Well Happy New Year folks! I can't believe we are three days into the new year already. Did you do anything nice for New Year's Eve or anything different or did you just go down the "quiet one" route? We ended up taking a drive to our nearest city which is Manchester and stopped just outside it to watch the fireworks going off. It was a bit different for us as we usually stay home but it was nice. We drove back through the city centre which was stupidly busy and it took us ages to get home so we were pretty exhausted by the time we got back.
New Year's Day came and I really wanted to carry on our tradition of a walk or visit of some description. I really don't like going to busy shops and sales. I much prefer to get out into the quiet. We decided to head out to Yorkshire, in particular, Hawarth where the Brontes lived and died. It was wonderful and somehow we managed to get into the museum which is the house they grew up in.
It rained then it poured but it didn't dampen my spirit as it was a wonderful, old village with quaint little shops and surrounded by beautiful hills.
The Bronte parsonage where they grew up:
The church their father pastored:
The school Charlotte taught at:
More shops:
Some of the little shops were open and we had to have a few sweets from the old fashioned sweet shop. I love those sort of shops. We ended up buying some of this:
That was New Year's Day. How was yours?
Stitch wise I am a little frustrated. I have almost completed Star Shining Brightly by Heartstrings Samplery but I have ran out of GAST on the last round of the border. Grrrrr... So I am awaiting a reply from Patchwork Rabbit to replenish it so I can get this little baby finished off.
Sorry about the picture. I took it whilst it was lay on my knee! I am so lazy sometimes.
I have decided on my stitching goals for this year as well. I have decided that I am going to have a Christmas Stitching year! I have three designs started that I need to finish and I have a whole stash of Christmas charts that I would love to do. So here are my goals:
1. Finish "A Star Shining Brightly" - Heartstring Samplery
2. Finish Lizzie Kate's, "ABC of Christmas"
3. Finish "A Quaker Christmas" - Bygone Stitches.
4. Complete the CCN Classic ornaments as they come through.
5. Kit up and stitch "Christmas Carols" - CCN
I have several other Christmas charts to kit up and stitch but I don't want to set to high goals so I will post as I start and stitch them. These include charts from Heartstrings Samplery, BBD, CHS and LHN!
I have also made a good start on my sister's blanket. I am on row 38 of 84 and have 4 weeks to finish it. I may do it slightly shorter than the given 84 rows depending on how much time I get. I am loving the colours and you can find them all on Attic24's blog. I am afraid I cannot take credit for colour placement as I am copying Lucy's.
Well that is me for the time being. I have loved being off work and being able to get back to blogland once again. It has been mostly fun with the exception of the very sad and sudden death of Vanessa Cabban - from Do You Mind if I Knit blog. Very very sad and it does make one think.
So I am back to work on Monday. Blogtime may be reduced :(
God Bless
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32 comments:
What a lovely post! I love Haworth, we used to go often with my parents when we were kids and your photos brought back many happy memories. Your blanket is gorgeous. I started the coastal one but had to pull it back as I wasn't sure I was doing the ripples correctly. Good luck with your goals!
So many lovely pics of your new year's day trip! And your blanket is fabulous; your sister will love it even if it is a few rows short. :)
What a lovely place to visit - much nicer than busy shops any day. Which thread have you run out of - I may have some that I can send you to save you waiting.
What a lovely outing. I enjoyed the many pictures.
The blanket is looking great. I hope it goes well with your sister.
Beautiful pictures Hazel! I ended up doing 54 rows on the cottage ripple and gave it to my dad for Christmas. I didn't do a border either and thought it was fine!
Haworth is on my 'places to go' list - it looks well worth a visit. The blanket is looking super too; your sister will love it. Happy 2015! x
I'm so envious that you can just drive to Haworth like that. I'd love to see where the Brontes lived. Amazing to me! And so cool. I'm a bit obsessed by the Brontes. lol! Love the blanket -- it's so gorgeous!
What a gorgeous day out you had. Good luck with your stitching plans. x
I really enjoyed the trip to see the Bronte home☺ Lovely stitching and goals. Love the colors of the blanket.
What a lucky girl you are, to be able to drive to something as wonderful as this! How amazing to see the town where the Bronte family lived! Thanks for sharing your pictures with us!
Stunning photos and what an amazing place to visit! The blanket you are making for your sister is absolutely lovely.
You are killing me with yet another beautiful afghan photo ... lol! I know, I know ... I should just shut up & get the half-finished one out off the bag & start working on it again. Sigh! Gorgeous photos of Hawarth! Would love to visit there one day. What fabric are you using for A Star Shining Brightly? It looks beautiful!
Beautiful photos--what a lovely place to visit
Nashville rang in the New Year with Bash on Broadway and dropped a musical note with 100,000 on lookers in 17 degree weather! (I was home in bed)
Looks like you had a lovely start too the new year! We went the quiet route and used the day to take back some crafty time as it has been scarce since our twins were born this past fall. Hoping for a much more crafty 2015! And I am right there with you about going back to work- I go back Monday after being off since August on maternity leave. Free time is definitely about to be reduced!
We stay home generally - or at least we have the past 6 or 7 years as our neighbors have started putting off fireworks and it scares the pup.
It sounds like you have a great set of goals for the new year.
I didn't know Vanessa or read her blog. Very sad indeed.
Lovely photos - hugs for Monday
What a lovely day out! Great stitching and crochet
I am so jealous! Love the Brontes!! Looks like you had a great day! Love the afghan! Beautiful colors!
Oh, I would love to visit Hawarth someday, Hazel (or any part of England, to be truthful :). Such great photos even on a rainy day--I loved the duck parade!
Your year of Christmas stitching sounds wonderful--I so look forward to seeing your creations!
Good luck with your return to work this week and all the best to you in 2015...
What breathtaking photos, Hazel! I especially love the one of the geese marching along the sidewalk. :)
That blanket would cure any winter blues. It is lovely!
A lovely day out. Hubby and I visited Scarborough and saw Anne Brontes grave in the churchyard there. Interesting exhibition about her in the church too.
Good luck with your plans for this year.
Oh Hazel I am so envious of your goose-jam! :) I love your tradition of spending New Years out of the hustle and bustle -- thanks for sharing your adventures.
Great stitching and blanket progress!
Thank you for taking me along on your outing. I love all the pics.
Great stitching goals for the year with a wonderful list of projects. The Heartstring piece looks great. The blanket for you sister is lovely too.
Have a great week!
Lovely post.
And what a lovely place Haworth is to visit.
Lovely stitching and stitching goals .
Happy New Year and have a great weekhugs.
Happy new year Hazel, I hope that 2015 is a good one for you and your family.
Love you photos from Haworth, I used to go there a lot as my Mum is from Keighley but the closest in recent years is taking the kids on the Worth Valley Railway.
Your projects are looking lovely, hope the replacement thread arrives soon.
The news about Vanessa upset me a lot as well, so very very sad.
Lovely update - Haworth is now on my list to visit!
Your blanket is coming along beautifully.
Never managed to get to Haworth ... yet! Good luck with your goals, I'm sure they are achievable. Your blanket looks beautiful.
Happy New Year!
What a beautiful post! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the Haworth pictures. How fun to plan a year of Christmas projects! I will follow your progress. The blanket is already gorgeous, your sister is sure to love it.
You seem to have had a great start into the New Year. What a wonderful idea to visit the lovely village of Haworth. I was there many years ago and would love to visit again. Thanks for sharing all these pictures.
We were spending New Year's Eve and Day at home, just the two of us. It's our usual way to start the new year and we are loving it.
I hope you could get the missing thread in the meantime, and I hope that it was a similar dye lot. You have lots of wonderful stitching plans for this year, enjoy all your projects.
Happy New year good luck with the plans, the blankets looking beuatiful
Clare x
Thank you for the tour of Haworth, it is such a beautiful place and your ics are fantastic.
I love the colors in your crochet blanket. Your sister is quite lucky to be receiving it.
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