Summer holidays are almost here.....

In just over four weeks we will be finishing school for the six week summer holidays. That should coincide with Mr Thomps getting his two weeks r'n'r (rest and recuperation) from his not so little 'holiday' in the desert. With this in mind I've decided that this summer we will do a Bucket List.
The Summer holidays can quite easily fly by with not much getting done so I think that if we write everything down and tick things off as we do them it will motivate us to keep going.
Our list will start as soon as I manage I make it (hopefully this week) and I'll Donna official launch blog post, and will actually run until the end of October. This is because Mr Thomps will be back properly by the end of September and has all of October off work so some things will get done then. These will be things like going into London to see a theatre show and visit the museums because the Olympics will be happening when he is home in the Summer and London will be far too busy then!!!
The boys have been asked what they would like to do and I have had more inspiration from here: http://thehappyfamilymovement.com/2012/05/the-2012-summer-bucket-list-challenge/

Anybody fancy joining me??

Year of Projects Update:12 Jun 2012

Well here we are again, its been a long time!!! Its almost the end of our year of projects and I have learnt a huge amount in the past year.
I have done a fair amount of colourwork, learnt to knit continentally (although I still prefer to knit English style), dyed yarn, even had a very quick go at spinning on a friend's drop spindle, but the one thing that I have learned, above all others, is not to plan too far ahead! Out of my original list from my Year of Projects Post here very little has stayed the same. As new patterns were released I changed my mind over much of my list and there are things still outstanding that will never get finished!

So...
WIP
As of today I have in progress....
Sally the Eco/Xmas Fairy
Japanese Crochet Slippers
Japanese Flower Shawl
Mojo Socks
Granny Stripe Blanket
Baby Kimono
Hemlock Ring Blanket

From this list I think that it is unlikely that my Granny Stripe Blanket will ever get finished, but I am hopeful on the rest (even though I haven't touched some of them since they went on my list :hangs head in shame:)

Outstanding
Still Light Tunic
Lego Man
Tamara Gloves
Damask Shawl
Kalajoki Socks
And So Are You Shawl
Stitch Sampler Shawl
2 Monteagle Bags

Now I know that I won't ever knit the 2 Monteagle bags because I really didn't enjoy the first one I made!! Also As beautiful as the Damask Shawl is, I was intending it for a wedding that got cancelled so that will probably never come to fruition now. The same goes for the And So Are You shawl and the Tamara Gloves although I truly love them both.
I have bought the yarn for the Stitch Sampler Shawl so I'm not writing that one off yet and I still definitely want to knit the Kalajoki socks and Lego Man. The Still Light Tunic I adore, although I'm not sure I'll ever finish something of that size in 4ply..... We'll see!!!

So on to year two. This year I will definitely be less specific, more like 'A Kate Davies Jumper for Me' or 'A Brooklyn Tweed Scarf' so that I have a little more leeway when new patterns are released without my whole list appearing to change!!

Off to plan.......

Welcome to the World........... Audrey!

Meet Audrey.

Here she is, doing her thing and doing it perfectly.

Audrey was going to be my present from Dearest Husband's bonus at the end of his 'long sandy holiday' however over the Easter weekend I found her on an amazing offer at Harts of Stur so it would have been silly not to have indulged!!
She has been used a number of times since she arrived here at number 23 and she makes the most amazing mashed potato as well as all of the other baking uses she can be put to (like making the perfect pancake mix above). I may even go so far as to say that everybody who bakes should have one!
The name Audrey came from a little brainstorming session with my fellow knitters at Love Yarn's Saturday afternoon drop in session and as soon as I heard it I knew that it was perfect. Strong, dependable and lets you know exactly where you stand.

Audrey, I think I love you xxx

Year of Projects Update: 3 April 2012

Well, it's been a long old time since I did one of these!!! I thought I'd have a look back at my post from 1 July and see how far I've got......

My original list was...


UFO's to complete.....
1. Twenty-Ten Cardigan for me - FINISHED
2. Hemlock Ring Blanket for Alfie - HIBERNATING
3. Baby Kimono - HIBERNATING
4. Granny Stripe Blanket for the sofa - HIBERNATING
5. Mojo Socks for me - HIBERNATING
6. Japanese Flower Shawl - HIBERNATING
7. Textured Shawl for me - FINISHED
8. Something Pretty cushion for Mum - FINISHED

Gifts.....
9. Erik zip up hoody for Dan (my brother) as a birthday present - FINISHED
10. Monteagle bag for Nanny - changed to Christina cardigan - JUST NEED TO SEW UP
11. Monteagle bag For Chris for her birthday - FINISHED (but I hated doing it so the others got abandoned!)
12. Owls jumper for Sarah (Dan's girlfriend) who fell in love with mine - FINISHED
13. Monteagle bag for Bez - ABANDONED!
14.  Fetching gloves for Sarah - because she works in a draughty office so wears these that I knitted for her last birthday all the time - FINISHED (but not for Sarah!)

Others....
15. Hiker jumper for Tom - FINISHED TWO! (except he changed his mind to this one and this one!)
16. Cardy me - Deco or Paulie - FINISHED but chose this one instead
17. Hats for boys - either Astronomer or Modern Rib Hat - FINISHED BOTH
18. Remembrance Poppies - FINISHED
19. And So Are You shawl
20. Stitch Sampler Shawl - STARTED
21. Guernsey Wrap - FINISHED
22. Japanese Crochet Slippers for me - STARTED
23. Sally the Eco Fairy as an Angel for the Christmas tree - STARTED
24. Kalajoki socks
25. Damask shawl
26. Tamara gloves for me - I WILL learn to do colourwork! - Haven't done, however did do this and this is almost done for my colourwork lessons!
27. Asymmetric stripe shawl - Different Lines - FINISHED
28. Still Light Tunic with hand dyed yarn
29. Lego Man for the ever Lego obsessed Alfie
30. Jane Hat for me - FINISHED
31. Jumpers for kids - FINISHED BOTH


So I don't think I've done bad! I've got time between now and 30 June to hopefully get some more ticked off my list...... we'll see!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

To find more moments and add your own, visit Soulemama

The Eggs Factor

Coming up to Easter Alf's school has set a whole school piece of 'homework' to design a rock band made from eggs.

The first part of the homework consisted of producing a drawing of their band with the second part to make a model. The models had to be taken in to school this morning ready to be displayed at the Easter Concerts on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.

I am so proud of my little man, drawing has never really interested him, it's far too calm and quiet for him, but over the last week he's really enjoyed this task and then made his band last night. His concentration is definitely improving and I am eternally grateful to his teachers endless patience for that!!

Here is his contribution......

Our Weekend With Floppy

Alfie's class has a soft dog called Floppy, so named from the Oxford Reading Tree series of books where there are children called Biff, Chip, Kipper and a dog called Floppy.

When Floppy comes home he brings with him a diary and a digital camera and your child is expected to take photos of what Floppy has done as well as draw a picture and write a short sentence.

This weekend it was our turn. It also happened to be the one weekend where we had no plans. Absolutely none.

The weather was beautiful and unseasonably warm and all we were going to do was chill in the garden - which doesn't make a good diary entry for a 5 year old! So, we cooked the sausages for tea on Friday night on the barbecue and Floppy helped, he also helped us to plant some carrot seeds on Saturday morning. I think we did pretty well considering!!

I didn't think it was appropriate to include the witnessing of grown men fighting over reduced yogurts in Tesco though.....