Thursday 29 July 2010

Family Spaghetti Night











With all the Summer happenings, the comings and goings of sleepovers, Youth Hosteling Holidays with a friend for K, Libyan work trip for N and then all the days out and friends visiting here, it was time for a gathering in, a family favourite - Spaghetti and Meatballs, sitting at the table and being together, enjoying each others company, noticing the tanned faces, the sun-lightened hair,all the growing up that's happening around here.
A time to smile, be happy and be full.




Tuesday 27 July 2010

Summer Basket to Go

Packed and ready to go at a moments notice for Summer Adventuring.
Our basket holds our essentials - snacks ( today - slices of melon ) water bottles, flask ( today - hot chocolate .. English Summers ! )

Book for K, Knitting for me -
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/nocton4/simple-yet-effective-shawl-fingering-weight
camera, purse, warm jackets,nappies and wipes, additional extras when needed - sun lotion, more food and hats.
What are your Summer Days out must-haves ?

Today's adventure was a couple of hours in a friend's wood, complete with camp fire, wheel-barrow rides and ladder climbing ( for O )
Now waiting for biggest boy to call, ready for picking up from his adventuring ... a friend's 16th birthday sleepover, where I am sure there was very little sleeping !


Friday 23 July 2010

Reaching for the Sky


This moment, a Friday tradition, a time to cherish, to remember, to honour its importance.To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Wash Wednesday - 3


O's knitted wash cloths, soft, colourful and Mama-Made.
Great project for a knitting novice, pattern includes cast on and off, increase and decrease and colour changes if you want.
Ideal for popping in your bag to take on days out and knits up quickly.
Wash Wednesday has now finished over at GardenMama
http://gardenmama.typepad.com/my_weblog/ but a wonderful new project has just started, go join in.

Sunday 18 July 2010

17

Another number to celebrate here.
Flowers, candles and a Chinese takeaway marked our 17th wedding anniversary on Saturday.
17 years with my love, my best friend and a wonderful Daddy to our children.
We are richly blessed.


And now another lucky number for someone .. chosen by a random number generator, number 11.
How I laughed when I checked to see who number 11 was, counting down the lovely comments to find
Twig and Toadstool said...
Wahoo!!!! That's a real accomplishment!!Count me in on the giveaway...we'd love to win your beautiful creations!!!

Having recently been so very lucky in winning T&T's amazing rainbow gnomes, this seemed very fitting.

A huge thanks for all your kind comments, blogging is great isn't it.




Wednesday 14 July 2010

399

What a time for "blogging block" to strike, post number 399, when I'm all geared up for a 400th post giveaway.

So, my smile of the morning, little O's breakfast, his first was cereal with his big brother, who was heading out the door for a days work with Grandad, with school finished and college in September, he is filling his days with a mix of fun with friends and some money making to fund all the adventures he has planned.




Then came toast with his sister, this boy does breakfast, wholemeal toast spread with Strawberry Jam, made by Gill, what a start to the day.

See you tomorrow x

Monday 12 July 2010

A Week of Gifts - Aubergine Knitting Pattern


Lady Luck has been smiling on me recently, with a delightful win on Twig and Toadstools lovely blog - a rainbow of Gnomes http://twigandtoadstool.blogspot.com/ this blog is pure inspiration, bursting full of ideas for good times from an amazing Mama.
I was overwhelmed to then find, I had won a gorgeous handmade bag at My Mother's Apron Strings http://mymothersapronstrings.blogspot.com/ tummy treats aplenty found at this very special blog, written by a lovely lady with a warm and generous heart.
What is a girl to do, when friendship from fellow bloggers keeps her smiling for days .. well .. spread those smiles round of course.
So, to celebrate, so many lovely things , my wins, nearly 400 posts, am on 398 with this one, so I think 400 deserves a Summer giveaway and to say thanks for over 125 friends who follow this blog and all the wonderful comments you leave.

So my first treat, a huge first for me, my first knitting pattern.

Aubergine

I used up oddments of dk yarn and size 3.5mm dpn.

CO - Cast on
KFB - Knit into front and back of stitch
K2tog - Knit 2 stitches together.
Cast on 12 stitches, marking start of round, join, being careful not to twist stitches.

Increasing
1. KFB then K3 - repeat until end of round ( 15 sts )
2. Knit.
3. KFB then K4 - repeat until end of round ( 18 sts )
4. Knit.
5. KFB then K2 - repeat until end of round ( 24 sts )
6. Knit.
7. KFB then K3 - repeat until end of round ( 30 sts )
8. Knit.
9. KFB then K4 - repeat until end of round ( 36 sts )
10.Knit.
11.KFB then K5 - repeat until end of round ( 42 sts )

Knit 8 rows, this will produce a small, baby aurbergine, for a longer one, add more rows until you reach length required.

Decreasing.
1. K2tog then K5 - repeat until end of round ( 36 sts )
2. Knit.
3. K2tog then K4 - repeat until end of round ( 30 sts )
4. Knit.
5. K2tog then K3 - repeat until end of round ( 24 sts )
6. K3 then K1 stitch using green yarn for stem - repeat until end of round.
7. Knit round using both yarns, adding a green stitch each side of previous green stitch, so K2 in aubergine colour then K3 in green, continue round.
8. Cut aubergine yarn and knit round in green, weaving in the other yarn end.
9. K2tog - repeat until end of round ( 12 sts )

Now is the time to add some stuffing.

10. K2tog - repeat until end of round ( 6 sts )
11. K2tog - repeat until end of round ( 3 sts )

Transfer the last 3 sts onto 1 needle and icord length needed for end of stem,approx 4 rows but up to you.

Cast off. Weave in all ends.
Instructions for icord making - http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-cord-knitting-tutorial.html yet another amazing blogger with a blog that never stops giving and sharing, so many wonderful projects, patterns and love.
I must admit to feeling very nervous about this pattern, as I made it up as I went along and then jotted down notes after finishing, so it has been checked, over and over again ! I would love to see your aubergines, if you give it a try.
Questions answered from my last post - Summer Knitting, wow, thanks so much for all your very kind comments, am never sure where to answer them, so have opted for here
Keep a look out for some of these knitted treats in my Summer Giveaway, later in the week !
3. How I wish I'd made the mosaic in my header but sadly I didn't, the photo was taken at Ryton Organic Gardens - http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/gardens/ryton.php
Happy Knitting.

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Summer Knitting

Knitting up a storm here, finishing off older projects, quick, easy summer knits, using up leftover yarn and planning new ones.

This Gnome House is well under way, felting the pieces is the next step.
Pattern from here - http://www.hedgehoglane.com/ Wonderful pattern, great fun and so quick and easy.
I have some gnomes very eager to move in.

Yarn leftover from knitting those Elizabeth Zimmermann BSJs http://abigsmile4.blogspot.com/2009/10/knitting-matters.html has turned into a wonderful sweetpea inspired Pebble Vest.

The Toddler Pebble is also finished, using up my hand-dyed yarn
http://abigsmile4.blogspot.com/2010/05/in-dye-pot.html all ready for O's Autumn wear.




Then some quick, fun summer knits, peas and lemons.



What's on your needles ?



Monday 5 July 2010

The Bean House Grows and Grows











An idea,inspiration from friends ( am I too forward to call you a friend Sharon, hope not x )

Less than a month ago, still new, still patchy but with so much promise.
And now, a garden delight, a mix of Sunflowers, growing tall, nearly touching the sky, French Beans and Runner Beans, providing cover, tangling their way up the poles, stunning red flowers, Sweet Peas, so fragrant, rainbow colours, so gorgeous and yet to show their smiling heads, Calandula ... a surprise to come.
A carpet of woodbark at his feet, a chair to sit on and view his kingdom from, O is a happy boy.
Make plans for this project next year, you will not be disappointed.

Friday 2 July 2010

Summer Stars


This moment, a Friday tradition, a time to cherish, to remember, to honour its importance.To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.

Thursday 1 July 2010

Potty Time


The last few days have been all about the potty.
Yesterday, all wees caught, poo on the kitchen floor !
Today, all wees caught and a poo in the potty .. yippee.
A very happy O and a very proud Mama and Papa, not to mention big brother and sister who have to admire every one and Grandma and Grandad, who have to be phoned and told about every deposit !