Catching up ...

♥

 

As much as I love going away for a few days doesn't normal real everyday life have

a nasty habit of pushing its way back in too quickly ?

We were only away for a week but as soon as we got to Nursery on Monday morning it was non-stop, feet not touching the ground manicness until pretty much the end of the week. Probably my own fault for saying I was ready to go back to work as we were driving in - I should know better.

But in amongst all the invoices, database, registers, new enquiries, fire drills, nappy orders and three year old funding forms ....... big, big excitement on Wednesday afternoon when the postman delivered a parcel from Australia.

It was the Giveaway prize that I won from Jules at Little Woollie.

Once I had stopped squealing and calmed down a bit there was a very reverential opening of the parcel, making sure I remembered to take photos to show you all of my lovely Jules goodies.

It was all beautifully wrapped up and whilst the Giveaway prize had been for some gorgeous balls of wool Jules had sneaked a couple of other things in too...

 

 

 

... some beautiful, tiny crochet flowers ...

 

 

... and one of her much coveted Star kits.

♥

As you may know, having made no secret of it on my blog, I am such a huge fan of

Jules' work and to find all of this inside the parcel was beyond exciting.

I am a very happy bunny.

 

 

I am also a tad nervous that I shall not be able to do Jules' Star pattern justice,

but I shall have a damn good try !

I'll let you know how I get on.

Having not really given Giveaways much thought up until now I cannot tell you how lovely
 it was to receive such a generous and special parcel through the post.

It really made my day,

and for this very reason I immediately made the decision that I too would put together a little of box of Giveaway Goodies on my first Bloggy Birthday which is coming up at the beginning of June.

I am already having lots of fun thinking of things to include.

♥

Of course having had such a busy week at work my top priority when I got home was a bit of crochet and for some inexplicable reason I suddenly had an overwhelming need to make a mat to put my teapot on.

I don't know why, I didn't really need one, haven't ever missed not having one and could actually use one of the table mats we already have, but there you go.

An hour later, job done ! Ta-dah !

 

 As we had family to stay this weekend I probably should have been rushing around doing far more important things but you know what it's like, sometimes the world just needs to stop for a spot of calming crochet .

The rest of the weekend has just sort of flown by in a whirl of food, cups of tea, more food and more cups of tea but I did manage to sneak in a little bit of blocking while everyone was otherwise occupied.

 

 

Having originally been a little nervous about blocking I am finding that I really love

the whole process of it now.

There is something deeply satisfying about the soaking, the laying out and then the careful

smoothing and coaxing of everything in to shape.

 

It's really very pleasing.

 

I'm not sure I have blogged about this project but its a little wrappy shawl knitted

in Aran wool in a simple garter stitch.

 

Its called the Victory Wrap and is by Erika Flory

These pictures are from the pattern on Ravelry.

It knitted up so quickly and although it should be lovely and warm being made in this chunky yarn I love the way it also looks really delicate.

Mine is currently still pinned out like Gulliver after his encounter with the Lilliputians but I will make sure I take a couple of pictures when it's done.

And now, the other side of the weekend, guests having departed, I think a quiet evening of therapeutic double crocheting on Immi's Uni blanket should get me nicely set up and ready for tomorrow.

 

Monday morning ?

Bring it on !

Have a good week everyone.

♥

 

Pootling away from home ....

♥

 

Having just read the title for this post back it sounds as though I've been up to all sorts

of shenanigans doesn't it ?

 But at the risk of disappointing anyone, sorry I actually haven't...

I've just been away for a few days with the other half and the dog in our caravan.

See, told you, nothing that scandalous really.

 

Its our first proper get away this year and we headed to an absolute favourite

campsite of ours in The Gower, called Nicholaston Farm.

We first went there about 5 years ago with my brother and his family, who said we absolutely had to come and see this completely magical place they had discovered.

The campsite is situated at the top of a hill overlooking the sea.

The walk down to the beach from there is through the most beautiful natural

woodland and as you walk along the path you suddenly realise you are no

longer walking on soil and bark but sand. 

 

 

 

And suddenly you break through the trees and look...

 

 this is what you see !

I always think of it as like walking through the wardrobe door in The Lion, The Witch

 and The Wardrobe.

Its completely breathtaking.

( I should probably point out here that my photo's really do not do it justice at all - I am no photographer and all pics are snapped in the moment on my iphone. )

The beach stretches for miles and more often than not you can not see one other single person.

I think its safe to say that this is pretty much Lilou's most absolute favourite place - she loves it and charges about doing Zoomies as fast as she can, tail turning a full 360degrees as she runs.

 

 

The walks you can do are amazing, full circle coming back up the sand dunes, all along the beach to stop at the pub or back along the woodland trail above the dunes.

 

Its quite a hike back up the hill but so worth it for the view from the top, and then its just a little meander along the woodland path back to the campsite.

I think we caught the bluebells at their peak, they looked and smelt heavenly.

 

 

We even managed to persuade Lilou to sit still for two seconds to have her portrait

 taken in amongst them.

 

 

♥

 

 

This was the view from our Caravan door ... unbeatable.

 

 

Also unbeatable ... one pooped pooch !

And so to the big question, did I take any yarny bits and bobs with me ?

Most certainly !

Three different projects infact.

 

 

But the one that took my fancy was the latest patchwork blanket I am making.

So crochet sorted for the evening it was time to snuggle down, put the Beach Hut fairy lights on

 

 

and stick the DVD in.
 

 

 

 

If you haven't seen it already this is a definite must see movie.

 Classic Richard Curtis from start to finish. I loved every minute.

♥

 

Despite the forecast having predicted rain, rain and more rain we were so lucky with the weather and so decided to walk along the coastal path to Three Cliffs Bay.

 

 

This looked like the perfect place to stop for a cuppa ...

 

so out came our faithful Kelly Kettle

 

and within a few minutes steam was up and



tea was served.

 

 

Yup, that'll be a pooped pooch again, well till the next morning at least ...

 



 

 

We had time for one last early morning walk on the beach before heading home

 

and a much needed wash down for the dog.

 

 

We shall be back.

♥

 

Back home the squares have been finished off, I am loving these little blankets, they are so quick to do and they use up all those odd left over balls of wool.

And yet more sun.

 

 

All sewn up, and with the second part of the border now complete

 

 

I would now like to very proudly reveal

 

one completely random blanket !

 



 

  Look , no particular patterns, no particular placing of squares

AND two different types of squares, some knitted, some crocheted.

 

I know !

Would you get me with my randomness !

♥

 

Have a lovely week everyone.

Things - some random, some not..

♥

 

And so, look who got the Spring blanket .

 

 

She stayed tucked up in it all morning on her bed at Nursery. 

Mostly just her nose was poking out but every now and again she would look

up at one of the children passing and she looked as though she was wearing a

 little bonnet with a bobbly edge ... very funny.

 

Whilst things have been super busy at work after the long weekend,

on the crafty front all is calm and restful.

Spring blanket and egg cosies finished, I have returned to the lovely sea of green bobbles

 that is my second JuJu Loops bobbly wrap, and I am very nearly there.

I just cannot tell you enough how much easier and how much more pleasurable

this one has been to make simply because of my stitch markers.

 I really was such a plonker to not have read the pattern properly first time round.

But .. lesson now learnt.

 

♥

I so enjoyed reading Annies post earlier this week that was about nothing other than random facts.

Check it out if you haven't already seen it, and all the comments that followed.

 It made me laugh aloud, and so following her lead, here are 6 bits of 

Friday randomness from me ..

 

 

1.This week I discovered that little Lindt bunnies fit perfectly into the egg tray in my fridge.

 

 

2. When I was 13 my Dad, being the local clergyman, came to my school to do school assemblies.

One time he turned up and in his briefcase was my Guinea Pig, Nutty.

He then proceeded to ask me to come down to the stage - INFRONT OF ALL THE SCHOOL

  and help him ..  I know ! I WAS 13 FOR GOODNESS SAKE ! 

I can't actually remember what the assembly was about or quite why he felt the need to bring my guinea pig with him - but there you go. It stays with me !

But that was not all ...when the time came to sing the hymn obviously nobody sang it

except MY DAD !

Very loudly , and very happily.

 Good times, love you Dad x

 

3. We have sticky buds all over our house.

The sticky bud season is back.

Now I love a conker tree as much as everyone else - but man, do those sticky buds get everywhere !

They are in the hall, on the bottom of our shoes, on the bottom of our socks, on the dogs and cats paws, on our bed, in the laundry basket, on the sofa .. you get the picture.

Bring on the conkers.

 

4. Twenty five minutes on the Cross Trainer burns approximately 250 calories, which equates to one medium sized Lindt bunny.

 

5. Cliff Richard came to tea at our house.

It was when I was about 12 and he had come to give a concert at my Dads church, so naturally, what with being British and all , he came for tea first.

Mum made some biscuits for tea and to this day they are known in our family as Cliff Richard biscuits. They are extremely yummy - and have their rightful place in Beths My Own Bake Off Blog.

He was very nice, wore a full length fur coat and asked for Sweetex in his tea.

 

 

6. When we were selling our last house Channel 4 rang up and asked if our house

could go on Location, Location, Location.

Lots of cleaning followed but it was all very exciting and I met the lovely Phil Spencer who smelt quite gorgeous. He wore a bright pink knitted waistcoat.

Its quite odd sitting in your lounge watching your lounge on the telly , with your cat asleep on the sofa.

 

♥

 

Have a lovely , if maybe a bit wet, weekend.