WOYWW 236 in a Lake District Log Cabin

My desk this week for the WOYWW 236rd snoop, is from a log cabin in the Lake District where we are enjoying a pre Christmas break. Lots more desks from destinations around the globe can be perused via the Stamping Ground Blog of our lovely Boss Lady, Julia.

I brought some of my knitting and sewing with me, plus a sketch book and my newly acquired Derwent Pastels (pastels thanks to AnnB who was selling off some of her unwanted crafty items for charity) Well, I needed something to occupy me in the evenings after our days out until to dinner time and then after dinner when 'im indoors is reading or watching TV.

I also thought it would be nice to bring the Derwent pastels back home near their spiritual and physical origins. We will be going to their museum tomorrow in Keswick to see how they are made and all about their history.

I've managed to quite quickly make another hat for our little fraulein and three for our new baby boy too. Quite pleased with the results but it's debatable if or when they'll fit.

Here's my next crafty project... a box full of gorgeous fabric scraps to do some hand stitched patchwork.

Here's one of the many visitors that came to visit from the lake. The cabins surround the lake perimeter, with woodland behind them, so I've seen a variety of wildlife, many ducks and other birds, a fox, rabbits and squirrels.

We visited Grasmere, home of William Wordsworth the poet and the amazingly tiny Sarah Neilson Gingerbread shop. This gingerbread is so scrumptious and it tastes nothing like any other and is a must for me to visit to buy some whenever I can. Unbelievably it is made at the back of this tiny little shop.

The shop assistants are always in traditional dress and are so nice to everyone.

We stood really close to this little robin that hops in and out of the shop for crumbs and we always seem to see it there each visit but I'm sure the original one passed on the info genetically to it's hatchlings and grand-hatchlings that there are super pickings at the shop. I've seen one there for years and years!

We also visited Ambleside and whilst Christmas decorations are not too overt in the area there were some lovely public trees. This contemporary silver one was so beautiful and work of art.

The "real" one at the huge Lakeland Shop in Windermere is outstanding too with so many coloured lights. It is so high but doesn't really look as tall or dramatic in this photo as it is IRL.

 It towers over this two stories high building.

It's good to escape from the mania of Christmas in the big city but I do love to see the lights and shop windows in the small shops.