How January Is Shaping Up So Far.

A little look at what January has been like so far but first a little look at what I’m hoping for in 2015.

I found this wordart on Instagram and it just about sums up what a good life looks like to me.  2015 are you listening?

The long walks have been taking place already.  After suffering with a dodgy ankle from July to December last year and being unable to walk any distance I’m really appreciating getting outdoors and putting my best foot forward.  I’m aiming to take a good walk at least every other day and being right on our doorstep Ealees and the lake are our most oft trodden paths. This picture (above) was taken Monday morning when I enjoyed a walk with Caroline and Harley through a snow covered Ealees.

And here we are on a different walk a couple of weeks ago.

On one foggy, late afternoon, solo walk I spotted this lone oarsman as I reached the lake bank.  I quickly whipped out my iPhone and snapped this pic before he disappeared into the mist.

Ducks, Canada geese, seagulls and swans can all be found at the lake.  None of which are likely to starve to death, there’s always somebody feeding them.  Not me though.  Have you ever seen the mess swans and geese leave behind?  Not a pretty sight I can tell you.

Spied on another day’s walk the sun’s rays showering their light from behind the clouds.  A beautiful sight and always one of life’s simple pleasures for me.

This pretty scene is at the far side of the lake and I always like to feast my eyes on it.

And a view of the lake from a different angle.  Dry stone walls and cobbles.  I bet this little corner of the lake hasn’t changed for aeons.

I was charged with taking seven year old Nicholas to the dentist toward the end of last week.  He had chipped the corner off his right front tooth and it needed fixing. I was a bit nervous about taking him but Nicholas himself was not one bit bothered by it all.  This was the second time he’d had this procedure done so he knew what to expect.  He hopped right up into that chair and didn’t bat an eyelid.  Which was just as well because I don’t think this particular dentist would have stood for any messing. She was fast and efficient and did a good job but not once did she tell Nicholas what a good boy he was being and we had to ask for a smiley sticker at the end of the procedure!

After a walk or maybe halfway through we usually stop for a coffee in the visitor centre.  It’s a good cup of coffee too.

There have been other activities beside walking.  We had a day out shopping at Boundary Mill in Colne.  I wanted William to buy this tweed flat cap but he wasn’t interested.  I like flat caps and I thought this one really suited him.  I’m going to have to work on this.  I think he needs one!

There have been a couple of trips to Costco and a couple of pairs of very good quality, good value jeans for William.

One of my favourite things to do.  Trips to the library.  I have a Kindle these days but I still love to browse real books in the library.  William has taken to reading a lot more these days, what with retirement and time on his hands, so library trips are a regular feature again in my life.  Yippee!

A bit of sewing going on.  I’m working on a table runner which I hope will brighten up the dining room on these dark days of winter.

And finally… My shoelaces have a tendency to work loose when I’m walking.  Here William kindly fastens them for me. I don’t really know why but this is one of the things he’s always done for me. However in the last year or so he has suffered with back problems and I’ve taken pity on him and done it for myself.  I know.  I’m good that way!  It felt like old times. :-)

And then just one more for good measure.   A colourful scene looking across the lake.  The white building is a popular public house and that’s the West Pennine Moors in the distance.

All photos, except the shoelaces one, taken with my iPhone.  I love that little gadget!

Blackberrying With Charlie

Saturday before last was a lovely sunny September day.  I’m loving this mild and sunny September weather we’re having and now there’s a crispness in the air heralding autumn is on its way (tomorrow to be exact).  Which is good.  What’s not to love about autumn?

So what better way to pass the time than get out in that sunny weather and fresh air and collect some blackberries.  I must confess blackberrying is not something that I’ve ever done more than a handful of times but I knew that Charlie would want to do it.  He and his mummy went out collecting some last year and he loved it.

I had asked Victoria and her crew to come with us but they were all engaged in other activities.  Caroline and Trev were working.

So grandad, Charlie and I headed for the lake where we knew the blackberries were ripe for the taking and we all three got stuck in.

Charlie took it very seriously and worked hard filling his tub.

After a little while he took a breather…

  … and took in the view.

He also took great delight in pinching my tub of berries when I put them down to snap a picture and poured them into his tub!  He thought that was hilarious – the little  monkey!

It’s a lot of fun but it’s hard work too.

All that bending and stretching.

So after quite some time we called  it a day and decided we’d got enough and had had enough!  It’s difficult to know when to stop though.  Every time you think that’s the last one you stand up straight, stretch your back, then spy another big fat juicy blackberry that you can’t possibly ignore and that one finds its way into your tub.  Stand up straight and again same thing - another big fat juicy one is calling out ”don’t leave me"!” 

Eventually we made the break and set off for home at a leisurely pace.

Via the park.

Down the path.

Alongside the stream, through Ealees.

I couldn’t wait to weigh our haul of nature’s bounty.  4lbs! – and every ounce packed with carefree fun and happy memories!

Apple and blackberry crumble never tasted so good!

Time is at it Again!

Flying that is.  Already it’s the 26th of January and before anybody can say Jack Robinson February will be here!  Oh well, nothing to be done about it so we’d better just hold on and enjoy the ride.

1. I snapped a selfie of me wearing my new jumper, a Christmas present from Caroline and Trev.  I really like it!  The jumper that is.
2. George stayed over early in the month and I took him to Hebden Bridge for lunch.  Pretty Christmas lights were still in evidence.
3. George snuggled up to grandad on the couch.  These two pics are in the wrong order this should have been before the last one.
4. John and Lesley came round a couple of Saturday nights ago.  We played Rummikub.  I love that game and happily I won that night.  We always have a good time together and conversation flows over the game along with a glass or two of good cheer.
5. A week last Monday Lesley rang to invite me out for a walk through Ealees with her and John.  The weather was not good but it didn’t matter in the least.   If we waited for the sun to shine we might never set foot outside the door from one blue moon to the next!  Not that rotten weather is going to be a problem for John and Lesley for the next couple of months.  The very next day they jetted off to New Zealand!
6. However there have been a few good weather days.  When Caroline’s shifts allow she often rings to see if I’d like to join her for a walk and sometimes we do catch a glimpse of that blue sky we know is up there somewhere.
7. Charlie stayed overnight last week and here he is reading his school book to grandad.
8. What else but pancakes for breakfast the morning after.  He says my pancakes are awesome!
9. A Sunday morning treat.  A cup of tea with my Kindle in bed.  Love it!

And finally a portrait of Nicholas.  I posted lots in the last post of Nicholas trying not to laugh while I read him jokes from a book.  This is another taken at the same time.   Cute, eh? 

Until next time,

What’s Been Going On?

Well, I know I've been away from the blog for a bit longer than usual but with all the preparations for Christmas and other distractions I just haven’t had the time or inclination to sit down in front of the laptop.  However I’m here  now and so without further ado I will attempt to fill in the last couple of weeks with photos and a few words.

One Sunday a couple of weekends ago William, Caroline, Charlie and I took a trip over to Bents Garden Centre.  Charlie loved the play area – look at his happy little face!  Their Christmas department was overflowing with goodies of all descriptions.  We spent a happy couple of hours browsing and buying too as it happens…

Our dogs got comfy new beds.  Lucky little canines don’t you think?

Caroline and I seem to be finding time on a regular basis for Starbucks Moments.  On a recent visit we were asked to take part in a coffee tasting.  Free coffee and chocolate?  Yes, please!  A very pleasant experience with two very sweet members of staff serving us.

I’ve been to the cinema again, the old fashioned Picture House in Hebden Bridge.  This time with my sweet friend, Lesley, to see Philomena.  Philomena is based on the true story of an Irish woman’s search for the son she was forced to give up for adoption in Ireland in the 1950s.  A heartbreaking story to say the least.  You can read her story by following this link.  After the cinema Lesley and I found our way to a little cafe for a bite to eat.  We had a lovely time didn’t we, Lesley?

One of the major distractions I’ve had, in a good way, has been my mission to finish the Christmas table topper I started.  My first ever patchwork project.  I was going great guns with it and was sure I’d finish it in time for Christmas but this week I discovered I’d bought the wrong thickness/type of wadding for it and, frustrated I’ve given up on it until the festivities are over when I’ll have more time to spend on it. :-(

Of course, Christmas decorations have been distributed about the house.  Here are a couple of my favourite ho ho ho things of the moment.  The boys always come round to help me decorate the house and the tree but those pics are still in the camera.  I’ll post them next time. 

 

George striking a pose in front of the tree for me.  He slept over on Saturday night.  His brother, Nicholas, slept over the night before and Charlie has had a couple of nights here this week.  All good fun and all in a day’s work for this lucky nan.

“Dashing away with the smoothing iron he stole my heart away!”  This little fellow did that 10 years ago.  Saturday afternoon George tried out a new skill.  He’s learning how to do the ironing.  It’s a life skill and boy or girl it’s necessary.

Christmas shopping at the Trafford Centre one day last week was fun with Caroline.  Poor Victoria misses out on a lot of these trips because she works Monday to Friday whereas Caroline gets days off midweek with her job and weekends are family time not dragging the boys round the busy shops time.   The Trafford Centre was buzzing, full of Christmas shoppers but not too hectic that it was unpleasant.  Like I said in the first place it was fun.  That’s Selfridges above.  I loved their honeycomb decorations.  Selfridges always looks good though.

Little Nicky Noo plays for his local football team.  Victoria brought him round after practise one night so that he could show us how professional he looks in his kit.  The football coach has done well for his team and they have sponsorship from both Redrow Homes and McDonalds which means they have a match kit and a training kit.  Lucky lads.

George’s class had a craft morning at school on Wednesday this week and he asked both his mum and I to go in and support him.  Cross stitching a bookmark was the object of the exercise.  George was making his for grandad.  George is a Man City fan and granddad a lifelong Man Utd fan.  The bookmark says MAN C.  The kid has got a sense of humour!

An afternoon a couple of weeks ago was spent with my sweet friend, Vanessa, in the pub overlooking the lake.  oh, drinking only coffee I might add.  The company was great and the scenery was glorious!

And finally, the donkeys.  They continue to delight me every time I walk past their field.  Adorable creatures!

I’ll be back before too long with pics from a recent weekend in Wales.