tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23150859548756654412024-02-07T07:50:59.905+00:00Here Be DragonsSianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-91376625022655567492009-06-24T10:13:00.003+01:002009-06-24T10:23:26.925+01:00For Rose on her Ninth Birthday<div style="text-align: center;"><br />A Wish For Our Children<br /><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">On this doorstep I stand year after year and watch you leaving,</p><p style="text-align: center;">and think: May you not skin your knees,<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">may you not catch your fingers in car doors.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">May your hearts not break.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> May tide and weather wait for your coming<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">and may you grow strong to break all the webs of my weaving.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Evangeline Paterson<br />20<sup>th</sup> Century</p>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-42851827450042704272009-06-17T18:10:00.002+01:002009-06-17T18:19:13.999+01:00Caldicot<div style="text-align: center;">From the outside, forlorn and derelict<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOz13NkWIZn9RQciue2mDFHDdpaag4RZxgbtr49aPMOQP6h92pKTcRnL-zkUqQDd0xmITEDTVyewtjPZn-P1S5AJezuyhbyZfUMU6bn4noe7NfTIBx5Wv0g3pOHDRP7k-faxEAmTSHxqB/s1600-h/exterior.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOz13NkWIZn9RQciue2mDFHDdpaag4RZxgbtr49aPMOQP6h92pKTcRnL-zkUqQDd0xmITEDTVyewtjPZn-P1S5AJezuyhbyZfUMU6bn4noe7NfTIBx5Wv0g3pOHDRP7k-faxEAmTSHxqB/s320/exterior.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348346338820788114" border="0" /></a>On the inside<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelbrE9l-kN8fzmEblTIT7hz0SbJk36z1mG5corXqSZSssb4cWe17kHCJPeJ1pQ_HalC5TuOx6caf4BuVnOzp-tPO_cJGG-YgCQP7P4ZaxGeCOxDSp3c58R1_QKiYIabpQJPo_Ho_fKytw/s1600-h/rosegarden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelbrE9l-kN8fzmEblTIT7hz0SbJk36z1mG5corXqSZSssb4cWe17kHCJPeJ1pQ_HalC5TuOx6caf4BuVnOzp-tPO_cJGG-YgCQP7P4ZaxGeCOxDSp3c58R1_QKiYIabpQJPo_Ho_fKytw/s320/rosegarden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348346335365166930" border="0" /></a>Warm and filled with the scent of roses<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaQsawa-n9z_G24wtgNSxjUB2AWd0eJoheMeeCpUeqfu1Cl61u7r1pI84fI2vdJfJwnjeIkxapTdAgsyR1x4bpNuhN40yESVdpKMw0_sTLKF-q-YEVkJOKLgr0CT_fbDTZSiXI-CM1JvT/s1600-h/from+the+rose+garden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaQsawa-n9z_G24wtgNSxjUB2AWd0eJoheMeeCpUeqfu1Cl61u7r1pI84fI2vdJfJwnjeIkxapTdAgsyR1x4bpNuhN40yESVdpKMw0_sTLKF-q-YEVkJOKLgr0CT_fbDTZSiXI-CM1JvT/s320/from+the+rose+garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348346328459751106" border="0" /></a>I spent the day spinning and chatting to children.<br />Perfect.<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-21707031436033715422009-06-15T19:51:00.002+01:002009-06-15T20:35:02.841+01:00Cilgerran Castle<div style="text-align: justify;">Not far from the coast of Cardigan Bay there lies <a href="http://www.castlewales.com/cliger.html">Cilgerran Castle</a>, built by the Welsh out of thin slate slabs, it has been ruined since the 1300's but what a little gem of a place. It is the site of a most Romantic Abduction...one minor Welsh prince fell desperately in love with the beautiful wife of a Norman lord and risking all for love the couple ran away together. I haven't found out what became of them but in all likelihood they were hunted down by the outraged husband and the worst probably befell them...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6t1lSjumca3fnaRgCQWuFNygaEo14Ns239pcS7FHfhUXXvMkwIeCDgsPhtE4RmC6LU7FtV3k_Vw420yVrPINfCoQMkFrCGJFRcGc9hd_WEGdNLhyphenhyphen4XmJs8R1oEnMXEzhF2L41rQ-AoS4/s1600-h/castletowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6t1lSjumca3fnaRgCQWuFNygaEo14Ns239pcS7FHfhUXXvMkwIeCDgsPhtE4RmC6LU7FtV3k_Vw420yVrPINfCoQMkFrCGJFRcGc9hd_WEGdNLhyphenhyphen4XmJs8R1oEnMXEzhF2L41rQ-AoS4/s320/castletowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347630866363481778" border="0" /></a>The castle is haunted apparently by a rather intimidating gentleman in black who watches from one of the towers. He did not stick around when the Freemen went for a ghost hunt late last night...mind you, if I was a spectre I would make myself scarce when faced with that lot with a few beers inside them!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDwKjQrC9eDj5pNiVoDnyHhU30EyNM6Eh7gG5goSvBa8s2JFyXXnhWPQu7tmWryeeF2KFngmN9yXr1W6d12e5uvSxZfAI3QjJH0exoogPE1qXChHxozo9bmAzI-m7tYAMu3HUx_7ka4fW/s1600-h/grouppic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDwKjQrC9eDj5pNiVoDnyHhU30EyNM6Eh7gG5goSvBa8s2JFyXXnhWPQu7tmWryeeF2KFngmN9yXr1W6d12e5uvSxZfAI3QjJH0exoogPE1qXChHxozo9bmAzI-m7tYAMu3HUx_7ka4fW/s320/grouppic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347630869192186242" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow, I am off to Caldicot Castle, one of my favourites to help with an education day for the local schools. Spinning, weaving and dyeing in the fourteenth century has to be made as gruesome as possible in order to appeal to young children. It is a challenge, but thanks to the terrible chemicals used in medieval dyeing and a particularly harrowing martyrdom with woolcombs it can be done.<br /><br />I hope you have a fun day too.<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-14895962451931035082009-06-01T18:12:00.004+01:002009-06-01T18:36:24.618+01:00Of Can OpenersMaking dinner this evening, V gets momentarily distracted and returns to find he has mislaid the can opener...<br /><br />V: <span style="font-style: italic;">Where is it?</span> *Flaps about a bit*...<span style="font-style: italic;">What have I done with it?</span> *Flaps a bit more*... <span style="font-style: italic;">Have you seen it?</span><br />Me: Nope<br />V: <span style="font-style: italic;">Where the heck have I put it?</span> *Rummages through the cutlery drawer* <span style="font-style: italic;">Ah-ha!</span><br />Me: What<br />V: <span style="font-style: italic;">I put it back in the drawer</span><br />Me: Heck, no wonder you didn't know where it was<br /><br />long pause<br /><br />V: <span style="font-style: italic;">It's only funny when I say things like that</span>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-18894911359566402352009-05-29T10:17:00.001+01:002009-05-29T10:31:10.240+01:00Strawberry Rum<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsPJzrgbetW9bad4BvMgNDxx091BuHuq1-GW8iVI8ipx10nacqTF_NYu_Sh0k3cHGoSWr7ucUu2BAWlpOs0MzywS_8OfzHqVqLptuoCHYvKLQNR10kkbIWo24rYaH98UgAaR3My6xg2cF/s1600-h/strawberryrum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsPJzrgbetW9bad4BvMgNDxx091BuHuq1-GW8iVI8ipx10nacqTF_NYu_Sh0k3cHGoSWr7ucUu2BAWlpOs0MzywS_8OfzHqVqLptuoCHYvKLQNR10kkbIWo24rYaH98UgAaR3My6xg2cF/s320/strawberryrum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341173845001319618" border="0" /></a><br />You need<br />Strawberries<br />and rum, obviously - I used white rum because then it will go pink with the berries<br />castor sugar - I used about 4oz<br />and a large jar to steep it all in.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Prick the strawberries all over with a cocktail stick, shake the sugar up in the jar with the rum<br />Add the berries and that's it.<br /><br />Shake the jar every day for a month then strain the berries out. I plan on adding these to an apple jam - I'll let you know how that goes - and leave the liquor to mature for another three months.<br /><br />Drink when you have nothing planned for the next day!<br /><br /><br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-54651960557458821212009-05-27T10:01:00.001+01:002009-05-28T00:24:51.253+01:00Eastnor Castle<div style="text-align: justify;">Bank Holiday weekend found us at Eastnor - for some reason I always want to call it Southden - a pretty little jewel of a castle in the Borders. It is not medieval at all, in fact it was built in the early 1800's but it is crammed full of treasures - armour, tapestries, four poster bed and weird curiosities like stuffed cheetahs.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v5oDBnuL4KQuJhCVF4mgZz06Ooshfb19t1U_dio1D5o633bHY4BoLN67IHuojVcE8h1GE3FbsfBtEkygk1eZVrtkHZ0hs5mLNVrgrEAauGfrV_peTBC9GkhWf_cUfjAxrSomTf0btRiP/s1600-h/castle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v5oDBnuL4KQuJhCVF4mgZz06Ooshfb19t1U_dio1D5o633bHY4BoLN67IHuojVcE8h1GE3FbsfBtEkygk1eZVrtkHZ0hs5mLNVrgrEAauGfrV_peTBC9GkhWf_cUfjAxrSomTf0btRiP/s320/castle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340420815064479442" border="0" /></a><br />It also became temporary home to a smallish party of re-enactors who enjoyed themselves very much on a teeny little patch of flat ground in all the rolling parkland.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYUlbqjZAxLRmWvjykS-V7wazbQBq2XtjW2AOwyq5kgpVzBE_E5MUaYvYldrbyjd3eUya7GwCoOXeXvf4JCyn9Mmh02gLPxyHyzZcviYQKmVw2AuuOGSscfXgkzaDpD60Kqp2tQRGXxr3/s1600-h/campearlymorning.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYUlbqjZAxLRmWvjykS-V7wazbQBq2XtjW2AOwyq5kgpVzBE_E5MUaYvYldrbyjd3eUya7GwCoOXeXvf4JCyn9Mmh02gLPxyHyzZcviYQKmVw2AuuOGSscfXgkzaDpD60Kqp2tQRGXxr3/s320/campearlymorning.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340420810294577858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We had cooked breakfasts, pottage, a battle and gunfire - very loud this, courtesy of the Kings Ordinance group. Not my favourite thing loud bangs...<br /><br />I also had my first archery lesson (and got a bulls eye on my first shot!) The bow belonged to Jane, a girl from the Levy Archers, so it wasn't too heavy but it still made my arms ache! However, this is something that needs further investigation I think, particularly as V was placed second in the archery competition and he has only had three goes ever - so proud of my fab husband. I am only sorry that I did not get to see him compete as Lily came down with a weird virus thing so I mostly stayed close to camp to keep an eye on her. She perked up towards the end though, enough to trot around in the park and play under the trees.<br /><br />Ludlow Castle next weekend and I am looking forward to it already!<br /><br /><br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-55159610475036524972009-04-30T05:10:00.005+01:002009-04-30T05:39:23.042+01:00Of Dens<div style="text-align: justify;">Really, when it comes to fun, there is little that can improve on a den. Rain has halted outside play but luckily a clothes airer and blankets provide the same amount of fun as they did when I was little.<br />Only I never made my dens in the bath. Baths make for very cold and very hard dens but one folded king sized duvet later and everyone is comfy and agitating to sleep there that night.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_jds3_1-PPmUaiku9rvnO4QDW-jGyEmSC1GwQgNIV9h5CcsnWa184FBRo9dWzWr-Dg-7Y-0gcu7RTDnR8A-voXAqgaaDpBE2a5AtH18EEwgt7zC3YQD7D0S0cQQsJ-jyCqkR9QFvWcQG/s1600-h/den1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_jds3_1-PPmUaiku9rvnO4QDW-jGyEmSC1GwQgNIV9h5CcsnWa184FBRo9dWzWr-Dg-7Y-0gcu7RTDnR8A-voXAqgaaDpBE2a5AtH18EEwgt7zC3YQD7D0S0cQQsJ-jyCqkR9QFvWcQG/s320/den1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330332135483412754" border="0" /></a>Now I tried to sleep in a bath once. It seemed like the thing to do at the time (and yes, it was at the end of a convivial evening) and despite being rather immune to discomfort, courtesy of Mr Smirnoff, I remember it as being deeply unsuccessful. So my knee jerk reaction was to say no...<br /><br />...and then I thought - why not? Why on earth can't they sleep in the tub if they want to? It's not as if I am <span style="font-style: italic;">forcing</span> them to sleep rough in the bathroom. So I agreed, on the premise that if they found out that they didn't like it, that they would get into their own beds without waking me at 3am to give me the low down on everything. 'Kay? 'Kay.<br /><br />And they did. And it was fun. And I asked them very nicely if they would mind not telling the teachers at school that they slept in the bath because I am already in the Headmistress's black books for feeding them nutella sandwiches. Poor woman, she probably was never allowed to sleep in the bath when she was a child.<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-43695255615331752522009-04-23T17:36:00.002+01:002009-04-23T17:44:25.790+01:00St George and all that...In honour of the saint and in memory of The Bard's birthday here is one of my favourite quotes on England mainly because I believe, once upon a time, the following was true...<br /><br /><div align="center">This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle, </div><div align="center">This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, </div><div align="center">This other Eden, demi-paradise, </div><div align="center">This fortress built by Nature for herself </div><div align="center">Against infection and the hand of war, </div><div align="center">This happy breed of men, this little world, </div><div align="center">This precious stone set in the silver sea, </div><div align="center">Which serves it in the office of a wall </div><div align="center">Or as a moat defensive to a house, </div><div align="center">Against the envy of less happier lands,-- </div><div align="center">This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.<br /><a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/William_Shakespeare/">William Shakespeare</a>, "King Richard II", Act 2 scene 1</div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-54368227533552923592009-04-21T18:16:00.002+01:002009-04-21T18:38:00.815+01:00BangersI am at work and the phone goes. It is V<br /><br />V: <em>So I'm cooking the sausages</em><br />Me: Yes<br />V: <em>But I forgot to stick them with a fork</em><br />Me: Yeeeers *thinks - great, an oven to clean when I get home*<br />V: <em>What happens now?</em><br />Me: Well, have they exploded yet?<br />V: (agast) <em>What?</em><br />Me: Well, why do you think they are called bangers?<br />V: <em>No... no they haven't exploded</em> (I can hear him thinking - she feeds me and my children explosive food?!)<br />Me: Well, stick 'em, cook them and serve them up<br />V: <em>Oh...that's it?</em><br />Me: Yup, that's cooking m'dear.<br /><br /><div align="justify">When it comes to cooking, it has taken him twenty years to reach for anything more complicated than the tin opener and microwave. Give him another twenty and he might manage a roast. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I can't complain, he makes a fantastic cup of tea.</div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-7831758338460175882009-04-16T05:51:00.001+01:002009-04-16T06:10:41.027+01:00Early<div style="text-align: justify;">Another fall goes to Lady Insomnia. At four am. I woke up for no reason at all. But it makes a good time to go round and check what folks have been doing on their blogs. It made me think.<br /><br />There was a time when I could not go a day without blogging. I would spend sometimes as much as an hour writing my own post, then spend maybe another two hours jumping all over the world to see what was happening in other lives far removed from my small house on the mountain. I think I was more lonely than I knew... but you see, while I was reading about other folk, I was letting my life pass me by.<br /><br />Spring is a busy time for everyone - planting, planning, moving on into the season. Then there is all Summer to watch it unfold to harvest in Autumn.<br /><br />It is now six o clock and I can hear blackbirds greeting the new day. Time to light the fire and get the kettle on.<br /><br />ttfn m'dears<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-54206077350594716102009-04-05T05:24:00.002+01:002009-04-05T05:30:42.684+01:00Brilliant Idea #1Guess what this is...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzOwyg1plH3vKmxlDIvUOYVj7onyFVTV_ax1-EIU4mV1rElwYyD6E9igzQ8ltYUHuIi-Jf4GAGZbva5BmMjxpYkk6g5CfKBH_xxj8WMGAwKTRqnES5tbozSU8ETs8uo4BX9Y_deGtvTst/s1600-h/spinningwheelcupholder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxzOwyg1plH3vKmxlDIvUOYVj7onyFVTV_ax1-EIU4mV1rElwYyD6E9igzQ8ltYUHuIi-Jf4GAGZbva5BmMjxpYkk6g5CfKBH_xxj8WMGAwKTRqnES5tbozSU8ETs8uo4BX9Y_deGtvTst/s320/spinningwheelcupholder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321058910133616210" border="0" /></a>You'll never guess. It is a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7006191">cup holder for a spinning wheel</a>. And nothing so mundane as a cup of coffee - oh no<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOHCLj_CeLUsaxYQw8ZboaraRJYM9EtDDVpF9vl7YyqK1uUPTmWlviFLpkIfdLUmfGgwb4wcYYNGd7QXrMZcHvR0BVbCZhHKL-BJI051cpgPF9WEABAUeDWqmuf6iIPTv3fn4EuS_bRrY/s1600-h/spinningwheelcupholdermartini.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOHCLj_CeLUsaxYQw8ZboaraRJYM9EtDDVpF9vl7YyqK1uUPTmWlviFLpkIfdLUmfGgwb4wcYYNGd7QXrMZcHvR0BVbCZhHKL-BJI051cpgPF9WEABAUeDWqmuf6iIPTv3fn4EuS_bRrY/s320/spinningwheelcupholdermartini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321058902667513042" border="0" /></a>Obviously my kind of crafter...Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-17108307257308399312009-03-05T02:00:00.002+00:002009-03-05T04:07:44.491+00:00Turn, turn, turn...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSY5tB-fv54egjiJ9TByX_FGMX6GTEgE0MTZ0EO_TlSNPDjLr88tjt9IP3rudmvfM-qvcO_pq3ubRclVJXg6NgdryJcaYjSEgXqh4CKTpqbEMx-QBGTFu2zTddOzhI2NmoG0LlNyqjA-w/s1600-h/snowyprimrose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSY5tB-fv54egjiJ9TByX_FGMX6GTEgE0MTZ0EO_TlSNPDjLr88tjt9IP3rudmvfM-qvcO_pq3ubRclVJXg6NgdryJcaYjSEgXqh4CKTpqbEMx-QBGTFu2zTddOzhI2NmoG0LlNyqjA-w/s400/snowyprimrose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309525736291640674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">To everything there is a season,<br />and a time to every purpose under the heaven...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I really, really need to remember this.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Have a gentle day today.<br /></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ILw-ocfwEBiLoKv0L9pt7OVSeGtfmRnnukgfn-9LtyicnmyRW2QpCxyY5RKclTegCBKewwBddzQQty1EYwTB5aZkWb8kyvrh1x6ZWJz7LbPLblzZQHxyEc9a7IcUMLwhmsfGOXPK6t53/s1600-h/snowyprimrose.jpg"><br /><br /></a>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-11754467265825868952009-02-27T23:06:00.004+00:002009-02-27T23:35:06.409+00:00Eisteddfod<div style="text-align: justify;">In honour of St David, the patron saint of Wales and his day which falls the first of March and is the chance for everyone to eat cawl and Welshcakes and of course the kids get to dress up in national dress.<br />A dodgy business this as this so called national dress was the brainchild of an overly romantic Victorian - Lady Charlotte Guest - sister to one of the most powerful industrial magnates of that era who, though she had some very good ideas about the preservation (and some might say, the invention) of Welsh culture, was never-the-less not fond enough of the Welsh to ensure that the workers of Merthyr Tydfil had clean water to drink let alone decent wages.<br />Sorry, the old Chartist blood in me just rising to the surface there. Moving on...<br /></div><br />One of the very best things about daughters is how adorable they look in national dress<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8KWkqRNAiM4gO272gFxQIlQeZWu6VG-pftqobI548KhaL6q2fRyy0tNkHYyB631jQ_kGKrxK7h2z8H6YUevmQfsL-fhWqZ37DnMHdmkHLM8Q_ydmd_W9jUBNxkn3kLf78QrQyFpWTx-U/s1600-h/threewelshladies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8KWkqRNAiM4gO272gFxQIlQeZWu6VG-pftqobI548KhaL6q2fRyy0tNkHYyB631jQ_kGKrxK7h2z8H6YUevmQfsL-fhWqZ37DnMHdmkHLM8Q_ydmd_W9jUBNxkn3kLf78QrQyFpWTx-U/s320/threewelshladies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307618370388013970" border="0" /></a><br />And of course I was full of pride when all my girls won prizes for their art work<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDH9ve-JWC7kquAHNH41D9siyyRG_ZuWoQNID25bYi7MRvJzJH_Y_P6E0R2LGOF8SMtQ-tButlveOm1zSRh9IxRRUxtrujbheuDbeaKXi4VPbrTyXvh1NHO6WVOlXE1dIu6ZjoOh5QYEP/s1600-h/thirdforart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDH9ve-JWC7kquAHNH41D9siyyRG_ZuWoQNID25bYi7MRvJzJH_Y_P6E0R2LGOF8SMtQ-tButlveOm1zSRh9IxRRUxtrujbheuDbeaKXi4VPbrTyXvh1NHO6WVOlXE1dIu6ZjoOh5QYEP/s320/thirdforart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307618141811222546" border="0" /></a>Rose came third in her class, Eden first and Lily second in theirs.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdUYOCqOBmIJ0QsfH1D7s0FYBzEDftHDs-VQ0qcQkTVvYbYIC5o2VisheyQUAZXVZ1Ks8IhFAMEkiRFyNmQO3xqPxQl4yoSz4tV5MIKlAszIn0OeozglFmfXiVmolNnSURSIndMRWab8N/s1600-h/firstandsecondforart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdUYOCqOBmIJ0QsfH1D7s0FYBzEDftHDs-VQ0qcQkTVvYbYIC5o2VisheyQUAZXVZ1Ks8IhFAMEkiRFyNmQO3xqPxQl4yoSz4tV5MIKlAszIn0OeozglFmfXiVmolNnSURSIndMRWab8N/s320/firstandsecondforart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307618131974234850" border="0" /></a>Eisteddfodau are all about competition, singing, poetry, art and recitation. It can be quite hard going sometimes hearing the same poem over and over again, but fortunately ours is a small school and we only have to hear each entry three times. Not bad considering that in some eisteddfodau the audience can be inflictd with ten renditions of the same poem or song...<br />So just to give you a tiny taste you can see this short clip of <span style="font-style: italic;">Cofio Dewi</span> - Remember David - an all round good bloke apparently.<br /></div><br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://s270.photobucket.com/flash/player.swf?file=http://vid270.photobucket.com/albums/jj89/SianAurwen/IMGP3449.flv" width="448" height="361"></embed><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br />Rose is in there somewhere...Happy St David's Day when it comes!Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-63357111195541014942009-02-23T06:19:00.003+00:002009-02-23T06:35:39.473+00:00An Early Morning Grumble<div style="text-align: justify;">It's been a busy week. Painting the house, tidying the garden - I think I lugged about half a tonne of slate chippings on Wednesday and I finished my second quilt. Sorry, no picture, the camera has gone AWOL again.<br />And now I have a cold and the weeks second bout of insomnia. I bloody hate not being able to sleep becuase the kids don't care that I am exhausted, they just want their morning porridge and a warm sitting room to dress in - why haven't you lit the fire mum?<br /><br />Meh...<br /><br />In other news I have found possibly the best and easiest ice cream recipe in the entire world. Really. It is so simple that it is barely a recipe. And here it is...<br /><br />Half a pint of lightly beaten double cream into which you stir one tin of condensed milk. Mix well and freeze.<br /><br />That's it. Yes, it will make your arteries go clang but what the heck is life without a furry aorta eh?<br /><br />Right, that's enough waffle for today. I have a fire to light.<br />Have a sweet and energy filled day won't you?<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-17285784076402040712009-02-16T15:12:00.004+00:002009-02-17T16:02:52.831+00:00Spring Light<div style="text-align: justify;">It is a beautiful day here. The kind of light that shows up all the cobwebs but also falls on the eye so prettily and lifts hopeful earth scents from the mountainside.<br /><br />I painted my front door today - just the undercoat- but it's a start and then I planted a few more primroses for the feral sheep to munch when grass gets just <span style="font-style: italic;">too</span> dull.<br /><br />The girls played in the absolute very last of the massive snowman then, when he finally gave up the ghost and turned to water, they replayed scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.<br /><br />Sitting there on my doorstep, sipping tea and inhaling fresh paint smells, listening to my girls dragging round an old trike calling-<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bring out yer dead! </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm not dead!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You soon will be...</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm feeling much better! </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">No yer not! </span>etc...<br /><br />Life is good.<br /><br /></div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/grbSQ6O6kbs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/grbSQ6O6kbs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-66858209852207954852009-02-07T20:11:00.003+00:002009-02-07T20:39:09.520+00:00Sir Lily<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XuDw4hcxXYPaoHPnW5fom46uxL91TVDiAJ9JnvIOn92hvPkRMKmUDaf4UHKpA7sqn_AGC_Hb9w81QpNH41HgVU2jHj3_EanDJWQycOKlEN5NM-icYl61Ji25q2-WFk6C7iM4UbXCQzbf/s1600-h/lilytheknight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XuDw4hcxXYPaoHPnW5fom46uxL91TVDiAJ9JnvIOn92hvPkRMKmUDaf4UHKpA7sqn_AGC_Hb9w81QpNH41HgVU2jHj3_EanDJWQycOKlEN5NM-icYl61Ji25q2-WFk6C7iM4UbXCQzbf/s320/lilytheknight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300150855476628770" border="0" /></a>It's still a while to go before the start of the season... but guess who has been watching<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Knights-Tale-Heath-Ledger/dp/B000E6TVZK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1234037977&sr=8-1">A Knight's Tale</a> just to keep the hand in.<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-75463457090025672672009-02-06T11:54:00.003+00:002009-02-06T12:14:55.951+00:00Snow Man<div style="text-align: center;">Welsh men take snowmen construction very seriously.<br />Not for them a dainty fey snow creature...oh no.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmxkwF1ZBGiKmN9Y5KYpUR1wLjVaCI3bCF23y4LLwgAB1oXfOYTMkMhFQYGphUapOtuoqtwhsf5WG4doCUBAg-OyyTeVvuAugOjiCtHaO8bkC5E8UZKtaasT9DWPpMCOX77MiPP8vLb4-/s1600-h/buildingthesnowman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmxkwF1ZBGiKmN9Y5KYpUR1wLjVaCI3bCF23y4LLwgAB1oXfOYTMkMhFQYGphUapOtuoqtwhsf5WG4doCUBAg-OyyTeVvuAugOjiCtHaO8bkC5E8UZKtaasT9DWPpMCOX77MiPP8vLb4-/s320/buildingthesnowman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299652682313031186" border="0" /></a>Snowmen must be <span style="font-weight: bold;">BIG</span>. Bigger than the kids...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCewsyMQkFtQ75h96sY5j47_HYXz2Ly1JRE-wutw8YjcbkRXsuiRoCS2G_Ym0N6p-7TJLaQiOgQUuLt9Sbtaiq2RJZx1AoYdjC5hnFJVxwp7NQPsh6XjW0HgHkDif8RdWzHhzdT5y3xz10/s1600-h/snowbearwithhat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCewsyMQkFtQ75h96sY5j47_HYXz2Ly1JRE-wutw8YjcbkRXsuiRoCS2G_Ym0N6p-7TJLaQiOgQUuLt9Sbtaiq2RJZx1AoYdjC5hnFJVxwp7NQPsh6XjW0HgHkDif8RdWzHhzdT5y3xz10/s320/snowbearwithhat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299652387928478594" border="0" /></a>bigger than the wife or indeed the wife's car...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8mbDxdMEdvcEGczKfQgJN4pT6kPyZKPpxaRKhUA9prYPPBA1mH0HEIOQij4WB4maUmLL7NChmCRXanO-GzzKXcVGFXOP3PCeICSQuvkqAzrWcFY66iVBeKBvzxiH5TeS8XQqh0sIUMH1/s1600-h/playinginthesnow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8mbDxdMEdvcEGczKfQgJN4pT6kPyZKPpxaRKhUA9prYPPBA1mH0HEIOQij4WB4maUmLL7NChmCRXanO-GzzKXcVGFXOP3PCeICSQuvkqAzrWcFY66iVBeKBvzxiH5TeS8XQqh0sIUMH1/s320/playinginthesnow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299652382033519026" border="0" /></a>and then, once the snowman is built to satisfactory standards,<br />a man must then win all snowball fights<br />and break three tea trays hurtling down snowy slopes.<br /><br />it was fun though :o)<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-60640367975448439162009-02-02T11:08:00.004+00:002009-02-02T11:52:11.997+00:00Snow!Up early and yawning, Eden opened the curtains this morning, peered out into the darkness and said-<br />What is <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span>?!<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">She cannot remember snow, it has been that long but five minutes after Rose woke up they were all squeaking with excitement and wondering if school would shut. </div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcufMy9Vg1GObQ3mWV9oQScQ2_4X44mFpQbIE48yq1kdmSVksIRzqZ-yAt5bA3KJrOWK59xhVY9Nya0LSPdl7VVUYiqPHjdLXBP3VSSimTR_R21R8zlUAv06aSvkOyBT3HUkPi_qbhe47v/s1600-h/thebeechwood.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcufMy9Vg1GObQ3mWV9oQScQ2_4X44mFpQbIE48yq1kdmSVksIRzqZ-yAt5bA3KJrOWK59xhVY9Nya0LSPdl7VVUYiqPHjdLXBP3VSSimTR_R21R8zlUAv06aSvkOyBT3HUkPi_qbhe47v/s320/thebeechwood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298155957391809058" border="0" /></a>Poor lambs, there isn't even an inch out there, not enough to make a snowball even. But it is very pretty and a dusting is just the right amount for me thank you very much. I am not a fan of the cold but I took these when I got back from the school run.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqqdVK_cC6rV_dV6jLdjSDVAuNhyphenhyphenKtlwkteMDAqBeUq1mYFP3R3VG6UM7TaAQH3rvL8E3X7DKKP5A1FW2TLGK14uigirS6K-9mTa-mbV238f1uB-SQLOJJOQ_V98b6nj9aObeLWgSERh9/s1600-h/snowsky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqqdVK_cC6rV_dV6jLdjSDVAuNhyphenhyphenKtlwkteMDAqBeUq1mYFP3R3VG6UM7TaAQH3rvL8E3X7DKKP5A1FW2TLGK14uigirS6K-9mTa-mbV238f1uB-SQLOJJOQ_V98b6nj9aObeLWgSERh9/s320/snowsky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298155949986934018" border="0" /></a>Yesterday was the start of a new season in the celtic calendar which the Christians kick off with the feast of St Bridget, celebrating the promise of Spring while still in the darkness of winter - the new shoots hidden beneath the snow...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgpVgpoiKpimOc-c-pgQ-2phLA1HATJ-Y9BVND_ioqpS2sA9UqvBhepWgin28oPws1r4nug-m8y8YPP9XkvQ9Iub7Ybcho9UJxc-kJ6SkbgeZy4a2ySI7qbw_boyn2a_SQhCxsWqHZh_q/s1600-h/springundersnow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgpVgpoiKpimOc-c-pgQ-2phLA1HATJ-Y9BVND_ioqpS2sA9UqvBhepWgin28oPws1r4nug-m8y8YPP9XkvQ9Iub7Ybcho9UJxc-kJ6SkbgeZy4a2ySI7qbw_boyn2a_SQhCxsWqHZh_q/s320/springundersnow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298155952420144802" border="0" /></a>It is also a celebration of a warm hearth and hospitality to travellers out in the cold. I am tucked up inside once more and cosy with my cuppa and chocolate biscuits. but I've got the kettle on, just in case...<br />Keep warm, where ever you are.<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-46390635539942570822009-02-01T09:05:00.003+00:002009-02-01T09:21:43.490+00:00A First<div style="text-align: justify;">So here it is, at the age of 36, nearly 37, I have made my first ever quilt. Dah daaaaaaah!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdnUkbhs3Za8kTp_dw4g3q3puaPKhGgOdFWxeVceSfGyBoAGj_4c5_IufsYQOOOyVb0OGkp_EPBCRLCTBWJDwwLUopRJ-H83yJs9GrZqk7wbAkkGymM0DpHiEzNIuD3OlTNp7iD5IB6FA/s1600-h/babyquilt1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdnUkbhs3Za8kTp_dw4g3q3puaPKhGgOdFWxeVceSfGyBoAGj_4c5_IufsYQOOOyVb0OGkp_EPBCRLCTBWJDwwLUopRJ-H83yJs9GrZqk7wbAkkGymM0DpHiEzNIuD3OlTNp7iD5IB6FA/s320/babyquilt1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297753006868925010" border="0" /></a>I started it last Autumn but then making all the costumes for our medieval days sort of soaked up all the sewing mojo. I picked it up again when I visited Ffald Y Brenin and let the quiet rythmn of handsewing just float me away.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQUaUs9WRvVqxOTcVoQ_99M9hmh6pa0fRbZblQVx5_iRkgpInz8Q2uQWaIa-7luqXUM6IDBmoTplXY7lx4dVxSTK_9aVKNs3KtSoN5F-vffs-7Zy7a0FZHU7KT7JZl3-SpKi4OBhltv6b/s1600-h/babyquiltback2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQUaUs9WRvVqxOTcVoQ_99M9hmh6pa0fRbZblQVx5_iRkgpInz8Q2uQWaIa-7luqXUM6IDBmoTplXY7lx4dVxSTK_9aVKNs3KtSoN5F-vffs-7Zy7a0FZHU7KT7JZl3-SpKi4OBhltv6b/s320/babyquiltback2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297753005894814098" border="0" /></a>It is a baby quilt but the baby it was intended for is rather too big for it now. It really is only a crib/comfort blanket size.<br />Happily, a couple in church had their little daughter only a few days ago and this will do very well for a gift for her.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW6-Dl0s7lfIClWDVNMG7UcszrVhtSrlsp-XhwEHE3LBBiBUedjnhlkyzDLs9w4Y8Xji2FsKQSX-0crzxJ7K7NRYItXLStgUDcPOPa-_qXU1LbRqJ_i5iDWEdoGjdrIGYLIvKR1AC2W97/s1600-h/babyquiltdetail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW6-Dl0s7lfIClWDVNMG7UcszrVhtSrlsp-XhwEHE3LBBiBUedjnhlkyzDLs9w4Y8Xji2FsKQSX-0crzxJ7K7NRYItXLStgUDcPOPa-_qXU1LbRqJ_i5iDWEdoGjdrIGYLIvKR1AC2W97/s320/babyquiltdetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297753000443718546" border="0" /></a>Roses for little Keziah Rose.<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-52789599066975963512009-01-29T06:14:00.004+00:002009-01-29T06:38:58.688+00:00Time<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiKOBByt-b84X-OzsumbfPcjmfNIQNsW8sm68YOI7864Saj1bI-TL-FYs2OeqgYkxt43FZohrqx3sGjIuIlf-9usoYitZp4cXocqN0TIFWXOpnXkq4i2h7E8GWkjKZddwbhIN7gobfm9y/s1600-h/moonoverthesea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiKOBByt-b84X-OzsumbfPcjmfNIQNsW8sm68YOI7864Saj1bI-TL-FYs2OeqgYkxt43FZohrqx3sGjIuIlf-9usoYitZp4cXocqN0TIFWXOpnXkq4i2h7E8GWkjKZddwbhIN7gobfm9y/s320/moonoverthesea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296600434552135362" border="0" /></a>I have on my bookshelf a small book of prayers given to me by my mother. I am not one for written prayers normally but these are sweet, short and headed toward the celtic in flavour. One of my favourites is that of a Breton fisherman which is very much to the point I feel.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh Lord, protect me.<br />The sea is so large and my boat is so small</span>.<br /><br /></div>This is how I feel about time right now - at the end of a sleepless night, with the usual day in front of me. I have much to do with this day. Children to look to, a man to feed, a house to tend... a cat to trip over and a garden to ignore.<br />Mine is a blessed life and I know it, quiet and domestic with no hurricanes to tip the small boat over... I give thanks for this safe harbour. And I pray a peaceful day for you too.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Prompted by <a href="http://onesingleimpression.blogspot.com/">One Single Impression</a> - If Only I had Time.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">and the above is not my photo, it came from a stock shot of the sea and I happened to like it.</span><br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-31429722446626301192009-01-26T02:34:00.003+00:002009-01-26T02:50:53.790+00:00Peace<div style="text-align: center;">Ffald-y-Brenin, a retreat in the Preseli mountains.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKxcEcz0uAM_5n040ipKIwWgXLJqUI8k3LSkNFi-ZEQKOMwPLCncWkPptRW4iRnowkWhdYXUCEhPdu5oHvmdzpB4N1yKTSWAjwrkEWunBDuVabPdZjarmBZJjah_UDE_8CA_rzQ5W96SO/s1600-h/hawthornsffyb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKxcEcz0uAM_5n040ipKIwWgXLJqUI8k3LSkNFi-ZEQKOMwPLCncWkPptRW4iRnowkWhdYXUCEhPdu5oHvmdzpB4N1yKTSWAjwrkEWunBDuVabPdZjarmBZJjah_UDE_8CA_rzQ5W96SO/s320/hawthornsffyb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295425597943965458" border="0" /></a>There is no sound but the wind on the mountain.<br />Here you can watch the sky for hours.<br />Here you may be still.<br />There are no demands, no fears and no expectations.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfqdbhUfVi_9uFDIDa08zcIL_alYX0oyQ9JvpR6Ih51SGE2yl7V0ZQ-YD32SOtVNwQsfr27ViOgftRCyWj8KbeVYmnl-KT1MWnm-0019cMgMq38ISB1lBXp4AXbf3UZbhRBiH5UZ7yay5/s1600-h/dawnatffaldybrenin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfqdbhUfVi_9uFDIDa08zcIL_alYX0oyQ9JvpR6Ih51SGE2yl7V0ZQ-YD32SOtVNwQsfr27ViOgftRCyWj8KbeVYmnl-KT1MWnm-0019cMgMq38ISB1lBXp4AXbf3UZbhRBiH5UZ7yay5/s320/dawnatffaldybrenin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295425292531408562" border="0" /></a>Nothing but peace<br />...and I had a beautiful time.<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-77003692425449386762009-01-21T10:10:00.001+00:002009-01-21T10:15:20.244+00:00Valentine HeartsThese kept pleasantly amusedthe last few evenings. Very simple to do, just threading beads and wrapping wire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vHb1zZyBX8OYGBJ87njA4NbYIchLl325d2FhIYWtGMfzVjSMC05qTXT-PT9aKjuA64JoOCCF1ngPStuttUcVpPgyI2QYe2SvBt1kvQRlaLBIhMAJ2QMxWLL4_YXrpjDg6pcd2FgBQbgz/s1600-h/redhearts1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vHb1zZyBX8OYGBJ87njA4NbYIchLl325d2FhIYWtGMfzVjSMC05qTXT-PT9aKjuA64JoOCCF1ngPStuttUcVpPgyI2QYe2SvBt1kvQRlaLBIhMAJ2QMxWLL4_YXrpjDg6pcd2FgBQbgz/s320/redhearts1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293687683078979858" border="0" /></a>I am thinking about putting them in my etsy shop<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQUglC8MQ3oeo_zjnTeW4hagBHrXQnZV_EMgIzhYpRwSowg8iO3b36zloGf4oOLFksJu7GBfkCfvt35Zcbkyez-1QO9UMLohQv0QZa28USbxWWC9iO3VFuygdoaQ3I1y3eFRVCnIaQSlP/s1600-h/hearts2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQUglC8MQ3oeo_zjnTeW4hagBHrXQnZV_EMgIzhYpRwSowg8iO3b36zloGf4oOLFksJu7GBfkCfvt35Zcbkyez-1QO9UMLohQv0QZa28USbxWWC9iO3VFuygdoaQ3I1y3eFRVCnIaQSlP/s320/hearts2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293687683259767826" border="0" /></a>What do you think?Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-80105538917594373972009-01-17T17:31:00.004+00:002009-01-17T17:51:13.302+00:00Watercolour Sky<div style="text-align: justify;">When the rain lets up and the wind blows the clouds away so the sun can pour through, this is what we get by way of skies in Wales this time of year. This was taken by Sharon, an artist friend of mine and the colours just got me thinking...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLgY352WmIdLNUT40D3MKijhmIIaQ3LCQd8w1BblJXbcTeukzDo5YIYU6k4A_55e4pwXdQxEdeVhM5xcqY5aFSX_AXHpYbZvAfEjRhP7i1ln3NgDxZEATrIxpoY7PcT9wFf5uZKeg5kN7/s1600-h/watercoloursky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLgY352WmIdLNUT40D3MKijhmIIaQ3LCQd8w1BblJXbcTeukzDo5YIYU6k4A_55e4pwXdQxEdeVhM5xcqY5aFSX_AXHpYbZvAfEjRhP7i1ln3NgDxZEATrIxpoY7PcT9wFf5uZKeg5kN7/s320/watercoloursky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292317762120123922" border="0" /></a>And this is what I came up with...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-xTjwV4yOCX2YJgFRqiJV9pcy__UxBzh1nzNhjiaQjffHYzwRxmekDG3arex8kGXF4OhKjAo-HhN3CGXPGnVqsEiGqhbU721X-8i2H-AH-JWneTboTwdyUbnBs90ZCnrQKlx-_hAQeSF/s1600-h/naiad1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-xTjwV4yOCX2YJgFRqiJV9pcy__UxBzh1nzNhjiaQjffHYzwRxmekDG3arex8kGXF4OhKjAo-HhN3CGXPGnVqsEiGqhbU721X-8i2H-AH-JWneTboTwdyUbnBs90ZCnrQKlx-_hAQeSF/s320/naiad1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292317449589424690" border="0" /></a>Chalky turquoise merino wool flitted through with some handpainted silk in ultamarine, bright pink and pond green <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzwOosR80a-IOSGSEJtJClnkwiIBjoxjZOXR8X___GuM8JfQwSHn7i028Lo5nOyFdS09RPYVwJVqISoAJT_1g3C9eJhk8IQRMy1jGEzgzlL3P-vD-wXRfNFQRp8cln9JSdNoYc9-O1zAd/s1600-h/naiad1a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzwOosR80a-IOSGSEJtJClnkwiIBjoxjZOXR8X___GuM8JfQwSHn7i028Lo5nOyFdS09RPYVwJVqISoAJT_1g3C9eJhk8IQRMy1jGEzgzlL3P-vD-wXRfNFQRp8cln9JSdNoYc9-O1zAd/s320/naiad1a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292317447061013554" border="0" /></a>I don't want to spin it though as I think it will lose its painted quality. So felting it is. Probably into flowers for the edges of the shawl I crocheted while in hospital with Eden. The shawl is a heavy, dark grey - very like the clouds in the picture so it will come together nicely I think.<br /><br />Hope you have a light filled day too.<br /></div>Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-85279494848881887762009-01-13T23:09:00.006+00:002009-01-13T23:49:49.284+00:00Grey Outside but Bright Within<div style="text-align: justify;">A sure fire way to combat a mizzly January morning is to curl up in front of the fire and browse the web for inspiration. My wanderings took me to <a href="http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/index.html">The Cotton Patch </a> and the astonishingly pretty <a href="http://www.springwoodhousedesigns.co.uk/fabrics.htm">Springwood House</a>. Quilting emporiums and chock full of gorgeousness. Springwood house in particular had me squeaking in excitement as they have squares of computer foil there in a banquet of shimmering glitzyness.<br /><br />As I have said before, I love the homespun look - checks of spicy browns, cute stripes of sand and berry etc etc and I always think how right they would look in my tiny little miners cottage but somehow the magpie DNA almost always wins and I end up getting the bright and spangly because honestly, it is just what I like best of all. I am a design Jekyll and Hyde...only with glitter.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVEcy5KY8aQyNbzC-1SZlNA4CZ7wury6ZURSRi8ePWvaHUQwsfDEmLxBHR4BG0EbYJPJxyovJGSXyh9m8tMBlqoHRWa_RJBj_bLIJXQ0i9FnVLsP9jcKPpVkSYufzkXf2IOB_i4kS-OQq/s1600-h/reflections.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVEcy5KY8aQyNbzC-1SZlNA4CZ7wury6ZURSRi8ePWvaHUQwsfDEmLxBHR4BG0EbYJPJxyovJGSXyh9m8tMBlqoHRWa_RJBj_bLIJXQ0i9FnVLsP9jcKPpVkSYufzkXf2IOB_i4kS-OQq/s320/reflections.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290920172198378770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Eo9czbVxPrkBZSdE2H_SY10P_u0C9DSq6C5adqXSEqFPVXPWdehgEv76ZQyra4Ku_18wwf9hlEEoah3KwD4KbG0QQpkUfjoxk3byzMOUf8rco9aFGnQ1WfeRwsBp-hnHjRN0LwP5I1zc/s1600-h/junglepaisley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Eo9czbVxPrkBZSdE2H_SY10P_u0C9DSq6C5adqXSEqFPVXPWdehgEv76ZQyra4Ku_18wwf9hlEEoah3KwD4KbG0QQpkUfjoxk3byzMOUf8rco9aFGnQ1WfeRwsBp-hnHjRN0LwP5I1zc/s320/junglepaisley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290920179066350466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqf4mQluQ30V84SKwXnk-x53JB5PNr9zZ2XC0kGbCNFrk1gYUFunz4VIh0Xgv7wWx_sFPeF-WZ9T1XqS0SyZF1RvckyHgWmIsr2wHzT-4swSE5ZU57aI3TP_BwYhbxk8kNINmvz9aiJYuq/s1600-h/jewels.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqf4mQluQ30V84SKwXnk-x53JB5PNr9zZ2XC0kGbCNFrk1gYUFunz4VIh0Xgv7wWx_sFPeF-WZ9T1XqS0SyZF1RvckyHgWmIsr2wHzT-4swSE5ZU57aI3TP_BwYhbxk8kNINmvz9aiJYuq/s320/jewels.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290920154749715266" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So I got these - two charm packs and a fat quarter. As Oscar once said: I can resist everything but temptation. I also bought a quilt book by Kaffe Fasset. If I never attempt even a coaster from this book it will still be worth the price for the photographs alone. What a world that man must inhabit. I wish I could see through his eyes for just ten minutes.<br /></div><br />So how about you? What cheers you onwards through a cold January?Sianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2315085954875665441.post-21970631261853738392009-01-12T09:47:00.006+00:002009-01-12T10:16:38.634+00:00The Clangers<div style="text-align: justify;">All that waxing lyrical of yesterday has put the sun right off and we are back to the usual MO for Wales in wintertime - chilly, wet and windy. So I am not going out as planned but have waved two sproglets to school and have curled up on the sofa with Eden and we are eating hot buttered toast (thanks V!) and watching The Clangers<br /></div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i3rWghGSm4Y&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i3rWghGSm4Y&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />If you have ten spare minutes you could do worse with them than watch the above. It is Seventies Kids TV at it very best: enchanting and innocent.<br /><br />Hope you have a enchanting day tooSianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11948822019200873512noreply@blogger.com3