Poor Jenny Wren

Came home from a lovely cycle ride to find DH had found this poor little wren dead in the garden.  Not sure what had happened to it but it was so beautiful. Very sad.

Friday Spin

Did a longer ride with one of the group on Friday morning.  This was the view looking back to the Malvern Hills after a fairly scary bit of cycling along the main road through Bransford and then turning off towards a quiet road in the general direction of the Elgar Museum. We did 23 miles in all and there were some steep hills near to the end that I was not expecting but I did okay.

Have also been desperately trying to create some collaged fabric pieces to print onto this next week using Gum Arabic Transfer. They are still not finished so must get on with them today. Did, however, tidy the log shed and sew up some branches that have needed doing for months and got them neatly stored away.

The Water Splash

Took myself off for a 20 mile ride today on the 'Ledbury Loop'.  It would have been even better if I had managed to take the correct road at the start.  As far as I could tell (when I eventually got back on the right road) the whole route appears to be well signposted and mainly on nice quiet roads.  The ford above was fun, but you are advised not to ride through it, so I had to negotiate the narrow bridge with my bike.

Lots of wildlife about: millions of pheasants, squirrels, two different hairy caterpillars making a mad dash across the road, rabbits, lots of birds and plenty of sunshine. Nice Hereford cattle, with a bull in the field.

Seeing the Eastnor obelisk and knowing I had not got much further to ride was a relief as I knew a lot of the remaining part of the journey was downhill.

Spooky Finds

Met a friend from the 'Couch to 50 K' group this morning for a cycle ride with some of her friends.  We went via Worcester to Croome Park. Around 17 miles.  They continued on to return to Malvern (a further 15+ miles) and I stopped off for coffee and scone and met my DH for a lift home.  We had a walk around the grounds plus went to see the latest art exhibition in the house by their current Artist in Residence.

I am definitely looking the old lady among them

Of course it was the start of Half Term here in Worcestershire so there was a trail for Halloween for children around the grounds.

I have only just spotted the mouse on the ledge above the table in the Rotunda.  There were broomsticks and skeletons, plus hands trying to crawl out of a coffin.  Very spooktacular.

Nice weather too.  A bit chilly and windy but still pleasant.

Up The Garden Path

I have been really struggling to finish a piece of stitching for the Yorkshire Travelling Journal this week.  A 'Sewcial' with Kathleen Murphy using voids as inspiration started me on a bit of a journey looking at ways of using these 'voids'.  I had the bright idea they could become a winter path.  Below are a couple of snapshots of what I produced ...

I do not usually post things that have not been seen by the others in the YTJ group, but do not think I have given too much away with this one.

A Bit More Easy Cycling

Yet another picture, but including me this time with the other 9 on the ride on Sunday.  Photo taken by the kind husband of one of the ladies on the ride.  Been out again today to Croome and done just over 11 miles.  Beautiful weather and a really enjoyable ride.

The scrape on my knee from last Friday's fall is slowly mending and the bruises on my shoulder, arm and hand are now starting to go a lovely colour!! Teach me to be more careful in future.  It was all my own fault.

The weather is now turning very autumnal here ...

A Spot of EASY Cycling

Did a 12 mile 'EASY' Ride with Women on Wheels on Sunday morning with a friend from 'Couch to 50K'.  It was very leisurely and ended with cake and coffee at this lovely tea shop.  Yummy Lemon Drizzle cake warm from the oven. Sam was the Ride Leader. Nikki did an excellent job of leading the group on her first outing in this role. Well done everyone!!  Unfortunately the sun failed to appear so it was a rather autumnal grey morning with damp roads. Managed to stay upright on my bike which is more can be said for me on Friday evening.

Another Tweet

Making slow progress at Solo Printing.  Today's effort was a drypoint print of a long tailed tit.  Experiencing lots of problems with some ink and have had to resort to Prussian Blue again until I sort out the problem.  The strange background was caused by my using some plastic(?) based material that I think is meant for drypoint.

Jolly Weekend

Had a jolly weekend for a change.  I cycled 12 miles from Malvern to Worcester on Sunday morning on quiet roads and then, finally, alongside the River Severn. Then DH picked me up, but I had thought about carrying on as far as Croome Park.

In the afternoon I visited the Ledbury Quilters exhibition at Tarrington and was treated to some lovely work.  There was a special display of work by the late Marie Roper who had been an important member of the group over the 25 years they have been in existence.

More Reptilian than Bee

Decided the gold outer casing of The Hive looks more like snakeskin than a honeycomb when I was there today.