This Week......

....has been a little hurried.....but not as hurried as I thought it was going to be.......so that was a bonus.

It mainly consisted of getting back into the school and house routine.

I don't really do New Year's Resolutions, but I did decide it was about time I gave my house an overhaul. Sadly, it's in need of a LOT of tlc. You do one thing, and it's the case of flowers on the windowsill. I'm tackling storage issues at the moment. I'm a magpie, a gatherer (I hate the word Hoarder). I live in a little house, and the Bears are getting bigger. It was only ever meant to be a stop gap house, but it's been a little more than that. So, it's small for us all now, but now is not the time to think about moving when the elder Bears' are starting a critical schooling period. So, I make do, and juggle stuff around. Ikea has been a blessing in the storage tub department. I did come back with a bed too though. That was a tad unexpected. So was the sofa cover, minus the sofa (I couldn't fit a bed and a sofa in my car). That's ok though, it just calls for another trip!

Geez, I really do have a lot of crap. Nice crap though, that I cannot bear to part with. Urgh, I'm useless. I have donated about 8 huge bags to charity shops in the last month, and I feel a bit pleased about that. I asked the Bears what they would like different in the house if I was to re-decorate. Weirdly they said they liked the house as it was. So, it's not all bad then. I think just moving a few bits, storing a few bits, slopping a bit of paint here and there and things can carry on as normal.

In between all this, I did mundane stuff like iron. It's a job I really really LOATHE. I don't find it therapeutic, I find it a complete time waster (like dusting). But I did it. A MASSIVE basket of it, and for one teensy tiny moment, I felt like a domestic goddess, instead of a cleaning loser.

I'm that sad that I stick a pic of all my hours work here too. I seriously was proud of myself for sticking with it! 

The weather has been a mixed bag this week. Bright sunshine one moment, and dark grey clouds the next.

This week, the family computer was updated.Whilst I love new technology, I like what I'm used too. New updated versions of everything annoy me. I'm having trouble commenting on peoples posts, and it's such a faff to work out why. I'm not geek minded at all. Oh well, it gives me a chance to have a play.

I have been enjoying having an endless jug of flowers in my house this year so far. Mainly Daffs and Hyacinths.

The pale pink Hyacinths on my Mantel faded so, a Hyacinth bulb and some Narcissi have gone up.

I do have a lovely little pot of hyacinths and tulips bringing me delight. I keep moving them about the rooms. It's amazing how just a few flowers can lift one so much. They seem to be relatively cheap at the moment too.

Baby Bear made my heart sing when he handed me his picture. He told me that he loves how I make the Mantel different (it's often a thing we do together, he's like my little artistic director) and he thought he'd draw the Mantel that day. 

Awe bless him.

I have enjoyed kitchen time. I love it in my little kitchen when the sun shines.

I am currently liking pink and aqua/mint together.

I am loving little additions to the kitchen too, like sheep. Something rather cute about this one.

I love sorting, and noticing. I love bright and cheerful. I like chunky and necessary also.

I like the useful too....

I have been loving making bread. Or should I say 'trying'. I have been trying different methods. Some work and some don't.

I really wanted this one to work here but I just am not getting any results from it. It's not rising. Tastes decent enough and not heavy which is weird for it not rising really. I wonder if it's my conversions. I find it really hard to convert USA cup sizes to UK metric/imperial. There are sites that convert things but I find it a tad confusing. I'm guessing if it says one cup of flour and one cup of sugar for example, you measure in the same cup measurement. If you convert that on a chart it's different weights in grams but I guess it's just done in cups. I know I sound like a complete thicko, but I don't get the accuracy. Well, something is going wrong my end. I've found, actually doing the suggested ingredients from my bread maker pamphlet in my bread maker is working well. I don't like bread made in bread makers. I find the tin sizes annoying, and hate how it bakes with the dough hook in the loaf. Most bread makers can do the first bit for you and then you just do a last prove yourself and bake it yourself. That seems to work well for me. It takes two and a half hours from start to finish. I really quite fancied a loaf in an hour! Really just because I'm lazy. It's not like it's difficult to put the ingredients in a bread maker and then just leave it for an hour and a half.

I still am determined to make a loaf without any help form my bread maker. I shall carry on testing recipes.

Whilst the sun has shone I have been sorting in my little kitchen. It has been a lovely little spot to be in this week.

I have even managed a little bit of relax time. In between wash loads and ironing, my treat for doing it was something naughty and a good hot cuppa. Mundane simply has to be equalled with something lovely for me. I remember being at Uni and having to write a dissertation on Greek Mythology. It wasn't a module I really wanted to do, but I had to fit it around my teaching modules which sucked at the time. Anyway, I remember wondering how on earth I was to write so much on something that I didn't want to do. So, I decided every 500 hundred words, I would stop for a really nice drink and treat to reward myself. That way, it all sort of equalled itself out. In twenty years, nothing has changed it seems.

Also, This week has been a week of creative juices flowing. Oh my, I have so many ideas of things that I want to start or try. It's that nice exciting time, when you just buzz buzz buzz. Also annoying, as I have that excited nervous energy feeling. It's hard to concentrate when I have that. Also annoying, that suddenly I have all these ideas and I want to start them all.

I'm still researching yarn for when I make the 'proper' Bella Wrap. Now I know I can do it, I'm trying to find the 'right' shade of natural to make it in first. No yellowy hue in sight. I like Drops Andes for coloured ones.

I'm still plodding on with the Sunshine Day Blanket, but it is slow going this week. I have made progress on my footstool.

The black shiny fabric that was under the black crochet cover was covered over with a bit of calico. Big staplers are great things for work like this (not great if your youngest decides to check it out and staple your table). 

Of course it had to be pink didn't it. A dirty pink, my favourite shade of pink. I thought it goes so nicely with the lovely bare wood of the little legs. I did think that blue/grey would be nice also (in the background). A little cushion project that was never finished as I ran out of yarn, but I think it could work well too. I may just mix and match when the mood takes me. Hopefully the pink cover should be finished by tonight. Better than the black crocheted cover it came with. 

I also couldn't resist these balls from my local shop. Aren't they delicious? The mottled ones are Drops Fabel in shades 800 and 801, and the mauve one is Drops Baby Alpaca in shade 4314. I'm still in layering mode and thinking these would make super wrist warmers (like I need any more). This shade of mauve is about the only purpley/lilacy shade I can work with (it's a little pinker than the actual pic). I particularly love it teamed with deep forest greens and dark olives. I'm thinking on a Bella Wrap in those shades, so mauve wrist warmers should compliment it well! 

I also have plans for more embroidery. One is a big project, but I like the idea of doing it. Not sure that if I do it, I'll have anywhere to hang it in my little abode, but I think I'll love working on it. The other is a smaller project. The idea is whirring fast in my head, and I'm loving thinking about it.

This year too, I am planning to get to know my sewing machine a little better. I have a dress I want to make. It'll take a mountain of practice. With crochet, I wanted to learn it just to make a granny squares blanket. Nothing else interested me, it was just one simple blanket. I wanted to learn crochet, make the blanket, and then move on to learning another craft. Seven years later, and I haven't yet moved on. The same may be said with sewing. I want to learn to sew, simply to make a particular dress......and an A-line skirt. Two things, if I can master and make, then I should be happy enough to move on. Let's see if that's the case.

So, it's been a making, baking, clearing, sorting, ideas buzzing kind of week. 

A happy one.

I'll take that.

I'll also take another slice of warm bread. The buzzer has just gone. The Bear's are not going to get a look in. Somebody stop me, I'm outta control............

Have a super weekend all

xxx

Onwards and Upwards......

Thank you for all your comments regards my proposed change here. The general consensus was that you liked it as it is! I think maybe i'll just do a few tweaks here and there. More than I normally do, but nothing really completely drastic! 

I think about what draws me to others blogs. If there is too much going on on the blog page, I find it distracting and cannot concentrate on reading the actual post. I find if it's too plain, then the blogger tends to become quite impersonal, and I realise that I am less likely to leave a comment. Blogging is a funny thing isn't it?

 I have always loved 'pastels' and feel they are very soothing colours. Soft and gentle......warm, kind and inviting. I guess it's what I wanted for my blog. I wanted a place that, if I came to spend any length of time here, I wanted to come away from it relaxed. As much as I LOVE bright colour, and REALLY need it in my life, it was always pastels that I came back to on this blog. They calm me, and I need that in my hectic little world. So, maybe i'll stick to pastels, and just have a little re-jig of bits here and there.

Never fear, the content will be the same. I'm not good with HUGE change.

♡♡♡♡♡♡

I have been dipping my toes back in with knitting. It's been nice to do something a little different from my usual crochet project. This is something simple (errr yes, I can only do simple), my third knitting project (First two can be found here). But....OH MY WORD.....it is taking FOREVER. I think I must be the worlds slowest knitter. And.....if i'm honest.....i'm finding it a teeny bit boring. YIKES. It's just it's taking so long to grow. My boredom threshold, I have realised, is really rather low when it comes to knitting. Crochet seems to have a quicker satisfying fix. Maybe practice will make me a little quicker than the slowest snail ever. I am happy though that I have no holes, and I've managed to negotiate increases and decreases without too much bother....and i've only called my mum once for help when I didn't understand and instruction! Result!

My tension could be better, but I suppose it could be worse, so i'm okay with how it's looking. I love the moss stitch......no, no, no, I mean I SERIOUSLY love it It's my most favourite of all the stitches, and I was so glad to be able to do a bit on this project. Such a lovely texture and look. However, as a new knitter, it's a right old pain in the bum to do! 

It's also looking worryingly small! I asked the Bears if they had any idea what I could be making, and Baby Bear replied 'A scarf for Rufus' (his small teddy dog). Hummmm, well, it's supposed to be a little bigger than a toy dog scarf. I'm hoping blocking it will help when it's done. I'm loving the yarn and colour......and.....if it does turn out okay, then I know it will be well used.

So, a little bit of knitting and a relax. I have a mammoth weekend planned, so i'm charging up my batteries in preparation for it. I went to donate blood yesterday but was told my Iron levels were too low to donate this time. Nothing major but it made me realise I need to spend a little bit more time taking care of myself. I'm trying to keep things 'Simple' but it's hard in a hectic world.

xxx

Boredom.....

I am trying to fight it hard.

I have come to realise that I am one of those people who simply cannot sew in ends as they go along. I have an idea, I want it finished. Simple as that. I know that if I try to be a good girl and sew in as I go along, I would lose the will to live and no project would ever get finished. I resign myself to the fact that at the end of all the motif making and the putting together, I have a few days (possibly a week if a mega blanket) of sewing in ends. I don't mind this so much. I know it fills many with dread. A few evenings with a project sat on my lap, just methodically sewing in as I half gaze at something on the box. I can do that. Yes, I can totally do that.

I'm not sure why the latest blanket is taking so long. I cannot buckle down. I'm loving it put together, and I know I will love it more when the very last end is sewn in. So why is it so difficult to get it finished. I'm 3/4 there, but I can only seem to manage 15 minutes at a time without needing to get on with something else. I'm dying of boredom this time round. Strange, as I usually am all excited at this stage. And it's not as if i'm not loving it either. I don't know what's got into me.

So, as I could have got it finished and all tickety boo by the end of the weekend, it still stares at me.....and frowns. I just had to escape it and start something else. Something i've had visions of for a while.  Trouble is, i'm bored with that too. I think it'll be okay when it's done....well i'm hoping so. I'm looking forward to the embellisment........but it looks mega boring at the moment...... and i'm mega bored doing it. Actually, it looks even more boring seeing it in the above image. 

OH MY WORD, WHAT AM I DOING?

I just hope it will transform form an ugly duckling into a half decent swan. I really need sticking power, with both of these projects. 

I'm hoping this phase of boredom will soon pass.

xxx

My Week and Ponderings.......

I have REALLY enjoyed getting my blogging mojo back.

It has been great to feel like i'm getting back into a rhythm again.

At first I wasn't sure how sporadic my posts would be, but I think I am aiming for at least a weekly post. A little weekly reminder to myself how my world has been if when I look back at it.

I have spent this week in a whoosh. Is 'whoosh' the right word? Yes, I think it is. It's like someone has blown me along this week at an alarming speed. I've been here, there and everywhere. It's been a week where I haven't stopped to think and make plans. I seem to have lurched from one thing straight into another. I find these types of weeks hard, especially as I am a dreamer.....and procrastinator. If I don't get a fixed dose of these each week, I cannot seem to function at my best. This week, has actually been a week when I have needed that more than others too. I have needed to be able to have time to just think, and it's not really happened.

It has been a tiring week. The weather has been a mixed bag. We had big thunderstorms this week. We haven't had a good thunderstorm for quite a while. I do love them. I find that there is something so fascinating about angry weather. I do love to watch those programmes about the storm chasers. They are crazy dudes but I get their fascination and drive to be there in the middle of some really ridiculous weather situations. I was a tad irritated though, that it came right when the final of the great british bake off was on. Sit by the window or watch the bake off?

I feel like I have achieved a little bit this week though. Cake bakes made for school....laundry done (I loathe the monotony of laundry, and how whenever I get every last drop of it done and put away, I turn around and the piles again behind me are monstrous! Ever get that too?)......I posted off the Innocent hats......I donated blood.....I was a HUGE taxi service to my children this week (I felt like I practically lived in my car).....I got a few rows done on my blanket and made a start using the turquoise yarn I bought a few weeks ago.......I made a couple of pot holders......I ate space rocket crumpets with jam......I sorted china and blankets.....happily watched the rising sun glow across my dresser.........and loved viewing snippets of colour throughout my house.

I guess, I have achieved a fair amount. It's funny how you don't think so until you stop and make a note of it. That's where noting down these things pays off. I don't feel so rubbish about my week now! I've got little bits done here and there on the crafty front, but it all feels quite itty bitty.

I do feel though that I would really like to start a project that I have given quite a bit of thought too. I feel like the last 10 projects have been things sort of started on a whim without any proper thought. Well, except for the baby blankets. I did actually give those more than a few seconds thought.

I guess, I would just like to start something that is not started on a whim, as most of my projects seem to be. So I am on the look out for something to really get my teeth into. I do have a long list of things that I have been wanting to make for like, EVER, but I just would love to make something that really grabs me.....and truly absorbs me. Hummmmmm, I might have to spend a bit of time on Pinterest  searching for some inspiration to start the project of all projects.

Having said that though, this is not the time of year to be starting big projects really. Now is the time when I start to get twitchy, and the stress levels rise slowly. It all just gets manic from here on in until after christmas. I usually dread this all. I cannot seem to change my thought on it. Maybe i'm thinking, a project might be a good distraction or de-stresser. We shall see. Maybe just searching for inspiration and finding a project that I think I would love to start will be enough, rather than actually starting it.

Today though, I am not alone. I have Baby Bear at home with me, feeling a tad under the weather. So we are having a snuggle day. I Like days like those. The coffee pot is on and gently wafting its aroma over the house. The lamps are on. The hot water bottle is filled. Books are beside me to enjoy whilst Baby Bear snuggles and drifts in and out of sleep. This will be my day.

I hope that you all have a beautiful day, wherever you are and what ever you are doing....

xxx

So.......

....the house is a tip....

I've given up trying to make it look decent.

I hope people give me at least 5 minutes notice before they turn up.

I realise with 3 boys being at home all day, I am not going to win the battle, and may as well just bide my time until the start of the school term and normality can resume.

They have been good actually. Three boys in one space for too long is usually a disaster. I am not tearing my hair out......

....but the mess...........oh the mess.......

I'll just have a cuppa and forget about it all........

xxx

Colour Boost........

Yesterday was bright and beautiful. It felt like Spring had sprung. Not a cloud in the sky, mild enough to have the windows and doors open. It made a new me.

Today, grey and dull again. Weather, why do you tempt us so?

So brights today to keep me lifted. Hopefully tomorrow will be all happy and sunshiny again.

Just what my morning needed! The lovely Pip!

xxx