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Wednesday 22 September 2010

Jerseylicious!

I think I have fallen in L♥ve with Jersey.

After moaning about hubby booking a 6.15 am flight last Friday - I had to eat my words because by 8.30 am we were having a lovely cup of tea and bacon rolls here:



I could have sat there all day, in fact all week.   The warmth of the September sun, the lovely gentle sound of the tide, the odd Seagull flying by,  breathing in that beautiful sea air, drinking in the view to France and enjoying the perfect cup of tea and the perfect bacon roll.  To me the perfect place - a little cove called Greve De Lecq hardly built up with this fab beach and veiw.  I was in heaven.  The little weatherboarded restaurant called Colleens


will remain etched in my memory forever.

I can tell you now, that reliving this in my mind will see me through the cold days of winter, whenever I close my eyes I can visualise myself back there.

Jersey is one of the Channel Islands and lies 100 miles south of mainland Britain, 14 miles from France.  It is a tiny 9 miles by 5 miles, that is 14 x 8 kilometres. 

We did a couple of circular walks - the island is a walkers paradise, and this coastal walk was breathtaking.



Hubby was working on the Saturday so I had most of the day to myself - I know I said I may stay in bed and get room service, but I just couldn't.  We were staying in the main town of St Helier at quite an historic hotel.  Jersey was occupied during the Second World War and was the last place to be liberated. Liberation was announced from the balcony of our hotel, which today overlooks "Liberation Square" and is marked with a fabulous statue and plaque to the war.


I wandered around the town and had coffee, then found this bustling colourful market

I also visited the local museum where there was a collection of Marilyn Monroe costumes, no pictures I am afraid, but it was very interesting.

I did relax with a little crochet in the afternoon - the "Twin Stripes" Jan Eaton square for SIBOL


During the time we were on Jersey we covered pretty much all of the island and it is all worth visiting, lots of lovely bays, but I have to say my heart is lost to Greve De Lecq, it kept drawing us both back and it was our final stop off on our way to the airport to come home


Jerseylicious!

Speak soon xx

Thursday 16 September 2010

One Hundred Times!

Hello and welcome to my One Hundredth post!  I am so sorry that yet again it has taken me an aaaage to get back to my blog, life has been so full on lately I have hardly had time to catch my breath!



Last week was Little Kimbles' Graduation, it was a truly lovely day and I did have to hold back the tears of joy, so happy, so proud, where have all of those years gone?


She gets her curly hair from her dad - mine is boringly straight!

Next up was her birthday and I was able to produce a Victoria Sandwich with my own butter cream AND JAM for once.  Yes I have had a dabble into jam making - I expect you are all experts, but I have always wanted to try but never had the equipment so last month I treated myself to a Maslin Pan and had a go.


I made Plum jam - first lot a little too runny - setting point not quite reached but perfect for drizzling on Ice cream.  Second lot much better and then I went on to make Apricot Jam and finally Strawberry Jam, oh and I also got a tin of those Marmalade oranges you get from Lakeland and made Marmalade too!

 
I think hubby thinks I have gone a bit doo lally every time he comes into the kitchen I am making more Jam!!

Next on the list is Chutney because I have quite a few Green Tomatoes and loads of Apples


I have been snatching some photos of the garden before the Autumn really sets in and there is still a lot of colour out there......not to mention wildlife, or should I say.....Pondlife!



This little fella was basking in the September sunshine on a lilypad in our little pond.  I love to see frogs in the pond and we didn't have any for a few years, but now we are obviously in favour again!

This flower had its head straining for the last rays of the sun.


A friend bought me these lovely Sunflowers and I had to take a photo of them in the early morning sun for you - I love Sunflowers.


Beautiful!

Now my attention is focused on Youngest Kimbles, he is heading off  Uni in London - one finishes, another one starts! So we have lots of packing on the go and sorting of "stuff", I think he is looking forward to it - time will tell.  I have also had my Sister in Law to stay this week for her birthday - she can't get around much so it was nice to have her to stay and make a Birthday Fuss of her.  In between all of this I have managed a little crochet but not much - I have nearly finished my glittery shawl and I am hoping to finish it this weekend BECAUSE Mr K and I are off to Jersey tomorrow morning (flight at 6.15am - what WAS he thinking of!!!!!) as he has some work over there so we decided to make a long weekend of it. So that means that while he is working on Saturday I will have the day to myself - can that really be true? - A Day To Myself!!! Yipee!!!! I have a book to read and some crochet to do - I am going to take the Jan Eaton Squares book because I have promised to make square No 5 for Mrs Twins and SIBOL , please pick a square to do for her if you haven't already.  Of course I shall go for a walk, maybe some retail therapy, but there will be plenty of time to explore the rest of the weekend when hubby is free.  A friend did suggest I stay in bed all day read, crochet and get room service - not sure I could do that, but it is tempting!!

So glad to fill you in with my goings on, a hundred times over!

Speak soon xx

Friday 3 September 2010

Glitter Yarn

Hi there, thank you so much for your lovely comments yesterday, it does feel really comforting to be back in touch with Blogland - I have really missed it lately, but sometimes life just gets too busy and I can't seem to fit it in.  There was quite a bit of interest in the Glitter Yarn I was using for the Shawl I showed you yesterday. 

As you can see, it is called Reflection and is 10% Mohair, 10% Wool, 75% Acrylic and 5% Metallic.  I bought it at the Old Loom Mill, near Hailsham, East Sussex - (I looked but I don't think they have a website) - its a collection of old mill buildings where they now have a fabric shop, wool shop and lots of craft stalls - oh and of course a lovely coffee shop.  They had a shawl made up and it did look pretty so I just couldn't pass it by PLUS if you purchased the wool you got the pattern free!  Its only a hand typed out one but hey thats no problem!  Oh and you only need two 100 gram balls of wool and it is worked on a 5.50mm uk hook so it is quite a loose drapey fabric. It was finished off with long tassels.  I think they had other colours but I can't remember which!  Must dash now - can't believe it but this is my 99th post - I am limping towards the 100!!!!  I cant think what I have rambled on about for that many posts - will have to look back.

Have a lovely weekend

Lovely to talk to you

Speak soon xx

Thursday 2 September 2010

Colourfest

Over these last few days I have become acutely aware that the nights are drawing in - Autumn is nearly upon us and at times it has felt like Winter is nearly upon us it has been so chilly.  I really love to cling on the summer, I love the colours of my summer clothes and the warmth in the air, yes it does take me a while to wind down into winter mode. Of course the colours of Autumn are spectacular too ..... it just not so warm.

So to cheer myself up this post has pictures in that I will be able to look back on in the depths of winter for a bit of colour therapy. Just some pictures from around my house ...... and a little update on the crochet front.


Lovely colourful beaded necklaces - I think these will look nice on plain boring winter jumpers.


Colourful socks to keep my poor feet warm and the chilblains away!

I am determined to take up another hobby which I have dabbled in in the past - these little beauties have been crying out for me to use them...and I will, I will

Lovely soft pastel sticks.

Now what can I wrap myself in to keep warm?????????? well there is a choice .... firstly I have been working on this


Ok it isn't too colourful but it does have glittery bits in and is going to be a soft shawl.


But no, this really isn't colourful enough - so on really dark days I will have to go for this



Yes some more progess has been made, in fact only 8 more stripes to go plus edging


I have persevered with this project, and as you know my hands have been giving me a lot of trouble, so I have to be careful, not many rows a day and this is a big project, probably too big for my hands to take.  I think I am much better making small motifs and joining them together.  However I do love my Granny Stripe and it will be great to snuggle up under - it is too late to use it in the Camper this year, but it will get lots of use.



I am sooooooooo happy to be finally posting again☺!!!!! It is lovely to be back in touch and I hope you are all well.  Littlest Kimbles is back from the USA and has had the time of his life, now its time to pack up and send him off to Uni, Little Kimbles has her Graduation next week so we will be off to that - lovely times.

Thank you for dropping by

Speak soon xx