I wanted to do a blog post and show you all some pretty photos and share some news but the awful events that are taking place in Japan make me feel that rambling on about rainy days, painting shelves and daffodils seem trivial.

My thoughts are with those people who have lost friends and family, homes and lively hoods, possessions and pets. I also feel sad to think about the damage to the environment and wildlife lost. This earth we live on is such a fragile place, we use and abuse it and sometimes I think it just can't take anymore.

Cravendale - Cats with Thumbs

awards and gifts

AGES ago the lovely Andrea from Apples and Pears gave me an award. She is also doing a birthday Giveaway so pop over before Wednesday and leave a comment, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA!


Snowdrops in my Father-in-laws garden

Andrea gave me the stylish blogger award and I was suppose to tell you 7 things you may not know about me. Now I did something similar on this post here, and I think you might know most things about me so I am going to tell you my 7 favourite films instead, why they are my favourites and I will also try and do a linky thing to them! So here goes- No 7.Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
A beautiful love story based on the book by Louis de Bernieres (the book is a great read too) set in the most gorgeous setting of Kephalonia (saving up to go on our holidays there next year!!!)
No 6. Chocolat.
A film containing two of my favourite things-Chocolate and Johnny Depp!

No 5. Sense and sensibility.
The 1995 version, I love a good period drama and I love Alan Rickman in this film.
No 4. The Railway Children. (1970)
This is a film from my childhood and always makes me cry-in a good way! I dare you to watch the link and not well up!!!!

No 3. French Kiss.
A Meg Ryan film released in 1995, Meg at her best in my opinion. Very funny, gentle film set mainly in Paris. Not many people have heard of it but Kevin Kline is so funny in it, worth looking out for.
No 2. A Room with a View. (1985)
I watched this at The Cornerhouse in Manchester as a student. I have O Mio Babbino Caro as the Text message alert on my mobile. I played it over and over again when we went to Florence.

and it will come as no surprise to people that have read my blog for a while that I vote this next film as my No.1 all time favourite.

No.1 Yanks.

released in 1979. I remember watching it (and crying) and from that moment on I dreamed of living in the 1940's. The clip is the only one I could find and it has subtitles, it is hard to find decent stills even on the net, but I did find these two. It was also filmed around where we live now and I often bore you all with information about places we have come across that are associated with the film.

and at the end this song is played with the credits.

I won a great giveaway from the generous Louise and my gifts came in the post last week.

Lots of lovely things.

I need to bake some of those cupcakes in the book, there are loads to choose from and don't you just love the pink heart measuring spoons? Thank you Louise, I love everything, the jelly beans didn't last long though!

365 photos for this week.



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We spent all day in the garden doing some much needed clearing. I want to share a day out we had last weekend but think this post is already way too long so it is a THANKYOU from me to Andrea and Louise and if anyone wants to pick up the Stylish Blogger award from my side bar and tell us your 7 favourite films I would love to read about your choice.

Photo Scavenger hunt

What a lovely day it has been today.
I need to show you my February Scavenger hunt photos.There are loads of blogs doing the scavenger hunt, I will try and pop some links on the end of this post-if I don't run out of steam that is!

A round clock face ( I played around with this one as it was a bit boring!)



A big truck or lorry, I had to take this-it's MY name!

A bridge (I have already posted about this bridge here)

a musical instrument (the children get a lot of opportunity to learn a musical instrument at our school)

A post box (we found this lovely Victorian box on our walk last week)



Eyes



My Shoes (I actually wore a skirt and my favourite shoes when we went out for a Valentines meal)

A newspaper headline -this made me giggle, sheep are apparently not as dumb as they look!

A Park Bench (bit of a cheat this as it is a park bench but it is in our garden!)

something red



Something Heart shaped



Something with stripes

 Blogger is playing up and won't let me put any more photos on so I will have to leave it here but I want to share some other lovely things with you soon! pop over to look at these Scavenger hunt photos-
Postcards from the PP
Corners of my mind
What's in my attic
Free falling
eagle altitude
Jumble and Jelly
Porcelain Rose
Life on the East coast
Just Me
Helsie
Cattapilla Dreaming
The Hen House
Make it up
Periwinkle

There are loads more out there, if I have missed you off the list try looking on Postcards from the PP and the flickr group Kathy is hosting or leave me a comment and I will put you on the above list and the list for March can be found here Postcards from the PP

Bye for now.

Oh heck.....work tomorrow!

Here are my weeks worth of 365 photos (only 6 as I have already put up last Mondays). I am going to number them instead of putting the date on from now on too as it makes it easier to caption.


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 We went out for the day last Thursday. It was a beautiful spring day.

Just look at that blue sky!


cobbled lanes

We went to Holmfirth, Last of the Summer Wine country.

There was a little bit of shopping done.

and a walk up the hill.

Then we drove to Marsden to walk along the Huddersfield Narrow canal.

towards Tunnel End.

The visitor centre at Tunnel End is currently closed but it is the longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel in the UK. The canal tunnel was built between 1794 and 1811.
There are also three railway tunnels following the same route under the Pennines, but only one is still in use, built between 1890 and 1894.



The old Canal warehouse

 Then we walked up the hill and along the lane.

And back down to the car. The sky was still so blue!

Where did the week go?

Can't believe it's almost the end of my half term off school,  I know it's only Friday but I am already thinking about the new topics for art next half term and starting to plan things.
So what have I been doing with my week off work?
Monday and Tuesday was spent cleaning and tidying the house.
Wednesday started with a cappuccino and croissant as I was up early for a workshop.
I had managed to wangle my way onto a workshop by Janet Browne.
A group of local ladies who meet on a regular basis had booked her for a workshop, I had heard about it at a talk Janet Browne gave to the Halifax Branch of the Embroiderers Guild when I went along one evening last October.
This time we got to play!

After a talk and demonstration by Janet we all had to make a simple sample (of your house!)

With her technique you work on the back of the piece.

Everyone worked hard at their sewing machines, not even stopping for lunch just grabbing their sandwich in between stitches.

With about 90 minutes before we had to pack up mine looked like this. I wanted to start on a blackbird piece so I left it like that and moved on. It was such a shame when we had to pack up at 3.45pm but I was happy in the knowledge that all the work Hubby and I put in on Monday and Tuesday meant I could........

Go home to my half finished workroom and carry on!

It is by no means finished but tidy enough for me to sit at my desk and do some work. The work top to the right of the desk is propped up on boxes (waiting for the joiner!) but I had had enough and so we cleaned and painted and rolled out the carpet!

Jenny can you see the heart you made for me on the cupboard door!?

And this is my finished sample of our house. Lots of work to do yet on the blackbird piece.
Sorry I am way behind on reading your lovely blogs, I will catch up with you all over the weekend.