Craft Olympics “Special” Finish 5

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This number plate made me smile- so seasonal.

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Now Deb has opened her Christmas parcel I can share these 4 mice which can live in the Mouse House I made her for her birthday.

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I thought the mice ought to earn their keep so one has a bag with a thimble, another has a needle case, another carries scissors, and the other has a mushroom pincushion.

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We’ve had marshmallows toasting on Big Bertha the study fireplace.

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This is my final “Special” finish for the Craft Olympics.

It is for a girl’s 21st birthday present as well as her Christmas present. I was determined to get it done this year for her in spite of everything else happening.

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It is backed in this blue and white floral striped fabric which has been in my stash for a while. It is good to have a perfect use for it at last.

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We’ve had a cosy Christmas in spite of the 90 mph gale force winds. Unlike many in the UK, we kept our electricity and were warm and dry with good food.

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Alfonso the hog nosed snake I inherited from my father, joined us for a little while. He is a friendly critter and seemed to enjoy getting to know us now he has settled in.

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Bungle is modelling a collar Daughter bought him in silver and black to go with his black Winter coat.

Happy New Year everyone.

I am now caught up with my photos and hope to visit you all soon. My New Years resolution is to be kinder to myself and not take too much on.


Posted in Craft Olympics, Crafts by with 6 comments.

Wytham, Godstow and Wolvercote

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This is what I’ve been working on for a 21st birthday.

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I’ve known the young lady since before she was born.

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So this is a very special quilt.

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It will also be a Christmas present to her this year

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as it is such a big quilt.

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It will be for a double bed.

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Gnomes are in every window of the houses doing different things.

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Suffolk Puff  (yo yo) trees.

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I hope she likes it.

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So let’s continue with our adventures exploring the villages west of Oxford.

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This is Wytham close to Wytham Wood.

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The White Hart is a familiar sight to Inspector Morse fans.

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We drive down the little back lanes into Godstow Nunnery.

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We haven’t stopped here since 1991 when we had our own marriage ceremony to make up for the one sabotaged by my now cut off mother in law.

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A blocked gateway

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Read the link to hear how this place was where Henry II’s mistress “The Fair Rosamund” spent her final years and was buried.

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Sadly the place was a victim of Henry VIII’s Dissolution.

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Another former doorway?

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This is the only standing building in the enclosure.

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Close ups.

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I was thinking of the women who turned their backs on the world to stay within these tall walls.

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The walls were used to help collect the animals allowed to graze on Port Meadow

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One last look from the Wytham-Wolvercote road.

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The Trout at Wolvercote.

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The front- huge fireplace!

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The back overlooking the river.

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The bridge which links Godstow and Wolvercote. As a kid I would row against the current in a rubber dinghy, or swim.

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This tree, I swear was much bigger and underlit in green which made it feel like a jungle at night.

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Looking towards the nunnery.

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But quick zoom in! “A foxy whiskered gentleman” as Beatrix Potter would say.

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What a magnificent fellow! The next second he looked up and saw me. The next shot was empty.

Amazing!

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Trout just under the bridge.

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These are another memory from my childhood- the shriek of peacocks.  They were so exotic and the colours gorgeous.

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But we must return to the car.

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And travel through Wolvercote village (both parts)

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The whole area I have shared with you has an interesting history.

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Oxford with Ulla is next.

For the firework fans I’ve put  a page with the British Firework Championships 2013 here. 


Posted in Craft Olympics, Crafts, Travels by with 5 comments.