Remembering

My mum painted this picture recently and I thought it was lovely, quite a surprise as she has never picked up a paint brush before!

She was 16yrs old when war broke out, a fact she does like to tell me a lot. One of her brothers was a Commando and another in the Parachute Regiment. She wanted to do her part so joined the W.R.N.S.
At 94yrs old she is the last one of her family and her memory is now very bad, thankfully she can still remember the war years although she will have forgotten my sisters and I have all visited her this week.  We need to make sure that we never forget what that generation did and make a determined effort to record all those stories they love to tell.
They were all heroes.

Still here

Sometimes things happen in your life and the only way to deal with them is to retreat. I've not felt much like blogging recently or scrapbooking but I have been reading blog posts. Knitting has been a lifeline as it fulfills the creative part of me.

 I had some lovely birthday presents, this one from my husband

 and this one from my son

 I've made a shawl

 some more socks

 another shawl

and I'm trying to crochet this autumn wreath but I'm not sure fiddly little things are my thing. I'm determined to get it finished though.

I hope you are all well and had a good summer x

Monday, memos, mail and me

Hi to everyone on this glorious start to the week, at last we have some sunshine.
Things have been quite hectic here

 we have celebrated a birthday, some post but none of it for me this time

 had a lot of wet weather

 and enjoyed a rather yummy breakfast, I tried to keep it light, surely not too many calories there?

and then it was over to mum's as she had a hospital appointment. The weather was kind to us and we were able to do her garden and take her out for a coffee and cake.

waving to Sian and wishing you all a good week x

my life of knitting

I can't remember when I first started to knit or who taught me but I think it must have been my sister who could always do things better than me. I do remember trying to knit myself a mini dress when I was about 12yrs old, thankfully I gave up as it would only have looked good on Twiggy and would have taken me years to finish.

The knitting really took off when I was expecting my first child and I was able to make little matinee coats and crochet a shawl in the sure knowledge I had complete control of his wardrobe.

Each child would be put in a little knitted cardigan and I would feel very proud of myself

by the time I got to number four child I felt experienced enough to try harder patterns and you can just see the Fat Controller on this cardigan, it also had Thomas and I think Gordon or James on the back. Oh the hours of untangling yarn as I knitted away for my little darling, it really did try my patience.

Then came the bad years, no one wanted my knitted garments. A jumper I lovingly knitted for my husband was worn once and then left in the wardrobe till I took it to the Charity Shop in the hope that someone would like it. I made several jumpers for myself but they always made me look like an elephant, a beautiful cabled sweater that nobody wanted and a bed jacket that was finished late on Christmas Eve for my Mum, she never wore it.

I decided knitting was not for me and gave away all my wool, as always I was a failure.

 Then came the grandchildren and I was tempted to get out the needles, I was quite pleased with this little top

so made it in another colour, unfortunately it was too small!

 I had a go at making a bag

 a family of snowmen

and some hats.

Now I have my knitting journal and I want to note down all of the things I make. There will be a section for old knitting and different sections for socks, shawls, knitted animals and maybe if I'm brave enough and lose 2 stone I might attempt a garment again. A nice loose cardigan, long enough to cover all the lumps and bumps, it can't be too hard surely?

Mondays, Memos, Mail and Me

The weather has certainly changed in this little corner of  England, not much chance of venturing out into the garden today.

The postman did bring me a few little plants which I am nurturing in my greenhouse, hopefully my garden will be a riot of colour in the summer, that's the plan anyway.

I also had a lovely skein of wool delivered which I'm using for a nice easy oaklet shawl I found on Ravelry here. The yarn was from YanTanTetheraYarns.

I was also very fortunate to win my book club prize for April, I love the handmade cushion and the book looks very interesting. I'm thinking I'd better give the easter egg away as there's been far too much chocolate eating this week and I need to get back on my diet.

waving to Sian and wishing you all a good week x

Easter with the family

It's been a very busy few days here with the family and I've loved it.

 We had a birthday to celebrate

 A food festival with lots of yummy things to eat

 a visit to Morelli's

 we had to go down on the beach

 and look for shells

 Then it was off to Legoland

 where we panned for gold

 and managed to find some

 I loved the lego mini world

 and have taken far too many photos I wont bore you with

 Grandad will love star wars we were told

 It certainly was one of the best bits

 and this little girl was the only one of us brave enough to fight Darth Vader

Then it was off to mum's for a short visit.

So many memories to scrap now!

Mondays, Memos, Mail and Me

 There has not been any interesting post this week but I have been busy making these little egg cosies using a pattern from http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/. Now I don't have a boiled egg very often but I know I used to make them for my children, so how come I could only find one egg cup?

 I have made several layouts but they seem to be quite minimal in design. I feel I have too much stash and this is hindering me scrapbooking, it was all much simpler when I only had a few things to use and more enjoyable I think.

The weather continues to improve and we are enjoying lots more walks now, my fitbit the other day said I had done nearly 18000 steps so that must be good.

waving to Sian and wishing you all a good week x

Mondays, Memos, Mail and Me

What a lovely weekend I've just had, my children have really spoilt me.

 some lovely flowers from my youngest

and being treated to a lovely meal out where he very reluctantly posed for me, after all he couldn't refuse on Mother's Day

 I had some lovely presents and not having eaten much chocolate since Christmas I'm afraid I made a bit of a pig of myself, only two chocolates a day from now on!

 This beautiful spring bulb arrangements came through the post from my eldest

Some lovely mini skeins and the perfect journal for my knitting and crochet projects, a little idea I got from Sian came from the middle two.

As you can see I'm a very happy mummy!

waving to Sian and wishing you all a good week x

Monday, Memos, Mail and Me - on Tuesday!

I started this post yesterday but couldn't get the photos off my phone, so I'm trying again today. Sometimes life feels a bit drab and there is little to say but this week I have a few things to share.

 I've finished this pair of socks.

 started a memory blanket with leftover wool

 treated myself to this book

 went out for a delicious Indian meal, the starter was my favourite bit

 walked along the harbour in lovely spring weather which has unfortunately disappeared now

and made a few cards using Pinterest for inspiration.

I've also been doing a little scrapbooking, a lot of reading and I'm revisiting Downton Abbey from the very beginning, not a bad way to while away the hours.

waving to Sian and wishing you all a good week x