Terrific Thursday

Afternoon tea at a Spa day

 Hot tub outside

I was asked by hubby to keep Thursday clear, we were going out, I have no problems with that. Wednesday evening I was told I had to be at daughters by 9am  Thursday morning, on my own, so not a nice meal with hubby. I arrived at my daughters, she asked if I had my costume, nope, so I borrowed one of her's. Daughter drove us to Hilton Hotel, next to Ageas Bowl cricket ground, near Southampton. Hubby had paid for both of us to have a spa day as a thank you for our love and care of him.
So whilst most of the country struggled with horrible weather yesterday, daughter and I were in luxury, the spa is one of the best I have been to (in our price range), we both had a back, shoulder and neck massage, without any issues for me, I have a nut allergy and can't use loads of the oils they have, not an issue for them. Lunch was afternoon tea with prosecco.
Hubby had a quiet day at home, cooked a simple lovely meal for dinner, just a perfect day.
I finished reading another book in the Roy Grace series, Dead if you don't, the opening chapter was suggesting it might be a bit gory for me, I kept going and it was another great book.

Just a perfect day 

Celebrations

These pink socks are finished, I am now liking the shades.

 Yesterday I wore my homemade pair, they are so comfortable and warm, these are the same yarn , but not a matching pair, which suits me. 

 Hand knitting from my friend Shelia

 A gift from sign class ladies

 Also for sign class, made by Mick, who bakes wonderful cakes. 

Hubby ordered this ages ago, it will go in the garden in the summer, I love it

It was my birthday on Wednesday, I was going to let it pass quietly this year, but friends and family made sure it was celebrated. I was too tired for sign class on Tuesday and did not go, but the above gifts were sent to me, the cake was brilliant.
Hubby's sister, brother and BIL drove over from Wales to see us both, Su and Will came for a couple of hours, so we shared the very tasty cake and enjoyed a lovely time together.
I have totally finished the editing of my blog book 2017, details of how I make the book can be seen here, a post from last year. I have started importing pages into 2018, which I will print in November next year. I take so much joy from looking back through my books, curled in a chair with a hot drink in a huge mug.
I am doing more to my ripple blanket, I spend alot of time with hubby in the afternoon, him resting me with my crochet hook. I popped to our local wool shop and purchased a couple sets of knitting needles, I have rewound one of my hand died sock yarn, I have a shawl pattern, I will start it soon, simple design, just loads of stitches. But can you picture this, one big hank of yarn needs rolling into a ball, hubby can't use his arms, so no help from him. I sat with legs up on a stool, wool wrapped around my toes, feet wide apart, rewinding the yarn, almost fell of chair a couple of times, but yarn sorted ready to start knitting.

When it rains

I craft

 I wanted a bag for December, made from two tea towels

 Will loves his Easter bag, 

so here is one for Christmas, I used the 3rd tea towel and some Christmas fabric from my stash, I love these little bags. 

One sock knitting finished

 2nd sock, I still think these colours are bright

I finished knitting my first sock and did not want to stop knitting, so I started on the second sock, knitting one at a time means each sock is quick to knit. Later I will finish the toes and weave all the colour change ends.
I have been able to knit some of hubby's sock, but there is not much to show, so photo's another time, the finished pair will be put into his Christmas stocking, so a complete surprise for him.
I have also found out the pattern for a jumper for Will, I purchased wool earlier in the year, enough to make 2 jumpers, and hopefully a hat to match, which I not sure he will wear, we purchased him a hat with a tractor embroidery on, which he is wearing everyday.
As you can see the garden is now taking less of my time, these days we sit in our warm home and watch the birds come to the feeders, and enjoy what colour we have around our tiny plot. The weather is now true to the season, the temperature has dropped, we had huge amounts of rain on Sunday, so everywhere is still lush, but summer plants are now fading.
My sewing machine is out again, I do enjoy sewing, I did finish one other project, but I can't show it here yet.

Laughter in the rain

Three tea towels

What to do on a rainy afternoon with 3 grandsons

 Latest library book

I enjoyed The Ice Twins 

 I saw this book on Sue's blog

and thought it would make a great Christmas present

Thanks Sue for your post, as always an interesting read. 

The tea towels I purchased last month, I want to make myself a lovely Christmas shopping bag, using the red towels. The third towel I have decided to make two small child's bags, I made Will an Easter bag, which he loves, so again he will have one bag here and one at home, the bag here is full of dinky cars.
Friday was a day with hubby, we sat and read for a while in the afternoon, which we both love, and finally it's something I do without any guilty feelings, for a long time I would want to get everything done before relaxing, and we have decorating in the sitting and dining rooms to get done, but these days I am happy to slow our pace down.
Saturday hubby went off on his motorbike, it's RTTW time, I've been twice before, click on the link to see more, this time he went with his eldest son, and other riders for the Guards riding club, so weekend alone for me. I do love my hubby, but I love home alone time.
Three grandsons spent the day with me, Josh and Sam (who are the two oldest boys, brothers) and Will (our youngest), they all played together, loads of laughter, Pizza and chips for lunch. It was raining all day, very good for the garden, but we were unable to get out to our planned visit to Portchester castle, so loads of cars everywhere,  the sitting room looked like a toy shop.
Today I am meeting youngest daughter for a coffee at a local garden center, I am looking for a hellebore or another winter colour plant to put in my big pot, down by the steps to my greenhouse. 

Ilfracombe

Our break was fantastic, just what we both required, we arrived on Thursday, parked the car and walked for three days. Loads of dramatic coastline, lovely sunrises and sun sets, beautiful sunny days, cooler nights. We decided not to leave the small town, and stroll through the many narrow streets.
Our hotel was small a bit dated, but had wonderful staff and owner, who made our stay comfortable, we ate breakfast and evening meals at the hotel, had a snack out when walking. We had fish and chips, cream tea, fudge, ice cream and brought pasties home for tea last night. Devon is a beautiful county, and it was perfect to go back there.
We loved the rocky coastline and the harbour. We got to know Verity, she was a talking point (more next time).
We did not turn the TV on once, and I read a couple of books.
Home now, with Will for the day, back to normal and both of us are feeling so much better.

The Solent

 Closer view of fort and shipping

 Delivery at second fort

Vessels heading for Southampton in the background,
Portsmouth in front and Isle of Wright

 Cross channel ferry going into port

 Local birds

Hubby and I went back to Southsea, this time I took my big camera with the longer lens. I wanted better shots of the two forts (there is a 3rd further along the coast).
The Solent, which is the water between Isle of Wight and the mainland, fascinates me, the water is always busy, all the large vessels have to pass in-front of the Isle of Wight, to get into the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth. Watching the huge vessels as they all sailed past was interesting, two cross channel ferries as well as freight.
We had another lovely walk, not as far as the previous day, but we stayed dry, had a later fish and chip lunch, we must remember to do this more often.

Southsea

Locals on the beach

Military forts in the Solent

Toward old Portsmouth

Watching Isle of Wight ferry

End of Pier fun

Yesterday at Southsea we had perfect weather, sunny, not too hot, we walked along the whole of the seafront from Eastney, through Southsea and on to Old Portsmouth, chatting and enjoying everything around us.
We stopped for the most perfect brunch at a sea front cafe, eating poached eggs on toast with smoked salmon watching the tide coming in. The glimmer off the sea was stunning, a little starling was feasting on crumbs people were putting on the floor, unafraid of anyone, children loving it.
The above photo's were just a few of many, it looks as good as being along the Mediterranean, the Solent was as always very busy, the hovercraft making it's journeys to and from the Isle of Wright. Tankards heading for Southampton, cross channel ferries coming into Portsmouth, plus all the smaller boats, jet-skis, this stretch of water is always interesting to watch. There were a few people on the beach, but the promenade was full, as was all the little cafes along the way.
Daughter loved her day out together, we did not enter a shop at all, which is good as my daughter loves to shop, Will was at nursery, hubby spent the day at home, but if the sun shines this morning, hubby and I are going back to walk and brunch, whilst the sun shines we can have fun.

Staunton country park

I love these glass houses

and the gardens 

Sam, Will and Josh

Best bit, the tractors

Love this photo of our boys

Josh and Sam loved walking with Will

We spent 5 hours at Staunton, it's a council run park, with a petting farm, loads of space for children to run around, the best bit being it's less than 30 minutes drive from home. It was delightful to see the three boys together, safe to be able to run around, get up close to all the different animals, and have lovely play parks.
We had our picnic lunch sat on the grass, sharing all the delights, Will did not eat much, he was excited and wanted to run around.
Will slept over last night and is here all day with another over night stay, mummy and daddy are at a wedding, and it much easier for them to not have to rush back. Plus we get two bath times in a row.