Friday 21 October 2016

Cats Sleep Anywhere

Cassie in her box which is in her play area. If she wants to play, she goes and sits near to the box in the background which she loves because it has holes in the end, through which a feather thingammy can be wriggled. The big box was supposed to be temporary but she loves sleeping there.
 Lily likes plastic to sleep on. This piece of bubble wrap was on the floor for a while last Saturday and she sat there for ages in the sun. On the bed is an old carrier bag which is her favourite place to sleep. I think they must be warm.
So glad it is Friday. I have a pile of work (literally!) to do but at least it is half term next week so I dont have to rush to get it done for Monday!

Wednesday 19 October 2016

Birthday Dolls

It is my birthday today, so I thought I would share my birthday dolls. I met Linda Sue a couple of weekends ago and we visited the Foundling Museum. We had a bit of trouble finding the Foundling but finally did. Linda Sue gave me this amazing doll for my birthday. She is very old and beautifully shabby, and wears her face around her neck so that it looks like a neckerchief. 

 I have had a couple of goes at painting her as she is very tempting to paint. 



 Andy's sister Helen sent me this sweet doll for my birthday last year. She has been waiting for her bigger friend to arrive and they look as if they were made for each other!

Sunday 16 October 2016

Wrabness and Mistley

At the end of the summer holidays we visited a couple of places in Essex. Wrabness was the first. I chose there because of the recommendation about the beach I read somewhere which said you could find bones. First we visited the community cafe. The lady in there told us how to get to the beach. We drove where directed and parked near the church. This little structure is in the middle of the churchyard. Not sure if it is the lychgate or not. A lychgate is a roofed entrance to a churchyard which used to be used for sheltering a coffin until the vicar arrived. 


We walked down quite a long track. In the distance we could see this intriguing house. It turns out to be an artwork by Grayson Perry.
It's called  'A House for Essex' 

Dilapidated greenhouse on the track. 
Beach houses. 

Shipwreck. 
Next we went to Mistley, not far away. 
The Edme building dominates one end of the village. It is a malt products producer. You can smell the malt in the air.
Buildings have been converted into fancy looking dwellings. 
Mistley lies on the edge of the Stour estuary. There were loads of swans on the water and I think this must be a regular thing as there is a large ornamental swan in the middle of the village.
Another shipwreck.
Said swan. 
Small political doggy in the window. I am not sure what the campaign is about but it is to do with the maltings on the river side.
Some tastefully painted houses. 
Mistley Towers. They were part of a church but the middle part has gone. 

The best cup of tea I have ever had. All of the fancy glass teapots and timers were fun and the tea was delicious! I had Earl Grey.
The cafe is The Tea House at Mistley Quay. Right in the middle just to the left of the swan.

Sunday 9 October 2016

To the North

Last weekend we went up to Northumberland to go to the Allen Valleys Folk Festival. It was fun and lovely to get away to fresh air. We saw a couple of bands on the Friday night, one of which was my favourite of the whole weekend. They are called Stick in the Wheel and are from London. Their songs are a mix of traditional and their own. There are two singers, one main and one harmonizing, a guitar, a drummer-hand drums and a violinist. The main singer and the other girl did a lot of chatting in between songs and were really funny. (Hard Times of Old England, Me n Becky)  Other than seeing the music, we ate lovely food, saw friends, wandered around in the woods and generally relaxed. Below are a few pictures from around Allendale where we were staying. 
Bank
Black Lion
Boarded Up
Bunk House
Cross Keys
Heads
Labor and Wait
Methodist Chapel Window
Mossy Roofs
Victoria House
Window