The Weekend

Had the weather been a little less wet on Saturday night I would have been at The Illuminations, Blackpool Illuminations that is, with Caroline, Trev and Charlie but the weather was very wet and none of us found the idea of getting wet through very appealing so Plan B was executed.

Plan B involved hitting a few balls at the golf range near the Trafford Centre for Trev and Charlie.  Charlie was very excited about this.

He can hit those balls too.  He even has his own little set of proper golf clubs.  Trev is a good golfer and I’m sure he’d like nothing better than for Charlie to be a good one too.  Caroline quite likes to have a go at golf too and practised her swing a couple of times.  Me, I just watched.  It was for the best.

Balls all used and clubs stowed back in the boot we all headed over to the Trafford Centre for something to eat and a look around the shops at all the Christmas stuff now filling the shelves.  The centre was soo busy – it would seem that folks are doing their Christmas shopping early this year.

Onto Sunday morning.  A much better day weather wise.  Cold?  Yes,very.  But blue skies made it so much more bearable.  Hebden Bridge Square for breakfast with Victoria and her men.   William stayed at home nursing a frozen shoulder and Caroline and her men were attending the Remembrance Day Service in our hometown then going swimming.

Something funny going on with hats here!  The caps are from Florida.  Caroline brought the boys one each back from their recent holiday at Disney World and they love them.  Nicholas wore his with the peak to the side all the time.  Have to say it suited him that way to a t!  Gary is wearing his own hat and George’s cap.  Mmmm, I know.

I have no words for this one.

The boys whizzed around on their scooters and didn’t feel the cold one little bit.

Max was very cold.  He wanted somebody to either pick him up or take him home.

After the boys had one last blast going as fast as they could on the scooters home was on the horizon.

Talking about horizons, with our backs to the skate park this was the view we had.   Blue skies and autumn colours.  Very pretty.

Later on in the afternoon William and I drove round to Victoria’s house and together with her and the boys we walked up the road to attend the Remembrance Day Service being held at the War Memorial in that neighbourhood.

All in all it was a good weekend packed full of simple pleasures.

Instagram Images..

..from the last couple of weeks. 

• Victoria and her team brought Max (their dog) to stay with us for two weeks while they jetted off to Fuertuventura.  They should be up in the clouds on the way back at this very minute.  I’ll be glad to have them back safe and sound and so will Max!
• Smiley faces.  Charlie and his mummy.
• The high temperatures continue.  Woohoo!!
• Charlie stripped down to shorts while he plays because of those high temperatures.
• The donkeys continue to delight me with their social skills.  They come running over to say hello every time I walk by their field.
• Breakfast with granddad in the sun.
• Walking the dogs.  Definitely a Simple Pleasure when the sun is shining.
• The fields behind our house.
• Whites hanging on the washing line.  A satisfying Simple Pleasure.

That’s it.  Short and sweet.

A Walk on Wednesday.

Wednesday I had both George and Charlie to keep me company.  The weather was quite mild for a change and both boys wanted to go outside. 

George loves to jump the stream that runs at the back of our house.  So we didn’t have to go far from home.

What child wouldn’t enjoy doing this?

I can remember doing this with my cousin, Sylvia, in the woods across from where she lived when we were about George’s age.  Happy memories.

Following the stream jumping we took a walk through the fields.   Well, I walked and they ran.

Along the way we came across this friendly little pony.

George wanted to know was it a boy or a girl.  He took a look. “It’s a boy, nan”.

Four year old Charlie, with no idea whatsoever he was looking for bent down too, took a look and echoed,  “It’s a boy, nan”.   I had a little chuckle over that.

Further on a helping hand was offered.

After all the excitement Charlie needed to sit down!

Just a little walk in the neighbourhood but a big Simple Pleasure!

When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

Well, not a lot of any great importance going on round here but I still thought I'd put fingers to keyboard and report anyway.

An assortment of stuff here to say the least.  Starting top left and moving on clockwise. 

• Last weekend my lovely sister in law, Brenda, gave me a sweet little Wedgewood bud vase which matches the little vase she gave me some time ago.  Also, showing are my two winter cyclamen, aren't they lovely?  They were just £1 each from Morrisons.  Good value don't you think?
• William, busy repositioning pictures and my Portmeirion plates on the kitchen walls for me.
• A little reminder of what's just around the corner.
• I spotted this little Father Christmas night light in Costco yesterday and had to bring him home with me.
• I paid a visit to Housing Units and rather liked this leather sofa. I think we'll be buying a new 3 piece suite in the New Year.
• This afternoon my girls came round with their boys to visit.  The boys turned my dining room into a zoo.  I play the zookeeper, George and Charlie are monkeys and Nicholas is always a guard dog!
• Gary came round a little later with their little dog. 
• It's a mad house here at times.
• I wouldn't have it any other way.
• The little Father Christmas and the Wedgewood vase are my Simple Pleasures this week.

Yesterday afternoon I snagged a couple of bargains.  The frame was £5, you'd pay a lot more than that in somewhere like John Lewis.  I found this one in a curtain factory shop.  I had no idea they sold things like that.  The book was 40p in a local charity shop and the Guinness As Usual mug was in the same shop.

Guinness is a favourite tipple of mine and that's why this little cup caught my eye.  When I discovered it was actually made in Ireland and was only 30p I brought it home with me.

So, why the title?  Well, I bought the purple fleece you see in the picture yesterday.  When I came home I changed out of my "good" clothes into some more comfortable clothes.  I reached into my drawer and chose a purple sweater to wear and what was I taking off? - yep, a purple sweater! 

The poem Warning, When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple by Jenny Joseph immediately came to mind.   Click on the link to read the poem, - I'm sure it'll bring a smile to your face.

Kathleen.

Indian Summer

Last week our weather was wet, windy and cold.  This week it's hot, sunny and the temperatures have been in the high 70s all week, this combined with autumn leaves falling like rain to the ground. 

A very nice combination too!

Both yesterday and today after I collected Charlie from nursery school I took him to the local park where we had a picnic lunch.  Today Charlie got lucky - the ice cream van came into the park.  I got lucky too.  Charlie sat still and I was able to take loads of photographs of him.   Have I ever mentioned I love taking photos?

This is the view out over our pretty little park.  We have the splendid Pennines for a backdrop.

I have so enjoyed taking Charlie to the park this week.  We've both had fun, he playing alongside other children, me chatting to other nans while soaking up the sun's rays. Also, I've taken a million photographs and am happy with quite a few of them.  All of these things are just plain old simple pleasures which is handy because today is my day to post my weekly Simple Pleasure.  So there we are.

Until next time, 

Kathleen.

Two Little Robins

Cross-stitching.  I used to be obsessed with cross-stitching and completed a fair few in my time.  I first got the habit from my sister's sister-in-law, Sherry, who lives in Arkansas.  Sherry had so many wonderful cross-stitch pictures on her wall and I thought they were all amazing.  Sherry kindly gave me the basic instructions in how to, my sister took me to a Michael's store, where I purchased the necessities and I was off to a very enthusiastic start.  That was back in the late 80s and for several years I always had one on the go.  I would frame them myself too.  I also passed the bug onto a few other people.  One of whom is still ploughing her way through the Flower Fairies series.  Which reminds me I have one of those kits tucked away waiting to be done.

Then I lost the bug for a while.  Then it made a brief come back a couple of years ago and that's how long this cross-stitching of two cheery little robins has been hanging around.

Today though, I finally got motivated and framed this little, it measures 7" x 5", project.  The frame is an old one I already had so I have no excuse at all for not finishing this project a couple of years ago,  just lack of inclination.

However, I am thrilled to bits with the result and think the time of year is just right to get it hung on the wall.  Now, I would usually link up with Dayle over at A Collection of This and That for her weekly Simple Pleasures party but sadly Dayle has decided to shut up shop (her words) and there will be no more link ups.  But because this blog is after all entitled Simple Pleasures I'm going to continue once a week listing that little something that has given me pleasure, raised my spirits or made me smile.  

Actually I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and that's why the robins are perched in my nasturtiums patch.  I love nasturtiums and this year they have been such a vivid shade of orange and are a source of joy every time I see them that they are also a Simple Pleasure this week.

Kathleen.

Catchlights

This beautiful little face belongs to my 4 year old grandson, Nicholas.

I took this photograph last Sunday when he was in my garden playing with his little cousin, Charlie.  I think it's a very sweet  photograph of Nicholas and I'm really happy with it.  But what really floats my boat about this photo are the catchlights in those beautiful  deep blue eyes.  The colours reflected therein - blue and white and a speck of orange - are tiny images of his cousin, Charlie, his Aunty Caroline and me, his Nanny, with camera up to my eye.

Catchlights, I love 'em, especially in this little fellow's eyes and they are my Simple Pleasure this week. 

I'm joining  Dayle for her weekly Simple Pleasures Party.

Kathleen.

My Orchid

I'm in love with orchids.

I rave about orchids to anyone who will stand still and listen to me.  I have three of them just now and I can't believe how easy they are to care for - just water them once a week and they're happy.  It seems that they bloom forever too.  What more can one ask for in a houseplant?  This little beauty lives in my computer room where I see it all the time and I get so much pleasure from it you wouldn't believe it!  Its colours are deep and vibrant and a pleasure to behold, especially on days like today when outside is plain old grey, wet and miserable.

I haven't linked up to Dayle for her weekly Simple Pleasures party for a few weeks but I'm getting back in the swing of things and am happy to be linking up today.

Kathleen.

Afternoon in the Park.

Yesterday afternoon I was looking after my little grandson, Charlie.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and it was hot. I decided we'd go to the park.  We had been in the play area for a while then wandered over to the bowling greens.  There were several games in play.  We parked up on a bench.  I remembered that, many moons ago, my wonderful parents in law would go and watch the bowling on a sunny afternoon.  I think  now I see the attraction.  It's such a tranquil game and the people, mainly retired, with all the time in the world on their hands are only too happy to stop and chat.Charlie found a little playmate, a little girl who was there with her grandparents.  They ran around quite happily together and I was very happy to sit and watch and soak up a few rays.  Did I say it was hot?This cottage garden border was absolutely glorious.   I'd love a cottage garden, but then who wouldn't?  Actually I'd also love a cottage, maybe down in Devon somewhere, yep that would be very nice!

All in all it was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, a summertime simple pleasure for certain.

I'm joining Dayle at this week's Simple Pleasures party.

Kathleen.

I used Lynn Grieveson's Worn Photo Edges to give the photos an aged look.  Edited in Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.

A Sleepover and S'mores

Throw a BBQ into the mix and that was Monday night at our house.  George and Nicholas had been promised a week or so ago that they could sleepover at our house once the school holidays arrived.  Well the holidays are here and Monday they were both excited to be staying the night with us.

The weather was good so burgers on the barbeque was the easy answer to what to feed them.  Followed by a little "campfire" and S'mores. 

Nicholas looks a bit glum in the pictures above, he wasn't feeling too well.  However he still managed a smile for this photo when granddad was doing silly things behind my back.

Caroline and Trev brought Charlie round for the S'mores but I didn't get a good picture of him.  Today however I snapped this picture while he was watching Baby Looney Tunes.  I wonder how much longer he's going to be sucking that thumb?  For now though it still looks cute.

George asked if we could all go back to Ealees on Tuesday afternoon.  Kids just love water don't they?  I'm so glad that John and Lesley recently re-introduced me to this lovely little neck of the woods.

And talking about John and Lesley takes me back to Saturday night.  It was another night when Billy lit our little campfire.   John and Lesley came round and we sat outside with a drink and chatted until it was too cold to sit out there any longer.  At which time we migrated indoors to have a game of cards, a bite to eat and perhaps one or two more drinks.   We had a good time together, as always, even though I was well and truly thrashed at cards.  I didn't win a single hand all night!

Kathleen.

Edited to add:-

I didn't think I had a Simple Pleasures post this week but then a blogger friend pointed out that all of the above post qualified one way or another.  I thought about it and realised how right she was - thanks Debbie!  Particularly the playing cards on Saturday night.  I've always enjoyed playing cards and can well remember playing Snap and Fish etc. as a child and being totally unable to hold the cards fanned out in my hands or shuffle a pack of cards without dropping them all over the floor.  

Over the years there have been so many games of cards with different people and all of them hold happy memories, even last Saturday night when I didn't win a single game.  So here I am happily linking up with Dayle at her Simple Pleasures Party.

I wonder how many others share this simple pleasure?

Messing About on the River.

Well, actually, we were messing about but not so much on a river as in a stream.

The long school summer holidays started yesterday and I know lots of parents are going to be praying for good weather to help them along the way.  Sadly if the Meteorology Office is to be believed then the outlook is not too good!

Anyway, today was fine and Victoria and I were able to take the boys out for some fresh air and fun this afternoon.  We didn't go far, just a very few minutes away in the car, parked up and then followed a public footpath which runs alongside this stream.  The boys had a great time, paddling, throwing stones into the water, getting wet through and just generally having fun. 

This isn't an area of our little town that we have frequented much over the years but I think this summer it might just turn into a favourite picnic and play spot.  So that is my simple pleasure this week -watching the boys messing about on the river. 

Of course an added bonus for me to these little outings is that I enjoy taking the photos and then coming home and playing around in Photoshop with them.   This template is a freebie from The Coffee Shop Blog and the background paper is a Katie Pertiet design and can be found at Designerdigitals.com.

As usual I'm joining Dayle for her weekly Simple Pleasures party.

Kathleen.

Max

Meet Max.

Max is a 10 week old Yorkshire Terrier and belongs to my daughter, Victoria.

He's absolutely adorable.

Everybody has fallen in love with him.

I ask you, what's not to love?

These pictures were taken last week when my daughter first got him.  He's grown a little bit since then, he's gotten bolder, friskier and like my nearly eight year old grandson, George, says has become part of the family.  He is just very, very cute!  No surprise then that he is my Simple Pleasure this week.

Kathleen.

Bookmarks

My daughter, Caroline, asked me recently to make her a new bookmark. 

She knows I like to play about in Adobe Photoshop and so I was happy to oblige.  This is what I came up with.  It didn't take me very long.  I made two, one for each of my girls.  I think they like them.

I love silhouettes and I found this particular one of a girl blowing bubbles on a fascinating creative blog called  Scherenschnitte.   It's all about the intricate art of papercutting.  I don't think I have a steady enough hand to be any good at this craft but I do like to see Cindy Ferguson's (owner of Scherenschnitte) creations.  Not only is Cindy very talented but very generous too, this silhouette is a free download on her blog and is really a template for papercutters.

So, two simple pleasures this week -  playing around in Photoshop and browsing through Scherenschnitte.

As usual I'm joining Dayle over at A Collection of This and That.

Kathleen.