♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (42/52) ♥

Oh boy what a week.  I feel shattered.  I have been feeling as if I have a cold coming on over this last week and I've had a sore throat, headaches, achy neck and shoulders.

Apart from going in to the office a couple of days I have tried to stay cosy in the house all week.  I have been keeping myself busy with some craft projects though.

It only took a couple of evenings to make myself this hot water bottle cover and I am so pleased with it that I may attempt to make a couple of colourful covers for Christmas presents.  I have threatened my family that they will all receive a crocheted item for Christmas!

I also had a go at making Christmas cards - they are so home-made looking that I may not actually send them!  The thing is I love cards and I'm sure to see some that I just have to send instead.

On Friday I had to go out to attend a course.  *Big Confession *  I had to attend a speed awareness course after being caught speeding.  Naughty me!  I have no excuses for doing 34 in a 30 zone but I would just like to say that I was on a straight open road approaching the village and hadn't reached the houses where I would of course have slowed right down.  I am such a cautious driver and have driven for 30 years without any offences so I was quite upset.  My son, who hasn't passed is test but is currently taking driving lessons said there are no excuses and said "it's 30 for a reason", which is true of course.  Slapped wrist for me.

It just so happens that the hotel where I attended the course was right next door to Hobby Craft so I met my sister and we enjoyed some retail therapy.  Today, she came round with her felt and we made the Needle-felt Robin from Kirstie Allsopps Craft book.  I am really, really pleased with my little Robin.

On my drive too and from work I pass a lady's house that has a little stall at the roadside with plants, cut flowers, jams and chutneys for sale.  Last week I pulled over for the first time to take a look.  It was the bright orange lanterns (Physalis) that caught my eye.  A bargain I think at £2.50 so I popped the coins into her honesty box and came home to play with them.  I say play because I spent quite some time deciding what to do with them.  I tried hanging them along the beam in my dining room, then I tried arranging them in 3 different shaped vases until I finally found one to keep them upright.  They have been in my kitchen/dining room for over a week and I have enjoyed the bright cheery colour.  Today I decided to have another play with them and arranged the lanterns around a hoop and made this wreath for my front door.  

autumn walk

Alf and I had a slippy walk along the canal today.  It was so muddy it was like skiing, with every step forward I slipped a bit backwards - it was quite a hard slog (but probably a good workout?) and I was relieved to get back onto terra firma.

view from canal towards our village

view over canal towards sheep!

It was only when I got back onto the road that I was able to look up and enjoy the beautiful scenery.  It was a gorgeous sunny day which made the autumn colours shine.

remember, remember

the 5th of November...

Back into work and school today after our half term break.  We all got up early and were surprisingly wide awake and quite cheery - I think the clocks going back last weekend helped as it was quite light at 7am.

It has been a great autumny day.  A frosty start (the car needed scraping - urgh) but then the most glorious sunshine for the rest of the day.  The colours of the trees are really impressive when they are lit up by the sun.

MrG and I went out for lunch.  MrG worked all weekend so we really felt we needed a treat - it certainly beat the usual homemade sandwiches!   We went to The Plough at Lupton and had a really tasty lunch - a tapas of bruschetta with tomato and red onion, steak ciabatta, chargrilled chicken with pineapple dipping sauce, courgette fritters and hand-cut chips. Delicious.  It was our first time at The Plough and I'm already looking forward to a return visit!

autumns arrived

A trip to the Lake District is a must at this time of the year.  The colours of the autumn are stunning.

MissG and I went up to Windermere today.  No photo's of Windermere I'm afraid as it wasn't the best of days - grey and wet!  We went to visit Scarlett Ribbon, a lovely shop selling clothes, jewellery, gifts and vintage finds and it just happens to be our local stockist of Annie Sloan paint.

I had reservations about the Aubusson Blue paint I bought and couldn't bring myself to paint my kitchen dresser such a dark colour.  I phoned the shop and explained my dilemma and the lady I spoke to was so helpful, giving me tips on my colour choices, how to mix and apply the paint and she really gave me the encouragement I needed to crack on and get my dresser done (I'd love to get it done before Christmas).   

Anyway, I went in to check their paint charts as they have real colour samples painted on boards showing the results of each colour when mixed with various measures of white.  After much deliberation about mixing white with my Aubusson Blue to get a lighter shade, I decided that as it's my first time using the Annie Sloan paint and wax I would prefer not to mix my own and just go for the ready mixed Duck Egg Blue.  The lovely lady said I could do a swap - no quibble and no extra cost so I was very happy.  It's so pleasing to get such a good service, they really couldn't have been any more helpful.  

I'm now ready to go so watch this space - see how long it takes me to get the 'after' shots up on my blog!