Monday 3 August 2015

First week of the holidays


Well, what did I get up to through the first full week of the Summer holidays. To cut a long story short - crochet and walking!


First let me show you what I have had on my crochet hook this past week. I have so much that I want to create thanks to all the inspirational ideas out there in blogland so I have had three different starts this week:-


First of all this pile of small circles will become my Rose Garden throw, only just started doing the second round on these, believe it or not they will become hexagons eventually but I have put this project on one side for just a little while.






Next I started a shawl, I know the road trip shawl is very popular out there in blogland at the moment, however I decided on a slightly different pattern - this is the start of the Tender Sandstorm shawl by Vicarno.






Finally I have jumped on the corner 2 corner bandwagon and am working on this small blanket - ideal size for a pram blanket, have now got to the boring bit of having to sew in the ends but then can create a lovely edging to finish it off.






I have also finished the lining and handles for my Crafternoon Treats big stash bag, just ideal for me to take to the beach later in the holidays as it holds my coastal blanket, with room for my latest crochet project and the pockets hold my Kindle and my phone. I did make a bit of a mess with lining the handles and had to botch them but I am overall pleased with how this came out as I am not an expert by any means at sewing and was dreading the lining process.






Now onto the walking, three lovely walks achieved over the last week. 


If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know we enjoy walking various bits of the towpath on the Kennet and Avon Canal, this time we walked the stretch from Crofton to Bruce Tunnel (the only tunnel on the K&A). The main reason for going was to see a steam train that was running, however we were just parking the car at Crofton when we heard the steam whistle and saw the smoke as the train was running over half an hour early, oh well at least my DH did get to hear it if not see it properly. It didn't stop us enjoying our walk, this stretch of the towpath is new to us and it was fun to watch some narrow boats negotiate the locks. I am not sure I would like to be on a boat going through Bruce Tunnel though, quite long and dark!
























Our next walk took us back to the lovely village of St. Mary Bourne and we decided to walk a different route from our normal routes that we follow. It was good to have a change of scenery and I loved this field of beautiful sunflowers and the stunning wild flower banks.


















Our final walk of the week saw us return to Hannington, this time our eldest son accompanied us. We walked the same downland route as the previous week but took a further diversion extending the walk by 3/4 mile which gave us some lovely views looking down over my home village and some very steep inclines and declines which will hopefully have a positive effect when I get on the scales at Slimming World this week. I love walking on the Downs, not just for the superb views and returning to the landscape I know so well but also for the flora and fauna.





















This was a field of clover last week (you might remember from my last post) before the sheep moved in!


Looking down on the Kingsclere race horse stables and the village beyond.














And what better thing to do at the end of a lovely walk than enjoy a meal at The Vine at Hannington.



Excuse my red face, I always look like a beetroot at the end of a walk!



11 comments:

  1. What lovely photos from your walks :)

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  2. Maybe Great Western should revert back to steam trains then!!! Their trains are NEVER early these days, you are lucky if they turn up at all!!!! I drive through St Mary Bourne frequently to Picket Piece and the quilt shop there, I love that jaunt, one day I will stop for a walk, it looks lovely countryside!! I can see the Hannington mast from our back bedroom window!!!

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    1. You should definitely stop off at SMB and enjoy a walk, there are so many lovely places to walk from there. I go to the quilting shop at Picket Piece fairly regularly (it is only just up the road for me) and I used to go to Love Yarn, underneath the quilting shop before it closed a couple of months back. I still belong to the Knitty Natter group which was started at Love Yarn. xx

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  3. Hi Jan

    Thanks for your lovely comments about my photos. They're so good because my camera does a great job and part of the reason I appear to get so close is the zoom! I get asked what camera I use quite often so! Before mid June I had a Nikon Coolpix p520, and since mid June I've been using a Nikon Coolpix p900 - both great cameras but the p900 has been well worth the money so far! I did write a blog post about it at the time, and I'd highly recommend this camera!

    Here's the post from June - http://roachling.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/a-new-camera.html

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  4. Hi Jan. You have sure been busy creating some lovely projects. I especially like the corner to corner blanket. The pictures are so beautiful where you took your walk. I'll send you some Palm trees if you can send me some lovely countryside:) Have a great day. Pat xx

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  5. I love love love your Crafternoon treat stash bag - is it your own design? Think I may have to make one of them!
    Your walks are very enjoyable and make me miss home. I can't wait to get home and go on walks like that x

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  6. All of your crochet projects are so beautiful!!!! I love them all!!! I hope that sewing the ends in will not be too tedious for you. Lovely to go along for a walk with you too!! xx

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  7. What wonderful crochet projects, all of them brilliant, especially the bag! You must be a fast crocheter! Your summery photos are gorgeous and I'm glad that you're managing to get out and about a lot in such lovely surroundings :)
    Cathy x

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  8. You're certainly packing a lot into your summer holiday - great makes and fantastic walks. We like walking along the K&A too but I've never seen the tunnel - I think we'll have to make a picnic and go and have a little explore. Keep enjoying your time off. xx

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  9. I always enjoy your walk photos, Jan (and I am exactly the same--very red in the face after a fast-paced walk!)... Your crocheting is lovely--really think the colors in the throw are so soft and pretty.

    Hope you have nice weather for more lovely walks this summer!

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  10. All of your crochet projects are so beautiful!!!!

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