memory....Lost book too : must go find it.

York and RAMSHAMBLES

This is typical of York: lovely little lanes with quaint shops, cobbled streets.

More of the same and I'm getting closer.....

Heaven! Or otherwise known as Ramshambles the wool shop to visit when in York.

The very kind owner let me take all these photos for your/my delectation: yummy yarns!!!

She was wearing the crochet dress- page 38 or #10 from the new King Cole Crochet book of patterns: in plum alpaca and very splendid it did indeed look! Alas I was not allowed to photgraph the lady but let me assure you both the dress and the lady wearing it looked very good.

There's my purchases all lined up with the assistant, not wearing crochet but making a granny square blanket apparently.

Baby cashmerino and the cardigan : #4 in the King Cole pattern book hanging there.

Oh look! ALL those fabulous Patons cotton DK and 4ply colours!On the far right are the King Cole Bamboo ( DK)colours: they have a fabulous choice of yarns and colours.

Yep, a yarn-lovers paradise indeedy. And 2 files of crochet patterns!!! Not one but TWO.

Unlike a lot of yarn shops which don't have any crochet- just knitting.

Again in all that lovely colourful gloriousness.

Granny squares and a NORO granny cushion. Crocheted hearts garland festooning the arch and more yummy yarns and inspiring patterns.

We must tear ourselves away now but will be back in September?!!!

My girlie girls fave store: Cath Kidston. On either side my faves: White Stuff and the White House.

The little girl was stroking the teddy and telling mummy how very soft he was. And BIG says mum. Miss E's ''essential survival clothing'' shoppe..... Not half. She wishes it were though.

Spot the Minster in the fog. t'Was foggy for 2 days, didn't see a thing from Oxfordshire to Yorkshire on the train. Whiteness only.

Different angle, same Minster.

Just to confuse, this cute terrace was just outside the City Wall: I liked it. Near my beloved Premier Inn where I ate and slept so very well, not so with the Ibis which was TERRIBLE!

Planning to return to York with the family to go to Betty's Tearooms, above .

Fab floral eggs and spot the cute chocolate badger!

Still foggy.....

Back to the Shambles again. Very easy to lose yourself in all those little streets and courtyards, best carry a map!

Bottom end of the Shambles is an art shop.

Lovely hickledy pickeldy houses...

Bye bye lovely City of York I am catching a train to Edinburgh.

A sunny Sunday walk

Water divining don't you know? Such silly fun.

The dogs were in their element, running amok in the ankle deep carpet of crispy brown leaves.

Oh and the rolling around that went on, you would not believe. Girls giggling and dogs wiggling and JJ and I sharing the fun, hand in hand. Bliss.

I think this is where the water diviner turned into a horse's harness?

Trying hard to capture Pips in mid-roll.... Such fun she was having it was a joy to watch.

Waddya mean I have leaves stuck on my back?

The obligatory King of the Castle position. Yes milady.

T'was actually Sunday last, I wasn't allowed to Marlow today as they went on a secret ( Mother's Day) foray apparently...

JJ leads the way as it's a ''new path'' he discovered a few weeks ago.

Pips back on the lead in case of sheep worrying. Lucy avoids sheep.

Lucy: are you lot coming then? She always has to lead the way.

Oops I may have got the order of uploaded photos mixed up a little?

At the top of the hill we rest.

Sorry photos straight into the sun, not used to new camera yet.

Very relaxing.

Pant pant pant, what a lovely long pink tongue. Lucy hot and thirsty.

What is that road, you ask? M40 as it cuts through the Chilterns.

T'was a long steep- ish warm/hot-ish climb up to the brow of the hill.

I'm so HAPPY! i'm also glad not to be in one of those cars down there.

Bit breatlless too. Bothersome asthma.

Well done! You did it despite much moaning and a tantrum about walks, hills and so on. We also saw a roe deer in the woods but she was too fast and far to capture on camera.

What a magical day!