Anniversary Treat

Ok well I haven't posted anything for a while but I am making a new resolution that I will post a new post on my blog at least once a month, with hopefully having a new post every week which is my ultimate goal! 

I thought I would write about my hubby and I's visit to York at the end of August for our wedding anniversary (2 whole years!) as I think it is such a wonderful city and we visited to purely take in all the tourist spots which, unforgivably on my part as we live 30 minutes from the York, I have never actually done before (I'm afraid I have only frequented the shops and bars in the past!!)

The first place we visited was Clifford Tower which I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the city.  It was bizarre as it's pretty much in the centre of the city.  You turn a street corner and you are met with a piece of history.

The views of the city from the top of the tower are well worth the entrance fee.



York Minister

We then went on a lovely relaxing cruise along the river...although I did get slightly sunburnt as it was sooo hot that day! It was worth it though as I got some great photos.

It's a ice-cream boat/van! Loved this!

It's a cow! (NB: I love cows!!)

We then visited York Minister which was truly magnificent.  I am not a religious person at all but I appreciate great architecture when I see it.  I was in awe at this building and found it to be a very photogenic building.  A strange thing to say I know but when you see the photos I think you will know what I mean! I took a lot of photos inside and out of the Minister and could have happily taken more.

 
We also visited the Yorvik Viking Centre but were incredibly disappointed...the only good thing was the gift shop when we bought a nice bottle of traditional mead!

We also had a lovely afternoon tea during the day. While in York this is just something you must do and let's face it tea + scones + clotted cream is a great combination!

Hubby and I enjoying a lovely ice cream!

Local Surroundings

When I got my new camera I really wanted to try it out.  Fortunately for me I live in a picturesque area of my town with the oldest church of the town literally round the corner.  So one gorgeous Saturday morning my hubby and I walked over to the church to take some photos and I have to say I am very happy with the results!

We also took a trip down to the river (which is also nearby) where there was a gorgeous field of wild flowers growing.  They are so colourful and friendly looking.  I always get the urge to frolic through them but I don't like the idea of getting insects (mainly spiders) on me and I'm sure my hubby wouldn't be very impressed!

 

I also got the chance to use the macro mode again (see previous post) which I always love to do!

 
 

It's great to think all of these photos were taken walking distance from where I live and that you don't always have to go hundreds or thousands of miles to photograph some amazing and beautiful things.

 

Snap Happy

I love taking photos wherever I am and whatever I am doing...I just find the whole experience incredibly enjoyable.  As I keep saying to my husband, "I am capturing a memory", when he starts to roll his eyes!

The camera I use is the Samsung NX3000 which came with a 20-50mm lens and I have also purchased a 16mm pancake lens for wide angle shots too...I haven't had this camera long but I love it! I'm not a professional photographer but I feel like one with this camera!

The first photos I took with the camera were in my parents' garden mostly using the macro mode.

 

I love bumble bees!

I am starting to try and use only manual mode on my camera as much as I possibly can but I must admit it is always very tempting to go back to auto mode.  I must persevere though as otherwise I will never learn!

Pretty Lily

My current WIP (work in progress for anyone who doesn't know what this means!) is the fabulous Stylecraft Lily Pond Blanket CAL (Crochet Along) designed by Jane Crowfoot.

Part 1 - Doing a foundation row was much harder than I thought it would be but I got there in the end.

When I started this blanket the only experience I had with crochet was the granny square but I loved the idea of a challenge and I am SO glad I went for it as I have learned so much so far and I'm not even finished it yet.  I would definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to learn lots of new stitches (the bobble stitch and the pin wheels were great fun once I cracked it) and because you do it in sections it doesn't feel so daunting compared to making a blanket in one go i.e. a granny stripe blanket (although this is on my to do list!). 



How cute are the bobbles???

I started this CAL about 2 weeks in so I have always been behind everyone else but it was so nice seeing everyone else's blankets progressing when I was a couple of steps behind especially some of the wonderful different colour schemes people used.  I was a bit boring in that regard and stuck with the Stylecraft Life DK yarn.  In fairness though one of my favourite colours is teal so it made sense for me really!

I have just started Part 6 although all 8 parts are now available to download at Stylecraft Crochet Along and I have to say that when starting this I thought I would enjoy doing the squares the most i.e. the lily squares but I found working in rows much more enjoyable.  There is something incredibly therapeutic going along a row, getting to the end, turning and starting again...don't ask me why, I just find it very satisfying! lol

 

I generally found the pattern instructions very clear and concise with some really good pictures but the side edges just boggled my mind and therefore I have avoided doing these.  I did try after I did my first Part 1 piece but found it very difficult and ended up getting just a tad annoyed.  I am going to watch Sarah Garner's video on YouTube and hopefully something will click.  I appreciate I will have to do this at some point but I am having a "head in the sand" moment!

 

So this is the plan; crochet all the parts (in order if I can), block all the individual pieces and then join them all together...well that's the plan anyway...we shall see! Watch this space...

P.S. I have never blocked anything before so this will also be a new experience for me but be sure I will be blogging about it!

New hooky!

Well here I am...finally!  After thinking about starting a blog for a ridiculously long time I have jumped in.  I am hoping that by starting this blog I can get all my thoughts and ideas out of my head and hope that people enjoy what they read and see.

 

My main reason for starting this blog is my new found love for crocheting.  I started crocheting in March 2015 after my mam bought me and herself a hook, and I must say I have never looked back.  It was an amazing feeling when I FINALLY cracked the granny square all with the help of the lovely Bella Coco.  I admit I must of have watched her YouTube video at least a million times (ok slight exaggeration but it certainly felt like it) before something in my brain just...well clicked.

 

This was my first attempt which has you can see went slightly wrong in one of the corners but I can't tell you how happy I was to get this far!

 

 

My next square was perfect...I was ecstatic!

 



 

That was it, I was away...nothing could stop me and I actually got to the point when I didn't have to read the pattern OR watch the video. AMAZING! I knew what I was doing and I had created something...it was incredibly satisfying.

 

I was addicted. Crochet was new hobby, my only hobby if you don't count bar hopping! ;)