Peek - a - boo...

I always keep a camera in my bag.  You just never know when a perfect picture is going to occur.  A couple of weeks ago when I was doing the school run and I had just parked the car I noticed this fellow sitting so nicely by the gate.  I grabbed my camera and caught the shot through the window. 

Then I rolled the window down in hopes of getting a clearer picture and he took this as an invitation to say hello and I got this next great pic.  I love this one with his reflection in the mirror and the paw held up to say hi!  Just after this was taken he made the attempt to leap in the car, but DD1 was on the passenger side and the two of them startled each other..so that was the end of the visit. LOL 

Until next time...

More Vintage Sheet Fun

I've been at it again...I have a second vintage sheet quilt in the works to match the first.  This time I'm using the same zigzag pattern as I did before, but the soft colours kind of blend together and don't accentuate the zigs and zags as much.  I didn't have enough sheets to make it as large as I wanted, so I had to add a commercially bought piece that my mother brought me on her last visit.  I don't think it stands out too much...can you tell which one it is?

Until next time...

It's Wednesday...can you bear another flower picture?

I have no idea what the name of this flower is, but my neighbour (yes the same one's that gave me the rocket flower plant) gave me this plant a few years ago and it keeps coming back year in and year out!  In case you haven't guess it, I'm not much of a gardener and if it wasn't for my kind neighbours passing plants over the fence, my garden would look pretty bare! LOL

Until next time...

Garden Life...

There has been an unusual amount of activity in my garden.  I'm not sure if it is the bird seed in the feeders, or the fact that the grass needs cutting, but we've been treated to some lovely visitors.  Below is a Blue Tit.  It is a fairly common bird in the typical English garden, but they are fast flyers and I was surprised that I managed to catch this one on the feeder.

A black bird, posing for the camera no doubt!



And a bunny rabbit!
This is an exceptional visitor...the last time we saw a rabbit in the garden was 5 or 6 years ago on Easter Sunday....The Easter bunny I presume! 
But this little one has been spotted both morning and evening for the last few days.  He's a nervous thing though and catching him on "film" was tricky!!



Lastly I wanted to share pictures of my "chicken"  well that's what we've been calling her.  I just love the way she waddles around the garden.
 Several times of day she comes to the feeder and preforms contortions to reach the seed in the feeder.  It is a most comical sight as she sets herself in the right position to dive into the feeder.  Each time she does, she fans her tail feathers to maintain her balance...on a few occasions she has come close to falling off!


What a funny girl!!

Until next time...

Granola

Just lately my daughter and I have been experimenting with granola recipes.  Here's a link to the one we have found to be the best.  We like to add raisins or dried cranberries to the mix once it has cooled.  Yummy!  Best served with a little milk...or if you are feeling adventurous, how about some fresh fruit and some low-fat yoghurt.

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday - Dragonfly

When the air temperature cooled and there was some stillness about...this little dragonfly had a rest on the rose bush.  These were taken on the macro setting with my Fuji F30.

Until next time...

I like to call it "flower smooshing"

But really it is called flower pounding. My sewing group have been trying out different techniques and this time the exercise was to experiment with flower pounding.  I collected a variety of leaves and flowers to test out, but found that I was smooshing rather than pounding.  The dandelion was particularly messy! In the end, the one that produced the best result was the pansy.  As my prints were a bit hit and miss, I opted to select the best 2 and appliqué them down and used green fabric to compliment them with stems and leaves.  I have no idea what will become of this little piece...I'm thinking a notebook cover might be just the thing.

Until next time...

Elvaston Castle

Sometimes the unexpected can lead you to a hidden gem. 
Over the half term break we ventured to Nottingham to visit a tent display, to our great disappointment they had started to un-pitch 8 hours before the end of the show and as a result there was very little to see.  Not to waste the journey, we asked Mr. Tom-Tom if there were any places of interest near by and it listed Elvaston Castle as being only 5 miles away.  As it was a beautiful day, we got back in the car and went to have a look.  Elvaston Castle is a country park with a stately home located between Derby and Nottingham.  The house is not longer in use, but the grounds are immaculate and there are several paths for walking.

This is the view looking down from the steps..I can just imagine a grand carriage carrying someone important towards the house!



Along the way we found this little building which is know as Springthorpe's Cottage





Also on the grounds is a stable and we found a field full of friendly horses.  This one was very keen to meet and greet us, but was quite disappointed when we didn't have any food!



If you are in the area it is well worth a visit!

Until next time...

Revisting Bosworth

Over half term we decided to visit a favourite country park.  The Bosworth Battlefield.  This time we brought the in-laws with us as they had never been and once again we had a perfect day to visit.

After a yummy picnic of ham sandwiches and crisps we went for a short walk along the paths.



We came across a familiar bench...
Do you remember this picture from 2007?  When I posted about our first visit to Bosworth.



Well here's the updated picture...the hat is a little faded and her feet touch the ground now!



It was a wonderful day out!

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday - just what is that flower?

The flowers are blooming after the warmer weather we had over half term.  The first picture of a flower on the chives.  The second is a mystery.  My neighbour gave me a plant, but forgot was it was he had planted...anyone recognize it?

Until next time...

Half-term fun...

It is back to normal today as the children return back to school for the final weeks before the summer holidays in July.  We have been very lucky with the weather with mostly dry and warm days.  It was the perfect chance to catch up with friends.  DD2 had a buddy over and it was delightful to watch her play in the garden all afternoon.

The days lent themselves to lazy days of reading or crafting.  DD2, made an army of paper mice after seeing a how-to on the TV



There was time for bike rides and a trip to the pool and adventures in the "woods".



We had a great time...I can't wait for the summer holidays!!

Until next time...

Half way done on my Applique

I've been steadily working on my Apple Blossom BOM (from her newsletter) while waiting for the DD2 at ballet lessons.  There are 12 blocks all together and so far I've completed 6.  I'm still using the Floriani Stitch N Wash fusible to give me an edge to turn to and I think eventually I'll  have "trained" my hands and brain to try needle turn without it :o)  But I will wait for a different project to try that and stick with one method until this completed.

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday..floral style

Taken during the warm spell a couple of weekends ago.  I just love how the sun was pouring through the leaves and how the green, blue and white all complimented each other.

Until next time...