Quite a few things to smile about this week. Firstly a visit to Leek just to have a wander around as we usually just pass through on our way elsewhere. I've always liked Leek as a town it has a lot of interesting, historic buildings and seems to have a good community spirit. We enjoyed coffee at the Foxlowe Arts centre and looking at the exhibitions upstairs which were linked to the embroidery exhibition in the Nicholson Museum and Art Gallery and also at various churches around the district. Both town exhibitions were well worth a visit, I'd now like to visit some of the churches involved, and we learnt quite a bit about the local silk dyeing industries and the amazing ability of the women members of the Leek Embroidery Society and the links their founder had with the Arts and Crafts movement. More information here
Above are random photos taken around Leek including an olive tree in Getliffes Yard, a wooden carved fox at the rear of the Foxloe Arts Centre, the Nicholson War Memorial, the Market Square and an exhibit in the Nicholson Museum and Art Gallery.
On Saturday we we lucky to have almost our own fly past by the 'City of Lincoln' Lancaster Bomber which was apparently on its way to Blackpool as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It seemed to circle around the houses before it went off on its way. Paul got far better photos than I did and he posted about it on his blog
Why is it that cats love to choose strange places to snooze. Chloe has a bit of a shoe fetish (she can often be found with her head in a shoe or slipper) she also loves rolling on and 'stropping' the door mats which by their very nature are usually dusty and dirty - the two combined were absolute bliss for her over the weekend. Still, if the cats are happy then so am I.
It was lovely surprise to receive a huge bouquet of flowers from my neighbour as a thank you for looking after her cat and watering her garden whilst she was on holiday. I now have to decide whether to keep them together or to split them up into two or three vases. I think I may separate them as there are a couple of roses in there plus some lilies and alstroemeria which may not open properly as they are squashed against the other flowers.
Linking up with Little Birdie where '52 weeks of Happy' started. Each week you find just four things that have made you happy to share.
Lovely happy moments, and your cat is doing exactly what she loves. My dog loves hiding things in shoes to the point that we have to empty them before we put them on! What a lovely neighbour you have xx
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky to have good neighbours. We leave our shoes near both back and front doors and I always check them for creepy crawlies before I put them on especially in summer when I have bare feet:)
DeleteI love Leek - I often think it would be a perfect town to live in - and so close to such gorgeous countryside. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteI think so too, so close to so many lovely places and so much going on to get involved in:)
DeleteNow I've never visited the Arts Centre - sounds great and the embroidery sounds fascinating. Have a lovely week ahead x Jane
ReplyDeleteIt was a fascinating exhibition - it's there until mid September I think. So much lovely work and also histories and photos of the women who did the work which is good as so often they go unrecorded:)
DeleteGorgeous flowers, and what a nice thought.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely thought - I now have three vases full around the house and it is lovely to see them:)
DeleteLeek sounds interesting. I do like seeing the Lancaster, it's about one of the only planes I do like to see! I would be delighted to see it fly over my house. And the flowers are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThere is something special about the older planes. We usually get the spitfire too because Reginald Mitchell who designed it came from here so there is that connection:)
DeleteHow great to have the Lancaster fly so close to your house! I still haven't visited the Foxlowe Centre - I keep meaning to, but despite living on the edge of Leek, I rarely actually visit it!
ReplyDeleteThe Foxlowe was lovely and the coffee and scones were cheaper there than most places - amazing that it is all run by volunteers:)
DeleteCats love the smell of shoes but if it is too smelly, they also use them for a cat litter box - speaking from experience.
ReplyDeleteLol, Ruth - haven't had that happen yet but I must watch our for it - they have used indoor plant pots before now:)
DeleteMy husband would have loved to have seen that Lancaster bomber fly by! His uncle was the pilot of a Halifax bomber during the war. Sadly, he was shot down over Belgium and all the crew were killed.
ReplyDeleteOur cat likes to sleep on cardboard. They are very strange creatures!
The sound of the Lancaster was just amazing I was trying to imagine what it would have been like watching loads of them take off on missions during WW2. So many sad stories of those who didn't return. Our cats like a good cardboard box too:)
DeleteAh missed the bomber, what a shame. I find Leek a pleasant town, some nice shops and buildings.
ReplyDeleteThere are some super shops in Leek aren't there? Shame you didn't see the Lancaster it was quite something:)
DeleteA lovely post Rosie. Leek looks like a very interesting place to visit. Chloe has such a pretty face. Gizmo loves shoes, slippers and feet too! The flowers were a thoughful gift from your neighbour. I think I would split them into their 3 colour families!!! x
ReplyDeleteExactly what I have done, Simone. I've put all the yellow ones together with the greenery and then put the red and white in separate vases:)
DeleteI've never been to Leek but it look a nice place - I really must get out of my own county more and do a bit of exploring. Thank goodness for good neighbours looking after things whilst we are away - the flowers are lovely. How is it that cats can look comfortable wherever they sleep?
ReplyDeleteLeek is an interesting town and it's so close to many other lovely places. I wish I could curl up and snooze in comfort like a cat:)
DeleteI've always fancied a trip to Leek and I do believe there is quite a large antique centre somewhere there which I would love to look at. How wonderful to have that fly past, we'd have loved to have seen that. Good neighbours, can't be beaten, lovely flowers! x
ReplyDeleteSuzy, Leek is noted as an antiques town. There are two huge antique centres in what look like old factory buildings and there are loads of smaller antique shops plus a flea market - not sure what day - too:)
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