I'm home ..................

Oh what a wonderful time I have had .............we had so much fun.

Its been my first visit to Croatia and I can't wait to go back and explore further. We stayed in Rovinj which is on Istria's west coast, with its cobbled piazzas, shuttered houses, alley ways and narrow lanes filled with unexpected art and local crafts ............ also the occasional washing line of laundry.

Rovinj is Istria's best preserved old Venetian port drawing on a rich cultural heritage, a borderland where Italian, Slovene and Croatian cultures meet.

We also visited the port of Pula which at the southern tip of the penisula, is Istria's largest city and was a rewarding place to visit with its amphitheatre and other Roman relics.

From Pula we travelled on to Grzini and had a typical Istrian lunch on a working farm.

Before returning to Rovinj we travelled onto Groznjan a hill village west of the Mirna valley which was given a new lease of life when many of its abandoned properties were offered to artists. During high summer most of the artists are in residence opening their doors to the tourists.

There's also a summer school for young musicians many of whom take part in outdoor concerts during August. 

I have so many photos I could go on for ever.................

The hotel where we stayed had the best view of Rovinj's old town and the town was close enough for us to walk into most days and with so much more to see we must return and maybe next time spend time in Venice as by boat its only just over 3 hours away. 

We sampled the lovely local food and of course the wine which was very fruity and full bodied. The daily food market was always full of local people stocking up with fresh provisions.

Rovinj at night was a perfect place to be with my close friends sipping wine and watching the world go round.

Hope this hasn't been too much of a photo overload but I've missed keeping in touch and wanted to share a little piece of this beautiful Istrian town with you.

I've come back well rested and refreshed - ready to start lots of new projects. My first is on Friday when I am hosting a crochet workshop in my home - Tracey Todhunter is coming to run the mini workshop I can'wait.

Talk soon x

holiday .............

With all the things going on in my life over the last few weeks I've forgotten to tell you I'm going on holiday tomorrow ..............so excited but soooooooo much to do. I'm flying to Croatia with two of my very best friends we will have so much fun and I'm sure we won't stop talking the entire week.

 Just about to start on the packing - I hope its going to be warm.



I will have so much to tell you when I get back.

talk in a week x

birthday boys ..................

The birthday party was a success we had two very happy birthday boys and the cakes were a hit.

I baked some little buns to put with Finns shark cake - which added to the shark theme

Noah's cake started out as a rectangle of sponge which I then shaped into a number one ..........

Then I cut the cake in half and added jam and butter cream .....................

Finishing off with lots more icing and a bit of piping ............................................

After the hectic party I had a couple of quiet hours on the sofa finishing my knitting projects ................

All the pieces of the little monster are made but need assembling ..................

I think he is quite cute - I hope the new baby boy will give him a cuddle .................

Hat is all ready to be gift wrapped - I thought I would add some little knitted lavender hearts as an extra treat to be wrapped up for mum .........

Nearly all knitted then I just need to fill with lavender and a little bit of stuffing ........

I think they look lovely - I'm going to knit some for me..............

Another busy but lovely family day - night night talk soon x

post wedding catching up ................

I have been having post wedding catch up time ............ or maybe not. I thought I would have lots and lots of spare time this week and wanted to catch up with my blog and start lots of new projects which I've been saving until after the wedding but my week has been so full.

I looked after Zachy and Noah - two of my little grandsons from Sunday until Wednesday evening, my daughter Kate came to stay with her little baby boy Jake on Tuesday and she went home this morning. It was Finns 4th birthday on Thursday (another of my wonderful grandsons - I've got 5) and we had a little party lunch. Tomorrow is Noah's 1st birthday - so we are having a joint children's party for Noah and Finn on Sunday afternoon.

Finn wants a shark birthday cake - which I am hoping to make later - if it works or maybe even if it doesn't I will add a photo to my post. Noah will be easier to please as long as its sweet and tasty he will be happy.

In between playing in the garden, building Lego towers and reading stories I've also managed to get on with some knitting and my little knitted toy and baby hat are almost complete - so will hopefully be ready to post on Monday.

Kate had some good news yesterday -  she designs a range of bags, cushions, lovely whimsical trees and little forest friends and one of her bags has been featured in Simply Knitting this month - which as a proud mum I have rushed out to buy!

I've just been having  a quiet two minute wander in the garden, putting bats and balls back into the shed and moving the goalposts off the grass and onto the patio - the garden is beginning to come to life and we have got lots of new plants to add to the borders - we always support our local boy scout and girl guide groups and buy summer bedding plants - we had to collect them today so have boxes and boxes ready to be hardened off for the garden.

I've also potted up some fuchsia seedlings that I have been nurturing indoors into bigger pots ready for the garden.

The apple tree we planted earlier in the year is doing well - I didn't expect it to flower this year.

and the strawberries are ready to pot on 

Well I will close this post for now as I can't put off the shark cake any longer - I've saved my ramblings and will finish up later with a few photos hopefully x

I'm back again its now nearly 9.00pm and my Shark cake looks like a penguin or dog fish!

I made a square sponge filled it with jam and butter cream and then covered in a thin layer of butter cream

Then I covered the cake in blue ready to roll icing, and added a pudding basin shaped sponge for the head - as though the sharks head was coming out of the water................things then started to go wrong.

                                 I hope a group of 4 year old children  will be forgiving ........

Its even worse face on ...................


I've made the sponge for Noah's birthday cake but will finish it in the morning.

talk soon Sue x

what a beautiful wedding ....................

I can't believe its all over...............weddings can take an age to plan and then they are over in a blink of an eye - but we all had a wonderful time and my daughter looked beautiful. I can give you a peak but I don't have many photos yet.

Laura just before the wedding ...............

so happy ..............

           Laura with her three best friends ..........

                                                              on her way .............

The weather was perfect - the sun smiled upon us and the guests and children were all amazing . It was a lovely family occasion with bouncing castle, ice cream cart, magician, dancing and so much more..........

Laura smiled the entire day I have never seen her more radiant - I know that she will be very happy. 

On the night of the wedding we all stayed in a little farm house and then on Sunday morning we had a lovely family breakfast together, at lunch time Laura and Chris went away on a "mini -moon" until Wednesday - the main honeymoon is in June when then fly off to Italy for two weeks - which is where they got engaged  - so full of romantic memories.

I am off to catch up on all the chores that have been left untouched for far to long and also to get on with the two knitting commissions I received just before the wedding.

Talk soon 

Sue x

two more sleeps .........

Laura and I have been to the florist today and dropped off the containers for the flower arrangements - its an adorable little  shop and the staff have been so supportive - nothing has been too much trouble. We can't wait to see the bouquets and the venue all decorated with flowers.

                                                                       

After the florist it was a quick drive to Vale Royal Abbey - which looked as stunning as ever - the sun tried to shine ........... we dropped off all the things we need to dress the main hall - which we are going to do on Friday with the three bridesmaids.

                                      

I've got to pack my overnight bag now ready for tomorrow  - Laura and I leave at lunchtime and then its all go until the wedding. We are staying at a guest house/farm house with the bridesmaids  - the plan is after we have finished at the venue we will go out for an early supper then back to the guest house for some chilling out time, face masks, nail and toenail painting and hopefully we will be sipping something fizzy! ( not lemonade) then an early night as we are all booked in at the hairdressers from 8am

please all keep your fingers crossed for a sunny Saturday - talk to you after the wedding x