Casting A Line

  It was so good to shake out the sails and have a happy little sail up and down the river Medina in our little yacht. The breeze started as a North Westerly, then veered around to a South Westerly so ideal for both directions. We even made over 4knots of speed at windy corner!
 Back on our mooring after a picnic lunch I decided to get the fishing rod out and cast a line. I love fishing at anchor or on a mooring, it is so absorbing. I find it very relaxing, my mind can day dream and take in the nature around me, watching the river, wildlife, the colours on the water and sky and yet as I fish it keeps me in the "now", ever watching and feeling for that slight pull on the line, bubbling excitement mixed with quiet anticipation of a silvery prize.
When we are sailing in the Solent we often tow a line off the stern of the boat and sometimes we are rewarded with a couple of mackerel or whiting. A fresh fish supper after a day's sailing is so very special when it's your own catch.

This time all I caught were a few Mud Crabs on account of not having any proper bait with me (a fisherman/woman always has to have an excuse you know).

This fella was the biggest and very lively, so I was only brave enough to land him in the bucket!

After he posed for his photo he was returned to the river. 

Skipper was off sailing Peewit- she looked so pleased bobbing along oars stowed and little blue sail catching the wind. Peewit is our Self Build PBO Pup dinghy and we use her as a Tender for our yacht. She is rigged to sail, I made her a sail out of some old sail cloth and she enjoys a bit of a breeze to get her moving. 

Tales of "the one that got away" to tell Skipper and prove of a "lively catch" on camera to show upon his return over a cup of tea and cake.

A Spinning Day Out

A few days ago a friend and fellow spinner held an Open Garden Day for charity and asked a group of us to come along with our spinning wheels to "spin in her barn"  The vistors to the garden could not only enjoy her newly restored Manor house garden but also find out more about the flock of Jacob sheep and the newly aquired alpacas she keeps on the farm.

With fourteen spinning wheels busy whirling producing all sorts of different yarns, we all had a great afternoon.
There was a variety of fleece, tops and yarn on show, plus other equipment used such as a drum carder, hand spindle, peg loom. We had weaving and knitting items on display to show what can be produced. 

And of course a day spinning always requires tea and cake!!

Later in the afternoon I had a lovely stroll around the garden.

The new lavender garden looks simply stunning in the afternoon sunshine.

Having spun a bobbin full of fine merino on my wheel, it was most relaxing to wander through the garden enjoying all the colours and scent.