A few Blissful Days by the Sea.

Spending time by the ocean restores my spirits like nothing else can.

I went to Newquay with two friends – we have holidayed together before many times, so we know it works. This was a special birthday treat for one of us, spent in a very special place.

The video was taken on our balcony and the round room at the end was our sitting room with 360 degree views – it was spectacular.

We walked, we ate delicious meals, we did a mind-scrambling jigsaw together, we danced to 60s and 70s tunes, we read, we watched the surfers and the golfers below, we relaxed, we laughed and breathed in all that ozone.

lunch at Lewinnick

I hope you too can soak up some holiday vibes from the photos – put on a bit of Elvis, the Stones, the Beatles and the Proclaimers and you will be right there with us!

Would you like to live here?

look at the salt water swimming pool

On the walk home: a bench with lichen and rusty bits!

on the beach we found thousands of these magical remains of By-the-Wind-Sailors

a type of jellyfish, but so much more than that

we watched the stormsand drank coffee in the cosy Seaspray Beach Cafe

and every day a rainbow!

it was magic!

Advertisement

Castle Drogo

Last week I met some friends at Castle Drogo, before travelling on to Cornwall with them to stay in Newquay for a few days.

Castle Drogo is one of the most bonkers places I have ever visited. Unfortunately the house was shut but you can see some photos of the interior if you go to the # Castle Drogo Instagram page

It was built between 1911 and 1926 as a family home?!

What were they thinking!

It looked like a prison or a workhouse to us.

Trees mask the glorious views to the moors as you walk around the house.

There are two magnificent arbours. We were not sure what variety of tree they were but my best guess was a type of birch.

My favourite tree was this magnificent maple, what a colour!

with its twisty moss covered trunk.

After lunch in the cafe we drove the hour and a half to Newquay.

This is the view from the apartment we were staying in.

Oh happy days!

The First Bluebell

Yesterday I went on a lovely walk with my daughter’s mother-in-law. There really ought to be a name for our relationship. There was a nip in the wind but the sun shone and created the most glorious colours in the sea.

The sun filtered by the clouds gave us purples and blues

shimmering steely glints

and glorious aqua greens.

We walked from Osmington Mills to Ringstead and came across this cottage that under normal circumstances would be buzzing with people. I took the number, because I might like to stay there one day – just a 5 minute walk to the sea.

Walking up through a sheltered wooded valley, we saw our first bluebell in flower. Crumbs! that’s early!

and then this stange plant which turned out to be a Japanese Butterbur or Sweet Coltsfoot.

Next time we go there for a walk, we hope the cafe near the beach will be open and we will stop for a coffee.

Fingers crossed.

 

Silent Sunday Sunny Saunter

so good to see the sea again

Seaton on Sunday

Two Bloggers Go Walkabout

Here comes a RainbowJunkie

It is always exciting meeting someone from a train, but a fellow blogger – that’s very special! I was looking forward to our day and RJ seemed very happy to have arrived at my local station.

We went back to my house for a quick cuppa, and then onto the National Trust Car Park above Ringstead.Glorious!

We walked along the top, enjoying the views out to sea and far inland,  

and then turning downhill towards one of my favourite destinations, St. Catherine’s Chapel, a little wooden gem, which has featured in a couple of previous blog posts. Here, and here.

There is a fine view of the sea from the windows, and always pretty garden flowers to decorate the chapel.

Outside, in the graveyard, there are plenty of benches on which one can sit and enjoy the view

even when the sun goes behind the clouds.

Watercraft was buzzing about while we sat chatting about blogging and crochet, listening to the rhythm of the waves below.

 

 

Neither of us are particularly keen on having our photograph taken but we thought we would have a go at a selfie as part of the record of the day before heading back to the car for a 20 minute drive to Moreton Tea Rooms for lunch.

We sat in the gardens

both choosing the same dish from the menu – very British fare – Ham, Egg and Cheese on muffins

And can you see the beautiful gift RJ gave me! one of her fabulous Celtic pot stands. WOW!!!!! How lucky I am – it is GORGEOUS!!!!

After lunch we explored all that Moreton has to offer.

First a visit to Moreton Church, famous for its wonderful engraved windows by Laurence Whistler.

This church holds a special place in my heart as my son and daughter-in-law were married here, their two boys were christened here and one Christmas with her Dad playing the organ, my lovely daughter-in-law, 6 months pregnant with her first baby, in a pale blue robe, led the choir into the church singing a solo of the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City. It gives me happy goose bumps when I remember that magical occasion.

The floor is beautiful too

I see doodles, mandalas and crochet patterns

We went on for a short walk to the river, where there is a ford, a popular place for paddling on hot summer days. We visited the grave of T.E.Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia as he was called, then into

Moreton Walled Garden (photo taken earlier this summer) for a wander and a cup of tea before returning to the railway station, about a mile and a half away.

It was lovely to spend time with a fellow blogger and get to talk about our many mutual interests. I felt very lucky to be able to show Jane around my patch and on such a lovely day – not too hot and no rain – perfect! I hope you enjoyed coming along with us.

Silent Sunday

Bluebell time

Last Sunday I met a couple of friends for a bluebell extravaganza of a walk!

The path took us through deep dark woods

Joining Cee’s Which Way Challenge

and lighter glades where the light was stunningly, beautifully, softly, frothily romantic

I took so many photographs, it has taken me all week to choose which ones to share( they certainly won’t all fit in one post).

We stopped at Down House Farm

and sat out in the garden

for a delicious lunch of Bubble and Squeak, eggs and bacon, all local produce and drank apple and ginger fruit punch

after that we headed out to the cliffs and wide open views towards Portland

 

Oh what a joyful day, the sun shone, the air was sweet, the sky was blue, our batteries were well and truly recharged …..

to be continued …………

 

Silent Sunday

Joining the Daily Post: Silence

Silent Sunday

Fence

caught my eye

in the fading light

treasure found

~

Our ‘One-a-Week’ Photo Challenge Prompt this week is FENCE

Ronovan’s Haiku Prompts are EYE and FADE

The mitten on the post must have been there a while as it was green with algae. Since starting to do beach cleans, I see all litter and dropped items in a new light. They are all potential art materials with a human back story. It did feel slightly weird taking it from it’s post, but I am pretty certain it’s owner is not likely to return for it. It will go with other found clothing I have and see what art work it might inspire.

The top of the fence post is a little world of its own

The photos were taken on a walk from Nine Wells towards Solva (Pembrokeshire) along the coastal path.

 

I was walking from the treehouse as the sun was going down.

There was no wind and I stood to watch the sunset before returning

to the cosiness of my nest in the trees.

What fences have you found this week?  Leave a link in the comments below, we’d love to see them.

Ceiling

Taken on a blustery New Year’s Day at Mwnt. The little church providing a welcome haven from the dramatic weather.

As we waited for the completion of the magical Sand Circle by Marc Treanor

Our first Photo Prompt for our One-a-Week Photo Challenge.

Please leave a link in the comments.

Pop across to see Cathy’s ‘Ceiling’ too.

Ripples

 

Photo Challenge round-up: SUMMER

Taken yesterday on a walk from Cogden to Burton Bradstock

~

Jane at Rainbow Junkie……. …………… ……breezy

Cathy at Nanacathy…….. ……. ……….. …….3 pics

 me at Wild Daffodil……… ……… ……….scented

 Melissa at The Aran Artisan ………………elusive

 Denis at Haiku Hound…….. ……….. ……paddle?

Christina A Look at the Little Things ……. …rummage

Dorris at Dig With Dorris …………………………succulent

and please welcome a first time entry from

Debbie at Curiosity Takes Me …………………..Summer from the boat

The  denotes a post that is also joining in with Ronovan’s Haiku Challenge – it’s fun to combine the two.

The  denotes a post with a poem or haiku written to go with the photo, but not using  Ronovan’s prompt words.

Please let me know if I have missed anyone

Thank you everyone for your sunny summery entries.

Four fab photo fiends created the 52 Week Photo Challenge, we are:

• Cathy from Nanacathydotcom
• Jane from Rainbowjunkiecorner
• Melissa from The Aran Artisan
• Sandra from Wild Daffodil

This week’s prompt

STREET

Photo Challenge Round-Up: Water

Jane at Rainbow Junkie……. …………… ……glassy

Cathy at Nanacathy…….. ……. ……….. …….reflective

 me at Wild Daffodil……… ……… ………. red sail

💜 Denis at Haiku Hound…….. ……….. ……too many?

Christina A Look at the Little Things ……. …surf play

Dorris at Dig With Dorris…………….. ………still

The  denotes a post that is also joining in with Ronovan’s Haiku Challenge – it’s fun to combine the two.

Please let me know if I have missed anyone

Thank you everyone for your watery entries.

Four fab photo fiends created the 52 Week Photo Challenge, we are:

• Cathy from Nanacathydotcom
• Jane from Rainbowjunkiecorner
• Melissa from The Aran Artisan
• Sandra from Wild Daffodil

Dive in any time by leaving a link in the comments

Next prompt

SUMMER

Photo Challenge Round Up – Happy

Doing this round up makes me feel very  🙂    HAPPY!   🙂

An extra photo from me, taken at the end of a blissful day spent with Big Bro and Little Bro pootling, pottering and beach-combing on Charmouth Beach  yesterday. Oh how lucky and HAPPY I feel on days like this

More photos for happiness:

Jane: a feast for the eyes in this post

Cathy: someone knows her well

Melissa: so much to enjoy in this post, with the huge bonus of an Irish poem written in Irish and with the English translation.

Rosalind: that dog is almost laughing with happiness

Christina: ‘Celebrate good times, c’mon!’

Ali at Thimberlina: this makes me beam – fab 80s fun.

Roz: Happy Hoppy!

Craftmanicmommy: has linked in with a Quote that fits so well with the theme. If you look at her profile picture – that would definitely fit the photographic element for HAPPY.

Denis at Haiku Hound: thought that the photo of his dog Charlie in this post was a good fit for the theme – I agree! Pop across and see what you think.

Andre: oooooo! yes those crystal clear waters would make me happy for sure! And there is also a Haiku to enjoy.

10 entries to see in our 52 week Photo Challenge this week! Yikes! That’s so exciting! Thank you so much everyone for joining in. I just love the variety and sweet glimpses of your worlds.

Can’t leave this theme without a link to Pharrell Williams’s wonderfully uplifting song:

 

Tomorrow our theme for the week goes live:

VINTAGE

I’m so looking forward to seeing what each person brings to the party!

❤

Abu Dhabi

This blog had been a bit quiet recently due to a little bit of hibernation followed by a self styled knitting retreat in Abu Dhabi – oh boy was it WONDERFUL to get some sun on my bones this winter:

My favourite knitting spot

Just soak up those sunny warm peaceful rays!!!!

I went for a fortnight – Now how much yarn would you pack for 14 days of virtually uninterrupted knitting

Of course I took far too much and hoped the airline would not Xray my case to see a severed head and umpteen dodgy looking balls of something.

I went to stay with my brother-in-law who is working in Abu Dhabi. He was at work all day and I had the place to myself to work on my Hat Wig designs.

I thought I was taking so long to get new ones finished because I have so many other calls on my time at home, and a fortnight away would see a batch of new patterns ready to put in the Etsy Shop and on Ravelry. It turns out it just does take me AGES to finish writing a pattern. Ideas, creating designs, knitting new creations – easy, but actually getting them down on paper for others to follow – that is HARD work. If anyone has any tips or computer programmes that can help PLEASE let me know!!!

I like to add photos to the patterns to make them easy to follow

and that does take time of course, but it is the methodical, ordered, organised careful writing of knitting patterns that my grasshopper mind resists.

 

And then of course the view could be a bit distracting ……

 

 

 

Just back from a week in Solva

I have just returned from a glorious week in Solva with my daughter and her children. We arrived in a storm but thankfully the weather cleared and we had plenty of peachy beachy days.

There is something magical about introducing a much loved place from my own childhood to my grandchildren and see it all afresh through their eyes. We walked along the beach at low tide and saw masses of small jelly fish …..

(the shiny discs bottom right of the picture) strewn over the sand.

We made shadow pictures

and footprints

collected shells

went paddling

and looked at the patterns sand ripples make

a gentle arrival after a long 7 hour journey, more to come……

A walk to the sea from Prospect Cottage

Windblown shacks and old decaying boats create a fascinating open air ‘museum’.

The sea, the tide out for miles and people digging in the sand flats, maybe for cockles?

Looking back at the road, with Prospect Cottage on the horizon, just right of the van

Returning along an abandoned track