Pancakes, Maple syrup and knitting patterns

Today I went to Truro,something I seldom do, but a nice change from our rural indulgence.

Truro is a pretty City,with plenty of small interesting shops as well as all the High Street staples we all come to expect these days, but without loosing too much of its character.

After a light tea came all the fun of pancake day, two pans going at once, one with GF pancakes and one with traditional pancakes, served with soft brown sugar, maple syrup and lemon juice ......very happy.

This evening  I have been looking for my next knitting project, its still chilly here so am considering a nice lacy neck warmer in feather and fan stitch. I also have 3 friends expecting babies in the next few months ,so a few more baby items required to make up their 'new arrival' gifts, I love these baby slippers.

Feather &Fan stitch.

Neck warmer

Baby slippers

Charlestown and finished cardi's

Today has mainly been about homework,  preparing for tomorrow.

Small canon at the teashop.

All work and no play is not the lifestyle I have chosen, life is too short and not  how I propose to spend my time here in Cornwall.

So once all the I's had been dotted and the T's crossed we decided to take a turn around Charlestown. It was cool and dry, the tide was the furthest out we had ever seen it.

 I did feel a little sorry for a bride & groom and their guests having their wedding photos taken on the quayside, they were freezing in their satin dresses and dress suits.A beautiful backdrop with the tall ships.

We were not the only couple out for a stroll, two white doves were patrolling the sea wall.

White doves.

Today's new shoot , yes just the one.....was the first Hibiscus.

Charlestown.

The ballet cardigan is now pressed and stitched together, I like its versatility, don't be concerned I will not be appearing in a leotard and tutu any time soon, those days have long passed.

Completed cardigan.

Picot edging.

Wool supervisor

Sea glass and picot edging.........

Don't you just love Sunday? especially in the winter,when you know that what ever the weather...warm full bellies will follow Sunday lunch, I love roasties.

Porthluney

Sea glass

The weather is still on the bleak side, but the tide was in our favour, so after prepping lunch we took the dogs down to the beach so they could run off their excess energy.I however stroll, I have become a beach scavenger, I arrived armed with warm clothes against the wind, several cameras and a collection bag. The objects of my desire are sea washed glass,any shells with a pearlescent finish and off course driftwood.Projects will follow using all these goodies,but for now I am getting collections together,  as the summer approaches there will be less raw materials for me to collect.

Verbena

Cola scented geranium.

The greenhouse did hold two new smile factors,a second Sweet pea and my first cream Nasturtium.I was also pleased to see all the new green shoots appearing on the Pelargonium and Verbena.

My reconditioned deck chairs.

You can never have enough Daisies xxx

While looking to do 'indoor' garden jobs it was nice to dust down  my old reconditioned deckchairs, I made new seats for them and decorated the backs with contrast pennants,I have also unpacked all my garden lamps, tea lights and stands, which will good for summer tea parties.

The house this afternoon was taken over by sport, first England in the rugby and then followed by the African Nations football final, which left me free to get on with some more knitting, all pieces now complete, the picot edging finished. Now just the pressing and all the sewing up left to do,so hope the ballet cardigan will be completed tomorrow.

Ballet cardigans and shooting shoots........

Cupani Sweetpea.

During the past week we have had all weather from snow, hail, sleet, rain, sunshine and blue skies.The over riding common denominator has been the bitter cold winds, not the weather for happy gardening.
Last month I planted up my first trays of seeds in my greenhouse, and now each morning so as not to scare them, I tip toe out to the green house to see if any have dared to break through and shoot...... this morning my impatience was rewarded, one Sapphire blue Cornflower and one Cupani Sweet pea.
I am not anticipating huge numbers of seedlings, many of the seeds being used this year are up to ten years old, so each shoot will be a little miracle in its own right.
I have been hoarding seeds for many years, waiting to have somewhere to sew them, then at Christmas these seed were added to by my friend Leslie who  passed on a carrier bag of seeds that her mum didn't have time/room/energy to plant herself, so I now have many old seeds to play with.

Bio Dome, Eden Project.

Tea shop.

Hubby and I decided to go and visit the Eden Project , we have never been before , but thought we would take advantage of our geographic proximity and see what they had going on. Even in the Tropical dome it was not bikini weather, but we did have an enjoyable time, loved the Owls and Hawks who were also visiting and had a lovely cuppa in their teashop. We look forward to going again very soon.




Ballet Cardigan back,knitted in 'Bizarre'.

There is nothing like a bit of evening knitting for keeping the hands warm , I decided to get started on something cheerful for the summer. I am knitting myself a ballet cardigan, they are so versatile, I have opted for a tweed wool in shades of pink and red called 'Bizarre'.......quite apt I think.

Catching up and moving on.......

Archie.

Archie cutting some shapes on the beach.

The children surfing.

My birthday tree seat.

My new garden work bench!.

One of the eleven fruit trees I planted last Autumn in the backgarden.

Daisy Project.

Daphine and the frog prince.

 We now live alot closer to the 'Daisy project' and look froward to spending alot more time there this year.
Daphine and the frog prince, Daphine enjoys reading to the Prince in the afternoon sun. A beautiful gift for our new garden from dear work colleagues.




I can not believe a year has passed since my last blog, so much has happened in the last twelve months, our lives have been completely transformed, for the better.
The children are also enjoying our move to the Cornish coast, Archie is now walking and eating sands and our dogs are loving their beach walks.
I look forward to sharing all the new projects I now have on the go, till then keep smiling........

Tea and time wait for no woman............

I guess one of the few things we can rely upon, is that the kettle will eventually boil and tea will be made.Several months ago now a good friend introduced me to 'green tea' from the chinese supermarket, it took several cups to convince me that was the way to go, but have since become an addict, it certainly seems to aid a clearer head and gentler on the tummy.

At the end of the year I took up a new post at a College in Devon, I am slowly settling in....as we get older change seems to take longer to adjust to or maybe I am just becoming slower, the staff are lovely and during the week I lodge near by.

My room has already become a supersized bookshelf/sewing basket, I have found the local 'button' shop, a fabric and trimmings establishment and of course numerous charity shops with plenty of books for me to peruse for ideas,reading material and of course fun.

legs and knicker legs!



long tall Sally.



I have decided to start on my christmas knitting whilst the evenings are still dark and chilly, and have chosen to start with some long tall Sally's for the girls, the first one is well on her way to completion, she will of course require some features, hair ,clothes and stuffing.

waiting for features.

Perry

Perry and Oscar.

Back at home life has been moving on a pace too, the decorating is now up to date, the garden is being prepared for spring and we have a new resident. His name is Perry and he is a young Westie/ Cairn terrier cross, he has settled in very quickly and even grumpy old Oscar does not seem to mind him.

the family shark!

Archie is sitting up unassisted and rocking in the 'I'm about to crawl at any moment' position, he also has five teeth now, my daughter reliably informs me that he nearly bit a junk out of her leg, but the limb has been salvaged, I think maybe as mum is so far away...she may have embroidered the truth,..........her mothers daughter...sewing !