Souvenirs of a UK tour!

-
We're just coming to the end of a fortnight off work, it's been such bliss, a fortnight feels like a real luxury and definitely helped us really relax. We've been flitting around a lot: we started in Bath, then stayed on a farm just south of Bristol, from there to Dorset though I don't remember much of that as I was stuck in bed with a bug - boo! We went up to near Manchester to visit our friends and their two handsome little boys and from Manchester down to south Wales to see more friends and their scrumptious little girl. Phew! We've been home a couple of days and for such total homebodies as us this has probably been our favourite part. A gentler pace in my brain is definitely my favourite souvenir but as we've shopped in most places we stopped we picked up a wealth of more tangible things too. The car boot was straining to hold it all by the end! I've  made a start on some Christmas gift shopping (minimal Christmas knits this year!) and picked up a few things for myself too. My favourite is the little old school embroidery kit pictured below. Astonishingly I bought no wool though I visited two lovely shops. In the second I got some rather marvellous material for a top. The fabric stash is growing! Knitting has strangely been sparse though I finished a sock and I've been more crafty since I got home. Looking forward to catching up on all the posts in my Google Reader and the makey inspiration that I think is the only ingredient that's been missing.
On the road to Bath
One of the glorious windows of Bath Abbey
Favourite coffee - http://www.colonnaandsmalls.co.uk/
Near Walcot Street
A gingerbread cottage in the park
The Ballroom at the Assembly Rooms
Folly Farm





George, in charge of security

At Llansteffan Beach



Comments

Lynne said…
Welcome home; sounds like you had a wonderful time.
12 November 2011 at 12:19:00 GMT
Bells said…
these photos were such a treat. Bath! How lovely!

I'm glad you got two weeks to really unwind. It is a luxury isn't it? And I agree - we often find the home time the best part!
13 November 2011 at 00:01:00 GMT
marycatharine said…
Looks like a lovely tour!
13 November 2011 at 02:45:00 GMT
Rose Red said…
Oh how I love Bath! When we were at Bath Abbey we saw a wedding! A very small one, but still! And they had a horse and carriage to drive away in! Sounds like a fantastic trip, how wonderful!
13 November 2011 at 09:38:00 GMT
Terrie D. (StarSpry) said…
Beautiful photos! Sounds like a wonderful trip :)
14 November 2011 at 00:50:00 GMT
Anonymous said…
oh what great photos. what a great trip! so glad its been relaxing, and sometimes a crafting break is just whats needed to get the inspiration (and fingers) moving again!
15 November 2011 at 22:29:00 GMT
behind the ivy said…
Wonderful pictures! Looks like you guys had a fabulous time.
16 November 2011 at 20:48:00 GMT
raining sheep said…
Hi Sarah, thank you for visiting. I have one more week of school left and then I hope life can filter down a little. The first three days at work are a bit crazy. Such a huge change. I am slowly getting back into blogging. Probably can't blog every week yet, but hopefully a bit more than I have been :)
17 November 2011 at 01:16:00 GMT
Spinster Beth said…
Wow, gorgeous pictures! Thanks!
18 November 2011 at 22:49:00 GMT
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Keeping Cosy Winter Shawl

-
Image
  Pattern: Springtime Bandit   Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, Colour: Atlantic Started: November 2010 Finished: January 16th 2011 Ravelry page I think photographing this shawl has been ten times the challenge that knitting it was! I've taken several shots over several days to try and capture the glory of this red yarn, I'm calling it a day now though I haven't quite got what I wanted as in these grey, dingy days I don't think I will. Happily I feel the absolute opposite about the actual garment, it's everything I dreamed it could be when I saw the inspiring version A Girl In Winter made in the Manos Silk Blend and this shade, evasive though it may be to the camera is so uplifting that it's been the perfect companion for dark, winter days. It's a warm, deep multi-toned red with a pinky blue base, a real treat for the eye. The shawl is big and grand, but cosy and homely all at once. A wonderful pairing of yarn and pattern. I didn't manage to get the
Read more

"As in knitting, as in life"

-
Image
Whilst admiring Bells beautiful steeked jacket the other day I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly with her suggestion of knitting as a metaphor for life and mentioned my little "as in knitting, as in life" mantra I'm often mumbling. You know how it goes - the pattern/recipe you modify without noting down the changes = a hard to replicate FO/dish. As in knitting, as in life. The one more row/I'll just finish this before I go to bed mentality = dropped stitches/botched job. As in knitting, as in life. The jump in head first without proper swatching/preparation = ill fitting knit/ill realised project. As in knitting, as in life. What it all boils down to is the big WIP of life - we knit, we make mistakes, we learn, we adapt, we pick up those dropped stitches, we live with the imperfections and we get better at it all. So for anyone who knows that it is all about the knitting take this blog button and display it proudly in your sidebar, link back to the blog you ge
Read more

My Best FO Yet

-
Image
Pattern: Francis Revisited Yarn: Rowan Summer Tweed, Puff, 9.5 balls Needles: 6mm Harmony Circulars, a couple of lengths Started: 27 March 2009 Finished: 20 May 2009 Modifications: Row gauge was off so I moved the shaping rows around. I added three extra increase rounds to make the cowl neck bigger to match the larger size and try and ensure that I got the same look as the original, if I did this again I'd make it bigger still. I think its common in patterns that the collar or neck is not any larger on larger sizes and can look a bit small when it's balanced against a larger size than the sample. Very definitely my best jumper yet. It's true that there aren't many competitors in the race as I've only finished five fitted garments each of which has its issues: there's the vest that doesn't have the most flattering neckline Flair with her insufficiently double-breasted front and irritating length sleeves, Mum's cabled cardigan that was a pain in the creat
Read more