A trip to Florida !

OK not exactly the Florida you probably thought....

We booked a week at Hemsby with the intention of having a few days on our own, followed by the family arriving with the girls and leaving them with us for a few days. Sometimes things just do not work out, and here I am on my own, as Chris has been asked to work for three weeks by the company he retired from a few years ago. The family still intend to visit and leave the girls with me for three days of fun.  I have packed lots of craft items, Planner / Journaling, crochet and sock knitting and intend to just sit in the sun [hopefully].

Florida Chalet Park, Hemsby, Gt Yarmouth

Everything is new in the chalet and the owner came to meet me.

Canons Ashby

The sun was shining today so we decided our walk would be around Canons Ashby grounds. It has been a long time since we last visited.
The house was originally a Priory, but after the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII it became the home of the Dryden family.
The National Trust rescued it from neglect in 1981 and transformed the very overgrown gardens using the plans recorded by Sir Henry Dryden in 1837.

The well kept gardens

Metal target used for shooting practise with muskets and pistols.
Just look at the missed shots!!

Target plaque

This statue of a shepherd boy was made in 1713 to honour the actions of a shepherd
during a Civil War skirmish at Canons Ashby

Topiary trimmed bushes look like faces as you enter the grounds.

Love this man and the shepherds hut.

A really nice couple of hours spent wandering around, 

next time we will visit the house and priory church.

Anniversary Day

The sun came out and even though there is still a cold wind, we had a really nice day. Lots of nice comments on facebook, plus a meal in the new Duston restaurant.
From here we visited Stowe gardens for a walk around the lake.
All in all a really nice way to spend our Anniversary.

The long approach to the grounds are a feast for the eyes.

Now part of the National Trust the grounds are undergoing a massive restoration.
We started our walk along The Path of Vice and completed our walk along the Path of Liberty.

A wind swept photo taken by a passerby.

The Gothic Temple

The Palladian Bridge leading to the Temple of Friendship.

45th Anniversary

It is hard to image 45 years ago Chris and I started our married life together, where have the years gone? I cannot image life without him, he is my rock.

25th March 1972  Swanspool Registry Office Wellingborough

On the other hand are these the most romantic presents we could give each other:

A set of ropes and metal "things" for his Land Rover from me!
A hole punch for my Happy Planner from him!

It's not the gift but the thought that counts.

An amble through my week

An amble through my week...

Really like how this quilt top has worked out.
I now have the backing, a fleece, and binding on.
Just needs the binding hand sewing to complete it.

A new toy, a 9 hole punch for my Happy Planner.
Decided to make myself a sticker book using discs bought at Staples.
The cover is a photo I took of a blackbird at Carlton country park
attached to blue card and laminated.

My new sticker book taking shape.
I used A4 sheets of 160g paper cut in half length wise, punched with the hole machine.
The sticker sheets are then attached to the paper one each side to make it easy to access them.

The side lawn has once again bloomed with small violets.
There are more violets than grass!

They are the palest lilac.
This is now a NO mow area!

Walking  along the old railway we came across this mosaic.

The old railway at Brampton Halt is such an interesting place to walk,
 with lots of rolling stock ready for a make over.

I love violets and these pretty white ones were growing alongside the track.

My Embroidery machine was uncovered for the first time this year.
I love this Sewing machine design, not sure what I will make with it.

New Paper Mate Flair pens and a Gyro cutter
to help with my Happy Planner 

A new crochet project

The new crochet project:  I have chosen six colours to make my new wavy blanket. It took me a while to work out how the waves work but once I cracked it I was off and running. I love the effect and it keeps my hands busy in the evenings while watching TV.

Using Stylecraft Special DK wool and a #4 Clover crochet hook.
The wool was left over from another project.

A breath of fresh air

First job of the day was to take a car load of recycling to Emmaus Charity shop. We decided to go in the Land Rover to give it a run. A quick walk around the different departments of the shop to see if there was anything I could not live without, and actually managed to walk out empty handed and purse closed.  The idea is to try and get rid of "stuff" not add to it.

This should help with the de-cluttering

Emmaus is quite close to Carlton Country Park so I packed a sandwich and banana for lunch and we headed that way. The park has an overflow car park so we headed that way to walk along side the lake from a different starting point. The tracks are well kept and make for easy walking unless you want to ramble through the nature reserve which looked very boggy and wet. There are plenty of things to see, and lots of wood carvings.

Love love love this Kingfisher.
I have a soft spot for Kingfishers having been in the Kingfisher group at Guides many years ago.

A viewing platform over a dark pond in the Nature reserve

Benches made using tree stumps and planks, beautifully carved.

Many of the seats and carvings have been given to the park in memory of someone who loved the area.

An almost tame blackbird

We visited the bird hide to see these birds on the other side of the lake.
I think they are Cormorants but my cameras zoom is not powerful enough to really know.

It was a cold murky day, but Spring is around the corner.
We were glad to get back to the Land Rover to eat our lunch, must remember a hot flask next time!

A get together with friends

This has been a busy sewing week. I certainly have my mojo back.

Adding a fleece backing to a top made last year by Abigail and myself.
Just need to complete the quilting and add a binding.
I love that it is personalised with a small mistake, can you spot it?

A piece of fleece was left over from the quilt backing so I cut out another cat cushion.
I hope a small child will love it.

Yesterday four of us got together to make Linus quilts. Each had chosen a different idea and we shared what we were doing. It was a lovely day and great company.

Christine, Pauline and Penny busy at their machines.

The start of my quilt top made on our Linus day.
Pattern provided by my friend Christa.
Hope to get the top finished this week.

The walking a minimum of 2000 steps a day continues and in fact I reached a new high with my FitBit and managed 21,196 steps last week.. 9.52 miles. 

I wonder if I can manage ten miles this week?

Fit Bit

In a moment of madness I decided to "up my walking" and try and improve my new knee and general fitness. I often wear my FitBit and usually complete 500 to 1000 steps a day, not many by most peoples standards but with dodgy knees and a sit for long hours craft hobby that's about all I seem to manage.
Lent has just started so instead of giving something up I decided I must walk a minimum of 2000 steps a day. I have actually been quite enjoying going out for a walk around the neighbourhood, even on the cold wet days.
Last week this was the result:

6588 more steps than the previous week.
A total of 17,017 steps

Today the sun is shining so Chris and I set off for the local railway line, it is nice walking as it is all on the flat.

Love to see a robin in the brambles

The disused railway line is being resurrected by a group of enthusiasts

I managed to walk to this pretty mosaic and take a quick breather

The mosaic of the signal box

Just look at my FitBit as we return to the car !! No wonder everything aches.

Stanley Douglas SIMONS

Saturday 11th March would have been my dad's 100th birthday, sadly he died 13 years ago.

A commemorative tree was planted in St Mary the Virgin Church yard  Burton Latimer, where Dad is buried. It has been rather neglected this past year, mostly due to my poor health. Today we put that right and Chris helped weed and tidy the site. The daffodils seem to have spread and we did not want to disturb them, as soon as they finish flowering we will complete our tidy up.

Full of weeds and overgrown

Cleaned and tidied

I have many relations buried in the cemeteries at the church. Mum's three brothers and her sister plus their spouses. Also my grandparents are in the old church yard.

Sadly not looking its best, my grandparents tomb stone.

A gift for Eleanor

I was given a large amount of fleece a couple of months ago and the girls helped me cut it into manageable lengths to share with my friends. Eleanor took a real love to the pink fleece so I made her a cat.

I'm pleased to say she loved it and didn't let go of it the whole time we were with her.

March has arrived

Well here we are a new month and as I write this the sun is shinning. Not sure it will last long as rain is forecast.
Now I am into keeping a Happy Planner journal I set myself the target of walking 2000 steps every day, reading my scriptures and just trying to appreciate more of life.
The month did not start well with a visit to the dentist to prepare for a crown. I absolutely hate going to the dentist for even a check up, but crown prep is the worse, I was a complete wreck by the time he had finished with me! Two weeks now with a temporary crown before I go back for the new crown and a bill for £320!
On a good note I managed to walk over 3000 steps.

Today my friends arrive for a day of craft work (IAM) so up early-ish for a walk around the block to make sure I keep up my target. It was actually very nice out in the cold sunshine.

Sewing day 60 years ago !