It's Been a Crazy Busy Summer....

 But I did get down to London to see the 100 years of the RAF Flypast

Down the Mall

Prime position at the Victoria Monument

 It was a stunning and exciting display. I have never seen so many people!! but all were dispersed within a short time and we had a nice stroll back up the Mall and down to Horse-guards Parade

even the soldiers seem to be getting younger!

 Back to the station to catch the train home, but a quick pit stop at the British Library which was a lovely cool and quiet haven for a couple of hours.

will be back again soon

 A bit of childcare for these monkeys

 

Before heading of to Birmingham to the Festival of Quilts for my annual stint working on the Kids Quilts stand 

I exceeded last years  £1 total spend by splashing out on a reel of thread and some of these very pointy pins

I did not have time to take many photos but I think that this was my favorite quilt 

 Not my thing, but I can so much appreciate the work that has gone into this

 Loved this

 And this one

A day to recover and off we went to Windsor  with our friends from New Zealand 

 

An overnight stay near Windsor and then a day out in Oxford 

 Afternoon tea at Rushden lakes with a good friend and then a trip back to Birmingham before the Kiwi's boarded their flight home

 More childcare.....

 

And a lovely day celebrating the Baptism of Little Miss E.  We had made all sorts of contingency plans to shade the garden from all the glorious sun that we have had all summer.  

but...

IT RAINED

A LOT

All DAY 

but we still had a fabulous time  

A trip to the Miniature Railway at Audley End to handover to the parents

 And of course, we had to have a train ride through the woods

if you go down to the woods today .....

 And then a visit from the French family to finish me off   Finish of the holidays . 😅

I have had such a little time to do any sewing or knitting but a pair of socks are on the needles

 

And some novelty scraps to be made into an I Spy quilt (or three!!) 

We have a few days to catch up with ourselves and then we will be off for a little holiday.

I think that we have earned it 😉

It's Been a Tad Warm

 And I know I shouldn't complain.... but you will never hear me saying it's too cold!!

The heatwave that we have been basking in enduring makes it quite difficult to concentrate on being very productive.

I did venture out to block the Spotlight shawl that I eventually got to finish

 because I am going to need a Silk/Alpaca shawl soon aren't I 🙄

We have been to help No1 Son with a Gardening project (don't ask! no photos - it was a scorching sweaty day involving digging though solid clay and a hangover (not me) )

And Helping Darling Daughter with another Gardening Project (again no photos - it wasn't a pretty sight )

So this week I have been guiltless in sitting in the shade reading and relaxing, which is fortunate because on Tuesday 6 Chinook helicopters and 3 Pumas (followed by three others, I think Jupiters) flew across the garden.  They were on their way for a practice formation of over 100 aircraft  for a flypast over Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 10th July  to celebrate 100 years of the RAF. 

Maybe a trip to London to see this spectacle.....

 DD, Sister2 and I all went off to Lamport Hall to try out a mosaic workshop. It was a Gaudi themed workshop but we could choose our own subject matter.  

 We had a lovely messy laughter filled day

starting to grout

no grouting yet

My finished lizard - just need to add a fixing

Sister 2's Burgau Sea Snail

 Will definitely have another go at this craft


The shawl is done 

And as Wool Warehouse have a Sale on Drops Cotton I have purchased a few balls of the
 Cotton Light to make the bodices for some Dress a Girl Charity dresses that will hopefully use up some more of my fabric scraps.

only 55p per 50g !

 Just a couple of snaps of my lovely HUGE hanging basket that is drinking water like a fish in this heat

June Delights

 We have been having some great weather recently, resulting in some beautiful sunsets

 I do beleive that there have been some lovely sunrises too, but I seem to miss that time of day 🙄


I have been busy baking

 and serving teas at the local Open Garden Sunday

 Not so much sewing being done, the garden is taking up much of my time

We did make this neat little bags at Group this month

 Handy for hanging in the car to keep all your bits and bobs tidy

I have made a pile of shorts for the Dress a Child Charity but have been putting off threading the elastic (a boring job) through the waisband

 so I took them along to group and some LOVELY ladies sat and did them all for me 👏👏👏👏

I am so grateful

 This weekend the local Historical Transport Society had an Armed Services Day and the Battle of Britain Memorial flight did a fly past

A Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire

 I didnt get to the event, but was lucky that we were in the flight path

so I waited a bit longer and sure enough, along came the Red Arrows too 

 Not very good pics, but they were really quick!

 And much of the month has been taken up with seeing these little beauties

What better way to spend your time 😊😊😊 ..........