Snowdrops and snow

Over half term (which feels like a lot longer than a week ago) we went up to North Yorkshire for a short break with John's parents. We stayed in a house with the most beautiful views in Middleham, near Leyburn in Wensleydale. 

The location was right in the heart of the town with four legged neighbours providing much entertainment, as well as the ever-changing sky beyond the hills. 

Middleham is a small, pretty town, easy to explore on foot and with an excellent fish and chip shop. It is dominated by Middleham Castle which was closed when we stayed, but is still impressive to see from the surrounding hills. 

There were tiny paths and alleys everywhere leading in and out of roads, behind houses, through churchyards.

After a five hour drive there and back, we didn't go too far afield during our stay, not wanting ot waste precious hours in the car (not o mention the cost of petrol), but did explore the local towns of Leyburn and Bedale.

After lunch, we would go out for a walk. After one exceptionally windy walk during which two children threatened mutiny half way up a hill, sulked, and turned back, John and I enjoyed the rest of our afternoon walks just the two of us, with Ziggy for company. Bella and Angus were delighted to be able to spend the afternoons hanging out at the house with their grandparents and playing on the old Wii console the house provided. Everyone was much happier this way.

We always walked from the house, through the town and up the hill behind the castle, then taking a different route each time. Then we would meander through the town on the way home as the light faded.

We experienced quite a variety of weather over that week. We travelled up following the storms of mid-February and it remained incredibly windy all week long, especially at the top of the hills. You cant really tell, but in the picture below I could hardly stand up straight as I took the photo and it took all my energy to walk into the wind. We would go out all afternoon, come home frozen, wind-battered and with aching legs from the hills, and then find out we'd actually walked two or three miles. Very disappointing. 

We saw rainbows most days however.

As well as some beautifully clear blue skies. 

The picture above and below are both views of Penhill from park in Leyburn, taken two days apart. I would like to climb Penhill one day, but the wind and weather forecast meant it wasn't very sensible to do while we were there in the winter.

You could see the snow shower rolling towards us as the view seemed to disappear before our eyes. 

The snow didn't settle, so we had all the fun of being caught in a windy snow shower without trouble driving anywhere. We were leaving the next day and the thought of getting up and down steep, narrow roads, without winter tyres, in the snow was not a pleasant one.

But it was such a lovely few days, genuinely restful and restorative. A combination of time with family, walking, reading, crocheting, and the occasional lie in meant we all felt like we had a proper rest. 

February Favourites

Hello! I hope you are all well. It'a been a funny few weeks, what with storm after storm here in the UK and worrying developments abroad at the moment. The last few weeks before the half term break felt a bit like an endurance test, but I am feeling rested now.

I didn't think I'd done anything much in February except get up, go to work, come home and go to sleep, but as always looking back through my photos reminds me that there were lots of lovely moments to celebrate and cherish.

A couple of weeks ago, I met up with my friend Abigail at Unravel, a festival of wool just up the road from me in Farnham. Farnham is a very pretty Georgian town and I didn't realise that it was only 40 minutes away, otherwise I would go more often as it's a lovely place for a coffee and mooch around the shops. It was my first visit to Unravel and I really enjoyed it - stall after stall of beautiful yarn, hand-dyed by independent makers from all over the UK. I bought a few skeins and am already making the two below into a large shawl. It has a "zip" of bright colour every now and then. The idea is that, every time you come to the colour in the yarn, you crochet a puff stitch, then go back to your normal pattern. It creates a random scattering of neons and pastels in amongst the petrol grey. 

The skein below is destined for socks. I used to steer clear of variegated yarn as you can't always tell how it's going to look when it's worked up but these ones appealed to me.

One thing about Unravel that didn't appeal was that the whole festival felt really geared up towards knitting rather than crochet. Most of the sample garments (to show off the wool) were knitted, the patterns were for knitters. It was a shame as I would have bought patterns had I seen any. But the sellers were all so knowledgeable and friendly and it was such a joy to be among so many people who love yarn and creating.

Talking of crochet, I have been busy making a crochet tank top (or sweater vest if you're American). No pattern, just 32 granny squares sewn together using about ten balls of Drops Karisma from my stash and a 4mm hook. 

I really was using up every scrap of yarn which is why I used dark grey for the ribbing around the waist, not black. But I don't mind, I still like it.

It looks great over a big white shirt but I haven't had a chance to take any proper photos of me wearing it, so this is the best I could do.

Other nice things that happened in February: a manicure, something which always makes me feel a bit less scruffy and a bit more put together; spring flowers everywhere and bulbs coming up in the garden; a bonus day off work last Friday due to the high winds. I still had to work, but working from home, with time for a coffee with friends too, was a lovely start to half term, although our fences have now seen better days sadly....

I turned another year older and was spoilt with presents and cake and flowers. Luckily my birthday almost always falls in February half term, and I do appreciate that. I have to tell you about the beautiful wrapping on the gift below, a round box of chocolates from John, so a nightmare to wrap. He was wrapping my presents at work but his colleagues were so appalled by the mangled pile of paper and selloptape that they intervened and took over. I think he's hoping this will happen more, I can see him taking all his gifts into work now.....

This was my present from Angus, and I think it might be the best one. Three coupons which say "I hereby declare Mum an "Infinite Insta-Chore" for the limit of one day. This mean I will instantly do any chore, no hassle. But I need to see this coupon for it to work" There's a date on the back and everything. I have established that this means unlimited chores in one day, so tomorrow he is helping me clean out the garage. I think he may regret these vouchers....

My lovely mum made me a delicious carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (my favourite). If John's around he usually bakes me a cake (he's good like that) but he was working so my mum came to the rescue.

Bouquets of birthday flowers now fill vases. Honestly, bunches of fresh flowers at this time of year, after months of nothing in autumn and winter, are such a treat.

This was my gift from John - we had my Stitch A Day embroidery framed.

I dithered over what to do with it - part of me was just going to try and frame it in the hoop - but I'm so glad we had it done properly.  I chose to have glass which I don't usually do with my embroideries, but this one is so special and the framers did a beautiful job. I just need to decide where to hang it now.

That's nearly all my news. We just got back today from a really restful break in North Yorkshire but I haven't had a chance to go through all my photos yet, so I will save those for another day.

Stay safe everyone.