Planet Ruby Starrs

Christmas comes but once a year and that's probably not a bad idea... we have had a lovely festive frolicking time here in the not so grim north, joined by family and friends sharing presents, food and fun.  Actually it was totally dis-organised chaos from the word go!!! BUT I have to say ''go'' didn't start until after 8.30 an amazing sleep in on Christmas morning for two very excited little girls (and Nana) but then just descended into almost madness when the keyboard was opened and the impromptu dance party started in the kitchen while dinner was being prepared.  The newly formed band was quite an experience - an eight year old on the keyboard and the two year old using natural rhythm to accompany her on drums using wooden spoons and anything bangable!! Watch out X factor (I'm doing it for my nana.....) It was an exhausting experience - the house being festooned with fairy lights flashing adding to the fervour! or should I say fever.  Anyway we r

I am about to hit chaos... I'm off to Leeds today battling past Metro Centre traffic down the pesky A1 into the grand metropolis of the big city to pick up my family so we can engineer our own madness and spend the festive season together back up here in rural Toggie delight.  Really looking forward to a house full of madness and noise two young children can bring and a hopefully calming walk on the beach on Christmas day.  I can't fit them all in the car so I'm picking up my best girls and the boys are coming up on the train after work on Christmas eve by which time we will be almost totally crazed with excitement.  Or maybe, if we are lucky (haha)  the small creatures who are really what the whole kit and caboodle is about will have passed out slumbering deep as Santa flies though leaving the presents under the tree.  This is probably the last year our 8 year old granddaughter will believe in the magic of the big red suited man... in fact we are not sure she isn&#

Have you any idea how much mess you can make when trying to transfer feathers from one very large cushion into 6 smaller ones.....  what a hoot... massive massive mess - it looked liked hundreds of  birds had gone crazy in the spare room, everything was covered with little white specks, bigger fluff and quite a large number of escaped feathers!  I was a pale ghost of myself and even my hair had turned white... I soon realised I needed a face mask and once the task was started there was no point in turning back - Dr Fred just looked in in despair and shut the door firmly to try and avoid further contamination of the house! To be fair when I had finally managed to get as many feathers repackaged as I could Dr Fred did get me the Henry so I could try and restore order... I took the worst up and then had a shower and now I need to tidy up properly and hoover up again.  In the end it took three hooverings over three days to get rid of the floating dust generated. I hardly dare admit th

Its been grim up north (again) but full of atmospheric skies and dark scudding clouds delivering a dusting of snow from time to time. There have been some fantastic sunsets, (and probably sunrises too but I seem to miss most of them).  Even on the dull days the big skies of Northumberland make for impressive scenes - its just such a beautiful place to be.   I have been hunkered down making Christmas presents - no photos or it will spoil surprises - and turning the cottage into a Santas grotto in readiness for the Christmas family visit! Eventually last week we did get out for a wander along the coast and had a really pleasant if bracing walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle. Often a busy walk but that day populated mainly by sheep rather then people.  It was a grey and over cast, the promised forecast of two hours of sunshine never materialised but it was great to get some fresh air.   But golly it was cold - puddles were frozen and even some of the rock pools had ice in them. 

Its too cold and snowy to venture outside for any length of time so realising the festive season is nigh I set myself down and made a shed load of Christmas cards. I was ferreting around in the loft for the tree deckies and old wrapping paper and I found a small metal crafting ring so ended up spending the  the afternoon making a nice - if a tad small - Christmas garland for the door.  Normally I raid the garden and make one using greenery but this one is made entirely from the scrap bag using an old backing of a dead ikea cushion cover some felt, sparkly ribbon and thread and Christmas tree baubles. Having finally got into the festive spirit I braved the elements of the Northumberland roads and headed in to town and purchased a tree - Now the living room is lit up fabulously in true RubyStarrs disco fashion by flashing lights which have to be calmed from time to time!!!  I've stopped pretending I'll do a tasteful tree - impossible I'm afraid so its the sam

Its been a quiet time on Planet Rubystarrs... A couple of nice days out - sewing and planning sewing ideas with some friends - more later - could be an interesting project forming but nothing very exciting has been happening this was so I've entertained myself taking some ''interesting'' black and white images around the house no further explanation needed!!!!  (actually I have been a little under the weather but bouncing back now) Its been dismal weather so have felt a bit cooped up At least some house work has got done... even cleared the cobwebs away ... Bring on christmas is what I say!!!

After an eventful busy weekend in Ninebanks running a star weekend we packed everything up and headed for the Durham Lumiere - an event I have had in my diary for months.  We went two years ago and it was amazing, fantastic images projected against the castle walls visible across the city and the story of cosmic creation on the cathedral walls.  It was truly spectacular and I raved about it everyone I met and encouraged all and sundry to get there this year for a repeat performance. Cosmic Architecture  The town was heaving with people everywhere and as dark fell we started the trek around the exhibits and slowly the disappointment set in.  The installations were interesting - well some of them but there was none of the spectacularity (made up word) or luminosity or extravagance of the year before - not even near!!!  What Matters - St Oswalds Church The Cosmic Architecture on the new physics building was almost there,and the For the Birds installation in the Botanical Gard

Its minus 2 at Ninebanks Youth hostel this morning.... well not in the hostel - that, fortunately is a very toasty place, but outside its frosty with fabulous blue skies stretching as far as you can see across the valley. Its that time of year again and we are mid star weekend at Orchard house, Ninebanks, tucked away in a most beautiful, empty, open part in the wilds of Northumberland.  This hostel is really good, lots of space, comfy beds, ensuite bathrooms, well equipped kitchen and a roaring fire!!! We have the usual crowd of curious and enthusiastic people taking part and the talks are very varied to be inclusive and informative without being too difficult to follow - after all this is supposed to be a fun weekend and bend brains a little but not too hard!!! It was a fantastically clear night last night, affording the opportunity to be out observing the night skies from 5.00 through until past midnight.... it was cold - the temperature dropping to well below freezing.  Thi

Finally found some time to play with the new toys!!! Its an interesting experience, the sewing machine feels very new, I've run through all the different stitches and re-threaded it and wound bobbins so I feel quite familiar with it.  It is very slow compared to my old jet powered affair but I expect I'll get used to that.  There are lots of extra bits which I find a bit fiddly- its possible there were similar fiddly bits on my previous machine but I've long since lost them and then they become erased from living memory.  Some of these bits look a bit more important so I will have to be a little bit careful.  The spool requires a 'lid' or the cotton reel flies off - its detachable and already has a tendency to wander around the sewing table hiding - the other worrying bit is the small piece of plastic which covers the drop in bobbin - when the bobbin is changed this piece also detaches altogether and I can see it disappearing if I'm not disciplined about it!!!

We made a long over due visit to the one and only Grindleford cafe in the Peak district.. an old much loved haunt of Dr Fred - by all accounts many serious parties held here pre dating my times with him.  Its not much different these days, slightly tidier not quite as many hilarious notices stating 'the rules' and they still do a cracking pint of tea and huge chip butties! We walked off both these treats up through Padley Gorge which looked truly splendid in the afternoon autumnal light showcasing  beautiful colours of the shedding beech trees.

I'm sooo excited... At last  I've taken the plunge and treated myself to a new sewing machine.  My 30 old trusty Janome is still quite functional but last time I had it serviced I was warned it was very 'fast'  on its last legs and needed treating gently and with consideration.  So that's what I've been doing and its clattering round the sewing room like a lawn mower sounding noisier and noisier every time I used it. I've done a load of research and talked to various suppliers and thought hard about what I want and what I actually need and ended up spending less then I thought I would so I think I'm a happy bunny.  I was tempted to buy something fancy and a bit over the top which did everything including Disney embroidery, I played with a fancy model at the knitting and stitch show which was fun but in the end I saw sense and decided definitely against Disney - very off putting but also I  don't really like stylised machine embroidery - and only

Happy Samhain - Autumn is here and the ancient Samhain festival celebrating the end of summer is now replaced with the over hyped, over priced, over partied Halloween.... deck the streets with giant spiders and witches galore - good fun I suppose but I wonder how many people know about  the history, significance and tradition of lighting fires and dressing up in costume and trick or treating. However you choose or not choose to acknowledge this time of year it can't be denied that it is an occasion steeped in fascinating history. In days of old it was about the end of the warm months, laying down tools, the end of growth, the beginning of winter, a time to give thanks for the years harvest   - and allegedly a window in the year when it as easier to commune with the Otherworld!    Not all the Otherworld were 'goodies' so often costumes and masks were worn to confuse the spirits and jack o'lanterns and bonfires were lit to guide and also potentially scare spirit

Another fleeting trip to Leeds to deliver family home and then we carried on down south to see the rest of the mob, Dr Freds side of the family, all very pleasant, we were entertained welland it was great to catch up its been too long since I went down.  The trip through Leeds necessitated me to spend the night on my daughters sofa - which was fine but I couldn't dwell too much on who (or should that be whom)I shared a room with...... satsuma the snake this is one of six tarantulas my favourite tailless ( but growing in nicely) gecko and she didn't bother to tell me the snake escapes on a fairly regular basis!!!!!!

Family visit meaning a house FULL of Duplo, felt tips, teddies, Peppa Pig, sandy shoes and noise!!!!!  There has been a lot of posing, sitting and dancing on the dining room table singing twinkle twinkle by our two year old (two on Thursday how time flies!!)   Our rather boistrous 8 year old has learnt to knit, baked bread, stirred the Christmas cake made wishes for all and sundry - one is never enough!! - and actually spent some quiet time painting and designing some picture frames.  (takes after her Nana in the making department). We went to Woodhorn Mining Museum to count pumpkins set in and around the permanent displays learning a little bit about mining as we went along.  We ran about on Alnmouth beach like demented beings and then cooked sausages in the van for lunch. My youngest granddaughter was fascinated with the horses on the farm - well really the whole visit is a treat for two small city girls - lots of space and beach to run about in - a van to drive to

I don't do shopping much these days.. but it was great to have a proper Yorkshire day out with a good friend first checking out Dewsbury Fab Works Mill shop for fabric (yes I know I'm not supposed to be buying fabric...) I didn't buy much just lots of ribbon - then a quick pit stop at Batley for Red Brick Mills and we finally drove across the county to Salts Mill when after a 'ladies that lunch' experience we had a mosey around the mill and a quick gander around the Hockney Gallery always a treat.  So a whole day devoted to Yorkshire Mills and glorious buildings and landscapes.

Kneehigh Theatre are just fabulous!! not much more I can say really...... I whizzed down to the West Yorkshire Playhouse to take in the latest Kneehigh Theatre touring production 'The Tin Drum' - an amazing interpretation of the book by Gunter Grass. To say it was riotous would be an understatement- in true Kneehigh fashion it was truly splendid, combining the chilling horror of a war torn landscape with humour and poignancy.  Written by Carl Grose, directed by Mike Shepard, with a sound track by Charles Hazelwood - it was loud and crazy manic and very entertaining.  It retold the story, in a totally engrossing way, of Oskar growing up - or more to the point Oskar 'not' growing up surrounded by war and chaos, and his evidently complicated family life - overseen by a dominant granny. The cast, as always, danced, sang, acted, and romped with non stop energy and  Oskar, portrayed using a puppet, added a further blank chilling aspect to the proceedings. Yet as the pl

Busy day baking... 3 loaves, a fairly unsuccessful honey spice cake (it tastes ok but is only about and inch thick), bear and moose ginger biscuits, a massive lasagna and chicken casserole to be devoured by visiting family over the next week. Goodness me - I'm a domestic goddess!!!!  To be honest I've never really got used to just cooking for two..... so really happy to be bulk baking and cooking for a potential army! Life is very family oriented at the moment, busy catching up and sharing summer stories, last weekend my lovely niece and her family came to stay (very tidy) and this coming week my best girls are coming up from Leeds (very untidy) so it will be chaos but lots of drawing and baking especially if the weather doesn't pick up making the beach a less attractive option (unless you are 8 years old).  when Hotel North Toggie closes we are heading south to visit Dr Freds mum and sister, a serious hike from here but a nice change of scenery and more opportunities f

Yesterday I spent a very therapeutic and educational day at Gallery Forty5 in Feltham learning the basic skills of lino printing.  I had tried this about 3 years ago and was spectacularly unsuccessful which dampened my enthusiasm.  The day long course run by Diana Fitzpatrick made me understand that there are tips which help it work which I hadn't been aware of and working along side a small talented and enthusiastic group we produced some personal masterpieces.   It was a great days work in a class which went from quiet contemplation and intense concentration to non stop chat and excitement as the first prints started to emerge.  What always fascinates me it the way everyone chooses to do something different - there are varied levels of complexity and design but every single piece of work emerges as a lovely piece of art and is eagerly shared across the group giving support and inspiration for the potential next piece. I choose to keep my designs really simple - a consequen

Having finally got over the dreaded jet lag, which the like I have never experienced before... I have settled back into a complete lack of routine but have non the less been very busy.   Quite by accident I acquired a new (to me) dining table from a site on Facebook, a freebie in need of some TLC.   before Actually it was in very good nick but I felt it needed a Ruby Starrs makeover so after a little bit of moseying around on the internet I discovered a locally produced chalk paint - there are some very funky colours  - that was the hardest bit trying to decided which colour... at first I thought I would go all grown up and do it cream but the inner Ruby won out and its now a very tasteful delphinium blue and zebra print... the chalk paint was easy to apply and gave a lovely matt finish, the sealer was more difficult to master but in the end I got the hang of it and it looks grand!!! after I've always fancied a round table and the best thing about this is tha

Finally recovered from a lovely weekend in Leeds staying with various friends, visiting family, all delivering wonderful hospitality.  I was belatedly celebrating my birthday so I was spoiled rotten and received lots of really lovely presents including amazing shoes, a parrot onesie, jewellry and lots of other fab things.  We had a great meal out with friends and family at Jinos Thai restaurant in Headingley - drinks before and after at a friends house and generally a good time was had by all.  Too much fizzy wine possibly but then again big birthdays only happen rarely.... I completely forgot to take any photographs to record the occasion so the only thing I can offer here is a picture of my completely fantabulous shoes - a gift from my friends in Leeds. - I'll spare you the parrot onesie....

I'm 21934 days old today and to celebrate I finally did something I had promised myself as a 60th birthday treat. Running 19 days late Dr Fred and I took ourselves off for a special lunch at Spurellis ice cream Parlor in Amble where I had a ginormous Cherry Ice Cream Sundae... IT WAS MARVELOUS!!! Cherry Sundae I do love an ice cream and I've often been in Spurellis having a coffee and seen people eating extremely scrummy looking ice cream but have always put the temptation aside thinking to treat myself on a high day or holiday... today was neither but in fact a high day that had been held on a holiday so now was the time!! I cant wait for the next high day as it was very difficult to choose which one to have - they all look truly scrumptious and all deserve a try at some point. This wasn't the only highlight of the day - we decided to earn the ice cream by having a brisk stroll around the harbour and were delighted to see some rare Amble wildlife - a porpoise or d

I love these (rare) warm sunny late summer days and there is all sorts of lovely things  going on in my garden... I counted 12 red admiral butterflies whizzing around the over grown ivy which I had been about to hack down but then left until the flutterbies have finished with it... The late blooms add a dash of colour and the daisy strewn lawn is littered with autumnal leaves, debris from my brief half an hour of slash and burn and the stone wall is covered in glorious soft moss all shiny and tactile with a few late nasturtiums loitering. I've hacked out the brambles for this year, sadly I missed the fruit as we were away, ditto the strawberries, we never seem to get the fruit before the birds so I've made space and moved the plants that were getting swamped and so not performing to their potential - hopefully next year they will literally blossom now they have light and room to flourish.

sunrise from the plane It was a long haul but we are home, back in North Toggie and it feels good.  The whole journey home went incredibly smoothly, no hiccups and in fact we made it in better time than we had anticipated and as we got a little sleep on the plane (10 hours flight ) and the coach back to Leeds was earlier( 7 plus hours...boring...) we figured another couple of hours was nothing and worth it to be in in own bed.... so we headed straight home.... after being on the road for 40 or more hours it was truly great to have own bed - and a loo in reasonable distance and comfort!!! (to say nothing of a bath!!!!!)  A week on, sleeping is still a bit hit and miss - we haven't really settled alternating between sleeping 12 hours and 4 hours  ha ha ... today feels more normal and over the last few days we have been out and about down the harbour, Alnwick and beach for walks so I'm feeling reconnected with home life again. I've fed my my addiction to Masterchef  and

wildlife on Ice Fields Parkway Its our last night of an amazing trip, we've been out and stuffed our faces and now are drinking all the left over beverages and doing the final packing.. lost baby - but wasn't there when we returned 8 weeks later!! As always the last 9 weeks seem to have flown by, loads of adventures and more stories - some we have recounted on here but there's some that didn't make the final cut so lots more to share.  We got off to a bad start, plagued with various illnesses but in the end the good times and  highlights are too numerous to detail.  Elk in Banff It was probably my best ever eclipse experience,  and I loved the wildlife especially the bears, elks and bison.  Yellowstone was fabulous but so was Craters of the Moon and City of Rocks. It was great to meet up with out friend from Australia and spend some time together drinking grey goose and sharing bad jokes!!! Solar viewing buddies I liked the off beat small to