Sun and Weekend fun

The sun is shining, and somehow whenever this happens I feel alive. It invigorates my mind and  takes me back to a place where I once was young in the heat of Africa, a place that invokes many wonderful memories and a place I dearly love! I love this feeling of being transported back to my childhood, the feeling of feeling free again with no commitments, no responsibilities, just living life and drinking in every aspect of its beauty, even if that feeling only lasts for a few minutes at a time. This weekend I felt like that again, young, alive and ready to take on anything that life throws my way. Its times like this when I just want to embrace all the little projects I've left for weeks and months and finally make some progress with them, but on the other hand there is the desire to just sit outside soak up the sun and enjoy this glorious weather whilst doing some crocheting or just watching the children play.

So, that is exactly what I did this weekend, got my cutting mat and rotary cutter and started cutting some of the fabric for my first attempt at a quilt. Unfortunately I already started cutting my fat quarters into 10" squares a few months ago, which is a shame as I could have used this fabric for the quilt along that Blue Elephant Stitches will be starting VERY soon. We have only just covered what fabrics to look at and choose, so if you haven't already linked in, it might be a great opportunity to learn how to make your first quilt, well that's my rational anyway. I also really enjoy her blog as I am new to quilting and find it very inspirational. I finally managed to get these 10" squares down to the 2.5" strips ready for the next phase.

This was followed by some crochet time. I have just started a new blanket and like with any project I start, I am already feeling rather impatient with it. It is a strange feeling and although I know that it is going to take months, especially considering that it will be worked along several other projects, I can't stop the urge for it already to be near completion. I often wonder what gives me the most enjoyment, the actual making of the project or the satisfaction that comes with the end result. I do have to add here that I thoroughly love crocheting, but it is more the fact that I get so excited about it all that I start lining up far too many projects and this causes what the lovely Chrissie so rightly labelled  as 'Craft Anxiety' and right now I definitely have a serious bout of it!

Late Saturday afternoon we joined our local village school for their annual hog roast where the evening was filled with lovely things for the kids to get involved with, such as face painting, duck races and coconut shy and worm charming.

 

Little J was delighted when he finally won his coconut (especially seeing his sister had already won two by this point), and I have to add that with all the money we spent on Coconut shy, we could have bought a coconut tree! Note to self avoid fairgrounds with this little chap, but also credit to his determination to get it right, (not sure where he gets this stubbornness from?!). All in all it was a lovely afternoon and we had two very tired children to put to bed when we got home.

On Sunday, I needed a great deal of rest, but I also enjoyed some of this lovely sun whilst watching bits of the Wimbledon final. It suddenly dawned on me that I could drag the TV outside, definitely a eureka moment! I have to add here that this moment of a magazine and cake didn't last long, that would be far to idyllic, no the table got cleared and Little J watched with me whilst we built the last of his Lego X-Wing.

I still haven't seen the last couple of games as we had to dash out to go and see the Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore at Gawsworth Hall. This was our first experience at their Theatre and I have to say that this beautiful ancient manor house was the perfect setting for any production.

 

The production, directed by Alastair McCall, was excellent and all the members of the cast were brilliant. I especially enjoyed the voices of Andrea Tweedale as Josephine and Timothy Langston as Ralph Rackstraw, but on performance and voice Martin Milnes as Sir Joseph Porter was the star of the night for me, his acting and singing was sensational. It was the perfect end to a wonderful weekend. Thank you Silk Opera for putting on a wonderful production.

 

I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful weekend?! Lets hope this sunshine is here to stay. It is dangerous as we could just get use to it :-).

 

Wishing you all a very happy Monday and a creative and week.