9...9...I've made it in time :)

A quick posting today,
as I've not much to say.
All I've seem to have done
is make things for hungry tums.
A china plated number 9
beautifully painted is just fine
A little flat hidden from view
perfectly painted and bijou
My photo taken for you to see
In the coastal town of Whitby.



Jingle Bell Rock any one? By Bobby Helms

8 8 - nearly too late!

Oops - it is nearly 9.45 pm and I have only just remembered to do  today's number!

8.
8. 8th December.

Again a lovely old road sign has come to my rescue - supplying me a delightful number 8.

I got my walk!

Mind you it was bitterly cold and treacherous underfoot. The fields were either pockmarked with myriads of ice filled hoof marks or slabbed with thick layers of ice and brittle grass. One huge field, strangely not frozen was a mass of water filled deep sharp holes made by horse hooves. We carefully traversed the watery maze and despite being careful I slipped and now sport a natty pirate like limp - sigh.

We came across something wonderful we knew nothing of. St Helens's Well. We found a narrow gap in a stone wall .............

Stepping into this strange ancient well certainly made the air taste different. 

Tokens of faith, prayer ribbons and items left as tangible evidence of wishes and hopes were on the twisted trees surrounding the pool.

Chains, rusty and almost invisible in the dense growth, hung from branches alongside faded frayed ribbons.

The spring that fed the pool came up with such force that a mound of water boiled at the far side.

Something caught my eye, I carefully bend down and saw coins tucked into the rocks under the water. I put my hand in, expecting the sharp sting of icy water and was amazed at the warmth of it. I pointed out the coins to the boys who understanding the ancient magic of this place and the reverence it still commanded asked if they could leave mementoes  I only had a couple of coins on me which they took. Each boy found a place to stand, stood a moment and then tossed the money into the seething pool.

See the large carved stone? Apparently there used to be three more, with stone faces staring into the water - they sadly have been stolen. Probably gracing some ones garden who know nothing of this little sacred place.

By the time we reached the car, we were caked with frosty mud and had damp cold feet - did we enjoy it? You bet we did :)

Hope during your Saturday you found a little piece of magic
PS let the snow man bring the snow (surely it should be the other way around?) 

blessing hawthorn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

7...7...counting again

Just in case no one actually noticed - it is FridAy! Woo hoo! What a week - what a strange week. I feel absolutely shot at. However, Himself has just offered me the perfect antidote - we're off walking tomorrow and I instantly feel better :)

Now, back to the count down.
7.
7th December.

One of our guilty pleasures as a family is to go geocaching - sort of high tech orienteering-treasure-hunting where we go on line for a set of clues and using a GPS we 'hunt' ourselves a decent walk with a bit treasure at the end of it.

One such 'hunt' had us following a route along a disused railway track. It had been cleared of all the metal work and buildings and it their place were plantations of young native fruiting trees and shrubs. The undergrowth was full of bulbs and indigenous plants tumbling and jostling for space - wandering through these juvenile woodlands in the making was nothing short of inspirational. What a wonderful way of utilising a narrow strip of land. Each mini-woodland was growing between the railway bridges, so the first stretch of about a half a mile was all rowan trees heavy in flower, then the next bit was filled with hawthorn and blackthorn. Smaller sections were planted up with wild apple and cherry inter-spaced with holly and field maple. Not surprisingly there was a whole microcosm of birds and insects living their lives along this narrow corridor which we had been lucky enough to walk along one gorgeous summers afternoon. But I digress, the reason we had been here in this little magical strip of land was all due to following some clues. Tucked in one the footings of a stone railway bridge was a small tin cigarette case - originally the container for 7 (ah ha so that is the connection!) cigarettes. So, without further hesitation - one summery hot afternoon I had snapped the photo I would be using today - a frosty cold wintery December evening - feeling smug? Moi? Never!

Several times, when trying to get my walking mojo back to full strength I would walk from home to Himself's work just in time for him to finish then I would catch a lift (and my breath) back home. When I started these walks it would take me nearly 2 hours and I would reach him absolutely puffed out with a deeply affronted leg. (Yes, my leg does have a personality of it's own...I should know - I have to live with it!) Then as time went on I got it down to exactly an hour, managing it with a slightly less crotchety knee.

Along this route is a park that has seen better days, now instead of the hoped for 'keep-fit' brigade and the mums and tots using the optimistically named millennium people's park*, it has piles of litter and dog mess. Needles and other dodgy paraphernalia lurk behind corners and stripped parts of bicycles and scooters lie lost and unloved in the tatty undergrowth. Needless to say I would walk this part of my walk a little faster than the rest...........


*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the park!

Our weather for the forthcoming week or so is promising to be appalling - so get out your huskies and sleds and put on your thermals - it's going to be a rough one!!

Have a good weekend - I certainly intend on doing so

oops nearly forgot! Today's little festive gem is from 1980 - I remember watching the music video on an old black and white television one hot African summer - Jona Lewie and Stop the Cavalry

with love hawthorn xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS edited to add - another flyer - this time in colour 

6..6..jump on sticks

6th December.

The weather is making a concerted effort to turn truly wintery. The grey clouds are low and sporadically spitting out snow. Not enough to cause a problem (yet) but enough to cause concern.
Little Pan (cat) is sitting behind the laptop peering over at me - inviting me to a game. With these long hours I am doing the poor cat gets fed up with her own company.

I have a list as long as my arm to do, but - do you know what? I really don't feel like doing any of it.....hmmm better get myself motivated.

Now, 6.
The sixth day of December - only 6 days left before I leave my present job.  How do I feel about it? Odd. Leaving the relative safety of a job close by, a job where the boss keeps asking me to stay on, a job that only takes 7 minutes to walk to. For a job over 40 minutes away (hence new car). A job that starts just as the weather turns.......hmmm (again)

Any hoo, back to the matter in hand...
6.

On the way back from our summer holidays, we pulled off to exercise legs, relieve the dog and generally get some real air rather than in-car-stuffy-post-jollies-air. Himself stopped the engine and for a brief moment there was complete silence. Then the boys opened their doors and the dog shuffled in anticipation. None of us was expecting the rather brisk breeze that greeted us with some force. Hair was slapped around and doors needed some careful shutting so we'd not pull our arms off. The dog, far from doing what was expected, ran around gleefully as her fur ruffled. I needed to stretch so strode off into the distance with hopefully a heart prodding walk. I turned back, puffed and feeling refreshed and pounded back. The boys had taken the same approach as the dog and had run around is big circles, all impending teenage angst was lost as their laughter was whipped from their mouths. Just as I was to hop back into the car (I'd reached fresh-air-capacity by now) I noticed the sign.  A6 Kendal and Shap and M6 Hardendale. 

Another white painted stone - hadn't realised I'd found so many....




A quick look out of the window confirms the reason why my nose feels like an icicle. Brrrrr

.
Any one fancy a little bit of Bruce Springstein?


Edited to add:

Been designing our leaflet for the next Yarnival event -

One two three four 5!

Five,
5,

5th December.

Only 26 days till the end of the year - hasn't 2012 gone really quickly!

Today's count down number is 5. Not much to chat about them though, both are snapped when we're out walking.
Railway bridges are always good for numbers, even bridges from disused lines. Despite there being no track, the bridges are often well maintained.





I have managed to get some crochet done and seeing it was for a birthday and has already been un-wrapped, I can now share and show. I was a bit at a loss what to do as the birthday recipient is a dear friend with a beautiful home filled with treasures and products of her crafting. I had been doing a blog-catch up and one blog I pop into regularly is  Bunny Mummy. She had just blogged a happy happy post about some hearts she had made. So I followed her link to ....HERE. Using this pattern for inspiration, I made three hearts. Each one a little smaller than the last.

 I stuffed and embellished them and turned them into a hanging thingy to hang from a door handle.

I am rather pleased with them, especially as I managed to whip them up in a couple of hours. I'd forgotten how quick crochet really is.

Please excuse posting, I am very tired and there seems to be no let up just yet. I think I am just about running on empty - never mind, it will pass. I am off to try and do some knitting, got a craft fayre to get ready for and am way way way behind. Oh yes, then there is Yarnival to sort out, various chrimbly parties and gatherings to soldier through, gifts to make/finish/start.

Oh, before I go - this song above all other festive style music is the one that is synonymous with my childhood chrimbly time. My mom would put on this old vinyl and we'd listen to the crackling and hissing and love every minute of it....And what was that song? Well, you'd have to go HERE to find out!

What is your 'track from chrimbly time?'
What takes you back to your childhood?
Go on, spill the beans xx

More 4

4th December

4.

February this year I had surgery on my knee - this photograph is from my first 'big' walk 8 weeks later. I was scared,so very scared - worried my knee would not be able to 'stay the length' but it did and we are still walking.

Knee and me, we still have days where we don't get on, I want to move, it refuses. I have days when it flicks or jigs without any warning or sulks in it's own little world. My knee gets mood swings and headaches. But, we still walk and we fully intend, knee and me, to walk until we can walk no longer.

4.
Steep slopes have a special torture of their own, knee trembling torture. My knee always breathes a sigh of relief (as do I) when we get down a slope without too much pain. Whitby, full of steep slopes and cobbles uneven and ancient hold particular terrors for my knee but when, once home, knee and I come to terms with the creaking and the aches and feel justifiably proud that we managed.

4.
Only 4 miles to go, only 4 miles before we can sit down in the car and warm up as Himself drives us home. There is something satisfying about a good day's walking - tired but a good tired.

Something different for a chrimbly track? How about The Darkness Christmas time - don't let the bells end

I have been crafting, but work is keeping me very tied up so I will show and share some time soon.

It's nearly Wednesday - only a few days left before I change jobs - ooerr!!

Counting again...........3

3.

You know when it is December.

When the bun tin baking tray gets used almost on a daily basis.

When Himself and the boys try to eat themselves a mountain sized pile of home made mince pies through the month.

When a tally sheet goes up and every pie is religiously marked down.

When the boys check how much their dad has munched and groan at his ability to devour endless amounts.

When, by the 31st December, they are so heartily sick of the sight of them that it takes almost a full year to prepare for the next munch-a-thon!

3.

I love the dramatic colours a dark stormy sky can give when there are flashes of sunshine between the heavy clouds. We had been walking on such a day, with one eye on the sky and waterproofs at the ready, when I spied this lovely old road sign. So many signs have been replaced by modern generic variants. They seem to have no soul (listen to me - talking about road signs having souls!) But, when you see an old one, with it's cast iron circular name place astride a black and white metal pole - you'll know what I mean. 

Some are rusty and almost lacy thin with flaking lead paint while others are proudly repainted annually and look resplendent in their glossy coats. 

3.

Another old finger-post. However, this one seems to have lost the village name topping and has the ubiquitous rusty streaks.

3.

Yesterday I mentioned finding a white-washed stone, here, another one lies at the base of the stone scree, and what a mighty fine pile of stones!

3.

This summer we delighted in our first holiday on the pendulous lump of mainland Scotland that is the delicious Kintyre. We explored all around the coast line from the white sandy stretches on the west side with the most heavenly blue seas to the wild and remote feeling east side. It was on a wet and windy day when we chanced  upon the village of Skipness and it's 13th C castle. We walked through the grounds, drenching our feet and soaking our trouser legs. All through the wooded area were rain sodden orienteering markers, we knew how they felt as by the time we returned to the car, rain had seeped through our very bones and we were very cold. It had been however a wonderful walk and one we fully intend on doing again - but possibly on a very much drier day!

And to help you get your chrimbly mojo on - how about a little Mariah Carey and All I want for Christmas!

So it continues - 2

December 2nd

A cold and frosty morning today, we are holed up with homework and housework - we are all doing them under duress! I desperately need a walk so today's post will be brief (ish - knowing me)

When we first returned back from  Africa we initially 'camped' with the in-laws until we found a house in Barnoldswick - I never ever really settled there. It may have been a combination of homesickness, post natal depression, the weather, a difficult toddler and new baby all squashed into a small house were I refused to unpack. We 'lived' there for a year then moved to our present home. I know people who still live in Barlick as it is known locally, who love it and would live nowhere else and others who had the same negative feeling.

Any way, there is a canal running below it which has been used in several television series either as a backdrop or as one of the main characters. One such series was 'Falling' where the filming was around the lock-keepers cottage and the canal. When my knee was at its worst, we did a fair bit of walking along the canals as it meant I could potter without much effort on a useless leg, this part of the canal network is one we have done many times.

And on the theme of walking, we'd been out on the hills around the back of Halton Gill - a hamlet tucked tightly at the base of a wild deep cleft, when we came across a huge pile of limestone and a painted stone on the top - white washed with a 2 emblazoned on it. We're not sure why but suspect it has something to do with pheasant and grouse shooting as we found more along this narrow valley, each freshly whitewashed and proudly bearing a number.

And finally, still on the theme of walking with the connective number of two, is the final photo - a stretch of dune-scape on the way to Ross Sands that as part of it's management have a herd of rather menacing black cows and calves. Not that they have actually done anything other than glare at us with dark eyes, I do know of some one who had to run for quite a distance towards the sands to escape a particularly protective cow.

Three random stories, the only link being today's date and walking.

Finally - for a bit of a festive flourish - How about Slade and Merry Christmas Everybody

Edited to add: I am not the only one attempting a daily December post with photo - Lyn over at Everyday Life is doing it too - why don't you pop over and see what she is doing xx

One - chrimbly countdown

It's that time of the year when I countdown throughout December toward the end of the year.
I usually have some sort of waffle and a photo or two to go with it - come along, let me take you along for the ride!

❅✳❄❇❅❇❅✳❄❇❅❇❅✳❄❇❅❇❅✳❄❇❅

1.

December the 1st is the 335th day of the year unless it is a leap year then it is the 336th day. There are only 30 days left till 2013!

We had been out walking on the hills and had dropped down into the village of Kettlewell. It is a quirky village that I have written about before. In summer it is a heaving sea of holiday makers, day trippers and walkers but add a little inclement weather and the village returns to a quiet rural clutch of houses nestled in small steep sided valleys.  We try to avoid the massing throngs and choose to walk during the quieter cooler seasons.

These pictures were taken on one such walk. We came down the lane and we were mobbed by a small but delightful pack of border collie puppies. They wobbled on furry baby legs up the farm track all bright eyed and floppy eared. 

A piercing whistle and a farmery voice called  'c'mon...c'mon'.

Instantly they stopped in their tracks, at such a young age they were already tuned in. A young farm-chappie strode up and scooped up several of the pups, while their mother rounded up the rest and between them they took their precious furry cargo back into the safety of the farm yard.

We were delighted and my heart squeezed at the super cuteness of them all.

We walked on, following the lane into the village itself then out the other side when I realised I had not taken one single photo of this little snippet of farm life. Oh well, our collective memory will keep the images safe.

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And to help get you (and me) into a more festive frame of mind - how about popping over and listening to -

Fairy Tale in New York, a real non chrimbly chrimbly song!

❅✳❄❇❅❇❅✳❄❇❅❇❅✳❄❇❅❇❅✳❄❇❅

Sshh but it's nearly ******** time

I find that, at this time of the year, when I am crafting like a whirling dervish - that I am unable to show and share what I've been making!

I take pictures of their stages of growth and the hiccups of my various goodies only to have to file them under 'November -crafting' for a later date.

Hmm. So, to satisfy my need to intrigue, tease and take photos - here are a couple snippets, think will keep the others a little more under wraps.

Oh ho - only two and a half weeks before I start my new job - oooh errr saying that has just awoken the butterflies :)

Excuse me better go, some one small and hairy keeps patting my leg and asking for a game.

Quiet thoughts

The seasons are definitely turning.

 It has taken some mental training and persistence for me to finally accept that winter is not the end

but the beginning. 

I have had to learn to accept the change in the weather and enjoy what each season brings. 

Even small delights can be found during the dankest of grey days. 

They are often not easy to spot but when they appear they seem to shine out.

Our bleary eyed school run has been blessed with some glorious colour recently. 

The sky seems alive

It has been a quiet introspective weekend, the weather didn't invite walking. So, the four of us worked through homework, de-cluttering and tidying up. The boys struggled to find any pleasure in these (mind you, so did we) but a steady supply of tea and some home baking seemed to help ease the grind. Eldest made some delicious bread for lunch and I made a HUGE pizza - it wasn't meant to be as big as a cart wheel but the dough just grew and grew and GREW!

It was, I have to report, all eaten.

The boys (and I include all three of them) are getting in training to eat chrimbly mince pies. We were the lucky recipients of some rather yummy home made mince meat and Himself lost no time rolling out pastry and having the oven going.

As I say, a quiet weekend, and you?

What did you get up to?

What gems have you found that brighten your day?

Did you do any baking?

Share, I love to hear what you do too x

Have a lovely Monday and try not to get too wet here in the UK 

with love hawthorn  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx