So much to do and so little time

Well our weekend was good we did nothing we had planned, weather was not good and neither boy or dog wanted to go out in the rain. So both my boys sat at the dining table and painted warhammer (Jake) and a Lancaster bomber (Bruce), mother-in-law would have had a fit if she had seen them!!! Me i sat in the conservatory and finished the granny squares for the blanket now i have to sew it together, and i am in denial where that is concerned.

I still have to sew Jake's quilt ( I know it has been going on for ages but i cannot get the motivation to get the machine out and get on with it).

Make another apron for my sister-in-law already made one so that could be crossed off the list,

write an article for the Church magazine for the WI

finish another pair of socks, (couldn't resist the wool!!)

CLEAN THE HOUSE !!!

plan Christmas menu's and shopping lists

CLEAN THE HOUSE..........................

Christmas cards

Clean the house,

make a birthday cake for Bruce,

oh and did i mention CLEAN THE HOUSE

and i have photographs to upload, so on the whole not a lot to do and not a lot of incentive to do it,once i get started i'll be fine i just have to get started!!!!!!!!!

What to do.........

What to do? I've finished all the socks, am almost done with the granny square blanket, and have become very disinterested in everything. I know i need to pull my socks up and get on but.............................

On the plus side we know we will be leaving here next year, ( hopefully in June) where are we going don't know yet, options are, or should i say where we would like to go are Waddington, Whitby, and Alnwick in no particular order, so we will probably end up in London.

We are going north this weekend, Jake has an exeat and it is a long weekend he doesn't go back to school until Monday evening so we will go to Durham ( maybe a service at the cathedral followed by lunch there ), to the wetlands trust at Washington ( more photographs of birds ) and weather permitting walk up to penshaw monument or the Angel of the North and maybe Beamish, though Beamish is expensive........

I need a project to take my mind of moving and packing, it's not going to happen until next year.

So, must get on and pack for the weekend, i've made the cake just the cinnamon bread to make now.

Oh and we will stop at my mum's on the way up tomorrow in Hebden Bridge ( used in the sainsburys Christmas advert) to drop off something we have for her and pick up some goodies.

See you next week have a good weekend

Scones, socks and swine flu

It's been a while..........................

I have been busy with,

a cream tea for church, this involoved me making 80 scones for the WI ( am a member) and helping to serve with the Mother's Union ( also a member) pictures below ( why won't blogger put them in the order i want?????)

Knitting a pair of socks for J to keep her toes warm in the new house, I ended up making 2 pairs as the house IS COLD!!!

I also made myself a new pinny, red dotty fabric I found in my stash when I tidied out my 'store' cupboard.

I have also made 2 pairs of socks for my father-in-law as part of his Christmas present, a red hat and scarf for Jake to have a school to keep warm.

My granny square blanket is coming along slowly.

So whilst all this is going on in my life we get a phone call from Jake at school, ( this is before half term) very croaky, sore throat, hot enough to make toast on, having played in a rugby match. Matron gave him something to gargle, and told him to go to bed, this he did but, was no better on the Monday morning or the next morning so off to the school doctor and was diagnosed with swine flu................. by now maternal instinct was in hyperdrive and i was going up and get him but he was not fit to travel until the thursday when Bruce went up to get him from school, expecting to see this waif in bed BUT he was fine, he had taken the tamiflu and a course of hard hitting steroids because as usual it had gone to his chest, they knocked him for six and the coughing was awful. So after a few days at home he was back to normal and the eternal words 'do we have anything to eat?', 'i'm hungry', 'are you making a pot of tea?' were being uttered.

We had a wonderful half term, Bruce was on leave, though he worked from home every morning except on thursday when we went to Weston-Super-Mare with a picnic, we walked on the sea front had a pound each to spend in the penny arcade, my boys spent theirs quickly, but i made £1.20 profit!!!.

So that's it for now, back soon.

last weekend

The first weekend we are on our own after Jake has gone back to school we try to go out and DO something. Sooooo we went to Tyntesfield a national trust property not far from us, it was amazing, they are in the middle of refurbishing and for a change they have kept the house open ,
Above is the scaffolding for the cover on the roof, this means they can carry on working even when the weather is bad. Not that i would fancy being up there when it's windy!!!!!

Below is the avery, looks like the perfect cottage to me, though in need of a little fixing up.
The detail on the roof is wonderful, i'm sure i can do something with this pattern.................
The bench below was very inviting, but, a little to hot to sit in the sun.............. a pity but i'm told it comes with age..............

We are heading north this weekend for exeat, YEAH!!! can't wait and Bruce has taken a days leave so there isn't the usual mad dash north on a friday. I'm hoping to go to the Bowes Museum Next door to school for a wander round, though that has to be weather dependent as we will have Jez (the dog) in the car and he cannot be left if it is too warm, alternate plan is a walk down by the river. Then pick Jake up and off to the out-laws for the weekend, we are also seeing No.1 son and his partner and their new cottage.

I have made my aprons off my list of things to do and will post pics when i upload off my camera, have also made the socks for j, again these pics are on the camera. I have cakes to make this week for the Macmillan coffee morning on friday.

I will get my act together and upload and post pics tomorrow.

P.S. don't know what blogger has done with some of photographs!!!!

Sad :-<<

Got the Monday morning blues, and the back to school emptiness...... Jake went back to school he looked so grown up on his uniform (no pics too emotional) walking through the school doors bought it all back to me and how i felt. I will miss him lots, miss his company,his hugs and his sense of humour. Though only 11 he is 5'7" but to me he is still 'little'.He strode off confidently to see his friends leaving us to follow on behind with the other parents. The school is very welcoming and are aware how the children are feeling but also how the parents are feeling.......

The darling boy's parting words were "wonderful mother could you get my quilt finished for exeat and don't forget more red than blue" aarrgghh!!!!!

So dear reader, back to the fabric shop later this week to buy red, boy like fabric (meaning NO FLOWERS!!) and out with the sewing machine........

in the meantime carry on with my granny squares blanket, start socks,clean house, walk dog, bake, make bread............ not a lot to keep me busy but at least........... NO MORE NAME TAPES TO SEW ON ;->>>>>

Boys!!!

After constantly changing his mind about colours, patterns etc Jake has decided to wait until he gets back to school to see what the other boys in his room have for their 'blankets'. So there is material cut and ready and waiting to go.

 This week is always a hard week for me as all my sewing is getting Jake ready to go back to school and after nearly 8 weeks of having him at home I will miss him lots. We have one week left together before travelling up a week on Saturday to the out-laws ready to go to school on Sunday.

I always make a list of craft things I would like to do when Jake goes back to school, some I know I will never do or have the money to do, but, it's nice to have that wish list/dream sheet to look at.

My crocheted granny squares are multiplying, they are quick to do and require no brain space. Other things apart from Jake's quilt to be made are;

 2 new aprons for me,

 to back and quilt my quilt

 to knit 2 pairs of socks one for a friend who is moving into a huge old house (heating costs astronomical, and, I suspect draughty!!) and another pair for Father in law.....part of his present for that festival at the end of the year that is not to be mentioned yet,( though it dosen't hurt to be prepared!!)

I think the weather for the weekend is supposed to be ok so, I think there could be a walk in Wales, a trip to Slimbridge and, possibly a trip to Bath and, maybe we might even get to Stonehenge!!!!

Have a super Bank Holiday weekend if I don't post before. xx

I love Apple

We are now the proud owners of a Mac mini, and i love it!! So easy to use, maybe because we both have i pod touches we have found we easy to use, or maybe it is just that, easy to use.

Our staycation hasn't worked out as we planned, but we have still had fun. 

Sunday we went to Stourhead, well worth a visit if you are ever down this way. The walks were wonderful, we had our picnic in dappled shade, heaven, followed by a 2 mile walk and an ice cream at the end YUM!!

Monday inspired by Jackie (dog daisy chains) I/we tackled our emergency bedroom, which is really used for storage (modern house=no usable storage). All the things we need to keep that most folks could if they want to throw away like boxes for computers, tv's, china etc we have to keep, and need to be stored somewhere are kept in there amongst other places. Also in that room is my stash of craft materials hence the i/we, i sent DH downstairs to do other things whilst i moved various items that are known only to me and the removal men!!

Tuesday did very little Father and son went to Slimbridge to take photographs, i had time alone at home to do as i wished so, i sat in the garden and crocheted i now have 40 granny squares with more planned...............

What i didn't tell you about is................

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta... it was fantastic, we missed it last year because the weather was so bad the balloons couldn't take off, but, this year WOW!! we went to the night glow, where all the balloons are in the arena and when it's dark the light up to music. I do have photographs and video on my camera but until we get the new computer that is where they will stay :-(( on the computer front we have decided to go with apple, and, have got ourselves a mac mini (the dummies guides are winging their way from amazon as I type this) I think it is a good starting point, and, if we cannot get on with it then we can go back to a PC (not if i get my way though) i know it will be a bit strange to start with and we won't know our accident from our emergency, i will think of it as character building.
I would like to make some felt today if i can find all the kit I know it is in the spare room somewhere................................

What i didn't tell you about is................

the computer is in intensive care

Our computer is close to expiring....... We have an external hard drive which last weekend i was going to load all my photographs, music and other documents on to just in case there was ever a problem with the main computer..... too late. Bruce is hoping to do something to retrive all my docs etc but not until next week........................when he is on leave. We were supposed to be having a staycation and do things like visit Stonehenge, Chedder Gorge and other tourist attractions as we should be moving next year (only 10 1/2 months left here now) and these things should be done.
So at the moment we are using the laptop. The decision we have almost made is do we now make the change to an Apple Mac or stay as we are, I opt for the Apple, but, there is more than me to consider, Jake will be coming home from school at half term holidays with prep-can that be done on an apple and taken back to school.... can I still use picasa and lots of other things are going through our heads.
Meanwhile, I begin the marathon of name tape sewing in preparation for Jake going back to school,
the summer holidays go by so quickly....................................... I think that will be the sum total of my craft at the moment, the boy has changed his mind about colours for his quilt (again!!) So he has until tomorrow to make up his mind then I choose. I thought pink, purple with lime green ;-))))))

The last few days......

We had a super weekend with the out-laws, our meal at Loch Fyne in Bath was amazing, the food as ever was superb.
Laycock was beautiful in the sunshine and when i have downloaded them will put up photographs, mother in law was impressed....... there are some amazing shops there and i bought a 'thing' (husbands description) for fruit (piccies later) then home for a BBQ.
Monday, Bruce away at 5.15 AM!! for a few days, and Later on that day Jake and I loaded the car for our jolly with J,E and D. we arrived at the site got tents up, started the BBQ and the boys had a good time just running around with lots of space, not long after we had finished tea the heavens opened and it didn't stop raining until we packed up yesterday morning (wednesday). the 2 'big'boys read their books but E wanted to play games, which was ok but after the 3rd game of Star Wars trivial pursuit !!!!! we decided to go to Wells, not so good in the rain! will try again when the weather is better.

so today we have to stock up the cake tins with muffins blueberry and double choc chip, banana cake and cinnamon and rasin bread...........

Been busy

So not much on the craft front yet, but, we have been fruit picking (raspberries and a few goosberries) and have made jam and enough goosberry puree to make fools tonight. We have also made beetroot chutney for the store cupboard.

Do you like my hat? It took an evening to knit including the flower,(though i don't know if I'll put the flower on the hat) it was made from 1 ball of Sirdar Denim Ultra. Knitting is the one thing my mum can cope with (not too much mess)

The out-laws arrive tonight for the weekend, and told us to book a table at our favorite restraunt and they would take us out, soooooo I have booked a table at Loch Fyne in Bath, as a rule we don't eat out often, so it will be a real treat. We will also (at mother out-law's request) be going to the River Cottage Canteen in Bath and to Laycock Village.

Weather permitting Jake and I will be camping in Frome with our friends J,D,and the squeezable E.

On the plus side we have lived here 13 months which means we only have 11 months left here :-)). Don't get me wrong, I love the area to holiday or to visit friends but, it has been an incredibly lonely year, Bruce has been away a lot, and when you don't go to the school gates you don't meet anyone, and the journey to get Jake from school is hard work, worth it but hard work, .

The pictures have a mind of their own AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

Father and Son at the Piece Hall

These 2 pics are on the dog walk, and they look good even in the rain

The view from our bedroom window!!

The view from the bathroom!!!

Well here we are again, we had a good week in Yorkshire, we didn't get to do all we wanted the weather was so so but heyho! there will be other times.

The Piece Hall, Halifax

This was one of the views

We did however go to the Imperial War Museum in Manchester, if you haven't been then do try to go, we had a fantastic time we were there for about 5 hours and could have stayed longer. Another day we went into Halifax on the bus, our friends thought we were mad but it was nice for neither of us to drive. Whilst there we went to the Piece Hall, it was an enjoyable day out with a super lunch. It was a treat to wander round just enjoying the views. I bought a piece of velvet for my bag the colour is nocturnal purple from a shop called Feel Fabrics, they have the most amazing range of colours!! Though if you do go set yourself a limit and stick to it!!

We also had an afternoon in Hebden Bridge, the shops are great, (we used to live there a long time ago) Innovation is a treasure trove of goodies and of course no visit is complete without a visit to Joules China.

The week passed quicker than we wanted and were sad to leave, but we know we are welcome anytime day or night, (we do have our own key!) and for that we are grateful.

Back home we had a day to ourselves before Bruce went back to work and Atilla the Mum arrived, I have never quite lived up to my mum's expectations, and never will, so have given up cleaning like a mad woman before she arrives because her face is the same either way!!

The epic journey is done

The journey to get Jake from school is done!! I roasted in the car for 21/2 hours before stopping at Donnington Services to meet my friend and cool down, we had our lunch then back to our cars to continue the journey to York, the car (parked in the shade) was boiling and the temp on the dashboard read 36!! It was too hot and even with the air con it was still hot. So back on the motorway and more 40 mph zones!
A lovely evening with some of J's friends and next morning up to school to load up the car with all of Jake's bags, then a prep school parents picnic and in good british tradition the heavens opened, never seen so many people move so quickly. Speech Day followed with Jake getting a certificate for outstanding educational achievement (very proud mother couldn't get camera out of bag in time to take photograph).
So this week has been spent washing and ironing, baking (it's like trying to holding back the tide!!) and getting back together as a family.
Craft wise i WILL be making my bag, a quilt for Jake, knitting socks for J and taking photographs whilst in Yorkshire ( be there for a weeks holiday) hoping to schedule in a visit to the Rowan Wool Mill, Harlow Carr and Brimham Rocks for a picnic amongst other things. Back in a week .........

Not been sewing Jake's quilt but i have been doing this....

It is all hand sewn and made from Kaffe Fassett fabrics sent to me by my sister. All i have left to do now is back and quilt it, oh and find the fabric to back it!

What of Jake's quilt, well....., the fabrics are still in a bag waiting to be cut and sewn together, this i will do over the holidays and IT WILL be ready for him to take back to school in September!! This week is a time of getting things ready for the trip up to school and Jake coming home with all his 'stuff' then finding homes for everything, not easy when storage is not sufficient for the two of us and the dog!! On Thursday i begin the journey up north, the first part is to York to stay with a friend who is also collecting her son (who boards in York) from school on Friday, out for a nice

meal Thursday evening then Friday morning after an hours drive traffic permitting i should get to school in time to load up the car before a picnic followed by assembly, a trip to the uniform shop, bid a fond farewell to the houseparents (who were like parents to us as well!!) and matron and begin the long journey home. If we leave school at round 4.30pm we should get home by 11pm. The plus point is that we have 9 weeks together :-)). During that time we are going to begin learning Latin!! Jake will polish his knitting skills and learn to bake and cook simple meals all of this at his request i might add. Also i want to make a new bag to use over the summer............

Wandering round doing nothing

.

Well here we are into a new year, and how far am i with Jake's quilt...... not very. I had all the fabrics sorted, only they were all over his bedroom floor and they had to be put away before he came home from school for his Christmas break and have not seen the light of day since. I must get myself into gear because once i do it will be done in no time, so at the moment i am wandering round the house doing very little.

Though i have started running again... and it is VERY hard work. I need to be motivated i need to motivate myself, hard when it's dull and drizzling outside.