Chocolate Limes..

This is what my husband said when I finished Tracy's blanket for her.



Chocolate Limes?? I thought more of a mint choc chip ice cream.





Mmmmmm... are you feeling it??



This was a special order blanket from Tracy who chose the pattern and colours to go in her sitting room. I hope she likes it.



So chocolate limes or mint choc chip?? What do you think?

Speaking of orders, I have had another order for a flower cushion and what tricksy little beeps these are!! Here they are so far:





Aren't they just so pretty?? I love the streak of sunlight coming through the window and shining on them. Now they are in the process of being made into squares. They are from Rosehip's blog (link in the sidebar).

I stumbled upon something today that made me think. Has anyone seen or heard of 365 Grateful? A woman who suffered from depression was given advice from a nun that the secret of happiness was in reflection and gratefulness and challenged her to reflect and be grateful every night for the next ten days. She was so impressed by the results that she got herself a Polaroid camera and began to take a picture a day of something that made her feel grateful - every day for a year! It is so motivating and I have been thinking about a lot of stuff like this lately. I have had so much go on in my life the last few years that it is a miracle I am still here to tell the tale to be honest. Well, I am not ready to talk just yet but I am thinking a lot about this and getting very inspired. Definitely worth looking at.

So, what am I grateful for today? I am grateful that my husband finally ordered a skip and has cleared the garage! Just the office and garden to go now but I am very hopeful. This has been a long time coming. Thank you sweet man.

And, thank you everyone who has visited with me in my little space today. I appreciate all your lovely, kind and thoughtful comments. Keep well.
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Skipton

Happy Easter all. I hope you are out or enjoying the nice weather we have been having in the UK. DH is home so we have been trying to spend some time together as a family.

On Good Friday we decided to head out to Skipton. I haven't been in years and it was so lovely albeit extremely busy. I think we will go again on a quieter day. I think it might be nice to stay there for a night too. Very pretty. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so had to rely on hubby's phone cam. Here are some pics:

We went up to the castle first. One of the prettiest castles I have ever been in.





Inside the Great Hall:



A view from the Watch:



Castle and gardens:





Castle Priory:





The canal walk was gorgeous. I love all the pretty barges. They are so colourful. I long to go on a barge holiday at some point in my life.





And on the drive out, we came across this little field of beautiful poppies:



We did go round the shops; the market was on but dh didn't take any snaps there. There was a fab wool shop called Purl and Jane which specialised in all sorts of hand dyed wools. I didn't buy anything this time but definitely will do next time I visit. Hope you enjoyed my little trip. It didn't end so well actually as we headed out toward Bolton Abbey but hadn't left enough time for it and so we stopped off for a drink and dd tripped on some cobbles and chipped her tooth! Apart from that all was well and we had a lovely day.

Just a quick stitchy update. I have finished Clare's RR piece:

This was so quick to do. I loved it.

And also here is my small start on Sampler Au Bouquets by Jardin de Prive:



I am stitching this on Vintage Mocha and I love it! Thank you Leena for the inspiration.

Hello to all my new followers and visitors - there seems to have been a bit of a surge!! I am quite amazed actually so thank you very much and hope you enjoy your visit with me.

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Park picnics

I have been moping around the last couple of days feeling very poorly and very sorry for myself. You know how it starts with a bit of a sore throat and you think, "Ack!" and then it suddenly turns into something so very nasty that knocks you off your feet literally for the next few days? It has gone from a bug like flu with nausea and tummy ache and shivers and aches to a full on head cold. However, trying to stay positive I thought I would post about our recent pinic in Lyme Hall last Sunday. Do you remember my post not so long ago about the same place where the snowdrops were budding? I thought it would be nice to show you what it looks like in the heart of spring. We got there around 10.30- 11.00ish - a good time to go as it gets really busy after then. Found this lovely spot by the lake:

and settled down on the Ugly blanket which proved to be a great picnic blanket as it is massive and so there was no teetering on the corners on those small roll up blankets people use. I would have been using mine but I lost it in typical ME fashion and was kind of forced into using theUgly blanket.

Nothing posh. Just what we had in the house. Butties, pringles, fruit and juice and some chocolate mini rolls. There's nothing like eating outdoors is there? Then into the house and the gardens and here are some snaps of how the garden is looking now: Hyacinths everywhere and the smell so fragrant.

And these were taken in the arbetorium:

So colourful. I can't wait for summer. I have been doing some crochet too and finished off Clare's scarf and she now has it and loves it thankfully. Cream centres this time with more pinks and purple shades:

Also had a go at Julia Crossland's Popcorn Flower:

Really like this and will be making more shortly.

And another flower square by Rose Hip:

So there you have it. That was last weekend. This weekend I am staying home sulking! Thanks for all the lovely comments and especially new readers and followers. I will be heading over to read your blogs soon. Have a lovely weekend whatever you are doing. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Stuff

Just a quick post. Many many thanks for all the lovely comments. I think my Dad is blushing! Some questions to answer. Firstly, the count of the fabric is 16 count aida which is probably why it came out so big. I started this a good few years ago before HAED and before I had even contemplated stitching over 1 on 25ct. I have the chart in very good condition as we used a working copy and only used the pages containing the symbols. It is spiral bound with a plastic cover. If anyone would like to purchase the chart I am asking for £10 + pnp. It is 49 pages of chart (not all full pages). Just send me an email if you are interested in buying it. I accept paypal.

Well, my first flower scarf got finished and purchased by my lovely friend Tina (no blog). Thank you Tina for paying so promptly! Here it is in all its glory. I have another one on the hook for my good friend Clare.

Yesterday, I FINALLY got a ball of yarn through from First4Yarns that I ordered way way back in October. Let's just say I shan't be ordering from them any time soon. Anyhow, the wool I was waiting for was some Rico Poems Aran and I had 2 different balls of the stuff. So I wasn't sure how I was going to use it but last night I made this:

My first slouchy beanie!!! Thanks to Aisyah from My Tinker Space who gave me the link to the pattern here. I am sooooooo pleased with the result! I think dd is too. This will def not be the last one I make.

I got the most wonderful surprise the other day. I had won a giveaway from Cath over at The Stitchin' Chicken and I was only expecting the chart. Then she emailed me to say she had to buy some threads for it. Bonus. But, when it actually came, she had popped in some extra goodies too. Made my day! Thanks Cath. Brilliant!!

And.... finally just a bit of stitchy. Here is my HAED Fragile Heart update after my SAL with Tracy on Thursday nights:

On the bunting front... I finished my blue bunting but not yet strung it up. Also I have finished some red, white and blue bunting too - good if you're a royalist. I'm not particularly so I see it more as American theme for little boys' rooms. Either way, it looks good but needs some blocking and hanging then I'll snap some pics.

Thanks for reading folks and all your patience. Be back soon. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx