Posy

Visions of the past

It was whilst we were at Matthew's house the other weekend (Coldplay's concert) that I spied a large cardboard box in the middle of his kitchen with the words 'Family Photos' scribed in my mother's hand. I was over to the box in a trice and pulled out an album.

Oh the absolute joy - I hadn't seen these photographs in years. "Oh Anthony," I exclaimed, "this is like treasure to me!" There I was in various stages of my life.. 

..babyhood

..toddler-hood (with kittens in my pocket)

Look at the wallpaper in this photo, it's true vintage rosy goodness.

And then a new brother arrived every year or two.

This was my first ever knitted creation - though I seem to remember the teacher did most of it!

Our first day at school here in Devon. I just love my mother's shadow in the corner and realised I would recognise it anywhere.
But what thrilled me more was the discovery of an old album of photographs of the hotel I lived in from the age of 9 until I left home at 17. The Palace Hotel. The hotel I call home. They were taken by an elderly man who used to do odd jobs around the hotel but loved photography and was always taking photos.

There are pictures of most of the reception rooms, some bedrooms and a few members of staff, and even photos of me posing by the pool etc. I remember having to pose for them and hating every minute of it but oh my, I'm so, so grateful for everyone of those cringe worthy photos now because they have changed the hotel inside and out and the lovely gardens are no more.

So a small handful of the photo albums have come back home with me, rather than go into Matthew's attic. And they will be poured over by me with delight and the odd tear for the days gone by.

 

Some new books

 

I have bought a book or 3 recently and must share them with you.
I'll start with my favourite, a vintage inspired treasure called

Pretty Little Things To Make  by Judith More. This is a sweet book and try as I might I couldn't walk out of the shop without it.

I particularly adore the wonderful illustrations and photographs and if you love vintage children's clothes then this book won't fail to inspire.

Second up is

Crochet Stitch Motifs by Erika Knight I realise that I have a little obsession with crochet books as I have bought 2 in 2 months - (they probably have all the same motifs in them if truth be known!)

And finally

The Encyclopedia of Knitting and Crochet by Luise RobertsA very good information source. This is my favourite page..

I just love those flowers and the colour combinations.
All great books. Can anyone recommend any other crochet books?

This weekend I...

..went to a wedding..

..nursed most of the family..

...had a rummaged through the attic and came across a very old CK ironing board cover. My first ever CK purchase many years ago. (Incidentally, I didn't find what I originally went up in the attic for. Typical.)

..looked for signs of autumn..

...found joy on our doormat..

..smiled when I came across this in the garden...

..did some potting up..

..cut the grass..

.. lit the fire in the evenings..

How was yours?

Colour

The 'why I'm happy today' list

I do hope you are not all getting totally bored with the whole list thing. I really love writing them as it is making me focus on the good things - big and little - rather than what I could be worrying about...have I mentioned to you that I worry? I do. A lot. And I'm also loving reading your lists in the comments as well so do join in if you feel like sharing.

So here we go..

:: The magical signs of a new season (quite possibly my favourite) approaching ::

:: Wearing boots again (and my new skirt too.) ::

:: Lovely Steph'scomment she left yesterday about 2 children's Christmas books she bought after reading my book list. I'm so glad you're pleased Steph. ::

:: The fact that I have finished my 'solo' teaching for the week already ::

:: My new mug bought for me by my dear friend Sarah - it is so me ::

:: Half term is drawing ever closer (end of October) which is when I'm painting the floorboards in the sitting room. I can hardly wait ::

:: The late summer sun which continues to shine ::

:: 2 more DVDs of Lark Rise To Candleford (series one) to watch ::

:: Alfie on sentry duty ::

:: The song of a robin who has taken up residence in a tree outside our classroom ::

:: There is about 5 or 6 weeks before the Christmas magazines are out ::

:: And finally, I will probably light our fire in the next week as the evenings are getting cooler ::

What bliss....

The concert

Well - if I was exhausted by school & life last week, that was a walk in the park compared to our weekend. If nothing else, I am now officially the 'coolest mother' amongst Lucy's friends for having to sit through (read endure...) Jayz for an hour or more. I alternated between covering my eyes from the strobe lighting every 8 seconds for 6 seconds (can produce a migraine in a flash) and sticking my fingers in my ears every 12 seconds as the sound was so loud and faintly distorted. It was all pointless because I had got myself so excited at the prospect of seeing Chris that I already had a migraine anyway...

"Why, on earth did you not come out and get a drink with Anth and me?" asked Matthew, absolutely astounded at me sitting through it all.

Well there was a perfect explanation to that. You see our seats were just 5 or 6 rows from the roof of Wembley Stadium. Yes the actual roof, and upon climbing the eeenormous mountain of steps I knew that there would be no popping out to go to the loo or to get drinks as I would never make it back up again. So there I waited for my beloved Chris - whilst trying to work out who was who as everyone on stage looked like tiny worker ants! And what about Coldplay?
They were fantastic and even though it was heartbreaking being so far away it did help me to focus on the music as we couldn't really see anything anyway. I did at one point think of yelling of my love for him but it would have been a lost cause so I'll save it for next time. We finally got back to Matthew's house at 2am and then I couldn't sleep until after 3am and I was woken at 6am....
So I start the week even more tired than I ended the last one - but at least I'm now known as the coolest mum in Devon! For now, at least..

 

Lists :: The things I love about my family ::

Apologies for not writing a post yesterday - the last 2 days at school have somehow depleted all of my energy. But the weekend is nearly upon us and we are going to see Coldplay on Saturday..yay..but we will be in Wembley Stadium at the back..so the chance of my beloved Chris actually hearing me shout about my total love for him is zilch. Well at least I will be breathing the same air as him for a couple of hours anyway! But enough about Chris and more about lists and today it's my sweet family's turn.

Tom

• I adore his sense of humour and our connection through it.
• I love his Goble sweet snub nose.
• I love the memory of the very first time I really 'saw' him. It was 2am and he was 14 hours old. The midwife was helping me breast feed and lifted him up out of his crib. I looked at his face and saw Anthony. It took my breath away.
• I love his gentleness but I understand that might not sound very cool!
• And in the same breath I love his strength which sounds a bit more manly.
• I'm still smiling at the conversation we had on Tuesday. I was driving home from school at 5.15 (stayed for Art Club) when my mobile went off (T's ring tone is Sick Puppies 'What are you looking for?' incidentally.) I pulled over to speak as we had only had a couple of brief texts since leaving him at Uni on Sat and I had been fretting like only a mother can. Said hello but then the signal wasn't good so I asked him where he was...he said "On top of a cliff...." WHAT???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! was my reply. Not what I wanted to hear.  He wasn't there for any sinister reason thank goodness, just out with his friends. He is doing OK and has even found a part time job.
• I love the way his sisters fuss around him trying to give him fashion tips which he never takes any notice of.
• I love the fact he thought of me on Monday when he heard a busker in the street singing 'Coldplay's Warning Sign' (which is one of my favourites.)
• I love his relationship with Robin, my step-father's, father. They go and watch the local football team together and really enjoy each other's company. A few years ago Tom would have been too embarrassed to be seen out with anyone who wasn't his friend or over the age of 17!
• He answers to all of his crazy nicknames that have evolved over the years but he will kill me if I tell you them. 

Lucy

{the photo is of Lucy (left) with 2 of her closest friends taken late August when they arrived with a surprise birthday cake they had spent the whole day making. I think this was the 2 attempt! I don't know who was more thrilled, Anth and I, or Lucy herself. I promised the girls I would put the photo on the blog. They certainly are beauties.}

• I love her cleverness and her drive which puzzles me everyday as to where she got it.
• She is kind, gentle and thoughtful to others.
• I love watching TV with her and that includes all the rubbishy reality shows. We laugh at Anth who complains in his NZ accent that.."ahh you two just dominate the TV..."
• She talks to our cats (like her mother and uncle) in stupid high pitch way, calling Alfie her 'ginger darling'. This back-fired a few months back when we had a red haired man in fixing our oven. She came down the stairs not realising anyone was there and saw Alfie - very loudly she said in the highest, most craziest voice (sort of manic baby talk!) .."HELLO MY GINGER DARLIN'..OOH YES.." She then turned the corner and saw the red haired young man who just looked at her in a stunned silence. Perhaps that's why they won't come back and fix our oven again..
• She organises me.
• She's braver than me.
• She is ever-so-slowly coming around to liking the whole vintage scene, though this is more to do with clothes than home furnishings. Her room is a total tip!
• I'm so loving the growing closeness of her and her sister.
• She will cook for me and I don't really need to plead that much.
• She, too, will answer to her nickname, eg Doodle.

Alice

 

• I'm constantly surprised about how much Alice is like me.  That in itself worries me but she is much more self-assured than I was and worries less. She is like her father there. Phew..but it's spooky though!
• She sticks up for the underdog and is quite bossy (mm..like her mother again there, but I am only bossy with my family - she is bossy on the school bus!)
• I just adore watching her trying to emulate her older sister by doing and liking the same things.
• She, too, is kind and thoughtful and is excellent at tidying up very quickly. Later you then realise that everything has been shoved under the sofa...
• She's charming.
• She has her father wrapped around her little finger (well all the Goble girls do)
• She taught herself the piano.
• I love the fact she just enjoys life - the little things and big things.
• She laughs easily.
• She, also answers to a number of crazy nicknames mainly Tiny (Tyn for short).

Anthony

• Oh, I just love this man.
• I love the fact that he wears hearing aids in both ears (he has worn hearing aids since childhood) and now he has to wear reading glasses. He still is super hot in either.
• He cheerfully puts up with my obsessions and gets quite offended on my behalf if people walk into our home and think it's OK to make derogatory comments about it without even being asked for their opinion!
• He is my rock and rocks my world.
• He can go for weeks without buying anything.
• He is honest, true and conscientious.
• He does the breakfast shift.
• He is an excellent kisser.
• He puts his family above all else..well, after God that is.
• He also answers to my crazy nicknames.

In case you think that my family is in danger of being too damn perfect, let me also mention that I could rustle up 10 things that drive me crazy about them in no time.. but I like to dwell on the good and I certainly count my blessings.......

Lists :: Books I love ::

  

I don't think I can do a top 10 as I wouldn't be able to rank them in an order but I will list some of my favourites. I have found in the last few years I read mostly non-fiction. I love autobiographies/biographies and am hugely passionate about children's fiction.

:: Books I love ::

• The Magic Apple Tree by Susan Hill. A wonderful journey through the seasons. A must. I am desperate to read Through the Kitchen Window and Through the Garden Gate but have never come across them in my hunting. Also I loved her book called Family which describes her journey to complete her family. Very moving.
  
• Thrush Green/Fairacre books by Miss Read. These have been my favourite fiction books in the last 15 years or so.
  
• A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You (or any other of her titles) by Joan Walsh Anglund. A childhood favourite.
  
• Gone Before by Henry Southgate. This is a very old book (1903) I found in an dusty second hand book shop. The blurb describes it as being a manual of consolation for the bereaved and a well of sympathy for the sorrowing filled from many sources. It is mainly poetry with the chapters ranging from affliction all the way to resignation and heaven. My children laugh at my maudlin reading tastes!
  
• The Seasonal Home by Kristin Perers. I don't think there is any page of this book that disappoints.
  
• The Handcrafted Wedding - Sarah Lugg. This woman is so talented.
  
• Christmas In Exeter Street by Diana Hendry.
  
• Lucy and Tom books by Shirley Hughes. Particularly the Christmas one.
  
• The Flower Shop by Sally Page.
  
• The Bedside Book by Arthur Stanley.
  
• Five to Eight by Dorothy Butler. This is the book that has had the most impact on me as a mother and now as a HLTA at school. I am PASSIONATE about reading to children and it was Dorothy Butler who awakened this love in me through this book and her first, Babies Need Books. It has encouraged me to seek out most of the titles she recommends and I have a whole shelf (actually nearly 2 - see above photo) of the mainly out-of-print titles. My desk at school is littered with these old stories and I guard them fiercely. I have been meaning to write a post, in the 3 years I've been blogging, about Dorothy and the stories she recommends - but it's just so important to me I just don't know where to start! 
  
• The Little Grey Rabbit stories by Alison Uttley.
  
• Cider With Rosie by Laurie  Lee.
  
• The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. My favourite so far of all her books.

 

And I could go on and on..If you would like to recommend or share your favourite books please feel free and thank you for yesterday's comments on the songs that move you...I'm looking forward to searching them out and having a little sob of my own...

Lists :: Songs that make me cry

     

I love reading lists that people make - I feel you learn so much about them by their choices and so I thought I would list a few of my special loves and (maybe dislikes) and encourage you to share some of yours with me. Blog land is such an inspiring place to visit and even though I find myself identifying with most blog ladies it's the little things that define us that make us the women we are now. So keep posted for a few days of lists.
So for today's list it is about those songs that make me cry. If I could choose to have any talent or be anything I wanted to be - a singer would be top of my list. I have always loved singing and spent a large part of my life in a church choir which, as I'm getting older, is appealing to me once again. But I have an average voice - it certainly wouldn't move someone to tears or enthrall a concert hall. Music has always played a huge part in my life and I get deeply moved by some songs- particularly the lyrics. My brother Matthew and I regularly send each other texts with snippets of poetical lyrics from songs we both love or newly discovered ones. He knows that I will probably get choked up just by reading the lyrics - that's if I'm not in the middle of doing something in the classroom when my phone goes off. Tut tut. Incidentally, last time that happened a few months ago I overheard a 9 year old boy say to his partner when my ring-tone for Matthew filled the room (Talk - with the words, 'Oh brother I can't, I can't get through. I've been trying hard to reach you coz I don't know what to do..' ) - he,rather knowingly and particularly confidently remarked, "Oh that will be Coldplay." And the funny thing was he was right - it's amazing what they pick up!  Anyway on to my today's list..

:: Songs that make me cry ::

• With One More Look At You/Watch Closely Now ~ Barbara Streisand (The finale of the 1978 film A Star is Born. My favourite film but not seen for at least 20 years..sob). A song about the worst thing that could ever happen to me - the loss of my soul mate.
  
• This Woman's Work ~ Kate Bush. This is a hauntingly beautiful song and melody which sends me every time even though I'm not really sure what it's about!
  
• Aubrey ~ Bread. Matthew recently introduced this to me and we just love the lyrics .." and God I miss the girl, and I'd go a thousand times around the world just to be closer to her than to me." And in the last line he changes it to, "and I'd go a million times around the world just to say she had been mine for a day.." I think it's about a baby who died but Matthew thinks it's about a girl. Who knows, but it pierces the heart!
  
• Sand & Water ~ Beth Nielsen Chapman. A song about the loss of her husband but it's the line.."..All alone I raise this child..flesh and bone he's just bursting towards tomorrow and his laughter fills my world and wears your smile."
  
• Scarlett Ribbons ~ Sinead O'Connor. It doesn't help me that her voice breaks with emotion in the middle. Oh, a mother's love.
  
• Song for Athene - Sir John Tavaner. Info and lyrics here. Probably the most exquisite piece of music ever written and one I would like at my own funeral. I can't listen to it without a huge lump in my throat and goose bumps over my body.
  
• Diary ~ Bread. (I don't really like Bread either!) It's the lines.."and as I go through my life I will give to her my wife all the sweet things I can find." Then at the end " and as I go through my life I will wish for her his wife all the sweet things she can find. All the sweet things they can find."
  
• Ruby Adeline ~ Minnie Driver. This is my song for Lucy, it's my ring-tone for her.
  
• Little Star ~ Madonna. This is my song for Alice and also her ring-tone.
  
• Beautiful Child ~ Eurythmics. My song for Tom but it's not cool enough for his ring-tone!
  
• Ripples/Snowbound ~ Genesis.
  
• Good life ~ Francis Dunnery because I have a exceedingly good life.
  
• Sweetest Taboo ~ Sade. The song I heard the morning of our wedding.
  
• Let Me Say Once More ~ Amy Grant. A song I would dearly love to sing on a stage to, and for, my Anth.
  
• All I Need To Know ~ Emma Bunton. Another love song for Anth.
  
• Most of Coldplay's back catalogue.
  
• Any peal of church bells.

So that's all I can think of now but it is by no means finished. If you want to join in then please do. Until tomorrow..

The weekend and saying goodbye to Tom

There was a lot of blue sky but not much of this..

sitting and enjoying it. I think I managed 15 minutes outside with Anth

doing my crochet and him doing his study (he is doing his second year part time Open University degree in Social Work - can't remember the fancy title it no doubt has!)

On Saturday we drove Tom to his new digs. Oh my... It's not often that I'm rendered speechless but how on earth can a landlord charge such huge rents for what is basically a hovel! There was no curtains in his room, no light shade, his furniture falling apart and everything was filthy dirty. I had been quite brave until I saw his room then the hot silent tears flowed on the drive to Tesco to buy him some food. But the 2 texts from him tell me he is OK and I keep telling myself that most people have had the dire flat sharing experience and that it can only make him a stronger and better person in the future. I'm just hoping that he doesn't pick up some horrendous bug from the kitchen and bathroom in the meantime!
Later at around 8pm we arrived at Ikea and bought 2 rugs, a lime green one( like the leaves on the CK wallpaper) and a black one. We are not sure we will keep them as I would like a shaggy deep pink one (like the roses on the wallpaper) but have not seen one yet.  
Ooh, that's the door...the chimney sweep has arrived...bring on the autumn! See you tomorrow.

P.S The parasol was bought from Amanda at her stall at Totnes market. She has a choice of pink or blue with white spots. If you would like her email please let me know.

Friday joy

Oooh, it's been a long week - a very long hard week, not helped by a 3 day migraine (I managed to muddle through the days at school); our oven going bang (still broken); trying to settle in a new class and, in the back of my mind, the thought of taking Tom back to university tomorrow. It seems a lifetime ago that we took him to university for the first time last year. I remember being so totally unprepared for the wave of grief that engulfed me when I saw his bedroom in the Halls of Residence. The hundreds of tears I shed when we left. This year he will be sharing a house with some other boys and my worries are different. It is hard to watch when they have to face the consequences of their decisions. Oh the agony of being a parent.
It has been a momentous summer for Tom in a lot of ways and he has impressed us all by his maturity, integrity and courage. He found a job (at last!) and one that has had it's own share of challenges for him but he has stuck at it. He is turning into a fine young man and more like his father everyday...and that, my friends, is very fine indeed.

So, it's with a huge sigh of relief that Friday is here and the weekend is almost upon us: but I will greet tomorrow with bittersweet feelings. The sweet is that after we have left Tom, Anth and I will call in at Ikea to look for a rug for the sitting room. I can't remember the last time I went to Ikea..and the thought of those white painted floorboards instead of our yucky carpet sends me through the roof with excitement. Can I wait the 4 weeks before I start? Probably not as I will have exploded no doubt. But tonight I just need to blob out on the sofa with my crochet and revel in having all of my children around me - it maybe the last time I will for a few months. Enjoy your weekend whatever you do..

P.S I do have 3 more strings of the union jack bunting if you are interested in buying some. Details in this post. Email me at [email protected]

Sunny joys

Devon woke to bright blue skies this morning - the first glimpse of sun seen for many days.

On the drive to school the lanes looked like it was a June morning, with no signs of autumn creeping through the hedgerows.

Then before I drove home in the late afternoon I looked more closely and saw the tell tale blackberries and seed heads that confirmed that autumn is indeed on her way.

The sun was low and although the warm sun brought joy to my day it gives me more joy to know that autumn is just around the corner...

A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone for your warm congratulations on yesterdays post.XxX

Big joy!

Not a itsy bitsy, teeny weeny joyful thing today - oh no. Today has a great big dollop of joy and a touch of incredibility thrown into the mix because my name is on a contents page and an index! Yes, I'm in a book!
Well, the blog is in a book. Tara Frey's book, Blogging for Bliss to be exact and yesterday a copy landed on our doorstep.

And look, there's me.

I can't quite believe that I was asked to contribute to be honest and when Anthony got home from work and I showed him the book I nearly burst into tears...

From the short time it has been here it looks a great book actually, full of very useful and clear advice which I hopefully can use to perk up the blog and change bits and pieces.

There are also many blogs featured, some I know and love like Nicky's The Vintage Magpie, Soulemama, Posie Gets Cozy, Happy Loves Rosie and loads I have not visited before.

So today's piece of joy was an extra-ordinary piece of joy for me - I'm still pinching myself and when Tom looked up from the book and asked me how Tara even knew about me I had to say I wasn't really sure....
But what I am sure of is that blogging makes the world a sweeter, friendlier and oh-much-smaller place to be in and I'm so glad that we are on this journey together.

Such sweet things

Oh yes, yes, YES.. it's the joy of such small things that make such a big difference to my small life. I've been looking for those tiny joys today and this is what I've found..

Joy # 1

The crochet mistletoe that looks like it might still be on my gift list - whoopeeee...(and sorry to those of you who will receive a bunch of crochet mistletoe from us this Christmas, for spoiling the surprise!)

  

Joy # 2

{And this is really making me excited. Very. Very. Excited.}
We are replacing our burnt sitting room carpet with..floorboards..white painted floorboards to be exact, just like the rest of the house (but not counting the girls room).

Look at these beauties. It really is a shame to paint them isn't it but it is going to look so, so good. I hope.

The family have taken some time to persuade (read: years) and we will be buying a rug; but if it's not working out we can get a new carpet as our burnt one is in need of replacement. Can't you just hear me saying that as I plead!? So my friends, any idea where we can buy a rug or what colour we should go for? I'm going to start sanding (oh my, do you remember the trauma of this sanding experience!!??) and painting etc in the October half term. Oh, I just can't wait. This is big, serious heart quickening joy for me.

Joy # 3

 

Late summer offerings in our garden. There is not much else flowering at the moment but these plants are doing their very best to lift my spirits.

More little joys tomorrow...

 

Back to school

Yes, it's that time again. Even at my great age I still can remember that horrible back to school feeling. Stiff uniform, new shoes, strange routines, that lump in my throat when I said goodbye to my mother. Then, a few years later when I was a mother I welcomed the change of season and the quiet of an empty house for a few hours. Now in the last 10 years every September I again experience my own 'back to school' feelings but this time I actually look forward (mostly) to the new routine and the joys to come in my favourite term.

But even though I don't wear a school uniform anymore, a girl needs a few new bits and pieces to help her ease into a new term doesn't she?

New folders..

A new school diary (on top of the folders. The school did give me one but it was plain navy blue and well..mmm not very me!)
And of course a new Cath Kidston bag. And if you have a new Cath Kidston bag you really should have a co-ordinating purse (early birthday presents)

I particularly love that it even has the paisley pattern inside.

That makes me ridiculously happy, how sad is that!

I think there is a spotty theme emerging somehow.
Oh yes the wellington boots?? They're not part of my school ensemble I just bought them yesterday from Sainsburys and I'm enjoying looking at my spotty bits and pieces every time I walk past to go upstairs.
It definitely is the little things, isn't it?

The 4th try

Yeah I know it somehow looks smaller than before in this post; but if you look closely you will see that it isn't the same blanket. This is the 4th version of Yvonne's blanket.

Oh what a kerfuffle I have had.
A right kerfuffle.
 First, I was fretting about the choice of yarn. I was using acrylic yarn and although I was happy with the coloured circles made with acrylic yarn, I wasn't happy with the white edges. They weren't sitting nicely (!) and I wondered if that was because of the cheap yarn or my crappy crocheting. Probably both. So I had this thing going on in my head about acrylic versus wool/cotton but knew I really couldn't afford to buy pure wool at the moment (or even a mixture as the cost can be £4 or £5 a ball and that's if one can find any in this part of Devon.)  especially as I want to make this blanket big enough to be able to go over our bed. So I carried on with the acrylic wool. Then I wasn't happy with how I was joining the circles together. I was trying to study the photo of Yvonne's blanket and not really getting any answers, but getting more and more frustrated.
All I really wanted to do was talk to someone about yarn and joins and what I should do because if my crochet isn't going right then my life isn't going right..well, maybe that's a slight exaggeration but my crafting is very important to me and if it's not delighting me then what's a girl to do?? None of the family wanted to listen to my bleating but then help came, and this why I love, love LOVE the blogging community. A lovely reader from Australia, (hi Patricia!) came to my rescue and we 'talked' about the blanket through a number of emails. Bless her. I was thrilled to be able to connect with someone who was making the blanket as well and is just as passionate about it - even though she was on the other side of the world!
 She sent me a few photos of other people's versions of Yvonne's blanket. I didn't realise that so many other ladies have made it or are making it. Amongst the photos were some tutorials too.
So I started yet again, this time changing the number of stitches I made on the corners. Two days later I happened upon some discounted white wool - 50% Merino 50% Acrylic. Mmm, best of both worlds and a bargain at £1.79 a 50g ball.

I bought 2 balls and pulled out all the acrylic white for the 3rd time. Decided it looked much better so went back and bought 8 more balls. So, that's where I am at the moment. I am really enjoying making this blanket particularly the joining as you go.

 The stitches are still not lying perfectly flat but I haven't blocked it yet and I'm sure a warm iron would help flatten the edges as well. I've written down the pattern I'm using which you will find here (I am having problems putting it on my sidebar but will keep trying) I would welcome your comments on acrylic yarn. My green Cath Kidston granny blanket is made with acrylic yarn and that is particularly soft, but I suppose you get what you pay for with yarn. I am liking this blend of merino and acrylic though.

In my cyber blanket journey I have been so inspired by some of the talent out there..gee whizz it makes my head swim..there's a lady called Sarah London and words fail me when I see what that girl can do with a crochet hook. Then there's The Crochet Afghan flickr group.. what eye candy. It makes me want to never put my hook down and leave my sofa..

Talking about crochet and bringing up the wonderful subject of Christmas (whoop whoop!), I decided many, many months ago to make bunches of crochet mistletoe for my friends this Christmas,(taken from the book 100 flowers to knit and crochet, by Lesley Stanfield.)  Well, I'm having a problem with that too! Yup, in these last few weeks there has been a crochet conundrum going on in my head. I have no problems following the pattern, though I can't seem to get a particularly tight tension even with a smaller hook; but the leaves just flop and look pathetic. I've tried threading wire through the leaves but that wasn't brilliant. Then I decided to try and use pipe cleaners and well...

..it's all going terribly, terribly wrong..can anyone help?? I'm using 4ply Rowan Cotton yarn and have used 100% wool in DK too. The wool was too soft so I went for the 'firmer' cotton yarn. I will be most grateful as I would love to have bunches of crocheted mistletoe all over the house this year. Are you impressed by my organisation already?? I am! But I bet I'm not the only one.
Am I?

Birthdays/Brothers/Boats/Brixham & Fathers

Today all our visitors returned to their homes and the house seems strangely empty. We have had a wonderful time over the last week or two celebrating a birthday, a trip to Bath (with a visit to Cath K whilst there. I was thrilled to have met Sam from Silkie Sue who came up to introduce herself. I was flabbergasted that she recognised me though no one could probably fail to notice the perspiring woman dragging her husband and his friend around the shop trying desperately hard to bring my voice down an octave or two. What is it about CK shops that turn me into a high pitched babbling fool!?) and yesterday, a boat trip to Brixham. Matthew has been here too so there have been many moments where I have been unable to breathe through laughing so hard.

But right now I'm  left with a huuge pile of laundry which is threatening to take over the bedroom floor so I can't stop long. I can't believe that the summer holidays are over already- I'm back to school on Thursday. I'll do an update on my crochet blanket in the next post.
Bye for now...x

P.S I'm loving the picture of Alice (top right) trying to teach Pa how to use his mobile. He was writing down everything she was saying...bless.