Moonraking Festival 2015.

Hello lad and Dad have gone to the cinema to see Big Hero 6, so I thought I would update you on our visit to the Slaithwaite 2015 Moonraking Festival last night.

Top,chilly fun, apologies for photo quality, the camera found it a bit chilly too!!!

The procession that goes through the village streets (must admit we didn't walk the whole way this year, instead we nipped into the Shoulder of Mutton for a pint of Slaughtered Lamb).

Very cute.

 Very cheeky !!

 Here's the moon being returned to the water after being taken through the streets. 

 Can you spot the giant birthday cake, made to celebrate the 30th year anniversary of the festival?

 Firework finale.

 We've decided next time, we are definitely going to make a lantern.

Twiggy 

A turn around the duck pond............

Well fancy that, 2 posts in 24 hours.

Spring was in the air again today so I did plan on another character building walk but sensed that Twiglet needed to do some boy stuff.

 (I love our old post box,so pretty).

(Signs of Spring - yay!)

 Our compromise was a quick turn around the duck pond and then his pal came round for the afternoon.

(Hope you enjoy a few village pics.)

This gave  me the opportunity to do a bit of ironing and catch up with Indian Summers that was broadcast on Channel 4 on Sunday night. 

 I must say, so far so good.  I really enjoyed it (the tv that is not the ironing). 

 The boys meanwhile had a great afternoon, doing whatever it is boys like to do (mainly games and computer stuff in their case:)

My lovely boys have gone out to do the grocery shopping this evening,  and allowed me the evening off to rest my old back. 

 I have thrown together a rhubarb and apple crumble and some cherry buns in their absence.

(One of our two village pubs, which is reputed to be haunted!)

( I love this house).

We are going out with friends tomorrow, which is always top fun, must remember my camera.

Chin, chin.

Twiggy 

How do you like yours ?

I prefer lemon juice and sugar, which is what Twiglet plumped for whereas Mr Twigs likes orange juice on his pancakes. 

 I am also partial to a bit of treacle now and then.

I must say though, the pancakes this year were the best ever, I got my trusty (very old) Be-ro recipe book out read the recipe to young Master Twigs, he did the measuring and mixing and then we stored the batter in the fridge all day while we went out for a jaunt, they were scrummy after dinner tonight.

So it's the half term holidays and I'm pretty annoyed that my blasted back is playing up, rubbish timing. 

 I have dragged the Twiglet out for several character building walks, we caught the bus home yesterday as he said I'd broken him :) it doesn't seem such a long and steep trip when we are in the car.

Anyhoo, today we visited here and forgot our camera, so you will have to take my word for it that it was a beautifully sunny day, we saw many pretty snowdrops and had a very jolly time.

It only took us 30 minutesto walk there from our house (if it hadn't been so muddy we could have cut across the fields and got there in 15 minutes).  If you ever get the opportunity to visit, do, it is very interesting and has a very pretty nature trail.

About 10 minutes down the road we also have the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, we spend a lot of time there and it is a very beautiful and inspiring place.

Righto off to drink my Earl Grey and watch The Casual Vacancy (my one hour of grown up tv during the hols, so it better be good).  

I have earned Brownie points by helping Twiglet design a model of the Solar System and playing the Lego Movie game on his Xbox today.

Cheery bye

Twiggy 

Happy Valentines Day to you ....

Hello on this damp and foggy Saturday, how are you keeping.

Now this is a post with all artwork supplied by my lovely boy !!

Isn't the above picture ace?  Twiglet has been attending an after school art club and they have been studying Van Gogh, this is his take on The Sunflowers, he did one on paper and the above one on fabric, which we will turn into a cushion or bag. 

 I think it is just brilliant.

Due to back knackeration, I have been excused going to watch Twiglet's swimming lesson and have been left at home alone with my blog and a packet of jaffa cakes - result !! apart from sore back obviously.

So half term is here, yay!! and obviously the commercialised day of love, we go as far as buying a card - usually to make one another laugh, after 26 years together we are very good at this.

We also bought something nice for dinner and a nice bottle of red and that's all folks and it's good enough for us.

Well I have been hard at it setting up my new shop, working, studying, domestic drudgery this week.

The young man has been a social butterfly, on Thursday he had a school trip to Bagshawe Museum, did after school art club, then went to the Metrodome swimming with Cubs - crikey !!!

(Photo of Twiglet's fab Valentines sun catcher)

He led an assembly on Tuesday that I went to at the last minute, and I'm thankful I did, I was very proud of him.  He spoke about internet safety, did a question and answer session and recorded the audience's ideas on a whiteboard (he is left handed like me and I would have found this impossible).

He spoke in front of the whole school, teachers and parents, I didn't know until that morning he was even taking part, you can't accuse my son of being a show off :)

I admire his confidence and modesty, goodness knows where he got either attribute from, definitely not his parents !!

(Twiglet's gorge handmade Valentines card)

John  Of Bramble and Bears I want you to know I had a little walk this morning, but the weather is so dismal up here I didn't take any photos :)

In other news, our old ratty Fiesta  is due for MOT soon, so Mr Twigs went out to look at a lovely old red Volvo and promptly bought it, complete with 12 months MOT. 

 It's probably a sign of middle age but I flippin love Volvos, we've had a few.  

Sadly it's not an estate but you can't win them all.  

Twiglet hasn't decided upon it's name yet.

Righto off to make some more earrings and eat more jaffa cakes.

Cheery bye

Twiggy xx

PS Did you catch the Sewing Bee this week, I LOVE that programme.

Evening All

The eagle eyed among you might have noticed my Etsy shop link on the right. 

 After a 5 year break I have removed the dust sheets and decided now the little fella is jogging on with his own stuff it's about time I did the same.

So do take a look and wish me luck please

All constructive comments gratefully accepted ( and orders obviously :)

Twiggy x

Hot buns and giant dumplings

That's what you need on a cold Wintery night.

So I have been quiet this week haven't I? 

 I've been makey doing (for my Etsy shop, when I finally reopen it) and also busy doing stuff.

The young Twiglet has gone to `sleep with the sharks ' tonight.  

A sleepover at the Deep in Hull with Cubs. 

They sleep in the glass tunnel that runs underneath the shark tank all night

 (although I'm not sure much sleep will take place, 100 overexcited cubs and all that !!).

Oh my !!

Have a great weekend.

Twiggy 

If you go down to the woods today...............

You won't see these fellas cos they are on my hearth.  

Twiglet and I had a play with my Woodland Animals book after school today - awesome !!!

Busy day in school today and the snow is melting - yay !! 

The children have had a fab day. 

 Zoolab came in, in the morning with Geckos, lizards and rabbits and this afternoon a lot of snow sculptures were made out on the school field, including snowman, cats and Egyptian Gods :)

(These snowy pics are from our snow day yesterday).

After a busy day at work I'm looking forward to a nice, cosy, weekend with my boys.

(I really don't think we had enough cream in our hot choccy yesterday, do you?)

Have a great weekend and stay safe.

Twiggy 

Snow Day and Sinister Russian Ladies....

Good morning.

Well Twiglet finally got his wish of a snow day off school today, the thunder snow continued through the night (I'm flippin glad I decided not to attend the Scout group committee meeting at a hilltop pub).

(Above photo taken from front door, you didn't think I was going out did you :)

My poor old pal C had to walk right across Huddersfield (around 2 miles from home) in heavy snow to get her children to school this morning.  

She begged the school secretary not to phone to say school  had closed before she had a chance to lay on the sofa at home, have a cup of tea and regroup.  

Flippin heck, I gave her the day off from visiting me as the roads up here aren't great today.

Anyhoo, in other news,  I've been very lucky on the gift and purchase front recently.  

Firstly meet Dave, isn't he fab (bought by and named by Twiglet).

He is now on the woodland stool with Marcus the fox and Bob Ambrose the rabbit.

My friend and I always buy each other gifts that we don't need but really want.  

You know fripperies and fun stuff.  

She has excelled herself, yet again and knows me so well.

Another fantastic craft book,  cardboard woodland animals crafting kit  :)

Pretty pegs and a tin shaped like a slice of cake - every house should have one.

I also had a fair bit of birthday cash and treated myself to these lovely bags, a pretty useful, oilcloth bag.  

And this gorgeous handmade Welsh tapestry bag.

I have also purchased some new clothes and crochet hooks and a jewellery making kit, but will save those for a later time.  

Don't want you getting too overexcited now folks.

We had a lovely village walk on Sunday, cripes it was cold, but good to blow the cobwebs away.

We came home and had the very last of our Christmas goodies Pannetone and beer - we are too sophisticated.

Finally, here are some earrings I have made as I've decided to restart my little Etsy shop.  What do you think?

(Excuse rubbish photos).

I think the Russian dolls are hilarious. 

 I think quirky or kitsch ? 

Twiglet says they are sinister.  

Do you think I could start a trend in sinister fashion?

Righto, the boy is building a house on Minecraft and I have some domestic drudgery to attend to.

Keep safe and cosy.

Twiggy 

Crikey!!!

Evening all.
I was just watchng Wolf Hall and doing some stitching and heard some huge claps of thunder.  They made the windows rattle. Looked outside and it's bucketing down with snow.
It's that flippin thunder snow again !
Glad we're all cosy and safe at home.
Twiggy