April - a new month

 And they are coming around pretty quitckly now. But first, a look at the end of March.

I completed the March section of my Stitch |Journal.

And the bottom quarter of the panel is complete.

So I have moved on to the next section and here are the first four days of April.

We did have a lovely day out on Tuesday visiting Killerton where we met friends who had travelled across Dartmoor to meet us. Fortunately although they left home in thick mist, they arrived to lovely sunshine, which we had had all the way.

A few photographs of the house and lovely gardens.

And just look at these gorgeous Crested Fritillaries!

Killerton houses one of the National Trust's textile conservation studio's so upstairs in the house there is usually some sort of textile exhibition. This year there is a lovely selection of ladies garments from the Victorians up to the 60's which are beautifully displayed and well worth a visit. Hopefully I will get another chance to look around later in the year.

And finally for today - yes, the crochet cardigan is a finish. I am so glad I changed the border and cuffs as it gives the garment a smarter, more of a jacket feel.

I have a feeling that the top corners of the front band may iritate my chin and so I am going to be looking out for a couple of buttons which I can use to just stitch down those points to the front. But otherwise I am really happy with how this has turned out.

No movement yet on this months Challenge - snap bags - but I have got out my Ryegrass socks again and am determined to complete a pattern repeat a day to get them finished this month.

So, a long post from me - if you made it to the end then thank you very much and I will see you next week. Have a very Happy Easter.

On our travels!

 Yes, after 20 months we managed a trip to the UK where we were able to catch up with friends and family. It was a lovely time and the sun shone for most of it which was great although the last few days were distinctly damp.

Lovely to be out and about in the Somerset countryside too - the narrow roads and high hedges were a welcome sight after the wide open fields of the northern Dordogne. And the sea! So good to see the sea again.

So I will launch straight in to some photographs.

This weather worn boat was in Watchet Harbour - I love that splash of turquoise on top of the right hand pole.

We managed to arrive in Watchet on market day - it was busy! So we took our picnics to Blue Anchor bay and sat on the beach looking across to the Welsh coast. From there we drove inland to Staple Plain where we walked up to the top of Beacon Hill. The heather was in full bloom and glorious.

In the second picture you can see the stunning view down to the coast.

At the top - you can just see the beacon on the right.

On another occasion we visited St Martins church at Kingsbury Episcopi for an interesting exhibition documenting cider making in the parish and the local families and businesses involved. I spotted this lovely door in a corner of the church.

and these 'drunken' graves outside.

I am surprised that Health and Safety haven't been round and condemned that gravestone! Some years ago we visited another graveyard in North Somerset where council workers were pulling over tilted gravestones 'because they are dangerous'!

Anyway from there we of course had to visit a local cider farm, Burrow Hill Cider Farm where they also distill the cider to make cider brandy. 

It is cider making time and there was a large heap of apples in the yard being washed prior to being pulped.

Then a visit to Muchelney Pottery 

Sadly John Leach, grandson of Bernard Leach, died recently but for the time being the pottery and shop will be carrying on. I bought one of the lovely jugs from the kitchenware range to add to my small collection and enjoyed admiring the beautiful one off collection pieces.

Finally a lovely day out with friends at Killerton House It was our first visit and we enjoyed walking round the gardens dodging showers under huge old trees. This lovely hinge was on the door to the Church and will be added to my spiral collection.

 The Bears Hut also sheltered us - in the main room the ceiling is decorated with pine cones

and this is part of the beautiful floor.

Killerton is home to a large collection of 18th - 20th century dress and accessories. On display while we were there an interesting exhibition of sports wear including a very elaborate - and I would have thought very hot - tennis dress! No 7 in the picture.

Thank you for reading through to the end - I hope you enjoyed the pictures.