Hard to Bear

Have been to Birmingham today to meet a cousin for lunch and a catchup.  There were bears everywhere - large and small.

Time has Flown

This weekend DH took down the Sparrow Box off the house wall so that I could clean it out.  It had a nest of Great Tits in it earlier in the year.  They certainly made good use of moss from the lawn and fur combed from the visiting cat.  Looks like sheep wool in there too.

Someone obviously could not make up their mind which hole to use for the final nest. I forgot to take the wall screws out of the box before taking the photograph and it was too late once I had cleaned the box out.

Worcester Open Studios

Just noticed it was Worcester Open Studios this weekend so popped out to here ...

It is actually St Peter's Church where St Peter's Printmakers and Friends were.  Excellent exhibition.  I then went down Cowleigh Bank to Belmont Road to see Andrew Judd's letterpress.  What a wonderful place.  A huge shed-cum-workshop with lots of goodies to see.  Andrew very kindly showed us how he set up words and cast the block to print from.

Next I headed off to see my bookbinding pal Janet Hayes-Hall.  She was busy with her lino cuts alongside her daughter in their makeshift studio complete with etching press.  Husband, Richard, was busy making timber frame sections for the buildings which are workin progress and which will eventually form part of Janet's studio.  At least that's the plan.

It's Finished ...One More to Go

Reverse of Quilt - Long Arm Quilted by Fathers Heart

At long last I have finished this quilt!!  It has been under construction for 10 years now and I was so embarrassed that it had taken so long.  Lots of good excuses which included DH giving up his job and being out of work for a year and then the upheaval of moving miles away from Yorkshire and buying a house that needed a monumental amount of work doing to it, which I seem to have had to organise. Time for catching up on my things now, although the house is far from finished.

Some of these appear on the quilt, but not like this

It's All Uphill From Here

Sun shining on Worcester in the distance

Walked from our house (a long way down this hill) up to the top of Cowleigh Bank and then on to North Malvern Road looking for a bike shop to service my bike for me yesterday.  It is very, very steep and my knees now ache. DH suggested I take my bike with me?? I don't think so. Just so happened the main bike shop man was not in.

'Couch to 50 km' class this week has now taught me how to take front and back wheels off my bike and repair a puncture.  Something to look forward to I suppose on top of my chain falling off on a regular basis.  At least I am fitter than I was .... I think?

Cycled Out

Done two more cycle rides this week Saturday and Sunday. One and half hours on both days, first one doing my homework for 'Couch to 50 km' and today a circular route from Croome with Women on Wheels organised by our trusty tutor Rachel.  Had a fabulous time, I stayed dry and my bicycle chain managed to stay on for the whole ride. The down side is that I am heavily handicapped because my bike is a hybrid and very heavy which makes me very slow on any inclines.

Heading to the Hills for my homework on Saturday morning.

It was a killer!!

What a Bargain

Spotted this in the NT secondhand bookshop at Charlecote and it is full of fabulous prose.

Yet Another Grand Day Out

Spot the deer

Although the weather forecast was a bit 'iffy' DH and I decided to have a day out yesterday and went to Charlecote.  What a lovely place.  We had a walk in the grounds and then ventured into the house.  Another place we will certainly visit again.

Glad we do not wash like this any more

Lots of design ideas

What have I been up to?

For the past six weeks I have been trying to get myself more confident in riding my bike on the roads around Malvern by participating in a group organised by Malvern Hills DC - 'Couch to 50km'.  This week we did 21 km (13.2 miles) in just over an hour. We do the 50 km ride during Week 6 so lots more training needed.  Homework this week includes riding up steep hills - so no shortage of them here ...

Wish I was there

Angel's Fishing Rods at Bodnant. At least it might not be raining now.

Life is Full of Surprises

I had no idea there was such an interesting museum lurking in Bradford.  My friend suggested that we go to the Bradford Industrial Museum as there was a textile exhibition by FLAX that she wanted to see.  We spent a fascinating morning looking at all sorts of machinery and equipment associated with the local area.  I will certainly visit again.

Another Little Trip

Just had a few days away, firstly to pick up my quilt from Father's Heart in Bradford, where it has now been long arm quilted and, secondly, to catch up with friends.  We managed to call in at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park on the drive up and found there was a Tony Cragg sculpture exhibition 'A Rare Category of Objects' and also a display of Alice Pattullo's work 'Of House and Home'.  Both excellent and a nice break in our journey.

Sunshine and Rain

Here's the sunshine .... the short sunflower seeds I sew after receiving them at a wedding are just starting to flower along with borage, daisies and Inulas.  Very jolly site.

and here is the rain .... we went to Bodnant Gardens whilst we were away and the heavens opened and we got very wet.  The gardens were fabulous which made up for the weather.