Photo Scavenger Hunt: February 2016

The end of the month means Scavenger Hunt time, organised as always by Greenthumb. We managed to get out and about a bit more during February so most of the photos were taken on our travels. Here's my entry.

Green: This friendly lion is becoming green and weathered with age.

2: No 2 truck, 'Invincible', at Tatton Park.

Cool: It wasn't just cool this particular morning: it was flipping freezing!

Somewhere you went: Tatton Park.

Up: Carousel horses go up and down.

Frame: Stripped of its petals and seeds, you can see the spiky frame of the allium.

From a low angle: Beautiful hellebores taken from a low angle so that you can see the detail inside their nodding heads.

On the shelf: Funnily enough, I think this was the hardest category. In the end, I settled on one of my shelves of mugs. Please ignore the dust.

Writing: Difficult to read but it says, 'The purest and most thoughtful minds, Are those which most love Color'.

Inside: Inside one of the glass houses at Tatton Park.

Line: Lines of coins embedded in a tree trunk.

Shape: Big or small, nests are usually circular in shape.

If you head over to the Scavenger Hunt site, you can see all the other entries and how differently we each interpret the categories.

I have to say I'm glad to see the back of February. Not that it was a terrible month but it always signals that the nights are getting lighter and Spring is finally on its way. Of course, Easter is also in March this year so that also means a break from work :-)

Elf and Kirigami update 5

It's time for an update on the kirigami but, first, I couldn't resist showing you a photo of Elf. He's my friend's new puppy and he's just so cute and full of mischief. Rugs, skirting boards, shoelaces and unsuspecting teddies - nothing is safe! For the dog people out there, he's a Sheprador - a cross between a German Shepherd and a Labrador.

But enough of the cuteness, here's my kirigami from the last couple of weeks. I had a revelation half way through that it's much easier and neater to cut with a sharp craft knife than a blunt one - who knew! Oh, I have some news at the end too :)

15 February

16 February

17 February

18 February

19 February

20/21 February

22 February

Yes, this one is a mess. It's meant to be some kind of weaving technique but the instructions were so poor, I couldn't make head nor tail of it.

23 February

24 February

25 February

26 February

27/28 February

We're having a quiet weekend, partly because I'm full of a cold. It hasn't stopped me baking warming pumpkin streusel pie though. Yum!

I'll also be doing some research for our holiday. Yes, I've booked a holiday! We'll be staying in a cottage in Alnwick, Northumberland and I'm so excited, dreaming of all the wonderful sights we're going to see: Alnwick Castle and gardens, Bamburgh Castle, Lindisfarne, Cragside. How am I going to wait until June? Let me know if you've visited that area and if there are any other things we must see or do. Enjoy your weekend. xx

Scarecrow Festival

A warm welcome to Tatton Park and the annual Scarecrow Festival! After missing it last year, I couldn't wait to visit and to finally emerge into the fresh air after weeks of relentless grey skies and rain.

The theme this year was Roald Dahl as it's 100 years since his birth. At the entrance to the gardens, we were met by characters from James and the Giant Peach.

The gardens are looking pretty bare at this time of year but there was a splash of colour from rows of daffodils.

The kitchen garden seemed even more empty but luckily there were plenty of scarecrows waiting to be discovered...

Hello from Esio Trot!

All of the Dahl scarecrows had an information board with a quote from the relevant book and an activity for children. Of course, some grown-ups felt the need to take part too ;-)

You wouldn't want to meet the girl with the Magic Finger on a dark night!

Luckily, Matilda was far more friendly looking.

We laughed at the children putting on their best grumpy faces with George and his marvellous medicine :)

We tried to stretch ourselves as high as we could like this character from The Twits.

And we nodded in agreement to these wise words from The Witches: 'It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like as long as somebody loves you'

'Tell the person beside you one thing you love about them and see them smile' was the activity on this board. Chickpea is always sunny-tempered whereas I give great cuddles :-)

Fantastic Mr Fox challenged us to a digging contest. We passed on this one as everyone knows 'nobody in the world can dig as quick as a fox'.

In the lush greenery of the fernery, we met a larger-than-life fellow...

'I is the only nice and jumbly Giant in Giant Country! I is the BIG FRIENDLY GIANT! I is the BFG...what is your name?'

Chickpea was in no doubt that I'd be the Restless Giant! Hmm, must try harder at this relaxing malarkey.

It wouldn't be difficult to relax in the peace and tranquility of the Japanese gardens.

Last but not least, I couldn't resist showing you this one. Is it me or does she look like she desperately needs the loo! It did make me laugh.

This is about the 3rd time we've visited the Scarecrow Festival and it's one of our favourite events. It's on until tomorrow if you fancy a visit.

Hope you're having a good weekend. We're having a quiet one today but are going to dinner with the family of Chickpea's boyfriend tomorrow as it's his birthday. Enjoy yourself whatever you have planned.  x

Kirigami update 4

8 February

There's been a bit of a theme going on with the Kirigami calendar this week. Anyone would think it was Valentine's Day today. Yes, it's hearts all round.

9 February: Well, except for this one which was teaching a new technique of folding back. I decided to use some of my own paper as I wasn't sure that the usual calendar paper with instructions on the other side would work very well. Could do with more contrast but an interesting design.

10 February: More backfolding but I didn't think the pattern worked particularly well - there's just far too much going on.

11 February: Back to the usual scissor and craft knife technique. My craft knife skills still need work - it's really hard cutting through lots of layers and keeping the edges looking neat. I hope I'm not still saying this on day 365!

12 February: More backfolding but I have to say I prefer the cut techniques much better.

13/14 February: Last one of the week and the first 3D design. I liked this one but enough with the hearts!

This week was an exciting one as a parcel of goodies arrived! I was the winner of the lovely Kezzie's giveaway, the first one I've ever won. The thrill of peeling back the layers of tissue paper! It felt like Mary Poppins' bottomless bag as present after present emerged from the box.

Look at all this! Thank you, thank you Kezzie for such generosity.

Yesterday we ventured into the fresh air to the Scarecrow Festival at Tatton Park. I'll be posting about it later in the week when I've managed to sort through all the photos. Here's a happy chap as a taster though. If you're off for half-term and fancy a visit, it's on until next Sunday. x