Duck Weather

At last - September brings the summer we are used to - rain!!!

Rain drops on telephone wires....

Duck's having fun....babies off their hands (wings)... having a get together

Muddy boots in kitchen and a good cup of tea!!!

Adorable!

Sometimes, while looking about for nice vintage items, you come across something absolutely adorable like this toddler's  Harris tweed coat from the 1950's, handwoven in the Outer Hebrides! 
I think I want to keep it - but common sense dictates it needs to go in the shop - shame......

Although it buttons both ways - don't you think it's more of a boys coat?- reminiscent of Prince Charles when he was little!

Quilting Group

 I've just got back from the quilting group meeting -  I haven't been doing this for very long. I've started a sampler quilt and I the idea was to have finished a block before the meeting comes around, but this month it didn't quite work out and I seem to be falling behind...
I love fabrics and I chose American Civil War designs which are a bit dark but remind me of cosy winter days in front of the fire.  Will be ready for winter 2014 if I don't get a move on.....
Here are some of the blocks I've finished.  Not sure what colour to use for sashing or borders, any ideas?

On the left is  Star Choice, on the right is Rolling Pinwheel - can you spot the mistake? I'll be unpicking it in a minute

This one is Tulip and at this moment it's my favourite, but Rolling Stone on the right - I haven't got enough contrast in the colours and it doesn't show up very well 

and these are the first two  I did, Streak of Lightning - easy squares and Rocky Road - first attempt at triangles....
Experienced quilters - any advice welcome.......

Little visitors

A lovely week has just gone by - no blogging because a selection of grandchildren came to stay.  They've gone back home now - so a bit quiet, but I do need a bit of sleep!

We did all sorts of  non electronic things

Like taking them round to bang on a friend's piano...

Exploring on Birkrigg Common - lots of lovely little paths in the bracken to disappear down

and running through the long grass, not to mention baking and painting and digging up potatoes

It's been a test of patience, for them, not me.....

They've had to cope with all grandma's films for kids being on video!  Waiting for rewind is sooo tedious

And only being able to get terrestrial TV!

Cooking from scratch so a long gap between I'm hungry (at 3 o'clock)  and tea

All toys are from 1980's (if not earlier) 

Only plain crisps available

We have to wait for the water to heat up for a bath

And considering all that they've still asked to come back!!

Morecambe Heritage Day

Well we're booked in for a stall at the Platform on the 15th September for Morecambe Heritage Day selling the vintage kids clothes. We've done fairs before and the ones run by the Vintage Village Hall are the best ones, lots of atmosphere, great vintage tea room and live music!
Quite relaxed about it at the moment but come the week before and I'll panic about everything left to do.  Am going with the youngest daughter and the eldest who has 3 small children will come along later to provide a crowd scene. The main difficulty is that it opens for stall holders at 8 am and starts at 10. Two hours seems like a long time to get sorted out  - but it certainly isn't when you're in the throes of it. ........
This one below is us setting up at the Dock Museum our last fair earlier this year- we had a great day and sold a lot - the one in the short skirt is my daughter!  I am cleverly hidden behind her - not keen on my photo being taken......

 The red thing at the back is part of the dock museum exhibit - a waterproof suit thing we weren't selling that!  We were under strict instructions not to touch the exhibit - unfortunately Rachel fell into it ....oops! 

Old shrub roses

Just done 10 rounds with the roses  in my garden
In July they looked like this

But some of them get so big they have to be cut right back every summer.
 I love them to pieces and the perfume is amazing - but they only flower once and then they look a bit sad.  The big white one at the top is Kiftsgate and the pruning needs to be done with a machete! Don't get one - I can only keep it under control because I can get to it from both sides...
P.S. photos carefully cropped to remove the weeds, wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression

York

Just been to York for a few days on a last minute dot com type of booking. Hotel was a bit Fawlty Towers but then again it was cheap, cheap, cheap!
This isn't a picture of the hotel, this is a much more impressive establishment!










Tried very hard to take photos in the city but it was so full of people I ended up taking shots above their heads - these are the only ones that worked out!

  

Went to the Quilting museum but couldn't take pictures inside because the lighting has to be low to keep the quilts in good condition, and couldn't take pictures outside of St Anthony's Hall because the gas company had dug up the pavement!

However I did get these lovely fat quarters with a sewing theme to make a huge bag to put my quilting things in