Thank you Dusty

Just before we went away Dusty sent me a surprise parcel just full of things for the stitch club at school. So much fabric and lot of mini ornament kits which the students will love doing - thank you  so much Dusty, you are so kind.

Gifts from Dusty

Dusty also included a gorgeous notebook for me along with some lovely charts - I felt very spoilt.

My gifts from Dusty

Here's my orts jar from August - it's fuller this year than ever which is a lovely feeling. Without the jar of orts I don't think I'd realise just how much I've done.

31st August orts

We are very proud today as Philippa starts her 10 days as a Games Maker volunteer at the Paralympics - she was very excited when they left yesterday. we're glued to the tv to see if we spot her. She did text to say she is looking after the swimmers accreditation whilst they are in the pool - top job :)

Thanks for visiting on this first day of September - wishing you a fab month - it is a good one ;)

Stitching News

It's only been two days but I'm blogging again :) I blame the horrid wet rainy day we have today.

I have been stitching, I just don't seem to have time to blog it. Before we went to France (pictures in Monday's blog) I stitched Dusty's RR. Her theme was Christmas ornaments and we all stitched a square which Dusty is making up now the Robin is home. I was the last to stitch on this and there were two squares left so I stitched them both.

We are so pleased for Philippa - she worked very hard on her A levels and had some brilliant results.She is off to Glamorgan University soon (after her 9 days at the Paralympics). I have a book that I stick recipes in from magazines in or I write down recipes passed on. I have made Philippa  recipe book for Uni - the first entry is basic cupcake mixture hee hee. She is a very good cook and was delighted with her new book.

 

Thanks for popping by (again) :)

Photos galore

We are back from our second holiday to France - I've definitely been spoilt this year.We decided to go to the Champagne region but stayed in travel hotels as we planned to spend most of the time out and about.

Instead of the Eurotunnel we took the ferry and what a sail.The weather was beautiful and we sat on deck the whole way, watching the white cliffs disappear and Calais beach arrive.

Calais beach as we arrived on the ferry

We love staying overnight in the B&B Hotel Cocquelles and having a Flunch meal in Auchan - so we did ! I had paella and you could have as much as you wanted, lovely :)

Sunday we had a 250 mile drive to Epernay in the Champagne region, we did stop on the way for a coffee at Laon but didn't stay out the car for long as the temperature was 38.5C so hot.

View from Laon Notre Dame across
the land we'd just travelled

We travelled a way further and stopped for a picnic at the roads side - we used to smile at 'old folk' doing that, now we do it LOL

Picnic in the vines

Epernay was shrouded in a heat haze but it was lovely to arrive and find our travel hotel Premiere Classe.

Epernay

We had a lovely 4 nights/days - we visited three champagne houses, ate at some wonderful restaurants, travelled through some beautiful countryside, learnt a lot about champagne and grape vines, saw a windmill, went up a lighthouse and rode on a petit train.

The highlight for me was visiting our favourite champagne house Nicolas Feuillatte. We were the only people on the tour ( August is the vine growers holiday so everywhere was open but very quiet).The tour was the best of the three we went on, our guide was lovely. We bought quite a few gifts in the shop and she gave me a book about the company as a gift. I had looked at it but it was 30 euro so didn't buy it.

Here's a few pictures about all our visits.


Castellane Champagne caves

Mercier barrel taken to Paris by 24 oxen
in 1900 - it took 8 days

Mercier Champagne

Outside Moet & Chandon - we didn't visit
their caves as it's not a favourite fizz

Nicolas Feuillatte - our favourite - big bottle please

Resting in the Garden of Vines

Nick in his Nicolas Feuillatte cap
- one of our purchases

Mumm windmill - they do all their corporate
entertaining here - my invite is on it's way :)

Lighthouse in the middle of the vines

At the top of the Lighthouse -
Reims is in the background

Reims Petit Train - I do love these

Reims Notre Dame

We had a fantastic time - and stayed another night in Calais with Flunch having mussels on their eat as much as you like offer - perfect ending :)

We do love France and will be visiting next summer, probably Etaples again, and I'm sure a weekend before then. I hope you enjoyed our photos - it's an area I would recommend and it doesn't have to cost a fortune, unlike some of the bottles a of fizz!!

A little bit of stitching

I have popped over to Julie's a few times for a coffee and chat (we never have time to stitch LOL) and she has lots of beautiful willow pattern in her kitchen, so for her birthday I stitched this:

Julie's tea towel

I took it to France and spent many a happy hour stitching away.

We went to the caravan this weekend and spent most of the time watching the amazing Olympics - we even ate in so we could watch Jessica and Mo. I therefore also got loads of stitching done which was perfect as I was a little behind with the Needlecraft Haven Round Robin. I have now finished my section on Lynn's birds.

Lynn's Round Robin

It is 'The Pecking Order' by Marolein Bastin. We've all stitched a section and now it goes to Dusty for the final piece.

Lynn's so far

I am having a blitz at Dad's in the garden before the summer nights end and I'm back at school. Today my Mum and stepdad came and helped me empty the greenhouse. I took lots of Dad's old plant pots and plant name tags to the local nursery as I didn't think it right to throw them away. They were very gratefuland said they would pass them on to charities or give to schools :) I have ordered a skip for Wednesday so can get much more cleared then.

Thanks for visiting - we're off to France for a week again soon, Champagne region, somy next blog may be a bit boozey.

Gifts & France

DH and I had a lovely 10 days in France - both DS and DD stayed at home so our first real time alone. We only went 30 minutes south of Calais because we always drive through this area and wanted to see more - and we'll be back again, it was fabulous. To be honest who needs to drive to the south anyway hee hee.

Here's a few of our many photos:

Our little blue house that was massive inside.

The view to the harbour

The harbour

Me at the Market

DH looking across to Dover

Holiday Romance

Les Miserables finale

We were staying at Etaples-sur-mer and our house looked right across to the harbour. The market was fabulous, and we found a couple of lovely bars, one on the harbourside. We took a boat trip one day to the end of the estuary and back; visited a few other local seaside villages; went to La Coupole which is a World War V2 bomber site; and saw an evening performance of Les Miserables (not the musical but retelling the novel performed by villagers) in Montreuil-sur-Mer where the novel is set.

A really lovely time - thanks to my lovely DH.

Stitching wise I have been making gifts - I made two of these coasters for my friends Karan (UK) and Cathy (US)

Coasters for Karan and Cathy

One of my colleagues is getting married this month but as we're not going to the wedding I gave her their gift on the last day of term. She opened it and then spent all day carrying it around as she loved it so much. I had been asking occasional questions to find out about colours and she was amazed at how exact they were. She has decided to put it on show on the top table at the wedding which made me cry - Annabel and Allan have a fabulous day x x x

Annabel and Allan's wedding gift

My last gift is for me - from my Mum. She has been making flowers at her latest craft course and made one for me. it's perfect for my Cath Kidston bag, thanks Mum.

Flower from Mum

I have stitched another gift but it's for Julie and she won't get it until I pop over on Friday so ssshhhhh until then.

Thank you for popping by - I do hope no-one gets those silly messages again and that you can all enjoy my blogging, much love x x x

Clean!!!

Jat aquick update - Google have reviewed my Blog and it is clean (told then so hee hee) DH no longer gets warning when using Chrome so it should all be fine. Hope to see everyone again soon x x

It's safe !!

A few people have said they are getting a Malware report linked to my blog - I have no idea why or how as we have full security on all our laptop/ipad equipment and I have run various online chaecks - all reply that the site is clean.

DH and I have been doing a bit of research and it looks as though Chrome, Firefox and Safari think that some photos or weblinks are corrupt simply because their script in different to Internet Explorer.

I'm really sorry if you are getting these messages - I have no idea how to stop them. I can't think of anything else to scan/check,especially as it all comes back 'clean'

Sorry

Now to my news :)

The garden is blooming nicely in the few outbursts of sun we're getting. Here is a photo I caught the other day as my first Day Lily came out.

Our Garden

The water feature is new - we saw it at a garden centre on the way home from the caravan and straight away I though tof Dad. He would tie wood up with rope like that, was a huge gardener and the barrels looked perfect. It's nice to have something for him here :)

I have been working hard on the wedding gift - I must order the frame tomorrow and I have to have it all completed by 20th July - it is growing quite quickly and with the tennis and F1 on Sunday I should get quite a bit done.

Wedding Gift

My last bit of news is a shake of the head moment - Ruby decided that she had played with her ball long enough (a couple of months whichis good for her) and it was time for the kill. Here's what's left of it:

Half a ball

And here's the little monkey feeling a little tired after her activity - remants spread everywhere.

Didn't I do a good job Mum ?

Have a good weekend everyone, hope it's not too wet where you are. Thanks for popping by.