Walking, colours and crochet

Recently it seems, we've hardly had time to stop, I've been fetching and carrying a little more than usual and everything seems to be squeezed in.  Thankfully, on two recent Saturday afternoons, I've managed to get all boys and dogs walking in the same direction and been out for a ramble in our wonderful surroundings.

This first walk was best part of an hour away from us, but a place we often drive past and think of planning a walk.  From the road, the rocky outcrops look like three wolves, and I'd often wandered what they were like close up.

The day was clear and crisp, perfect for appreciating the panoramas and seeing the landscape's rich colours.

All happy boys....one not so happy a little later on, when we got a bit off-map and ended up with a couple of extra miles under our belts ;-)

Here, if you look carefully, is our collie Ned, watching his master, who is seeing what it would be like to sleep on top of a rock......hhhmmmm....

Some curious ladies also enjoying the dry day

A view from the other side....the light was beginning to fade (after our de-tour!) and it was satisfying to feel like we had earned our supper after a half day walking.

On the second Saturday, we ventured out in the same direction but to another rock, this one I can remember visiting when I was small child.  

The day we chose to walk, was bitter and threatening rain, so it was rather shorter than the previous walk.

We did picnic on this walk, but it wasn't quite as successful, as we were all pretty cold and fed up. 

The colours of the hills and bracken in the back ground did remind me a bit of my Moorland Blanket.

                                      

Which is coming along nicely, as I have had to attend a lot of practices  with my boys for a play which they are involved in.  Initially I think that people thought me a little quirky with my crochet, but now they are seeing it grow it seems to be making more sense.  In fact one of the ladies in the cast, came over and said she was making one too....it's a small world!

Birthday walk

So...a few photos from my big birthday day out.  I had a lovely birthday, the boys were in school so hubby and I planned a nice long walk along the coast path and a picnic.  The sky was blue and the day was just perfect.  

We walked a section that we haven't been to before, the coast path here spans 186 miles...all beautiful.  We are truly blessed!  

The real treat was stopping above one of the small coves which can't be reached by foot and seeing seals and their pups sheltering there.  The noise of the seals calling was quite something....really loud, in fact it stopped me in my tracks to see what it was.

Chester spent the day with us to...he is more keen than the boys to go for long walks!  It was a really wonderful day, over too quickly of course, but memorable and just the right way to mark a birthday in my opinion!

We've definitely been getting out in the mild dry autumn days.  During the school holidays we visited the Cotswolds in our caravan.  We've not been there before and it was a lovely introduction to an area that definitely needs more discovering.  The trees were what took my breath away, but the little chocolate-box villages were beautiful too...(I even found a lovely wool shop...bonus!)

It was lovely to go somewhere new and potter around.  Our caravan holidays always turn out to be super-relaxed, lots of sitting, reading, eating and chatting.  We did do a bit of walking, but honestly it was more about relaxing and not having to be anywhere else....just what we all needed!

I actually have lots of pictures and news to put on here....but it will have to wait...there's been reading, crocheting, knitting, drawing, running....gosh, it has been a busy few weeks!

Zwischen 2015 und 2016

So for another year, all the sparkly decorations have been packed away.  Christmas 2015 has been lovely......relaxed, good company, good food and happiness.  It has been pretty difficult to 'snap out of it' to be honest.  The run up to Christmas with school age children (in three different schools) is busy to say the least.  We picked up the children from school on the last day of school and took off to Cardiff for the night.  It was such a big treat for us 'countryfolk'!  Hotel, meal out and shops....a welcome break from the same four walls and routine.

Away has gone my advent calendar that I made some years ago.  Despite the lack of chocolate the children still seem  keen to see what will come out next.

New to our family traditions is a big portion of  Sue's Caramel Popcorn (recipe from  Mrs. Micawber blog)  Along with the batch of Ruth's coconut mince pies.

(These are not the only favourite things from other bloggers....one can't blog and not be affected!  )

I've rattled through a few makes, some of which were presents.  The christmas tree hat was for a friend who runs a food and basics bank and at Christmas also manages to give out presents to children who would otherwise have nothing in our county.  Anyway after promising a  hat, this was my offering

This was a scarf I made from Crafts from the Cwtch's pattern Little Bear's Porridge. 

This shawl was a happy skein of yarn from Mothy and the Squid and the pattern was 

Simple Half Pi Shawl

The painting above was a commissioned gift for a young lady who has been doing charity work in Durban, South Africa with young mums and children.

This is a painting  of Chester our beagle for a competition, unfortunately I did not place, but I enjoyed the process!

We've enjoyed some lovely walks in the past week or so, despite the dreadful British weather at the moment.  We have somehow got out of the habit of doing longer family walks, we must get back to it.

Apart from more of the above, I hope that 2016 is filled with  a few more challenges.  I somehow managed to pull off my first race, which was a 10k in September....I ran the whole lot, which I was fairly smug about....not bad for a lazy girl.  I am hoping that this year might hold a half marathon.....although I am realistic that I may not have the time to train.

I am still pressing on with my German (with far too many major wobbles just recently)  I have never found anything more difficult or nerve wracking.  I am supposed to travel to Jena, Germany next month and the idea of it makes me feel pretty queasy!  If I have an hour to work out what I want to say and a notebook I'm ok.....but conversations don't generally work like that!!

Anyway....if I can do these things then so can anyone....

All the very best for you and yours in 2016!!

...and everything in between.....

Easter this year has been a lovely time.....the weather here has been glorious.  Doesn't it make everything just right?!

We set out walking on a new route this week, an area that we haven't been to before, where there are the remains of an old slate/shale quarry It was established in  the 1840's, but has been out of commission for some years now.  The remains are spectacular, eerie and in some places quite sad.  Silent and empty.

I spotted this little archway above where we were walking on a  slate  bank, so we all clambered up. Well worth the effort as there was a sight to behold captured by a torch and a mobile phone camera.

 (photo care of hubby's phone camera and middle boy's torch....how eerie is that?)

There was a secret just around the corner

A perfect picnic spot

I love getting out in the  wilderness with the boys and dogs.....I find it puts your body right somehow, especially if you are otherwise cooped up a lot during  the week.  I can't put my finger on what happens, but being outdoors brings balance, I was feeling quite out of sorts and a bit despondent when we got back from our hollies, but getting out on a good long walk, put me back to rights!

Biggest boy turned twelve,  his birthday was guitar focused, guitar cake and a guitar to go with it.  I am so pleased to encourage my boys in music and creativity, I am so thankful for all my creative exploits, especially the music....even when the going is tough, losing yourself in music puts everything in perspective.

                

(this post has been lurking in my edit list for an age, landlines down and then very slow broadband, it is surprising how much we have all got used to having google at our fingertips....how does life continue without search engines I wonder?!  So it is far less than everything in between, there has been much food, more walking, some crafting, lots of learning...)

Six-month sprint

Six months in one fell swoop?  

The thing is.... that despite me not being here...... its all been going on still....so for my own sense of being up-to-date.....allow me a sprint through it all?

Blue bell woods at Ashridge, Herts.

Middle Boy's ninth birthday, chicken themed as you can see....and the main present?  Six hens with which to start his very own business.

Summer footie games with the cousins (actually, they were all out on Christmas day playing footie, so this is one for all seasons)

Summer days in my favourite formal gardens.

Pirate Day in our village, Big and Middle Boys canoeing.

Littlest Boy and  Mr. F kitted out to go

Middle Boy's trip to Birmingham Symphony Hall to take part with the school band in Music For Youth 2014.

Beach days

School sports days

Walking on the coast path

Dog walking

Dahlia....just because....

Painting commission of one of our local beaches

Biggest Boy starting comprehensive school

Being an early bird and beholding undisturbed beauty

Littlest Boy's sixth birthday

My first attempt at patchwork...

.....With a matching crib blanket for a new baby.

Mr. F's second marathon of the year in Chester....this boy is not just a pretty face, he shaved a huge 30 minutes off his previous time at 3hrs 43

Thomas hat for a first birthday.

October holiday to the Brecon Beacons

Taking the boys walking up Pen Y Fan and Corn Du

And at the top.... the mist was so thick I was slightly uncomfortable....but we made it to the top and back to the car before the heavens opened.

My holiday handwarmers

Red Kites feeding, an outstanding and awesome display!

The painting that went down so well, that it became three!

A bit of Christmas knitting thanks to Sarah, Crafts from the Cwtch

Littlest Boy's Christmas jumper for Save the Children

Christmas day magic

Boxing day in the rain and wind.....blowing all the cobwebs away......

So 2014, was a good'un!  Far more than shown here, lots of sunshine, happy family times, good food, giggles, knitting, painting, crocheting, music, baking, running (yes, me running!) German (my studies plod on) French another string to my bow with the Open University, reading, sewing

Gosh, looking at it like that, I can see why I didn't find time to blog.........

I wonder what 2015 holds?  More of the above I hope!

Here's wishing you a happy and healthy 2015 with new adventures and challenges, new skills to learn and experiences to be had!