Round Robin 2019

I again decided to join the Round Robin with the Cotton Robin blog group.

It was a rush to get my block sent off to Nan as I arrived home from holiday a few days before the deadline .  It arrived in Oregon just a couple of days late.

My original block

I then received this beautiful block from Cindy in the USA

It was hard to decide what border to add, so I turned to my EQ7 quilt program for inspiration.

Pretty block to work on

The borders I added before posting it onto Laurina in New Zealand

The next block arrived from Tish Fisackerly, she had added the blue border to the first round block.

I turned it on its side and added a new colour

Blue second border added by Tish.

Next I recieved this block, my task was to add the batting, backing and quilt it then bind it.

A much travelled quilt, as it was sent from the USA to the UK and for some reason returned to the USA! Back to the UK again for Kate to complete her round before posting it to me.

The finished quilt posted to Tish in the USA

My bird flew home again, beautifully finished by Clare.
Thank you to all that worked on my bird block.

Click here for the BIG REVEAL of all the quilters taking part.

Market Bosworth Water Park

Having bought a Groupon voucher for entry to Bosworth Water Park Crazy Golf we decided the weather did not look too bad and set off complete with packed lunch for the day.

The £13 voucher entitled us to a round on the Crazy Golf course, a cake or ice cream and hot or cold drink for the four of us, plus 2 hours free car parking.

All started really well, and we enjoyed playing the golf and making a complete mess of it, with balls flying everywhere except where the should. A few spots of rain suddenly turned into a downpour and we rushed to the cafe to enjoy hot drinks, plus a slushie ice for Eleanor and a cake each.

While waiting at the counter I felt hands on my shoulders and turned to find Clare, David and their twin granddaughters, Lily and Ruby were also there.

Rain stopped and we went back to finish our crazy golf round and a picnic lunch in the car, yes the heavens opened up again!

A small amusement arcade was a respite from the rain before leaving for home. A fun day enjoyed by all.

Abigail and Eleanor playing in the arcade.

The score card could hardly hold the large number of shots taken!

Eleanor determined to get the ball through the dolphins rear end.

Hobbies old and new

Over the weekend I dusted off my Embroidery machine, first time this year!! 

I embroidered the Route 66 Logo onto a piece of cream fabric with the intention of making a notebook cover to use on our trip next year.

Nice to see my machine back in action.

Also over the weekend I attended the East Fibre wool fest at Ampthill near Bedford. Of course this is England so the rain poured down which meant going from room to marquee meant I got soaked, and there were al lot of spread out rooms and quite a number of marquees.

I had booked a little workshop to try my hand at Felting, I really enjoyed the day and love my little felted mouse.

He looks so jolly

Deep in concentration 

Lots to see and do, pity the weather was so awful.

I was not the only one coping with the weather, Chris was attending a Land Rover Show and came home drenched [ sorry no photo].

Richard went out for a cycle ride and Jacq took this photo...

Glad I don’t have to do his washing anymore.

Lovely day with Eleanor

Eleanor spent the day with us, while Abigail was still at school.  Some ipad time.

We played a couple of games of Upword, Eleanor won one of them, and we messed up the scoring on the first game.

An early lunch of Hot dogs and then off to the cinema to see the Lion King.

We went to the Super Wide Screen viewing, which was great, only about a dozen others in there. Best thing other than the 

 film which we all enjoyed, was the air conditioning as we are having another scorching hot day. 

Busy busy busy

Wow yesterday was a HOT day, 35 degrees according to my temperature gauge! We had however arranged a sewing get together, so with doors and roof windows open we managed to cope OK.

Pauline, Clare and Christine joined me for the day and the sewing machines got a good workout.

Pauline worked on a spotty cushion, while Christine continued working on a pretty quilt. Clare tackled fabric she had been given, working on a couple of bags at the same time. I managed to put the binding on another Row by Row scene and started yet another.

It’s all go in the Happy Room, lots and lots of cold drinks.

The start of yet another Row by Row scene, Stone Henge on the left was a bit of a fiddle to work. I still have a car, caravan, lighthouse and sailing boat to put on the picture [another day when the temperature is cooler!]

Table setting

Before leaving for the holiday I managed to complete my new table setting.

Using a Moda Farmhouse Reds by Minick & Simpson charm pack with Green dimples fabric I made pinwheels, used heat resistant wadding and Christmas fabric backing. Yes a quick overturn and they are ready for the Christmas table !

Goodbye Cornwall

Having had a lovely time in Cornwall visiting with my niece Jessie and her family, plus cream tea with friends Joan and Ian we decided to come home on Friday as the weather was turning wet. 

BAD move, A30 accident, heavy traffic, M5 accident, heavy traffic, M4 heavy traffic, A34 heavy traffic. Home at 1830. Considering we got there in less than 5 hours, 9 hours return is just !!!!!. Still at least we were comfortable in the Range Rover!!

Someone please remind me NOT to go to Cornwall in July!

Wednesday and Thursday

A great lack of photos on Wednesday! Must have been having too much fun...

We visited Carnon Downs Garden Centre for lunch, which was excellent and to do a little shopping. Bon Marche, Edinburgh Wooley Mill and Cotton Traders all received my custom!

From here we spent the afternoon with good friends Ian and Joan, chatting and eating Cornish Clotted Cream tea... yummy.

Today we have been for a little ride around visiting Boscastle, where we parked and walked admiring the scenery.

Love the roof of this building.

The witches museum

Dramatic water on its way to the sea.

From here we drove through Tintagel, very touristy so we didn’t stop/

On the way back to Hengar Manor a sign intrigued me to Advent Church, so we decided to investigate. The lane was so narrow it was touching both sides of the car! What a treat when we eventually parked the car and walked another lane to the church.

St Adwena in the Parish of Advent is a 13th century church. The curvilinear bank around the church is evidence that the church has a very ancient Celtic

Foundation.

An old Celtic Cross marking a grave.

A more recent, 2015, grave marker.

The wagon roof ceiling. Simple pews, but someone has provided all the makings for a drink and a biscuit.

A tomb stone from 1650 leans against the wall of the church.

Love the simplicity of the Altar and wrought iron work

This is obviously a much loved church, with hand made kneeler and this beautiful patchwork banner.

Something I had never seen before was a bowl of water with a supply of pebbles at the side. The note said to use them as a prayer, dropping a dry stone into the water to see the change in colours was a symbol of the power of prayer. 

Doc Martin Country

The mornings have been brighter than the afternoon, so we set off for Port Isaac, where one of our favourite series on TV was filmed, Doc Martin with Martin Clunes.

Parking was not as bad as we feared and we found a spot easily. From here we walked into town and back along the coast, it is very hilly, which my knees do not like, but the views made up for the discomfort.

The Pretty harbour.

Looking out to see

Opps whose thumb is that spoiling the seagull portrait!

Dark mysterious caves send the imagination into overdrive.

Doc Martins TV house in the distance.

Pinetum Gardens

Discovered on Groupon, Pinetum Gardens and a two for one offer, so off we went to visit the gardens.

We were not disappointed, beautifully laid out are a number of different gardens within an amazing landscape.

The blue of the Hydrangea almost take your breath away they are such a stunning colour.

The Water Garden

Unusual white hydrangea in the Bridge Garden

My favourite, The Japanese Garden

The Winter Garden

The Cottage Garden

A reminder we are in Tin mining country.

Cornwall for a week of relaxing

I managed to bid for and win a week at Hengar Manor on Ebay for £175. [£200 cheaper than buying it from the site]

We arrived Saturday late afternoon and settled in to Bungalow 73. The accommodation is pretty basic but will be fine for a week.

There are lots of facilities on site, swimming pool, archery, entertainment, resturant etc...

Enjoying the early morning sun on the patio.

We arranged to meet my niece, Jesse and her husband and daughter at Lanhydrock, a pretty National Trust property and grounds.

The house is someway from the car park so we took the buggy, much to the delight of Mabel.

Mabel on the buggie facing backwards and loving the ride!

After a visit to the pretty little church and a wander in the gardens it was time for our first Cornish Clotted cream tea. I was told there are no calories when your on holiday!

This was the saying on the back of the dining room chairs.

Yummy

Jam or clotted cream first or last? 

Richard and Mabel enjoying the gardens.