Lilys House

tide check

oops.........forgot to do that !

This should be the beach...it happened to be a particularly high tide

We had plans for sand digging, dog running, lazing in the sun - good job the lovely beach cafe was serving coffee and bacon sarnies (proper plates and mugs you take down to the beach and return on the way up, most civilised).

Every year I do this....turn up at a sea filled beach that is..and every time I promise myself that the next time I see one I will buy a tide table. Yes, this will be the year.

Still, we hung around a bit in no particular hurry and soon we had a little bit of space to play. It was fun getting to our particular 'spot' at the back, we got a little wet whilst trying to time running around the rocks when the wave was on the out !

Harry was as brave as ever bless him (spot him there being engulfed??)

For a 'sighthound' he seems to have particularly bad vision though. We were killing ourselves watching him looking for the ball in the waves whilst it was literally under his nose....not the brightest sometimes, dear boy ;)

Hopefully I'll get on with the embroidery on the nighty I keep going on about over the weekend. Other than that I've no plans. Oh yes, there's tons I should be doing and who knows I may be in the mood for garden painting and ironing.....but I think not.

Have a lovely weekend :)

feels so good

our morning walk in the sun.......

see how it looked in November from much the same place!

We love seeing and feeling all these changes...Maddie delights in being outdoors. She's recently started stroking the bark on particular trees, just fascinated with the texture, almost 'communing' with the tree. It was lovely to see and I was quite taken aback at her intensity. The seasons are all so obvious on this walk and we spot something new every day.

I forgot the camera this morning. A shame, today has been the warmest so far.. Maddie was holding my hand and skipping through the dappled sunlight with her little red gingham dress, sandals and pigtails ! Harry was trotting along in utter contentment. The new leaves are such a vivid acid green, it's all so lovely and serene.....aahhh!

Not a bad way to start the day.

unplanned outing

The weekend bought the first 'proper' sunny and warm day yet (chilly in the wind though...)

Dad had his shorts on for the first time this year.....this usually brings on lashing rain....

one of many personal 'jumping rocks'...
.
It was good to get out :)

slowing it down

It's been lovely the last few days. Routine out of the window, the kids and I getting dressed later in the morning, leisurely breakfasts and generally slowing the pace. They need it - I need it. After all the poorliness we feel we're getting back on top a bit. A bit of sunshine tends to do that.

(I have unfortunately managed to catch another cold/throat/head combo but we'll just forget about that for now......anything seems tolerable after the back incident).

More of this over the weekend I think.........

Have a peaceful weekend .... x

the morning so far

doggy walking in the sun....well he was running and I was meandering slowly 10 ft from the car (take what you can get at the moment Harry !)

dewy daisies

followed by a super brief 'pop in' to our recycling centre or the dump shop to you and me, where I found...

a fabulous powder blue enamel colander and dish, a bit knocked about but that's why I like old things...character and all that

there was no way I was going to leave without this little beauty and it's contents

and the jackpot of the trip.....

this beautiful crocheted throw/tablecloth/I'm not sure. Its big - and oh my it's filthy...filthy. I ummed and ahhed for ages, wondering if it would clean up at all. It's sort of a putty grey which is not really how I like my fine linens ;). Then the moment of clarity fell...my brain processed the fact that this thing was a) old b) handmade over many hundreds of hours c) was a total labour of love for the woman who made it d) £2...........who cares if I can't get it pristine white ?

How sad that it should end it's days on a table of rags at the tip, in amongst smelly poly cotton 80's duvet covers and faux fur cushions that had seen better days.
It's home now, where it will be loved and cared for....even if it stays grey. Its on a gentle wash now with some bio (extreme measures) so fingers crossed the whole thing doesn't disintegrate. I'll let you know.

After a sporadic week I look forward to getting back to normal next week....loads of catching up to do round here, mainly laundry . Everywhere I look there is a pile of clothes. Kitchen table, stairs, landing, sofa, hallway. It's time for action, definitely. The old back is getting better slowly, still sore to bend really, hence the bombsite that is the house (the family have been great little helpers but it's not quite the same ;)
Hoping to do a bit more sewing for Maddies summer wardrobe over the weekend so may have something to show on Monday. Have been totally rubbish at catching up with all the lovely blogs I read, you know who you are ! See you all soon and have a lovely weekend...x

Bracing

The weekend in pictures ... (despite tummy bugs we did get away)

you may just about be able to see the seals in the bottom right curve of the sand

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Aunty Mary in NZ....if you are reading...belated Happy Birthday from us all..!!! (Dad's now using the blog as an international messaging service ;) xx

Have a lovely break

I'm off to Cornwall on Saturday for Easter. Hopefully this nice weather will hold out but I think I vaguely heard someone mentioning wintery showers over the weekend, so I'll leave you with some particularly sunny and spring like pictures of Tuesday mornings walk just in case.

This little robin was SO close to me, maybe a couple of feet max. We just stood eye to eye for ages and then he sang me a little song....amazing.

success !

Yesterday afternoon Lils was given the all clear - hooraay ! After days of nailbiting and tears she was ecstatic. Stupid old skin condition, very glad to see the back of that.
I had to find the place up on the moor, in the rain, wind and failing light.......I actually found it quite easily but that doesn't sound so dramatic ;)

this was interesting...as I hesitated a farm Landy ploughed past me in a huffy, get out of my way you townie, sort of way. OK....we went through without a hitch. The times I've done this in younger years, in tiny, tinny, non diesel cars...clutching the wheel tight and praying I didn't stall - and then did invariably. I can laugh now......

On arrival we were greeted by the sight of her friends trudging back from abseiling, absolutely soaked to the bone but looking very happy and tired. The teacher told me that a lot of 'jumping in a lake fully clothed' had gone on too........ We entered the place via a huge drying room festooned with sopping wet clothes, the floor strewn with a million pairs of wellies, come to think of it, I don't think I saw an actual pair such was the chaos. I hastily beat a retreat and left her in the capable hands of her friends and teacher, who seemed remarkably unphased in the face of all the squealing, excited and hyper girls (and boys, but I didn't see them..probably banished to the furthest reaches of the facility by said girls) brave man.

Back to normal here then today - I have a delightful morning of house blitzing ahead of me whilst the little is at pre school. We've had the alloted half an hour of sun already and it's getting darker and darker as I type. At least I won't feel so hard done by, slaving over the ironing if it's tipping down outside. (Anyone will tell you that I never iron, but some things unfortunately resist the fold it up and hope for the best treatment. Those things are now in a pile up to my waist....time to wade in...)

not the pox.....maybe.....

Just back from the quacks......this time my own doctor. He doesn't think poor Lils has got chicken pox... more likely impetigo or scalded skin syndrome.....probably...he's not totally sure. I took her back today as it's been going on a bit and not following the the expected course and the spots are still coming...(hope no ones eating their breakfast and reading this ;). If it's what he says then she's highly infectious. We'd been taking a more relaxed approach to hugs and kisses around this house as we presumed the 'chicken pox' was on it's way out...OK...time to revise that then !
Antibiotics a go go here then but her school residential trip to Dartmoor all next week is still in the balance poor love. Lets hope they kick in and she can go.

Right, off talk of scabs and the like (sorry about that, it's just what's going on around here) and onto some pretty pics of the beach yeaterday. It was not too cold as it happens and the water was flat calm as you will see. The intended hour turned into two, not another soul to be seen.

trying for a nice pic of 'knitting on beach'....but houndy boy just wouldn't shift...too busy hanging around in case a bit of sandwich came his way..

might as well get the whole dog in shot then.....oh and in case you are cringing at the colour mix wool wise, I'll show more later...I think it's working..weird but true.

I did ask Lils permission before posting a pic of her looking less than best !

not the intended post...

but hopefully pleasing to the eye!

I've been working on Maddies little crochet hound over the weekend - well saturday night to be precise, in order to have him up for display today. All finished, stuffed and sewn. Little jumper made for him too - I've just got to sew it up around the body and then he's done. Might as well wait until he's completely finished before I show him off. (I'm completely bigging this up - hope he's not a total anticlimax !) I just didn't get round to it on Sunday what with one thing and another, mainly the fact that the weather cheered up and we decided to go for a lovely walk instead of chilling 'round the house. So glad we did, it was beautiful. Maddie stripped off down to a tee shirt half way round despite a distinct chill in the air....she is such an outdoor child, totally in her element when shoeless and grubby and free.
There is a country park near us with amazing trails to suit all abilities and desires. We chose the 'play trail' which was dotted with wonderful wooden structures, dens and secret paths for the children (and big kids ;)

my 'would you like to punch me ?' condescending smile (it was meant to be 'queenly' !)

Hope you all had some nice weekend weather too !