Getting depressed with the stats

February half term. Probably the worst most useless of all the holidays. Can't go to the caravan for a cheap holiday. Can't spend much post Christmas. Can't enjoy the park, it's all wet and slippy. Can't meet friends cos they are all away. Can't visit family cos they are away too. Hope you are getting the gist of it. We are all pretty fed up, shutting ourselves up at home. Watching tv, playing Cluedo, reading, knitting and bickering. How are your holidays going? Xx

getting excited about the stats

It's official.

 I am FED UP with winter.

 As much as I love a decent bit of snow (and sledging) and crisp cold sunny days I have been dreaming today about a change of season.

Dreaming about Spring, lighter nights, daffodils, the Easter bunny, the promise of all things new.

Dreaming about Summer, fruit and veg picking, hot days, beaches, tea on the patio, barbecues and sun on my skin.

Golly I'm vitamin D deprived.

 I have even inadvertently started Spring Cleaning, well I say Spring Cleaning but actually its just cleaning and clearing. Of the usual kind. Which is rather unusual for me, haven't done much of it for a while!

I cleared kitchen cupboards, I threw away a lot of out of date baking ingredients, I was rather ruthless. Again, rather unusual for me! The unusual amount of sleep and the new supplement I'm taking must be to blame.

Of course the cheeky chicken tries to thwart my every move, leaving a trail of destruction behind her wherever she goes.

Hoping your weekend was happy.

xx

ps. the supplement I'm taking is called Green Magic by Proto-Col.  And it's good!

library cards and custard creams

(this is a post a wrote a long time ago, have just found it saved. Think I was going to add photos)

It would be hard to remember when and where I found my love for all things vintage.

For as long as I can remember I have always preferred old over new. Which is very odd to the majority of people.


Ten years ago it was considered shabby ( in the old sense of the word not the new one related to shabby chic) to set foot inside a charity shop but now you see all walks of life stepping inside.


It is very interesting to take a look at these people if you can take a minute out to observe. It is quite easy to spot the 'on the look out for ebay sellers', the 'just browsing for myself buyers' and then of course the people who in these recession times are simply there because they have to be.


Charity shops are quite busy these days!


Anyway, back to my own love.


I think it has gradually blossomed, gradually been formed.


From visiting other friends parents homes as a teenager (I particulary used to love staying at one friends house who had her own top floor but no heating, it seemed so exciting to have to huddle round the fan heater to get dressed for school in the morning - I know, I'm odd), to buying our first home.


Our first home.


Golly, it seems so long ago but I will never forget getting the keys, sleeping on the floor the first night because we were so excited. That house was in Bishops Stortford, a two up, two down but it was so full of character. 200 years old and all ours (well, ok, with the commitment of a mortgage)!


Since our first home we have moved around the country and lived in seven houses!


Our home previous to our current was the house of my dreams. All I have ever wanted. Victorian, big windows, open fireplaces, big rooms, sweeping staircase, cellars, playroom, I could go on. When we moved in with the children it was lovely, we had a Christmas tree in the hall, a seven foot Christmas tree in the living room, a ten foot in the bedroom (no, I was joking on that one!), I thought that was it.


Well, obviously not!


The location turned out to not be what we imagined, the neighbours seriously put me off (even made a pass at me) and the bills were extortionate. It seemed to be one thing after another and we decided to sell.


I will always miss that house. But a house is a house. I still have dreams. Just practical ones that won't be easily misled this time.


Next time I will choose my house wisely, I will be able to afford it, it will tick every box and look like the vintage fairy has vomited everywhere!


Until then I will be content with what I have. I am lucky. I will continue to charity shop, to add to treasures inherited from my Gran. I will share with you snippets of what I am proud of and I will thank my lucky stars that we didn't go bankrupt!


Let's celebrate vintage and make sure its not just a passing fancy. Support your local charity shops, save the treaures inside, blog about your finds, don't let this 'trend' end I've only just come into my own!

incessant chatter

 Having completed lots of itty bitty quick and super satisfying projects recently I had the urge earlier in the week to start something a bit more challenging. Well challenging for me, the intermediate knitter.

 The silver spider recently made a beautiful 40's inspired cardigan from Interweave Knits. I couldnt help but copy.

And of course, in these economic times I am 'knitting from stash'.  Cannot justify buying the yarn needed for this cardigan.  Although I REALLY REALLY want to knit it in orange or yellow.

Turqouise it is.  Yarn bought in a charity shop not so long ago.  £3.50 for 8 balls. Bargain.  Except I have no idea what it is.  The ball band is blank.  No washing instructions, no yarn content, not even any idea whether its DK, 4 ply or aran (although I'm not that silly, think its DK).

It is such a lovely knit.  An easy pattern to follow, just over 4 rows, but varied enough to keep you interested.

On the controlled crying front we are persevering.  Had two fantastic nights (Tuesday and Wednesday) followed by two trying nights (Thursday and Friday).  I only wonder what tonight will bring.  The big two are sleeping out tonight to make sure that they at least get a decent night. I am left here with a coughing husband and crying baby.

I smile to myself, I am, trials aside, a happy mummy.












ps. loving Kirstys new bedlinen.  Serious case of the wanties.

Happy Weekend xxxxx

I didn't hear the milkman at 5am.

 I didn't hear the paperboy at 6am, trundling past with his shopping trolley full of today's news.

 For the past year I have heard these early morning sounds every morning, without fail. They are lovely sounds, heralding the start of a new day much like the bird chorus, but I must say I have recently found myself wishing I was still in the land of nod.

 And so it was bliss to be woken this morning at 6.30am after a full near 6 hours sleep.

 There is much to be said for controlled crying. It is the VERY last resort. Just a quick google and you can see how contentious the matter is. But after trying everything else (The No Cry Sleep Solution etc etc) I, sorry, we, decided to give it a go. It breaks my heart but my health is suffering now and we really just can't carry on with such little/no sleep. It is a form of torture after all.


I really hope that we have made a slight breakthrough.  I felt like a new woman this morning and full of hope that things may now change.  I can begin my life again without feeling like I am living in a dream world all the time.  Feeling guilty that none of my children are receiving 'enough of me' because I am so dog tired.

Hope it wasn't a 'one - off'!!

ps.  thank you for my two lovely comments about my valentines cushion.  and the winner is . . . . . . .  . . . .







madness and mayhem!  will contact you via your blog to arrange delivery. xxx

not enough to sledge

Love is in the air.

As the 14th Feb creeps up on us I have decided to share the love with my readers.

See that lovely little cushion sitting on my windowsill?

I made that today, its so lovely.  If you send me a comment for this post I will put your name into the hat and you might win the lovely little valentine cushion.

Let the cushion see the comments! (oh dear, Damion, you may be good looking but you really bombed tonight!)

xx

cranial osteopathy

As I sit down to write my post I am am struck by one thing.  I can hear the clock ticking.  Phew.  I cant remember the last time I heard that.  And I am under no false impressions that it will last long.

Heres hoping that I will be in bed by midnight tonight.

As I sit down to write my post I am also texting my middle man.  Who sends me texts while hes watching big sis swim to say he loves me.  Note to self; its all worth it.

Heres hoping for no swimming accidents tonight.

As I sit down to write my post I am trying not to think about the millions of other things I should be doing.

Heres hoping you are doing what you want to do too, and not the millions of other things.

xx