Feel GOOOOD WEEKEND

a VIEW on a walk from Croft Castle somewhere in the vicinity of Leominster...

Had a fabulous weekend away with the Towersey Folk dance group- a whole weekend of walking and dancing with excellent company and lovely food and a bit of singing thrown in too, BLISS.
This is some of us still coming up the hill. A long slow climb it was. And all 22 of us made it.
Getting ready and waiting for ladies who'd gone to the WC.... again.....
Before that I was in York for a few days- working but this was at the end when I had an hour off.
A new shop for me: NESS, thought my eldest would like the satchels in the window?
This time we walked along the top of the Walls to the University- from the IBIS this was an hours walk but so very enjoyable!



At home- yes this is in rewind mode- Miss Y was playing the cello before I left for York.


These were some crocheted scarves I saw in York, so much fine work for far too little !
And back to Boofle- this is his ''body''. I have since finished all the pieces but have to photograph them, sew and stuff them and then there'll be a ''TA DAH '' moment soon I promise...

Life will recommence after October 6th when the last assignment for OU K311 will be safely handed IN!

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.

Simple Pleasures

Simple pleasures are always the best aren't they? Like exploring a loved town or City such as York, above. I haven't been blogging and I'm sorry for that but life has been taking over, been so very very busy lately . I was in York in June, August and last week. For work.

So a quick glimpse of the Minster gives such pleasure does it not? Not to mention the Shambles, below. I even discovered a woolshop in the Shambles called Ramshamble!

Also the week before last I was in Lewes, East Sussex: again for meetings whilst working, but I had to have a cuppa before driving back 2.5 hours didn't I? Especially as having driven 2 hours, missed lunch and then no tea at a 2 hour meeting, a girl is well parched by 16:30!!! I had my cuppa in a cafe behind these teapots which are hand stencilled in Poland, lovely designs! My all time favourite colourscheme : BLUE AND WHITE! And such a lovely rich but bright blue. LEWES was enchanting and I simply MUST go back with the family and explore both the shops- lots of lovely independents- as well as the castle and the surrounding downs...

I'd never been before and really likes the charm and the feel of the place. Alas my cameras- I had 3 to choose from!_ all gave put after just these 3 pictures.

Glimpses of spectacular downs from alleys like this one.

An ancient- 15th Century bookshop. Books always provide me with much pleasure: either pictorial - for inspiration or stimulation- or ''how to do'' practical ones to learn new skills such as dyong or felting , crochet or embroidery or building furniture ( etc etc ad nauseam) , or also fiction books! I 've spent quite a few weekends lately : nose burried in a good book while the day passes me by.ESCAPE! Lovely! A need to avoid endless chat of a recession, cutbacks, taxes, the comprehensive spending review, the fate of the NHS or Public Health- ugh ugh . And if that's not enough, we have been ''enjoying'' the moods and vagaries of a soon to be teenager in the home and one definitely needs a little escapism from THAT!

aAAAAH, SHEER bliss today! Woke up to grey/white skies but they soon melted away to bright clear blue skies and SUNSHINE! HOT! Cycled to church and had enormous pleasure singing my heart out ( 11 songs!not all hymns) and feeling so proud of Miss Y in the church choir. We walked home together in the sunshine with her chatting away merrily and forgetting to moan about the walk or the distance. After lunch and a few chores as well as the food shopping I just HAD to get outside again properly and walked the dogs at Great Kimble.17: 10 to 18:15 to be precise.

It was still warm: 20 degrees with a nice breeze at the top of the ridge. Comfortable walking in a cotton shirt and jeans,backpack and shoes. 10.10.2010. Unusually warm for the date?

No sign of autumn colours yet, although chestnut trees are all mostly orange/brown by now.

2 very happy dogs.
Went exploring in wood and dale.Finally found the usual path back to the car. This had featured in several previous posts.

It was brighter with the naked eye but the camera could not cope so well. Can you see the 2 dogs? Lucy is up ahead.

Last bit of the sunshine and then back home to cook spaghetti with pine nuts and caramelised onions- yummy!

During the walk I came up with the following simple pleasures:

Sunshine, Blue skies, countryside with views, hills and /or lakes or sea, mountains, open fires, walks, walking the dogs, cycling alone or with family,soft snuggle blankets on comfy sofas, cuddles with loved ones: partner, kids or dogs,nice yummy food- probably mediteranean or French, home - cooked foods, cup of hot tea in a nice mug,soft cuddly crocheted jumpers/cardi-jackets,or knitted ones, crochet, reading a book in a comfy place, sitting on a windowseat with a view, chatting with friends, exploring new places or re-visiting old ones, country dancing,singing in a choir, singing in the home or in a car, dancing in the kitchen, rollerskating ,ice-skating, sewing, drawing with a sewing machine=free machine embroidery, drawing with pencil(S), Looking through picture books or magazines with inspiring or exciting colourful pictures,ditto for inspiring brochures, picture books of animals or fish, corals or architecture. Pictures of art or drawings, paintings or textiles, including Turkish rugs,kilims and carpets, beads and beading,buttons and ribbons and trimmings, all fabrics and yarns or catalogues/websites thereof. Sewing, Crochet or knitting pattern books or magazines or websites. Fashion photos or drawings. Piano playing. Listening to music. Classical, folk or jazz, or even some pop. Film on DVD or on TV. ( TV with a crochet project is a nice combination)

I'd add visiting the theatre,ballet, film, but that is not such a simple pleasure anymore, such costs and planning are often involved. Also excluded are those things you have to travel to go do:

such as swimming in the sea in Turkey, skiing, Alpine walks,toboganning,sailing, snorkelling, etc

Aaaaah isn't life good to offer so many simple pleasures?