Sunday, August 21, 2011

Trevarno

It was a lovely day so we went to Trevarno Gardens near Helston. I have been before but Graeme hadn't. The gardens, grounds and woodland walks at Trevarno are supposed to date back to the 1200's but the present house is Georgian in style. 













This is my favourite part of the estate. The lake with boat house. A very restful spot watching the dragonflies and the fish, small brownies, in the water. 














The Italian garden is of modern design having been formed only at the end of the last century. In previous centuries this had been a lawned area but it is extremely attractive even if it isn't so old! The roses were lovely and there is an old bit of stone work at the far end which enhance it! 

















 Wherever one goes in Cornwall one sees Monbretia! It is so common and yet a colourful and attractive plant. 













And of course we had to have a cream tea. No Sunday afternoon on an outing would be complete without the scones, cream and raspberry jam! It was delicious! 













While we were eating the peacocks which were in a scraggy state of moulting were eyeing our every mouthful. They were so tame! 













We also went and saw the reindeer which come to Trevarno for their summer holidays! It was really too hot for them today and most of them were in the shade in their shed. 













And odd as it may seem I have already designed and made the sampler for our packs of Christmas shapes which includes reindeer! 








In fact a thoroughly enjoyable day! Then home to enjoy the sun in the back garden with an iced drink of elderflower cordial! Delicious! 

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Weather!

The weather forecast shows sun all day today but what did I wake up to but rain and now it's raining again! It's not fair! It's Saturday! And a fly I thought I'd swotted has now come to life again and is annoying me considerably by buzzing behind the curtain against the window! I can see it is going to be one of those days!

The radishes Graeme planted a few days ago are up and running and really need thinning out. If the rain could stop for a moment I will go and do it. Fortunately the men who have changed our black guttering and downpipes for white ones have been and gone before the rain stopped play. The front of the house does look smart now! 

I've given all my knitting needles away to a friend so I won't be tempted ever again to do any knitting. This will save me so much money as I would get carried away, buy wool and then abandon the project half way through because I am not a natural born knitter. Not even an aquired knitter. My skills are zilch! Just as well I can sew! 
I have been designing the next sampler quilt for the autumn's classes. I am using EQ6 which I find really good and it has been fun. Now all I have to do is choose some fabrics and make it! Easier said than done! The fabric choice should be easy but when has one had just what one wanted regardless of however many fabrics one has. Certainly not me....not even with all that dyeing. Well I will have fun rummaging and finding things I thought lost or given away. That is the best bit! 











Love the patterns that one finds on old gravestones. A lovely source of quilting patterns!