My Spriteling shawl

It's finished!At long last.It wasn't the easiest thing I have ever done but I did enjoy the mystery

I can't believe that I went to an exhibition at The Lowry in Salford(Greater Manchester) yesterday and didn't take any photographs.There were 400 paintings,sketches,pencil drawings,water colours etc all by L.S.Lowry.They have gathered things from private collections which have never been seen in public before.it was brilliant.Too much to take in really.We went on our way back from visiting my stepmother in Bolton who starts radiotherapy today .I also dropped in on a friend I hadn't seen for 15 years.She nearly had a heart attack seeing me on her doorstep.We exchange xmas cards and news.It was just as thought I had seen her last week.Lovely.We plan to meet up again soon now she has retired.

She's bereft.I'm bereft!

A few weeks ago C decided he would cut down the ivy which relentlessly was always racing towards the guttering at the back of the house.He sawed the bottom main stems off and then noticed he was being watched.A blackbird sat on a nest.She was unpeturbed by all the sawing and shaking.Work was stopped.We decided she was a single mother because there was no sign of Mr Blackbird.She sat and sat and sat.Eventually the eggs hatched and Mr Blackbird returned and they shared the feeding between them.It has been fascinating watching,seeing three little beaks getting bigger and higher in the nest.And then this morning they were gone.She has spent all day walking up and down the lawn, stopping and listening.We presume they have just flown the nest.Does anyone know if she will come back to the same nest again and have another brood?Our interest now shifts to another nest in the ivy round the corner of the house.There we have a wren's nest which is very exciting.

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Hmm-that's interesting!

Our daughter and granddaughter were over today for hair cutting.The lovely Rachel comes to our house and deals with the three of us.After lunch we popped out and on coming back onto the drive a little voice (Ruby aged 3) was heard to say " hmm-that's interesting",her very words!She thought the three flowers above were all the same plant.I think that is quite good for three.We had to explain about the different plants and they had different leavesShe doesn't start school until Sept 2012 which is such a shame.She can already read a dozen words,write her name ,do one to one counting to ten and hold very adult conversations.We think she is very bright but we might be biased!.Unfortunately since then the flowers have been battered by rain.I should have taken the photo at the time.Such a shame.
On Saturday Ruby was presented with a certificate and a £10 Hobbycraft voucher for coming a runner up in an art competition held in Cheshire.650pictures were entered and Ruby came in the top 15.Her photo is going to be in Cheshire Life magazine.On Sunday Emily,6,was presented with her medal and certificate for passing her ballet exam.We went along to this-3 hours of little ones doing their exam pieces with some Zumba thrown in.Em was in her element doing ballet and two lots of Zumba.Sarah was a very proud Mum this weekend(and we were proud grandparents).Yesterday saw us going to our Social History group to hear the county Archeologist (that doesn't look right)talk about hill forts in our area.Very interesting.The afternoon saw me having coffee with a friend and C going to his French Conversation group.
Craft wise-I am up to date with my Spriteling Shawl KAL-its not perfect',my Debbie Abraham Blanket project and myJane Crowfoot Crochet Blanket.I have knitted about 12" of a cashmere scarf which will be Xmas present for a close friend and am part way through a pair of socks.I have treated myself to Jane Brocket's new book-The Gentle Art of Knitting,hoping there will be some interesting things to make.her books are always lovely.

can anyone help me?

Can anyone help me and tell me how to upload photos in one go and not individually?Also (see my latest blog) how to stop huge gaps between photos.It looks so silly.Apologies!!

What a beautiful garden!

Yesterday we decided we would risk the traffic and visit Bodnant Gardens near Conway in N.Wales,about a 45 minute drive from our house.It is a 5o acre garden with views towards Snowdonia.Bodnant was only the second garden to be given to the National Trust(Hidcote was first)without a house.It was donated in 1949 by Henry McLaren and is still managed by the Aberconways.

A new Head Gardener was appointed six years ago and has done lots of new planting like the tulips and cherries above.

The herbaceous border to the right has also had lots of new plants.

BUT this what Bodnant is famous for-its azaleas and rhodedendrons.They are magnificent and have to be seen at this time of year.The azaleas in our garden are just coming out so we knew we had to go soon.We are so glad we did.

The Aberconways house can be seen in the background.

Yellow paeonies.

You go down into a narrow valley with a stream running through and enormously tall trees and of course azaleas and rhodos.

It truly is wonderful.

here I am taking a rest and taking it all in with huge orange euphorbias in front of me.

I can well recommend a visit if you are in the area.next time I'll photograph more areas of the garden because there is lots more to see!!

HAPPY EASTER

HappyEaster.The sun is shining and we are having a quiet day.We have never made a big thing of Easter as our daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was four and from then on Easter eggs were off limits for her.
I am sure lots of you will be having big family get togethers in this glorious weather.Enjoy.

Thank you

Sarah-thank you for my Easter card and gift.It really brightened my day.I must say I am enjoying this wonderful weather.Our son and his family are on holiday in Devon for a week.How lucky they are with the weather.
We have spent quite a lot of time in the garden and it looks better than it has done for a while.we have put golden gravel on the patio and today treated ourselves to two huge pots and a cordyline and a phormium to go in them.
We went to see the film Black Swan last Friday.How depressing.We wished we hadn't bothered.yesterday was a gallery visit for Art Appreciation,tomorrow is Reading Group-The Long Song by Andrea Levy,Friday is a theatre visit-Journey's End and then a quiet Easter weekend.Here in North Wales we stay off the roads when it is a holiday weekend!!
P.S.Just have to mention I had two of my reviews published in Newbooksmag this month.It feels quite good to see your name in print.I don't get paid,just keep the book.