Perfect Weekends

Well, I've had a pretty calm weekend, but have been keeping myself fairly busy!  Yesterday, I slept in (it was glorious) and decided I was going to go to the coffee shop downstairs and read my kindle and treat myself to a cinnamon latte.  (which is still more manly than a vanilla latte- who gets those?)  Before I hit the coffee shop though, I was distracted by a shoe sale at one of TWO shoe shops in the square.  (and I was worried I didn't pack enough shoes).  I was checking out the sale shoes, and another customer started chatting with me about a particular pair...then asked me if I was from Ireland.  Don't know how one mistakes my accent for Irish, but I'm going to take that as a compliment.  Anyway, I found a lovely pair of boots on sale in size 4.  I didn't know my UK size, so I went in to see if the boots would work.  I got properly sized, and found out I am exactly a size 4 in UK sizes, so therefore took that as a sign that I was meant to get the boots.  They are quite comfy and a quick check online found that I got them for £5 cheaper than they could be found online.  WIN!
Then, I made my way to the coffee shop and settled in to reading for a bit

So relaxing....

After reading for a bit, I thought I would go shopping up and down the main street, just to see what was around and try to find something for my brother, Graham, who's birthday is February 3rd.  I happened to find him the PERFECT gift, and I'm really excited about it.  However, I don't want to ruin the surprise, so I'll take a picture of it and post that on his birthday.  I need to figure out how to post it, which I will do sometime this next week.  I also found a yarn and craft shop, which is dangerous.  I got some yarn and a crochet needle so that I could make a headband that I had wanted to make for a while.  I ended up making two last night, because they were so quick and easy to make.  Here's where I got the pattern from, which my friend Leslie passed onto me: Headband pattern.
Here's a pic of my headband...well one of them.  I still need to find a button for the second one I made.

I crocheted this with merino blend wool yarn I found at the little craft shop.  So cute.  Leslie will love the shop when she comes to visit in March!

I also decided to have fun with cooking this weekend, I made a chicken, broccoli and gnocchi dish, with pasta sauce and fresh basil (and garlic and onions of course!).  I got some lamb for tonight, along with a bunch of veggies, I'm going to try to make some sort of roast, loosely following a recipe I found online.  I also tried out the bathtub in the second bathroom in my apartment last night, using some muscle soak bubble bath and salts I found at Boots (which is like a CVS).
I went to church this morning.  There was a visiting pastor who was quite good, discussing the value of small congregations in rural areas.  His main message was not to overlook the small!  Very fitting for me, I would say.  I also got to meet two automotive engineers as well, one retired.  The other one just got a permanent position at McLaren automotive and is only in Kenilworth on weekends.  I told them I would like to discuss their careers with them later, as I get more into my work at the University.
I then decided I was going to take my old bread down to the little pond in the park and feed the birds and try to get some neat pictures.  Here is what I came up with:

No fishing!  :)

This little guy was getting ready to jump

I thought these roots looked cool.

I'm in love with these swans that hang out at the pond.

Squirrel!

Pigeon...I think!

Well, I'm off for a run!  I'll post about how the lamb turns out later!