Mother's Day

For some of us, it is not always straightforward to be a mother. So when finally by whatever method we manage to create a family, it is truly extra special.  I remember a very sad time when I thought I would never have a family of my own, holding my baby niece in the garden and wishing like Dorothy that the world would whirl about and I would be left standing there with my own baby.

Well, it didn't happen quite like that, but now I have a beautiful grown up daughter, a very nearly grown up young man and a beautiful baby grandson.  How lucky I am.  I hope and pray that every woman who would like to have babies, one day, some how, will get the chance.

Well now, a picture from my lovely mother's day.  A day out in the countryside, looking at beautiful things and collecting bits and pieces of nature and of course - Tea and Cake!!

Winter comforts

I have come across a lot of things about ladybird books lately, but my favourite books are definitely 'What to look for in Spring' etc.  I was sure I had a complete set, but winter is missing, so I think we are alright to have a picture from 'Spring'

This is how it looks on my way to work at the moment.  There are some water meadows surrounding the town I work in and at the moment they are completely flooded, with swans, seagulls and ducks swimming about.

When it is pouring with rain and dark and cold, you need comfort food.  In the 'olden' days (1960s and 70s) we used to have lots of comfort food.  My lovely mother-in-law used to make wonderful old fashioned puddings.   The other day my husband requested (no sniggering now!) Spotted Dick. How lovely to make one, wrapping it up in a cloth and boiling it.  I am sure it is very unhealthy for you, but here it is... and it tasted lovely!

It is soon my birthday and now having a beautiful grandson, I now have more extended family.  Oliver's other granny bought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  I had been feeling under the weather that day, and my new magazine arrived (Homes and Antiques) together with the lovely flowers, making me feel a lot better.

My photos always have lots of 'junk' in the background, but can you spy what is there - an options booklet! My little baby is embarking on GCSE's - where have the years gone!!

What happened to the year?

2013 has flown by,  I can't believe I didn't write anything since March.  Therefore I will do a big catch up and share the things I have been doing this year.

The summer just flew by and I don't have many pictures and didn't do a lot of making, but then it was August and we had a lovely baby shower for Charlotte.  I loved making the cakes and am so glad I got the special sugar baby for the top of the cake.  It made me think of one that I had as a dolls house baby when I was small. My sister and I both had one, one pink and one blue.

Then my little baby who has now grown rather big, started at his new school - doesn't he look smart in his uniform. 

And then on the 10th September, one week early and within a few hours of getting to the hospital, baby Oliver appeared.  I am such a proud Nanny and very pleased to be sharing the first months of his life.

Halloween came and went.  I made a cake of which I am rather proud.  It is made by using two pudding basins and cooking two cakes.  Hollow out the middle of each and fill with sweets!  A cake pinata..

And now it is Christmas, not a lot of making this year, but I did make some little knitted pigs who will be winging their way to a foreign place very soon.

Some four legged friends who went to a happier hunting ground this year and are remembered with great fondness- Archie and Charlie.

I hope you all have a lovely 2014 and as the rain pours down and the wind howls don't forget spring is just around the corner!!

Happy Easter to Everyone

I hope you are all having a lovely Easter day, it is beautiful and sunny here but very cold.  Here are just a few pictures from my Easter day....

This is Jacob with a little chick about ten years ago, I just love this photo!

 

Look at my lovely Easter present, my family know me very well, a lovely dish of Easter cup cakes - there were six to start with....

 

 

I love making an Easter tree, I went for a dog walk early yesterday, two dogs, a carrier bag and some scissors, I did get in rather a tangle now and again but managed to get some nice branches for my tree.

 

And now my happy Easter news - I am going to be a Nanny, my big daughter is expecting a baby in September, so a lovely excuse for lots of knitting.  I have already started on a teddy blanket and the kind man in the paper shop gave me the lovely pattern Bunny Bootees.

 

 

I hope you all have a lovely Easter!

 

A virtual day in my life!

Well, I was looking at Susan Branch's Blog, a lovely wonderful place, with beautiful drawings and enchanting ideas.

Susan was extolling the virtues of our virtual world and computers and I thought, yes, I could more or less have my dream day via You Tube.

So here is my virtual dream day!!

I would like to wake up and be in Canada having maple syrup pancakes for breakfast, there were no making pancakes in the wild videos, but look at this - a wonderful Sugar Party! I daydreamed I was there with these strangers at there lovely party, having fun and making maple syrup!  (The only time I went to the US, I was so homesick I found it really hard to eat pancakes with maple syrup, and for anyone who knows my passion for eating sweet things, then I must have been sad) : (

Now, after my pancakes, I would take a lovely walk just where I live in the lovely purbeck hills and coast.
Walking with the dogs!

After that we need some lunch and a nice rest.....Lunch in France

And in the afternoon - excitement I think Seeing the world through God's eyes

I would end the day Sailing Home

And so to bed Good night, Sleep Tight, Hope the bed bugs don't bite!

Lots of cold days and long evenings means more knitting.  Although sometimes it is very tempting to just curl up and do very little.

Noah is now here and waiting for his animals, he's shown here with a little ted who is ready for a new baby.  They are sheltering under the hyacinths that I had for my birthday.

Finally after such a long time, I finished painting the kitchen just before Christmas.  The curtains have taken an even longer time to make and then a few weeks to finally get up.  Then on my birthday arrived the most beautiful lights to match my curtains.  All I have to do now is put all the pictures back up and make some bunting!

And to deserve my evening sitting down knitting and dreaming, we went for a very long chilly walk by the sea, but it was beautiful.

I've been absent for a little white and have had some complaints, but it has been very busy.

It was Christmas and we had a lovely time.  Usually I just try to make one thing, but this time I managed to finish knitting three little things for  Christmas presents.  The night before delivering I was wrapping up, finishing the little things until 2 am all with the help of a little sherry. (I don't drink very much at all, but when it gets to December then its time to break open the sherry!)

Here are some pictures of the things I made

My latest lovely books I am knitting from are Noahs Knit's and Tiny Bears to Knit and Crochet


I hope to make a whole Noah's Ark full of animals - I have always loved Noah's Arks and for a long time dreamed of making a wooden one, but that is a whole lot of new skills but knitting I can do.  I have digressed a little and made a bright green pig for Jacob and am now making a lavender one (with lavender in) for a special young lady!  Pictures of these another day.

I have also purchased reading glasses to help with sewing and embroidery and a special marking pen for embroidery, but so far no time for this.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year.

(also loving my Molly Makes calender and keep forgetting to buy double pointed needles to make the lovely owl wrist warmers)