The Lake District holiday.

 Just back from our holiday in the lake District where there was an amazing view around every corner.

 And textures to inspire everywhere too!

Been to the seaside.

 Been away in Norfolk visiting family with our family. My daughter on the beach.

Glowering skies over the beach. Caught up with all my sisters and much fun was had with my little great neice especially on the beach! Back in the studio when I have caught up with the washing. I miss stitching when I am away- must be a 'stitchaholic'.

Holiday in Falmouth Cornwall.

 A few holiday pictures from Falmouth, Cornwall. We had 2 rainy days and the rest was mostly sunshine- not bad for England! Falmouth harbour.

 Grey mullet from the Maritime Museum viewing basement- there was a glass panel into the harbour, so these are not in an aquarium but free fish.

 The King Harry chain ferry.

 Trebah beach and gardens.

 A victorian shell grotto and limpets on the beach.

Back to the puffins!

 It was a whole year ago that I started work on a concertina sketchbook and a piece of work about our trip to Skomer. So I am determined to finish it! Below are the covers of the little book.

This was the initial sketchbook page. I have been revisiting our lovely photos of the day. Started stitching the puffin head. You have to be happy with a puffin on your worktable! Follow the labels if you want to see the work I did last year. Still quite a bit to finish.

Holiday in St Ives.

 Just got back from our wonderful holiday in St Ives. Our holiday house was just a few minutes away from the harbour.

 We had rough weather for the first two days

 and then it turned sunny.

Luke, Rowan and me on the beach- Alan took the picture.

 We went to the Tate to see the Patrick Heron exhibition

 and to St Just to see Kurt Jackson's paintings.

Always lovely to spend time in Barbara Hepworth's studio and garden.

 The Cornish walls are gloriously clad in lichen and thrift.

 The sky was blue and so was the sea.

Coming in or going out, the sea is always interesting and there is always something to gaze at. Big sigh! Wonderful holiday - content to come home and see Autumn has arrived.

Summer holiday in the Lake District.

 Just a few photos of our holiday in the Lake District. We stayed in a cottage 10 mins away from lake Windermere. The weather was perfect.

 The lakes still  and serene. This gives a flavour. It was a quiet and relaxing holiday.

The weather broke on our day traveling back home, but the locals would be rejoicing, lots of the streams were dry and no waterfalls. One little lake was completely dried out. Still no heavy rain at home. Garden very dry - luckily our son had done a good job watering the pots and greenhouse. Warmer and drier down here in the south. The lawn here is yellow, the holiday cottage was green.

Holiday in East Sussex

 We have been away for a week in east Sussex to see my aunt to celebrate her 100th birthday. She enjoyed it all being very independent, healthy and active. Living very close to the sea helps and she tries to walk on the prom most days.

 We stayed in a large house, hired for the week, with my sisters and visitors came and went and a fab time was had by all. Luckily the weather was fantastic so included picnics out and dinners on the lawn.

 We walked along the Cuckmere valley down to the sea at the start of the Seven Sisters. (white cliffs)

And up on the beautiful South Downs. This is the Long Man-etched into the chalk and later made permanent with white bricks.

The Downs were full of wild flowers, birds and butterflies. Skylarks in abundance. More tomorrow.

Salcombe holiday 2

 The garden at Overbecks (N.T.) High up on the cliff is a tropical garden full of palm trees and things we couldn't possibly grow here.

 The rock formations were very interesting. I hope to use some of these in future work.

 Interesting colours and layers.

The strata here was vertical.

Here different textures within the green/grey. Always lots of inspiration for new work.

Salcombe Holiday.

 Back from our holiday in glorious Devon. Some wonderful beach walks and sunshine.

 Except when we went to Bigbury-on-sea to gaze at Burgh Island. Tide in and the sea tractor crossing.

 Tide going out and the causeway revealed. The surfers were enjoying the weather anyway.

 Back to blue sea and skies on the coastal path- walking towards Hope.

 Hope Cove.

 From the ferry to South Sands.

Salcombe from the ferry.