I might just get one or two more bands added in the next couple of days, but the present giving will have to wait until the happy couple return from their honeymoon.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sampler Progress
Well the wedding is Friday and sadly I'm only just over half way through the sampler. Here is my progress so far.
I might just get one or two more bands added in the next couple of days, but the present giving will have to wait until the happy couple return from their honeymoon.
I might just get one or two more bands added in the next couple of days, but the present giving will have to wait until the happy couple return from their honeymoon.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Cotswold Countryside
As promised in my Hailes Abbey post it's time to share some pictures from a 6 mile walk that I took through the countryside around the Abbey. I was blessed with a beautiful day and the walk took me through beautiful fields and charming Cotswold villages.
The starting point for my walk was this lovely little Church at Hailes, from this point I struck out along some quiet country lanes where this ivy covered letter box caught my eye.
The notice says that there are regular collections from this box, but the ivy seems to indicate otherwise, lol.
It wasn't long before I left the lanes and was striding through the beautiful cotswold countryside, where I met a wonderful local man out walking his dog. He asked me all about where my walk was taking me and told me about his recent walking holiday with his daughter, its nice that you can still find places where people will stop and share the time of day with you.
Leaving the fields I walked through the lovely little village of Didbrook, I just loved this gate which formed the entrance to St George's church.
And this wonderful door within a door with it's beautiful faded patina and metal lock. 
Through the village it was back to the fields to join part of the Cotswold way footpath, climbing up the hill was hard work but worth it for the views over the countryside.
Look at this wonderful scene is there anything which says English countryside more?
Walking in the countryside can be pretty hazardous though, I had to battle my way past this beast, the guardian of the gate, in order to finish my journey. :)
And of course I can't tell you about a walk without sharing a now obligatory picture of my feet. :)
The starting point for my walk was this lovely little Church at Hailes, from this point I struck out along some quiet country lanes where this ivy covered letter box caught my eye.
The notice says that there are regular collections from this box, but the ivy seems to indicate otherwise, lol.
It wasn't long before I left the lanes and was striding through the beautiful cotswold countryside, where I met a wonderful local man out walking his dog. He asked me all about where my walk was taking me and told me about his recent walking holiday with his daughter, its nice that you can still find places where people will stop and share the time of day with you.
Leaving the fields I walked through the lovely little village of Didbrook, I just loved this gate which formed the entrance to St George's church.
And this wonderful door within a door with it's beautiful faded patina and metal lock. 
Through the village it was back to the fields to join part of the Cotswold way footpath, climbing up the hill was hard work but worth it for the views over the countryside.
Look at this wonderful scene is there anything which says English countryside more?
Walking in the countryside can be pretty hazardous though, I had to battle my way past this beast, the guardian of the gate, in order to finish my journey. :)
And of course I can't tell you about a walk without sharing a now obligatory picture of my feet. :)Monday, July 27, 2009
Oyster Catcher
Did I ever tell you that my favourite bird is the Oyster Catcher? I fell in love with them a couple of years ago when holidaying in Scotland, they were every where!
Well check this out, I found him in a local craft shop and he just had to come right home with me. Isn't he charming?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sampler
My sleeping habits aren't getting any better so here I am blogging at silly o'clock again :) I am working on something new. My cousin is getting married next week, at the very last minute I decided to try and stitch a gift.
Here is my progress so far on a little sampler pattern that I found in a magazine.
I've been working on this for a week and am less than half way through. As the wedding is next Friday I don't think it is going to get done on time! Nevermind hopefully it won't be too far behind the actual day.
I'm really enjoying the mix of stitching, and its the first time I've worked on evenweave which is proving to be hard on my ageing eyes, lol. Still I like the way it's turning out so hopefully it will be worth it. (Sorry for the blurry photos I'll try and get some better ones when it's finished.)
Here is my progress so far on a little sampler pattern that I found in a magazine.
I've been working on this for a week and am less than half way through. As the wedding is next Friday I don't think it is going to get done on time! Nevermind hopefully it won't be too far behind the actual day.
I'm really enjoying the mix of stitching, and its the first time I've worked on evenweave which is proving to be hard on my ageing eyes, lol. Still I like the way it's turning out so hopefully it will be worth it. (Sorry for the blurry photos I'll try and get some better ones when it's finished.)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Hailes Abbey
A few weeks ago I managed to sell my old car for scrap, I didn't get much for it but it was enough to be able to treat myself to a day out. So off I went to the beautiful Cotswold countryside for the day.
I decided to visit the beautiful ruins of Hailes Abbey, a Cistercian Abbey built in the 1240's.
As you can see from these couple of pictures it was a beautiful blue sky and sunshine day and there was hardly anyone else there, so I got to wander round in peaceful enjoyment.
I didn't actually take many pictures in the end, but from the museum I loved the medieval floor tiles.
And the beautiful vaulting bosses. Here is one which portrays Christ as a spiritual Samson rending the lion's jaw.
After visiting the Abbey I went for a wonderful walk through the surrounding countryside but I'll tell you about that another day. Today the sun is shining again so I'm not going to waste another minute at the computer.....
I decided to visit the beautiful ruins of Hailes Abbey, a Cistercian Abbey built in the 1240's.
As you can see from these couple of pictures it was a beautiful blue sky and sunshine day and there was hardly anyone else there, so I got to wander round in peaceful enjoyment.
I didn't actually take many pictures in the end, but from the museum I loved the medieval floor tiles.
And the beautiful vaulting bosses. Here is one which portrays Christ as a spiritual Samson rending the lion's jaw.
After visiting the Abbey I went for a wonderful walk through the surrounding countryside but I'll tell you about that another day. Today the sun is shining again so I'm not going to waste another minute at the computer.....
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Poppies
I couldn't sleep so figured rather than lying in bed waiting for the alarm to go off I'd just get up and do some blogging instead.
Fanfare please ... yep your eyes are not deceiving you I actually finished a stitching project!!!
It's taken me ages as I still am struggling to find the enthusiasm for stitching that I had before but I'm sure it will come back eventually. Anyway I got there in the end. The stitching on the petals is not as free as I would have liked but I guess embroidery is like anything else, practise makes perfect and I haven't done much lately so have gotten a bit rusty.
I couldn't do a post about poppies without including a couple of snaps that I took of some of the wild road side poppies which have been glorious this year, and, are what inspired me to pick up the needle and start stitching on this kit in the first place.
Fanfare please ... yep your eyes are not deceiving you I actually finished a stitching project!!!
It's taken me ages as I still am struggling to find the enthusiasm for stitching that I had before but I'm sure it will come back eventually. Anyway I got there in the end. The stitching on the petals is not as free as I would have liked but I guess embroidery is like anything else, practise makes perfect and I haven't done much lately so have gotten a bit rusty.
I couldn't do a post about poppies without including a couple of snaps that I took of some of the wild road side poppies which have been glorious this year, and, are what inspired me to pick up the needle and start stitching on this kit in the first place.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Time Flies
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time seems to slip by at the moment. They say that time flies when you are having fun, sadly I'm not having too much of that but it's flying anyway...
Thankfully there are some good days mixed in with the bad and my garden escape was definitely up there among the good. It's been a few weeks since then so I'm a bit behind the times but whose keeping tabs? ..
The weather was kind to me, plenty of sun so I really did get to spend my days outdoors getting away from it all in my little garden paradise....
.....eating good food and generally enjoying being lazy.......
The weather was kind to me, plenty of sun so I really did get to spend my days outdoors getting away from it all in my little garden paradise....
.....eating good food and generally enjoying being lazy.......
....while I may not have had anyone to share my days with I was never really alone......
And as I have been showing you my feet quite a lot recently (don't ask me why as anyone who knows me knows I hate feet, lol) I couldn't leave you wondering what I was wearing when skipping round my garden retreat... 
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