Little Things…

… mean a lot. 

Little things like my sweet daughter Victoria popping round with a scented candle she’d bought for me because she knows I like the fragrance.  Spiced Apple and Cinnamon by the way.  A Christmas fragrance and I love it.

Another day it was these hand towels in Christmas colours.  Beautiful and soft and festive.

And a couple of days ago when she was doing her grocery shopping Victoria saw the poinsettias and popped one in her shopping trolley for me.  She knows I like them.

Or when my lovely younger daughter, Caroline, came back just recently from her holiday in Orlando, Florida with an armful of goodies.  Little things, like the Milk Duds and Graham Crackers which she knows I love.  The OPI nail varnish (the only thing I had actually asked her to bring back) and an Oprah magazine she knew I’d like to read.  Hershey chocolate, her dad’s favourite.

And this.  A scissor cut paper silhouette of Charlie.  The artist cut out two, one for Caroline and the other she gave to me.  Caroline said the artist cut this likeness of Charlie out in perhaps a minute, minute and a half tops!  Can you imagine being able to do that?  No, me neither.  What a talent!  And it is a perfect likeness too!  I absolutely love it and now need to find a frame to do it justice.

 

Amongst the goodies was this Bath & Body fragrance mist.  Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin.  Perhaps the cinnamon is what appeals to me but I look forward to spraying myself with this fine mist every time I step out of the shower or whenever it just happens to catch my eye throughout the day.   I can’t get enough of it!

I thank my lucky stars for my girls and I love them to bits.  I think they both know me very well too judging by these thoughtful gifts.  Every one of them brought a smile to my face.  It’s true.  Little things really do mean a lot.

Talking of little things.  Happy little elves hard at work.  Which can only mean one thing.  Christmas is just around the corner!  Better get a move on with that shopping.

Starting with last Saturday’s..

.. trip up the motorway to Bay View and a weekend with a mission or two planned.

Mission number one was a little shopping trip to The Quilted Sheep, a yarn and fabric lover’s Aladdin’s Cave, in Milnthorpe for me. 

Where I purchased this fabric with which I intend to make a patchwork Christmas table topper.  I am so excited about this project.  I’ve been wanting to make a patchwork something forever and I’m finally going to do it!

On the way back from Milnthorpe we called at Beetham Nurseries for lunch and a look around.

William and I love this place.

There’s always something that catches our attention.  We thought this caravan/office/playhouse/garden house/anything you want it to be was so very cute.  The price wasn’t very cute though.  I think it was something fantastic, but not in a good way, like £11,000.00! If that price is wrong I’ll come back and correct it but I don’t think it is.

Later on in the afternoon we wandered down the coast path for a walk and breath of fresh air.  This location gets more than its fair share of wind.  Just look at those trees.  Don’t they tell you just how windy it is up there!

Later on again  before settling in for the night and battening down the hatches we wandered down to the coast to feast our eyes on the sunset.   The panoramic view of the sunset is one of the things I love best about Bay View.

On Sunday mission number two was attacked.  The awning had to come down.  It’s that time of year and the summer season is fast drawing to a close.  We’ve got a couple more weekends to spend at Bay View but the awning had be dismantled before any winter gales blow this way and dismantle it for us.  Erecting and dismantling an awning is no caravanner’s favourite job but this time Billy and I managed it without hardly a  cross word exchanged between us.  I couldn’t believe it!

We found these unwelcome lodgers as the awning came down but we were very kind to them and found them new homes under the hedges.  I use the term “we” loosely.  I let William have the pleasure of that task.  Eeeyuuuck!

I’ve had a busy week this week and I think I’ve fathomed out where my midriff bulge is coming from.  I reckon indulgences like these just might have something to do with it!  On Tuesday Caroline and I went to the Trafford Centre and enjoyed not one but two pit stops.  We had a lovely time wandering the whole length of the mall chatting all the way. 

Yesterday Lesley and I went to Housing Units and enjoyed not one but two pit stops.  (See the pattern here?) We mooched our way through every inch of that store and I think I sat on every sofa, reclining chair, in fact think I sat on everything with four legs in the store!  It was fun wasn’t it, Lesley?

Then today I met my lovely friends Vanessa and Diane.  No cakes today, and in my defence I don’t have a cake with every coffee, but milky coffees all the time are not too good for anybody’s waistline.  I might have to cut them out and drink only tea from now on. 

And finally, I thought I’d finish with this image from Housing Units.  Heaven help us, Santa’ll be getting stuck down those chimney’s before we know it! 

S’mores and Sparklers

I’m a bit late with these pictures.  They were actually taken last Saturday night and I only remembered about them today when I saw them in the camera as I was about to take some photos of Nicholas.  It actually rained during this little bit of fun.  But nobody headed for cover – it was just like water off a duck’s back!

George and Nicholas were sleeping over with us while their parents had a rare night out with friends.  Caroline and Charlie joined us.

Not the best time to take a photo when everybody has got a mouthful of food I know, but it was the only halfway decent photo with everybody in the frame so, for posterity, here it is.

Three sparklers left over from Bonfire Night last year finally got used.  The boys might not looked thrilled with them but they were!  And of course S’mores always go down well – with all of us, not just the boys.

Nicholas was here with me this morning.  He should have been in school but because of conjunctivitis in his right eye he couldn’t go.  Not that that was a problem for him.  An unexpected day off school is always a treat isn’t it?

In exchange for him using my binoculars he let me take a couple of photos.

Wasn’t that  nice of him?  I do like the pictures so it was a fair exchange.

All the excitement of American and Australian visitors is now in the past.  All of them are thankfully back home safe and sound.  William and I are off up to Bay View in the morning for a week’s holiday.  We’re hoping for a bit of sunshine but we’ll enjoy the break no matter what the weather throws at us.

Just Like The Mediterranean.

Driving home over Blackstone Edge today the colour of the sky, filled with huge fluffy clouds, was absolutely gorgeous.

 

 

The reservoir was half frozen over and looked like the Mediterranean Sea in colour.  Honest, it did!  

 

 
 A welcome change from Friday's greyness.

I'm thinking again..

...this time that spring has lost its way. 

Caroline and I walked round Watergrove Res this morning in decidedly unspringlike weather!

 

We endured fog, wind and drizzling rain.

 



Not to mention it was cold too.  But do you know, despite all that we enjoyed ourselves.  We chatted all the while and were just plain happy to be outdoors no matter the weather.  We're Lancashire Lasses you see - made of strong stuff!

 

 

 
Yesterday it was World Book Day.  Lots of children, Charlie included,  got to go to school in fancy dress.  He was a very cute little knight in shining armour.  Caroline brought him for a visit after school with his new book - Pirates Love Underpants (or something very close to that).  Victoria and her boys joined us too.

 

Nicholas wasn't well on Monday so was kept home from school.  I looked after him for the morning.  He was well enough to go out for a little walk.  We wandered round the back of our house where the little stream runs which in good weather the boys like to play in.  No, Nicholas didn't fall in it this time, thank goodness, but he sat and dangled his legs over the edge and his croc came off.  It ended up in the stream.  I had to clamber down there and risk falling in myself to fish it out!   Nicholas was very amused.  Me, not so much.

 

And finally, my desktop PC has gone kapput!   Not very happy about that but fortunately I know a very nice young man who will hopefully mend it for me.

One Of Those Catch Up Posts.

Just wanting to keep up to date with my iPhone pictures so here is a selection from the last month or so.

• George had a sleepover - we made some little fancy cakes together.
• Another sleepover for both George and Nicholas.  We played Ludo. That’s Nicholas’ hand in front of the camera.  Little monkey!
• Charlie ready to go home late one afternoon.  He wanted to take Tiny Tears with him :-)  Tiny Tears belongs to his Aunty Vicki.  Father Christmas brought her many moons ago when Victoria was 18 months old.  Unbelievably Tiny Tears still has her original tiny dummy in her mouth!  Is also wearing clothes I knitted for her all those years ago and the yellow blanket he’s carrying is one my sweet sister-in-law Brenda crocheted for Victoria before she was born. 
• Each of the boys planted a conker.  They are outside in the garden now.  I wonder if any of them will grow.  I’m not holding my breath.
• Shopping trip and lunch with my girls.  We had lunch in The Salt Cellar – we like it in there.
• On a little outing with Lesley to Hebden Bridge we both got a bit of a shock.  We spotted the Naked Rambler.  The poor man is obviously a troubled soul.  I ask you, who in their right mind would walk about, all year round, naked in Great Britain!?  We don’t exactly have the weather for it do we?  The authorities keep throwing him in prison but it strikes me that a psychiatric unit might be of more help to him.

• Charlie tucking in to a soft boiled egg and toast for tea. This was Friday night just gone and Nicholas was sitting opposite Charlie eating the same thing.
• Also on Friday night it was Nicholas’ turn for a sleepover.  He helped me make the pancakes.  As often as these boys have had breakfast here I can’t remember a time when they haven’t asked for pancakes.  They just love ‘em.
• Eating the pancakes with granddad.  I like how Nicholas has got his arm up around his granddad’s shoulder.
• Saturday morning I got the train into Manchester, which incidentally was 45 minutes late!   It’s never much fun waiting for a delayed train but Saturday was particularly frustrating because I had arranged to meet my lovely cousin, Sylvia, to attend an 11 a.m. Coffee Concert in Manchester Cathedral.  Luckily and with only minutes to spare we actually made it just before a young classical pianist, Albert Cano Smit, was introduced and the concert commenced. 
• It’s that time of year again.  The Continental Christmas Markets were in full swing.
• And last but not least a sneaky picture of a man at rest.

Until next time,

Kathleen.

September Miscellany

Mainly photos taken with my iPhone.  Lately I’ve been falling into a bad habit of relying on my iPhone instead of taking my dSLR out with me.  But not no more!  A mobile is fine for fun photos but just not as good as my big girl’s camera.  Full stop.  I could have taken some lovely photos of all three boys yesterday afternoon when they were absorbed in play but I didn’t take my camera with me and I was sorry afterwards.  Lesson learned.

Anyway, these pics have all been taken over the last week or two and they include:-

• A visit to Uppermill garden centre last Sunday affy.  William and I spent ages admiring the winter plants.  Do you see the Pom Pom tree on the left hand side.  I’d love one of those.
• A pretty pink fuchsia in our garden still flowering despite all the bad weather we’ve been having.
• A cute sign in a Hebden Bridge restaurant window.
• Beautiful skies.
• George bringing me a latte from the lake visitor centre cafe.  He didn’t spill a drop.
• Lots and lots of rain.
• A visit to the library, probably one of my last trips too.

• A solo shopping trip into Manchester including a visit to the city’s great cathedral.
• Sipping a Starbucks coffee in St. Anne’s Square while watching the world go by.
• Joyfully listening to the voice of an angel. Or what I imagine one would sound like.  The young woman in the centre photo serenely sang her heart out .  Her classically trained voice filled the whole of the Square despite the busy market etc. and all with no amplification.  I could’ve listened to her all day.  Such a shame it was raining or I’d have grabbed another coffee, sat outside Starbucks and done just that.
• All three boys were here yesterday affy. 
• We strolled around the estate.  They jumped huge puddles up Middle Starring and amused themselves for ages climbing over and sliding down that small handrail as though it was a bannister.
• Handcrafted shell lights to die for.
• Crocheted my first granny square.  Encouraged by my efforts I’m now in the process of making a blanket. 
• A productive (I don’t know if that’s the word I’m looking for but it’ll do) visit to Todmorden Antiques.  I found a Christmassy looking Johnson Bros transfer ware dinner plate - Thanksgiving pattern, Historic America series.  A bargain at £3 and a simple pleasure every time it catches my eye. 
• And finally I’ve got one.  An All New Kindle Touch.  A birthday present form my girls.  I had been dithering over which Kindle I wanted but I made my mind up and here it is.  I’m thrilled with it!  Thank you daughters! 

Can you believe tomorrow is another first.  The first of October!  It’s not all bad though,October means autumn and I love autumn.

Kathleen.

 

A Few iPhone Photos

I know it’s been a while since I posted – I seem to be getting out of the habit of keeping this blog up to date but I don’t intend to get out of the habit altogether.

Over the end of August Bank Holiday weekend Caroline, Charlie and I spent six very relaxing days down in our home away from home in Devon.  The weather was mixed but we did get to spend a couple of days on the beach and we managed to spend the rest of our time happily content rambling around and taking things easy.  A lovely break.  Caroline did all the driving, so it was very relaxing for me!  Thank you, Carolina. 

Oh, the flowers were a welcome home gift from William.  Wasn’t that sweet?

Talking about William.  This picture shows him in John Lewis last Saturday afternoon checking out my birthday present.  My little iPhone is getting a big brother!  The fact is I’m having one of those birthdays tomorrow with a big fat zero on the end and this little baby is going to make it so much easier to bear!

Sunday morning found us over in Hebden Bridge again. We had lunch and read the Sunday papers.   Little things like that really float my boat.

Finishing on a sweet note.  I made a carrot cake on Tuesday.  Actually the carrots should‘ve gone into carrot and coriander soup but after grating them I looked in the cupboard and discovered I had no coriander.  So, carrot cake it was.

Kathleen.

The Last Few Days.

Wednesday just gone was my oldest grandson, George’s, 9th birthday and I yet have to catch a good photo of him to mark the occasion.  I think I’d better put that at the top of my to do list. 

While Victoria took the birthday boy and three of his friends to the pictures I was in charge of Nicholas and Charlie.

It was a beautiful day so I took them to the park before we joined the birthday party at Pizza Hut.  Boys have lots of energy don’t they?  That’s all I’m going to say.

Friday found me in Manchester again, this time with Caroline and Charlie. 

Caroline wanted to go to a frozen yogurt bar she had heard about in the Spinningfields area.  We got the frozen yogurt from “Frurt” and took it to this superb seating area in the middle of all the office blocks, shops, cafes and restaurants that make up Spinningfields.  The big screen was showing the Olympics. 

The sun showered its rays on this little oasis of calm.  We were there just ahead of the lunch break workers and had a front row seat.

Walking back to the train station through Corn Exchange the big screen there had a full audience of Olympics enthusiasts.  It seemed to me like there was a holiday atmosphere in the air.  I suppose the sunshine and Team GB doing brilliantly helped things along no end.

Instagram image

A couple of times just recently William and I have found our way to the local lake and sat outside the pub there.  It’s a great place to people watch, have a drink and, my favourite thing, watch the bikers come and go. 

               

Instagram images.

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since the Olympics started.  William and I were down in Devon and he was reading about the success of the opening ceremony and now I’m off to sit in front of the telly and watch the closing ceremony of a very successful London 2012 Olympics. 

29 Gold, 17 Silver and 19 Bronze.  Well done Team GB!!!

Kathleen.