it's Friday night and i'm loving....

that although it's ages since I did a Friday night loving post...it's a great way to remember that there's so much I have to love and to be grateful for in my life...

that it's been a strange week as a dear aunt, my Mum's sister, died last week and we all met for her funeral on Monday...this involved a trip to my brother's near Penrith and he drove us over to the north east..to Whitley Bay and to a coast full of memory...then to Morpeth for a lovely service ...and a lunch with all her friends and relatives...a room full of love! It was so funny being with all my cousins again...and realising how time has past since we last all met..and how grown up all their children are...some old enough to have their own. Suddenly, obviously... we are not the 'young ones' any more!

that my aunt was a delight to know...she was such a creative person always baking and making...her full to the brim sewing room and delicious smells from her Aga were testimony...and she always gave us interesting and useful presents(!)...and was a demon at quizes and games...she was always up for some fun... 

that I have so many happy childhood memories...of big family parties, of fun and games...of those family members 'gone before' but still loved and a part of us all...and now we are all scattered around the globe...but still the thread which joins us is strong and to be treasured

that my brother and I shared some precious time as we drove and found a new and better relationship and understanding

that I had a big loving family with my parents,sister and 2 brothers,  many cousins and aunts and uncles...and now my own precious family...and many dear friends...so many people to love and be loved by and with whom to share this life and journey...

that although this isn't my usual kind of post...I hope you will  understand that sometimes a blog offers the opportunity for a deeper kind of communication and sharing...as we all share the same things in life really, just at different levels and in different circumstances

that this post is for my Aunty June and my Mum Aileen...with love and thanks for your inspiration and showing me a way to be creative and to love baking and cooking and making and sewing... and the importance of family...

love

such a small word for such a big thing!

girlie getaway...

it may seem that I haven't been at home much of late ...with journeys here and shopping trips there but believe me I have and the tottering piles have been getting on top of me despite my best efforts... so the bliss of driving away with a packed bag...and boarding a train to York...was wonderful! Even better was that I was meeting up with my dearest school friends (sadly one down as Liz couldn't make it) but Jan, Chris Julia and moi gathered in a nice clean quiet Band B for some R and R and putting the world to rights and catching up on our lives. Hard to believe it is almost a year since we last met...and this time it's "Four of Our Housewives Are Missing!"

I love train travel...it's so simple to get on a train and sit and read and look out of the window with no responsibility other than to get on and get off...perhaps I could start a therapy called "train relaxation" and arrange the tickets for people to do just this and then come home again, you don't even need to stay away a night!

I love the quirky stations with their legacy of the amazing Victorian engineering now overlaid with all mod cons and electronics and wifi...and I love the smooth new trains and all the people I can watch as I travel...

I was in the purple zone at Penrith...not sure if that's just my state of mind...

the B and B was quiet and clean and restful...no 'stuff'... and it was easy to walk into the centre of York...I love the mix of ancient wonky walls and modern commerce..so many lovely independent shops and inspiring galleries...and of course Tea Establishments...

 

 

 

 

 

 

the beautiful and truly awe inspiring York Minster...

parts of the Minster are being repaired and it's amazing to see the simple blocks of stone being turned into intricate carvings...

 

just loved this sign..wonder who lives there?

and when you get to this point it's time to head back for a cuppa tea and a lie down before you head out for lovely evening meal...no cooking, no washing up and no 'what's for tea'...just sheer enjoyment and lots of fun as we celebrate friendship and simple joyfulness!

hope you had a great weekend too...back to making soon!xx

celebrate...

60 years...not many folk have a job that last so long! well done Ma'am...tea and cakes...parties and pomp and people...dare I say the word bunting...celebrate today and each day...whatever and however you like...each day is a new day...create another 60 years...of fabric and making and fun...with lots of love in all that you do...

making at the studio workshops...

here we go again...making lovely things.. trying something new...exploring our creativity...meeting new people...in a beautiful relaxing place...having fun...eating homemade cake too...mmm what's not to like? 

click Making at the Studio for more info or leave a comment...

I just love it so maybe you will too...printmaking, making a handmade book, sewing, free machine embroidery, crochet, applique....

cakes...crafts and scarecrows...

and still more cakes...well done the cake bakers and craft makers and all the other events at the Dean Arts and Scarecrow Festival...so great to see lots of families and young and old out and about on bikes and on foot and in cars taking part and supporting a local community event!

oh and my stall at the craft fair..looked very happy!

some of my favourite scarecrows...and there were soo many more amazing clever and funny exhibits...it's amazing what people hatch over the long winter months in the pub...and then put such a lot of effort into their creations...

I think this one should win the star prize...I mean...a horse that looked so like a horse you really thought it was coming over the wall into the road!

slight bias with this one...as our Guides made them!! fantastic!

 and our Leader..Lyn..very lifelike! bit worried she's on the drink again...told her to stick to orange juice...

perhaps HM should have the last word...as it's her Jubilee maybe she should win?!

halfterm and halloween happenings....

it's been quite a week, travelling here and there, seeing family and sharing meals and talking and laughing and catching up...

making memories to keep us warm in the long winter nights...

by the sea 

feet in the sand 

in October

spiky grass

rough waves

skein of geese

black green seaweed

sea washed smoothness of shells

apple harvest

warm kitchen

 apple press

slow drip of juice

delicious sweetness

bottles the taste of summer

the rose outside the kitchen window

Mum's favourite

blooms still

put my nose to soft petals

and breathe in

sweet scent

remember

wake to heavenly

red skies in the morning

rain swiftly follows

torrential water downpouring

washing rivers in the lane

 halloween

pumpkins grown

huge and round on

donkey muck

thanks donkeys!

friends fill the kitchen tonight

carving scary faces in pumpkin flesh

 cakes, friendship and fun

celebration! 

and tomorrow 

time is mine

studio beckons

making again

fabrics and threads

freedom and creation

bliss!