A bit creative and the saga of knitting

Well, I thought I would post a few pics of some of the crafty things I have completed previously, but I only seem to be able to post one pic at a time. So here is one pic of a cross stitch I finished a while ago and had framed. Now I am not sure about the mat and frame, but it has a lovely spot in our bedroom. I need to figure out how to take a photo without glare at some stage.

I started knitting a bunny in lovely velveteen wool from a free pattern I got from Spotlight. First mistake, pattern not too easy to read. Went ahead anyway. Kind of guessed the bits I couldn't read. Turns out this was not a great idea. Sewed and stuffed bunnykins last night, he/she/it looks like a demented flat headed thing. Not at all like a bunny. I know I knitted arms but I can't seem to find them. Have to make them again. Am thinking I might not bother! Too embarassed to post a picture. Need to fix this somehow. Bad bit is that SP saw it and giggled. YES, he GIGGLED. Not a good sign when your 4 year old thinks a creation is funny, when he usually thinks things I make are "really good". His giggle is very cute though.

It's Anzac Day, a day when I remember our trip to Turkey several years ago when we were fortunate enough to spend the whole day on the Gallipoli peninsula. Anzac Day has never been the same for me since, and even though it is not possible for me to get to the dawn parade at the monent (small children make it pretty much impossible), I spent time thinking about the sacrifice those men and women made for me and my family. May we never have to experience what they did.

On a lighter note, my lovely little sis came up for the weekend. We had a great time and SP really enjoyed playing on the computer with her on Sunday morning. She inspires me more than I think she realises. We laughed and laughed at some stuff on Trade Me on Saturday night - who needs tv! Big C cooked us a lovely meal on Saturday, he is really quite clever. What blew me away is that he cooked us mussels, and he hates the things! Thanks honey.

Slight downer, on the way back to Whangarei on Sunday avo my car broke down. Cruel fate it was right outside a patchwork shop I have wanted to go to for ages and it was closed. Peering through the windows did not satisfy my need! Thank God for the AA.

As you can see, wee m loves vegemite on cruskit crackers. He throws them all over, rubs them in his hair, on his face etc etc. Generally makes a hideous mess and has a great time.

Its nearly May, where is the year going?

New toy - great joy!!

Finally, I had to bite the bullet and get a new camera. At least, Big C bought me a new camera, the lovely man that he is. Quite a surprise. So here are a few pics to show what should have been shown in the previous posts. Enjoy! Apologies for the quality, I have had precisely about 4 hours to get to grips with this new toy. I will improve!

First pic is of my wee M, at his most peaceful. Next is a pic of my lovely SP. Taken yesterday, next to his beloved Thomas the Tank Engine train set (in the basket).

More later!

Precious moments

Easter is over. Can't quite believe it. It was a mad weekend in many ways. Anyway, I got some knitting done as I picked up a free pattern for a bunny from Spotlight. I am having a go at making it in velveteen wool. Just have to make two arms, stuff, stitch together and I'm done. A little late for Easter but I figure wee M won't know the difference. Also nearly finished the bunny clever Hilary from wee wonderfuls posted for free on her site. Had to get some weighted stuffing.

SP was a gem over the weekend. 5:00 am Monday morning there was much wailing from his bedroom so I went to investigate. He was fast asleep, crying saying "Its MY doughnut, its MY doughnut!". Very hard not to laugh! However on Sunday night after a long day of construction of a playhouse with big C, SP lost it. He was sobbing, saying he didn't want to go out into the world, he wants to stay with Daddy and Mummy. He doesn't want to get his own house and make his own meals. Bless! He was so upset about it. When I asked he said that he had been thinking about it. He is only 4!

Playhouse project almost finished. The boys ran out of daylight on Sunday. There is a roof and window project to complete this weekend. SP is thrilled. Big C built a deck platform for the playhouse to sit on. It is enormous! I guess we will put a small table and chairs and maybe some plants on it at some stage.

Monday saw big C building a fort for one of SP's friends. It has two levels, with a paling railing around the top. It is very cool and I would have loved one when I was small. Heck, one now would be great too (only if I can pull the ladder up when I want some peace ;-)) I am very proud of my clever husband.

School holidays this week and next, so no paid work for me. My little s coming up this weekend to stay and we are going to check out the Pony Club Champs which are on local to us. Can't wait, I really enjoy spending time with her.

Thats all for now. Hope to get some crafting done this week, and get my digital camera sorted so I can post pics! Am getting there I promise!

End of Monday

Well, had a great weekend in the big smoke with my family. SP had a particularly wonderful time with Pops - they went to the fire station and he got to sit in the drivers seat of a big engine and turned the sirens and lights on. Very exciting to a 4 year old (heck, I wanted to go too...mmm firemen!). He is still talking about it today.

I had a nice time on Saturday having lunch with my family. It was great to catch up with my sisters, even though little s was definitely under the weather. I hope she is feeling much better now.

To be honest the highlight of my weekend was having a short time to browse in Cushlas Village Fabrics in Devonport. I could spend some serious money in that place! I got very inspired about quilting whilst there. I would really like to make a beautiful quilt, I really would. I'd like the time and space to do it. I think I will have to start small. Very small. Infintessimally small.

Tried to hook up the digital camera to the laptop tonight, but I need an adaptor to change the plug to a USB. I wonder if one exists. Will have to get big C to sort that out for me. Much more his alley than mine!

Anyhow, tomorrow is a paid work day for me so I had better get organised. Lunches, packing bags/baskets, organising clothing, getting dinner for tomorrow night sorted etc etc. A mothers work is never done.

Virtuous moment today...had dinner (chicken lasagne with corn and bread rolls) on the table when Big C walked through the door. Table set, wee m fed and munching out on a rusk. Felt like a good wife indeed!

Roll on the weekend please

Is it Friday yet? I would really like it to be Friday please. Please? Today was really busy. Got very surprised to be greeted by a mouse when I opened the toaster hutch. I even did a girly squeal. Most unlike me. I don't usually do things like that. The war against small furry rodent starts now. The biggest boy will take this war very seriously. He has discovered that yoghurt covered raisins seem to be the best bait for traps. He will not rest easily until mousie has gone. Means I don't have to worry too much - yippee! I hate that we have a mouse in the house - I guess its one of the joys of country living.

I went to Mainly Music with the two cherubs and we all seemed to enjoy it. Then we went for coffee to a GREAT cafe - Narnia. I LOVE Narnia. They seem genuinely pleased to see you - even when arriving with many small children. They get toys out for you. They have colouring in for the children. They dont seem to mind when your children make a bit of noise. They put up with SP going to the edge of the kitchen and asking for a cloth/toy/chat. They have fancy dress outfits for the children, and the cafe owner even tries them on too. We will be making this our regular stop. We have been several times now (to check out whether it was a fluke the first time - it wasn't). Oh, and the coffee is pretty great too. And the feijoa and chocolate muffin I had was divine.

Then we walked back to the supermarket to pick up a few bits and pieces, then walked back to the car (still at Mainly Music). Then home. Lunch, fed smallest cherub numerous times. Housework (vacuum, dust, mop wooden floors, tidy, empty dishwashers, do washing, fold washing, put clothes away etc etc etc). Organised bills (yuck). Made dinner. Tidied more. More washing. Called some peeps about coffee group tomorrow. Got into tidying MY SPACE. It is starting to look a bit better. Still fairly horrendous though. Too embarrased to post a pic at the mo, far too messy. I have a picture in my head of how I would like it to look, but it is unlikely to look like that any time soon! This house seems to get messy and dirty behind my back.

Tomorrow afternoon we go to Nana & Pop's place in Auckland. It will be great, even if the weather forecast is for lots of rain. Looking forward to seeing my sisters and mum. Also looking forward to the garage that is in pieces on our driveway going tomorrow. Yippee! The biggest boy and I haven't been able to agree on where to put it, and I have demanded a covered area in which to load/unload car and hang washing (sick of getting a wet bum!). So tha garage goes and the carport will be constructed. Yippee!!!

Two posts in two days!

Today was a mad day. My 'alarm clock' aka MP slept in this morning, leading me to rush around like a chook with its head cut off in order to get out of the house in time. I got to work with 5 minutes to spare, hair done, make up on and cherubs dropped off at child care. I had a sit down and a coffee when I got to work!

Worked all day today. Busy there too. School holidays in one week (and a bit). I think the students are tired, the teachers are tired and that makes for an interesting time! I am too busy to think about the holidays at the moment. I have brought home a communication aid that I need to learn how to use, then write a programme for to deliver to the student and teacher aide tomorrow. Oh, and I am not supposed to be at school tomorrow as I am attending a course. I am paid to work half a day and have yet to manage only half a day. Hmmm, I need to get better at that.

My cherubs are not going to child care over the holidays and I am looking forward to having them home. We are off to the big smoke this weekend and having lunch with my lovely mum and sisters on Saturday. I am really looking forward to it. Hoping for fine weather then SP can go tractor riding with Pops, one of his favourite pass times at Nana & Pop's place. Oh, and going into the bush, and generally doing whatever Pops is doing! Pops has an extra shadow when we are there :-)

Checked my gorgeous friend Ellen's blog tonight and she has posted again. She inspires me so much - family, career, great friend and crafter too. Sheesh I don't know when she gets time. I have got to learn better time management from her. Hold me to that girl!

Also want to seriously consider not giving chocolate this easter - the bunnies at wee wonderfuls look fabulous, and I have seen some really cute bunnies in a local shop too. Either way I am going to have to get busy. SP thinks he is getting an easter egg treasure hunt. We shall see. I am pretty keen on getting the true reason for Easter in there somewhere.

Anyway, no sewing done here today, too busy. I did get a new book on toy making from Trade Me (an awesome website and terminally dangerous for those trying to be thrifty!). I also got some very cute farmyard fabric to do something with at some stage. I have got to start using up some of what I already have. If CP is reading this he will be nodding vigorously and will now hold me to this. Eeek. I have also got to rearrange my office which is not currently required as an office as I am not working from home. It is going to be reincarnated as MY SPACE. Computer will still be in the corner, but the main theme will be sewing, crafting and general ME stuff. I can't wait. I will be able to leave my machines out. I have never been able to do that before. Yippee!

Gotta go, got the lunch construction (and a big boy obsessed with healthy eating at the moment. He wants to know the ingredients of everything and if there is sugar in it he won't eat it and gives me a lecture about good and bad foods - a tad frustrating at times!), laundry mountain to climb, bags to pack and general fluffing to do. Oh and that communication aid programme to write. A mothers work is never done!

Here I am!

Well, I have finally done it! Here is my first ever attempt at a blog. I have been inspired by numerous blogs I have found and am determined to learn more. It seems like a great way to communicate and document happenings. Got to get to grips with the photo posting.

Today was a great day - took SP swimming this morning, which he really enjoys. He is really getting the hang of 'arms and legs together' now and even managed an independent float on his back too. MP is developing a personality now (5 1/2 months old) and we are discovering he doesnt like to be kept waiting! He likes to be the centre of attention (I wonder where he gets THAT from!). He had a great sleep this afternoon. He discovered Tigger and the Woozle toy this afternoon and enjoyed sucking woozle's ear. Life is simple when you are 5 1/2 months old.

I am going to list the projects that I have on the go at some point - maybe that will help keep me motivated and actually encourage me to complete some!

This is just going to be a short post - I have got to do the lunch construction, bag packing, and general preparation for tomorrow. I work on Tuesday and Wednesday and need to be super organised so I can get out of the house to drop off the two cherubs and still get to work on time. Phew, some days I feel knackered before I have even left home!

Anyway, I WILL post again soon, with photos. Heres hoping for a week with bundles of energy to cope with energetic boys!