Sunny days ....

The last couple of days have been lovely and sunny. Very cold, but sunny. So today we went out for a short, and very cold, walk in the sun. Instead of heading up to the Lake District we stayed fairly local for a change, and a walk round a reservoir. 

The sunshine was making everything look stunning...

It’s a walk we’ve done before, but because it gets quite busy and is quite flat we haven’t been for quite a while. But today it was lovely. Just right. 

There was lots of ice around ... 

.. but what a glorious day. 

And although we didn’t stay out long it was worth it to get out in the sunshine. 

Titch, on the other hand, prefers his comfort at home ....

What a cutie! 

#walking #sunshine #water

Friday feeling!

Friday. The end of the working week for some people. A day off for me. How I’ve managed to keep hold of Friday as a day off after all these years I’ll never know. But I’m glad I have, and sometimes they can be quite productive! 

Take today for instance. After going for a scan on my left shoulder - in and out within about ten minutes (top marks to the NHS staff who dealt with me) - I managed to do some shopping, some pyrography and start the next set of questions on my course, and still have time to fit in some crocheting tonight and making marshmallows! Unfortunately the scan on my shoulder didn’t seem to highlight any problems, so I’ve still no idea why it hurts so much sometimes. Back to the doctors for the next step now. 

The marshmallows turned out ok - raspberry flavour and red colouring on half, and lime flavour with green colour on the rest. I think I may have overdone the lime flavour a little bit ...... 

It’s all edible though, and none will get left. 

I’ve also been out for a lovely walk this week. After managing to get in to work a bit earlier yesterday, as the sun was shining when I got home I had just enough time to fit in a lovely 3 mile walk before going to pick DH up from the train station after his night away for work. Spring is definitely on its way, with daffodils coming through.....

.....and trees bursting with new buds.... 

It was good to be out in the sunshine. 

#sunshine #homebaking #spring #walks

Weekend wandering ....

The last few days have plodded along, as they do. That’s what happens sometimes. Just general day to day stuff with nothing really exciting or momentous happening. 

I’ve made use of our cross trainer a few times in an attempt to increase my exercise. Overall I’m feeling much better these days, and although I’m still wary of overdoing things with my back I think it’s time to start aiming to get back to the level of fitness I used to have. I know I still can’t do any running yet, but I can start getting prepared for when I get the all clear. And that includes getting out walking, which we did yesterday afternoon. We’d had to call round at DDs so I could use her computer so I could print out the X-ray of my jaw that my dentist had very kindly given me on a CD. My computer wouldn’t recognise the CD, but DDs would. So, X-ray printed we left DD to carry on revising for an exam she’s taking next week and ended up at the nearby country park. 

As it was late afternoon we were there as the sun was setting. And what a glorious sky! 

It really was beautiful.....

So we sat and watched the sun set while drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies. 

And another week looms ahead. And it looks like being a busy one. 

#walking #exercise #sunset

X-rays ....

I've been to the dentist this week, and although there will be those of you who think there is nothing to going to the dentist, for me it's a major thing - I'm terrified. And my dentist knows it too, but she's so lovely when I get there even though she knows I don't really want to be there! This week was slightly different to normal, however, as I finally got to see the x-rays of my jaw after it was fixed back in July. Nobody has ever shown me an x-ray of how it was fixed - all I knew was that I was put back together with plates and screws. I have to say that it was fascinating (if that's a word that can be used when you're at the dentist!) - four different lots of metalwork were used to mend my broken jaw. And now it all makes sense why it still feels a weird on my face - no doubt nerves are still healing and it probably won't feel right for some time.

That was on Tuesday. After a very sad start to the week as on my Monday we were at a funeral, saying goodbye to my friends husband, who, at 76, was somebody I'd known for 35 years. He was such a lovely man - a bit shy and quiet, but had very strong opinions on some subjects. He was a farmer all his life until he became ill last September after being diagnosed with cancer. He'd been married to my friend for nearly 50 years (it was going to be their Golden Wedding Anniversary in May this year) and they'd actually been together for 55 years. It's such a long time to be with someone, and I can't even begin to imagine how my friend will be feeling after losing her husband. They'd been together since she was 15, so to find herself on her own after all that time will be very hard. They'd only just stopped working when he was diagnosed, so haven't had any time together to do the things that they'd planned as they got older.

It really does make you think that life is too short not to do what you enjoy (within reason of course), and to try new ventures, visit new places, while you can, because you just don't know what's round the corner.........

#livelife 

Bathroom planning....

Bathrooms! I'll be glad when it's all done....

So the bathroom planning is still continuing. We asked DD to come with us to look at tiles today, to get a second opinion from someone who would be a potential buyer. It's too easy to get caught up with what we like, and forget that it might not be us in this house in 5 years time, so it has to look good. I think we've managed to find the right tiles, or at least ones that we think will look ok and keep things fairly neutral.

I've also been out for lunch with my "Ladies that Lunch' group on Friday. We went for a lovely meal and catch up in a different restaurant to the one we've been using for the last few times. The food was delicious and we had a really good catch up.



And today, after we’d looked at the tiles and DD had gone home, it was time to do a bit more sorting out in the house. A chance to throw out unnecessary and no longer useful items. I did, however, keep some of DDs old school books (sentimental old fool that I am), but felt the need to check with DD whether it was ok if we threw out one of her old cameras.........



.......she said it was alright ..... maybe we should keep it? The things you find in the loft! 

#food #clearout #bathroom 

Thursday thinking...

By the time it gets to Thursday, the week is almost over, and you start wondering what you’ve done over the last few days. And how has it got to Thursday already?! 

I’d booked Monday and Tuesday off work, just for an extra couple of days after our weekend away. So Monday we had the joy of looking at tiles for the bathroom. We need to choose them before the work gets done next month. After checking out what other furniture bits we liked (taps, style of sink, toilet, etc), we wandered up and down the aisles of tiles. And came out none the wiser! Neutral? Bold? Sparkly? Gloss? Matt? Patterned or plain? Big or small? The choice is just too much! So I think we’ll be going back this weekend for another look.....

Monday night I decided to go back to the wood turning club I’d joined last year. Practically I haven’t really been in a position to do any hands on turning for a while, but figured I’d be ok now. So I joined a beginners group and had quite a few opportunities to try my hand at turning again. I’d forgotten just how good it is! And I’ve asked if I can go and have some more tuition outside of the club nights. I just need to organise some dates and then see what happens... 

And Tuesday saw me dropping DH off at the train station so he could go to his ‘normal’ place of work away from home. One night away this week. The first one since June last year. So it felt very strange just being me and my cat for the rest of the day and night. I had physio in the morning, and then spent the rest of the day doing some more of my course, and then some crocheting, before going line dancing at night. 

And then work for two days. Not much to say about that really. I’m doing what I can and aiming to build my hours back up to normal over the next few weeks. 

I picked DH up from the station yesterday, after parking up early to do some shopping and randomly bumping in to my mum which was lovely. Not planned at all. In fact, last time I was meeting DH in town I bumped in to my mum too! 

And to end today, yet another cute photo of Titch ......

How can you resist?! 

#cats #crochet #woodturning

Lakes weekend

Sun. Drizzle. Sun. Cloud. Good food. Good walks. What more could you ask for in a weekend in the Lake District?! 

Although it’s only two weeks since we were last in the Lake District, we headed back up again on Friday. This wasn’t a last minute decision. This trip has been booked since March 2017 when we saw an offer too good to miss, at a place we’ve stayed at before. And what a day to arrive! The sun was shining, the sky was blue - beautiful! We parked up in Keswick and stopped in a cafe before strolling along the shore of Derwentwater at sunset.....

.....and it didn’t disappoint....For a last minute decision to have a short walk, it paid off with the views. 

Saturday morning, however, didn’t start quite as nice.... 

But, not being put off by the weather we set off to visit the Alpaca Centre and the timber shop next door to it. I know a timber shop doesn’t sound too exciting, but for somebody who’s intrigued by wood turning and carving, it was amazing - countless tools and kinds of wood for sale (and no, I didn’t buy anything........not yet). 

After a stop in Keswick for a wander round, and a hot drink, we drove down the side of Derwentwater and parked up for a walk while the rain held off. 

Admittedly, it wasn’t the best weather, but it wasn’t raining.... 

At the moment DH isn’t able to walk the same distance as me, so he lets me keep going on my own so I can build up my own fitness a bit more. We both know our limits and it means we both get to enjoy the walks. So, DH got so far along the path and I carried on a bit further ....

..... the water was so clear along the river! 

.....but it wasn’t long before I turned round and met DH back at the car so we could head back for the night. 

So, this morning, the view from our window was quite a contrast to yesterday’s.... 

And amazing views from just down the lane!

The plan was to drive to Buttermere. We’ve not walked round Buttermere before so thought we’d go and see what it was like. We took a little side road rather than the main road to start with, and ended up stopping to take in the view... 

It was beautiful. And because of the time we stood taking photos and just looking, we didn’t get to Buttermere. We ended up stopping and having a short walk to the Bowder Stone..... 

.......and then a short drive to Rosthwaite to have another walk with the intention of walking to Seatoller. 

However, part way along the path goes along the edge of a river. Very close to the edge. And it gets quite rocky. And it was wet and slippery. 

So rather than both of us risking it and ending up in the river, we turned back and stopped for a hot drink in the cafe in the YHA Borrowdale.... 

What a fabulous use of old boots!!!! 

We both walked back to a second bridge (no, we didn’t use the stepping stones!) where we stopped for lunch. 

Time for a Lochinver pie!!! 

Then DH headed back to the car while I walked a bit further .... 

 

And then it was time to head home. And to Titch, who has been looked after by DD all weekend. But I think he was happy we were back. 

A fabulous weekend. 

I think we need to check any more offers and get another one booked! 

#walking #lakedistrict #cumbria