Sunny Days.

I know I've been really lax on the blogging front recently, but to be honest I've been very lax about everything that doesn't involve spending as much time as possible outside in the glorious sunshine we're having here in South Yorkshire at the mo.

We've been on walks, eaten picnics, had lessons in the park, camped out overnight, spent lots of time in other people's gardens ( we only have a tiny yard), had a sneaky afternoon in the pub beer garden and a day out at Hemsworth Water Park.

 



We've seen geese standing on one leg, ducklings with their Mum and an inquisitive plump hedgehog! 

 



The sunsets have been magnificent.

 



 

 

And there's been lots of time for some lovely al fresco crochet! 

 



And that's it...a short but sunny post this time, keep watch though...I've got some interesting news coming up soon.

See ya

Em xx

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Zombies and Tennis Anyone?

There's nothing much can beat a summer weekend when there's nothing much to do except relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Evie spent most of the weekend chasing around with Hermione and some friends, soaking each other with water pistols or squeezy bottles filled with water, which is what we used for water fights when I was a kid! 

Me and Scott spent sometime painting at the village studio 'Les Cadeaux ', we went to see 'World War Z' and we spent all this afternoon watching Andy Murray win Wimbledon! 

World War Z was a really good film, I wanted to see it because I love anything with zombies and as I read the book recently it made me want to see it all the more.

I really, really enjoyed the book but couldn't see how it would translate into a film as its just a series of interviews with survivors of the zombie war, but if you haven't read the book or you can detach yourself from it and accept the film  as a story in its own right then it's a bloody good film! 

 



 

We saw it in 3D and all I can say about that is...3D zombies...wowzers!! There was one point early on in the film where I jumped like I've never jumped before as a big scary 3D zombie suddenly popped up in front of me, and I do not usually scare easily! 

 



 



The film was tense from the start and had a bit of a nail biting edge to it all the way through, the ending was a bit predictable and sentimental for my liking, I know I'm awful but I love miserable, depressing, unhappy endings (my all time fave film is 'Requiem For a Dream).

Anyway if you like a bit of zombie action or a bit of Brad Pitt or just a good, jumpy story go see it! 

In very brief other news, I shed a few tears when Andy Murray won the tennis this afternoon, I'm so happy that he won, he always seems so very serious and he's such a nice guy...I hope he lightens up a bit and enjoys his moment of glory! 

 



Until next time 

Em xx

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Saltaire.

Evie's project this week is Saltaire and Sir Titus Salt, the wool manufacturer and philanthropist from Yorkshire.

Sir Titus Salt built the model village Saltaire on land he had acquired near to Shipley, he decided to relocate his mill and workers out of the it's of Bradford after a cholera outbreak killed over 300 people in Bradord.

 Salt built houses for his workers, a church, school, hospital, an educational institute and almshouses for retired workers as well as his magnificent mills.

Saltaire had everything a good village in the mid 19th century should have except a pub! Sir Titus Salt was a strict teetotaller   and insisted that his workers remain sober as well.

The streets of Saltaire were mostly named after members of the Salt family and two architects who contributed to the design and building of Saltaire, a few notable exceptions include a trio of streets named after flowers popular at the time and some streets named after royalty.

These days the mill hosts an exhibition by local artist David Hockney and some excellent historical information.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] David Hockneys Art at Salts Mill.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] A Mural of The Process of Woolmaking.[/caption]
A brilliant restaurant and some rather lovely shops! 

 



And the houses once occupied by mill workers are now highly desirable properties and the shops are mostly either speciality shops or sadly empty, although we did see one, 'Salts Village Bakery' where my Grandma worked a long time ago, and where they make and sell the most deeee-licious spinach and feta pasties! 

We also found the street where my Dad lived when him and Mum first met and where my Grandma still lived when I was first born and we spotted houses where various relatives have lived over the years.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Memory Lane[/caption]
 

We had a yummy picnic in Roberts Park and a good walk around it, culminating in a run around (for the kids) in the playground...although I had a quick bounce on a trampoline and our friend Helen slid down the slide a few times, looking out over the river Aire from the playground we could see a weir in the river where as a child I begged and begged to be allowed to play with all the lucky kids who were allowed to play in the water...I was never ever allowed though!! 

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Around Saltaire and Roberts Park.[/caption]
 

The weather was on our side yesterday too which helped make it yet another lovely day out! 

Until next time 

Em xx 

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June Review.

I know I've only been writing this blog for a week but I want to review the whole month of June because its been a great month all round.

We've had some great days out, The Magna Science centre in Rotherham, Experience Barnsley, the open studio and walk around Skipton and the end of year exhibition at Batley Art School.

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Magna Science Adventure Centre.[/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Skipton.[/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Experience Barnsley.[/caption]

 

We've crafted loads.

 



We've started our homeschool adventure and completed a very successful first week.

We've had five amazing days in Portugal, we lost a day and a half because of the French air traffic controllers strike.

 



 



We've eaten some lovely food and I've drank endless good coffees! 

 



 



We helped out at a local litter pick to make our village a nicer place for everyone and we met Dan Jarvis our MP when he unveiled a plaque commemorating the Queens coronation.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Coronation Plaque and Darton Litter Pick.[/caption]
 

And most importantly we've spent lots of time with our amazing family and friends, we celebrated a 71st birthday, we had a goodbye party for my sisters mother-in-law and my good friend as she's just moved to Exmouth, and we had a visit from our middle daughter Mica.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Goodbye Grania.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Happy Birthday Harry.[/caption]
 

All in all Junes been a brill month! 

Em x 

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Saturday in Skipton.

When I found out one of my favourite crafty bloggers was holding her first 'open studio' in a town not too far from where I live I just couldn't resist going along...

 



Anyone who reads crafty/crochet blogs will no doubt have come across the rather lovely Attic 24 , Lucy who writes it shares a studio with Tracy from Patchwork Chickens another lovely blog, anyway these two very talented ladies held an open studio today in the wonderful town of Skipton.

Their studio is above Coopers Cafe Bar which sells nice strong black coffee and a whole range of very tasty treats! So we stopped for a refuel before heading upstairs to investigate the studio.

Once we got upstairs all I can say is Wow! The whole place is a riot of colour and creativity...it was also a bit strange seeing all the wonderful projects I've followed Lucy's progress on in 'real life' if you know what I mean! 

 



Sadly we didn't get to chat with Tracy, but Lucy was incredibly welcoming and friendly, she chatted about her projects and her yarn and her gorgeous baby cashmerino ripple blanket...which I have to admit I wanted to grab, wrap around me and run away with! 

 



After we left the studio we decided to investigate Skipton, the weather was nice and we were in a town we didn't know so there was no other option but to explore! 

We bought ice cream from a boat on the canal! 

 



We wandered through the market looking at stalls and in shop windows.

 



We had a delicious lunch at a brilliant little vegetarian restaurant called 'Wild Oats Cafe'.



Then we wandered slowly back through the town, promising each other we'd be back soon to explore further.

Two trains later and we were back in Barnsley.

Em xx 

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Stitch 'n' Bitch

Friday has always been our weekly Stitch 'n' Bitch day, we've had loads of different venues but almost always managed to get to get together for coffee and crochet! 

Today's big difference was that Evie is now part of the group, she brought along a new craft project to work on and only put it down when she had some toast.

I'm working on a poncho for a baby, I sometimes have a craft stall at a local coffee morning and I need some new things to sell on it.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="281"] My Blue Poncho.[/caption]
 



DKia is crocheting a pink striped blanket that we've christened '50 Shades of Pink' because she's used at least 50 different pink yarns on it so far.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="281"] 50 Shades of Pink.[/caption]
 

Evie started embroidering a design from one of her endless computer games, she drew it freehand first, then started to fill it in with colourful stitches.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="281"] Evie's Embroidery.[/caption]
 

We also drank lots of the delicious coffee that they serve at Corner Cafe! 

That's all for today, a short and sweet post, we are going to visit a fellow blogger tomorrow at her open studio! 

Em xx  

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Making History.

Today a super new museum opened in Barnsley, 'Experience Barnsley' is about Barnsley, for Barnsley.

The opening ceremony was performed by the people of Barnsley, everyone cut their own bit of a huge ribbon to declare it open! 

We helped with the ribbon cutting and then went inside for our first look around, it was brilliant and we'll be back very soon.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="281"] Evie Getting Ready to Cut The Ribbon.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Hermione About to Cut The Ribbon.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="281"] Yay it's Cut![/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Souvenir Pieces of Ribbon.[/caption]
 



 



 



 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Evie and Hermione Getting Involved in Women's Suffrage.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="281"] The Amazing Reference Library.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="281"] Hermione in a Roman Soldier Costume.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Leaving Messages.[/caption]
 



 



 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="281"] The Tallest Cricket Players Ever?[/caption]
 

Em xx 

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