Wacky Birds at Christmas

December started with a bang, digging up tea bags (for a carbon study) at our local STEM center on hurricane hole, and watching the crazy antics of the local seabird population.

It's been an unusual weather month, instead of sunny, warm, tropical Florida, we have had mainly damp, gray, cloudy British-like weather days - go figure.  So for the birds this seems to mean even more fighting over food, our resident Osprey flying much lower than normal in circles over the shoreline, the normally high-flying frigate birds flying over our building, etc etc.  Even the great blue heron got into the unusual act - dropping fish, eating what appeared to be sticks and digging in the sand with his bill.  Hummmmm -- these little willets seem to be bathing in the surf.

Not to be left, the human birds got in on the Christmas crazy act.

So had to try out my crafting skills --

Christmas ornaments

and here's another Florida [orange] tree --

my first dourble-walled basket - a pressie for my sister

a much loved and knackered 1930s quilt - what do you think it will become? Watch this space . . .




 and here's me in my dreams . . .Happy 2020!

A Beachy Thanksgiving in America

Great blue heron seeking shade

Everyone is enjoying the beach this holiday as the 'bomb cyclone' wreaks havoc with wind, snow & rain up north.












Here seaplanes buzz by and the stone crab fisherman fight off the birds as they check their traps. Even the police were on the beach, lights flashing!

Mother & baby manatee seek refuge at local power plant

Mangroves

There's advertising everywhere . . . even on the beach!

And then it was time for some of us to get down to work on charity baskets, plus a spot of fun with a crochet cacus - no water or sunlight needed - ever!.

Ultralight having fun in the sun

Ups and Downs

Ups and Downs can refer to  a the many escalators and lifts in Bilbao Spain -- to get around the steep hills of the city -- and/or the rough seas of a transatlantic crossing during Hurricane Loranzo and/or the many medical evacuations on board a transatlantic crossing. We experienced all 3.

This is one of a small number of  transporter bridges (or ferry bridges) in the world; it takes passengers and vehicles and is very quick.  A transporter bridge allows larger boat traffic to pass as the bridge isn't in the way.

And here's the 1992 Jeff Koons Puppy sculpture outside the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum - it is replanted regularly. He is also responsible for the controversial 'Bouquet of Tulips' memorial sculpture in Paris (note this is not his first Tulip design).

Finally, here's my latest crafting . . . the basket got a lot admiring comments as I completed it on board ship - a great place for basketry as there is plenty of water, towels, tables and fresh air!

And the fish made at the local basket guild - I like to leave the ends a bit ragged like a real fish, but one could cut them all to be even & tidy.

novice Printmaking

beeswax wraps made with my special quilting friends

Tag blankets & teething rings made for new family babies!

my new storm door - turtle friendly!

And from a local seniors retirement home Halloween competition - what one can do with a slinky - I sure hope it won first prize!!

And of course after Tropical Storm Nestor with high winds, kite surfers and a lot of high surf,  a giant TV advertising crazy beach activities! 

Broadstairs - Then & Now

In my 17th July post I mentioned a Facebook advert being filmed right under our noses on the beach - it is on Youtube - click here. You may realise they didn't pick the sunniest of days ... and the shots we saw them take are not in this clip!

And then I found this 1957 filming of a seaside vacation - taken in our town! Click to watch "The Big Gamble" (now what does that tell you?) on BBC iplayer here. I love the men on the beach in suit and tie!

facebook.com/broadstairshistory

Photo by Bill Harris Isle of Thanet News

On Thursday night (12th September), we went to a fun book launch with local author, Jane Wenham-Jones, who sets her novels in our town, so we are becoming famous!! Mini me made and won her first charity auction bid for a piece of nostalgia on the local funicular or cliff railway.

We've had a lovely visit with our nephew and toured St Albans Cathedral and Town Hall, now  a museum, with a textile exhibition - how wonderful was that!?!

Sheep on hill by Alison White, sheepythings.com

More textile fun at Corby's Tea Rooms in Ramsgate









Around town we had the 2019 Hartley Boasts Contender National Championships, windy wave-making weather and more shipping into the Thames. And of course the local ginger cat tempting fate on the cliff edge (can you spot him right?). And tonight (16 Sept) we can see the lights of France on the horizon!

Tweet from Floorballmag

Off to make beeswax wraps this weekend.

Back on warmer beaches across the pond, a fish feeding frenzy on the 12th September - Jack Cravel fish chasing smaller baitfish creating a boil and stranding themselves on the beach.  Watch Richard Caya's video here.

But these fish, didn't hear our local bandstand music  ENJOY YOURSELF - love this 1949 classic tune as true today --

You work and work for years and years, you're always on the go.    
You never take a minute off, too busy makin' dough.
Someday you say, you'll have your fun, when you're a millionaire.    
Imagine all the fun you'll have in your old rockin' chair.

 Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think.

    Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink.

    The years go by, as quickly as a wink.

    Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think.

You're gonna take that ocean trip, no matter come what may.
You've got your reservations made, but you just can't get away.
Next year for sure, you'll see the world, you'll really get around,
But how far can you travel when you're six feet underground?

Your heart of hearts, your dream of dreams, your ravishing brunette,
She's left you and she's now become somebody else's pet.
Lay down that gun, don't try my friend to reach the great beyond.
You'll have more fun by reaching for a redhead or a blond.

    Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think.
    Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink.
    The years go by, as quickly as a wink.
    Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think.

You never go to night clubs and you just don't care to dance.
You don't have time for silly things like moonlight and romance.
You only think of dollar bills tied neatly in a stack,
But when you kiss a dollar bill, it doesn't kiss you back.

    Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think.
    Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink.
    The years go by, as quickly as a wink.
    Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think.

----- Additional verses found in other versions -----

Another birthday's here and gone, you've turned another page,
And suddenly you realize that you've reached middle age.
Just think of all the fun you've missed; it makes you kind of sad
It's better to have had your wish than to have wished you had.

You worry when the weather's cold, you worry when it's hot,
You worry when you're doing well, you worry when you're not,
It's worry, worry, all the time, you don't know how to laugh.
They'll think of something funny when they write your epitaph.

You love somebody very much, you want to set the date,
But money doesn't grow on trees so you decide to wait.
You're so afraid that you might bite off more than you can chew
Don't be afraid; you won't have teeth when you reach 92!

Oh, to be British . . . Part II - Peak District

balebreaker - step 1

Over the late August bank holiday, we were fortunate enough to visit relatives around the Peak District.

Given mini me's crafting, a visit to Masson Mills Working Textile [Cotton] Museum was in order.  Masson Mill was built in 1783 by Sir Richard Arkwright, known as the 'Father of the Factory System" (which may come as a surprise to my American readers). The big takeaway is just how noisy, dirty (amazing the cotton fabric came out clean!), and dangerous the work was, employing children from the age of 6. Several YouTube videos show the 17 & 18 century equipment working.

Rule from Factories Act of 1937

Wide range of products

shuttles -dangerous if jump track
travel 60 to >100 mph

Doubling Room - yup ...
wound strands together to form thread 

Spinning Mule combined the Spinning Jenny+Water Frame worked by barefoot mule spinners

with kids crawling underneath to collect the cotton waste.

1804 Jacquard Loom allowing weaving of complex patterns
see the paper punch card to define the pattern

fancy these steps?

We also visited Tissington Village.

Tissington is known for its "Well Dressing" festival in the Spring and 'olde worlde' village type feel.

The Hall/House was built in 1609, the original family still live there, and you can stay in one of the outbuildings.

Our last visit was to the recently opened to the public Wentworth House (1693 onward), was the home of the Fitzwilliam family and the largest private residence in the UK - larger than Buckingham Palace. It is two co-joined houses - the east front (1734) at this time is totally under scaffolding to repair the roof - hence this picture of the  model below.

The book Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty by Catherine Bailey tells the story of Britain's richest aristocratic family who built their fortune from coal mining.

Click here for a short summary of the book & family.

The West front (1725) - incorporating the original 1693 house
this Baroque style fell out of favour before it was finished

1946 open-cast coal mining right up to the house
pre-war mining was underground

Lots of activity out our window back on the Kent coast - The Hartley Boats Contender National Championships for sailing boats, cruise ship Silver Spirit sailing in a figure of 8 whilst getting a pilot on board to sail up the Thames and dock at Greenwich, cargo ships plying their trade, and a local lobster fisherman pulling pots reminiscent of a stone crab fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico!