It's time for my weekly round up of the good, simple things which made me happy over the past week.
1. A visit to the breathtakingly beautiful Yorkshire Sculpture Park with my very good friend Debora. We walked, talked, discussed whether it was the art or the fresh air which made us so happy (it was both), ate lunch, browsed the incredibly well stocked gift shop. I'll write more about it next week, but for now, this is the view that hit me, post rain shower, as I arrived in the car park:
2. I bought these pillowcases from a charity shop ages ago thinking I'd use them for the fabric, rather than on the bed. I decided it was high time they left the fabric drawer and put them on the bed. Some sunshine in a gloomy week. Plus clean sheets make us happy too, we all know that. It's a fact.
3. Last Sunday morning - a very, very muddy walk in the woods. We were all feeling a bit cooped up and I was craving some fresh air.
Bella sulked as she was tired from a sleepover the night before and either walked behind or ahead of us.
Angus jumped in all the puddles and had a whale of a time until he got a welly boot full of muddy water and then he alternately sulked/cried/demanded to be carried back to the car. It's quite possible that only John and I enjoyed the walk.
But it was so, so good to be out in the woods and nothing would dampen my mood. I was irritatingly chirpy.
4. Roast dinner. Autumn and Winter Sundays call for roasts and I almost feel disappointed if it doesn't happen. John roasted a joint of pork and the crackling was phenomenal. It's a rubbish photo but you get the drift. There was apple pie and custard for pudding. Like I said last week, I may gain some weight this winter. A little extra padding to protect me from the cold.
Today is as determinedly foggy as it was this time last week. I feel like we're shrouded in water at the moment. We're off to spend the weekend with some friends in their new house. Enjoy your weekend everyone.
Aha, Yorkshire, one of my favourite places in the world! I recognise the 'sulking children on family walk' syndrome all too well, have been there many times.......! The fresh air still does them good though! X
ReplyDeleteLoving all your happies. Those thrifted pillow cases do add a bit of brightness to these grey days..We were going to the sculpture park last weekend but had to cancel as the weather was just so rubbish. Maybe next week. I'd love to see Emily Sutton's work. Happy weekend to you too! x
ReplyDeleteLoving your happies. It is definitely the simple things in life, which make us happy. I have those pillow cases too. Great minds and all that ! Have a good weekend away.
ReplyDeleteJacqui xx
Lovely happies Gillian! Wishing you a happy weekend, Bee xx
ReplyDeleteLovely happies & have a super weekend.
ReplyDeleteFabulous happies and a great blend of seasonal pleasures.
ReplyDeleteLovely happies. My Mum had those very pillowcases. So, thank you for bringing back some happy memories x
ReplyDeletelove the view of the first picture. fab wellies all round. dinner looks delicious! yum
ReplyDeleteThere are no two better things than Sunday Dinner and clean sheets. Ahhhh Sigh! Jo x
ReplyDeleteA great collection of happies!
ReplyDeleteThe last photo would make me happiest of all!
ReplyDeleteHad a browse in Totnes today, that made me very happy, and then over to Newton Abbot where we bought husband some Chelsea boots by a company called Anatomic Shoes, excellent they are and not overpriced (and the shop had a 20% discount promotion, too!)
Morning tea and toasted tea cakes in Grey's Dining Room in Totnes (look it up on Trip Advisor, folks!) was scrumptious, this always makes me very happy!
Margaret P
I used to have those pillows! Well, one of them. I also had the matching duvet cover, wallpaper, and curtains and the carpet was a dull yellow-brown too. You can imagine... and I loved it... for a while. Then I covered up the walls with Duran Duran posters until it was eventually all removed and the walls were painted rose-white - remember the Dulux ad to "A Whiter Shade of Pale"?. I'm probably showing my age, haha!
ReplyDeleteAnd if you don't remember.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzD_J2Xivjk
ReplyDeleteOh a walk and a roast! Perfect xx
ReplyDeleteNothing like a bit of autumn fresh air in the lungs. That roast looks mouth wateringly good.
ReplyDeleteThese really are happy photos! I love the outdoors in the woods ones!
ReplyDeleteI Hope you have a great up coming week, Much love, Tammy
I love the misty photo and the tale of your walk made me smile - I think we've all experienced walks like that when you have to encourage little ones the entire way. Weather permitting, we're hoping to do something similar today - a walk and a roast, although ours will be of the nut variety! Enjoy your weekend away. x
ReplyDeleteYour first photo has a magic quality to it - wonderful! I think I need to go for a walk today, too; been indoors all day yesterday (taking the rubbish out does definitely NOT count).
ReplyDeleteLove the Sunday roast - I can almost smell and taste it from the photo!
You have had a lovely batch of happies this week. I'm sure my mum had pillowcases similar to those!
ReplyDeleteLovely happy things. I hope that you are having a good weekend and that you have another lovely sunday dinner today! xx
ReplyDeleteI adore those sunny pillowcases, a great idea for such a slash of colour in these grey days! The woodland walk is ALWAYS a good idea and they'll thank you one day ;) I haven't had a cooker for over a month and the food I've missed the most has been a good fashioned english roast!! Next weekend, it's happening!! Xx
ReplyDelete"Irritatingly chirpy" - I love that phrase Gillian! No one has ever accused me of that before!
ReplyDeleteI dragged mine out for a walk this afternoon too. It's such a tonic isn't it. You wouldn't believe how quiet they are right now! I shall look forward to hearing about the sculpture park. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteMy husband says "thanks for his roast dinner". I was reading your page earlier and showed him the photo of your dinner and we both agreed that we could have eaten it off the screen! So off I goes to the Co-Op ( till then we were having tuna pasta bake, cos I already had it in)Came back with savoy cabbage, carrots and an onion, stuffing and 3 fresh pork loin chops. It was delicious, so thanks. Lol.
ReplyDeleteP.s. Like the pic of your hubby on the rope swing. Looks like he's really enjoying himself.
Lovely photos Gillian and I'm glad that at least the grownups enjoyed the walk. Take care.
ReplyDeleteYour story of the walk reminded me of taking our family to Walt Disney World in 1992. Our boys were in their teens and the girls were early primary school age. We thought WDW would give all of the age groups happy times, but throughout the trip there was some sulking especially from our teens. When we got home my youngest son got on the phone and proceeded to tell his best friend what a terrific time he had. Really? :) Parenting can be very perplexing, yes?
ReplyDeleteI love the picture of John on the rope swing!! I quite often plough on through when the boys are having a strop or a mood when we are out. It's the best way. Although I do remember losing the plot by the ice cream van at Godrevy once, when all three of them had bitched and moaned throughout glorious sunny day. I got some looks, I can tell you. Oh and I have to tell you that I am officially jealous of your husband's prowess in the kitchen. What I wouldn't give for a meal to be cooked by someone other than me!
ReplyDeleteLeanne xx
Yummy looking dinner - it's very hard not to gain some weight during the autumn/winter months. You're right about clean sheets! I'm sure I've seen those pillow cases before but in blue and on my bed when I was a teenager.
ReplyDeleteA lovely day with your friend in the sculpture park-so nice to have 'me time'.
ReplyDeleteSunday roast, gorgeous and top of list favs in our house-just add Yorkshire puds though!.
Helen
I've only visited the Sculpture Park briefly but would love to explore more - the light in your photo is stunning. x
ReplyDeleteHi Gillian - I just love this time of year. Lots of mud and brisk woodland walks though gosh...it did turn very chilly last night.
ReplyDeleteI love these weekly happies of yours. The pillowcases are wonderful! xo
ReplyDeleteWow, that first photo is pretty cool isn't it? Very good 'capture' as they say! Love the pillow cases too, this pattern is exactly what my parents had on their bed when I was a wee tot!
ReplyDeleteS x
I have those exact pillow cases in the washer right now! Snap!
ReplyDeleteWe've been chowing down on crackling too - I love it!
ReplyDeleteI've only ever been to YSP at night, last winter, to the Angie Lewin preview. The shop was wonderful but I would dearly love to see the Park in daylight (ideally after a light snowfall). Worth doing battle with the M62!
S x
Lovely happies as always. I love the photo of John on the rope swing. He looks like he is really enjoying himself! Yummy roast dinner too and my mum says that we all need to grow our own wee winter coats at this time of year! By which she means it's fine to eat a bit more than usual to keep the cold out!
ReplyDeleteMarianne x
I cooked a roast for the first time for months on Sunday and boy did we all enjoy it. It's wonderful being outside this time of year, inside feels too shut in what with the dark evenings, we need to make the most of it.
ReplyDeleteMonday night is clean bedding night here, my favourite especially as the brushed cotton sheets are out!
Lisa x