What Katie Did

Stats and what to make of them

Do you all check your blog stats as often as I do? I'm curious to know who's visiting and what they are searching for. Back in the snow, a lot of UK visitors were searching for 'things to do while snowed in' hence that little series of posts titled so. But for the last two days, I have had the same search but all Americans. So is it snowing really badly there? Of course there is a lot more America than there is UK, so it can't be snowing everywhere like it was here. Well, I hope you are finding plenty of things to keep you busy - check back on the list I didn't manage everything on it, but it kept me a bit sane whilst housebound. 

The snow has gone, but the FROST is hard making everything sparkle in the sunshine. 

Owen's birthday breakfast was lovely yesterday and when I impulsively dragged him into LUSH for a bath ballistic (I love that shop!) I met a fellow blogger!  

she is the one without the pink hair.  

LUSH are wrapping their gift boxes in fabric -Japanese style which is a cracking good idea, very good for the planet and fun too. Win win!

Oh, and speaking of Japan, we got a Christmas card the other day from friends who live about eight miles away

It had a big old adventure didn't it! 5800 miles - times two. 

No more teenagers

It was twenty years ago today

no - not Sgt. Pepper, but my son Owen. At 5 am on a cold winters day he arrived 20 minutes before the midwife. He's carried on taking us by surprise ever since. 

Mastering the art of sewing for his brother's Christmas present 

Larking about at Martha's graduation

What is he doing in this box? it reminds me of the time when he was about two and Martha put him in a huge box and fed him tiny bits of things and gave him little toys and he stayed in it for hours ... HOURS! All the while she attended to his needs he was just content to sit in the box!

Handy around the house, this is a birthday present from a previous year.

 

Summer in the garden years ago

and here he is pudding chef for our friend's wedding feast, this was destined to be rhubarb and ginger fool in industrial quantities. He also helped make a vast amount of chocolate pudding, and helped serve it all up at the wedding.

Happy Birthday to you Owen. We are having birthday breakfast tomorrow. 

Till then

 

Another Year Older and .....

... well - just that lets hope!

Birthday cards - John getting his chainsaw license 

Martha getting arty again - this is one of her doodles!

and Owen doing his own style

Birthday treat was Jan Garbarek at the Sage which is a wonderful place. We are lucky to have on our doorstep (sort of) This is not music I usually go for - but it was lovely to be delighted by something so different. (if you are listening to this link - In Praise of dreams, I hope you are transported by this music like I am!)

More and more treats from my lovely generous family and friends

How do they make these amazing things? This is really taxing my brain! All the bits are suspended in the block of plastic as if they were floating there. I can't imagine how it is made? 

Also - bad light blighting these photos - but take a look at this

a tiny detail of this huge Indian panel that Geoff gave to me

 no - the light really doesn't do this justice - I will wait until a good-light day and put them on Flickr.

So - another year over and a new one just beginning. I have some big plans to share with you about my work this year and it is exciting and a bit daunting too, but I hope it will be anything but dull which will be a blessing for everyone!

Happy Birthday to you whenever it is and a special HELLO to all my fellow Aquarians - what are we like eh!?

 

   

Alston Craft Fair

A whole year ago I was getting ready to go to the Alston Craft Fair and the weather was glum. Today it is glorious sunshine, though we know it will be gone by 3.30 pm so - back to glum.

BUT!

if you are within driving distance of Alston, a wondrous place in the North Pennines, on 4th 5th and 6th December, call by and say hello. There will be so many great things for sale, all your present needs under one roof (all your future needs possibly too!)

 

Next, another great opportunity for local livers (?)

This is going to be a really interesting weekend and very generously subsidised by the Queens Hall Outreach Arts. Only a few places left. 

THEN!

as if all that wasn't enough imagine this..... imagine meeting the love of your life when you were a teenager and imagine spending the next 65 years being married to them. (SIXTY FIVE) 

 

That's what happened with my Mum and Dad and today is the day

HAPPY DAY and HAPPY EVERYDAY TO YOU BOTH

Eco-chicks don't fly

I know flying is disastrous for the planet, but sometimes the ends justify the means and this was one of those times.Look what you get to see!

every day this is what it looks like above the clouds. When it is dark and gloomy down here, it is like THAT up there!

Sometimes it looks spectacular from below

But always it looks amazing from above

sorry planet.

Culture

I am deeply gratified - someone has nominated me for a 'little blog award' on Dorset Cereals in the category 'Culture' - I have one vote (I am not fishing here) (honestly) (there is someone there with 96 votes and I don't know 95 people) (please don't) (thank you) (what's with the brackets?)

Anyway - I looked at my stats and spotted a hit from the aforementioned cereal people and wondered why they were visiting - lo and behold - a nomination - in 'culture'. I am astounded actually. They offer 'a really nice prize'. Do you think it is cereal? it must be mustn't it?

I don't think I have ever typed 'mustn't' it looks very strange.

Thank you to my mystery nominator - you have made me reflect on the way people see me and I'll relate this little musing of mine. I walked into my favourite cafe the other day and there was a nice person who I only know a little bit and she said 'Oh - hello Katie, how are you? ('fine' I said - blah blah, weather, autumn, pretty colours etc) 'Oh' she said again 'you always look so unique' 

And I got my coffee and sat upstairs and thought about it for a while and decided that I didn't mind being described thus. Unique. Cultured. They are only words - but how they end up being attached to me is a mystery. Not getting all philosophical here - just musing out loud - feeling in a musing sort of mood. As I write a good friend is in labour with her first child and my thoughts are there, but also further afield as the cycle of life keeps turning and bringing new challenges.

I can't remember when I last wrote so much here. A picture is called for I think - for those of you who are still reading to ponder on. Enjoy your day to the full - absolutely and completely. Today, I get to drive to Cumbria with Geoff and hold the other end of a tape measure while he works. But I get to be with him today and drive through some sensational countryside and chat. It will be just wonderful.

 

Woe, woe and thrice woe

First the electricity, then Geoff's electricity and then..... my dear computer. I am relieved to get it back this afternoon with all the glitches ironed out and new virus software on board. Thank you Computer Shop. In the intervening time I have been here

Norfolk (this is the Fruit Farm we got 48 kilos of apples and pears from) to help John move from one RSPB reserve to another and then to here

the view from the cafe in the Tate Modern where I rested my weary feet and sipped a vastly overpriced drink. We were in London to help Martha and Matt streamline their backyard into an efficient growing space - even more efficient than it already was.

Poppy came. What is she doing here?

buyring her Bonio of course!

All sorts of new and wonderful things now live in M&M's yard and the growing opportunites are mega. Many thanks to Nana and Grandad

 

both inside and outside - take a look at this that Nana made

hours and hours of work and love in this. Beautiful.

Back to Autumn now, yellow, brown, misty, cold, bright sunny days, early dusks. And my computer restored to health

Just look at the amount of cake!

HOORAY!

Rising Sun

September sometimes has the most beautiful weather and we are blessed in this corner of the planet with a fantastic morning.

here is the sun rising on my little shed at about 6 o'clock this morning.

'Porridge is ready!'

so come back Poppy, breakfast!

That Autumn Feeling

This morning, for breakfast, Geoff and I shared the last of the peaches, a good crop this year, never very sweet and quick to go mouldy, but tasty stewed and added to porridge.

it feels really autumnal here as August gives way to September, it was dark so early last night. But now I am going to enjoy September, which can be a really surprising month, full of mellow light, fruits and vegetables a-plenty. Another good crop of courgettes. These chocolate and courgette muffins appear and disappear regularly hereabouts!

Sunny start to September here after thunderstorms for the last of August.

Owen has a new kitten - Puma. Named after the cat not the sports wear.

London PS

This comment from my Mum comes with the picture of Trafalgar Square and the memories it provoked. When I was in London recently, T Square was a building site, but here it is in all its glory

(courtesy of Wikimedia)

''The picture of Trafalgar Square brings back very happy memories. Firstly, take away the machinery and you will see the corner of the Square and Whitehall where stood Bravington's the jewellers. Your Dad and I bought our wedding ring there (£1    25) in 1944. We then went and sat in the first bench in St James Park opposite King Charles Steps without knowing that we were right where Churchill and the war cabinet spent time planning the war beneath the ground. We were on another plane, aged 19 years planning our wedding which is 65 years old this December.''

My Mum