Tuesday 26 June 2012

Bobbin Phobia's Conquered!!!

Yet again, so much has happened in my little life.  So much in fact that I honestly don't know where to start.

I have to tell you about the newest addition to the family.  Her name is Florence and she is my new sewing machine (Florence the Machine, get it?).  I have had a few cheap little sewing machines as presents that haven't been able to sew a single stitch and have frankly been a disappointment.  I also have two from the family that are so precious to me because of their previous owners but that are unusable and sit in my attic gathering dust.  Florence is the first that has fully fulfilled her roll and has taken my hand and guided me down the path of sewing bliss.  I love her!!!  In two years of home economics at school I honestly could never thread a bobbin.  Now they are as simple as flicking a switch.  I have to say however that I have learned to use equipment that is specifically for the purpose of saving and maintaining life since I was at school so a bobbin should have been a walk in the park.

Florence had been a major star in the helping me get "Jessie's Pretty Little Things" ready for not so mini man's old school's summer fete.  Off I trotted back to our home town with the car crammed to the roof with lovely bits and bobs to sell.  I had an amazing day and caught up with some very good friends.  Slightly disappointed at the lack of a certain someones kissing stall.  You know who you are!




I thought these were so pretty.  Lucy @attic 24 gave me the inspiration but me being me, I had to make then slightly mixed media if you like by adding my normal dollop of felt work.  I really love the different textures of crochet and felt.  The two just work so well together.


My felt flower garland drew lots of interest which has inspired a new project that I will get to eventually.

I made some "wanderful" wands (see, did it again, he he he).  Sadly I don't have a photo of them yet but when I do I'll post.  They were great and they made a lot of little girls very happy indeed.

I'm currently waiting in eager anticipation for my outfit for the Mess summer ball.  Bollywood this year, eek!  Very excited indeed.  I cant wait to see my outfit.  The colours and the wonderful fabrics, right up my street.

This week saw the demise of a dear member of the family.  My peg bag died.  Now this might seem insignificant to everyone but that bag has done me 10 years of loyal service.  Its hung on countless coat hangers and outlived them all.  It started life as the blind that I made for my room in Halls during my nursing training and when I left I decided that I loved the fabric so much that I must reuse it.  My poor old bag gave up the ghost in right royal fashion but it did choose its timing impeccably.  Nothing like hanging in there long enough for me to adopt florence and gather enough skill to create a replacement bag.  I'm off fabric shopping tomorrow.  Fabric adventures, FUN, FUN, FUN.

I have decided that the downstairs cloak room should have a new colourful makeover.  I've made my first purchase towards this project and I'll be keeping it a closely guarded secret until its grand unveiling.  Honestly, how many people do you know that would have an opening to a loo makeover???  The madness of me.

On a minor but not insignificant note, I've finally found the time to attend to my grey haired roots.  Its a job I detest but it does make me feel more my 32 years rather than the 62 years that I look when they get as bad as they did.

Oh and I spent all of yesterday reading a book.  I honestly cant remember the last time I did that.  You may have ready heard of.  "50 Shades of Grey".  Now then, I blush!  I don't understand most of it however. ;-)

Saturday 16 June 2012

What and amazing week!!

There are few weeks when fabulous things don't happen.  This is largely due to the fact that I look for positivity and beauty in everything that happens in our little world, even in things that most people would consider perfectly horrid.  I don't mind telling you why either.  18 months ago I was a very high flying senior nurse who became extremely unwell with stress.  At the age of 30 I was totally broken.  I am however, ecstatic to report that I fully recovered but I do need to keep taking care of myself to stay that way.  I would like to take this opportunity to give you one piece of advice.......Watch the butterflies.  My Granny gave me this advice many years ago but I was too busy and rather too important to listen to it.  Typically Granny knew better and I really wish I'd listen to her.  When life gets to much just stop, breathe and watch the butterflies.

So, as I was saying, amazing things.  My eldest started his new school this week and proudly brought home 3 good work stickers, 3 house points for "Ash" house and an award for music!!  Not bad at all even if I do say so myself.  More importantly however, he's bounded into school every morning full of energy and vitality, determined to hit the day running and has bounced out of school every afternoon with a smile on his face that would rival any post box.  I'm so ridiculously proud of him.  My husband and I made this massive life changing decision for the whole family and the children have taken up the challenge and really ran with it.  I'm in awe of them, I really am.  Mini man has also started his new nursery this week with the same vigour and spirit.  Children are simply outstanding and I love them more than I can possibly say.

Now, back to more normal goings on.  Baking.  I have subjected my poor husband to two lots of home baked goods this week.

Apple and cinnamon muffins according to the cook book ...

Apple and cinnamon muffins al a Jessie.  Nailed it I think you'll agree.  well, almost.

I can say however, that the gingerbread that I baked at the end of this week met with a much more favourable response and was super yummy.

This week has also seen the crafty arm of my life deliver a very special guest to the opening of a new business in Devizes, Wiltshire.  


Meet Schubert.  He is the Funky Rabbit of "Funky Rabbit" in Devizes.
I love his green patch on his bottom.  

I spent 4 weeks working on him during the housemove and its associated madness.  I was staggered that he didn't get lost!  It would seem that my crochet is more reliable than my baking.

My Facebook page has also taken off this evening with so many new friends and people that enjoy my work, I'm elated!  New commissions are rolling in and I'm extremely excited.  Also that I have found a new craft shop in town to support my work.  I almost fell over when I chanced upon it and then again when I discovered that it sold all of the wonderful yarns that I've had to turn to the net for.

Life in our new house is also rather wonderful.  I love that the wind blows for miles and that the first thing that stops it is my washing line!  We live on the edge of the patch and there is not a hill in sight.  My washing is dry even before I have finished pegging it out.  Or rather it would be if we had a chance to sample some of this years summer.  The walk to school is also amazing.  How many children can say that they get to play in the corn fields on their way to school?  Not that many I should imagine.  We went fully prepared on this week and took the opportunity for some puddle stomping.  Totally wonderful.  I love to see the boys running around and enjoying all of the things that children should.  Add to that and old fashion bag of penny sweets from the village post office and a trip to the park and life is just perfect.  I promise photos of these wonderful things in my next post.

Remember, "life is full of beauty, notice it.  Smell the rain, and feeling the wind, live life to your fullest potential and fight for your dreams".  I love this quote and it came my way via Facebook.  I wish I could quote the author but sadly, I don't have their name. 

Two very good bits of advice from two very wise people this week and I was not one of them.


Saturday 9 June 2012

Lurgy!!

Welcome to the house of snots, high temperatures and Calpol!!

Typical really.  We've finished the move and we start dropping like flies with all manner of nastiness.  I have been flatly ignoring mine in the hope that it will bugger off with the knowledge that I don't want to play.  Mini man caught it from not so mini man and has since decided to share his germy vileness with my good self and Mummy dearest.  Seriously uncool!!  I respond better to flowers generally so this little gift can foxtrot oscar.

We are now fully fledged landlords.  I have scrubbed and cleaned like a loon and the place looked spectacular.  We're not dirty people, quite the opposite, but when you look at an empty house it always looks a hundred times worse than it did with furniture in it.  I have to say that it feels amazing to be back down to one house and we can finally start properly settling in to life in this house now.

The boys start school and nursery on monday. BLISS!  I cant wait!  I've been trying to finish some crochet commissions in the midst of all of this madness as well as sorting some stock for the summer fayre season and I could really do with some time with just me and my hook.  I've been hooking at break neck speed in the evenings but that then sets my mind working at a million miles an hour which then in turn renders me completely unable to sleep much before midnight.  Hanging is not the word!  It will all work out because it always does but I'm absolutely pooped.

I've met some wonderful people in the last few days.  I always think its an excellent sign when people feel comfortable enough to come into our home and spend an impromptu evening just chatting and laughing.  This makes me very happy indeed.

Maisey has been signed up for agility classes.  In so doing however, I have also signed myself up and I'm reliably informed that this involves running and physical exertion.  If ever there was a kick up the bum to get down and see the PTI's in the gym, this is it!

I've got to go as I'm struggling with my peepers, if anyone has a pair of match sticks please send them my  way.

Friday 1 June 2012

The Great Cress Race!!

I am honestly disgusted that its taken me so long to get back to my blog but if you could see just how much that hubby and I have done I think you'd collapse in exhaustion.  We have literally packed one house, moved and totally unpacked.  We moved in to the new house at 1300hrs and were totally unpacked by 2300hrs.  I am (in the words of my very good friend), completely nonkered!  Hubby's bugged out to Dover in the hope of some rest but has failed epically.  I totally think that an enormous Lamb roast dinner on Sunday is totally in order.

Wednesday saw me getting my first stupid dose of sunburn!  I'm such a numpty because I know that I burn and yet I decided to mow the lawn in the midday sun with no cream.  Totally irresponsible and I'm feeling really very silly indeed.  I've duly marched myself off to town and purchased some light cotton blouses to keep myself covered for the foreseeable.

I can say with absolute certainty that we have the largest and most expansive lawn in the known universe.  It is literally the stuff of football pitches.  When you have to empty the lawn mower 8 times and then you rake up a further 3 bag bags full then you know that you've got a whopper.  And to add insult to actual injury, it looked crap!  I was totally mortified that I had spent 3 long, hot and painful hours mowing the field with a mower that is woefully inadequate for the vast swathes of meadow and it looked dreadful!

I would like to have a little boast now.  Hubby and I erected the trampoline in less than 10 mins!  That is a personal best for our little team and we are still rather smug about that minor achievement.

Now then, I don't know if your a heart or a head type of person but I would normally shop with my head but on Thursday I seemed to have had a massive rush of blood to it.  Off we trot to the pet shop to get supplies for Vern and Maisey.  Absolutely no plans for anything else but those items on my list.  Then BOOM!! I came out with two Guinea Pigs and a hutch! I never ever do things like that and never without the prior discussion with hubby as we are a very tight team.  My only saving grace is that they were in need of adoption as they had been quite literally left on the shelf.  They are adorable however and the boys are completely in awe of them.  I'm very encouraged by my eldest's enthusiasm for them.

Meet Jeffery and Bungle

I think you'll agree that they are really very sweet indeed.  Very glad to add two more red heads to our very own Russet Lodge.

Today (Friday) not so mini man had the choice of where we went and what we did.  That child is a genius.  "Mummy" he declared, "I would like to see the fish".  Not a problem.  Off we pootled to Portsmouth and had a fantastic time watching the fish at the Blue Reef Aquarium.  Mini man wasn't so sure as the aquarium is kept rather dark for the comfort of the fish but once I'd placed him in charge of the camera he settled right in.

Mini man's photography is coming on great guns.


I always think that lobsters look so grumpy.

We decided to drop into Winchester on our way home to check out our new home town and I have to say that I'm deliriously happy with the place.  I've found a lovely flower stall on the market to fill my lovely little becrochet'd jam jars with........


I've found plenty of shops to find lovely little things in.........

Needed a spoon rest and what better to tick that box on the shopping list and quench my thirst for camper vans. 

Oh and..........


Which quickly became.........



Splendid.

Now, back to the cress race.  Thanks to Maccy D's the boys came home with a "Grow your own cress Owl".  Today is day one of the great cress race.  I will of course keep you fully up to date on the cress race progress.

Mini man's on the left, not so mini man on the right

And there off!  And I'm off to bed.  Night all, lots more sleep required.  Zzzz