Bit and Bobs!

I was taking pictures for Arran's blog on Transformer figures and the cat was feeling particularly lethargic. She goes quite ginger in the summer. I know this partly because of the hairs she is leaving everywhere at the moment. I could not resist these shots of her.

Life is one big adventure!

We also have two new additions to our household. One is a six month old Syrian hamster called Turbo. He is so cute

I'm sure I saw a cat somewhere?

The other is a casualty. It was brought round to the garden by the cat. The poor little thing was paralysed for a while but it has now been left with a wonky foot. It is a little bank vole. Not sure what sex it is but it has settled in well . I collect it wild berries and grasses every morning. It is getting quite tame now. It could never be released as it would be picked off by the numerous foxes or owls around here.

We have called it Banksie. It made sense at the time!

I have also been doing some art in the evenings. I have just finished this picture of a pig. Lovely animals. I thought I might put it up in my kitchen. I saw one of these recently and it looked so contented.

Last bit of news. We have had a letter through from the doctor. She will do the  assessment for Aspergers so we are really pleased to get the ball rolling. We thought it would take a lot longer but I think this might be an initial talk so that he can be put on another waiting list. Joy! I filled Arran in on what it was all about and he seems OK with it at the moment. It depends how he is on the day of the meeting.

Happy Birthday Hollie

Can't believe that Hollie is now Seventeen. She did not want a big fuss so we are going to have a family meal tonight where she has requested my homemade Chicken Pie. Nice and easy! She is going out with friends later on. We really don't want to cramp her style!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY................

How to feel old. Stand by your grown up daughter!

She is rehearsing for her play at the Theatre at the moment so no lie in for the birthday girl. They are doing "Cider With Rosie" She seems to be enjoying the rehearsals. This is her last year with the youth group as she feels that she can't commit as much time as well as drum.

New crafts

Just finished these for ETSY 'Jackpots'

Fish bone Earrings with hand painted gift tag

Fish Bobbins. Trout and Salmon with the matching fly on wooden bead

I also decided to give some of my paintings a go. I love painting the local wildlife. I will see how they go.

Running Hare

Boxing Hares.

We see lots of Hares past our house in the fields. They are so comical with their huge ears and big feet. I love to watch them box in Springtime. When the crop grows all you can see is their ears sticking up.

London, Here we come!

Every year we meet up with friends who come over from Israel to visit family. After lots of diary crunching we finally managed to find a date and we decided to meet up at Camden  station. I have not been there for years.Well,  since my twenties which now a days does seem years ago. Good Times, Carefree times. Shame Ian could not make it but work beconed

After standing the whole way on the train I managed to negotiate the tubes and get us to to Camden Lock early. Hollie was champing at the bit to spend her money so we had a bit of a wander. She immediately spotted a genuine bullet belt made from empty machine gun cartridges. A mental note was made where the stall was.

After meeting and greeting our friends. We disappeared into the maze of the Camden Lock market. It is bigger and better than I remember. It caters for all tastes. Hollie went off on her own as she did not want to be dragged down by younger kids and Mums. My friend Anna and I have similar tastes and were soon emerced in the ethnic clothes stalls. I came away with a beautiful table runner and cushion covers. I was happy. I also managed to get Hollie a genuine leather biker jacket and got quite a bit of money off. I thank the times that we spent backpacking and haggling was a way of life. I think the stall holders enjoy it. The street food is amazing, so much to choose from. We went for Chinese in the end.

After a good look round and laden with shopping we took a bus to Hamsted Heath for a sit down and chat. Hollie certainly needed it as she was lop sided with the weight of the belt.

cushion covers

Table runner on the coffee table

Hollie's spends. She did buy a bit more but love these trousers.Zips everywhere and braces. The famous bullet belt.

Will we go again? Yes, definitely. I do sometimes miss the buzz of London from when we lived there but it is nice to get back to the countryside. It is so quiet.

Do you think that she missed us? I don't think so! Same position as we left her in the morning.She only moved when I mentioned food. She is a big purr bag!

A Day Out

Summer holidays are flying by. I am frantically trying to fit everyone and everything in. I am busy trying to think up some more designs for my lace bobbins on Etsy. I have had a few sales now so that is encouraging. I feel so relaxed when I paint whether on canvas or wood. I enjoyed painting the earrings so decided to paint a Russian doll bobbin. It has sold already and is winging its way to America along with another set the lady bought.

We decided to have a family day out with friends and went to the Lowestoft air show. It is somewhere I have never been before as we generally go to the local Clacton one. The weather was kind to us so we all sat on the beach and wriggled our toes in  the sand. Ian , the keen photographer was off taking some pictures.

Bi Planes over the pier

Battle of Britain flight arriving

Hawker Hunter

 Red Arrows in concord formation

Mustang

Catalina

It was a great day and was finished off with Fish and Chips. Arran really enjoyed it. He got very animated when some of the planes flew over. I was so glad Ian managed to come and have a rare day off. It was nice to have a chat with a friend and not worry about dashing round. I think I talked her to death as I am rather a chatter box.