Showing posts with label Scenery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scenery. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Oh My Word......











....Where is the time going?

In one blink, it seems to have jumped from September (when I was thankful that the house was returning to normal with the school term starting), to November (when it's hey ho and fast paced until January).

These past few weeks have absolutely flown by. It's usually just one huge rush from October to January. As much as I LOVE everything about Christmas............I don't ever really seem to enjoy it. I'm rushing about, I'm stressing about getting stuff done, stuff bought. It's Birthdays galore the last few months of the year, and that seems to take my mind off getting organised even more.

Measures have been taken these last few years to make things easier for family. It's a big outer family, and the adults made the decision to only buy for the children (neices/nephews etc) and the matriarchal parents. I can't tell you how much that takes the pressure off. Not having to mope around shops wondering what to get the great Aunt who has everything and wants for nothing. Not only that, but it's amazing how much you start to enjoy the really important things so much more. Family. The best gift of all. I have to say, the last few Christmasses have been the best, when it's all been pared back to basics. I am trying to be super organised and get a bulk of it all done in November, so I can TRY and make December all about crafty stuff with the Bears and hunkering down in a warm and cosy abode.  Tealights, scented candles and hot water bottles. Oh, and not forgetting the cheesy Christmas films. Always a winner. My hot water bottle covers are getting a little tatty these days (highly used over winter) and I am planning a new batch to replace those, and it would be great to not have to rush those and enjoy a bit of seasonal crafting.







The one thing that is sneaking in now, is the odd Christmas decoration. Eeek. As I'm coming across them, they are going in the shopping basket and then being hung somewhere around the house, as a pre-Christmas appetiser! It's my way of eeking it out without being too overt about it.

The week before the half term I was like a woman posessed. After a Summer of pastels, I was REALLY ready for BRIGHTS. I ordered the brightest yarn I possibly could (some bordering on neon, and slightly scary if I am honest), and set to work on making something cheery. As usual, it was fly by the seat of my pants kind of making. I knew I wanted bright, and something for winter, but other than that, it was just go with the flow. Urgh, I couldn't keep focused. I'd start something and only like a bit of it. So, i'd take that bit I liked and start something knew. Then I'd only be happy with a little bit of that, and take an element and start yet gain. I think I started on four versions of something before I settled on what I think it was meant to be.

A bright scarf. Of course it would be a bright scarf! Well, it took me long enough to get there. It also took another week after I had initially finished the main body to decide what to do at the ends of the scarf. I thought tassles, but I wasn't sure the yarn really was up for tassles. I pondered for a whole week during Half Term.

No pics yet I'm afraid. The weather has been incredibly dark and dreary on the days that I am able to take snaps, so I shall wait for a decent day of light to catch it at its best. 


However, I did manage to make some sneaky little slippers from this months Inside Crochet Magazine. I have a serious amount of chunky yarn. All odd balls that I quite don't know what to do with them, but gorgeous stuff none the less that I cannot seem to part with. These seemed the perfect solution only using up a ball per pair.








Needless to say, soon I will be DROWNING in pom pom slippers. Typical me.







Half Term was a jam packed one. A whirlwind of a week. A really lovely whirlwind of a week though. The Autumn weather has been giving us some gloriously beautiful days (in-between the murky ones). There were some beautiful walks creating beautiful family memories. Happy children.....Happy me.




























































The light has been beautiful....magical even on some days (not today though....today is yucky). Walks on those kind of days are heavenly. The glorious golden glow, coupled with the damp, woody scent of Autumn......well......you realise what a glorious season Autumn really is.






School started back, the Bears were rested and it has been another crazy week. No photos. No stopping really. Any cuppas have been slurped whilst walking around. I am longing for a decent 5 mins.

I became a year wiser since my last post. Not usually something I really wish to celebrate. I don't 'DO' my birthday. It's not for the usual reason of not wanting to get older either. I have no qualms about getting older, getting wrinkles and spotting grey on my barnet. I loathe being the center of attention for a day......having said that.......the day was a perfect one. With all the birthdays, A LOT of cake has been eaten. Serious quantities.........and the diet needs to start mega soon. Eeeeek.


xxx


Thursday, 7 November 2013

Whizzing by......Sort of.......



I think it's part and parcel of getting older. 

Time seems to just go faster and faster.

This time of year seems to go especially quick on one hand.....yet so incredibly slowly on the other.

I always think I have lots of time to make presents for Christmas. I don't. It's always last minute and stressful. I always wish January will come quickly and I can start to look forward to the year ahead. It's when I know Spring won't be long and the dark days somehow seem easier to cope with.

Last week was a hectic one. It was our Half Term break. 

The blankets are out on all the beds now to snuggle under and hibernate in. Our house is a cool house. The Bears never seem to feel the cold, and if the heating is on a moderate temperature because I am cold, they all complain. So, I put on the extra layers and love my blankets and hot water bottles.....and they walk around in bare feet and short sleeved t-shirts.....(it makes me shudder!).

I wanted do a HUGE amount of this.....




Except this was the only day....and it was short lived. Pants.





There were a couple of Birthdays....

Mine was one of them.....a year older.....definitely a year wiser.



Not one for being the centre of attention and having some great party, low key is me.......I opted for a trip into London.


We hit the Museums.....The Bears were brilliant, and then we mooched along the King's Road. The last time I had walked along that street I was pregnant with Big Bear. Fourteen years ago. I obviously don't get out enough.

It's great to mooch places. I like to mooch.


The weather was amazingly great. I'm not sure I've EVER had a birthday where the weather has been mild and glorious. The only bonus for me with my Birthday, was that it always fell in the school half term (which as a school kid, was kinda great).



Having a couple of Birthdays in such a short space of time meant we all ate a lot of cake. 




Amongst the other grey and wet days, there was a glimmer of sunshine, so a trip to visit Jane Austen's House was had. I hadn't been for 20 years and it was great to visit there again. It was a beautiful day...although, I had a touch of the the giggles, and everything seemed really funny that day. I got a lot of stares. Everyone else was so serious there! Ever have days like that?



The house was beautiful. The sun was shining and the warmth felt in the house was amazing. I can well imagine how calming and lovely a place it was to finish her greatest novels there.




I did have a mid-week dip though.

Whilst I love the lazy days of a Half Term, I LOATHE the mess. More mess than is usual in my house. Mess to the point, where I cannot turn. Mess to the point where I want to EXPLODE at my beautiful Bears, for being totally unhelpful and only doing something if it benefits THEM.

Luckily, they did buck up their ideas and lend a hand. At the end of the week we headed to Wales to catch up with family and that was much needed.

I got to have lovely cuddle time with one of my new Nephews.



Oh I love the smell of new babies. The coohing........their dinky bums and cute little hands and feet.

Then they poop and cry....and i'm glad that i'm able to hand them back! ha ha!




There were blustery walks and rain soaked coats, but it was lovely to be out in the fresh salty air.
 













And at the end of long cold walks, there were hot chocolates and warm milks to warm one through though.





This past week has been spent playing catch up. I'm behind with everything. Not really any time for anything of a significantly crafty nature.....



....just a little bit of crochet frippery whilst having a 5 minute cuppa and a sit down....

We'll see how that one turns out!

xxx