At last summer has come to North Devon. We've had misty mornings followed by glorious warm sunny days and it's as if nature is apologising for the dreadful summer that it put as through this year - and last. Unusually my birthday yesterday was hot and sunny, a very rare occurence. It's usually grey and dank. This took the awful edge off what is a fast descent towards the big 60. I had a lazy day. A leisurely shower and then half hour arranging the gorgeous bouquet that OH bought for me. Sadly my floristry skills are no great shakes but the flowers speak for themselves.
Then off to the nature reserve for a walk with Minnie. Just as we were coming to the gate I spied a very large fox over to the side of the path. He was looking away from us and we got quite close, then Minnie's lead jangled and he was off. I don't know why I was surprised because I know there are lots of foxes about but this was the first one I have seen in town and a very handsome chap he was too.
In the afternoon L and I had a wander into town. Saturday afternoon used to be the time for the world and his wife to socialise in Bideford. I can remember it taking all afternoon to get from one end of town to the other, stopping to chat and catch up. Now lots of the shops close early.
I'm getting very excited because the kiln fund is nearly there thanks mostly to selling off all my craft equipment that requires lots of space. The stained glass stuff sold very well on Ebay and now I'm waiting for some Metalcraft tools to sell, then I can go ahead and order the kiln. Hopefully when the auction runs out on Tuesday I will have enough to proceed.
In a fit of defiance against age I bought myself a pair of plum suede walking boots, apologies to PFG, not being a copy cat really. There was a choice between plum and brown. L was horrified.
9 comments:
I have plum walking boot envy.
Very many happy returns Toady, you sound as if you have a lot to look forward to.
I seem to have missed out on a few of your blogs. What are you after a kiln for? I know you are into glass, are you now going to do hot glass projects, slumping and the like??
Happy Birthday, by the way.
Hi LWB,
I'm looking to have a go at enamelling and a bit of glass fusing.
60 isn't so bad Toady, love the boots, I have just bought my first pair of DM's although they are deep brown. Getting the fog and mist in Dorset also but turned out sunny at last, hope you get the kiln soon.
Hello Toady,
I just love those bears at the top of your post!
Sounds as if you really had a fine birthday ... doing things that you like in a beautiful place.
Well done on the ebay redistribution of equipment. I know that you will enjoy exploring the kiln's possibilities when you get it.
What you wrote about chatting with folks along the route of a walk reminds me of what I can sometimes encounter just walking from my apartment building to the corner of my street. It continues to amaze me that I can have many "nodding, or hello ... how are you ... or isn't it a beautiful day" sort of conversations with folks. I don't know the names of most of them, but we have all been walking down the same sidewalks for years and do observe this pleasant civilized custom. Really softens the urban landscape!
xo
Hi Toady, happy birthday and will you ever be able to use those boots for walking? They do look rather swish.
hi there, happy birthday and do l love those boots!
Love that last line! Well you can still surprise him then. Glad you had a sunny birthday for a change.
My sister has been in Barnstaple all weekend. She was saying how lovely the weather has been. It's a gorgeous sunny day her today, even up north!!
CJ xx
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