Update

Hi there

I hope everyone is enjoying the Bank Holiday (if you are in the UK).  It's a lovely warm day here in Sussex, so Mark and Matt have gone to play golf, with my dad and Marks dad.  I'll be joining them later for supper.  But, I now have a couple of hours to potter in the garden, and do some crochet in the sun.

I'm sorry I've not been around much recently.  Work has been quite busy, and we've had a few social things in the diary, but mainly it is the final countdown to Matt's GCSEs.  8 days until the first one, and 47 days until it's all over.  I think I've got that right.  

I can't remember if I mentioned, but Matt's school have set up a "Culture of Learning" to try and encourage learning, and to get away from being fixated on grades.  The idea is that children should learn to be proud of learning, and put in place ways to do their best, and keep growing, and the grades will follow. (There is more to it than that - but that's the gist)   I have been working with a group of parents and one of the most motivated teachers you could find, to try and put a "toolkit" together to help other parents, and encourage the same ethos in the home environment.  Not easy as we all have different ideas, and no doubt what works with one child is different to another.  It has been a great experience, and if nothing else, I've really enjoyed talking and discussing education and learning with other like-minded parents and teachers.  We are putting together our final thoughts, before the end of term, and I thought I should ask Matt what he thought the best thing I do to help him.  After all our ideas, discussions, reading etc, his answer - "Your time, Mum.  When I come home from school, you always ask me what my day has been like (I rarely get anything more than "ok"!)  And whilst I'm doing my homework you are always around to support me. And you always check everything is ok again before I go to bed."  It's easy to forget that teenagers still need their parents time, maybe even more so than babies.

Anyway, catching up with what has been happening around here:

A bit of crochet.  Along with many other people, I've been tempted to make a mandala.  I saw one on Attic 24 blog, and wanted to make it.  And very pretty it is too.  But what to do with it?  If I put it on the table, the prettiest part gets covered up.  My step mum suggested making it into a cushion.  I hope to finish it tonight.

A succumbed and made another pot holder!  

I don't think I shared a picture of the finished shrug?  I like it so much I've bought more yarn to make it in blue.  (Mark did mention yesterday when we were at a Spring Fayre and I was looking at the alpacas and wondered if I could learn to spin too, that I had enough yarn to last a lifetime.  Thankfully, in a marquee full of women spinning and making things, there wasn't anyone to agree with him!)

When I've finished this post, I am going to make myself a strawberry key ring fob.

I bought this dancing flower when I was visiting my sister last month.  It makes me smile - bobbing away in the sunshine.  £3 well spent!

And finally, a garden update.  Spring seems to have been replaced by early Summer.

By my greenhouse

By the hedge near the lane

The lane.  The cow parsley was looking lovely until Friday - when it was trimmed!  But at least we can see when driving now.

A couple of bluebells left.  They are nearly over.

 Frothy fennel making an appearance

The last of the trees are coming in to leaf

Still loving the cow parsley (I won't when it spreads even further into my lawn!)

But I love the cowslips in the grass. Thankfully Matt remembered to mow round them yesterday.

I look out at this rose from the kitchen window.  I love it.

Last bit of apple blossom

 The irises are early this year - and are all the same colour.  I can't work out what has happened to the red and yellow ones?

And ending with more cow parley

Are you still with me?  It's a long post for me!

Finally, I would like to thank you for your kind words - it really is lovely to hear from you.  And also kind actions in the "crafty" world.  I know that the internet gets lots of bad press for isolating people, but it does also bring people together, albeit virtually, who we may not have had the opportunity to talk to, if it weren't for blogs. 

Right, I'm off to enjoy the sun with a cup of tea and my hook.

Sara x

More crochet

Hi

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

I was going to share another walk around my garden.  I blinked, and it has changed.  The rain and wind this week, combined with some warm sunshine, have brought rapid changes.  The tulips are mostly over, and the blossom mainly on the grass.  However, as it is showery today, I've not managed to get outside when the sun has been out to do any gardening.

So instead, I've finished my Grannie Shrug.  The pattern is here.  Another lovely pattern by Sandra at Cherry Heart.

It's blocking at the moment, but I am really pleased.  Hopefully, if the sun re-appears, I shall wear it this week.

Take care.

Sara x

WIP update

This

can only mean one thing.....

a finished project!

Hurray.

I've no idea why this took so long.  When I saw this post by Lucy at Attic 24, I knew it would be perfect to use up the scraps left from my "As we go Stripey Blanket".  I know Lucy used chunky yarn, but I was sure it would work with DK and a change of hook.

I'm really pleased with the result, and I think it's quite nice to have a matching cushion and blanket in the lounge.

I also finished a card for a friends birthday - just in time to be delivered tomorrow.

And finally - look away if you are squeamish.  Easter ended with a quick trip to A&E!  

Matt took a knock at rugby on Sunday, and despite an awful lot of ice, his leg and knee were continuing to swell yesterday.  So in order to rule out anything nasty, I popped him to hospital.  Thankfully, despite the notice boards saying a 3 hour wait, we were back home in an hour, with confirmation he has just bruised his leg, albeit badly.  He was glad to hear, that he doesn't even need to rest.  He returned to school today, and straight to cricket.  He has returned home, tired but happy.

Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Sara x

Happy Easter

Happy Easter.

I hope you are all enjoying the break.  It's a rainy day here, so perfect for a bit of crafting.

Thanks for all your comments on my last post.

See you next week - it's back to routine for us on Tuesday.

I'll leave you with the Huggie Bunnie I made for Matt - in real life it really isn't quite this scary, and is in fact quite cute!  I used this pattern by Sandra at Cherry Heart.  I blame the photography angle and lack of any natural light today!

Sara x

London

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone is enjoying the Bank Holiday. 

I've had an extra day off.  It was my birthday yesterday.  We prised Matt away from his revision and went to London.  I am terrified of heights (and sadly have managed to impart this to Matt), but was determined to go on the London Eye.  

Walking from Waterloo station, this was the view.

When we joined the queue for the Eye, it reminded us of when we went to Disneyland Paris!

A queue for a queue!  But, it was well organised, and moving.  And along the way, there were carrots to admire! (In case you are wondering, there was an Easter Egg hunt for children.)

I rather liked these lights.

Then it was time to go .....

The views were amazing

The Easter Egg hunt continued

I don't think Matt was quite so comfortable with the height!

Then we had a spot of lunch, and then on to Covent Garden to watch the street performers

Brilliant, as always.

Then back to Leicester Square

by a different form of transport.  It was such fun - but must have been really hard work, taking all 3 of us.

Then we had a drink, and indulged in a bit of people watching, before supper, and catching the train home.  A great, busy day.

Hope you all enjoy the Easter break.

Sara x