Schmooze award and what a great birthday:)

Artyfartykat
awarded me the Schmooze award which is for, and I quote:-

Schmoozing is the natural ability to 'converse casually in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection. Good schmoozers weave their way effortlessly in and out of the blogsphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don't limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.
Thanks Kat I appreciate it. I do enjoy browsing new blogs and checking up on my faves also:)
Today has been a delightful day and a great birthday. Mr Mog took me to Kendal and for lunch at Artisan in Booths

A great journey up the A6 viewing the park deer in Dallam Park, all catching the sunshine. The leaves are starting to turn now on some of the trees and indeed when we set off you could smell and feel the taste of autumn in the air.
Kendal is a dreadful place to get into, it almost seems as though the town conspires to stop you, the one way system is abysmal and you end up winding round and round the same stretch of town if you aren't careful. Mr Mog was prepared and we scooted up a little lane and parked. Lots of the shops are closed down now, possibly some of it is the gridlocked town keeping customers away. The only store that seemed to have expanded and doubled in size was Oxfam. A browse round the stores and charity shops was fun, although Oxfam lately seems more corporate than charitable. They have doubled their space in Kendal and doubled the prices to pay for it it seems. Whatever happened to the old charity shops, cheap place for clothes for those with not much money and fun to check out bargains. Part of me wonders how much actually gets spent on admin, I used to volunteer a few years back and stopped because of this.
Rant over, lets carry on the tour of Kendal:) I purchased the sweetest little shell teapot , very old and I think will be ideal for a fountain plan I have. I saw a wonderful indoor fountain in Glastonbury, simple bowl with a shell where the water trickled over. I wanted to do something similar for my Goddess altar and I think this wee teapot will be perfect, more later and pictures if it works:)
We then took ourselves off to Artisan, the food is wonderful. Booths try to source as much locally from small producers as they can and it shows in the quality of the food.
We had pan fried sirloin steak on Staff of life sour dough bread. This was accompanied by tiny garlic mushrooms, a tossed salad and large chips. I couldn't manage a dessert much as I'd love to have tried the local damson and chocolate pudding. Maybe next time:)
We pootled back home along the promenade and called at a local charity shop to drop off some books, clothes and bric a brac for their fundraising. . It is a newly opened shop and doesn't take any money out for wages etc. All the cash raised goes to the charity.
Pausing only to admire the view across the bay as the tide went out we came home for hot chocolate.
Isn't it lovely when you get days like this?