Well, hello again

Well hello again, little blog!  It's been far too long, I don't think it's ever been quite this long.

So what's been keeping me away?  Oh, this and that.  Life continues a-pace, Lucas is growing up far too quickly--he'll soon be taller than me.  I have been reading loads, dabbling in learning Italian with Duolingo, and crafting little bits here and there.  I've recently re-discovered the joy of cooking (although not the joy of washing up) and have been enjoying digging up old recipes and introducing them to Lucas!

I have given up trying to grow anything other than a child--I managed to kill a bowl of succulents this year--and as a result my little apple tree in the garden seems to be thriving on being totally ignored.  (I fear that if I attempt any mulching, pruning, spraying or any act of gardening kindness that it will die on me.  I've got form after all.)

I'm not going to promise any sort of posting schedule, but I'm around, still dipping in and out of everyone's blogs--I never stopped reading!--and occasionally posting about lovely Bristol things, food, books, and crafts.

So...how is everyone?!

P.S. I switched back to Blogger, after a sojourn on self-hosted Wordpress, and totally forgot to download a copy.  So... there's about a year missing from the archives.  Ooops!

Month In Pictures: July

Here we are again, the end of another month.  It's hard to believe that we've had almost two weeks of the summer holidays already! (I've even managed a whole day Without Getting Cross.  Parents, you know how big a deal that is during the endless holidays!)

So July was pretty cool...

Top: The month kicked off with Bristol Pride. I've never seen the parade before, so we watched it from Dave's office window which gave us a great view. Where on earth do people get these huge flags?! 

Two willow whales have taken up residence in Millennium Square for the summer, The ocean they're swimming in is made of plastic bottles and bubblewrap, collected after the Bristol 10k.  It's a beautiful piece of art, with a big message behind it.

July also saw me baking my first (and last) wedding cake.  I was honoured to do it, and so thrilled that the happy couple loved it, but I was a nervous wreck by the end of it.  I'll stick to making fun cakes for the family that I can plaster with flowers to hide mistakes!

~

Middle: The Bristol leg of the Shaun in the City trail started this month.  While I find Shaun tremendously irritating--Gromit is just lovely though--I've still really enjoyed hunting down each Shaun with Dave and Lucas.  I'm hoping that we'll get a few more next weekend!

We seem to be spending loads of time at the Harbourside this summer. Last year we were all about Tyntesfield, but this year the marina and the brightly-painted houses have caught our eye.  This pic was taken on the same day as Pride, when there was a small regatta in the floating harbour.  Lush!

My partners in crime being 100% them. They're totally bonkers but in the best way possible.  Love 'em.

~

Bottom: I splashed out on one of my favourite Gromits from the trail two years ago. Shipshape and Bristol Fashion now lives on my Welsh dresser and is often joined by a bunch of peonies.  I love them, even though they don't always open.  I could be doing something wrong, though??

We've spent rather a lot of time at Friska this month.  I might have a slight addiction to their dirty chai, but that's okay as all their food is dead healthy and delicious.  It all balances out, I'm sure!!

Lucas and I went to the aquarium and found Nemo.  He was right there in the tank (along with Dorie and the yellow tang whose name escapes me).  I bet lots of other aquariums have a Nemo tank...

~

In August I'm looking forward to our summer holiday in Cornwall.  We're going to a different farm this year as our usual one was booked solid--although yay for our favourite place doing so well!  I need to unearth my swimming costume as it has a pool.  Farm holidays have certainly changed since the days of the Famous Five!!

There'll be pasties, cider and far too much ice-cream, plus fresh eggs collected by Lucas.  Should be awesome.

Talking of ice-cream, I keep hearing about a gelateria on Baldwin Street. I must go and look for it... I haven't had real gelato since we went to Venice for our first anniversary,

So how was your July?

Taking Stock

My ohana

Tonight feels like a good time to take stock... Lucas is fast asleep upstairs, I'm at one with the sofa, and on the other side of the world in Australia Dave is just waking up. It's been very cool to see pictures of his morning run past the Sydney Opera House, but I'm totally ready for him to come home now!

• Making : a gorgeously textured crochet blanket.  If only it was big enough to cover my toes!
• Cooking: I knocked up a gorgeous Italian style sausage and lentil dish for dinner.  The house will smell of garlic for days but it was totally worth it!
• Drinking: berry iced tea from Friska.  We've been to Friska three times this week, they must think I've given up on cooking!
• Reading: issue one of The Rivers of London comic.  When it was first announced I didn't like the character drawings of PC Peter Grant, but in action (as it were) he looks perfect.
• Wanting: a big, squishy hug.
• Looking: forward to the weekend.
• Playing: Criminal Case. I'm addicted.
• Wasting: time. {See playing.}
• Sewing: nothing...yet. I did buy a gorgeous jellyroll to make a giant floor cushion though.  Lucas seems to prefer lying on the floor to sitting on the sofa,
• Wishing: for more energy. And a housework fairy.
• Enjoying: watching Downton Abbey. It's taken me a very long time to get into it, but I'm now loving it!
• Waiting: for Dave to come home on Sunday.  This might necessitate a cake...
• Wondering: how early Lucas is going to wake me in the morning!  He's better than a cockerel.
• Loving: my little family.
• Hoping: for sunshine tomorrow.
• Marvelling: at the beautiful sets and costumes on Downton Abbey.
• Needing: a good night's sleep.
• Smelling: garlic wafting through the house. We shall be a vampire-free zone for quite a while.  What can I say?  I'm a giver.
• Wearing: PJs and a cardigan for extra warmth.  While I don't miss sweltering evenings, it would be nice not to have to wrap up!
• Noticing: the apples getting bigger by the day on the not-so-little apple tree.
• Thinking: about what book to read next.  I've got The Ocean at the End of the Lane in the virtual pile, along with a stack of Robin Hobb books.
• Bookmarking: Wordpress tutorials.  Finally getting around to the big switch from Blogger to Wordpress!
• Opening: lots and lots of tabs in my browser.  I do like to research thoroughly!
• Giggling: at Lucas's bad jokes.
• Feeling: Lucky and loved.

Le Weekend

The rain is pitter-pattering against the window as I type; it's hard to believe that we had such a glorious weekend, but we totally did!

We spent Saturday pottering around the Harbourside in town, sort-of following the Shaun the Sheep trail and basking in the sunshine.  I'm a bit like Goldilocks when it comes to the sun, it can't be too hot or too cold, it has to be just right.

Bristol was super-busy this weekend, with Pride, Grillstock--it smelled so good--sheep hunters galore, and a regatta.  It was manic, frankly, but the city was so happy and buzzing that no one seemed to care.

We watched the Pride parade from Dave's office window which gave us a great view of all the goings on.  So much colour, music, and happiness.  It was lovely to see Avon & Somerset police out, waving rainbow flags and sporting very natty rainbow epaulettes on their uniforms.  And no Pride parade would be complete without some very sassy drag queens and stilt walkers!  So much sparkle!

Beach Boy, BAA-WULF, Green Poems for a Blue Planet, Life Aquatic 

After the parade left Queen Square, we set off on our sheep hunt.  I highly advise picking up a paper map from the tourist information office, the Aardman shop at The Mall (and I'm sure there are other locations, too) as the Shaun in the City app is a bit flaky when it comes to route planning.  Luckily we had Dave, who seems to be part carrier pigeon and never steers us wrong!

Love this water fountain in Millenium Square!

Air Fleece, Dolly, King Arthur of Lambelot and Excalibaaar, On the Waterfront

Some beauts on this section of our walk.  King Arthur was fantastic!  I wonder if it was the same artist who did Sir Gromit of Bristol?  We're still trying to estimate how many glass drops are covering Dolly!

Catch of the Day, the new figurehead for Bristol Ferries

We were lucky to spot Catch of the Day, the new figurehead for Bristol Ferries replacing their mini-Gromit.  I love his/her mermaid design, complete with seaweed lovingly twined around the ankles. (Do sheep have ankles?)

Jarsberry Ram, Sgt. Shepherd, Lotus, Baaarbersheep

The Pump House sported another berry-licious sheep. This time, raspberry flavoured with Jarsberry Ram.  (I hope they bring out a tea towel for him to go along with my Gromberry one!)  We cooled down inside with a drink--it's lovely and cool inside on a hot day, perks of the proper stone walls, I guess--before crossing the river and weaving our way through teams of rowers to find Sgt. Shepherd.

Further downstream we found Lotus outside Aardman's headquarters which was absolutely gorgeous, with lots of hidden details.  I was especially fond of the tai chi poses on each leg.  Peek through the windows and admire their giant Shaun which almost fills the lobby!

Baarbersheep behind the M Shed had it's own farmyard enclosure, complete with haybales (hayfever sufferers beware) and had some gorgeous hand-lettering done by Gav Strange.

It's not a walk round Bristol without a Banksy! Girl with a Pearl Earring

The Pirate Captain, Shaun Beam, King of the Carnival, Justice Lamb

Here are our last few Shauns of the day.  The Pirate Captain was just awesome.  I loved that film!  I'm really not so sure about Shaun Beam. We originally thought that it was something to do with Shaun Bean, but apparently it's inspired by a sculpture in Chicago known as 'the Bean'.  I'm still not sure if I like it... Justice Lamb was great, though!

And lastly, my favourite photo from the day.  I've actually splashed out and ordered it on canvas for the living room wall, that's how much I love it.  And him, too, obvs.  Can't believe he's nearly nine...

Lucas at the Harbourside

Life lately...

Merry Christmas!

Hello! Long-time no see!

Life has been a mad whirlwind of activity since September and today is the first day in an absolute age when I've felt free to sit down and reacquaint myself with the sofa and do nothing.  (Well, almost. I'm bottling some sloe gin for a Secret Santa but that's hardly work.)

Make yourself a cuppa, pull up a chair and let's catch up a little.

In October I became an auntie again!  My brother and sister-in-law welcomed baby Zander into the world and I made him a gorgeously snuggly quilt (and began my new obsession with quilting.)  Isn't he scrumptious?  Lucas is thrilled to have a boy cousin at last, but I think he'll have to wait for a few years before Zander will want to play Godzilla v Mothra...

The Covent Garden tree was immense!

November saw me popping up to London for a fabulously decadent and boozy weekend with my lovely friend Kate.  We began with cocktails at brunch in Canary Wharf on Saturday and carried on with that winning combination all weekend.  In our defence, the weather was particularly dire so sheltering indoors was an absolute necessity. And if our shelter happened to include a friendly barman, then that was purely by accident!

We did manage to pop to the National Portrait Gallery, wander around Covent Garden, see the (disappointing) lights on Regent Street and best of all, Liberty!  I've always wanted to go there and I was not disappointed even though we could barely move in their Christmas Shop. The Narnia-esque wood panel lift put the biggest smile on my face before we even got upstairs! So many beautiful things, I nearly popped with excitement!  I managed to restrain myself and come away with just an Alice in Wonderland tea towel.  It says, "We're all mad here," which is absolutely spot on for our household!

Everyone needs a Gangsta Octopus tile in their life...

On the WI front, I've been really busy preparing for our first charity choir concert and also making beautiful things for our stall at a local Handmade Market.  I went a little crazy and crocheted thread snowflakes for a Frozen-inspired wreath as well as making sparkly snowflake garlands.

Here's our fab choir singing our favourite song, "Rhythm of Life"!


We'll be at The Royal Albert Hall in a few years, mark my words!

On the home front, we finally got the Christmas tree up last weekend and showered it with lots of gorgeously shiny baubles. The house feels so cosy with the tree lights twinkling away and all our Christmassy treasures out on show.  School finishes on Friday and I'm really looking forward to (bravely) making a gingerbread house with Lucas next week!  I may even light it...

Merry Christmas, everyone!

A Photo Every Hour (almost)

Saturday was my first attempt at Jane's Photo Every Hour challenge.  I think my offering would be better described as "A Photo When I Remember", but hey-ho...we were busy having fun!

8ish - On the M4 zooming towards London.  We surprised Lucas by getting up an hour earlier than we'd told him, then I told him that he wasn't getting to go to athletics today--his face fell--but we were going to London instead--his face was an absolute picture!

9ish - In a traffic jam at Trafalgar square.  A not very good snap of the giant blue cockerel and Nelson's column.

10ish - the Peter Pan book bench beside St Paul's.  I really wanted to go into St Paul's but was appalled by the entry price for the three of us.  We settled for starting our Book Bench hunt instead.

11ish - South of the river now and a pit-stop for coffee at Starbuck's near Shakespeare's Globe.  It took Lucas a while to notice that we'd been assimilated into Dave's collective...

12ish - After walking down the Thames Path, Dave took us into the Hay's Galleria for a quick look around.  It's a gorgeous building and positively festooned with bunting!  I love bunting.

1ish - Leon!! I've wanted to eat at Leon for years.  They've always been heaving whenever I've tried but we stumbled across this one near Southwark Cathedral which was empty and I couldn't pass up eating lunch there!

We all loved the food, so much so that I popped into Foyles later on and bought one of their books!

2ish - We walked over Tower Bridge and slowly walked around the Tower, marvelling at the poppies.  The sheer number is staggering and it brings home just how horrifying World War 1 was.  Lucas really struggled with the idea that something which represented so much death could be so beautiful, especially after he lost count of the poppies...

3ish Walking through the back streets of Westminster we stumbled across New Scotland Yard.  I had no idea that it was a mere stone's throw from Parliament.  I got ridiculously excited by this, but I'll spare you the photo of me grinning like a lunatic in favour of this slightly more iconic one!

4ish - Afternoon tea at the Intercontinental Westminster.  I loved this flower arrangement with artfully arranged succulents in glass teapots.

5 o'clock and all is definitely well - this was the dessert course of our British Summer Holiday afternoon tea.  All beach huts should be made of brownie and chocolate mousse!  I did feel a bit Hansel and Gretel when I neatly prised off the roof of the hut...

6ish -  Look Mum, No Hands!  We stumbled across the Look Mum No Hands! pop-up on the Southbank as we walked back to the hotel.  Lucas couldn't resist posing... I somehow managed to resist their jugs of Pimms.

7ish - We stopped for a SNOG at the bright pink SNOG bus.  (From a distance I'd assumed it was a disco!)

8 o'clock - This was a very welcome sign as it meant we were almost back at the hotel.  It also marks a learning experience for me: bridges can be windy!  I wound up doing a Marilyn all the way across the bridge in my flippy skirt.  Thank god for leggings!

Our day ends rather early by my usual standards...by the time we got back to the hotel we'd managed to clock up just shy of nine miles and I was asleep by about 9:30!

Next time I'll be slightly more organised and actually remember to keep an eye on the time!  Head over to Jane's blog to see who else took part in this month's challenge.

Taking Stock

Sunflowers at The Eden Project

Hello!  I'm back from a lovely week in Cornwall with all of the family.  I've never been on holiday with so many people before, so that was quite the experience.  In a really great way, I hasten to add!

So, it seems like a good time to Take Stock...

MAKING a doily from a vintage crochet pattern.  I can tell you from bitter, bitter experience that this is not something to do apres vino.
COOKING nothing!  Dave did dinner tonight, bless 'im.
DRINKING a glass of Pimms, thoughtfully procured by Dave.  (I've put the doily down for its own safety.)
READING the latest copy of The Simple Things magazine.  The only trouble with saving trees and buying a digital edition is that you can't rip out pages filled with pictures of scary spiders and stuff them in the bin.,,
WANTING to play with my sewing machine tomorrow,
LOOKING at Swiss roll recipes.
PLAYING Unseen Academicals in the car.  More philosophy and Hard Questions than you could shake a stick at.
DECIDING when to go up to London for a couple of days.
WISHING that Shaun in the City was happening this year.  Greedy, I know!
ENJOYING singing along to Metallica songs.
WAITING for this film to start making sense.  Oh well, at least I can sing my heart out...
LIKING Lost Girl.  It's taken me (like so many other things) ages to start watching, but I really like it!
WONDERING what sort of soil we have in our garden.  I fell in love with blue hydrangeas in Cornwall and apparently they like an acidic soil.  I feel a trip to B&Q coming on...
LOVING my little family, as always.
PONDERING how many years it's been since we saw Metallica at Wembley.
CONSIDERING crawling into bed soon.
WATCHING Through The Never. I can't believe it's taken me such a long time to watch Metallica!!
HOPING that the dregs of ex-hurricane Bertha don't cause too much damage
MARVELLING at The Corner Shop art installation in London.
NEEDING to go to the supermarket tomorrow.
SMELLING orange and ginger shower gel.
WEARING my oldest, comfiest clothes to slouch on the sofa.
FOLLOWING the weather forecast. How very British of me.
KNOWING that life is good.
FEELING happy
ADMIRING my beautiful new mug that I bought in Cornwall.
SORTING out a play-date for Lucas with his best friend. I can't wait to tell him tomorrow!

The Summer Tag

I saw this meme over at Dear Ms. Leigh's blog and thought it might be fun, especially as we've had a rather lovely summer so far in the UK...

What's your favourite thing about summer?

I love the light evenings--being able to sit out late in the evening, basking in golden sunshine is awesome.  I was still playing badminton in the garden with Lucas and his cousins at half past eight last night!  I don't sunbathe but I do love soaking up the heat in the occasional sunbeam. I may have more in common with cats than I'd care to admit!

Do you have a favourite summer drink?

Pimms!! Definitely Pimms. It's the epitome of summer drinks, with plenty of cucumber, mint strawberries and orange bobbing around happily in the jug... Mind you, with the scorching temperatures we've had so far this summer, anything with ice is good!

Is there a location you prefer to go in the summer?

I love pottering around old mansion houses and stately homes in the summer. The sunlight seems to bring them alive again.  I'm not much of a beach person...I get cranky about sanda in my sandwiches and ice-cream but I can be persuaded upon occasion...

Favourite make-up look for the summer?

This summer as per usual, I shall be rocking the au natural look.  Mainly because I am too lazy to be bothered with it!

Dresses or skirts?

This week I am rocking the skirts!  I packed for bad weather so my dresses have stayed at home.  I do love the whole dress-leggings-flats look.  It even (kinda) works if I shove on a pair of trainers for very touristy days.

Sandals or ballet pumps?

Can I say both?  I've spent most of the summer running around in sandals but some outfits go better with a pretty pair of ballet pumps!  Bare feet are always in style, too...

Do you prefer to wear your hair up or down for summer?

My hair goes up and down like a yo-yo in the summer. If it turns hot and humid then I'll twist it up in a trice. Otherwise it hangs down my back getting itself into all sorts of trouble.  The merest hint of a breeze causes major tangles!

Deep smokey eyes or bold lips?

Lips, always lips. I love a vivid, vampiric red lipstick.  Or a deep plum.  I'm not a fan of poking around at my eyes, hence I've never mastered eye liner, let alone mascara!

Favourite perfume for summer?

I love perfume, but I am dreadful at remembering to put it on. Usually it gets put away for best and then forgotten about. By the time I next think about it. The poor thing's gone off.  I do like Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea perfume, though. Perfect for summer!

Last but not least, what is your favourite music for summer?

We seem to listen to more 90s and 2000s pop in the car during the summer. My beloved Metallica just feels a bit wrong on a bright sunny day. The Cardigans Lovefool or Blur's Parklife always seem to end up on my playlist.

I suspect I'm late to the party with this meme, so if you haven't done it yet and would like to...tag, you're it!!

July 2014 in pictures

Wow. I can't believe it's August tomorrow.  We go away on holiday in the morning and I feel woefully unprepared.  I should really be packing rather than blogging.  Ah well, that's what the morning is for!!

It's been a busy old month...

♥ it was our eleventh wedding anniversary
♥ so we went strawberry picking.  As you do.
♥ I foraged for elderflowers with a friend and made my very first bottle of elderflower cordial.  It was awesome!
♥ the end of term came and went.  Lucas will be a junior in September!  I feel so very old.
♥ we went to the Foodies Festival at the Harbourside and ate an astonishing amount of freebies!
♥ I bought an ice-cream maker and have been churning all sorts of deliciousness.  I need to learn how to make my own waffle cones next.  They're ridiculously expensive!
♥ I baked a birthday-slash-retirement cake for my lovely Father-in-Law.  You can see Bob the Bass peeking out of the collage above!
♥ the boys spent last Saturday at the Yeovilton Air Day while I chilled out at Jekka's Herb Farm.  Such a lush place.
♥ I shared how I made my summery front door wreath.

I've been pinning loads this month--the gorgeous weather is lovely during the day but it makes it really hard to get to sleep at night!  So I've been pinning away happily until my iPad falls on my nose and lets me know that it is finally time to sleep...


Follow Angela's board Craft Ideas on Pinterest.
August, once the suitcases are all finally packed, looks like being fun, fun, fun!  We're having a huge family holiday, Doctor Who is coming back, the Balloon Fiesta will fill our skies with bright and cheerful balloons.  I'm hoping that we'll get to the kite festival this year as I've never been... We just need the weather to stay sunny, now!

So, how was your July?  Did you do anything awesome?

My (not-so) little apple tree

Just look at all those apples!!  2014 looks like it's going to be an absolutely bumper year for my not-so-little apple tree.

In case you were wondering why the apples on one branch look different to the apples on the branch next to them...this is a family apple tree, with three varieties grafted onto a tree.  Pretty nifty, right?

My not-so-little apple tree has Katy, James Grieve, and Cox, all dessert apples.  I'm going to need to spend some time with an apple identification book (I assume there is such a thing?) to figure out which is which!

My inlaws popped over yesterday and admired all our apples.  They counted over 80 apples on the lower branches alone, with a huge cluster of apples on the upright branches!  I think now would be a good time to start pinning apple recipes on Pinterest, and everyone should probably brace for appletastic Christmas presents!!

Eleven Years

Today is our eleventh wedding anniversary and the day we celebrate Dave putting up with crafting materials everywhere for another year.  He's a keeper!  (And made of 100% awesome.)

Love you, babe!