Ripples and Spirals

The clocks went forward at the weekend - which means that it is still light outside at 8pm.  The long evenings really lifts my spirits...I LOVE 'em :-).

We officially started our Easter Holidays last Friday.  The little woman has two weeks off school and I have finished up at work so we are going to have lots of time together.  Unfortunately, Daddy will miss out on all the fun as he has to work (someone has to bring in the reddies).  It's his birthday today so we're going to make him a birthday cake - we're thinking a big rice crispie cake with LOADS of candles!!

My new found freedom has been put to good use so far - not with housework and chores, of course - but with lots of lovely hooking.  I think I have finally got the hang of the ripples - YAY - the more rows I added the better it got and my counting abilities improved too.

The colours are a bit funny in the picture but you get the general idea.  This is destined to be a cushion cover, I will post a pic when it is finished.

And, I have my new project on the go too....it's a three colour spiral...and is truly a trial and error project.  The pattern didn't print out properly last night so its a curly swirl rather than the desired flat swirl but I'm trying to work it out as I go... Once I have it sussed I'll do a proper one.  Have to say though I am really enjoying this!!

I'm going to hop to it now and get all the day's jobs out of the way as quickly as possible and then I can sit down and relax with a nice cuppa and my hooking....oh yeah - happy days!

Hope you have fun today too!

Emma x

Ripples?

So maybe I was a tad previous before or maybe it was just beginners luck? 

My lovely hooky ripples really aren't so lovely...the more I practice the worse it gets - just like golf.  Instead of the beautiful undulating curves (that we all desire) mine are a bit lob-sided, a bit too curvy or a bit saggy - depending on where you look.  When it comes to hooking, I do it purely for the pleasure and I'm not a neurotic perfectionist, but, even by my loose standards it isn't good enough.  If I squint at my attempt through rose coloured sunnies it's still baaaad.....

I wish I hadn't ripped it all back (again) because I'd take a photo to show you - purely to make you laugh!!

What's the problemo??  I've sussed the stitches, the repetition and counting bit so I wonder if it is the tension - too tense (maybe a cuppa and some choccies would help) or not tense enough (in my dreams) but I suspect the true cause is inconsistency...ahhh, the story of my life...

In summary: my curves are lacking, my standards are loose and I'm inconsistent - my husband is a lucky guy!!

But, I'll keep trying...

Happy Hooking,
Emma x

100 Things about me...in no particular order

1. Not sure if I'll manage 100 things
2. My name is Emma
3. I'm English but live in Ireland
4. I have two children - a girl and a boy
5. I love my children with all my being but I have on occasion wanted to donate them to charity
6. I'm married to a good man and I love him to bits
7. I have never been arrested but have been found guilty :-(
8. My eyes are blue
9. My hair is dark brown
10. I've been going grey since I was 15
11. I love to read
12. I adore hand crafted items and the skill that goes into them
13. I was vegetarian for 11 years
14. I still don't really like meat
15. I enjoy colouring in
16. I'm right handed
17. Gardening is a passion
18. but i don't have a favourite flower
19. I do not like goats cheese - it doesn't matter how many times I try it
20. I'm claustrophobic
21. Despite that I once crawled through caves - just to prove to myself that I could - I was very proud of myself but will NEVER do it again
22. The first vehicle I drove was a tractor
23. If I had my time again I would do a different degree
24. My family is huge - more than 30 first cousins on my Mum's side
25. It is good having a big family
26. My sisters call me Valula
27. I dived with great white sharks in South Africa - amazing experience
28. I love the adrenaline rides in theme parks
29. My memory is really bad (I inherited it from my Mum)
30. I aspire to being as good a person as my Mum was and my Nan is
31. I can't bake
32. I don't enjoy cooking
33. I only eat when I'm hungry, so mealtimes are a bit hit and miss for me!
34. Patience isn't one of my virtues
35. but I've never lost my temper - I came VERY close once
36. I have had my heart broken
37. I have broken another's heart
38. I play golf - badly
39. I love learning new things
40. I don't smoke
41. I don't hate anyone - I lack the memory and inclination to do so
42. I passed my driving test first time when I was 17
43. I once rode an ostrich
44. I had my head shaved for charity - it was 17" long at the time
45. I believe there is a Greater Being, for me its God but if you call it by another name then that's fine by me
46. Organised religion frightens me
47. Human nature amazes me
48. Human nature terrifies me
49. I realised that I could really be hurt (again) when I looked at my sleeping baby daughter
50. I wouldn't buy a house that didn't have a real fire
51. I can't sing
52. or play a musical instrument
53. or dance
54. I've only run out of petrol once (my husband claims that the petrol light winks at him every time he gets into my car)
55. I am blessed with a few very good friends
56. My parents were truly in-love and it set the bar for me
57. I've had a happy life so far
58. I intend to grow old disgracefully
59. I intend to have a blue rinse in my old age and wear outrageous clothes
60. I do not like swimming in the sea
61. I haven't shaved my legs since 2002 - don't worry I'm not a yetti - just blessed with quite hairless legs!
62. When I die I do not want people to visit my grave, I will not be there.
63. I support Manchester United - the best football club in the world
64. I love love love the way kids randomly jump, spin and roll around no matter where they are
65. Tea is my favourite drink
66. Wine is my second favourite drink :-)
67. Warm milk makes me gag
68. My car is always messy but I just don't care
69. I love the smell of my children
70. I married my Dad - literally, not actually - of course!!!
71. I have a sewing machine that has never been used
72. I'm forgetful...I forgot my wedding anniversary once and we've only been married 6 years! Ooops
73. I'm blessed with a half-full glass
74. I'm worth more dead than alive
75. I am neither a lucky nor an unlucky person
76. I believe things happen for a reason
77. I am impulsive by nature
78. I gave birth without pain relief - I'm tough!
79. People are always welcome in my home, I expect them to make themselves at home
80. I curse quite a lot, i don't mean anything by it, its just lazy speech
81. I have two awesome sisters
82. Opening brown envelopes is something I avoid - they never contain anything interesting
83. I believe mucky kids are happy kids
84. When I grow up I want to be a farmer
85. I reversed my Mum's car into the neighbours car when it had only 13 miles on the clock - she never even commented!
86. I'm a wing and a prayer sort of girl
87. I am most definitely not a morning person
88. I would rather chew off a limb than spend a day shopping
89. I'm very proud of my Dad
90. Being financially rich does not appeal to me
91. I believe that money is a means to an end and not an end in it's self
92. I'd love to have a house full of kids
93. I think the recession has made people re-evaluate what really matters in life
94. I'd move to Australia in the morning if I could
95. I admire other people's imaginations
96. Camping does not appeal to me but I'm gonna do it for the family.....
97. I've worked since I was 14
98. I really truly honestly absolutely hate sticky things - urgh
99. I'd like to live like Laura Ingles Wilder for a while
100. My Guardian Angel looks after me and is always there in the tough times, I am blessed to have her.

So, now you know me a little better....if you decide never to visit me again I will completely understand !!

Emma xxx

Busy Busy

Good Morning!  It's a beautiful morning here in the Sunny South-East, the torrential rain that fell over night was not only lovely to listen too but  has painted extra greenness onto the lawns and has cleared the sky of its angry clouds.  The thermometer at the back door states that it is 20oC, unseasonable warm but incredibly welcome.

And the very best thing about today is that there is a spring in my step and a song in my heart!  HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY.

My family have already left for the day, which leaves me to power through some jobs that I have been silently procrastinating about. No more! Today is the day to get them done!

The rest of the day will be available for much more pleasureable pursuits...maybe I'll teach My Little Woman how to crochet a granny square -she's such a crafty little girl and I'm sure she'll love it. 

I'm also going to order some books from th'interweb, somehow books are always an allowable spend for me, even when I'm in the midst of an economy-drive (like now).  The plan is to order The Shell Seekers for me and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows for My Little Woman.  Can't wait until the postman leaves those on the kitchen table for us!

Well, I must get on or I'll miss my school-run deadline for completion of the days chores.

Hope there is sun on your backs today too.

Emma xxx

A Bit of Fun...

Ok, so I'm a tad juvenile (no surprise there) and I know this isn't the most grown-up blog post you'll read today but still I have to share...

We were having beef stew for lunch and I needed some more carrots, so off I pottered into the garden and pulled a couple.  So glad I did.  One, or should I say two, were piggy-backing...

You have to love that - comedy veg!

Soooo much better than the uniform, perfectly formed specimens available in the supermarket.  Homegrown - fresh, entertaining and tasty, what more can you ask for? :-)

Valula x

Nothing in Particular

It's been a funny old week and I haven't been much in the mood for blogging but after a strong word or two with myself I'm back on the right track.  Generally my glass is at least half full so being in bad form isn't something that happens too often - thankfully!

Sometimes it is necessary to focus on the good things in life...

Today I am particularly glad that:

I'm not a man, otherwise, my cold would be the hugely debilitating and potentially life threatening MAN-FLU...*shudder*

We've made some chocolate crispy buns (y-u-m-m-y).  The whole melting chocolate thing has always been a bit of a trauma for me - I think my pans have been too hot on previous attempts - but I succeeded with the microwave. YAY!!  Cooking really isn't my forte...

I spilt a whole bottle of fabric softener on the utitilty room floor (which I mopped up with the clothes I was about the wash) because now our WHOLE home smells of "Sunshine".

I have mastered how to crochet Mollie-Flowers and Neat Ripple-ing.  If it wasn't for Lucy at Attic24 I wouldn't be enjoying hooking nearly as much!

There is a fantastic red-sunset outside because that means tomorrow will be a good day too.

And I have just spotted a bat flying around outside, how cool is that!

My hubby has gone away for the night - much as I love him - I also love having some time to myself, it'll be a good old film or maybe a Poirot and some more of this:

And on that note, I'll say goodnight and prepare for my night of relaxation....Ahhhhhhh

New addition to the family

Today is Mother's Day and I was treated to breakfast in bed, some cards and a basket of flowering plants.  All very lovely.  We then went down to the Outlaws for a roast beef dinner - aren't meals so much tastier when they have been cooked by someone else.  It was all very relaxed but the hubby was restless and quite impatient to get going, so we set off home...but not the usual way...

As we travelled I began to suspect he had a plan!  So let me introduce you to Ollie, he's the latest addition to our family.   Be under no illusions though, he's not a gift for me at all.

We got him from the Inistioge Puppy Rescue, this is their photo (I hope they don't mind).  He's three years old and is much bigger than he looks in the picture!

So now I have two dogs, a cat, a fish, two lizards, two children and a hubby.

We've had him home about an hour or so and there is still an awful lot of bum-sniffing going on between the two dogs, our little Daisy is still a bit miffed but I think they'll end up being good friends.

Next addition - chickens!!!



Happy Mother's Day to all you Mommas out there.

Emma xxxx

Multi-Layered

Our little man chose his own clothes this morning, as is his want these days.  I smiled as I watched him walk to the car, he looked pretty cool - good choice I thought.

As we waited to be seen by the doctor I noticed his was quite red in the face, so I stripped off his jumper.  He said he was still hot and asked if could I take off more tops?  More tops??  Oh dear...How many more tops? So we counted - he had 5, yes 5, long-sleeved tee-shirts on...in addition to his termal vest and a thick wooly jumper - no wonder he was pink!  I couldn't help but laugh as I peeled off layer after layer of clothing... when I asked him why so many layers, he replied that they were all 'cool'.

Before we'd finished the great undress, there was gentle chuckling from all corners of the doctors surgery!

Bless....

Change of Plan...

The plan to make a Sunflower blanket has been abandonned (at least temporarily) because by the time it's finished, the baby it is for will probably be a parent herself!  Yes, this is partly because I am not exactly a speedy little hooker but also because big projects overwhelm me - especially when crafting time is limited.

So back to the drawing board.

Lucy at Attic24 has generously provided the pattern for some crocheted birdies, which I think are quite sweet.  But what to do with them?  Hmmm - a mobile maybe?

Its not quite finished, still have to tidying up some loose ends but still, I'm not sure if I'll send it.  Its not that I want to keep it or anything like that - I'm just not sure whether my cousin will like it or whether it is really good enough.  You see, I LOVE it when someone make a gift for  me and my tastes are quite eclectic (you'll appreciate this, the more you see of my home) but not everyone is the same....  Maybe I'll just buy some baby clothes instead???

But it really was fun to make!  My little woman thinks its cool - she is of the crafty ilk.  But the little man is far from impressed (although I suspect that he was just being cranky because I'd said no to sweets two minutes earlier).....

Valula x

Show and Tell Sunday

Good Afternoon!!

It's the first week of our 'Show and Tell Sunday' and the topic this week is our favourite spot at home.  I was thinking of showing you my bed - which is a firm favourite of mine - but venturing in to the bedroom to take the photo might prove toooooo tempting - did I mention that I LOVE my bed?? - and that would mean that I'd miss out on the beautiful sunshine that we are blessed with today.

So instead I'll show you my little spot in front of the fire...  and I enjoy it here because..

The rhythm of the rocking chair soothes my frayed nerves
The heat from the fire warms my toes
The sun from the window bathes me and lifts my spirits
The crickets (escapees the from the lizards tank) sing to me from their sanctuary behind the stove

It all makes me feel good....

So, sometimes I read, sometimes I watch tv, sometimes I chat on the phone, sometimes I crochet and sometimes I just sit and rock....

This afternoon I'm going to crochet - going to put the kettle on first though....happy days :-)

Em xxxxx

Deep Breaths

It has been a day of inhaling deeply. 

Firstly, when I filled my lungs with the cool, crisp air of morning whilst enjoying my cuppa, alfresco. 

Later, I found myself inhaling deeeeeply (and counting to 10) during another drawn out, unproductive meeting in work.  We have meetings about meetings...  I suspect the intake of breath was quite audible. 

Then tonight, much more enjoyably, I found myself filling my lungs to capacity with the cool night air as I gazed up at the sky.  The sky was STUFFED with stars - sooo many of them!  This is one of the (many) reasons that I appreciate living in the middle of no-where, there is little of light pollution that hides the stars from our eyes.  It was Utterly Beautiful.  If only I could do justice to it with a photograph.

Photo: P-M Heden

Reasons to be cheerful...

Despite the chill in the air this morning, I couldn't resist sitting outside while I enjoyed my morning cuppa.  It was fresh, sunny and calm and there was a little bird singing its heart out - lovely stuff!

     You can't really tell from this picture but I got out into the garden yesterday morning - yippee!!  Gardening always makes me feel fantastic - elated even - its good for my soul! Yep I mowed the back lawn, not normally one of my favourite gardening tasks but you see it's the first time in months that I've had enough energy to do anything out there.  Which brings me to my next reason to be cheerful, today is the last day of my steriods - woo hoo - I'll be 'roid free for the first time in 6 months. Fantastic. May even loose the old Moon-Face!

My little wander around the garden reminded me that the garden is waking from its Winter slumber and that Spring is just about to be sprung, which is enough to put a spring in  my step...oooooo - can't wait...I adore Spring and all its potential. 

Just look at the deep yellow of those crocuses and the furiness of the pussy-willow....before we know it the garden will be bursting with colour and the promise of delicious veggies  <3

We kept the little woman home from school today because she complained of feeling ill but has since made a miraculous recovery....and is now ready for her lunch!

I think we'll have some yummy, comfort food - maybe a big bowl of homemade soup with fresh bread or maybe beans, mash and fish-fingers...that always transports me back to my childhood dinner table...one of my favourite, heart and belly warming dinners. Ahhh.

Better go.... x

Frosty Morning

Its another frosty morning here but I like it, mainly because the boy child and I are admiring the white icy dusting from our snuggly position in front of the woodburner.  I love these moments.  I also love looking out at the pouring rain on a miserable night, it makes me very grateful to have a warm and comfortable house to look out from.

I did venture out (in my dressing gown) to take this, although not a fan of spiders particularly, I thought this was just lovely.

Hmmm, so what is the plan for the day?  By rights it should involve some washing, cleaning and generally try to make the house more respectable.  But instead I fancy doing some hooking, the weekend wasn't as productive as hoped.  And...the cleaning will still be there tomorrow....  Don't get me wrong,  it is nice to have a spotless house but I am not a clean freak, my philosophy is summed up by the wall tile below, which belonged to my Mum....




Yes, the cleaning will wait... The weekend's hooking was experimental (for a novice like me), I tried different centres to my lovely granny squares (trying to get more of a daisy look) and then changing the square to a hexagon...but I'm going to stick with the original plan...at least for this project!!

Well, I'd better go or there won't be any time for hooking or even cleaning before work....

Talk again soon x