W'I'P's (have to be careful what I write!)*** and weekend wanders

Morning my dears, hope you all had lovely weekends, ours whizzed by so fast that Youngest asked for another Sunday, we wholeheartedly agreed with him but sadly were not able to grant his wish xxx

A little while ago, I took part in a Pay It Forward with Stuff 'n' Bits  and as part of the 'game' you have to send on gifts to five bloggers who read your own blog.  I made these a little while ago but didn't post any pictures until I knew every one had received their pressie as I wanted to keep the surprise :)

I made little pincushions, each one slightly different - I only took photos of the one as my camera battery went flat and it takes so lo-o-o-o-ong to charge that I posted them before I remembered to take any more pictures!

I great fun making these :)

***Last time I wrote about my W ork In P rogress, I was inundated with some rather unsavoury sites, erhem don't want that happening again - hehehehehehe 

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Sunday had us reaching for our boots and waterproofs. We'd promised both our boys that we could go out on the hills and they could each take a friend.  With one eye on the steely grey sky we set out. It was a bit of a pull as Himself had parked in a sheltered valley and the footpath took us directly to the top of the hills.

We all puffed a little, especially one our walkers who isn't as fit as the other boys, but he cheerfully kept up.

Once at the top, the farmland became open moorland, where every inch of marshy boggy tussocky ground had been transformed into a magical, fluffy floating mattress of white cotton grass.  It was wonderful - I couldn't stop taking pictures. The wind whipped the little cotton heads back and forth and the area seemed to flow up and down in white billowing waves.

I don't think I have ever seen the cotton grass so abundant and so early as we did this weekend - it was beautiful.

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Thank you for all your comments both horrified and encouraging regarding my moment of temporary madness and a pair of sharp scissors!

I have to share that the blanket is now all better, the ends are woven in and the excess has been wound into little balls and are already being used up.

I do get these moments of recklessness where even I wonder what on earth possessed me to do it, but fortunately I do seem to have survive most of these 'leap off the edge' moments.



All for now, I am sure I could waffle on a bit more, but seeing I have lots of chores to sort out, I better get on with them :) Lovely chatting with you and speak to you soon from my little corner of the world xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Things that make me smile

After a week of long hours at work and short hours at home with my boys I have finally finally reached Friday and I am so ready for weekend.


So, I thought in celebration of the fact it is Friday and I made it through the week I thought I'd share with you some happy things that have made me smile.

Vivid red primula, secretly purchased with pocket money for Mother's day

Walking with furry friends and yes that pink lead does look like it goes right through giddy dog's ears, 

but no, 

despite all rumours, 

despite the vacant look, 

the lead is behind her head..... besides her head is too full of fluff!

Celindine, primula, and hellebore in the garden 

 

Giddy dog, foot long tongue, strawberry flavoured icing and lots of saliva

 And, 

I entered my first 'Pay it Forward' on Stuff'n'Bits 

and now am now 'paying it forward to you' :)

So, the first lovely 5  folk to comment on this post will receive something handmade by me in the post. 

All I ask you to do in return is to 're-post' the 'Pay it Forward' on your blog and do the same for 5 more lovely bloggers. 

What a wonderful way to meet your fellow bloggers and receive a handmade gift in the post.

I am always delighted to find comments waiting for me and appreciate my followers 

some of which have become good friends.

This is a lovely way of giving something back.

xxx

These are things that have made me smile this week, hope I've made you smile too -    Have yourselves a lovely, smiley, sunshine-happy weekend xxx

14.09.10 - Congratulations!

First...sorry sorry sorry for not posting the winner as promised yesterday - bows head in slight embarrassment then quickly says..... . my excuses I have aplenty!!

• Battery flat in camera so could not take action photos of draw until this morning

• short staffed at work, so instead of having Monday morning at home I had to work all day!! 

• When I finally managed to get home last night - I had to cut Eldest's hair and deal with all the tearful emotion that goes with losing his long emo style hair for a more shorter (but still longish) style. All this angst so the science teacher will let him use the Bunsen burners!! Oh the cruelty....... 

So - without any further ado (notice preliminary waffle please, this is being done to allow the battery more charging time!)

With great pleasure, I can now present the draw proceedings

The names just prior to being placed into Youngest's 'Darth Vader' Head

Darth Vader showing interest in the proceedings

Youngest dipping his hand into Darth Vader 

I now would like to reveal the winner to my first blogiversary is................

Colouritgreen!!

Congratulations :)

The little birds posing on bleached drift wood

They now hop into their surprise 'travel case' ready to wing their way down to their new home.

Thank you to all who entered, you all said such lovely things and again I am amazed at the fact people read my waffle and have the time of day to comment or laugh or to cry with me,

thank you all very much!

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Weekend round up - well as revealed last week, we went of on an almost spontaneous weekend jolly - can't be to-oo spontaneous as we have to arrange for fur and feather sitting and we have a delightful friend who happily watches the animals for us in exchange for Himself cleaning her chimney - Oh I do like this system of barter! Any way I digress...

As the end of Friday evening surgery finishes, I gallop out in a most unladylike fashion to be met by a car full of exited boys (x 3 - I included Himself). As I throw open the car door to leap in I am met with the most heavenly scent of fish and chips - ooh, a road trip AND food heh - this can't be bad!

Barring the enormously long serpentine traffic jam at St Asaph, the roads flow smoothly. I manage to get a goodly amount of crochet done when.....

Is there any tea in the flask says a hopeful Himself

Why not I think, traffic is at a standstill and the troops are getting restless - the fish and chips a dim and distant memory - yes, lets have a brew.

With a bit of careful manoeuvring of wool and hooks,  I set up the mugs, chuck in tea bags, sugar and pour out hot water and milk. Stir, stir, sip, sip - pass the cooler sweeter teas to the boys, pass the hotter mug to Himself. He slurps appreciatively loudly as I set up my mug, stir, add milk, close flask and put it away in the basket. We sit, quietly, looking at the red beads of brake light flowing down the hill and fade into the  far distance. The boys, tea gone quietly chatting, Himself passes back his mug, empty.  Sigh, I tentatively sip my steaming tea, this might be a while....when suddenly the traffic starts to move, Himself launches into action and gets into gear and judders the car. JUDDERS the car........ JUDDERS the CAR while I was STILL nursing PIPING HOT TEA!

I howl my annoyance then immediately follow it with a screech of pain as a tsunami wave of tea launches out of my mug and cascades across my lap. I hurl, as best I can, the crochet aside hoping that in the dark I have managed to save it from the flood. My legs are stinging hot and the car seat horribly wet. I can feel tea running down my calf and dripping on the carpet.There is tea running down my arm as I hold the now nearly half empty mug aloft.

I know, even in the dark, that Himself dare not look at me and firmly fixes his gaze at the now stationery traffic..... 

umm, it's slowed down again, oops - heh sorry - hmm he says. 

Still not looking at me as I stare crossly at his profile. 

At least we've finished our brews he offers helpfully.................... 

aaaAAARRRGH!!

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10.9.10...And the winner is...............

..................Ssssssssh a secret! 

You all have to wait until Monday!!

Why I hear you ask..

Well coz we are going away for the weekend - to Anglesey - Woo hoo!

Off to stay with a friend  

And I am So-o-o looking forward to it

Especially after a day like I have had today -pheweeeeee! 

09.09.10 - One year and beyond Woo hoo - My blog is one year today!

Wow, one year - one WHOLE year!!

When I started it, 

it was as a mix of inspiration from Colouritgreen and Thursday's Child, 

the need to write and post photographs 

and to mark the start of my Eldest son at senior school.

I've met and made some delightful new bloggy friends as well as linking up with existing friends along the way.

 Angela and Jan from Bobbypinsboardwalk are always quick with a lovely comment and encouragement
 as are new friends Summertime Dreams and Artteachergirl. Sarah and Cat and Jak are all regular visitors too.

I have had many more visitors and comments that I am both surprised and delighted to receive as I still find it amazing that people have the time to read my waffle and actually respond to it - so thank you!

SO, a gentle reminder (as if you need one!) just say hi, leave your name, 

no anonymous comments please 

between now and midnight (UK time) on 9th September 2010 

and I will pick a winner at random. 

The winner will notified on MONDAY 13th SEPTEMBER

and coz I am feeling rather generous - I have slipped an extra surprise in the parcel for the lucky winner ssshhhhh not revealing any secrets just yet!

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07.09.10 - Oooh - getting excited- looky looky!

I just love it when I start a new project - a choice of new colours, the excitement of a new WIP and the sheer enjoyment of the 'act of crafting'.

Just look at these colours of woolly delicious-ness!

(ok ok for the purists it's acrylic)

Yummy

I am making a throw of candy stripes in the most scrumptious colours with inviting names such as Sherbet and Lipstick, Aster and Spring Green, Pomegranate and Fondant - how could I resist?!?

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And don't forget my give-away!        

To celebrate one year of waffle and guff, I have made (but not quite finished!) a handful of birdies in bright felty fun. 

They will have loops so you can hang them up 

on cupboard door handles 

on a festive tree or wreath 

(yes that that time of season coming up)

or on parcels 

Any where really!

So, just say hi, leave your name, no anonymous comments please between now and midnight (UK time) on 9th September 2010 and I will pick a winner at random. 

I am happy to post internationally.

I have had some lovely comments already and don't actually feel that I deserve them. I am always surprised that people find my meandering tales and waffle on woolly things worth reading! 

Now, excuse me, I have a basket full of yarn calling me for a bit of hooky hooky! (oh err - now that sounds like fun!!)

05.09.10 - Weekend round up - to include chocolate!

Aaah, Saturday was a blur of boys. 

A friend was here for the day and the three of them did-not-stop....all...day.....long......

Hiya

hiya

run....shout....shoot....hide....BOO!

hungry

thirsty

play play play

Loud.....run.run...run

jump hide dig hide

eat eat eat

slurp

chew talk chew talk

talk chew more

swallow loudly

leap from chair

off to play play play 

Go for a walk....take swords...play play play 

yell play

hide

come back from walk

hungry 

eat drink chat talk

play play play

sit down and watch a DVD

S......I......L.....E.....N....C....E

film ends

talk

eat drink chat pillow fight

talk

yell play play play

then suddenly the friend was collected and after a bit of a noisy goodbye we all collapsed back and sat in...

S......I......L.....E.....N....C....E

bliss

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Later, much later, I started to craft again...with chocolate next to me (for medicinal purposes only you understand...) and a small friend

A curious robin spies some Green and Black's chocolate

while I craft more felty feathery friends.

Now just to give them some ribbon loops and wrap them up ready for their new home.

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Today we went for a bright and blustery walk. A good one to blow away the cobwebs. 

We sat out of the breeze, surrounded by sun-warmed honey scented heather

We sipped piping hot tea while Giddy Dog wallowed in a stream

We stopped by the 'Hanging Stone' reputed to have caused the accidental death of a sheep thief as he ran from the police. The stone was carved in 1618.

A lovely day, we returned feeling refreshed and invigorated.

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I commented on Summertime Dream's blog the other day in which she mentions how she over time has evolved and changed and that she is happy with these changes. 

My response was, I feel that by writing a regular blog it has gently forced me to come to terms with who I am. And I have found that over the course of this first year of writing my blog that I have a lot that occurs in my day and my life that I actually like if not love. 

 I am on the whole a fairly cheerful person but I can and do dwell on the negative and I find that this can overshadow all that is positive.Writing this blog about the good things in my life has made me realise that I am very lucky, very loved and definitely on the whole a very happy person.

02.09.10 - One Year Blog-iversry coming up

ONE YEAR BLOG-IVERSARY COMING UP!

Who'da thunk it! 

I've been doing this blog for almost a year now.

 I started blogging on  the 09.09.09. 

So I am going to celebrate with a GIVE-AWAY!!

All you have to do is leave a comment between now and midnight (UK time) 9th September 2010 letting me know how long you have been dropping by and what you think and I'll pick a winner at random on Friday 10th September. 

I am busy crafting surprise gifts of felty goodness which can be used as festive tree decorations or just for fun.

I'm happy to post internationally, so any one can enter.

Sorry, no anonymous comments so please leave your name or pseudonym and don't forget to check back to see if you were selected!

01.09.10 In which I discover it is - September Already!

Hello - We're back and ......

Golly-gosh, wow and similar expressions of surprise, despite knowing full well that after August comes September, suddenly here it was - S-E-P-T-E-M-B-E-R! But hey - who said it could do that so-o-o-o-o darned quickly!

Oh what a lovely weekend away we had. It was wonderful, wonderful wonderful - err did I mention how wonderful??

We went back up to Dumfriesshire and Galloway for the bank holiday weekend - wish all weekends were three days long, think I could seriously get used to that :)   Saturday was a bit damp but that didn't squash the general enthusiasm of the boys. What are puddles for except for jumping in? Why dodge rain when you can run around in it and catch it with your tongue? I am a little less 'waterproof' than they are but we still got out and about and enjoyed it.

We were not the only ones being busy in the rain - we kept finding these little locals popping about, much to the delight of the boys. How perfect is that? Look at those incredibly tiny toes.

We stopped off at a rather delightful stone circle. No tall and stately stones here, no siree but lovely dumpy pudding shaped stones nestled in a field with a herd of curious heifers and bullocks for company. An ideal stage to show my current WIP.

I started this lovely project here but sadly didn't have enough of the Zwartbless wool to complete the clapotis, so I frogged it back (frogged?? well when you pull back the wool you 'rippit rippit') and started a ripple scarf.  And as it grew, so did my delight. I just love the way the colours of the wool mirror the colours of the stones. The stitches just flew off the hook. 

I just love love love! the way the pattern creates a 'weave' that mimics the roughness of the rocks

Where ever we went, rain or sun, car or walk, bicycle or picnic, the ripple scarf came too, and I am sure the sunshine helped it grow and grow more and more gorgeous - and despite it's high wool content, it doesn't feel scratchy in the slightest.


Everywhere I looked, I could see delicious images that reminded me of the stitch and the colours of the wool

I have fallen in love 

(again - My name is Hawthorn, I am a wool-addict and no I don't need help)

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I have to say that our weekend was a tonic to us all - I mean - imagine waking up in the morning and seeing this view from your door?

How relaxing and calming is that? The hint of the warm late summer sun streaming in onto your feet as you sip the first morning coffee. Yum. That beautiful brilliant blue of the sky with hardly a cloud.

What a wonderful way to end the summer holidays.....

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ONE YEAR BLOG-IVERSARY COMING UP!

Who'da thunk it! 

I've been doing this blog for almost a year now.

 I started blogging on  the 09.09.09. 

So I am going to celebrate with a GIVE-AWAY!!

All you have to do is leave a comment between now and midnight (UK time) 9th September 2010 letting me know how long you have been dropping by and what you think and I'll pick a winner at random on Friday 10th September. 

I am busy crafting surprise gifts of felty goodness which can be used as festive tree decorations or just for fun. I will post sneaky photos-clues shortly.

I'm happy to post internationally, so any one can enter.

Sorry, no anonymous comments so please leave your name or pseudonym and don't forget to check back to see if you were selected!