Behind again!

Well. Despite not going Line dancing this week, or going to my mum's for tea, I still seem to be behind with everything.  I didn't go out on Monday because there was too much to do after being away at the weekend - you know? all those jobs I would normally have done on a Saturday/Sunday. And as DD can take herself to my mum's now in her own car, it meant that I could go straight home and get on with other things. 

I've tried to do a bit of crafting and networking this week, resulting in a few card ideas and a few more 'likes' for my Facebook page, which is good. 

Still so much to do though! I've our next holiday to sort out, which had also meant contacting the Cattery to make sure the cats are booked in for the right dates. That's now done. Just the holiday deposit to sort out now, then that's sorted 😊

Sneaky walking weekend away.

As DD was away for two nights this weekend, we thought we'd treat ourselves and have one night away. So, the Lake District it was 😊 

I took Molly to my mum's on Friday night as the walking we had in mind would be too much for her. So yesterday morning we headed off with Oscar to Patterdale, and the start of a walk through Grisedale. The sun was shining but it was very cold. 

Oscar had a bit of fun with stepping stones, deciding to use them instead of wading through the water like he normally does ...

There was quite a bit of snow on the tops, but we opted to stop before then and warm up a bit with some lunch before heading back via a slight detour (to get a geocache!). 

We finally made it back to the van before it went completely dark, and then went straight to the hotel. 

After a delicious meal of fish and chips, and a taste of the beer they had, it was time to call it a night. 

Today we had breakfast in the hotel before setting off in search of another walk. The weather forecast wasn't good at all for today, and by the time we'd got some distance down the A6 after Shap we could hardly see anything for mist/cloud cover. So maybe not a good day for a walk. 

However, not to be put off by the weather, we put on our waterproofs and set off. It turned out to be quite a good walk, despite the mist and drizzle. 

We didn't stay out a long time though, heading back to the van for lunch before heading home. 

I have a confession to make too 😕 on my last post on 21 January I forgot to make an announcement- it was my One Year Blogging Anniversary!!!!!! A year already! And there was me thinking I might last a few months. So I'm really pleased that I've kept it going and that I know some people look at it 😊

Such a lot has happened in the last year - it's nice to be able to look back through my posts and relive it all again. 

I wonder what the year ahead will bring ..........

Wednesday again!

Now come on Time, this is getting ridiculous. How can it be Wednesday already when I've still so much to do?!

Having done the usual Line Dancing on Monday night, last night I was trying to get a little bit of crafting done after taking Oscar for a walk (a very chilly walk I might add). And tonight I've made a few more pieces ready to either add to my Etsy shop or take in to the hairdressers on Friday. I've also put a few photos on Facebook. And, of course, some here.......

As you can see, it's a bit of a heart theme at the moment. 

And, just two more days and then we'll be having a night away 😊 DD is off to see her boyfriend on Friday, and we've got one night booked in a dog friendly hotel in the Lakes (much too cold to stay in the van). We've stayed at the hotel before and really liked it - overlooking Ullswater. I'll no doubt take lots of photos as usual.......

And now I think it must be time for some sleep....zzzzzzz......

What a weekend!

This weekend has been quite a blur. I can't believe it's Sunday night already.

Yesterday I spent most of the day crafting, making more pieces to add to my Etsy shop and take to my hairdressers this week. So, not only was I making things, but then taking photos to upload them to the shop. Here's just a few photos......

So with uploading more items, and networking on my new Catztaylcrafts Facebook page, by 11pm last night I thought I'd better call it a day! 

And today has been a walking day. A trip up to the Lakes, starting with fog at home to snow by the time we reached Ambleside. 

We walked up on to Loughrigg Fell, going past pretty Lily Tarn. 

We carried on the path and followed it to Loughrigg Tarn, a walk we've not done before. We've walked to Loughrigg Tarn before, but not from Ambleside. This is the view we had while we had lunch .......

And then we headed back towards Ambleside, over the fell to Rydal Water, then finally back at the van before it went dark. 

Just time to have tea and (you guessed it) a piece of stollen (not much left now) before heading home. 

Oh, and for those who are interested, my Etsy shop is www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CatztaylCrafts and I'm now on Facebook too at www.facebook.com/catztayl. 

Friday again!

I know I keep saying it, but I really don't know where the time goes. One minute we're getting up for work on a Monday morning, facing another week of early starts, and the next minute its Friday night and we're thinking about where to go walking at the weekend!

It's been our first week back at work after our week off, so it's been a bit of a shock to the system having to get up that bit earlier. And despite intending being up early today to get things done, it just didn't happen. I have, however, managed to do the shopping and get some crafting done. 

I didn't make a lot today, but it's a start....

....and with Valentines Day not long off, it's time to start on the hearts theme ......

It's also very strange not having to take DD to work and pick her up when she finishes, so it gives me a bit more time at home now. More time for crafting 😊 (or just housework ......). 

It's forecast snow for this weekend too. Not quite sure how that will affect our choice of walk yet.......

Mid-week already!

Wednesday already! Where does the time go?! It doesn't seem two minutes since we were seeing in the New Year, and here we are nearly the middle of January. 

No crafting this week yet, but after going line dancing on Monday, and going to my mums for tea last night, I had to play catch up tonight with a bit of ironing, taking Oscar out and doing some exercise. 

Last night DD had driven herself to my mums in her new car, going straight from when she finished work. She said she managed ok and went down some back roads but found the drive ok. Thankfully. I met her there a bit later after I'd gone home to collect the dogs and then we all had tea together. 

Tonight taking Oscar out was cold and windy. Neither of us really enjoyed it but we got on with it. 

And it's the middle of the week!! Yay! Countdown to the weekend ........again......

Christmas in January

What a lovely day we've had today - our Christmas in January with DD's Auntie and her husband. I managed to get all the food prepared before they came, including a trifle made with homemade scones. 

I couldn't face cooking yet another full Christmas meal, so we had salad, cheesy potato layer, chicken pieces in breadcrumbs, and a small amount of turkey, along with homemade coleslaw. We all enjoyed the food, and then had a bit of a break to open presents before having dessert which was either trifle or my tiramisu. 

DD's Auntie got us some lovely presents, including more snowmen for me! Some sweet kissing salt and pepper pots ....

......and some beautiful glass snowmen....

All in all a really good day. 

 

End of the week

What a week it's been! 

After realising we wouldn't get out walking again this week it was time to get  round to more jewellery making for me. I've had so many ideas and no time to do anything, so it was time to take advantage of a couple of days at home. And these are just a few of the items I've made ....

I took some of them in to my hairdressers today to replace the unsold Christmas stock which I've brought home. I've also added quite a few items to my Etsy store (www.etsy.com/UK/shop/CatztaylCrafts). 

I've also set up a facebook page for my crafts which has now led to me being in touch with a long lost cousin, thanks to another of my cousins tagging my page and explaining who I am. And then I've found out that this long lost cousin is friends with my current boss at work! Eek! What a small world! 

DD also collected her car this week -yesterday - so she's very happy. It's a lovely white VW Up. A very nice little car. She picked me up in it this afternoon after I'd been Lunching with my Ladies. 

Tomorrow will have to be shopping and baking day as DD's Auntie and husband are coming over on Sunday for our Christmas in January meal and present giving. 

And then back to work on Monday (ssh ..... lets try and forget about that for now .....). 

Rain in the Lakes ....

Having a week off work in the new year is something DH and I have done for the last few years. Neither of us takes much time off over The Christmas and New Year weeks, preferring to take the first full week of January, just as everyone else is going back to work (including DD). It gives us chance to catch up with jobs or just take it easy, whatever comes along. 

Yesterday we couldn't get out anywhere as we had to wait in for a delivery of a replacement hob. The one we had, we discovered, had a small crack on one side. Thankfully having insurance meant that we could get a replacement sorted fairly quickly without having to save up to buy a new one. So we now have a brand new hob (again).  

Today we decided to go walking. The weather forecast gave it brightening up by mid-day after a pretty wet start. We started at the southern end of Thirlmere heading by the side of Wyth Burn ......

It wasn't  just a bit wet - it was A LOT wet!!!

We were walking over extremely wet/boggy fields, and then it started raining. And then we saw a bit of blue sky!

It eventually stopped raining and we decided to turn back and trudge through yet more muddy fields. 

We didn't go straight back to the van though. We opted to do some of the lakeshore permitted path, and had lunch looking out over Thirlmere. 

Although it was a very wet walk, it was still a good walk, and we managed to find two geocaches before the light started going and we had to head home....

Afternoon Tea!

Yesterday was my birthday. A bit too close to Christmas if you ask me. After all the chaos and excitement of Christmas it seems to be a day that a lot of people forget about. Thankfully my family don't forget and I was given a special treat of being taken out for afternoon tea by DD who insisted on driving. She did really well considering she hasn't had a full licence for a month yet, particularly as the place we went to is a few miles off the main road down some fairly narrow country roads in places. 

But this is what we had .....

A fabulous Afternoon Tea Picnic Table! It was all delicious. And because I wasn't driving I was able have a glass of prosecco. Lovely! I had some lovely presents too - a beautiful bead for my Chamilia bracelet off DH ....

....it might not show up very well, but the bottom bead has an otter on it and it's lovely, and a very nice Space pen - a couple of books off DD and a cute Minions phone case - and an afternoon tea voucher off my mum (another afternoon tea to plan!), amongst other things. 

DH cooked the meal at night, so I had quite a lazy day really. 

Then today it was time to get the walking clothes out for our first walk of the new year. It was a beautiful day, but very, very cold at times. We headed over to just outside Abbey Village and walked up to Great Hill. 

There was quite a bit of ice around along with quite a bit of mud .....

As you can see, there was lots of blue sky today. 

We even managed to find four geocaches today! What a start to the year. 

And then back to the van via the woods .....

....and just time to have a quick cup of tea and piece of stollen before heading home.