Have a pop over to the blog I write for our WI to see what we got up to last night - It was a fabulous meeting.

The Harvester

We live by the side of fields, and when my kids were little, they used to get very excited when they heard the Combine Harvester rumbling down the track behind the houses.  They always wanted me to stop whatever I was doing and walk down the fields to watch it.  This was generally not convenient and I usually went a bit begrudgingly.  

 And then came the terrible time when I heard the Combine rumbling down the track and shouted excitedly "Thats the Combine, lets go and watch it" - and no one else was interested.  The excitement for the kids had gone.  However this evening after work, I heard it and conned my daughter into a walk by promising her a few photo opportunities!!  Hurray!!! (we couldn't get really close though, but never mind).

 I always think that you could make a blog entirely of cloud photographs.

 My Combine Harvester walk has put me back on track in this very topsy turvey week.  And the fact that I managed to drag one of the kids along made it even better!

Art in Sheffield

You know that we have a fantastic art scene here in Sheffield - there is always so much going on.

On our visit into the city yesterday, I snapped this fabulous street art for you by Rocket01 - one of our favourites.

We were heading for "Art in the Park" at the Botanical Gardens.  Such a brilliant place for local artists to display their work.  We loved almost all of it.  We need a large piece for a blank wall in the living room, but at £1900.00 the piece we loved most will have to remain on the wish list - pending a lottery win!

The standard of the works is exceptionally high and ranges from folk who just like to dabble to artists who make a living from their talents.

It was a fabulous atmosphere and lovely and hot and just what hubby and I needed.

We had a major discussion with another family as to whether or not this statue was a real person or not.  The artist assured us it wasn't but we were not convinced.

I love the Botanical Gardens at any time, but with the addition of art, some fab food stalls and music, it was a great place to spend Saturday afternoon.

And then we hot footed in down to another venue where an arts and culture day was taking place.

My daughter had been asked to film the days happenings which were part of the Red Bull Curates day at the Leadmill in Sheffield.  These have been taking part all over the world and feature artists, dancers and bands from the local area, as well as a few stalls.  It was free to get in and it was wonderful to see the talent on display.

I'll show you the film she made when it's edited etc (if I am allowed to!).  She had a great day filming it - its what she wants to do when she finishes at Uni and yesterday made her realise just how much she wants to do this.

I think we recently lost the bid to be the "City of Culture" (to Liverpool I think), but to be fair, Sheffield doesn't really need a phoney badge.  In the 70's and 80's, we did used to be a bit of a cultural wasteland, but not any more.  There is always something happening - and I love it!

Better late than never.

We were on holiday in St Ives when the Olympics were in full flight, and I have to admit that the best night we had was in the Lifeboat Inn when our lovely Jess Ennis won GOLD and the whole pub jumped up in the air.

As you may know, Jess  is a Sheffield Girl of whom we are mightily and justifiably proud.  I love the poster on John Lewis - I don't think that they should take it down.

 And of course, we have the golden post box.

It was great to have a walk around Sheffield in the sun today after a week of sitting by my father in laws bedside in hospital all week.  He is still very poorly but he has made some progress  throughout the week.  

Blue Moon

According to Astronomers, we will witness a Blue Moon in our skies tomorrow night.  My daughter suggests that we should do something that we only do "Once in a Blue Moon" .  We are at a loss as to what to do - any suggestions?  At work I've suggested we try to have a good day at work!!!!

Blogging will be a bit hit and miss as we have a poorly relative and much time is being taken up by hospital visiting and sorting out stuff.  Normal life is a bit on hold for the time being. xx

The Friday Night Knitting Club

One of my holiday reads whilst in St Ives was "The Friday Night Knitting Club" - much to the amusement of my young man! He kept asking if anyone had been shot yet! Or stabbed with a knitting needle.

I loved it, it was a great holiday read.  It was set in New York and centred around a single mother who owned a wool shop and the unusual friendships formed at the knitting club.  It was like "Sex and the City" but with knitting instead of sex.  I hear that they making it into a film, and I think it will translate well onto the big screen.  The book ends with a bit of a twist which I really didn't see coming.  It's proper Chick Lit, but OK for when you want a lighter read.

It was all looking so lovely and rosy in the garden

 So pink and perfect

 And then the bank holiday weather hit!  And for 10 minutes it looked and sounded like the end of the world! The golf ball sized hail stones on the conservatory roof made a right old din.  And my lovely blooms are no more.

I hope its a bit brighter where you are.