Friday 30 June 2017

This and That


It's been an ordinary old week here. I've been keeping busy with this and that but I don't appear to have an awful lot to show for it. Summer has made a swift retreat for the time being, which means I am, once again, reaching for my jeans and sweaters.  
                           

Thankfully, unless the weather has been far too wet, we've still managed to get out and about.
The start of the week was lovely and bright, so to make the most of it we went to the beach. I hadn't counted on it being so windy though, which made it feel quite chilly at times. The cold did not stop Lily going for a paddle, however. I'm now finding sand in all sorts of places and seashells in random pockets of various jackets and bags.
I've been out running along the country lanes. A familiar route which I love. With just the cows, sheep, horses and wildlife for company it felt so invigorating. A large Heron took off from the stream as I ran past. Not a bad way to spend a morning, I just wish I had the opportunity to enjoy it more regularly.


I made some very tasty flapjack using my favourite recipe which was well received and is now all gone! I still haven't got back into baking as often as I should. In fact I've become a bit lazy in that department. I do get that way from time to time, then before I know it I'm back at it, struggling to find enough storage tins for all the cakes and biscuits I've made - not that they ever last long in this house.
Midweek, I went out for tapas with my closest friend. It was the quirkiest little restaurant I have ever been to. I would like to say it was authentic but authentic to what? I'm not quite sure. The décor was nothing I have ever previously experienced and included plastic grapes, coloured lights and artificial Christmas tree branches! The food, however, was absolutely delicious and conversation flowed as only it can with such good friends. We don't get to meet up as often as we would like so really appreciate it when we do.


I finished the cushion cover which I was part way through making in my previous post. It was so simple but I really like it. I think it's the colour. I do love a dusky pink. I might even make a couple more.


To round off the week, and the month I suppose, we went for a short walk. The Meadowsweet are now in flower here and line the pathway alongside the stream. The elderberries are starting to grow, any flowers left being past their best and to Lily's delight the raspberries are beginning to ripen.
So that's it. That's been my week. Now it's all written down I guess there has been more going on than I first thought.
J. X


38 comments:

  1. It's a little cooler here but still muggy at times. I love the cushion cover and the pattern. It's crocheted? I really want to learn. 😁

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    1. Thank you. Yes it is all done just in treble crochet. I'm hoping our weather gets warmer again very soon. X

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  2. Sounds like you packed quite a bit into your week. Flapjack looks yummy and I agree with you about that lovely dusky pink colour xx

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  3. It's surprising how busy we've been when we think we've not done a lot. Sounds like a perfect week.
    xx

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    1. I know. It's surprising what we achieve without realising it. X

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  4. It sounds just about perfect.
    Have a good weekend

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    1. A trip to the beach always makes for a good week. X

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  5. Sounds quite a full week now you have written it down - ( think that is often the case. The meadow sweet is out here too and I agree that the scent is absolutely delightful.
    That flapjack looks delicious.

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    1. It's a beautiful scent isn't it? And I love how fluffy it looks. I've since baked some more flapjack and that has almost gone too. X

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  6. You have had a lovely week,the great outdoors and nature is good for the soul.Your dusky pink cushion cover works very well with the colour of your sofa, I spy you have the same oak sideboard as me.xxx

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    1. Definitely that Marlene. Without sounding silly I do find that I need to 'connect' with nature. As you say, it's good for the soul. X

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  7. the weather is strange at the moment. It still feels warm, but today the sky is thick with cloud, the wind is howling, it looks like the middle of winter!

    I've been off my baking game this year completely. I gave it a whirl last week, but it wasn't a huge success, just "ok". I'll leave it until later in the year before I start baking again, which is why I have bought a lemon drizzle cake for us to have tomorrow.

    Your cushion looks beautiful. That shade of pink is so pretty.
    Have a lovely weekend, and happy July! x

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    1. I don't know what's going on with our weather this week but it's been pouring all day today and cold. I do hope we haven't seen the last of Summer here.
      I love lemon drizzle cake. I used to always choose chocolate but lemon cake is now my favourite. I occasionally make a sticky lemon cake but Lily doesn't like it as it is a little bit too lemony for her. X

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  8. It's been like winter here this week but I'm hoping for a better weekend. Your week sounds quite eventful to me. It's so good to catch up with friends too, the restaurant sounds very interesting.

    Your cushion cover is lovely, I do like the colour and your crochet work is so neat. I don't do any baking these days, would love to have tried a piece of your flapjack :) Have a good weekend.

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    1. It was so good to catch up with my friend, Eileen. She's definitely one of the good ones. And yes, 'interesting' sums up the restaurant perfectly. X

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  9. Sounds like a great week, its always amazing how much you do in a week when you sit down and reflect. Love the cushion, such a beautiful colour.

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    1. Thank you. Looking back it was a very good week. X

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  10. I don't know where summer's gone, I do hope it's back again soon. I'm just the same where baking's concerned, I have a run where I bake often and then I go for periods when I don't make a thing. Your flapjack looks delicious though, no surprise that there's none left. I think knitting or crocheting plain colours can be a bit boring sometimes but they're often the most effective items when finished. Your cushion is lovely, such a pretty colour.

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    1. Thank you Jo. I just wanted to crochet something to keep my fingers busy, but not have to concentrate. X

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  11. Flapjack looks yummy

    Julie xxx

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    1. Thank you Julie. The second batch has almost all gone now. X

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  12. Well done on the running. It can be frustrating when you can't get out as much as you'd like to but even the odd run helps x

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    1. It's a bit frustrating. I'm only managing one run a week at the moment. Maybe if I put in for an event it would focus me to get out more often. X

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    2. That would certainly work. I speak from experience! X

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    3. Thanks, I'll see what's out there and give it a try. X

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  13. Sounds like a well rounded week to me! x

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    1. It wasn't bad when I look back at it. X

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  14. its always good to get out of the house...

    ...hopefully our summer will come back in time for the school holidays :)

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    1. Oh, I do hope the weather improves for the children being off school. X

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  15. It is surprising when you look back on a week what you've actually done and yours seems to have been full of lovely things. I would have loved to see a photo of the restaurant, it's sounds slightly mad but in a delightful way and catching up with friends is always a good way to spend time.

    I think summer has returned. We have blue sky and sunshine here today but it's not hot so all in all a pretty perfect day.

    Have a lovely week. And if you could just fill a tin with some baking and send it to me that would be great :) xx

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    1. The week was full of good things which was lovely. We just don't always take time to see them.
      I should have taken photographs of the restaurant but I'm not sure it would have done justice to the craziness of it all. I'm just glad I wasn't drinking as I would have been guaranteed to fall of the breakfast bar type stool I was perched on. I very nearly did anyway!
      No more warm sunshine here as yet, so be sure to send some this way the next time you have it.
      I'll post out the flapjack next week. X

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  16. It's always the way, isn't it - life rushes past and you think you've done nothing interesting, until you stop and reflect. Summer returned to us today, I hope it did to you too. And I love your crocheted cushion cover. The colour and simplicity of the pattern work really well. x

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    1. Thank you Gillian. It is always a good idea to reflect on what we've achieved whether big or small.
      We're still waiting on Summer returning here, unfortunately. I hope that wasn't it.
      The cushion cover was just something to keep my fingers busy but I'm pleased with how it looks. I will try and attempt something a bit more adventurous next time. X

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  17. Sounds like you had a lovely week, Jules. I like your cushion cover. My favorite shade of pink! Your flapjacks look good. Over here, a flapjack is a type of pancake. :)

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    1. It was a lovely week, thank you Bless. The flapjack doesn't last long here. X

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  18. Well your photo's and words show it was a good week.
    I certainly enjoyed reading about it.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan. It turned out pretty good really. X

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