The Lakes

For Luke’s Dad’s 50^th birthday in July, we booked for the four of us to go glamping in the Lake District this weekend just gone. We stayed at a National Trust campsite called Low Wray, not far from Ambleside, and rented some camping pods for 3 nights.

We arrived on Friday night and, after admiring the views, set up camp, started the fire, cooked a chilli, drank wine, toasted marshmallows and chatted until the sun went down.

Saturday meant donning the walking attire and tackling the hills surrounding Lake Windermere. We walked about 8 miles, up and down the hills, went up to Wray Castle and stopped to talk to the cows in the adjacent fields. For the dogs it meant paddling in the lake, chasing ducks and other winged animals and collecting stones. (Ollie can smell a stone under the water metres away, and won't move until he has dug it up, strange dog).

We went for dinner at a nearby pub on Saturday evening and had an early night. Even the dogs were tired after their long walk and paddles in the lake

We spent Sunday meandering around Ambleside, a lovely little town, stopping for lunch and wine and cake and icecream. We also went down to the pier and watched the world go byAs Sunday night was our last night, we got our gladrags on and headed out to a restaurant that I’d read numerous good reviews about. The Drunken Duck. 

I’ll do an entirely separate post on this another day, but let’s just say the food was amazing. The menu was small, but well thought out, and changes all year round to ensure only seasonal food is used. It wasn’t cheap, but it was well worth it. With full bellies, we went back to the campsite and set up another fire and had a lovely chit chat.

Monday morning we packed up camp and filled the truck to the rafters (literally, there was stuff strapped to the roof - we ALWAYS overpack), and headed out to Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s house. Another National Trust gem, which has been completely untouched and left like a house, rather than a museum, at Miss Potter’s request. I’d definitely recommend a visit if you’re ever up that way, it’s free to National Trust members (a year’s membership for under 26s is only £26!). She left over 4000 acres of land to the National Trust when she died, and pretty much every single one of her illustrations is a real life depiction of her house, furniture and surroundings. You can read more about it here 

Beatrix Potter's cottage - Hill Top

The gate illustrated in the Tale of Tom Kitten

This was featured in the Tales of Jemima Puddleduck

 A thoroughly enjoyable weekend of spending time with loved ones and making more memories. There is so much to see around the Lakes, that we will definitely be going back next year.

Autumn

Image one and two found via Pinterest, source unknown - third image is my mom-in-law's hand picked and homemade apple and blackberry pie.

The arrival of September [where has this year gone?!] signals the arrival of Autumn. As much as I love the warmth of the summer sun, I've been looking forward to Autumn and here's why:

> the leaves on the trees starting to change colour and the crisp and crunch of them under your Wellies when you walk. 

> blackberry picking and crumble making. And using up the glut of apples in our garden. How amazing does this recipe look?!

> making masses of soup to eat for lunch. I made 18 portions this weekend one. Favourite? Sweet potato ad butternut squash. Heaven in a bowl. 

> Sunday morning walks around the fields. The dogs love getting muddy

> crisp dry mornings lying in a warm bed with your head poking out in the cold. Even better with a cuppa

> cosy nights in front of the fire with candles flickering, a good film and a mug of cocoa. 

> buying Autumn clothes. Knitwear, socks and thick pyjamas

> my Mom's rice pudding. With lashings of nutmeg. Perfect after a Sunday toast with the family 

> Christmas planning and the countdown to our annual trip to Paris. 

Autumn for us is particularly an exciting time for us this year as we are hoping to start work on demolishing and rebuilding our house!

What does Autumn mean for you?

Black Country Museum

The bank holiday weekend meant a day out for me and Luke. We decided to go to the black country museum to learn a bit more about our culture.

The "Black Country" is an area south of Birmingham. During the industrial revolution, it became one of the most heavily industrialized parts of Britain with coal and steel mining producing a high level of air pollution. The name, therefore, comes from the black soot which clouded over the area.

The museum boasts fascinating insights into life in the area during Victorian times. There's the opportunity to have a guided tour around a former working mine and a lesson in the old school. All the buildings in the museum were once lived in, worked in or used somewhere in the Black Country. 

All the shops and buildings have actors or visitors to explain the history of the same. The bakery sells fresh traditional cakes and the sweet shop has an abundance of old fashioned sweets in glass jars.  

The fish and chips on their own are enough to make you want to go there. Cooked in beef dripping, they melt in your mouth. Downside? The queue is always 20 minutes long. 110% worth it though. 

After years at uni of being knocked for my accent and dialect, it's so easy to forget your heritage and roots. But this day out taught me a lot and made me value where I come from.

If anyone is ever in and around the area I would highly recommend a visit here. Plenty to do for all ages - the adults can enjoy a pint in the old fashioned pub whilst watching their little ones try their hand at hoop and stick or cup and ball. There's also a big skipping rope in the street which I was so tempted to show them how it's done ;)

Toronto

I haven't been too great at blogging of late as we have been on holiday for Luke's Dad's 50th birthday, and as we have recently moved house and are yet to get the Internet, I didn't get round to scheduling any posts. Mind you, this is a belated post anyway, as it has taken Luke about 3 months to give me some photos off his camera.

For Luke's 25th birthday last year, I bought us flights to Toronto for April just gone. Both of us love exploring but we usually keep it to Europe so I thought it would be great for us to go further afield.

We were only there for 5 days so we did a lot of researching to make sure we saw and did all we wanted.

I could write for hours about everything we crammed in, but I've tried to be concise :)

> Whilst we were there, the Blue Jays, Toronto's baseball team, were hosting the New York Yankees, so we made sure we got down there. Sadly we lost, but the atmosphere [and the hot dogs] were great.

> Every day started with a massive brunch of pancakes, bacon and maple syrup and lots of freshly brewed coffee [all consumed before I could get to the camera]

Aunties and Uncles - a great retro diner which served amazing pancakes 

You can't go to Toronto without taking a trip out to Niagara Falls... which was started with a helicopter ride...

> Luke insisted on going to the Mill Street brewpub [he loves his ales]. We intended to go for just one drink, but we spent about 4 hours there, having met some lovely girls from Boston [and consuming endless pints and cocktails]...

> And obviously we couldn't miss a trip up the CN tower, coupled with dinner in the 360 restaurant at the top.

Toronto was a lovely place and this trip was only a taster. We definitely intend to go back, having been advised by the locals that with every changing season, the city becomes something different.

A Crafting Welcome...

So after months of encouragement, I finally caved and have started a blog. It's going to be centered around me rambling on about my day to day life, which mostly concerns crafting, baking and my love for exploring new places (hence the blogname).

I seem to have become slightly obsessed addicted to card making lately. My boyfriend, Luke, will probably regret buying me a Cuttlebug for my birthday last year, as this kickstarted my obsession and has meant all saving-for-house plans have gone out the window. I'm hoping to use this blog as a way to keep a memory of the cards I make and to show other crafty lovers what I do (and perhaps mean I spend less time spending and more time crafting and blogging!)