christmas card love

Sorry. sorry, sorry. Another photoless blog.

Just wanted to write something. I find if I don't it gets harder and harder to.

Cannot believe that it is a week since I last did this.

Anyway, just to keep you posted. Son's hat was finished ready for him to wear to football on Sunday and I am now knitting someting for myself. A lovely shrug.

Have still not begun on Christmas shopping. The longer I leave it the more people around me are horrified. And its quite funny because, well, it's not the end of the world is it, I mean at least Father Christmas will deliver the goods on Christmas Eve.

tea cosies and trumps

Can you tell that I am a night owl?

I only write my blogs in the evening. Not because I can't make time in the day but because I can not bring myself to blog in daylight hours. I don't know why.

Unfortunately this makes for a photoless blog. A rather drab blog.

Every night I promise myself that I will take some photos the following day, search out the item in the loft that I need for my Christmas blog header, make my blog more beautiful.

Ha, ha, ha. It's just not happening is it?

Blogs that inspire me seem to be written by early birds. Take Lucy from Attic 24 for example. Look at her lovely sunrise pictures. How I wish I too could find such inspiration at 3 or 7am. Unfortunately, I am barely awake at this hour. I could sleep until 1oam every day (please don't be alarmed, I have children so of course this is an impossibility!).

At this hour however (9pm) I could talk and talk and talk. In fact I would love to continue to write but I know from my own blog reading experience that text alone is not attractive so I will love you and leave you for now.

And I promise that very soon I will have some eye candy of my very own.

Phnar, phnar.

that's biblical

Was in a bit of a bother this afternoon. It was the local knit and natter, havn't been for a couple of weeks so was quite looking forward to it. However, it was really quite odd because I was in the situation of wondering what to cast on for my next project, wondering what to take with me.

I was in a quandry. Do I start on one of the lovely new patterns I have just been lent by a friend, do I do something more practical and knit a few dishcloths that I am in need of or. . . . do I begin on a hat for my little man. Now that doesn't sound too bad does it? However, I knew it would have to be the hat.

I don't want to knit the hat. Sorry, sorry, sorry, that sounds really awful but the hat has to be like his dads and I hate the pattern, find it really boring and tedious (even though it looks good in the end). Knit 4, purl 4, knit 4, purl 4 blah, blah, blah, you get the drift.

So, knowing that it has to be the hat, knowing that the majority of 'stuff' I have recently made has been for delicious daughter I gritted my teeth and went to seek out the right two colours for the stripy hat. It took me about half an hour to decide on the right two blue colours. By that time my darn tea had gone cold as well.

Anyway, hubbys hat only took 48hrs to knit so if I crack on little man should be wearing it by the weekend.

And no, have still not even thought about Christmas yet.

And yes, keep forgetting to take pictures in the daylight.

And no, still no one reading this

And yes, will try to carry on

xxxx

Grow up

Cannot believe that the advent calendars are one door open already. Where does the time go?

Last Christmas we spent time on our own, just the four of us. This Christmas we are having all my family over. Am sure that this is the way things should be.

Anyway, I also cannot believe that opposite have their Christmas tree up!!!!!! That is rather early isn't it?

Tonight I have finished two things, husbands hat and Last Christmas book. It seems rather weird that the book that I was meant to start today I have finished today. Does that mean anything I wonder?

bite me edward

Yes, you already know that I am a massive fan of Twilight but is it really sad to admit that I want a 'Bite me Edward' t-shirt?

Have you seen my new gadget in the sidebar? It shows a different picture of Robert every so often (yes, some are not my most favourite but most of the time he looks HOT HOT HOT!) how absolutely FABULOUS is that!

21st December

I have the same Sainsbury's pyjamas as Posy!

I have finished my 50's cardigan!

I am knitting my first item for husband!

I bought 1000g Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for £20!

My son can rollerblade!

It snowed!

My daughter sings beautifully (and knows an awful lot of lyrics)!

The living room is ready for Christmas!

I lit my first advent candle!

I blogged!

little snippets from my weekend that make me smile

x

discombobulated

Hello.

Isn't the weather awfully depressing. We are lucky because we live high up and don't have the risk of flooding but still, not being able to get out into the garden or for a walk seriously makes me feel hemmed in. Last weekend was one of those times, all we really managed was homework and a trip to Waterstones.

I did buy a book though (long time since I have, actually the last books I bought were the Twilight books) called Last Christmas. I suppose the fact that my favourite Christmas song is Wham's Last Christmas was the reason for the purchase also I thought that it would be nice to have an advent book, sort of instead of a calendar. So, I decided that I would start this book on 1st December. HA HA HA. Couldn't resist, started it today.

Anyway, have only just started chapter two but already it's making me laugh. One of the women in it writes a blog and has been catapulted to stardom as the 'Happy Homemaker'. I love books like this, the happy homemakers 'front' that she has accidentally created, the chaos of the reality of her homelife. It is exactly why I started my blog, to share my haphazard, non perfect but trying ever so hard crafting, homemaking life. Trying to be truthful in a world where only perfection will do.

Of course sometimes things go well and naturally it's nice to share these moments on your blog and there are beautiful (in your own eyes) areas in your home that you want to share.

Shall I share some of mine with you?

My collection of oddments of china sourced from parents, grandparents, charity shops and car boot sales.

My knitting needle collection

My granny blanket that is oh so nearly there

My beautiful new bed, still loving it!

Shall we share the bad too?

The new curtains that I couldn't wait to put up, obviously not working - do you see the big gap? - cosy huh?

The 'other' curtain, as always I do one and not the other, can never complete a job especially when am disappointed with it's 'other half'.

and the ever increasing pile of treasures, bought, homemade and thrifted that no one is allowed to use

Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg. Do you think I would be so stupid as to show you the ugly?

That is for me to hide! Which brings me back around to the start, does everyone in blog land do this? Show the good, admit to the bad but hide the ugly? Am sure they do, absolutely. Surely no one can be perfect, only be confident enough to think they are?

Hmmmm.

spots, stripes and silly shoes

Yes I love fellow bloggers (to a point) and yes I know I am yet to have a following (must blog more) but am sorry, sometimes the mutual love makes me just uuurrrrgggghhhh. Isn't everyone just copying each other? Am getting a bit sick of 'donna love', 'lucy love', 'I'm so fabulous self love'.

Is is just me or is all this 'look at my stash stuff' just a bit rubbing your face in it. Who in this current climate has such a fantastic stash of fabric (vintage no less) and enjoys cutting up fabulous old blankets? It is seriously beyond me.

Sorry. Know that I sound quite Victor Meldrew but this 'stuff' really annoys me and is just more hype about perfection making us lesser mere mortals feel inadequate. Which reminds me, must show you soon all my WIP's.

Cross, cross, cross! Sorry but if we are to revive the make do and mend mentality we cannot promote the spending mentality of the past ten years. Look in your loft for fabric, look in your Grandmas loft, look in your next door neighbours loft, look anywhere but in your pocket for money. If you look you will find not only a quarter of fabric at a price but a whole sheet for free (and please dont cut it up if its in good condition!)

hospital appointments

Don't you think it is so satisfying to have a good clear out?

Especially when your loft is so full of **** even the local council assessor acknowledges that you don't need any more insulation, 'we couldn't do any better than that'.

I am not kidding, he went up there with a torch and then made a hasty retreat!

So, as you may have gathered, today we started on the loft. I really enjoyed it, children vacated the premises and we could really crack on. Got rid of loads of 'stuff' - to charity and tip - and I am even reusing and refinding bits myself (in fact as I sit here I am wearing a dressing gown that I got on my 15th BD!!!) and, even better, I have a jumper drying that is 18 years old and I will wear it as soon as it is dry.

As you may have gathered I am a bit of a hoarder. However, in these hard times I am feeling quite the recessionista. I love visiting charity shops and finding new/old treasures. BUT! HA! I can visit my very own loft and do just this, and it's free! AND it will take months to get through that lot. It is actually very exciting. What else will I find? Watch this space (tomorrow will try to remember to take pictures).

On another high note, bought a tea set in charity shop for £3 - included 8 cups, saucers and side plates - checked on China Search and a cup alone is selling for £12! What a find, and no, am not selling it on Ebay husband.

Speak soon
xxx

half term holidays

HELLLLLLOOOOOOO

Yes, it has been a long time but, judging myself on past attempts at writing a diary, entries are few and far between and for this, I apologise.

Before I embark on tales of half term I would like to admit to a few recent parenting mishaps.

Firstly, that darn tooth fairy forgot to leave money this week. Oh dear. I then compounded the problem by enlightening child with the knowledge that 'the tooth fairy doesn't collect dirty teeth' - oh what a shameful lie, yes I feel truly awful and NO actually my childrens teeth are not dirty. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Where is the nearest rock?

Secondly, after cutting up 'Mr Pumpkin' for the compost I then forgot to get rid of the evidence before they came home from school. It really does not bear thinking about again.

Do you want to see it? It took me quite a while too.

Shameful really. Anyway.

Last week, as you may or may not know was half term.

I was really looking forward to it because the children so needed a break and I was missing them, wanted to spend some time with them. When they are at school I don't see them all day obviously, but also we only have Wednesday night free from activities so I barely see them in the evenings either. And I miss them.

This holiday though I also had the added benefit of having my brother and sister in law to stay. Everyone was very excited and had been looking forward to this holiday for AGES.

To cut a long story short, we borrowed the 'fun bus' (as I named it - actually father in laws people carrier) and travelled to bonny Scotland. We had a lovely time, a tiring time (lots of long walks up hills) but most of all it was great to have two other adults for the children to spend time with - other role models (being far away from my family I really value this). It was particularly lovely to see how my son relates to my brother and how much joy it brings to both of them. They have similar interests I think!

Of course the other little plus point was that brother has GOOD camera and TA DA! I have a new blog header featuring my favorite place in the world.

Wanlockhead that is.

Bye for now!

pink milk, cheddars and avoiding fig rolls

What did I do today?

Not a lot, apart from school run and shop and worry.

Thats just all quite normal for me though in the winter months.

But something did get me thinking today. An article in the Daily Mail.

I don't often buy a paper. I read bits of the Sunday Times when husband buys it but apart from that am not a dedicated follower (I prefer to tune in to Jeremy Vine to keep myself updated).

The sideline on the front page caught my eye and I am a sucker for anything remotely pyschobabbly (yes, I think that that is just a word I have made up).

'Five Steps To Being Happy'

Wow, that sounds really direct and to the point and actually very easy, is that all it takes? Five steps?

Of course I know its not that simple but hey, its worth a read.

And, do you know what, it did actually cheer me up and make me realise on a day like today that I actually am happy (as I told you before, I am happy with my life, it's just on days like today you need reminding).

Sorry to repeat myself there, got a bit carried away.

So. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

the five things are:

Q. How often do you get to do things you really like?
A. A lot actually, I have a lovely husband that facilitates a lot of the hobbies that I enjoy

Q. How often do you find yourself actively looking forward to the day ahead?
A. Sometimes, about once or twice a week. According to the article thats quite a good answer

Q. How often do you get so involved in what you're doing that you lose track of time?
A. Again, a couple of times a week, usually with crochet but often with family or a friend. Again, a good answer

Q. How often do you feel invigorated at the end of a long, busy day?
A. Ha, Sorry that answer is rarely. I am always shattered. I do however sometimes feel proud of myself for getting through the day (thats not really the same though is it?)

Q. How often do you feel an emotional high?
A. Ah. Very often actually. Usually related to and in strong correlation to childrens moods and how good the thrifting day has panned out!

So. . . . . . . . .

After looking at the article and looking at my honest responses I realise that, according to the article, I am happy. And I am.

But, I do believe that this article is rather flawed. For I think that added to the above the secret of happiness is a good support network and a good chat.

I have a good support network. Although my family are far, I can rely on them at any time of day for a moan and a chat and even on the end of the phone just a sympathetic ear can calm me. Nearer to home I have a couple of friends that I know I can rely on (one in particular, as mentioned before) and according to researchers at the University of Michigan putting women in pairs can increase levels of progesterone, the hormone involved in social bonding and reducing anxiety and stress. HOW correct is that. Just chatting and taking your mind off a problem works a treat and perks you up no end. It's even better if the friend you are talking to is as honest as you are and admits that sometimes they are not perfect either. All this crap about the perfect mother, the perfect wife and the perfect 'life balance' just grates me. As favourite friend told me recently, we should all strive to be 'good enough'.

So, whatever you do, wherever you work, wherever you live, whatever you are. I hope that you are 'good enough', no, I am sure you are 'good enough' and that you are 'happy enough'.

Let's not strive for perfection. Lets strive for happiness.

Match of the Day

Oh My Word. I have to admit that I will be voting for John and Edward.

And no, I havn't heard them sing yet, the X Factor has only just started.

I am voting purely on looks. That is so shallow isn't it.

But, you have to forgive me for I am a Twilight fan. I LOVE the Twilight books, I absolutely ADORE the Twilight books (not so sure about the film) in fact they are the best books I have read for ages. And, the twins do resemble Edward from Twilight in the film (ie. Rob Pattinson).

Massive SWWWWWOOOON!

But, purleeese. Can Louis go away. 'you made that song your own tonight', how old is that line? Yawn, yawn.

So. I managed to take some photos today. Remembered after tea tonight though so they are not as good as I would hope. Would you like to see? Well, silly question cos there's no one out there and even if there is you have no choice!

My new/old plate nestling on my dresser, bought on thrifting trip yesterday. The photo doesn't do it justice it is a lovely yellow colour.

Staffordshire Pottery tea set (thrifting again) which since bought realise that it reminds me of my Grans set. It's amazing what the subconcious mind does.

Little granny squares building up, getting me nearer to my goal.

Wish that they would dry quicker!

The new subscription arrived (bit disappointing though)

Oooohh. Linen. Old linen. 'nother thrift. Tablecloths and pillowcases. Drying in the dining room and smelling oh so very fresh.

The NEW purchase this week. The Emma Bridgewater apron that I have been looking for for ages. Now found! And now I know why it took so long, it's discontinued, which makes it an even better find. I love discontinued!

All in all a few things that have made me happy this weekend (very shallow I know), oh and by the way, son played well but overall they lost 7 - 0.

xx

choir on friday

Hello. It's been quite a while. I can't believe it's Friday again. And this weekend I am going to be very busy, no relaxing for me.

My lovely little man has his first ever football match on Saturday morning, please do cross your fingers and toes that he scores at least one goal! this also coincides with husbands birthday (getting ever nearer to forty!) so after birthday on Saturday we are having birthday lunch on Sunday and then popping over to my Grans for a couple of hours afterwards. No rest for the wicked.

Have been out this afternoon on a lovely thrifting trip and it was fairly fruitful. Unfortunately cannot show you the fruits of my labour as the light is now fading and my camera cannot cope. Hope to get some time tomorrow to take some pictures and show you my purchases of the day.

Hope that you all have a happy weekend.

xx

reality blogging

Ok. So. If no one is listening perhaps I should change my tune (in fact it makes it easier to)

Firstly I would like to say that all that has gone before has been true and in particular has been true of the time.

I love my life. I love my children. I love my husband and I love my family. I love my crafts. I feel supremely lucky to have what I have especially in such hard times. Yes, we have debt and yes we struggle (mainly because of my passion for shopping) but the bottom line is I know that I am a very lucky person to feel this.

However, with every silver lining there is always a cloud and for me my cloud is a phobia.

My phobia can be quite well behaved in the summer months and following therapy it will ease, but it will never scoot away.

This Autumn it is hounding me quite badly and is affecting family members around me. I don't want to bang on about it, or even explain it (that may come later) but I wanted you to know that when I don't post for a few days it is because I feel particulary down and can't think of anything to say.

My crochet and crafting really helps me and now so does my blog, so I am hoping that I can continue with this, for my sake more than anybody elses (sorry! if anyone is reading this) and that I can get through Autumn and Winter without too many panic attacks.

Happy. happy, happy.

making tea on friday

Woohoo. Autumnwatch is back! And what a lovely programme it is. I do find it very uplifting and love, love, love the cosy sets with fires and candles and blankets. Oooooh, am sure I can see a crochet blanket on the back of the sofa.

AND, you may hate me for this, but I like it even more now that Bill Oddie has gone.

AND, even more, they had my favourite ever weather man on, the LOVELY Rob McElwee. Is it just me or isn't he just a LOVELY man? Such a gentle man in the real sense, Oh I love Rob McElwee please don't blame him for the misforecasted 'BBQ summer' Autumnwatch.

However, I do prefer Springwatch. It signifies the start. The start of the new year, the start of better weather, the start of dreaming about holidays and the start of new life.

Autumnwatch for me, as much as I used to love Autumn (it was my favourite season a few years ago) signifies the start of Winter, the start of a new year at school and the start of all the horrid bugs that sweep round schools in Autumn and Winter. I am not very good with illness (and that is an understatement) and with two young children who are building up their immune systems Winter is not something I relish. In fact, it even takes the shine off Christmas for me, which is SUCH a shame.

However, I can't stay away from Autumnwatch because deep down I remember how I used to love Autumn (and I now get the added benefit of the lovely Rob McElwee). I hope that that this Autumn and Winter we can all enjoy a happy healthy time (lets ignore Swine Flu).

Okay. So. Today I have had a happy day. I have been helping in school this afternoon and Fridays in school are happy times (I suppose like any Friday wherever you are really), the weekend is only hours away and Friday Fun Time finishes off the last hour. I can happily mount work, file, photocopy and laminate whilst I listen to happy children look forward to their weekends. It's lovely (have you noticed that lovely is my favourite word?) and makes me excited about my own weekend.

I came home and finished off my day with a lovely friend with a couple of glasses of wine and cooked a curry.

Yes, my day has been happy and again I feel lucky.

On another note, on a crochet note, I would like to show you my very first crochet project.

I started crocheting in January 2009 and I started with a granny squares blanket. We went on holiday, on my birthday, to a cottage in the Lake District. It was very cold but the cottage was absolutely gorgeous, it even had a working Aga which came in very handy for cold bottoms after long walks! Anyway, I started a blanket and the work was very slow. But, I caught the bug so to speak and got this far

and then my wool ran out (it is wool as well, the fab King Cole Merino Blend DK) and then I found out that I was using last seasons wool colours. And all that adds up to HARD TO FIND MORE TO FINISH IT OFF. For the last couple of months I have really been worrying about this because I love this blanket and I really want to finish it.

Yesterday I managed to get the wool to finish my blanket on the market! And that probably contributes to my good mood today. Also, now, I am much quicker at crocheting so hopefully I will be able to finish this blanket off by the time we next visit the lovely cottage (in January 2010) in the Lake District.

Must keep going with the squares!

Happy Autumn. x

perfectionism and motherhood

It seems to have been ages since I last posted and must admit am finding this really hard.

It would be easier if I knew that people were reading my blog but at the moment I feel like I am just talking to myself (which actually I do a lot of), and it is quite a challenge to motivate yourself, to sit down and write a little on what interests you when no one is interested in hearing it. It seems a bit self indulgent if you know what I mean?

Anyway, pushing on.

(ten minutes later am still thinking what to say next!)

(no decent camera to fill space here)

(another hour later, have just watched Location, Location, Location (saved on video from last week)- which by the way is still one of my favourite programmes and one to which we once applied, but got nowhere, obviously we didn't have enough money!)

Soooooooo. . . . . . . . .

Today I returned to my local new wool shop for their weekly knit and natter, I really enjoy going and am starting to get to recognise the regulars. With a pot of tea and my round crochet cushion I was v. happy and, tah dah

and closer?

believe me the white inner cushion pad doesn't look so stark in the flesh!

This is my favourite cushion that I have made so far and I am now obsessed with making cushions. My next cushion project is hopefully to be a rectangular blanket appliqued cushion. The sewing machine needs oiling for that and of course I need to find a suitable blanket. I feel a thrifting session coming on!

Speaking of obsessions, I have quite a few and will let you know all very soon!

summer is shiny weather

Another glorious day weather wise and another day of cleaning out the animals (well, actually, not me, husband!).



We have quite a few furry friends which has happened quite by accident.



We have;
Lolly and Laura (the two pigs)
Bella, Pip and Peter (the three rabbits)
Emily (the dog)
and some fish with lovingly thought up names by my two rascals (Paul, Stanley, Flipflop and Bubbles)

We love them all but it does get rather expensive with the food and time consuming with the care.

Anyway, after a naughty lunch of McDonalds, this afternoon has been very relaxing, children were amused with cousins and I managed to finish my round/square cushion!

I am really happy with it, it is really squishy and soft, but of course, only to be looked at on sofa, woebetide anyone who leans against it/ sits on it/ rests their head on it!

Hope that you have something this weekend that makes you happy too.

beavers and rabbits

Have settled in to a night in front of the telly, Strictly is on and husband is out. Do you know what really annoys me though? The children can't sit here and watch it with me. It doesn't finish until 10pm and after a long week at school it's just too much. Have had to promise a games night tomorrow to make up for it.

Am very much looking forward to it!

Speak more tomorrow, Strictly beckons!

just trying something out

This vintage blog by me, vintage maddie, is wondering how to get higher up on the Google list!

sticky stuff remover

Hi, hope that your day is going ok. I wasn't going to post today, had dedicated my day to housework but then the postman arrived, in a van, with a parcel that I have been soooo looking forward to receiving.

My yarn purchase has arrived and I havn't been this excited about yarn for a while. It is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. The colours are amazing.

And now I can get started on the ROUND! crochet cushion that I am so desperate to crochet. I had seen the cushion on Posy's blog but didn't know where it was from. Anyway a friend thought that it may be Rooster and it is!

The pattern is in this fabulous book:

Isn't it lovely

See you soon! The housework can wait!

Ps. New bed up and running and am very chuffed

football signings

Today is a much better day. Weather however, leaves a lot to be desired. It is cold and windy and wet.

But actually the horrible weather can't get me down today, all it means is that I can get our winter duvet out of the loft and put it on our new bed!

The new bed alone (being delivered this evening) makes me very excited but with the lovely snuggly down winter duvet on I can't wait to get to bed tonight!

So, the pillows are all ready and waiting

the snuggly duvet lies in wait

and all I have to do now is hoover and dust and wait for my new bed to arrive.

That is going to be a massive job. You see, I store 'things' under the bed, 'things' that I don't know where else to put which, in turn, means that you can't just quickly hoover under the bed from week to week so, you (sorry, I) just leave it. And the dust just builds up and up.

So, with duster and polish, hoover and all attachments I am off to sort this problem out. Looking forward to the fact that when complete I will be very glad and will be able to go to bed tonight in new bed, under snuggly duvet, feeling very clean!

(well, thats the plan, knowing my luck bed won't arrive and will be sleeping on mattress on floor)

feeling cold

Tonight I feel very lucky.

Today has been a horrible day, for reasons I will not bore you with, but, I have had a friend with me all day to support me.

I havn't had a friend like that for about 13/14 years and I am very lucky to have found someone like this at my ripe old age of 33.

Someone who is absolutely there for me 24/7 and listens to all the stuff that goes on in my head.

I can not thank her enough and will always, always do the same in return.

Thank you thank you, favourite friend.

writing poems

What a beautiful day. A perfect Autumn day. Wonder how long this will last?

It's a day for the garden, a day for the veggie patch and a day for the animals to have a run.

hello Laura!

For enjoying a hot chocolate and a chiminea fire

As I say a lovely day for the garden.

However, the veggie patch is looking a bit sorry for itself. On it's last legs so to say. Still, some things are hanging on, the courgettes;

the pumpkins are doing well (but don't think they will be ready for Halloween)

the rhubarb is looking magnificent (although we are not cutting and eating it now, I have had enough of stewed rhubarb this year)

but what a shame. My sprouts have been invaded by caterpillars. This has been quite a bug bear this year. When I first planted them out ( after lovingly raising them from seed) they really loved it. A few weeks later we spotted some caterpillars on them. Cue the search for the Bug Barn son got for his birthday so that we could catch them, aaarrr they are so cute, just babies. Fast forward on another couple of weeks and they were the bane of my life, unable to keep up with them (picking them off and flicking them over the fence works well when there are a few but then they have more babies, well hidden, and all of a sudden there are babies, kids, parents and grandparents living off my produce) I gave up about a week ago. My poor, poor sprouts are barren. Want to see?

and the culprits?

Oh they make me mad.

Anyway, the potatoes and shallots are all stored for winter as is the beetroot. Sweetcorn wasn't much use this year.

Am wondering what to put in now, any ideas? Please?

learning to ride

Golly. Time flies when you are having fun and this week have been having too much fun and 'me time' and not enough of the daily grind. Feel very guilty.

Its always the same, when the children go back to school in September, I open my diary and seeing a wonderful month ahead, with very empty pages I breathe a sigh of relief that after seven weeks of fun and frolics (totally ignoring the dust bunnies collecting all over the house) I can get everything ship shape again.

The bathroom will be cleaned every week (properly)

The kitchen floor will be mopped every week

The house will be dusted every week (including the dresser)

The oven will be cleaned every week, NO only joking, every month

The beds will be changed every week

. . . . you get the idea

In fact September for me is worse than New Year for resolutions and just the same for feeling guilty when they slip.

I did a wonderful job the week they went back. I cleared out all the cupboards in our bedroom and felt very virtuous and free spirited. I love knowing I have managed to clear out some of the clutter because it is oh so hard for me to do this. I can tackle the world I thought (or at least the house), I even began to think that I could conquer the loft. But wait, I was setting myself up for a fall.

The following two weeks ensued and everything came crashing down. I was unwell for a while and ooops, got a bit used to 'looking after myself'. Lunch and treasure seeking trips with favourite friend, breakfast out with the girls, too many trips to new knitting shop and too much money spent on yarn for new projects (have finally found a pattern for a beautiful round crochet cushion from Rooster yarns!).

My diary is suddenly full and I really do get into a panic when I can't see a clear day ahead. I generally like to think I am an organised person but actually do find it rather easy to 'overlook' the boring things and then am exceptionally good at beating myself up about it.

So, here's to a new week. Here's to getting everything shipshape, to trying again. Here's to relaxing and enjoying and most of all to not feeling guilty.

On the side lines would love to share with you some things that make my heart sing (I know that sounds really yucky but it is true).

A white duvet cover and vintage crochet blanket (made by my mum) on daughters bed

A new tatted pillowcase found for pound in charity shop for daughters bed

My completed wristwarmers (good job you can't see the making up)

Papa Johns for tea. No washing up. Yippee!

job interviews

Hello. Its so nice to be sitting here chatting to you again. Its the first chance I have had to relax all day, have been busy, busy, busy but have managed to fit in some woolly goodness with pre mentioned favourite friend.

I have felt much better today and apart from a few anger issues, (wrong deliveries, wrong prices ) have enjoyed myself. Hey, having a good moan to a friend always helps doesn't it?

Anyway, back to the woolly goodness (sorry, don't mean that to sound really Attic 24). Just about managed to spend an hour at local new knitting shop and caused quite a stir because we were crocheting at the Knit and Natter (shock, horror). Had two or three people wonder if we could teach them and I wonder if we should hold a crochet workshop, am sure the lady who runs the shop would be very willing to let us.

Round/square cushion is coming on well, have bought more yarn to finish it now.

It looks ever so lovely when placed next to my recent new purchase from a lovely lady (will show you when complete!)

And have bought more of my favourite yarn of the moment, Sirdar Big Softie. It is soooooo quick and easy and satisfying for one such as me because you can quickly finish your project. Am now knitting a pair of wrist warmers, hopefully show you tomorrow. Oh and on the subject of easily finished projects am looking forward to showing you all my unfinished projects very soon (when I can fish them all down from their lovely home on top of my very dusty wardrobe).

Actually, need to buy even more Big Softie, little man now wants hat. Is it ok to do a boys hat in this yarn? Bless.

brownie promise

Oh, to post or not to post. That is the question tonight.

Felt very elated yesterday and sure that I had got the hang of blogging.

Today is a very different matter.

Have pondered and deliberated and do not feel at all confident. So, to be true to what I wanted to achieve with this blog (honesty and a true reflection of myself and my world) I decided to write todays post in the knowledge that I will bore you all to tears.

Had a very guilty day where, still not feeling well (oh poor me), I have achieved a hat and a chilli. And not much else.

Bad picture of hat below

With energy saving lightbulb at 9.30pm camera is not much use.

Hat is for daughter and daughter is at least very pleased. Although the attitude is beginning to kick in, cue slammed doors and strops because . . . . . . I didn't say 'you are welcome' when she said 'thank you'. Oh my word.

until tomorrow

Oh my. Oh no. Just got really, really excited. Closed my post on 27 hits and logged back on to 32! Are people really reading this, is there really anybody out there? Yes, there is, it is my lovely sister in law clicking on everything on my blog and pushing my hit counter up! Damn those hit counters, you can become obsessed you know. But thank you for being so lovely brother and sister in law.

worry is a wasted emotion

Hello. I havn't felt too well these past two days, which I absolutely hate and although my idea was to post everyday I didn't feel up to it. I am the sort of person to start something and never finish, I get bored rather easily and once I take a break from something I rarely go back, so, felt the need tonight to write, otherwise I may never come back.


My day has been frustrating. Got up expecting to feel better but didn't. Thought I would pop to our NEW! knitting shop, get some more yarn to finish my round/square cushion, didn't realise it is shut on Monday. That will have to wait until tomorrow then.


However, not all is lost. Nipped up the road to a charity shop that I havn't been in for ages and it had a half price sale! Was very excited. Managed to find a lovely (well, I think it is, husband begs to differ) tapestry picture. It was £1.50 in the sale. What a shame to think of all the hours that someone has put in lovingly and it ends up here. Anyway, could not leave it. It needed a new home where someone is proud of it. Arrive home to husbands mumbling of 'thought you were going out for wool' and settle down to have a good look with two more Nurofen. Now, this makes me very inquisitive and feel even more attached to the picture, it was made in 1961 by a man, has been professionally framed and has, sellotaped to the back, a ripped out calendar page of exactly the same view ( albeit from the later time of 1985). This makes me think that the location/view must have meant quite a lot to the person who made this picture and makes me wonder about the story behind it. Perhaps it was a much loved holiday destination (being a picture of an Essex village when the picture was framed in Yorkshire) or perhaps the creator hails from those parts? Well, unfortunately I will never know but I will love it just the same (even more when it has a new frame!).


Sorry, would you like to see my ameteur photo of it?

























This photo does not by half show the lovely colours and craftmanship that has gone into this work. Oh, and the village is Finchingfield, Essex.



Happy, happy, happy.

anonymous

Have had a funny day today, woke up full of the joys of Autumn, a weekend to do as we choose, but as usual it degenerated into a day of Daddy cleaning out the animals, cutting the grass and daughter getting very upset because her pet rabbit "doesnt like me anymore". I decided to not feel too guilty as the cheeky monkeys say "I'm bored" (you know what they say about bored people, I told them) and remember that the day is beautiful, the sun is shining and really they are very lucky.

Sat down to do some crochet. Having knitted some bunting last week and having leftover yarn needed a little project. . . . . . . . (I am going to try to insert a picture, no, I havn't bought a decent camera yet, husband found a very old one in his office)

Wowee, I managed, yes I know its pretty bad but at least you get the gist.

My bunting. Cost quite a lot of money. But I love it. It is so soft.

Anyway, I have quite a bit of yarn left so decided to make a round crochet cushion.

Its lovely and ROUND isnt it? Yes, I couldnt manage to make it round without a pattern (so new I am to crochet) so have made it SQUARE. Very amatuer. Very me. But it is very soft and very pretty. Oh dear, dont think I will have quite enough yarn. Typical.

Even scarier

In the cold light of day I wonder why I decided to begin. What will I say, how will I say it, how can I live up to all the wonderful blogs that I follow and most awful of all, who is going to read it?

Anyhow. Friday, my favourite day of the week, the weekend is ahead and we have nothing planned. Am looking forward to a trip to the local garden centre this afternoon with my favourite shopping friend and fellow treasure seeker on a hunt for plant pots that look old but are new (follow the drift?) and then on to a fantastic antique/junk shop that said friend introduced me to not long ago. Again would love to share with you the items recently purchased but still missing that vital tool for a decent blog, a digital camera of my own.

On a different note, postman just arrived, with clotted cream from Devon! Every year my parents go there and send (yes, send! through the post) a pot of clotted cream. Its just not the same bought anywhere else you see, so I am now off to enjoy a very naughty lunch, well . . . . . it is Friday after all.

Scary stuff

I'm very new to this and I've wanted to do a blog for a long time, so I'm taking a brave step and trying my best to set this up. I'd love to show you some photos of our beautiful evening tonight. . . but the only decent one was the one I used for my blog heading. Must get my own digital camera and stop using daughters.