Wales pictures

It was my dad's birthday a couple of weeks ago (his 60th... shhhh) and as a treat we all went to Wales for a long weekend and stayed in a lovely cottage in Harlech.

Here are some photo's of the trip:

I had ONE job for the whole trip.... BRING THE CAKE.
What did I do?.... FORGOT THE CAKE! DOH!  Thank god for Sainsbury's and football cakes!

Daddy liked the cake.... I think.

Somehow got two pics of the dogs with their tongues out! (This is Tammy)

This is Emma

Tammy, Dad and Rob

Me on the beach

Tom rescuing Lucy from sinking sand.  Emma being nosey.

Ffestiniog railway

Me keeping warm

Bringing purple tights to Wales

Doggies asleep and looking cute

I actually got sunburned on the second day (shocking) on the beach.  October in Wales and it was boiling!  

My doggies had the best time ever, swimming and sleeping. 

xx

knitting things!

I've finally got some knitting to show you guys.
I've knitted this baby pattern for a friend of a friend:

attern and yarn

All finished!

 

Now that I've finished that, I'm knitting something for myself (even though I already have a crochet blanket and a knitted cowl on the go).
This aran cardigan:

Aran cardigan

I'm knitting it in a dark greenish colour.  I'm sure it'll take me ages but I don't care!

I'm also loving these cardigans at the moment. (ravelry links under each pic)

LINK

LINK

More knitting for ME is on the cards I think!

xxxx

Wednesday wantings (20)

Wednesday wantings: 20

1. Owl hottie
2. Cutie dress
3. Bee/insect house
4. Birdie's like toast too
5. Slouch cardi

I've just ordered the spotty jeans in last week's Wednesday wantings.  I'm very excited for them to arrive.  I love getting [nice] things in the post. 
This past year, the wildlife in my garden has really kicked off.  So many birds and butterfly's etc.  I saw the insect house and bird feeder (no. 3 and 4) on folksy and LOVE them.  What a great way to put old bread to use, and also a great way to save the bee's.  Did you know bumble bee's are dying out?  IT'S NOT GOOD!

No.5 represents how much I love cardigans at the moment.  I have quite a few, but I want/need more.  I will no doubt be wearing two at a time again this winter.  An owl hottie in my pocket might keep me a bit warmer though (no. 1).  Work is cold already, I wear my coat all day!


xxx

Wednesday Wantings (19)

Wednesday wantings: 19

1. PomPom mits
2. Unicorn jumper
3. PomPom hat
4. Kitty slippers
5. Dotty jeans
6. More PomPom mits

IT IS WINTER!  YIKES!  How cold is it please?  I'm sat here with my pajama pants tucked in my socks, slippers and a hoody... and I'm still cold!

If any of you are wondering why I haven't posted for a while.... I've been on a little holiday.  I will put pics up soon.  I went to Wales for my dads birthday, it was brilliant, but now I'm back so blogging will commence as per usual.

I've tried these jeans on (no. 5) and I think I'm going to get them!  I only own one pair of jeans (people find that shocking) so I do need another pair.  The unicorn jumper from Topshop (no. 2) is so cute.  I think it's cropped though, which I do not want for winter.  I'll see what it looks like in real life, I could maybe get a big size so it's a slouch.

The pom pom mittens are cute (no. 1 and no. 6).  I think I'll knit some this year.  I also need to knit a new pair of fingerless mittens for work, I nearly froze today! 


xx

ModCloth

I'm sure most of you are aware of ModCloth.com.  It has a mix of vintage, retro, and just awesome clothes and bric-a-brac.  I often feature something from ModCloth in my Wednesday Wanting posts.  I have never ordered anything from them before, but I think I might ask for money for Christmas (my god, why am I even thinking about Christmas already?) to order a couple of things I want.

This is what I like at the moment (though they update daily!):

Critters Cardigan

 

The 'Critters Cardigan' is so sweet.  Cozy enough for winter, but I wear cardigans all year round, this would still look cute over a vest top.  Plus, I love yellow, but I find it hard to wear (I have slightly yellow skin tone) so the little bits of yellow on it are perfect.

Brolly leggings

I love leggings/tights with cute prints on like this.  I have cat ones similar, but these umbrella ones make me smile.  I wear my denim shorts all year round with tights, I can picture myself wearing these!

Little shoe boots

Cute little shoe boots.  They make me feel all autumny and would look cute with skinny jeans and some chunky knitwear.

Cute cotton spool for earphones

Blue coat front

Blue coat back

Kitty dress

I very nearly purchased a dress almost identical to this from a shop called 'Select' which is right by where I work.  But I didn't.  It had an elasticated waist which I think would have caused issues when I'm stretching and lifting at work.  This one, however, is nicer and more practical. 

If only I had much more money and a much larger wardrobe!



xxxx

Wednesday Wantings (18)

Wednesday wantings (18)

1. Kitty blouse
2. Cute cardigan
3. Fairisle dress
4. Heart print dress
5. Ikea chair

I NEED A NEW CHAIR!  This computer chair I'm sitting on right now, seriously hurts my bum.  I've had it for 5 years mind, and I do love it... but it's gotta go!  I love this one I've found from IKEA (no. 5).  I might go and try it out, it'll have to pass my 'chair test' as I always sit here with my feet up on the chair, if I'm not comfy like that.... the chair will not do!

I love the sheer kitty blouse (no.1) and it would be a definite purchase if it wasn't for the puffy sleeve/shoulder bit.  I have very narrow shoulders, and these puffy sleeves that are in fashion look really odd on me.  It would be perfect for the odd occasion when I have to dress smart for work.  If anyone knows of a similar blouse without the puff, please let me know. 

xx

Animalarium

Have you heard of the Animalarium? 
I hadn't, but I found a flyer for it in the hotel we stayed in.  I thought 'oh wow!  we should go here on the way back home to Liverpool.'  So we did.  It advertised loads of different animals that had once been pets, but the owners could no longer look after them, and many that are 'wild' animals.
Seriously guys, there was a leopard there!  A LEOPARD!  It used to be someones pet, poor thing. 
Anyway, I took some photo's, there where loads of monkeys, birds, goats, emu's etc.... But it was the wild cats that shocked me the most:

 

Ugly turkey

Really sad looking owl

 

A LYNX!

This goat was my favourite

Happy goat

 

kookaburra bird.  I remember these from when I was in Australia.

I couldn't get a decent photo of the Leopard, as he doesn't like humans and hides a lot in the corner.  Whilst walking round the Animalarium, it made me kind of sad.  The animals didn't appear to be miss-treated in any way at all, but they all seemed so sad.  Some of the animals are exotic, and should be in warm climates, but they're stuck on a cold coast of Wales in a cage, it just didn't seem right.  For some reason, the place cannot call it's self a Zoo, which is why it's called the Animalarium.  I just wanted better for all these animals really.  In theory, I don't agree with Zoo's of any kind, but I get that a lot of animals brought up in this way would not survive in the wild.  From what I gathered there is some sort of court case going on regarding the leopard, Rajah, as he doesn't have the right paper work to legally be staying at the Animalarium.  The poor cat has been through a lot of distress when 'the animal bailiffs' have tried to get him in a cage, I just want him to be settled somewhere and maybe have a friend to play with. 
Only after coming home and Google-ing did I find out that the leopard had been on the news and is quite a big deal!  I will follow his sad story to find out where he ends up. 

Anyway, that all seemed very depressing, but I did have a nice day!! 
Finally I took a photo of the lovely yarn I purchased from Wales:

Pretty Welsh yarn!

I have put it with a school boy grey yarn to stripe it and make a cowl/snood for autumn.  I love it so much, this photo doesn't do the colours justice.  It feels so soft and is made from bamboo and other animal friendly fibers. 


xxx