Canal Walk

Monday this last week dawned bright so it was time to get those walking boots on again!


I wanted to go to Hungerford to purchase a basket to hold the wool for my crochet projects (see post below) so we decided to walk another part of the Kennet and Avon Canal (fairly level walking is good at the moment as DH's back is still giving him a few problems although it is a lot better than it was) and then motor onto Hungerford and enjoy a picnic lunch beside the canal before visiting the basket shop.


We parked up in the same little car park that we used a few weeks back when we walked the canal up as far as Little Bedwyn. This time we set out to walk in the opposite direction.

Couldn't resist taking a photo of these cute ducklings

I love the reflection of these trees in the water

Crofton Pumping Station

We sat for awhile when we reached the lock opposite Crofton Pumping Station and enjoyed watching the house martins swooping over the canal catching insects, they are such agile flyers and were busy collecting food for their young to take back to their nests which they had built under the eaves of the pumping station.


I love to see the narrow boats on the canal - no two are the same, some very smart and others not so!!! Some are very high tech with solar panels and sky dishes, some have miniature greenhouses on the top, and they all seem to have a wheelbarrow (either on the roof or placed on the towpath beside the boat). I am not quite sure what they use these for but I am sure there is a simple explanation.

We were pretty hungry and thirsty by the time we arrived back at the carpark so we motored on into Hungerford where we enjoyed our picnic lunch whilst watching a couple of the boat people working hard carrying out maintenance on their boats while we sat and relaxed in the sunshine.

After lunch I visited the basket shop to purchase my wool basket (oh my, what a choice - baskets in every shape and size) and this has already been put to good use. 


A very pleasant way to spend a day and I am sure the walk helped with my weight loss this week - an amazing 3 lbs which gave me my Club 10 award (10% of my body weight lost), only 2.5 lbs to go to my 2 stone award now!

Crochet Crazy!

I have really got the crochet bug at the moment, even more so than usual. Hence, I have too many projects on the go but I cannot help myself!


I have now completed Part 5 of the Stylecraft Waterlily Crochet-along and it has got to the interesting part where you start joining some of the pieces together. There are still 3 more parts to be released but for now I am happy that I am on schedule.

Part 5

There has also been a little progress on my Cottage patchwork blanket, this is something that I am working on between other projects or when I am watching something on television as these squares don't require any concentration and I can make them without thinking about what I am doing. 

Do you like the basket that I am storing these squares in? I went to Dunelm Mill in Derby the other weekend with my friend Colly and picked up this at a very reasonable price, I like the fact that it is lined so will not snag the crochet.


The next project I am working on is a baby blanket for a colleague. I am loving the way this is looking and hope she will be pleased with it as well. I am crocheting this using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino which is a lovely soft yarn to work with.

I did actually have a finish at the weekend, I started this cushion when I was on holiday last year and joined all the squares together when I got home and started on the back of the cushion. I then promptly forgot all about it and discovered it again when I was looking for something else and thought I had better finish it. I managed to get a cushion insert when I was at Dunelm and was able to join the back and front and complete the cushion at the weekend.

Now I really shouldn't have started on another new project but I have been totally inspired by reading Heather's blog at Patchwork Heart I have only recently discovered this blog and I have been totally blown away by Heather's work, her choice of colours and also the speed at which she completes projects. The reason why I have started yet another project is that I want to try Heather's continuous joining method that she has kindly described in her blog so decided to make a cushion to try it out before hopefully using it on a blanket that I have got planned for later in the year. I selected colours that I already had in my stash and began work on it this morning.

I am making the squares for this cushion using the sunburst design which are quick to make up so that I can try the continuous join method. Did you spot the basket which is holding my wools, yes, I have been naughty and splashed out on this basket yesterday on a visit to Hungerford (more about that in a future blog post) - my DH approves though because it saves balls of yarn escaping all over the settee! I will update you on how the 'new to me' joining method goes.


And finally, you may be relieved to know, is my holiday project. Nothing like planning ahead as we don't got on holiday until August. I do like to have a different project for when I go away and I have chosen something that is portable and easy to pick up and put down. Again I am planning to make squares using the sunburst pattern, this time to turn into yet another blanket.
The colours I have chosen are:-

The edging for the blanket will be crocheted using cream yarn. 


As you can see I don't get time to be bored and wonder how I ever found time to go to work full-time, we are either out walking in the countryside or I am busy with my crafts.

Dorset is beautiful ...

Dorset is beautiful wherever you go - this is the first line of a song made famous by the Dorset folk group 'The Yetties' and it is certainly true. My DH's birthday was on Wednesday but as I was working we decided to celebrate by having a day out in Dorset yesterday instead.


The Isle of Purbeck is one of our all-time favourite places and one which we have visited many times, it is less than a couple of hours drive from home so ideal for a day trip.


We headed for Norden where there is a park and ride for the Swanage Steam Railway (a lot cheaper than parking in Swanage and DH plus eldest son that accompanied us had to have their steam fix). I was quite happy with this plan as it is a very scenic ride down to Swanage and the banks are covered in wild flowers at this time of the year. As we were waiting for the train I spotted a fallow deer in the field, such a beautiful animal.

On arrival in Swanage we walked along the seafront ...

past the Stone Quay ...

and on past the piers (the modern one and the remains of the old one)

and then climbed up the steep slope towards Peveril Point. At this point I was concerned about my DH as he has had a bad back and could hardly move out of bed this time last week but he was determined and didn't have too much trouble so far. The views from the Point are wonderful and we were so lucky with the weather a perfect day. 

After sitting and enjoying the scenery and watching the terns diving into the water by the rocks we walked on following the cliff path to the top of the downs, a steep climb but so worth it, spectacular views and a well placed seat when you reach the top!

The only problem was we had to walk back down into Swanage from the top of the downs and this is where DH really struggled, climbing up had been no problem but he found walking down really painful. However we finally made it back down onto level ground at the seafront and made our way to a cafe for a lovely lunch. 


We split up temporarily after this - DH and No. 1 son headed for the station shop while I headed for the wool shop. I have visited this shop many times over the years and never fail to walk out of there without buying something and yesterday was no exception. Oh dear, more yarn stash, but just couldn't resist.


We then met up again to catch the train. We decided to stop off at Corfe Castle for a quick look around this lovely village and DH and No. 1 son persuaded me that we needed to have a drink in the Greyhound - who was I to say no!


You can read about the history of Corfe Castle here

A quick journey back on the train to return to the park and ride at Norden before motoring to a favourite view point overlooking Poole Harbour for a quick stop off to take some photos ...

before driving down through Studland to the chain ferry which takes you across the mouth of Poole Harbour to Sandbanks.

It is no hardship having to wait in this stunning location for the ferry as there are beautiful views across the water to Bournemouth and across to Brownsea Island, the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour and famous as the place where Lord Baden Powell began the Scouting movement.

I love this next photo of the sun sparkling on the water at the end of the day.

We finished off our day out by stopping off at The Bear and Ragged Staff at Michelmarsh (near Romsey) for our evening meal which rounded off a perfect day.