a winter break with cute pictures

we've just had a little break in Lincolnshire visiting our relatives as we're spending christmas in Cornwall this year 

I love this time of year in the North because it feels properly wintry (it was shockingly cold for us poor Cornwallians!)

so we did a fair bit of walking

and lots of coffee (and a lot more tea and cake!).  I love this photo, my mum and I look so serious, I can't think what we were talking about!

and this is just a coot because I love coots

we also took a trip to Donna Nook, this is a most amazing place.  Between October and December there are about 1400 seals on the beach with a small wooden fence separating us from them.  It is a most incredible sight, we spent ages watching cute pups with huge eyes, males bounding across the beach and even females fighting.  If you live near Cleethorpes it's well worth the trip

the site is protected and there was an abandoned pup that the wardens were preparing to rescue if it's mother didn't return

It's actually a practise bombing range that the RAF use but the seals don't seem to mind the helicopters and planes circling the area.  There was a chinook flying over for most of the time we were there.  The very best thing is watching the males fight.  It takes them such a lot of effort to get near each other that they both have a rest before they start, then a bit of posturing and another rest, in fact I don't think we saw a single male make contact with another, it was just too exhausting!  

So there it is, our little holiday and now back to the warm (?) weather of Cornwall and christmas preparations.

some of my favourite things

While I was navigating my way around the new folksy I got a little panicky that I couldn't find my favourite shops any more... but it's okay!!  They're all there and looking sparkly shiny new on the excitingly modern folksy.  So here are a few of my favourite things.  Click on the pics to be transported




Caroline Rose ArtLorna Bateman Embroiderylittle black heartgracie's garden bazaarfiona TNorthfield Primitives
Clearly I have more favourites but you will have to wait until next week!

Dream land

I have been so caught up in sewing and sewing and sewing and so busy thinking about how hard it is sometimes to juggle the home education and working (and the laundry!) that I forget how useful children can be.

Yesterday they pulled me away from my work table and dragged me out into the sunshine and fresh air.  Once my eyes had adjusted to the light and my lungs had got used to the air I realised something that I had lost touch with recently, how important it is to forget about everything just for a while every day

It was so lovely to just look for pebbles on the beach

take a few photographs

and enjoy the last of the dying autumn sun

after all we are so lucky to live in such a dream land as Cornwall

today was a good day

for the past couple of days I have been busy making brooches and it's been fun!  Today the children were off climbing so I had the house to myself.  I have made brooches before and I may make some more animal ones now that I am hooked. 

some embroideries have been waiting for quite some time to become brooches so I've just choosing nice felt and framing them with blanket stitch

but these little houses have been a joy to embroider and applique, going through my scraps box for tiny roofs and trees has been thoroughly enjoyable, and they too have been framed with blanket stitch.

and while I sewed I listened to Sebastian Faulks's Birdsong on the radio.  Sometimes I feel so lucky (compared to poor J who has to drive to Truro all week to work).

.

and I received a lovely parcel from coramantic.  I just love her drawings and my finger couldn't help but press the 'add to basket' button when I saw this gorgeous 'today was like a heartbeat' aceo.  Yvonne also sent me a lovely christmas card too.

it seems to sum today up as the children are just getting back now and I need to go out and buy brooch backs.

winter sunshine and the sea

Lots of out of season swimming this week for some strange reason.  We celebrated a special 21st by going in as a group last week.  The group thing definitely helps, it was so much easier to get in there in company!

this is all of us at a suitable distance getting in at Gwenvor

and today Annis just couldn't help herself!  despite the fact that it is considerably colder than last week

a lovely mother daughter walk while the sun was shining

and a happy swimmer's face, she doesn't even look cold!

we've even had the gouache paints out today.  This one was for Annis although it needs a frame

and a little aceo that I've listed in my Etsy shop