Yesterday evening Tina and I went down to the front as the setting sun was approaching. The wind, that was really strong, was of the sea and the foam was really scummy!!

Looking back the sun was quite impressive over the park.

Then the sun over the sea.

And another.

Then a final fabulous flourish!

This morning the wind was ferocious and I had to go and gather items that had blow onto the flower beds. The shed is standing firm, so that is a bonus! It has not only been very windy, but great and wet and really cold, winter has returned. Tina dropped me off at the studio and I had a chat with Sandy and helped do a bit of clearing as it was busy today, probably because of the filthy weather and it being half term! I then went to Boyes to get some red tape, metres of it, as The girls in the studio want me to make some more child aprons and a couple for the adults as well. Walked up to look at the south bay, what a difference less than a day makes!

I did a bit more shopping and then caught the bus home, as my ankle was a bit painful and the weather horrid. When Tina was home we had a drink together and she was admiring my asparagus fern, it really is doing well this year so deserves being put on record.

I have started sorting some fabrics with the idea of making a picture quilt. Only a sketchy idea in my head at the moment.

Going to the YMCA theatre this evening to see Sweet Charity. Sandy will pick me up so not too much walking in the wet wind!

Spent the morning doing some household chores and Darren went to the gym. Then we went and had breakfast at Sainsbury's and did some shopping. I bought two dvds at the boot sale yesterday, Carousel and Oklahoma. I sat and watched Oklahoma this afternoon. Not a great story, but some good songs and scenery, the male lead was pretty dishy too! I am not sure if my 'kill or cure' approach is working, thought I would take my sketch stuff and have a walk round the park this afternoon, I made it to the park!! Climbed up some steps fairly near the entrance so saw the lake from a different angle.

Almost up on the same level as the pagoda, no water on the waterfall today.

I was sitting in this shelter, no actual seats but a stone ledge. 

I walked up the path to exit on Peasholm Drive, this view looking back.

Then bluebells at the top of the hill, which I cannot see when I take the usual route into the park.

This was my sketch, it was blowing a gale and I didn't take the pen with me that I had intended to use!

Tina arrived home this afternoon, refreshed and feeling a lot better, although she has still got a nasty cough. We are planning to go and have a look at the sea later.

Last night the sun was bright as it went down and I took some pictures which turned out to be quite funky!

This morning Darren and I went to the boot sale, I had done a lot of ankle stretching in the night and managed to walk around for about an hour before heading back to the car. I have decided it is time to try 'kill or cure' and up the exercise for the ankle to see if it helps, really can't make it any worse! We had dinner together while watching the very exciting grand prix, made even better for me by the fact that Lewis won!! Did a bit of clearing up in the back garden, I got some strong rubble sacks yesterday and have filled several ready for going to the tip. Also used the 'magic gel' that is supposed to kill weeds never to return. I like this close up of one of the Californian poppies in bud.

The several headed tulips are really taking their time to open, I have never seen anything in bud for so long.

Another close up, this time of an allium bud about to burst open. I have some planted in the tubs at the front of the house.

Purple seems to be the dominant colour in the garden at the moment. Will be watching Wallander later.

The weather has stayed dry today but fairly dull, it is just brightening up now. This morning this seagull was on the roof over the road but laying down on the job!

I bought some chicken manure the other day and spent a while this morning hoeing and putting some into the back garden. Then Darren and I went off to the stained glass centre where I collected my fused bird.  Very cute!

After that we went of to the Archery Club open day, where you could have a go. Here is Darren the archer.

We both had a go at aiming at these targets.

I think I got five of my six arrows onto the board, not near the centre but not misses either! Then we both had a go on the 'wild' one where you could shoot at animal targets. Me getting ready.

I did hit a couple of targets, but not hard enough for the arrows to stay put! Darren did pretty well.

We noticed the traffic into Scarborough was bad when we were heading out, and it was still bad when we came home. Everybody coming into Scarborough for the bank holiday weekend!

This afternoon I have been making fairy ladders!! So a start on the fairy garden.

Yesterday evening I started trying to make some toadstools from little pebbles. I would like to make some of the stuff for the fairy garden and not just buy ready made items.

My ankle is still very painful, but the knee is a little better. I went up to the bus stop as I thought I would get into town as I needed a few bits and need to try and get out a bit. The bus didn't come again so I think the timetable on line is out of date. So I walked to the studio slowly and had a chat with Donna and Sandy, and a sit down. I also collected my second pot holder which is fun.

I got some bits in town and called in at the sewing shop and bought a couple of bits of end of roll material that will be okay for landscapes. I called in to see Sandra and showed her the quilt I made with the prize, she liked it and took a photo of me with it. I made my way home and was glad to get here. After a rest I decided to have a go at a recipe that I saw on line. It sounded so bizarre that I had to try it. It was supposed to be the easiest scone recipe ever, four cups of self raising flour, one jar of cream and a can of lemonade! Well, they look fine and are edible but more like soft bread than scones.

I also had another attempt at a sponge which was the usual spectacular failure, but edible no doubt. I too another photo of the tamarix blossom as I just think it is so dainty and pretty, I do hope the whole tree is covered in it next year.

Got dinner for myself and Darren, but he was in late from work so later with the blog tonight. The shy is looking quite good.

Bit of comedy on the tv now.

This morning there was a heavy fret and it has not completely lifted all day, it was drizzly as well most of the day. So a different view out of the window today, in fact no view beyond the opposite houses!

Darren took me over to the stained glass centre at Cayton, took this poppy on the way out as I love the rain/plant combination!

We also got the pots, both broken and in tact, out of the boot before we set off.

The fused bird course at the stained glass centre was fun, just four of us and they will be ready for collection tomorrow, but I am hoping Darren will pick mine up for me on Saturday.

They are fused flat but it will stand up when fired! Darren came back to collect me, we would have had lunch there but it was heaving and no spare tables. So we came back by a different route and stopped at Deans for lunch and us to have a bit of lunch. The hills from the Deans were completely shrouded in the mist.

Another rain/plant picture, this time from the back garden.

I cleared a space down near the house so that I could move the acer trees out of the worst of the wind. I ordered these four trees and they were lovely, but one now looks dead and the others are not at all happy!

I planted up some poppies that I have had for a while, and then I arranged and put compost in some pots that will eventually be a fairy garden!

I got this little trike pot holder when we went to B & M yesterday, this isn't it's permanent plant but will do for now.

A bit of snail aerobics!!

When I came indoors I sorted through the materials that I have been getting for making quilted landscapes, just colour sorting for now.

When I made the disaster quilt earlier this year I had lots of small fabric triangles that I didn't like to just put in the bin. I have been planning to make a holder for the latest books I am reading, usually paperbacks, as I like to take one with me when I go for a wander in the glen, but I hate putting the book in my back loose and possibly damage the pages. So I started joining some of the triangles together, the plan being to make a quilted book case a bit like the phone case I made.

Got a good few sewn and stitched them together before I stopped for the night.

This morning, before Darren and I headed out to see if we could find me some broken plant pots, I got borders on and stitched it to the wadding and backing fabric.

It has been a really miserable day weather wise, and really pretty cold as well. So we didn't get as much stuff as I had hoped,  no plants or compost. But did find some broken pots in B & Q which they sold me at a reduced price. No picture of them today because it was raining so hard, and still is, that they are still in the car!! When we got home I carried on with the book case. I am reading a hardback book that Tina bought me at the moment but it goes in okay.

Then just had to add the final touch!

As I mentioned, a very wet day, not that I really mind as the gardens really did need it. Sitting watching Wallander this afternoon I took this shot, the two coloured 'stained glass' panels were filled in by Rachel and I when she stayed with me for a couple of nights, I think that was last September, they are quite faded now!

Talking of Wallander, took a picture of him too!! Really enjoy the series.

Took a picture of the back garden while I was getting tea for us, it is looking so much fresher out there now. I did buy some chicken manure for the garden when we were out, but that is in the car as well!