Zwischen 2015 und 2016

So for another year, all the sparkly decorations have been packed away.  Christmas 2015 has been lovely......relaxed, good company, good food and happiness.  It has been pretty difficult to 'snap out of it' to be honest.  The run up to Christmas with school age children (in three different schools) is busy to say the least.  We picked up the children from school on the last day of school and took off to Cardiff for the night.  It was such a big treat for us 'countryfolk'!  Hotel, meal out and shops....a welcome break from the same four walls and routine.

Away has gone my advent calendar that I made some years ago.  Despite the lack of chocolate the children still seem  keen to see what will come out next.

New to our family traditions is a big portion of  Sue's Caramel Popcorn (recipe from  Mrs. Micawber blog)  Along with the batch of Ruth's coconut mince pies.

(These are not the only favourite things from other bloggers....one can't blog and not be affected!  )

I've rattled through a few makes, some of which were presents.  The christmas tree hat was for a friend who runs a food and basics bank and at Christmas also manages to give out presents to children who would otherwise have nothing in our county.  Anyway after promising a  hat, this was my offering

This was a scarf I made from Crafts from the Cwtch's pattern Little Bear's Porridge. 

This shawl was a happy skein of yarn from Mothy and the Squid and the pattern was 

Simple Half Pi Shawl

The painting above was a commissioned gift for a young lady who has been doing charity work in Durban, South Africa with young mums and children.

This is a painting  of Chester our beagle for a competition, unfortunately I did not place, but I enjoyed the process!

We've enjoyed some lovely walks in the past week or so, despite the dreadful British weather at the moment.  We have somehow got out of the habit of doing longer family walks, we must get back to it.

Apart from more of the above, I hope that 2016 is filled with  a few more challenges.  I somehow managed to pull off my first race, which was a 10k in September....I ran the whole lot, which I was fairly smug about....not bad for a lazy girl.  I am hoping that this year might hold a half marathon.....although I am realistic that I may not have the time to train.

I am still pressing on with my German (with far too many major wobbles just recently)  I have never found anything more difficult or nerve wracking.  I am supposed to travel to Jena, Germany next month and the idea of it makes me feel pretty queasy!  If I have an hour to work out what I want to say and a notebook I'm ok.....but conversations don't generally work like that!!

Anyway....if I can do these things then so can anyone....

All the very best for you and yours in 2016!!

Summer

Well, as ever, my life can hardly be described as uneventful.  These school holidays have been filled with all sorts of bits and bobs.  I often think I haven't done much until I look back through my pictures.  It must be the sign of a blogger (up-to-date or not!) who always takes photos of everything!

So a quick look at just a few makes, the above ripple is for biggest boy, and actually is now finished, ends sewn in, border added and in situ on bed (I must go and rescue it to take some pics before it is too lived-in)

The below toe up socks are Lousie Tillbrook's Have Fun Socks, and were started rather haphazardly, ripped out after realising I wasn't concentrating and have gone so far and been put down in favour of crochet....I'm sure they will come back in to their own when I am back on the school runs again next week.  It is nice to have a take-a-long project.

Biggest boy has been away on a church camp with friends and was part of a nativity dress-up (he was dressed as Michael Jackson....don't ask!) and a last minute non-delivery of wings meant that I was rustling up these at midnight before they left early the next morning.  I love a challenge....I also love the fact I have one of everything in my craft cupboard!  

I've had my sewing machine out a few times recently and have rustled up a number of cushions, which is a great short job that I enjoy.  Cushions that I have made for our caravan.

This is a patchwork cushion cover made up with wool blanket remnants from a local woolen mill.  I made this for an old Welsh friend who now lives in America.  The word 'Hiraeth' is a welsh word for a homesickness for Wales.  I really enjoyed making this....such an enjoyable make.

I have done loads of baking, actually, I think I've truly bought up much of the baking section in our local supermarket.  We've had friends to stay and I've baked until I've dropped a few times for various get togethers.  This cake below was a requested pig birthday cake....hhhmmm...

What with all the baking, there has had to be a bit of activity too.  I have taken up a bit of running again, although the term running  is used loosely!  As a family (even the dog) we have done a couple of Parkruns which have a weekly 5k run about an hour away from us.  My hubby is a runner and a nutter so he cycles the 30 or so miles to  the parkrun and then runs at snails pace with me at the back, and then cycles back home....impressive on his part, less so on mine...but hey, its an effort in the right direction!

Middle boy wanting to be like his Dad in everything has done a couple of kid's triathlons and this is him after the most recent one, which was a mudbath but much fun was had despite taking a good slide along a muddy field and landing flatout....up he gets, grinning from ear to ear and came in third in his small group.

And here he is, the hubster himself after completing a middle distance triathlon Ocean Lava Wales. This is a pre-cursor to The Big-One which is Iron Man in three short weeks' time.  The Iron Man is a 2.4mile swim, 112mile bike and a 26.2mile run.

I'm so proud of him, its only 18months since he did his first run, a half marathon on a foggy beach.

If only I had some of that determination....can you imagine how many things I could crochet and knit!

Bits, bobs, baking and the Bahamas

It really has been a different kinda day.

Middle and small have had an 'insect' day (teacher training/inset) in their school, but unfortunately we have still been tied to school runs with Big's school being open today.

On a normal day I don't have much time at home as Small is in school for mornings only.....so today having a few hours grace, I did a little baking.

It has to be one of my favourite ways to spend an hour or so. I must admit though, it's as much in the baking as in the eating.......

I have the most horrendous memory.....really, I struggle to remember something a few months ago, I'm not like those people who rattle off tales from their childhood .......but it should be noted, refer to food at an event or occasion and I'm like a mastermind.....total recall!

Outside it's raining, it has been for most of the day, leaving me with half a mown lawn.....the grass is just about waist height....or will be when I get another free time slot.....ah well.....it will wait.

As I sit and type, Big is doing a Vanessa Mae violining impression for his friend who has come to play, Middle is playing Lego star wars on the wii (the music and sound affects make it sound very 'edge of the seat' stuff) and Small is chattering away to anyone who will listen.

...it will be time to make supper soon enough, we are breaking  house-rules by having a friend-friendly meal of pizza and chips.....the last time I served our normal weekday fare to this particular friend, he didn't go to school the next day as my cooking (vegetables) had made him ill......I was a little upset at the time, but tonight, I will swallow my standards..... and my pizza and chips, in silence!

Anyway, I am stalling and wittering...had you noticed?.....I have five boys to feed, and then ship three to cubs....hubby and I are debating who gets to do the cub run tonight, as having not refilled our oil tank, it definitely seems to be warmer outside than inside our house at the moment....and being in the car could be likened to the Bahamas........I think I may grab some yarn and hooks, my new baked goods and hole myself up in the car until the sun comes out again......see you in the summer.  Faith xxx

Best laid plans

As always..... I did have a plan....but somewhere between then and now, it did a runner.....I must remember to lock the cat flap at night.....

I've stopped and started, arrived and left, ticked boxes and buried my head in the sand!

After being a solo cheer leading squad on the sidelines of biggest boy's football match on Saturday (does anyone else get the urge to break onto the pitch in an under 9's match) I came home with crafting in mind, to finish up mother's day presents and cards.

It is fairly normal for me to make things and it is, I suppose, fairly normal for me to be doing it at the eleventh hour.

I spent a lovely couple of hours sewing, threading beads and rediscovering all the lovely things in my hoard of clutter.

It isn't often I get a chance to dabble during the day, so it was a special treat indeed.

The free-hand sewing was/is a first...hhhmmmmm...obvious I know, but I think I may be missing something. I just dropped the feed-dogs and lifted the foot, but surely there is a special foot instead for my machine, as the tension was all over the shop and I nervously laughed throughout the whole ordeal...I must look into this further, because it seems like fun, if it wasn't quite so out of control!

My own mothers day was lovely, a walk with dogs, some baking and then eating a picnic tea in the lounge watching telly, which is a thing we never do....such a treat.

I made a bacon and egg pie, the type where you break the eggs in whole.  There's something very comforting and picnicy about the yellow yolks and the salty bacon.

I also made cheese muffins from a recipe that Nattie from the lovely blog, Florence and Rose devised...highly recommended they were scrummy....these and a few crisps, cakes and pizza and it was a feast fit for a king....or  my hungry family!

So last week was finished well and in to the new week we began....maybe this is where it all went a bit pear shaped...

Biggest boy is on a school camp this week, what an excited boy with horse riding, karting, swimming, archery, dry-slope skiing all on the rota. We were planning on finishing the week tomorrow with a family tea-party (I know, more food) to mark his ninth birthday, which is next week.....

Sounds like a plan?

Middle boy got sent home from school on Tuesday with a headache...which actually, as it turns out....is chicken pox.....everyone, bar my mum and dad have cancelled coming over to the tea party, so we are 17 people down. I am dreading telling my son when he arrives home, it will be another thing his middle brother 'has done wrong!'

I also can't help but think we may now have six weeks of spots, but then if we're going to do it, let's not do it by halves!

So.....

I've done some useful stuff this week like dead-head lots of shrubs, mow the lawn, tackle 'the cupboard'(which you can now walk into again).

I've picked up this again.......to put it down and begin a blanket for my cousin's first baby.

All in a days work!

So here's hoping that your weeks have been slightly better organised, less spotty and more peaceful than mine!

Before I go.....you should all pop over to Jooles' lovely blog Sew Sweet Violet where she is having the most lovely giveaway for her blogiversary, you can win a pretty patchwork needle case, or the lovely bird pocket bunting above....how good is that!

Have a great weekend.x

Reasons to be cheerful.....

Well, here I am, linking up with Planet Penny for the last time for a while with my

Reasons to be Cheerful!

As the weather is beginning to show signs of improving, the reasons for being cheerful are maybe more obvious....not so hard to think of.  I have to say the weather has been drab and rainy around here, but saying that it is lighter for longer and definitely milder.......so think spring and what do you think of......

These are our first arrivals for 2012, twin lambs born yesterday..and another set of twins has come since. 

We sold most of our flock last year, so we only have 40 old girls due to lamb this year, and most of them will at least have twins, maybe some trips among them too, but being scanned so late made it hard to decipher. 

Our sheep are a unusual breed in that they shed their own fleece so therefore no need to shear....although the yarny lovers among you might be horrified at this idea, shearing is an expensive job with little return, wool production takes the nutrients to the wool not to the ewe's milk, and our ewes don't suffer with some of the horrible problems that woolly sheep do.

I love to see the lambs, this particular breed has thrifty lambs which stand very quickly to feed, and grow fast.....they will soon enough be out, running around the field worrying their frantic mums!

I have done loads of cooking and baking this week as we have had lots of family gatherings....I find the whole process of baking sooooo good for the soul.....the aroma of the above cake and a batch of blondies is filling our kitchen as I type......yummy!

I've finally sent off my squares for Stocki's Beautiful Bloggers Blanket.

You still have time to join in too if you're a fast crocheter........


Anyway, I have thoroughly enjoyed my taking part in the Reason's to be Cheerful each week....much thanks to Planet Penny for hosting it each week and bringing such cheeriness to our wintery days. 

Please do know that I will continue to be cheerful!

Reasons to be cheerful

So here I am (maybe even ahead of myself this week) joining in with Planet Penny's

Reasons to be Cheerful

It feels quite obvious to me that it is the last week of this half term, and next week the boys will all be home, and our time will be our own.......as sometimes I spend  two hours a day in the car, doing school runs, I will be glad of the break!

Chester is becoming a real welcome member of our family and on all  most occasions he makes me smile! (he loves to have his photo taken and always 'strikes a pose'....he also, in answer to Marigold's question, gets on very well with the farm Collie, Ned...in fact Ned even budges up sometimes and makes room in his bed for Chester!)

So, I saw a lovely cake on the ever talented Country Rose's blog and I thought I would research it a little further.....so I followed the link here, and found this beautiful blog with inspirational cakes....and I got a little carried away in how advanced I thought my cake making abilities were.  I didn't stop there, I made it vertically striped (on the inside) too.....and that was sensational.......well would have been if I had been a gifted baker like the one on the blog.  Thankfully  I love to eat cakes almost as much as I love to bake cakes, but I am more talented at the former.

This week has been a tough one for my family, but especially for my sister....after a week in hospital, many horrible tests and deteriorating health, my sister has been diagnosed with MS........she said she knew, I was obviously in complete denial as the rug was certainly pulled out from under me.  I don't shout about what I believe, but at times like these I am thankful I have a God in whom I put my hope and trust......... I know that sometimes despite desperately not wanting something to happen and praying determinedly that it won't.......sometimes it just does.......I don't know why......

'But those who trust the Lord will find new strength.  They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.'

I hope that you have found things to make you happy or grateful this week.....maybe pop on over to Planet Penny's blog and read other people's reasons....it may well inspire you to join in too!

Reasons to be cheerful!

Routine? What's that? I know I used to have one, but somewhere just around Christmas I must have misplaced it, because we are now half way through January and I'm far from back in the swing of things. Littlest started part time school yesterday and yes....we have a puppy!

I've been enjoying doing something a bit different on the crochet front, making a few squares for Jill from Stocki, this is for the Beautiful Blogger Blanket that I told you about last week. It's been nice trying something different, a quick fix on the satisfaction front. Do check out this brilliant idea, you still have time to add your squares in and have a chance to win the final blanket, the closing date is January 31st.

You know that list of most stressful things..... you know.....divorce, buying a house....tell me...... where does house training a pup come on that? Don't get me wrong, Chester is a fun and cute family member, but boy did I not realise how upside-down he would turn everything!

Second reason for being cheerful we have knocked a week off the time needed to toilet train a mischievous beagle pup!

As I said, routine has gone out of the window and even the 'taken for granted' time I used to have for baking, has disappeared. I'm an old fashioned kinda gal and take seriously cooking and baking for my family. This morning, out of nowhere I found some time.............. and baking occurred!

I've just been for a quick peek, and I am not too late to join in PlanetPenny's

Reasons to be Cheerful

Why don't you  join in too with your reasons for feeling cheerful!

That was the week when I.......

Well..........its official..........

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!

This week I have mainly been.........

Wrapping, writing, baking, singing, crocheting, sewing, yawning........

Want to see in pictures?

Nearly a scarf.......but then became a cushion...(time management!)

His and hers hotties

Sparkly armwarmers for my nieces

Twin snakes for twin nephews

Mince pies (traditional and yummy coconut topped ones thanks to Ruth)

Marzipanned cake

Kids craft for mini gifts

So after all that..........I think I may well take a couple of days off.......what's that you say?.........it's Christmas eve tomorrow?........ah, well.........maybe I'll have a nap next week.

Just want to wish you all a peaceful/exciting (delete as applicable) magical, sparkly, tasty, smile-filled Happy Christmas!

Sending you all warm wishes for a lovely Christmas.

Faithx

Year of projects (wk6)

Well, this is a bit of a flying visit as we have a busy day and I can hear the dulcet tones of my husband returning from checking the stock and now I will be discovered!!

First there was this one...........which made up pretty quickly.........and I was feeling quietly smug!  I wanted to make a pair of socks, partly because I hadn't done one (a pair!) before and partly because I wanted to order one of those swirly balls of wool.........I know, I am easily pleased!!

I didn't rush to put the second one on my hook as I was getting too carried away with striping ('in the time it took me to do that I could have done one whole stripe' ...........'washing? ......oh, no I didn't do any, I was too busy with my blanket'......... you get the picture?).

Anyway, it suddenly occurred to me that I couldn't really remember how I did the heel of the first sock and went into a bit of a panic!  I have experienced making one sock before, and it is not a good feeling.

So, you will be relieved to know that...............

No camera trickery, I now have two socks..........a whole pair!!



 I know that it appears that I have been sitting with my feet up this morning, but contrary to appearances, I have been a busy girl.  In fact as I was lounging trying to catch the perfect picture this morning I suddenly realised in my relaxed state that I had forgotten the scones in the oven, thankfully no harm done and I will be providing cream teas this afternoon.

Yesterday we were out at a local zoo and despite miserable weather much fun was had.

  My favourite part?

Good thing I am not rustling up some socks for these!

I must tell you all before I shoot off, that my husband actually showed mild concern last night, as to how I would update my blog today when we are out all day..........I am slowly convincing him! 

During my blogging, my littlest has picked up my socks and said 'mazing docks' and 'poss' (posh).......out of the mouths of babes. 

I like that my kids see me making things and almost take it for granted that I would certainly attempt to make something before buying it (although the tin and string telephones are not so good long distance!)

Now, I have lambs to separate, children to bath, dressing up to be done, family lunch to attend, scones to be served...............

I will return this evening, to catch up with your projects, hope you have had a successful week!

Check out fellow YoP blogs here.