Wondering where I've been?

I'll be back soon, with news from my road trip... promise.

A sunny summer saturday

Spent making rafts...


Sending Teeny Tiny Ted to sea...


Adding a sail, some fancy new decking and the obligatory shades...

And then setting sail a little flotilla of boats from around the house...

Before cooling oneself down...


While some sat and made daisy chains...


And me? I sat and supervised from under the shade of the umbrella...

I name this boat...

Want to see one of the things I've been up to during my blogging absence?

I've been making boats. Well, I've completed one, helped the girls with theirs, and started a new one. So, yes, I think that counts as making boats.

I found the instructions for the boat here, and lots of inspiration for future boats. Some of them have the sweetest little birds sailing them. So, of course, my boat needed a bird as well.

I searched for a suitable pattern, but ended up using a pattern I already had, found here, and previously used to make badges. I made it up in felt, with the stitching on show, and think they look pretty good. But I'm still on the search for a "plumper" bird, so if you see one on your travels, please let me know.

And what's this boat called? Miss Belle - one of the characters in the Enid Blyton book I rescued from re-cycling and used for the papier-mache.

bread pudding and bunnies

Oops, where does the time go?

I promise to be back soon. But, in the meantime, feast your eyes on these photos I uploaded on the 30th March(!!!) But never got around to adding any words... I made bread pudding and chocolate bunnies - both for the first time. And very yummy they all were...

stash shopping

Last Friday, I went with my Mom and my sister the the hobbycrafts show at the NEC. It's a show we've been going to for years - but this one was just not as good as it used to be.

Want to see what I bought? From what is perceived to be one of the biggest craft shows this country has to offer?


Impressed? Hmmn, thought so.

But, really, perhaps it wasn't so bad? But, there's a story - isn't there always?

As I was about to make my first purchase of the afternoon - I realised I had left my purse at home.... Thank goodness I was with Mom and Helen. Mom promptly leant me £20.00, and Helen said she'd pay for anything I wanted. Phew! Mom then said, as it's my birthday next month - I could use the £20 towards my birthday present, and Helen said to look for pressies, as well. So, the goodies in the bag above were bought with the cash - and I still have more than £12 left! Yes, the show was that good...

To be fair, I did find some other bits that Helen was going to give me for my birthday - but when I saw how little I had bought, I bought them off her. Want to see???


There were definitely sellers that have been there before, that weren't there this time. I wonder what it is? The internet? Or the economic situation? I don't know, but people certainly seemed to be spending, judging by the bulging shopping bags and trolleys.

I'm sure I'll be going to the next one, as it's not too far from where I live, and it's always better to see things for real, and to be enticed by things that might not be noticed whilst internet browsing. But I do hope that more sellers go back to it...

blankets and chocolates

So, Saturday morning Phoebe told me that her Ted was cold, and she thought he needed a blanket. She asked me if I would crochet him one, and went for a rummage in my wool drawer, coming up with a ball that has shades of green and pink running through it. By the end of the day, Ted had his very own blanket, which, I'm told, he finds very cosy. I just did a basic granny square, going round and round, until it looked as though I was about to run out of wool, then finished off with a simple round of double crochet. So, one happy daughter, a cosy Ted and a day long project completed for the very reasonable price of just £1.29.



Sunday dawned all sun-shiny, and with special treats for Mother's day. I had cards, chocolates and a set of very gorgeous crochet hooks...



All rainbow colours, instead of the usual grey. Obviously they have been put straight to good use. I've started another blanket, the same as Ted's, but in a different colour, and hopefully,
quite a bit larger, as well. So, that would be two crochet blankets I have on the go, now.

Time Marches on...

So, it's March, and the sun's shining this morning. And it's the day to find out about secondary schools. And the news is good... Phoebe will be going to her first choice school.

We had a chat on the way to school this morning about going to secondary school, and, already, she seems more grown up. What will she be like in September?