Exploring

Hello

Thanks for popping in.

We've been on an exciting new walk today which I'm going to share with you as I just know you'll love it too.  It's always good to do a bit of internet research before you head off and just by chance I came across this particular circular walk on an Inn's website, the Mill House Inn in North Warnborough in Hampshire, which was brilliant as it meant we had somewhere to park the car. Boots stashed, off we went.

Isn't it a glorious spot, a mill on the River Whitewater, even better, as we set off, we knew we were coming back 3 miles later.

Walking round the front of the building, we could see it was quite large, down the lane we scooted.

Past a house with a couple of pretty stained glass Windows, sparkling in the sun.

Round the corner, a little stream made its way through the grassy green, a child and its Mum throwing sticks in and watching them joggle swiftly along.

 The stream led to a large puddle in the road, a ford. It looked quite deep, would my car have been able to drive through? Not with me driving 😁

Walking through a couple of gates past a few cottages, strange signs began to appear.

Over a cattle grid and then . . .

Eek! Not the chicken zone! Would we be safe?

Phew! The chickens were all cooped up, strutting about behind the fence, looking for a snack.

Pressing on, clumps of snowdrops caught  our eye but then, over the fence . . .

. . .  were these.

Highland cow's. Aren't they scrumptious!  I'll leave you in the field till tomorrow when we'll carry on with our walk. Hope you brought a tent.

Mooo

Cheerio

New Ashgate Gallery Farnham

Hello

Lovely to see you.

With Farnham being a craft town with lots of history in that area, it's nice to be able to appreciate the work of contemporary artists in the New Ashgate Gallery which, despite looking really modern, has been open for over 50 years. You can shop as well.

There are all sorts of things to see with exhibitions changing regularly, from jewellery to textiles, ceramics to paintings.

By David Mayne

By Jane Muir

By Trevor Price

Colourful scarves

Have a look at the link above to see and buy items from your own home, saves all that travelling!

Cheerio

Five on Friday - Flowers

Hello

Thanks for calling in, always wonderful to see you.  We're all set for another Five on Friday thanks to the link set up by Amy at Love Made My Home.

Despite the weather losing its freezing edge, it's still a little grey and overcast so this week I've tracked down some pretty flowers to give us all a boost of colour. The bulbs are shooting up almost ready to put on a good show.

This gorgeous pansy was in a trough on the bridge over the River Wey in Farnham

Such a sunny smiley face

Finally, here's a mosaic of life in the garden, we haven't really looked at it for ages as there's been nothing very exciting to show you. 

Wishing you all a very pleasant week and sending my thanks for all your thoughtful messages which always make me smile.

Cheerio

Farnham Backstreets

Hello

Thanks for visiting.

Although I've shown you around Farnham before, I can't resist showing you a few more pretty streets. It's  surprising how narrow and passage-like some of the roads are. You just think you have walked down a dead end, when you notice a small gap which turns into a lane with lovely colourful houses and gardens.  The lanes and roads have great names like Long Garden Walk, Church Passage known as Streaky Bacon Lane, Ball and Wicket Lane, Hoghatch Lane.

St Andrews is one of the largest churches in Surrey

Around the town, a public art trail highlights some of the history of this craft town which might otherwise go unnoticed.

William Cobbett, Author, MP, founder of Hansard was born in the town and is remembered by a bronze statue created by Sheila Mitchell. 

Hidden in a courtyard is a sculpture of The Matriarch by Ben Franklin.

To mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee, this mosaic shows different aspects of the town.

This replica Roman millstone is made from lava and was presented to Farnham by Andernach, a town in Germany, to mark the occasion of the twinning of both towns and is a sign of peace, prosperity and bread.

The North Downs Way long distance footpath

This representation of Drake's ship The Golden Hind by Thomas Elsely of London, is on top of the town hall buildings. There's another weathervane in the Lion and Lamb shopping yard, this time the Mary Rose, Henry VIIIs flagship which was raised at the same time as the shopping centre was built.

As well as some interesting pubs to see, there's also the castle keep to explore on the top of the hill.

Such a pretty name for a pub and on Long Garden Walk too.

Castle keep, lovely views over the town

But I've already mentioned the castle in a previous blog post, see the Farnham label above.

All in all a very pretty town worth a visit.

Cheerio

Kate Jenkins

Hello

Thanks for visiting.

You might have heard about textile artist and knitwear designer Kate Jenkins as she's exhibited all over the world and has collaborated with many well known designers and brands ranging from Boden, Hunter, Kate Spade, Ralph Lauren, Penguin Books, Tesco, Prudential Insurance as well as many others.  I first heard of her work when she crocheted a stunning fish shop display for the Knitting and Stitching Show in London.  The detail and portrayal of all types of fish in crochet on glass ice was astonishing and took nine months to make.

Her exhibition at Unravel in Farnham as well as her talk gave us an insight into her work and projects and sometimes the speed needed to crochet an item to get it ready for her client.

Kate graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Fashion Textiles. She takes a humorous look at everyday items and brands and reproduces them in wool and sequins with a comic twist.  Her website is currently under construction but to see more of her work have a look at this link.

Cheerio

Unravel 2017

Hello

Thanks for calling in.

Unravel - a Festival of Knitting - took place in Farnham over the weekend, this is the 9th year it's been on and it's the first year I've noticed it was on and visited.

Farnham Maltings was crammed full of wool in all the colours of the rainbow and more. A bunch of excited ladies were thrilled as they jostled from stall to stall imagining all the things they would make. There were talks and workshops too,  How does Knitting in the Round with Woolly Wormhead or Stranded Knitting with Juju Vail sound? I know.

You sock knitters would have gone wild with the choice and would have socks coming out of your ears with all the temptation.

Yarnbombs outside the venue

Janie Crow had a stand displaying her beautiful designs

Sincerely Louise with her woolly taxidermy

Fabulous textures from the magazine Selvedge. Do zoom in, it's all fantastic and costs a fortune.

Most wool sold was in hanks like those at the front

La La With Love Recycled & Sustainable Yarns

Part of the knitted bird display

In case you're keen to see the list of exhibitors, here's a link. I went to the talk by Kate Jenkins which I'll tell you about next time.

Cheerio

Five on Friday -Winter at Wisley Garden

Hello again!

Thanks for visiting especially as it's Five on Friday, Amy at Love Made My Home has organised another link-up over on her blog which you'll be able to see if you click on the link. Thanks Amy. 😊

Thanks also to my dear friend for taking me to Wisley Gardens this week for a great mooch and a natter.  Here are my five from this impressive Royal Horticultural Garden, still asleep for the Winter but with buds and bulbs getting ready to bloom.

Woodland Flowers

The Spring bulbs are starting to push through the ground. The hellebores and snowdrops were looking beautiful but in a couple of weeks, you won't be able to move for crocuses.

Weather

A warmer day greeted us and hundreds of others who were all set to see the butterflies fluttering in the glass house, a special event for half term.  Later in the day, the skies grew grey, light rain fell and a rainbow shone over the RHS Wisley buildings. Henry Moore's King and Queen surveyed the lake trying to decide on a swim or not.

Weird Wonders

Colourful metal flowers popped up in the flower beds, a prelude to the anticipated real ones.

Bamboo

The small gardens and beds had been tidied and reorganised ready for the growing season. In fact a lot of construction work was underway, however some specimens had their time to shine before all the colour breaks through again. This bamboo caught my eye with its striking stems.

Shop

Last of all, you have to have a look round the gift shop and at the plant sales.  Something for everyone.

Have a good week.

Cheerio