The Wanderer Returns

I am back . Bent but not broken . It's taken since last Thursday to get everything sorted.It has been the wettest August I have experienced in the thirty years I have been going up to the Lakes and the worst time show wise since I first ventured up there to work in 1994 . It has been unbelievably wet . So much so I hadn't the heart to blog after the first two weeks as I would just have been repeating myself . Wet , wet and more wet. By the 19th we had lost four shows and had to cancel one as DH was ill. Carol and Jeff decided to go home , they'd had enough . But we struggled on valiantly . After Carol and Jeff had gone the weather strangely picked up and we had four fine days so we played tourist and had some nice runs out.

Round the back of Blencathra to see the wild horse.

An evening stroll down by Derwentwater after a chippy tea .It seemed to lift our spirits and made us determined to carry on . Number 1 son had been up to see us .We had an hilarious phone conversation . Him on the top of Blencathra and me at the caravan , waving my arms frantically and shouting" can you see me " . He could see the van but I was to small and he didn't have his specs on. We paid a few visits to Woolclip . I now have a huge box of dyed Herdwick that I am going to make bags and rugs out of. As I write this DH is making me a Peg Loom to make the rugs . More about this later.

We blagged our way into the Grasmere Sports Craft Marquee and had a reasonable time . It clawed back a bit of lost revenue and the weather was gorgeous but it went downhill fast after that .

Bank Holiday Monday morning.

This was taken on the Bank Holiday as well . It says it all doesn't it . They where just standing in the rain looking miserable.

I could go on forever about the rain and the wet but it wasn't all bad . This is sunset over Keswick . On one of the rare days we had sun . I've taken some stunning photos of sunsets and sunrises and even one night we had a fabulous moon. I'll drop one or two pics in my blog over the next couple of weeks .

Meg found a pal at Grasmere Sports . How cool is that !!!! Her mirror image is a boy though. Meg is on the left. The chances of finding another dog like this must be awesome . They are the same age as well .

I've saved the best till last . If you have read my other Cumbrian posts you'll be aware that a Pedigree Highland Calf was born ,just after we arrived at Askew Rigg, and subsequently named after me . Well here she is . Isn't she beautiful . Mr Bird took me up to see her the day before we left and luckily the sun was shining.

The World Tour of Cumbria wasn't a complete disaster like the "Curates Egg " it was good in parts . We met some lovely people . Especially Cecelia and her friends . We had two lovely Monday nights at her home spinning , knitting and eating her DH's Apple Cake . We have to thank the Bird's of Askew Rigg , Ruth and Earnest, for there help and hospitality and their great interest in how we got on at the shows.

It was hard work but like Arnie " We'll be back "

Last Saturday off.

This is my last Saturday off now till September. As you can see by the list of shows on the left I'm going to be busy. Let's just hope for some good weather.

I've been indulging myself this week . Dyeing and Spinning .These are Blue Faced Leicester tops which I plan to spin whilst I am up in Cumbria .
All rolled up ready for putting in my basket.
A bit of Spinning. I've been getting used to spinning on my Ashford Traveller. I've tried several times to get it going and couldn't . So the other day I thought I had better master it as I wanted to take it with me. It was bought for use in the caravan as it is compact . Anyway master it I have . Everything just suddenly clicked and I was off. I've spun this Merino and it's so soft and has a nice loft to it. I think the Traveller is going to be better at giving a woollen spun whilst mt Traditional is better for worsted and fine sock yarn . Out of 100grms of roving I got 200yards so it's DK / Aran weight .

This it close up .

I'm so pleased with the plying and just look at the sheen . I'm planning to do a bit more this afternoon as the weather forecast isn't good.
Tomorrow we are having a Tea Party . The family are coming round, as we won't be seeing them again till we get back . So I'm getting up early in the morning and baking all their favourite cakes . It's nice having them all together , it's just a pity the eldest won't be here but he's coming up just before we set off on our travels.

Lovely Sunshine

First a quick gloss over the Bank Holiday Craft Fair we did . It was c*** . Sorry about that but that's just how I felt. The Craft scene is struggling badly . Far to many organisers are allowing stallholders to sell bought in rubbish . We just can't compete . People expect to pay the same cheap prices for my hand made goods , which have taken hours to make , as they do for the bought in stuff. When I looked round the marquee on Monday I said to Papa Bear " I'd rather do nothing than this " Luckily I'm building up Wool Festivals and we've still got Cumbria. But as far as Cumbria is concerned , that might fold . The organiser is packing up and at the moment there's no one to step into his shoes. Plus we've had two fairs of his cancelled because of some bureaucratic nonsence which means he would have to take out a £1000 insurance . Because he does it for the pure love of keeping crafts alive and not as a business he just can't do it. So me and 30 other stall holders have lost lucrative Bank Holiday business . Along with several small shopkeepers in a village on the West Coast of Cumbria , who rely on Summer visitors to make a living. Right I will now put my soapbox away and show you some nice picsYesteday was so gorgeous that I decided to play outside instead of up in my workroom . I spent all day on the garden . Bliss. The perfume from the wall flowers was really strong.
Got it all weeded and transplanted a load of Aqualigia and Foxgloves that had self seeded . I'm getting a nice Cottage Garden effect now with the Forget me nots and Auriculas. I've got Poppy seeds to sow yet and I'm going to get some Pinks , my favourites . I've only to smell them and I'm five again coming home with armfuls from a neighbours garden .

Remeber the radish . They are coming on a treat now .

Runner beans ready for DH planting out.Aren't we doing well ?

This morning I got up at 6-30a.m and went for a ride on my bike . It was lovely and fresh . Hope to do a bit more cycling . My weight isn't moving so i thought a bit of biking might do the trick . I did five miles today so I will build on that. Ah well up to the Attic before it gets to warm.