Today........

Strong coffee to get me through this morning.

And no, it's not for a hangover. I just needed a caffeine surge this morning. Unusual for me to have such a caffeine hit so early, but needs must!

I have a ton of washing to get washed and put away. A food shop needs doing and I am sitting here faffing on the computer.

I need to get off Pinterest. Is there help available for pinterest addiction?!!!!

Anyone else feel like that?

The urge to pin and spend ridiculous amounts of time looking at gorgeousness is tremendous! I have too many boards to mention and don't even want to think how many pins I have pinned. If it was an old fashioned scrapbook, i'd have filled a whole bookcase full.

I'm here if you are a pinterest buddy and want to find me and take a peek at my pins.

Okay, I really should do some work now.

It's Friday at least, so have a beautiful weekend all and see you next week!

xxx

A Happy Bear.....

........Big Bear has been asking for a make for a while. I have always replied.....'yes, sure I will make one, when I get a few moments spare.'

Last week was my moment spare.

Last year I made these for Baby Bear.....

Frank and Betsy

Brother and sister

Dearly loved......and VERY well used.

Big Bear, although the biggest, still does love a soft toy. A velvet feel Gromit has been his companion for several years. He wanted a cat too. 

So, the Half Term week was the week I thought I ought to get cracking and actually make one. 

So meet Arnold.......

Loved tremendously already.

I thought I would make the larger of the cats......and boy he turned out big!

Compared with the other two! Baby Bear wanted him to be Frank and Betsy's Dad, but Big Bear was having none of that. I think he has become the Uncle instead. They were having a little family hug in the last pic, I think Arnold had just finished reading the kids a story. 

I now have had lots of calls from Baby Bear to make a 'Mummy' for them, as now, apparently, they are very lonely not getting mummy cuddles. A 'Mummy' may possibly be in the making some time soon.

I have to say, I am very taken with him. I want one for me...am I too old? He is a big dude, and he took a whole week to make, but he has a HUGE amount of character, just like the little ones. I have visions of a Sylvanian type family appearing all about the house. I'm thinking now how I can adapt the pattern to make a hot water bottle cover for Baby Bear to help with winter snuggles. I'll ponder on that one for a bit.

So.....Big Bear is happy. I did ask Middle Bear if he wanted one. He is not a soft toy kind of boy, but in the interests of being fair, I asked if he wanted one. His reply was......'I appreciate the effort and they are nice, but eh, no thanks!!!!!' That's easy then!

Today the sun is shining. It's mighty cold outside. Baby Bear is home today so we are having some quality time. So, I'm out of here...................

Happy Monday All......wherever you are and whatever the weather.....

xxx

A Quiet Kind Of Week......

The week has been a quiet one. A nice half term week. I think we needed it. To get completely over all the little bugs floating about. To just spend time relaxing. Not feeling like we had to be somewhere, do something. I like those kind of weeks. No pressure. Just a chance to unwind and take it easy. To lounge, to bake, to lie in bed with all the Bears snuggled up too, just having a chat, having a giggle and a tickle. My kind of week for sure.

We had a hearty kind of week.....to celebrate Valentines. Not something we MAJORLY do in this house. But this year, I felt the urge to heart it out.

Heart sprinkle cakes were made. Simple little butter biscuits, teamed with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles. All sorts of sizes. Some to hang off the milk cups, some filled with marshmallow fluff for an extra treat. These were fun to make and went down well this week.

Confetti was sprinkled....

...and sugar hearts were made for coffees...

....tea was sipped...books were read.....ideas were formed....

Fun drinks were made and sipped....

And hearty treats were eaten...

....and used to top some fairy cakes...

.....more butter biscuits....

....a vert treaty kind of week going on here.....

In amongst all of this hearty adoration, I managed to squeeze in a little play time....

......hook up a little something for someone....

....carry on with my lovely....

Potter about the house.....

Indulge in a fair bit of this....

.....perfect on the chilly days.....and this too...

Suffice to say, the healthy eating has flown out of the window this week. Cold weather and being snug in the house has made me crave this every day. Although, I did use the milk that looks like coloured water for my porridge and my latte, and it is sweetner mixed with cinnamon, so that's not too bad, right?

And enjoying a new little present from my lovely Mother-in-Law....

I feel recharged again.

Roll on the new term......

xxx

Turning Page..........

I've waited a hundred years,

but i'd wait a million more for you.

Nothing prepared me for

what the privilege of being yours would do.

If I had only felt the warmth of your touch,

If I had only seen how you smile when you blush.

Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough.

I would have known what I was living for all along.

What I've been living for.

Your love is my turning page,

where only the sweetest words remain. 

Every kiss is a cursive line,

every touch is a redefining phrase.

I surrender who i've been for who you are, 

for nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart.

If I had only felt how it feels to be yours,

well, I would have known what i've been living for all along. 

What i've been living for.

Though we're tethered to the story we must tell,

when I saw you, well, I knew we'd tell it well.

With a whisper, we will tame the vicious seas,

like a feather bringing Kingdoms to their knees.

           

                                                                                                       .... Sleeping at Last

Multiples.................

My parents popped over late Saturday morning.

I asked them if they had had a good morning so far.....to which my mum replied.....

"Well, yes....... we took a detour on a whim on the way here and ended up at a car showroom."

"Anything nice?" I replied

"Well, let's put it this way....we left our house to come and have a cuppa.....but we go back having bought two new cars!"

"TWO!" was my high pitched reply

"Well, you know what your father's like, he can never do anything in one's!"

My mum had been thinking about changing her car, my dad hadn't, but while he was there, he thought why not.

My mum went on to remind me that if my dad goes out to buy one shirt and a pair of trousers, he'll come back with five or six of each.

Garden furniture? He'll go out to get one chair and come back with two complete sets for each end of their garden and a summer house.

New Sofa? A dining table set will come back with it....probably with a sideboard in tow!

Now, my father isn't a big shopper, what man is, but he is one of those that when he does go out to get something, he never just comes back with the one!

So....why am I relaying this? Well, it got me thinking. I think I take after my dad more than I thought. I didn't realise it, but the car conversation highlighted it for me.

A couple of years ago, I went into Zara and saw a top I loved. It came in four colours. All 'me' colours. I couldn't decide so I came back with all four and all four stayed! I couldn't just pick one. In fairness, the said tops have been the most worn items in my wardrobe and I don't regret buying them all.

But I do it with other stuff too. I recently had a rush of gingham love. I LOVE Boden men's gingham shirts but had never thought to wear gingham myself. I found some nice shirts recently, for me, and came home with not one, but three. I think being very reasonably price helped! Mr H did ask when the tractor was arriving! Blimmin' cheek!

Now, I might just add, like my dad, I'm not out shopping all the time, but when I do, I seem to do the same as him.

Thinking further, I realise that I do it with my makes too.......

One granny blanket has become quite a few.......

Egg cosies, not one set of four but eight sets.....

Pot holders, not one, but eight......

Apple Cosies, not one, but...lost count....

Scarves, not one, but seven......

Shawls, one made but two more on the go.....

Wrist Warmers, ten pairs made.....

Brooches, not one, but considerably more.....

Okay.......so....you get it. In my defence, a HUGE amount of it went as gifts to family and friends, so it's not all piled up in my house!

I think it will be a challenge just to make the one of something!

I do think though with buying in multiples of a certain item, I have found over the years, that I have 'kicked' myself if I have dithered with getting two of an item if I REALLY liked it and I just walked away. It's because it's usually the thing I like the most that gets the biggest stain on it straight away, or gets caught on a nail or door knob and gets ripped. I learnt my lesson several times, and if the item is 'cheap' then I do. With making bits, I think it's getting the pattern in my head, enjoying the making process, so I just sort of churn them out until I feel fulfilled and ready to move on to the next thing!

He He

Anyone else like me and my dad?

xxx