A Night at the Museum

Tomorrow I fly off to the UK.

And I still haven't got back into a blogging routine

and managed to visit everyone.

I usually fall behind with my blog when I'm away

and I won't have access to a computer on this trip.

I haven't even blogged all the photos from my previous trips to the UK.

So as these photos were ready and waiting for some words

I thought I would post them now.

On my Eastertime trip,

we went to a museum. ( The Hancock in Newcastle, as the link is broken).

It used to be an old fashioned one

with lots of stuffed animals.

But it has had a makeover.

With some scary additions.

I remember this T Rex from years ago.

Still a scene stealer.

I was so busy snapping away taking photos of the family,

I didn't get to see what this exhibit was.

Shame on me!

Some family fun.

I like the next two photos for their

blurryness,

and quiet interlude

in an otherwise

silly day.

Beware the Roman soldier.

And the Easter Bunny.

And a long

wait.

Little Pink Flowers and Biscuit Cake

Sunny warm weather,

which we are still enjoying here in Germany,

calls for some

light summer dresses.

I bought a couple when in the UK recently

and was so pleased with them,

I rashly went and bought a dress pattern and fabric.

The best thing is,

I've made the dress!

It must be years since I've made myself a dress,

though my daughter

got me back into sewing dresses

when she asked me to make one for her.

That was two years ago.

I made the 'ghost dress'

mentioned above,

an odd choice and some very slippery fabric it was too,

but I also made a second dress for her in some Happy Hippo fabric.

Another odd choice.

But they both looked lovely.

The best thing is though,

is that it got my daughter interested in sewing.

She still sews,

though she doesn't seem to blog much now.

I've sewn

for as long as I can remember.

Taught by both my mother and grandmother.

Sewing my own clothes all those years ago

led me to taking up patchwork.

An obvious detour

what with all the lovely scraps of fabric left over from dressmaking,

I just had to put them to good use.

Another love of mine,

is baking.

Yesterday, I decided to make some date scones.

I tend to use my food processor for the job these days.

I thought I would whip up a Victoria sponge while I was at it.

An easy cake to make,

but I thought I'd make it even easier by using the food processor

to make it even simpler and quicker,

(always important when you fancy a slice).

Unfortunately, it turned out on the thin side.

I did wonder at using the food processor for the job,

but it was one of the recipes that came with it.

So I've called it Biscuit Cake.

Sponge cake with a crunch to it.

It's still nice,

but it wouldn't win any competitions!

Well I'm off to sew some buttons on my dress now.

They are really quite tiny.

It's just a very small basket.

Sunny Days

The weather has been so HOT here in Germany!

I just had to update my blog

to something sunny.

These photos however were taken

from my recent UK visit

from a day at the seaside with the family.

My niece and grandson are inseperable when they meet up.

Here they are looking out over the North sea

after playing on the beach below.

I've been back in Germany for a week now.

But I have already booked flights for a return visit to the UK

having won some tickets for the BBC Good Food Show.

In the meantime,

I've some catching up to do with my sewing

and crocheting.

Fortunately it's a bit cooler here today

so a good time to complete my Ripple Blanket I think.

Yesterday I had to abandon it as it was so hot resting on my knee.

Hopefully I will be able to show it to you soon!

Wishing you a sunny weekend.