FNwF's October

 It was a cool but mostly sunny day yesterday, and with nothing planned we took the chance to get out for a drive. We headed onto the Quantocks to visit my LQS Come to Quilt in a barn high up on the hills. Having purchased the fabric I need to finish off my table runner (and maybe some embroidery thread!) we drove a little way along the road to Fyne Court. After a browse in the second hand bookshop and a curried cauliflower pasty (delicious) in the cafe we had a little walk around. The gardens are not as developed as some of the National Trust gardens but it was nice to see that work has commenced on repairing the walls and gallery in the walled garden. Hopefully at some time in the future we shall see the beds cleared and planted.

These gardens near the cafe were looking gorgeous though.

And I do love the colours of fading hydrangea's.

This pond is overgrown but evidently has breeding Great Crested Newts which are not as common in the UK as they were in the past. I loved the carved balustrade around the edge of the pond.

From Fyne Court we headed towards the coast and found ourselves in the village of Fiddington and spotted this pretty little church

so of course we had to go in. St Martin of Tours

It was Harvest Festival last weekend and this window was decorated up for it.

These carved pew ends are rather splendid.

And the organ had pride of place.

This sturdy and ornate door handle caught my eye.

The churchyard was very tidy! and we had a nice wander round. We were surprised to find this gravestone of Tony Britton

and these lovely cyclamen

but completely missed the carving mention in the Wikipedia link!

So not a lot of sewing happened. I did my Stitch Journal leaf - yes, leaves this month very appropriately.

And perfect for my choice of brown for my RSC colour this month. I have some gorgeous, rich brown threads in my brown box which I am looking forward to using.

Other than that all I did was some knitting while we watched a film in the evening.

Well, I must go and check my washing - the wind has picked up and I can hear it blowing against the conservatory windows, so need to make sure it is firmly pegged!

Back soon with RSC news until then, happy stitching.

Last week

 Looking back through my photographs I realised that we crammed a lot in to last week!

We started out on Monday morning with a trip in to Taunton for some shopping and to see The Moon which was hanging in Taunton's new Minster, St Mary Magdalene church. 

Glad we went early as there were pictures in the press of huge queues waiting to go in. Well worth the visit as it was an amazing sight and the setting in the church was stunning.

We found time  for a couple of afternoon drives and it was good to be out and about again in the Somerset countryside. One afternoon we visited Fyne Court and enjoyed a short walk in the park. Spotted these trees with their roots growing above ground. Lots of interesting shapes in there.

It was a chilly afternoon - fortunately we missed the snow shower as we were in the book snug browsing the second hand books!

A second afternoon found us at Nettlecombe where we visited the interesting church. It's looking very picturesque in this picture which I snapped waiting for an enormous lorry to pass us - not what we had expected to find down a narrow Somerset lane!

I finished up two more Wings and Pretty Things blocks.

Earlier in the week we had to visit Wiveliscombe and I enjoyed a wander round this old town. I was attracted to these old house fronts with their lovely carvings.

The Jubilee Gardens, built for The Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977 had some interesting features. I loved these gates

and this totem erected in tribute to children and families of the First World War. I hope that you will be able to see some of the lovely details if you click on the pictures to enlarge them.

You will be pleased to hear that the bathroom renovations are well under way, that we now have a flushing toilet and will be allowed to use the new shower tomorrow evening!

Until next time.