Walking in the sun

I know my last update was a bit short, but internet signal in the Lake District is a bit hit and miss. We'd decided that even though I was at a craft fair on Sunday, that we'd head up the motorway as soon as I'd got home and unpacked my craft boxes. DH was in charge of packing the van with basics during the day. DD was in charge of looking after the cats. 

The craft fair was pretty quiet. Not much happening at all. I didn't sell much, but nobody else did either (which made me feel a bit better!). So it was actually quite good for me when everyone started packing up a bit earlier. 

It was still a bit frustrating, as I'd spent quite a bit of time last week getting a few more shapes ready. 

 

Oh well. Better luck at the next one in a couple of weeks. 

So. We headed north again. Back to Keswick and the pub we stayed at just over a week ago. The car park was really full when we arrived, with people sitting outside enjoying the glorious weather. We managed to get the last space, took Oscar for a quick walk and then went in for food. We felt quite sorry for the staff - they were all rushed off their feet as so many people were ordering food. We managed to get our order in, but had to wait ages for it. However, knowing we were staying there, and only had to walk to the van when we'd finished, we didn't mind at all. 

We had a good nights sleep in the van again, with Oscar starting off in his 'den' under the bed.....

......with our morning view being just a bit different to last time .....

What a glorious start to the day! We left the pub before we'd even had a hot drink as we wanted to get parked up at the same carpark as last time. And it's a good job we did - within 10 minutes of us parking up, the spaces were all filled!! 

After a good breakfast we set off in the sun, on a different route to last time. 

The views were incredible and the weather was just fabulous (albeit a bit too hot at times!) .....

We made sure we had stops for Oscar to cool down in the river .....

Such breathtaking scenery .....

We started climbing up a rocky path with the intention of heading up to Dalehead Tarn. 

Unfortunately my nerve gave out and I panicked and had to turn round and go down. It all got a bit too scary for me and a bit too steep. 

So we headed back down and along the side of the river for a short while ...

.....where we stopped for lunch....

.....and then the path back ....

We didn't go straight back to the van however. There's a little tearoom in the village so I persuaded DH to call in for an ice cream! I think we deserved it! 

And then a last paddle for Oscar before heading home. 

Another amazing 24 hours away. 

We're already planning the next trip ......

Bank holiday weekend.

My internet isn't that great tonight, so I will have to do a proper update tomorrow. 

And the reason for the lack of Internet? Another night in Hamish! Yay!! 

       

Away in Hamish

Well. We did it. We had a night away in Hamish last Friday night. Our first night in the van for months. Yay! And the setting? A pub car park just outside Keswick!

It's not as weird as it sounds, staying on a pub carpark for the night. Some places will let you park up and stay overnight as long as you use their facilities. Or, in other words, you eat and drink there. Which we did. And it was very nice too. And after working out how to put the bed up in the van after a few months off, Oscar disappeared under the bed in his den for the night, and we had a lovely night watching the light fade over the hills. 

And this was our morning view .....

Just beautiful. 

We didn't have breakfast at the pub. We drove a few miles further along the Newlands Valley before stopping to make breakfast in the van. And then the rain came so we stayed in the van a bit longer. 

But, it wasn't too long before the rain eased off and we set off on a short walk. 

We saw lots of bluebells and sheep ....

....and some amazing views ....

 

....before reaching our destination - the dam ....

....and then time to head back after having lunch .....

All in all a fabulous short walk. And time to head home. And a very sleepy cat who  almost fell off my lap as she was in such a deep sleep! 

#walking #Cumbria #LakeDistrict 

Quick update!

It's been a busy weekend. 

It's now very late. 

I'll update properly tomorrow. Honestly. I will! 

This is why it was a busy weekend ....

......the beautiful Lake District.  

Countdown to the weekend

DD is improving every day since her operation and looks so much better. She spent the first few days not doing much, spending most of her time sleeping.  However, since Monday she's been trying to get herself back on her feet and back to how she was. My mum came round to stay with DD on Monday and Tuesday to keep her company. And then today DD felt OK to be on her own. She's been taking short walks to build up her strength again and is doing really well so far. 

I've been out with Oscar most afternoons, by the canal as usual. The weather has been fabulous most times we've been out, and I've seen the ducklings again .....

And now it's Wednesday evening already. Another day to get through at the day job before the possibility of a night away in our recently repaired Hamish.

Roll on the weekend! 

Impatient patient!

I took DD to hospital on Thursday morning for 7.30 am and stayed with her until 9 am. She was just going for a chat with the surgeon at that point I think. She then sent me a text at 11.30 am to say she was going down for her operation next. There'd been a couple of emergencies which had delayed things a bit. 

Despite my plans to get some crafting done it was impossible to concentrate knowing that DD was in surgery. So I pottered around a bit, did some ironing, potted up 30 tomato plants and 6 cucumber plants in my greenhouse, and finally, at 4 pm, I found out DD was out and had been taken up to the ward. And at 6.30pm they said she could go home. So, complete with painkillers, we came home. She spent most of Friday in bed sleeping and didn't really eat much. But on Saturday she seemed a little better and even ventured downstairs in the evening. She's now complaining she's bored at times and wants to be up and doing things! 

Yesterday I felt a bit guilty leaving DD as I had a craft fair, but her boyfriend was round looking after her, so off I went. It wasn't one of the busiest craft fairs I've been to, but a last minute sale as I was packing up meant that I did ok. 

And the last few nights have been so nice walking by the canal. The evenings have been so peaceful, and such fabulous weather ......

......we've been close to a heron.......

 

...,,,and the reflections have been wonderful ......

What a way to end the weekend!

Dog walks

Just for a change I've managed to get out with Oscar every night this week so far, even yesterday was it was a bit drizzly (and despite the fact that he made it perfectly clear he didn't want to walk anywhere yesterday!). And a bit of a change of wildlife along the canal this week too - from ducklings, lambs and a heron on Monday night, to cows, lambs and baby moorhens (they were so cute!).

DD was on an early shift on Monday, so instead of crafting I thought I'd better try and keep on top of my ironing (just for a change), but it's meant that I haven't had time to do any crafting at all yet this week as I haven't been up early enough to get any done before work, and haven't had time at night after taking Oscar and making tea and sorting everything else out. Soon - soon I will do more whittling!

DD has now finished work for at least 2 weeks. She's going in hospital tomorrow morning, and hopefully coming out at some point tomorrow too, but has been told she'll need at least 2 weeks off after her operation. And she's found out she's to be there for 7.30am, so we'll be up early as normal! I might just get some crafting done while I'm waiting for a call to go and collect her later on in the day ……….

Sunshine!

We've had some glorious weather for the last few days. Lots of sunshine and a bit of a breeze. It makes you think we might just be having Spring after all! 

I did some more work on my second wooden bird yesterday after DD had gone to work. It's gone from this .....

.....to this so far .....

I've still a lot more work to do on it yet, but I'm happy with it so far. 

Taking Oscar for a walk has been lovely over the last few days too. We don't meet many people at all which is just how we like it. We stood watching a heron fishing last night and managed to get quite close before it flew away. I've never watched a heron fish before, so it was quite an experience to watch it. 

And today I've been at another craft fair. It was much better than the last one, and I sold quite a few things. 

All in all a good few days. 

#crafts #handmade #walking 

Out of the routine

I'm not back in to the normal routine at home yet and completely forgot what day it was on Wednesday, which is when I try and do another post on here.

I spent most of Sunday finishing off some pieces to take with me to the craft fair on Monday - Bank Holiday Monday, and a well publicised event including a dog show and fun fair at a local Country Store which includes a restaurant and farm shop. I decided to try some different dog shapes to take with me, so managed to finish them off just in time.

The craft stalls were set up in the marquee again, as we were in March when I did the same venue, and before long there were people coming through the door. Sadly, although there were loads of people around as it was a very popular event, hardly anyone seemed to be buying much from any of the stalls. So, although there was a good atmosphere it was disappointing in terms of business. That's life I guess. Although I had a lovely chat to the lady on the stall next to me and discovered I will probably see her at my next craft fair on Sunday!

Tuesday I was off work - a day to catch up with things after the holiday and being busy with the craft fair. Time for a bit of shopping, and a bit more whittling. I also managed to find a supplier for some blocks of whittling wood so that I can try and cut out my own shapes (all very exciting!).

Then Wednesday I was back at work - all very confusing as it felt more like Tuesday! And then an early finish yesterday as I was meeting a couple of friends for lunch, which was lovely.

And it's Friday already! The week has just flown by. I've had some fabulous walks with Oscar this week too, with lots of wildlife around…..

…….it's so nice to walk by the canal.

Time for the weekend, and another craft fair ………

#handmade #crafts #walking