Summer outings

It seems a long time ago that week in Llandudno, we have had relatively little sunshine since, lots of ''white cloud'' days and have been beset by illnesses, but a sense of contentment settled on me today as I walked the dogs in the sunshine we DID have for a while today.

OOOOOH yes and then there's my new baby: my new cabriolet- isn't she a beauty?
We haven't had much chance to drive about with the top down yet and more photos of such are needed, good news is the dogs LOVE it with the top down and Pippa stays put, Lucy sits strapped into a seatbelt with a harness on in the back seat.
She's my black panther prrrrrr but needs a nice colourful crochet throw for the lovely leather seats, to protect them and to add a bit of cheery colourfulness!
The kids have been playing nicely too, see Miss Y teaching Miss E some new pat-a cake- type songs.
I've done loads of crochet- some of it tres boooring as it was that Salice jacket of endlessly the same stitch in one colour, but I have finished all pieces now, sewn it together and it just needs the finishing crab stitch edges and buttons now. And surprise surprise: IT FITS!!!!

Since finishing the main parts I've been playing with a floral scarf in smiley stripes: bamboo and wool.
And most of the Bank Holiday Monday was spent in the car to Brighton and Lewes and back so I crocheted some lace with dreamy buttery soft pure 100% cashmere yarn I bought more than 3 years ago! (Jan 2008).....This is what one 50 g ball makes....
We went to LEWES after Brighton, but here a re a few photos I took...
Lovely lane by the ancient booshop where I found some Georgette Heyers and chatted to the chap who'd lost a 6 week old kitten somewhere in his bookshop...
Miss A in a topshop aviator jacket strolling past the castle gate.

We found some white cliffs ( of Dover said JJ) but they were just outside Brighton...?
Had a lovely walk there in the late afternoon/early evening sunshine- with both dogs too.
JJ loved it, he really misses the sea.
Ok so this one didn't upload properly?
And the sky-scapes were just amaaaazing.....




Bye then, lots more to catch up on soon. For now that dreamy cashmere is calling me. It's bliss to crochet with and incredibly smoochy soft. Can I feel a dreamy cardi-jacket coming on????

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?