This sounds repetitive, but the wind is fierce today, someone light would have been off their feet and in the road! I was covering the studio for an hour today as Sandy had to take her mum to the doctors and then to bingo. It was quiet so I did some more to the plate!

I walked into town from there and did some shopping at M & S as Michelle is coming up for a couple of days today. She phoned me to say she would be a bit later than expected as she had got on the wrong train! Tina drove me up to meet her this afternoon and it was hailing on the way, odd weather as the sun has been out on and off as well. We drove back via the cliff top so that Michelle could have a glimpse of the sea. The sea was sparkly, I took a photo but you cannot really see what we saw!

Took a picture of Michelle with tina while we were there.

This afternoon Michelle and I took a walk through the park and the glen, then we had fish and chips before heading back for the evening in where there will be lots of chatting and catching up.

This morning I set off early to go to the auction house and the post office. I had phoned after the auction and made a bid on a tiny gold plated brooch set with amethyst, peridot and opals. The offer was accepted so I was off to pay and collect.

Not the clearest of pictures but it is very pretty. After the post office I went to the studio where I was helping out today for the morning. Quite busy today but I did a bit helping and quite a bit of painting on the plate.

Very windy today but we did have some sunshine as well. The willow has really blossomed and was looking lovely in that sunshine.

Been sorting through papers and filling the recycling bag, I try to keep on top of it but it needs a concerted attack sometimes!!

Today started wet, cold and miserable, a very grey day! Spent the morning trying to sort out cupboards etc and getting stuff ready for charity shop, boot sale or Ebay. I had let stuff spread a bit and really cannot afford to leave it too long as my little haven soon looks cluttered. This afternoon it brightened up so I decided to take a walk to the park and maybe feed some squirrels as I have had a bag of monkey nuts waiting for that purpose for some time. The parks and flower beds are kept beautifully here, this shield is just down the road.

The park was reasonable busy and it was still trying to rain when I set out. I went into the glen, which was lovely, I have seen it in summer, autumn and winter, and now I can enjoy it in spring.

That one could really be anywhere, just beautiful.

The water was higher than I have seen it before, so more dramatic. Not a lot of new buds yet but there are some signs of colour.

The winds have been fierce this winter and some mighty trees had been uprooted on my walk!

One more picture of the glen.

Walking back through the park there were some early tulips in the beds.

I'll finish off with an 'arty' shot through my rainy window!!

Wet and very windy again today, but the rain was welcome as the gardens were getting dry. Darren and I walked up to the auction house and I placed bids on a set of bookends that came with a teapot, a brooch and a desk tray. Didn't stay to bid personally as I had promised to go along to the studio for a bit. I did a little more painting on the plate, as I said, slow progress, but it is progressing!

I stayed for a while and then home briefly then back as Sandy had to go and collect her mum so I held the pot for a bit. When I was at home I checked the auction website and it seemed like I had won the bid for the bookends. So I walked up there and collected them before I came home.

They came with a teapot, it is quite cute but the bookends were what I was after!

They are Carlton ware and all in perfect condition. I did have my wooden bookends on the 'pig' bookcase but will find a new home for them, as the new ones belonged there.

I didn't win either of the other bids but the brooch didn't sell so got in touch with the auction house and made an offer that was accepted so I will collect it next week.

We are obviously in gorgeous sunset season, so let's see one from last night.

Today I sorted out a few craft things I have done since I moved here and took them to Sandra in the craft shop to see if they were items she would like to have on sale there.. She took all the items I had with me. I liked them but really don't have the space to display them. I then went to post a parcel and on to the studio where I spent another hour or so on the plate.

All the bonsai trees except one seem to have survived their first winter in Scarborough and this one has most branches and it budding nicely.

I did some tidying up and weeding in the front garden this afternoon. It isn't too bad although we are a bit overrun with dandelions! I spotted this very out of season wasp who seemed pretty sleepy.

It was raining and windy first thing but I headed off out as I had a few things to get and wanted to drop a pattern off to Diane at the sewing class. I went via the cliff to and saw this blackbird in a tree, made a change from seagulls by the sea.

I walked a bit further along and had never noticed this bridge that looks like a viaduct before.

I did some shopping and went to the post office and then headed off to Sainsbury's where I was meeting Darren and Tina for lunch. Passing the little grassed area with the ponds I saw two seagulls looking like they were dancing, stamping their feet up and down on the grass. I took some fun video and this picture does at least have one with his foot off the ground.

Donna told me when we got to The studio that they do this to imitate the rain and get the worms to come up! Tina and I got Darren to take us to the studio after we had dropped off the shopping. Tina wanted to paint an Easter coaster and I did a bit more to the plate.

There was quite a heavy frost this morning but it soon brightened up and it turned out to be a beautiful day. I watered the tubs and beds as we haven't had rain for a while. I called in to see Sandra at the craft shop, the group has been cancelled for tonight as Sue who usually comes is poorly. Then I went to the studio and said I would make a start on the large plate. I took a picture of Donna holding it so that it is obvious how large it is.

An hour and a half later I hadn't covered that much ground. It is going to be a long job as it is very detailed!

Then off to the button class, two new ladies today so six customers, that is enough really as the tables as they are set only hold 8 people and they do all spread out a bit when sorting buttons and beads out.some great stuff going on again, this little bird is bright and I think the heart button as a beak was a brilliant touch!

Mr grey is finished and looking fabulous, better that the film.....

This perfume bottle is well on the way and will be lovely.

As I wasn't going to the class tonight and it was a lovely evening I decided to take a walk down to the beach. The evening sea was great, but you know I am a bit of a sea and sky freak!

Then one just of the sea!

I will put a shot of the misty pink clouds yesterday, not striking like the sunset itself but pretty!

Tina printed off a pattern for a tortoise paper weight for me last night, it was in the sewing magazine that I get but at the moment my computer won't stay connected to the printer so she did it on her office printer for me. So this morning I decided to have a go at making it with the hand sewing machine. The tension changes sometimes and it can be a bit frustrating, so got the book out and had a go at oiling it, called Darren to help me understand the diagrams! It is supposed to be oiled weekly and has probably not been for many years so hopefully it will run better now. You can't change the stitch length so it wasn't working well for the legs and head so I machined each seam twice and that solved that problem. Leaving cottons and threads everywhere I went into town to see if I could give blood when just turning up and not with an appointment. They fitted me in quite quickly and the nurse was lovely and took three drops of blood in an attempt to get me past the first hurdle. On the third try she said it was okay to donate - just!! On my way out I took the daffodils in the front garden as they are looking good and standing up again now the wind has dropped. The other day they were nearly horizontal!

Walking back it was trying to rain, we could really do with some. Passed this lovely plant looking glad of the drink!

I didn't feel great walking back but don't usually react when I am giving blood. Had a biggish dinner in Boyes and was very hot in the sunshine today as I had a fleece on and my winter coat, so am hoping it was just that combination. Sat quietly for a while when I got home and had Colonel for company. Since then I have battled on with the paper weight and it is quite a cute tortoise I think.

Will crack the hand sewing yet, actually I really enjoy it and don't miss having two hands to guide the work along as you can go as slowly as you like,

Last night, after the orange sky sunset picture the sky just got more dramatic. The sunsets are a real joy and one of the good things about being on the second floor!

Today, because of some problem at work Darren was home today. We both went out to work on the garden for a couple of hours this morning. The willow is opening up beautifully and the bonsai trees behind it are doing well, think I may have lost one which was a cutting last year.

The soil in the back is very clay heavy so as Darren was home a asked him to take me to Deans to get some sharp sand. We also got some new plants and had a snack there. We called in Sainsbury's on the way home as Tina's new slippers were coming apart and she needed some sandwich making for a meeting tomorrow. I went out to do a bit more in the back garden and turning over one area I saw the longest worm I have ever seen. Over a foot long, difficult to tell from the picture!

One of the plants I bought today was a pansy called Cool Waves, and I think it is absolutely beautiful.

I put lots of sand down and planted a few new flowers so the levels at the back are taking shape - slowly!

Another glorious sunset this evening, it was cold today and there may be a frost tonight.

Much brighter and less windy day today so decided to go to the castle and take a sketch book along. It was blowy up on the cliff top, but a lovely day. I walked around the perimeter edge and found some steps to sit on, I was a good way from the castle. The grounds are extensive.

These ruins, as you can see, are at the cliff edge, although the cliffs have fallen away a lot so it was probably much further inland originally. Took a couple more shots from the perimeter edge.

There were some steps down to a gate and you could look out of the grounds!

As I got ready to leave the castle took this shot across the North bay as the others had been of the South bay.

Leaving the castle I turned left following a sign towards Royal Albert Park. The path snaked down the cliff at the far end of the North bay. It will be a lovely walk in spring and summer, the trees have yet to burst into life, but it was still enjoyable.

But this shot looks almost autumnal!

I was walking down and then decided that I wanted to go to the top of the North bay cliffs so that I could call in at the studio to collect some painting Tina had done on Thursday. I could see a path that looked like it was heading in the right direction but it meant going up these steps!

So, off I went, the path at the top had a table in front of it but off I went again, only to come to a dead end and steep drop! So back down and down the steps to continue. That tested my knees and I don't usually do steps with a rail!! I got down to the far end of the North bay and then walked up the cliff to the top and along to the studio. The honey pot I painted as a sample turned out really well and now I fancy doing another one for myself!

I'll finish this post with the sunset today!