Beloved Eleanor

Ooops!  I forgot to post an Easter update of this year’s creations by the Mum.  Cue pic:

You will be pleased to know they all found new homes in time for Easter…

Just ‘cos I’m in a postcard kind of mood.

The tomb of Queens Elizabeth and Mary at Westminster Abbey.  I love tombs, and I love wandering around them at the Abbey!

Following on from tombs, here is the Guard’s memorial.  A beautiful thing, not dissimilar to the Cenotaph – at least to me!  Got to love real photo postcards too.

For some reason at the beginning of this week, for at least three nights in a row I dreamt about Venice.  Why?  I just don’t know.  I haven’t watched, read, looked at or otherwise done anything remotely involving Venice.  Yet, here we are.

I should explain my relationship with Venice, such as it is.  Years ago, I think it was when I was in my mid to late teens my maternal Aunt bought me a book called Tregaron’s Daughter by Madeleine Brent.  My Aunt, it should be said was, and is, a fabulous book and trinket supplier

Tregaron’s Daughter is a mystery story set in Cornwall and Venice.  I don’t know what it was about it exactly, as the book isn’t about to set the world on fire, (though I still love it anyway) but it instilled in me a deep desire to visit Venice myself when I was older.  By the age of 20, I had fulfilled that dream.

I visited museums and galleries, including the Basilica San Marco and the Doge’s Palace, I took boat rides – including one on a gondola – and walked the length and breadth of Venice.  Sadly, I didn’t take very many pictures, and I think they are rubbish, so I won’t include them here!  The fact is, when I left all those years ago, I didn’t feel that I needed to return.

So why now?  No idea, not a clue.  I hunted out my photos (eek), found a couple of guidebooks, and most importantly – remembered my Venetian Palazzi book – which is gorgeous indeed.  Even while writing this I remembered my Venetian mask that I bought (I was enthralled by the mask and costume shops), but it doesn’t seem to be enough.

I suppose time will tell, but I cannot see myself getting to Venice any time soon, time permitting, never mind anything else!  So, I have ordered myself a second hand copy of Tregaron’s Daughter (no idea what I did with the last one) and a DVD of Francesco’s Venice which is supposed to be very good.  All I know is that for now, my subconscious mind will have to be content.

Well you know what they say about famous last words.

Both the Mum and I really felt the loss of Gilbert the last rat, and the Rat Palace had been tidied away.  The house just wasn’t the same…

So…I arrived home from work to discover…

Namely, nine week old MacDonald, Wilberforce and Cuthbert.  Obviously the Mum was weaker than I, and went in search of them.  There was supposed to be only two left, but one had hidden himself in the pipe.

Baby ratties could warm even the coldest of hearts.

I’ve loved Marcasite for years.  I think it must be because I saw people still wearing the sparkling brooches made of it when I was a child, and just maybe I saw pieces in the jumble (junk) sales I used to be drawn to then too.

I remember when I was very young owning 1920s and 1930s handbags, necklaces and earrings.  But, they were my dress-up, so I don’t have them now.  Just goes to show how your character and taste is fixed even at that young age.

Over many years I have been gifted and bought quite a few Marcasite pieces, I have a few necklaces and earrings, but mostly rings.  As I said in a previous post, the only vintage Marcasite I have is two rings that I bought fairly recently.

Below is a group shot of my Marcasite rings, then my 1920s Deco Marcasite ring, and lastly the Marcasite ring I bought a few weeks ago.  I think this one is 1930s.

Time for another knitted update from the Mum’s latest creations.

The Mum has been busy this year, not only with her own creations, but with some commissions.  First up was a request to provide bats for sale at some bat walks in August:

She also was in a witchy mood:

and then decided to mix the bats up a little bit and go funky with different colours:

But, as they say in infomercials – that’s not all…she has been hard at work with two sets of Christmassy creatures, and two further commissions.  Watch this space when all is revealed!

If you’ve missed the other knitted news, here are some reminders:

There Be Mice In This House

Boo!

Christmas Creature Projects

Easter Chicks and Spring Frogs

After hosting the lovely Travelling Wombat in July, I’ve been keeping up with his exploits.  A little bird told me he’d been staying in Lincolnshire.

Pop over to the fabulous Duly Moated to find out!

You can see the latest at the Wombat’s Blog too.

Those of you that remember our slightly obsessional love for the Sound of Music – I had to update on the exciting news that we have managed to grow a small crop of Edelweiss in the garden this year!  Though, last years’ was probably eaten by Bert the Evil Bassett Hound.

Here is a pic of one of our cuttings, will update on the rose garden soon, all our new roses are blooming at the moment!

Well, that will get me either the very wrong, or very right readers!

Most of you will have guessed I’m actually talking about the Steam and Vintage Fair at the Castle at the weekend.

WOW.  What a turnout (thank you!), what weather, what beautiful engines/cars/motorbikes etc etc.  I loved the tractors and the organ, the silver classic fire engine!  I was even able to get out for a short while to look at all the stalls and see some of the engines take part in competitions.

I didn’t get a ride on the steam waggon (boo) or the wee red bus (double boo) which I wanted to take home in my handbag, but maybe next year!  I think this was the best turnout ever, and I’m so happy for the Steam Club, and of course for the Castle.

If you weren’t there, where the hell were you?!  You missed a great one….

Been thinking about some family friends of ours in Austria, who have now retired.  They shut up their family run hotel for the last time on the 31 March.

Wishing them a wonderful retirement, plus cue gratuitous Kitzbuehel picture.  One of my favourite parts of town the two old churches…

For those browsing elsewhere, this image is under my copyright, and content thieves will be hexed!