This weekend

I don't know why but I haven't got round to blogging for the last week or so. I know I've been busy but maybe the main reason is I'm getting a new camera for my birthday (it was Wednesday) and every spare moment we are all researching! So many choices - I had no idea!! I think I'm going to get a Panasonic DMC G5 but it comes with a hefty price tag. Far more than is reasonable for a birthday present. So we are "thinking". I was hoping I could find some bad reviews to put me off - but I can't. It really does seem an excellent camera. Now to justify the price!!

It was back to school on Monday. The start of the Summer term.
Not that it's obvious along the footpath!

But this weekend has been bright and sunny. A bitter wind though - but the sun had plenty of warmth if you could find a sheltered spot.
Matt had a cricket match on Saturday. I took my ripple and spent a lovely couple of hours crocheting outside. I don't think you can beat crafting outside - so long as its warm!!
Maybe for next weeks game Matt could score a few more runs, but you can't have everything.
Today I've pottered around in the garden. Cut the grass and tidied the flower beds. At long last the garden is coming to life. I can't wait for the real colour to appear.
Then I made and wrote thank you cards for my lovely birthday presents.
And finally I finished the back for the cushion. I want to add some crochet flowers and buttons to 4 squares in the middle but I'm still waiting for the yarn to be delivered. I was trying to match the colours to the ripple I made. I'm hoping it will arrive this week so I can finish it off and move on to a new project. As well as keeping going with Matts ripple. I can't imagine why I agreed I would make such a huge blanket for him!
I'm not sore that my photos are appearing in the right places tonight - but I'm sure you can work out what relates to each comment.
Have a good week.
Sara x

Ribbon Girl Giveaway

I've just entered The Ribbon Girl giveaway - hereA lovely range of pink flowers.  :)

x

Guernsey

We had a lovely time in Guernsey, but I came back absolutely shattered!  I am too old for late nights, despite what I'd like to think!  The boys all seemed to enjoy the tour too, which was great.

We left Gatwick in the early evening, and caught a beautiful sunset.

The hotel was obviously used to checking in a group of teenage boys, and we were all allocated our rooms really efficiently (I guess the sooner we were out of reception, the less disruption to other guests!)

We awoke the next morning to a beautiful sunny day.  The boys and coaches went swimming, Go-Karting, and then off for some sight-seeing.  Another mum and I went shopping.  This seemed the better option to us.

 we ambled around the port 

 and town

and stopped for a lovely lunch with an indulgent hot chocolate.

I bought some bargain boots - £15, reduced from £70.  I couldn't resist!

Then it was back to the hotel for afternoon tea and some crochet time.

 It was warm enough to sit out on the balcony and enjoy the view.

 There was a wedding reception at the hotel too - I bet they were glad for the improvement in the weather.

That evening we went bowling - well, the boys bowled and I watched and had a glass of wine.

As a forfeit the boys had to wear a large pair of white pants if the ball went in the gutter.  They seemed to wear them with more pride than embarrassment!  I guess that's rugby tours for you!  ;)

The next day the played rugby in their smart new tour shirts.

It was a close match, but they won 17-14 which was a great way to end the tour.  Lots of very happy, incredibly tired boys on the way home.

Back home - I'm sure we spent longer circling Gatwick waiting to land, than it took to fly from Guernsey to Gatwick!  

I can't believe how much washing we have created for just 2 nights away.

Thankfully the sun shone yesterday, and the wind blew - a great drying day.

And now, a little bit of time to crochet some more of my ripple.

I'm taking part with the ripple-along here, but I am a bit behind the others - the end is not in sight for me!

Thanks for looking.

Sara x

Rugby Tour

We are off to Guernsey later today for the boys rugby tour.  My husband has planned and organised it - such hard work but he enjoys it!  :)
There's 18 boys, 5 coaches and 9 parents going.
Hoping it will be a fun weekend. Maybe the sun will make an appearance but if not, I shall be taking some crochet!  Shame you can't take it on a plane, a crochet hook really is an awful weapon!!
Off to pack now. Xx

Garden Colour

Well, I'm a day late posting this, but I promise I did take the photos a couple of days ago.  Although, it must be said there really isn't much change in the weather is there.  A cold, Easterly wind, and grey cloud, with the odd 5 minutes of sunshine.  I'm not sure if it's better when the sun appears or not?  It tends to make me want warm, sunny days even more.

But here is the garden.  In fact, I think there is less colour than last month!  The little irises have died back (it's been so cold, I've not really appreciated them this year) and the crocuses and snow drops have finished, despite trying very hard to be jolly for a long time.

And not much has happened to take their place really.  There are more daffodils in flower, but not all of them.  Oh well, maybe April will be the month it all bursts to life?  I won't hold my breath.

But on the plus side, I have done a couple of jobs around the house - painted a radiator and the log burner, and the ironing is up to date.  I finished a couple of small crochet projects, and am up to date with card making.  So that leaves me time to get on with the ripple, and not feel I should be dividing my time with the garden at the moment.  It clearly doesn't need me!

 Not much happening here?

 Nor here!

 Frosted camelias :(

 This time last year the camellias had finished flowering!  This year there is only a few buds, and most of those have been caught by the frosts.

 But you can always reply on a few pansies and violas to brighten things up.

 And daffodils

 There are still more to flower too.

 The last of the crocuses, for this year.

The white puminaria seems to have turned bluish!

And that's my garden.

xx

A Long Weekend

Isn't it great having a bit more time?  It is a real luxury - and slightly less sport for Matt than usual too, which means more time at home. (Although an early start tomorrow for a rugby match)

Yesterday I managed to finish 2 WIP (only taken photos of one though).  I saw something similar to this when a friend and I went to the yarn show in London a couple of weeks ago.  I treated myself to some Baby Alpaca yarn, which is beautiful and soft and just plain gorgeous to work with.  So, this is what I created:

I even used my little sewing machine.  Very nervous I was too.  Sewing machines have always had a mind of their own in my hands, and straight lines are beyond me.  However, I took my time, and this is much better than my normal attempts.  In fact, I would say I am quite proud of it!  :)

I measured it out, and all my nice handled hooks fit in size order and my pretty scissors in the middle.

Now my only crochet project is the ripple for Matt.  Time to give it some undivided attention.  (Until I buy some more yarn for all those ideas whizzing around in my mind.)

Today, I've finished a couple of cards and gift card holders for my god daughter and her sister whose birthdays are in the next couple of weeks.

I also bought some new inks and card to make some different cards, similar to some I'd seen on the Penny Black blog  I think these will be very useful to have to hand, for birthdays, thank you's etc.

Off to finish off now, and have an early night, but want to fit in some crochet time first.

Sara x

Happy Easter

I just about finished my cards and got them posted! But somehow Easter arrived when I wasn't looking! I had great plans - even bought a new stamp, ink, and papers to create lovely intricate Easter cards for my family and friends - but had to change to a simpler, quicker option when I realised I needed to get them in the post by Wednesday!
Maybe I could try again for next year?! I have created the sample and was really pleased but it certainly wasn't a 5 minute make.
Here are some of the cards I did send. All fairly similar but each is slightly different. The image is from Pink Petticoat  - I love her images. :)

I had planned to finish work early yesterday and pop to the shops to get supplies for the weekend.  I think I was overly optimistic! Trying to fit a 5 day week into 3 days (we took Monday off to go to the Ideal Home Exhibition in London), and it is the tax year end.  Oh well, I'm sure we won't starve!  But I don't want to waste my Bank Holiday in Tescos!  It does mean that we won't have any Hot Cross Buns today, but there is a little bit of Lucy's Lemon Drizzle Cake left in here.

It is rather delicious - so it isn't so sad that we don't have Hot Cross Buns.

Matt still has cricket training tonight!  And then a rugby match on Sunday - away, an early start and on the morning that clocks go forward!  I guess the people who organise these sports don't need Bank Holidays and family time to re-charge their batteries.  However, it isn't forever, and we always support Matt in the sporting opportunities he is given, so we will get him there.

I had thought I'd make an "Easter Tree" - you know those beautiful creations many people have created with flowers, eggs and some spring twigs you see on other peoples blogs?  I'm not hopeful, but will keep trying.  I  have made some crochet flowers, probably not enough, the Easter basket was awful (I'll stick to making paper ones, but realised this too late) and the chick I made looks demonic!  Not cute Easter at all.  He will not be on display.

Off to go and potter around now.  If the weather stays dry I might venture in to the garden for a couple of hours - mainly to sweep up the compost the black bird has kindly re-arranged over the paths for me!

Happy Easter!

Sara x