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Hi, My name is Kate and this blog is all about my adventures of happy living. By that I mean crochet, chickens and cooking. Here's to the good life - and being a good wife! xxx

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Wales ( a day by day photographic journal)

Well here are my holiday photos. I don't want to make this post too wordy. One reason being I could write and write and write all about every single detail. The second reason being I doubt that it is really that interesting to somebody else. The final reason being a picture paints a thousand words and that I shall simply let the images speak for themselves.
 
Before I let the pictures do the talking though I'd like to point out that we were extremely lucky with the weather. I came back with a lovely golden tan and we could have been abroad. It's not often we are so lucky in the UK, but when the sun shines there is no place better. Lush green plants, chocolate box towns to explore, fantastic coast lines and deep blue seas to gaze upon.
 
*             *              *
 
DAY 1 - Our first day of holiday and first year wedding anniversary.
 
We celebrated with a trip to New Quay, some reading and crochet on the beach (please note my new blanket was made use of!) and a curry in the Indian. In fact a little spooky thing happened .... the waiter recognised us from our local Indian haunt and he did both my hen do and Craig's Stag do .... 140 miles away! What are the chances!
 
I also saved a piece of our wedding cake from last year to eat on this special day. This gesture had sentimental value I suppose. We also opened some cards and enjoyed a game of scrabble!
 




 

 
 
Day 2 - Cors Caron Bog Walk
 
The only morning when it drizzled. But it wasn't too bad as it gave us time to catch our breath and do some serious relaxing in preparation for some serious holiday-ing!
 
The sun broke through around lunch time and we took a drive to Cors Caron aka Tregaron Bog. It is a raised, dome shaped bog cover a huge area. We were treated with a host of wildlife from a spectacular display of a mother Buzzard training its young to hunt. A multitude of lizards (some quite big) and dragonflies which landed on me!
 









  


 
 
Day 3 - Coastal Walk from New Quay to Aberaeron.
 
A good up and down 7 mile coastal walk with spectacular views of Cardigan Bay, snippets of woodland walks and lovely Austrian-like meadows. Wildlife, cows and horses. A good packed lunch and a constant view of New Quay when I looked over my shoulder ... it was great watching it get further and further away into the distance.
 
And the carrot that led the donkey ? ....... fish and chips by the sea at the destination .... phew .... that made the challenging climbing worth it!
 
Aberaeron is the most delicious seaside town in the world. Rows upon rows of painted Georgian houses and shops that would make us all spin into a frenzy! I picked up some Ladybird books in the second hand book shop and some pretty fabric and wool in a Craft shop! And one last spooky thing .... we bumped into a friend.
 
 
 


















 
Day 4 - Penbryn Beach
 
 After the coastal walk we were pretty flat out and as it was forcast the nicest day weather wise we thought a beach day would be perfect. So we packed a picnic, books, wool and various other items and went to a National Trust beach which was used as a filming location for Die Another Day.
 
It was beautiful!!!!! Enough said!










Day 5 - Teifi Marshes - Cardigan - Iron Age Round Houses - Romantic Meal!
 
A jam packed day! An early morning get up for a nice 2 mile brisk walk around the Teifi Marshes where we sat in hides looking at birds. We saw a heron and also a pigeon which looked surprisingly majestic!
 
After the walk we went to Cardigan and did a spot of window shopping and then went to a lovely spot and discovered some Iron Age Round Houses. We were not planning to go, but we ended up staying for the two hour guided tour and learnt a lot about that period in history. We live really close to an iron age fort so found it super interesting. I particularly enjoyed the bit about the herb garden and weaving looms (no surprise there!).
 
The day was rounded up with a fantastic Italian romantic meal. You couldn't end the holiday on a more perfect note!
 





















Day 6 - Strata Florida Abbey - Teifi Pools - Home
 
The first part of the day commenced with cleaning the caravan. We then took a few stops on the way home. One being an ancient abbey and the next being the Teifi Pools.
 
Teifi pools are situated in the wildest part of Wales and it is refereed to as the Desert of Wales. I have never been in a more remote place. I felt so far from any where it was almost frightening, yet very liberating.
 
 We enjoyed a packed lunch and things got a little bit silly .... probably because nobody was there for miles and we were trying to cover a slight uneasy feel (especially when two people on motor bikes went past and I say "what if they kill us"). But it was fabulous all the same.
 














 
 












 
Just one final thing .... this amazing sunset ..... wow!
 




 
 
 Thanks for sharing my holiday xxxxxx Kate xxxxxx

Sunday, 9 September 2012

Snood



So tomorrow is my sister in laws birthday and I wanted to make her something special.

She has just started a new job in a new school as a primary teacher and I wanted to make her something to keep her warm while she is on play ground duties.

A scarf was too obvious. So a snood it was!

First things first though .... a trip to a yarn shop to choose a warm but funky kind of wool.


Aero .... has anyone seen it before. It is delightful. Uber Funky. It reminds me of a surf shop kind of yarn. Chunky, practical, vibrant and cool. 20% wool to 80% acrylic.


As for the snood here's how you do it .....

Get chunky wool and a 9mm hook.

In UK terms ; ch 10 and then do as many rows as you need in trebles. I chose trebles so there was a bit of give in the snood. Then join with a row of double stitches.

Here is the finished product ......


Practical beyond belief. You can have it pulled up right to you nose and ears with it still tucked in your coat.

It is so easy!!! Defiantly something to do for an outdoors person. Perfect for a man as well ( we all know they are hard to make for).

I'll let you know if she likes it!

Birthday Tea Party

Last Sunday (2nd Sept) was my birthday. It was a lovely affair and I was simply spoilt rotten.

My dad brought me some beautiful china when he retired and I completed the set the other week so I was all ready to do what I do best. An afternoon tea!



The house was decorated with streamers and balloons



and home made bunting from our wedding was strung from trees and fences in our garden.


The 2nd is my birthday and the 3rd in our anniversary so I will always try and get out the bunting to mark this special couple of days!


 Remember my crocheted birthday bunting!?


I photocopied a Ladybird Party book cover and cut out lots of copies. I then placed them over the table to frame the hydrangeas, budlia and lavender displays in crystal bowls and vintage jugs.

 

 Each plate, bowl, cake stand and serving dish was then filled with all kinds of finger food and home baked cakes (mmmmm therapy!).


Chocolate cup cakes with vanilla pod butter cream piping ......


lemon drizzle cake .......



Victoria sandwich with raspberry jam and butter cream filling.


Home made and home reared egg mayonnaise sandwiches.


 
 The party was great. We played pass the parcel, drank Champagne and laughed for hours.

I was also very spoilt with an abundance of lovely things.



My lovely Craig brought me a all singing and all dancing blender, juices, mixer. This will make baking and cooking a dream!

He also brought me a sewing machine! I know I've been going on about this for ages! But the day finally came. This created a very fabric themed birthday! I can't wait to get started!


He also treated me to a gorgeous dragonfly necklace with emeralds in it.


My lovely mum and dad brought me an egg holder.


and some lovely fabrics for Christmas projects.

 
 
 
Aren't the fabrics amazing!
 
My Granny brought me a lovely cherry jug. I was ever so pleased with it because its larger than a cream or milk jugs and will hold some lovely flowers in the future. I also imagine it will hold a lovely serving of home made lemonade.
 
                             
 
I also got some lovely treats of my knitting class ....
 
 
Work friend ....
 
 
Best Friend .....
 



Sister ....










I also got a couple of books that will come in handy!
 



My parents in law spoilt me rotten with a lovely sewing box, lots of vintage trinkets and



It was the best birthday ever. It made me realise how lucky I was to have such a loving family around me!

Today is our first day back after Wales. The sun was out all week for us and I have so much to tell you. But that will have to wait.

Today has also been a very sad day.

Jill the hen (my favourite) escaped and someone saw some people snatch her and take her in a car. The police are investigating it now though. And the petrol station Jill was taken one has CCTV.


Our black hen, Sarah is also not well. I'm looking after her with humus and cider vinegar!



The day has been spent keeping very busy though.

I have sorted through this .....

and got it down to this ......



Ahhhhh the satisfaction of sorting!