Lake District - Day One - 23rd July

We set off early Friday morning in convoy... DS1 driving DS2 and Big Dog and hubby and I with Little Dog in the other car. Why two cars? Well last year it was rather cramped with all six of us, and well rather a horrible drive, so when DS1 said he wanted to drive up we thought, Why Not?! What a lovely peaceful trip up! We arrived early afternoon and were thrilled to find our lovely little holiday cottage was in the countryside.

Beautiful garden with lovely views.

Very welcoming inside the cottage with flowers in every room - even the bathrooms, a pack of biscuits, a bottle of milk, a paper and a magazine. What a difference it makes when the owners make it that little bit more special.

Lovely views from every part of the garden.

Of course I couldn't resist taking photos of the lovely garden.

The stone wall surrounding the property.

Hubby and Big Dog enjoying the garden.

Bumblies busy in the flowers...

A butterfly that came in the house - let out the window after the photo.

Hubby and I went for a walk with Little Dog in the afternoon down to the local village of Natland.

Lovely church and village green.

More stone walls!

Then back home to Yaffles to cook dinner.

Day Two - A local walk and Windermere.

We're Home!

After a very long 7 hour journey stuck in traffic jams for most of the way we arrived home early evening from our week away in the Lake District. Lots to show you, but patience will be needed while I upload photos.

Working Wednesday.

Looks like Mr Carrot might have been caught short!

Busy day today, cleaning out guinea pigs, cleaning and sterilizing water bottles, gardening, preparing ingredients for fruit loaf, going to the library and more gardening!

Planted some more seeds in the garden...

Picked some produce to have with dinner this evening...yummy, first beans and courgette and our broccoli is still growing strong.

When I say 'and more gardening'...

I mean that I had DS1 out there with the lawn mower and then strimmer. :-)

Pretty honeysuckle...

My orchid is finally flowering again...

Oh and how did this pop in here?

A turquoise brooch £1.99 I bought the other day from a CS to add to my turquoise jewellery collection...now have a necklace, ring, earrings and brooch.

Yesterday morning just as I set off to work the postman handed me a parcel...goodness I had to be patient and wait until I got home to open it...who could it be from?

Partially ripped open, before I remembered...take photos!

A box of goodies from the lovely Helen...a couple of weeks ago I won her super Union Jack Giveaway celebrating her blogging for six months.

Lots of super lovely Union Jack goodies. Being ever so good I gave the chocolates to Mr 19 but have snaffled the rest for me!!! Thank you so much Helen for these lovely gifts.

A Change?

Hmm...something has clearly caught Sparrow's attention.

After not seeing many sparrows in the garden in previous years, there seems to be an abundance of them now. I often see them outside my window on the mock orange tree.

A change is a good as a rest? Well maybe not, but there is still something slightly refreshing about it. Must be that time of year when I fancy a change, albeit a small one - not a lot you can do in our narrow living room.

Remember my £5 table? Well I saw one in an antique shop last week, not in as nice condition as mine ...£145.00!!! So I am very pleased with mine and decided it was time to bring it in from languishing in the shed. It has had a polish up, an embroidered cloth and a lamp put on it for beside where I sit and knit, crochet, read or contemplate. It has a handy little draw for my 'A Simple Abundance' day book.

I moved an armchair from one side to the other, and now this frees up space in front of this little dresser...and hopefully will stop me from bashing my legs on our swamp kauri coffee table monstrosity.

The dining table has been pulled away from the radiator, cleared and is now usable once again, and my little trolley nestles in nicely beside it.

Ah yes, this is the picture that shows the arm chair the opposite side to what it was...and the dogs basket fits in just nicely.

Yes a change is good...even if a small one.

My little corner again...

Very hot today...hence working inside where it has been cooler.

A Kitchen Tea

A beautiful afternoon for a Kitchen Tea Party. Card made, recipe typed up and present wrapped!

The bride to be ready to start guessing and unwrapping her gifts. Any wrong guesses result in a forfeit!

Looking slightly nervous?

She started off very well at guessing the gifts...but then they got more difficult...

Several forfeits in and the curlers are in and the pinney on!

Oh dear...doesn't she look glamorous?

She never guessed my present - but was delighted with it all the same. In fact she was still wearing when I left and was most impressed with the pockets!

Hmm...do I look good in a hairnet and rollers?

Proud Mum and Daughter.

What a lovely way to celebrate getting married - very special.