Journal of a novice cyclist

So my journal continues, somewhat slowly! What happened to my plans of cycling every week getting fitter slimmer, saving the planet from my car fumes?????


So first things first, every cyclist should stylish is my motto, and yes wearing self stitched goodies. I'm wear a handmade top, and trousers from a clothes swap. I must admit this isn't the most stylish as the weather was a bit grim.

So our ride this time takes us to North Devon to the Tarka Trail, a walking and cycling route that cover 30 miles ish, and is of course famous for the Tarka the otter tales and and Solomon the Salmon of which started there stories in Torrington which is along this trail.

Our destination was this wonderful stopping place called Orchard Yarde. They have made a rustic coffee shop, they also have the most wonderful camping area of three yurts and a camping barn. If you stay you usually get dinner by the fireside and often local musicians stop by for impromptu sessions.

I find this a wonderful place and have longed to stay over night, I'm planning a full cycle ride and stop over when the weather improves, so for today we had great coffee and hand made cakes in the homely but rustic shed.

                                                            Then the 8 mile cycle home.

I can not tell you how much I love this place, I'm sure I will bore the pants off you with more tales from Orchard Yarde.

Yarn along, a lovely gift.

I posted a couple of weeks ago that I was joining in with the yarn along http://www.gsheller.com/ . At the time I had started to knit what my skills allow, face cloths. Well I made two! I'm really pleased with them. I added them to a hand sewn wash bags and a few goodies from Lush for a birthday present for MrPB.

As for the reading, I have started a new book which is totally engaging and I'm off early to bed every night to catch yo on the next instalment.

I don't know if any of you are into Good Reads but I have recently joined and I would love some friends, so I can spy on what their reading  look for Charlotte Powell if you would like to add me to your list.

Creative Friday.

Over the last week we have been decoration's in a thrifty kind of way. Arthur has started to want to play in his own space, so what was called his bedroom was really filled with every ones junk. So out with the old and in with the nearly new or new to Arthur!

Using inspirational from this lovely book we made special bunting. This is a great book, I just loved to many of the idea, I think Amanda and I share a love for old blankets!

 
We also put up this wonderful print found at a local boot fair (flea market) for £!.

And finally Arthur made ART ! We has a lovely time, after making this we had a huge peace of paper and a free for all.

So I hope to get round to sharing this with everyone else on creative Friday  http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.co.uk/ , have you been busy or still relaxing after the Easter break?

Food

Over Easter we had such a lovely time with all my boys together, my Mum and Dad plus one of my sisters with her hubby and son. A full house. Our family is truly a foodie bunch, way before anyone had made any other arrangements all meals had been accounted for.

We planned a afternoon tea, everyone made something. On each plate I placed an egg cup with egg cosy that I made and a little suprise for everyone underneath!

On the lovely cake stand that my bought as a present are the wonderful strawberry cheese cake cupcakes.

This Noah who made as laugh as whenever he asks for more food he just shouts "cake"

I though it would be a great opportunity to get all my boys for a together photo, Mmmm they don't look to impressed do they?

I hope you had a lovely Easter break whatever Easter means to you, maybe a filled with food as ours!

Easter book review

A lovely picture book. Illustrations are really beautiful with flaps to find the shiny eggs. A rhyming story tells the tale, very pleasing for a non religious Easter book.

Papercraft, card making

I really like those vintage or funky scrapbook pages, I have wanted to have a go myself but not sure where to start. A good place to start maybe was simple Easter cards. If you're a family member avert your eyes now!

They are no major works of art  but I enjoyed my cutting and sticking experience, and will try more at some point ! Arthur enjoyed his own creative time too.

In true Easter celebrations Arthur decorated his own Easter bonnet too, so sweet, even if I do say so myself.

What ever Easter means to you, enjoy. x x x