A good Wednesday

Wednesday has a bad reputation round these parts, for reasons I think I've grumbled about before. Today was a happy exception. I knew even before I opened my eyes, as in the midst of a week of a windy, wet and cold return to winteriness, there was sunshine coming through the window (it didn't last!). Not only that, but I was opening my eyes at a time I chose, since P was contentedly playing with his bag of 'good morning' toys, chattering away to himself as he had been for maybe an hour (!) without any apparent need for me. Okay, so I discovered when I went in to see him at a comfortably later hour than normal that he had also been munching the spine of a book. Why, when left alone with them, does he eat books? What is lacking from what appears to be a healthy, balanced and generally home-cooked diet?! Oh well, doesn't seem to be doing him much harm and I really enjoyed my lie-in.
Once we finally got ourselves up and breakfasted it was time for me to do some work on the results of a slightly stressful painting session yesterday afternoon (suffice to say, grumpy toddlers who haven't napped are not best combined with paints). I made an egg template and used it to cut shapes from the best bits of his daubings, then let him loose with some crayons to add further embellishments. Actually, he mainly broke the crayons in half and tried to eat them, which makes me more motivated to invest in some nicer, and possibly more nutritious ones (!). We bought these for a friend's second birthday and I've been meaning to get some for P since then.
Anyway, with embellishments added, I cut a slit at the top and added some dotty ribbon I had stashed to make a hanging loop et voila Easter cards for various family and friends.
As for this...


...I couldn't resist sharing my delight in the project I've more or less finished during naptime today and this evening. It's something I've been meaning to get sorted for ages and now that I've got on with it, it hasn't taken too long to complete (just waiting for a delivery from Greenfibres now). Aren't the zingy colours just the thing to drive back the last blast of winter? More soon.

If this is Autumn, then bring it on!

The sun was literally winking at us from across the rooftops this morning, reflected off windows across town. It made us even more sure that today was the day for a Lakes walk.
Writing (or rather freeform drawing) on Pop's birthday card inspired a post-breakfast painting session. Maybe P should have his own Folksy shop.
We made our very winding way up past Coniston and Little Langdale to Blea Tarn and were greeted by so many gob-smacking views that you're lucky there aren't more pics here. The path looks really smooth in these images, but actually we fully tested the off-road potential of the buggies (and the mummies, we will have biceps like Fatima Whitbread at this rate) and got a flat tyre to show for it!
Brocolli soup al fresco was even better than at home last night (and no, I hadn't licked the mug clean, I used bread to mop up the last tasty dregs), especially as we insist on bringing proper mugs for soup and separate ones for redbush tea. Outdoors does not have to mean uncivilised ,although P's open air nappy change perhaps challenged that somewhat. Still, talk about a nappy change with a view, through the Scots Pines to the tarn and sunny fells beyond.
Welcome to October!