Daffodils in December!!!!!!

I took this photograph this morning in a garden near our house.We never have daffodils out in December.We are lucky if they are out by St David's Day on March 1st.I live in North Wales and so far this winter we have only had one frost.Unheard of.What is happening to our weather.Not far from here there is massive flooding.The cities of Leeds,York and Manchester flooded.More bad weather is expected overnight with lots more rain.In the U.S.A reports of at least 40 people having died because of extreme weather.


On a different note ,it is our 49th wedding anniversary today(I married young!)I really can't believe it.When my late in laws reached their Golden Wedding I thought they were ancient.Only one year away for us.C is my best friend.We have loads of different interests and friends but love doing things together.We started off today with a visit to the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight.It has an impressive collection of Pre Raphaelite paintings but also paintings by Gainsborough ,Wilson,Turner,Laura Knight etc.Well worth a visit.We then went on to have a walk at Parkgate and lunch out at the Boathouse.I came home and had sleep as I am full of a cold.A nice bottle of wine tonight will round off the day.

The Lady in the Van and Merry Xmas too

has anyone seen the film The Lady in the Van?I can thoroughly recommend it.We saw this on stage a number of years ago with Susan Hampshire playing the Lady .Maggie Smith is brilliant in the film.I am sure it will get awards.
We are off to our daughter's tomorrow for Xmas.We saw our son and family two weeks ago for a pre Xmas get together.Xmas will be ,my hubby,our daughter ,son in law and Emily and Ruby ,our granddaughters.Ruby with her broken arm.Poor thing.
Anyway.
           
      HAPPY XMAS AND A WISH FOR HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL 2016


            Love to you all.Barbara (in North Wales G.B )

Xmas 2015

I must live a very mundane life as I havn't blogged in weeks.I felt Ineeded to add a Xmas blog.Last night we went to see Cinderella at Theatr Clwyd in Mold(where we live) in North Wales.We took our two gorgeous granddaughters Emily and Ruby.You may be able to see Ruby has her arm in a sling.Yes.She broke her arm last Saturday when she fell off a slide.Not the ideal thing two weeks before Xmas when she is having a bike!!The pantomime was great,very noisy but performed by an ensemble of ten,all so multi talented playing various instruments,singing ,acting etc.Brilliant.

Last weekend we went to Cambridge for a pre Xmas get together with our son as we are spending Xmas this year with our daughter.We shall go across on Xmas Eve and stay until Boxing Day with the gorgeous girls above.

I am wishing everyone a very Happy Xmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year(and I promise to blog more if anyone is interested!)Lots of love Barbaraxx

Snowflakes for the Homestart Appeal

 I heard about this appeal from Claire at Summerhouse by the Sea.Homestart is a British charity that supports young families.They are aiming to get 30,000 snowflakes and these will be displayed at the Christmas Handmade Fair in Manchester at the end of November.They will then be given to families to hang on their Xmas trees.

They are fun and quick to make.I used Lucy's of Attic 24's pattern.I have made 30 so far.I blocked them when they were finished and put spray starch on them to give them a bit more body.

Is it just me or are people not blogging as often as they used to?

My Latest Project!

I have really enjoyed making this wreath.At the moment the flowers and leaves are just pinned on but I wanted to share it with you.My thanks must go to Lucy at Attic24 for the patterns.I find following crochet patterns quite difficult as I am left handed but Lucy's are so clear and are taken step by step.The flowers and leaves are going a wreath made of twigs bought from Hobbycraft for,I think, £2.50.This makes it a really cheap project as you are just using up scraps of wool.
Give it a go.Its good fun and would make a great present.

Would you be brave enough to eat fungi found in your garden?

 We moved into this house almost a year ago.It was built 30 years ago and when it was built there were five large trees in the garden,all with TPOs(tree preservation orders).During that time three have gone and we are left with two huge trees,a beech and a horse chestnut.Around the garden are rotting tree roots from the other three and this is where we found the fungi.The one on the left started off looking like the one on the right,egg shaped but on maturity has flattened out.Initially we thought it was a Common Puffball but now think it might be a Parasol Mushroom.My book says they are edible and delicious but I would never dare to try it!!

 Isn't the underside beautiful?

 This is our beech tree.You can see the size in relation to the conservatory.

This is our horse chestnut.Our garden is littered with empty conker shells as the local squirrels are hoarding them away.
We can do nothing with the trees(wouldn't want to as they are amazing) without permission from the local authority.If anyone knows about these fungi I would welcome some info.
Barbarax

Yarndale

 This weekend I went to Yarndale in Skipton,Yorkshire ,UK.This is organised by the lovely Lucy from Attic24.A wonderful feast of yarn and creativity.

 Two years ago ,when it started,we were asked to send in crocheted triangles to make bunting.They came in from all over the world.Here they are again for all to see.

 This year was a different challenge.Flowers.All in aid of the Alzeimers Society.The effect was stunning and took your breath away/

I was in there over three hours and made a few purchases but walking round the stalls and seeing the things that people do and create is amazing.

I like to buy thingsI would not buy else where.The above yarn is for making brooches(left),very fine linen and the other two for scarves.The colours do not come across very well.The one on the right I said to the vendor was "zingy" and she thought that was a good word to describe it.

I also bought an owl shawl pin.I now just need to find some time to create and make.

I havn't blogged in ages......

 I havn't blogged in ages because I just couldn't load any photos.I would spend ages doing a blog post and then it would disappear.So frustrating.I only had this machine new in January!!!Eventually it went off to the computer doctor and came back this morning.She had removed 484 infected spyware files!She thought they may have come in when I downloaded crochet/knitting patterns.Mended now.
A short blog today.Photos of my latest bit of crocheting.Cushions for on our new sofas.I think they look really good and are so quick and simple to do.It is a Stylecraft pattern and uses DK yarn used double.

 Here in different colours.It gobbles up the yarn but is so easy.

 I am still sock making.When C was really bad with his Rheumatoid Arthritis he found hand knitted socks easier to put on.I am glad to report on that front that he is now on medication and almost back to normal.

Finally,a photo of my bougainvillea.Isn't it great.I thought it had died over winter and then suddenly this.
We are off to France on Thursday but will try to get another post in before then.Its lovely to be back in Blogland!!!

we have a diagnosis

C Sorry this is a bit of a moan but I need to get it off my chest.was summoned to the doctors this afternoon following his blood tests yesterday.He has got acute rheumatoid arthritis and has been referred to see a rheumatologist urgently.At first I was relieved it wasn't Parkinson's but this is still going to have a big impact on his life and mine.At the moment I am feeling really down.He has had six years of various medical conditions and now this.Our friends all seem to be going through life without any problems.

Our trip to Madeira

 These are some of the flowers we saw in the Botanic Garden.This was reached by cable car.It is not the best time of the year to visit Madeira but we still saw a lot of wonderful sights and had much better weather than we had anticipated.

                                         Weird looking cacti.The tall droopy thing is the flower!!

                                          Strange looking fruit /veg!!

 We had a great week and it was so good to feel the sun on your face.It rained for ten minutes when we arrived but that was all.Sunshine hours varied each day but was enough.

This was taken at the hotel just before we left for the airport hence the long trousers.We had to be prepared for the cold of NW England and then home in N Wales.

We have been back two weeks now and I have only just found time to do this blog.We were only back two days when our Cambridge family came to stay for four days.I couldn't believe how much food we went through!!!Since then it has been catching up with all the washing etc.

In Funchal duty free shop we bought some wine which we put in our rucksack and C carried.Following this he has had pain in his neck ,knees,hands,shoulders and arms.We put this down to carrying the wine but last Friday he had a funny episode.His hands had been swollen and he had trouble getting his wedding ring off.We went out for the evening and when we came back he couldn't get out of the car.Eventually he managed it and I got him upstairs but he couldn't undress himself.His hands were so painful and sswollen and his whole body was stiff and aching.It frightened the life out of me.I didn't sleep.I had checked he hadn't got a temperature(he has no spleen).Saturday morning he could move a bit better and today just has tingling in his hands.I am insisting he goes to the doctor tomorrow to find out what happened(if he can get an appointment).I don't want to go through that again and neither does he.Fingers crossed it was a virus and not the start of something more serious.

Another project!

 I love making blankets,especially in the Winter.Before we moved to this house in November I thought I had destashed.Well,I still have so much left over wool from other projects that I decided another was calling to me.Below is my selection of colours.It is going to be single bed size and I am following Lucy(Attic 24) in the one she has just completed.Watch this space for progress because I also have three knitting projects on the go!!
                     
                    A pair of socks.
                    A jumper for me.
                    A lace scarf in 2ply.

Hope the weather is better for you than here.We have had snow this week ,its very cold and windy and possibly more snow on Tuesday.

Enjoy your weekend.Barbarax

grow your own blog.

just a little about me.
Just had my 70 th birthday(the new 50).
I am a retired school teacher.
I love crafting-crochet ,knitting and cross stitch.
I love reading and going to the theatre.
I live in North Wales which is very beautiful
I have 76 followers.
my name is Barbara

Paris was great!!

 No visit to Paris would be right without sad thoughts of the Charlie Hebdo tragedy.This was on the Hotel de Ville..There was definitely an increased security around with both police and the army.

 We had a brilliant time but we walked miles and all those steps at the Metro stations.Up and down.Up and down.The weather was kind to us.It was very,very cold but dry and sunny.We had to go to the Eiffel Tower.What an amazing structure.To conceive such an object and then build it.

 The Arc de Triomphe.From there we decided to walk,arm in arm,down the Champs Elysee.

 Looking back from about half way.

 We wlked on and on until we got to the other end where you find the Louvre.I googled it when we got back and it is 2.4 miles.We didn't go in there as we had already been to Musee D'Orsay and the Orangerie.

 Walking by the Loire.

 The previous day we had been to Montmartre.This is Place du Tetre.A favourite haunt of artists.In the background you can see Sacre Couer.

We saw wonderful art.This is a painting by Renoir.We saw works by Monet including his famous rooms of waterlilies,Cezanne,VanGogh,Seurat ,Picasso etc,etc.So much.
We arrived home late on Thursday evening tired but thrilled we had seen so much.A really memorable birthday week.

70 is the new 50!!!!

 Last Friday was my 70th birthday!I can't believe it.In my head I am still 50 or less.Our daughter took us out to lunch on Friday and the the whole family met up on Saturday morning at the Littleton Arms in Penkridge near Stafford.Matt coming from Cambridge ,Sarah from Cheshire,us from North Wales.We had a light lunch and then a walk on Cannock Chase.

 Then it was time for dinner.This is my birthday cake with yarn and needles made of icing.

T

 This is one of the presents from the children.I have long admired Cathy Daniels ceramics(Potter Jotter formerly) and my daughter commissioned her to do this p[ece for my birthday.Sorry it is on its side but I can't move it.I hope you can see it features knitting,gardening,reading and my grandchildren.My main interests.The children also bought me a new camera so expect some better photos!C bought me a new,small laptop to replace my anci.ent netbook.

Here they are my 5 grandchildren.

We are off to Paris tomorrow for three days.I have been spoiled rotten and really do appreciate it especially all eleven of us being together for the weekend.70 years ago there was just me and now look at me.I am so lucky.

Three knitting projects for the New Year

 Can you believe I have started knitting a Xmas present?I had this 2ply lace yarn in silk and thought it would just suit my sister in law.I always make her something but not in 2014 as moving house really took it out of me and no knitting was done for two months.New Year.New Start.Project 1.

 Project Two.Making a v neck jumper with raglan sleeves for me.This is "watching TV" knitting!

 Here is a close up of the wool.It is Stylecraft Alpaca with a fleck and is pale mauve.It is DK.

 Project Three.Socks.I can't resist making socks.Another good thing to do watching TV.

Suggestions please for Project Four.I have loads of stylecraft DK and want a crochet project.I have done lots of blankets so want a different idea to use up this wool.

A beautiful day here in North Wales but very blustery and cold.I had intended to go in the garden but have chickened out and am inside,central heating on and having a lazy afternoon.
Barbarax

try again!

thanks for your comments on my other blog saying you can't access this one.Hopefully you now can!What a pickle I have got myself into.Let's hope it is sorted now.

good news!

I have managed to get rid of the blog that was putting adverts on my blog.Dozens of them.So annoying.So now I can rejoin Blogland and know I am not putting anyone else within his reach.Barbarax
P.S.Do pop in and say"hello" to me.

Better late than never!

 Just a few photos from the last ten days.
Christmas morning with OH,daughter inlaw and our three Cambridge grandchildren.Two hours after returning from spending Xmas in Cambridge our daughter,son in law and our two Northwich grandchildren arrived for the weekend.

 There is nothing to beat an Emily cuddle watching the TV!

 Not a very glamourous photo but waking up on our anniversary morning to cuddle with Emily and Ruby was great.OH was making a cup of tea.

So,we had a really lovely Xmas and anniversary,saw lots of the family and enjoyed quiet New Year in.

My first make of 2015.Second sock to follow.I have also started a 2ply lace scarf and ordered some wool to make myself a sweater.I have started the year with good intentions.Long may it last.