Lovely time with a very dear friend

Before I start - my 'first year of blogging' giveaway is now winging its way to 'That Girl'. I hope you find the diary useful!

I have just had a wonderful time catching up with a dear friend I have known just about all my life. Our paths do not cross that often now as we live at opposite ends of the country, but when I am 'down south' I do try and get together with her. We lived next door to each other in our childhood and then she moved just a few doors away. We now both have grown up families of a similar age, so there was lots to catch up on, and it was so nice that she could visit us for a few days.

I couldn't be there to meet her from the station, as I was at a choral society rehearsal for an event that evening, so J was on train and looking after duty until we met for a pizza before the concert. The concert was made up of choral parts and solos from Handel's Messiah, followed by 'Gloria' from John Rutter. It all felt very Christmassy, especially as the church was decked with over 40 trees as part of the Christmas Charity Tree festival.

We did a lot of chatting, eating, drinking, walking and shopping over the five days she was with us. Such good quality time together, it was great. The weather was also kind so we could get out and about. We did local walks with the dog, and also walked in Geltsdale, which is north Cumbria and finished our walk at the 'Duke of Cumberland' in Castle Carrock for lunch.

[Unfortunately I slipped on some mud on the way round, and since my friend has gone home I have had to go to the physio for some treatment!]

The next day was glorious, blue skies but rather nippy as the temperature had dropped, and we went to Blackwell, The Arts and Crafts House close to Bowness on Windermere. Coffee first, of course, then onto the house - it is absolutely stunning now it has been fully restored, and the christmas decorations are wonderful. There were several exhibitions in the upstairs rooms and I particularly enjoyed the Arts and Craft Enamel. We couldn't take photos inside the building but here are a few from the outside.

beautiful blue sky

frosty leaf

Welcoming door

Loved this down spout

View towards the mountains from the grounds

View of Lake Windermere from the grounds

Then on to Windermere and the huge Lakeland store where we had lunch before spending time looking around at all the things we never knew that we needed! We ended up buying several stocking presents:) Outside was a huge Christmas tree - all very festive.

On the craft front, I bought some material whilst on holiday in France recently. Some beautiful linen in reds and blues from a shop in Narbonne. I have been waiting to make a little present for my friend, and as she has recently bought a Kindle - the red linens were perfect to make her a Kindle cosy. So one evening we set to and made it - which she loves :) It was great to have someone else around to take photos!

lovely linen

lining material - we used the far right

designing as I went along!

I have also finished a couple of door stops that a friend had asked if I would make for her, she has a young kitten and it keeps getting shut in rooms, so hopefully they should come in very handy. - so all in all a very busy time.

Now back to the Christmas countdown, eek! still lots to do, but at a slower pace due to my silly injury!
Hope all your preparations are going well :)