Walking on sunshine

Well I think we've had 4 seasons in one day (to quote the song) today, I've been in and out with the washing like the Trumpton clock.

Anyhoo sorry for the absence have been busy finishing the last module of my course (only the project to go, yay!!), making stuff for my Etsy shop - as you can see on the side bar and clearing crappola from the house.
We have managed to wriggle out of our contract with the estate agent who are frankly, crap and intend to find a new one, so much to do.

We have also taken the regretful decision to give up our allotment Mr Twigs hasn't got the time and I haven't got the decent back required, so we spent a pleasant few hours at the weekend transplanting our soft fruit bushes in the raised beds in the garden.

I've spent some time today planting up sweet peas and popping some chilli and pepper seeds in, out bedroom windowsills are now rammed with seed trays :)

I was determined to get out for a walk in the Spring sunshine, so we headed off to Nostell Prory again, but followed a different route this time.

Love this obelisk/gate house it was once the original entrance to Nostell and was refurbished with grant money in 2006.  

When I worked at Nostell Priory circa 2003 it was on English Heritage's buildings at risk register.  

So it is very nice to see it looking so good. 

Here's inside one side of it (a fire, lintel and a few cupboards), the gatekeeper used to live in it many moons ago, in fact on top of the tall pointy bit there are two chimneys.

This is some of the original stonework that was replaced.

In other news we are very busy at school as we usually are leading up to the Easter hols and we have 8 of our 77 children off with chickenpox!!!

Righto that's all for now.

Twiggy x

Birthday treat

Evening peeps.  Cor we've been busy bees over at Twiggy Towers.  My lovely Mum came over to stay on Sunday so Mr Twigs could take me on my birthday treat on Sunday night in Sheffield.

I was very giddy as I went to the last Strength tour 30 years ago at Sheffield City Hall, then I went with my best pal and a bunch of lads from the sixth form, we were taken by one of our lovely teachers in the school mini bus - Gawd bless him !!

Anyhoo we had a top night on Sunday, but crikey I was knackered all day at work on Monday, that'll teach us to go out on a school night !!

In other news I have been doing a lot of making and updating my Etsy shop, feel free to follow the link on the right and have a nosey.

Been on a few training courses for my job too, fascinating stuff.

 Had time to make a home made hob nob mountain.

 Yay !! signs of Spring little propagators on the sunny windowsill.

Some pretty daffs.

At school last Friday the children dressed as their favourite book character for World Book Day and to raise funds for Book Aid International. 

We raised £115.42, which considering we have only 77 pupils isn't bad at all.

I will leave you with a photo of Twiglet dressed as the 11th Doctor with snazzy braces.

Do you know his very talented Nana made him that tweed jacket last year, it's lined and everything.

Clever Nana.

Ta ra

Twiggy 

Happy St Davids Day

Hello folks. 

 I was going to post some pics of the walk I had planned today, however, rain stopped play.

 After taking Dom the guinea pig to the vets to have his teeth clipped, I settled down to make some earrings while watching Stardust (the Neil Gaiman film not the David Essex one ). 

 I love this film, right up there with The Princess Bride and Local Hero in our house. 

Do you have Sunday afternoon film favourites, if so, what are they? There are worse ways to spend a rainy, grey Sunday afternoon.

So it seems to have been a busy week but I managed to pop in some sewing on my machine, shock horror, I even threaded it up myself, blimey!

I also sneaked off with my good pal Caroline on Thursday afternoon for coffee and  cake sans children - oooo scandalous.

Before the yucky weather arrived today, I managed to go for several walks while the boy was at school and the hubby at work, it felt quite Spring like, so I will leave you with a few pics.

Like most places we have a few eccentrics, a bloke near us has this vehicle parked outside his house, never driven it since he bought it and it's parked under a sign that says Elvis Presley Boulevard - brilliant !!

This old shed belongs to a fella that lives nearby who must be in his 80s, he stores an old fashioned tractor in it and several times a week, takes it out, starts it up and rides it round the grassy field behind the shed, puts it away and then goes home.  Ace !!

Here are a few shots from down the lane across from my house.

I often feel a bit of a ninny walking on my own without a dog or anything, but bumped into loads of folks doing exactly the same thing, perhaps Spring is on it's way.

Take care

Twiggy 

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