Cosy Evenings

Autumn is really in the air around here at the moment. Woke up to a world covered in mist this morning, sadly I wasn't really awake enough to appreciate it while making my way to work earlier.

With the nights drawing in, temperatures dropping and the lurgy visiting our house there hasn't been any time or energy for frolics and adventure. The autumnal air is obviously having it's effect on me as I want to spend cosy evenings at home, it seems I'm preparing for winter hibernation already

I've been trying to learn to play the guitar, my progress isn't very fast, after days spent at work my poor little brain seems to struggle to retain anything I try and learn in the evening. I'm worried that my camera might seize up due to lack of outdoor adventure, but I've been trying to stop that happening by trying again to get some shots of the fishes. As you can see though its not going too well, these are the best I've managed so far. I've even turned my hand to a bit of baking. Haven't done any of that for oh I don't remember how long, but these blueberry cakes were just yummy. Mostly I've just been spending a lot of time cuddled up with the cats. Doesn't Oscar just look the perfect vision of domestic bliss?

I've also been having the urge to start stitching something of my own again, I want to experiment and stitch for stitchings sake, not just follow a pattern, but the evening light fades to quickly once I get home...maybe I'll get round to it at the weekend.
We might be spending more time indoors but look we're still very cosmopolitan, lol. Spanish drinking chocolate and french brandy, it's medicinal you know, as I said at the start lurgy is loitering at our place ;-)

ATC's

Cute Potatoe is now on a plane making her way to America for the next leg of her trip. In amongst her luggage I have squirreled away my ATC gifts for the other ladies participating in her journey round the world. I haven't done much work with silk before but I loved working with the scraps and threads that I used for these. The bright colours and wonderful textures definitely made me dream of far away places and travel while I was working on them... ... so much so that savings account has been opened at the bank and travel plans are being formulated as we speak... ... I'm not going to say too much more as I don't want to jinx things, just got to hope that life doesn't throw too many bumps in the way over the next year so that money can actually be saved.

Weekend Wonders

Had a nice super chilled weekend this weekend, no rushing around no out and about just at home pleasing ourselves. So with lack of any adventure to share here are a few snapshots from home.The fish got a new toy, I just couldn't resist adding this Greek style ruin to the tank. Not the most attractive photo but the fish were playing silly buggers and this is the only way I could get a few of them in the shot (still only just though look in the top corner, lol).Cute Potatoe and I got creative and did some journalling. It's time for cute to pack her bags and head off to the USA.Look at this delicious crop straight from the garden. After making a good start our poor veg patch got a bit neglected over the busy summer and wasn't looked after as well as it could have been. We are planning our holidays for November next year though so there will be more time to concentrate on the garden next summer, and we're aiming for a bigger veg patch next year so watch this space.And of course my weekend wouldn't be complete without a bit of stitching. Beading on the Autumn Queen has begun.

Monster Buttons

Some cross stitch that is not the Autumn Queen :)

I was looking for something quick and easy that I might be able to have a go at while I was babysitting the other weekend and found this really cute idea for some little buttons. They don't take long to stitch but I still only managed to make 2 while on babysitting duty.

Fairford RIAT 2010

Not many words on this post just a few pictures. I went to the Royal International Airshow at Fairford a couple of months ago. I uploaded these pictures a while back and then forgot to actually post them. So here they are, just a few snapshots from a lovely day out.

Outlining the Autumn Queen

Outlining on the Autumn Queen has now been done, actually didn't take too long. Not really sure you can see a whole lot of difference on this zoomed out shot, maybe you can see that her hands are a bit more defined, but you can see the difference in the close up.Just the beading to go now, have a feeling that's going to take a while, but she should be done well before my sister's birthday in December.

Playing with Silk

I didn't quite get the date with my sewing machine that I had hoped for at the weekend, but look there was something other than cross stitch happening at Catvillie this weekend.I spent a happy couple of hours playing with silk. I bought a lovely silk scrap bundle from the NEC earlier this yearLook at all these yummy colours, so I've been making some ATC background using these lovely stripsFor some reason this picture wouldn't load up the right way round which is why the perspective looks a bit odd, but you get the idea. Hope to have these finished in the next couple of days as they will go in Cute Potatoe's travel bag as she heads off across the ocean to the USA for the next leg of her world tour.

Ancient Landscapes

Made the most of the Saturday morning sunshine this weekend, and went for a wander in Wiltshire's ancient landscapes, in around Avebury stone circle.Unless you're in the air, it's impossible to get a good picture of the whole circle as it's so vast and the road and village run through the centre too!But I love the fact that you can get right up and commune with the stones. I never tire of visiting, you always see something different in the stones, depending on the time of year and the light.Not too far away from the stone circle is Silbury Hill, you can get up pretty close, but this shot is taken across the way from West Kennet Long Barrow.The burial mound is on top of another ridge and there is a short walk to get there, but just look what a glorious day I had to do it on.This shot is taken from a little way back and you can see the impressive sarsen stones which make up the entrance to the barrow.The barrow has been excavated and you can get part way inside, it can be a little dark, but there was some fabulous light pouring in on Saturday.I love living so close to these ancient wonders, and am sure they will crop up in future blog posts from time to time as I never tire of visiting. Cute Potatoe made the visit with me this time and you can read about her ancient adventure here if you so wish

Autumn Queen cross stitching done

All of the cross stitching is now complete on Autumn QueenShe is already looking quite regal, but there is still a way to go, we have the back stitching and then the beading to complete, so it will still be a while before she is done.I am planning on giving her to my sister for her birthday, which isn't until December so I still have plenty of time to try and get her done.

Bath

Just had to tell you about a wonderful day spent in the lovely city of Bath a couple of weekends ago. It started out as a simple expedition to pick up some embroidery thread (which actually didn't happen in the end as they didn't have what I needed) but it was such a lovely day we ended up wandering round and didn't get back until evening.

Part of the reason we stayed so long is we ended up on Safari, the city is scattered with lion statues all decorated by different artists or groups. There are 100 or so to see altogether and we ended up hunting out about half of them.

This next one was called Dave so of course the real Dave was made to assume the pose, I'll leave you to decide who is the most handsome, lol.

In my pursuit of capturing a feet picture I almost managed to push this poor lion down the hill, but hey not my fault the platform was on wheels with no brakes :)

All the lion hunting was quite exhausting but luckily we were able to refuel on amazing food and lovely wine at a fabulous South American themed restaurant that we love.

And for dessert which picked up some delicious chilli chocolate at the Italian market they had going, naughty but very nice!

I know I've posted about Bath a few times before as I'm lucky enough to live so close by, but I don't think I've ever shared any snaps of two of the famous landmarks, the beautiful Georgian Building of The Circus

and The Royal Crescent, which you can just about make out in the background of this one of us.

Most definitely one of those Lou Reed 'Perfect Days'........

More on Cute Potatoe

I just had to share a little more with you about Cute Potatoe, it's so much fun having CP here to stay for a while.Look, CP is travelling with such beautiful luggage, I'm a little jealous of these wonderful travel bags! But look at this CP has bought along with her some lovely little gifts, just for me from some of the other participants in this travel adventure.Cute has been trying hard to make friends with Pip, but Pip is being a little snooty about the whole thing.If you ask me Pip is a little jealous, I think he knows that he is not the cutest creature in town at the moment ;)

Don't forget you can read more about CP's adventures with me and the other lucky ladies who are having CP to stay with them from all over the world, here.