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

Is it just me......or are things on the change?  I am sure I am not the only one to have felt the weight of indifference on my shoulders.......lack of motivation.......general slugishness.......of course, if it is just me then you'll be happy to read I'm announcing a full-stop!  I'm not saying I've overnight turned into a cover model for some health and vitality magazine, or that I am about to be awarded 'Inspiration Guru of 2012'.....just that I feel a spark of anticipation.....not sure for what.....but hey, better than feeling lack-lustre.... un-sparkly!

Anyway, before I completely lose you.........I'm linking up with Planet Penny  on the penultimate....

Reasons to be Cheerful

The weather has not been amazing this school hols, and actually as I type it is grey and rainy.......but on one of the nicer days this week, the boys, my mum and I went to feed the swans.  After we came away, we passed many groups walking to where we had come from, laden with bags of bread.

(look at that huge wing just out of shot)

I have just acquired this lovely long shelf from my Mum and now have the perfect space to fit (some) of my fabrics and yarn..........there are boxes of things tucked away too, but this gives me something to be going along with.  I do wonder if the recent spate of putting things away and organising has helped clear my mind a little too.

My third reason is that after holidaying for ten weeks in S.Africa, my in-laws are returning home (ssshhhhh....don't tell them about the weather!).  There will be a big family get together which we are hosting at our house, with the chance to hear all their news.  I love reason to look through cook books, plan courses and buy ingredients....not sure about the major clean-up that will come with it though!  Maybe if I start now, I'll get some of it done........

If you want to see other Reasons for being Cheerful, why don't you head on over to Planet Penny's place!

Also, wanted to say a big thank you for your lovely supportive comments on my last post, you are all a lovely, wise old lot!

And to finish off..... (d'you know I just had a flashback to a school teacher who said you can't start a sentence with an 'And' and she was probably right!)........thanks so much to Whistle Stop Crochet, My House in Africa, Little things made with Love, Vintage Homespun, Hazel's Crochet and Stocki who all awarded me a Versatile Blogger award.........

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

Since the new year, I've tried to post this earlier in the week, but here I am squeezing it in on a Saturday again!  Today,  I am linking up with Planet Penny with my

Reasons to be Cheerful

First reason?  It is a beautiful, sunny morning and this is the view of the calm waters outside my back door, its cold, crisp and blue-skyed......what could be be better?

Secondly, I have been given a Liebster award by Planet Penny, but have to admit to being totally lazy to mention awards, as before Christmas I was also given this award by Stocki, Hazel's Crochet, All4meggymoo, The Green Dragonfly and Tea at Weasels.

Do you know.... the blogging world never fails to make me cheerful, I have had my mind opened to new ideas, been inspired to push myself further and been treated to more than a few giggles.  These bloggers above, are all truly lovely ladies, whose blogs I love to read and be challenged by, so to be given an award by them makes me feel very special (most people who know me in real life would say I am a bit....well....'special'!)  I know that a lot of the brilliant blogs that I read, have also been  recipients of this award and I am at a bit of a loss as to know who to award, without inadvertently leaving someone out..........soooo..........can you hear the cop-out coming......

Please take a look along my blogroll, and if you see a new place you've not been to before, give it a try.....I've nosied around a few times, clicking on people's side bars and where the road goes nobody knows!  I have to say, rather annoyingly, I have sometimes found somewhere nice but never got back there again! 

This is turning out a little longer than I normally whitter on for, but don't want to leave out my last reason for being cheerful.....and that is......... I've learnt to knit continental style. 

I've recently started knitting a sweater for myself, which has a lot of moss stitch (seed stitch). Knitters will know this is knit1, purl1,  a lot of throwing the wool and pretty tedious. I was toying with the idea of re-learning, but thought my tension would change, however after making a mistake which meant ripping back and that going wrong too (oh, dear, you know those times, when something happens, you try to rectify it and then it just gets worse....) I decided to start again totally. I even learnt a new method of casting on...who knew??

So it is a little slow, but I am already finding a pace and I think it is quicker than my 'English' style moss stitch.....I am a little smug, I can tell you and keep telling my unimpressed hubby to look at my knitting.....bless him too!

Anyway, if you reached the bottom of my ramblings you'll probably be needing a cuppa by now!

Please do check out Planet Penny's place and maybe even join in too, with your

Reasons to be cheerful!

Reasons to be cheerful

Well, somewhat later in the week than I anticipated, I am joining in with Planet Penny's

Reasons to be Cheerful

Littlest started part-time school on Monday and he has soooo enjoyed his week.

A huge bundle of unwanted yarn from my generous Mum......there is loads of it ........ all different colours and types......where do I start!

Some lovely new china, also from my Mum....this is Nicholas Mosse spongeware china.......so lovely!

I am truly blessed with so much!  I am ever cheerful and ever thankful!

Also to add to my reasons for being cheerful, I should add that Chester is now a normal looking puppy again.......last night, while backs were turned and naughty little beagle puppies were up to no good, a certain Chester made a teeny-tiny hole in our collie dog's food bag........the first I knew was seeing a puppy who looked like he had swallowed a beach ball....

After much stress (me), pacing up and down with said pup and barfing (pup) (I wonder if barfing is a universal word)....like barking but with more substance (sorry, so wrong I know) Chester is literally half the dog he was last night....thank goodness indeed!

Anyhoo......quickly moving on.......if you would like to see other people's reasons for being cheerful this week, please check out Planet Penny's post here......and why don't you join in to!

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!

Reasons to be Cheerful!

Well, being a Thursday (gosh these weeks whip around quickly!) I am going to link up with Planet Penny and my

Reasons to be Cheerful!

Well we are back from our hollies and I feel...........rested and rejuvenated (?) ......we had a brilliant time, but it was all over too quickly and we packed so much in I was falling asleep by 9pm!

Its exciting to be back into the thick of it for Christmas though and now the panic can really set in!

There was snow on our hols (and by some freak of nature it had only snowed in some places)

There were reindeer (Marigold this one is for you!)

The boys painted some ceramics (I was itching to have a go myself)

And when I got home I had this lovely parcel from the lovely Victoria at yarnroundhook seven beautifully delicate snowflakes, a handmade felt heart and a candy cane and Christmas chocolates to boot, all carefully wrapped........what a lovely gift to come home to! 

Another thing I am incredibly happy about is that this afternoon we moved all our cows and calves over the fields and roads and into the shed for winter.......for me, this time is always slightly fraught with tempers rising and plenty that could go wrong!  But they are all in, munching on their silage and feeling a little more comfortable on their straw beds.  I did take a photo of them all chilling out, but it was too dark to come out, so instead I will leave you with a picture of one of our lovely ladies and a calf just minutes old, born in the spring when the weather was a little friendlier!

So there we have it.....my reasons for being cheerful right now, if you would like to see other people's reasons for being cheerful, please go on over to Planet Penny's blog and maybe join in too?

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments and thoughts.........I always appreciate them so much and yet again feel overwhelmed by my lovely bloggy friends.

Reasons to be cheerful!

It's Thursday so I am linking up with Planet Penny with my

Reasons to be Cheerful!

My reasons for being cheerful ( among other things) this week are all Christmassy...........for me, I love to begin decorating the house on the first of December, as the time from now until the big day is like the blink of an eye.

So first things first..................

Our tree is up.........

(it will take a week or so to get other bits and bobs up, but we've started!)

My biggest boy has written his letter to Father Christmas.....unprompted.....but remembering to say thank you first for last year's presents.

My in-laws got on their plane today and they had their pressies with them.........I was so relieved to finish this scarf (yes its just pretending to be an lampshade cover!) .

So short, sweet and Christmassy.  My house is making me very cheerful with all the lovely sparkly things..........what is making you cheerful?  Why not pop over to Planet Penny's blog and join in too?



Reasons to be cheerful

You know............. it occurs to me today......... that if dust looked like glitter we'd all find less need to clean.......

Today I am again linking up with planet penny with my

Reasons to be Cheerful

 

This week saw the culmination of some family Christmas crafting for middle boy's school fayre.

Two hours in a hot and busy school hall and all my fears were proven incorrect and we 'sold, sold, sold'

I am totally inspired by new skills I learnt and when I finish all my other jobs (kidding myself?) I will make some reindeers for our house.

Christmas hot pads scenting my house with cloves and cinnamon.

( a quick make for the boys' old school Christmas fayre)

Glitter!

As much as I've enjoyed my stint of crafting with the boys for the school fayre, I'm so glad it's done, glittered and sold....I am shattered and so looking forward to guilt free lounging on the sofa this weekend!

We're going to head outdoors this afternoon to appreciate our wonderful surroundings.......... breathing it all..........storing up lots of happy memories that we will dine out on for years to come!

 

What are your reasons to be cheerful?

Do go see other people's reasons for being cheerful and maybe join in yourself?

Reasons to be cheerful!

It's Thursday, and I'm linking up with Planet Penny with my ..............

Reasons to be Cheerful!

I am in my element at the moment with my crochet projects, more WIPs than you could shake a stick at! Friends of ours had a baby a couple of days ago and I am busy making a blanket (my favorite past time!), the promise of another baby due in a month so an instant excuse to make another blanket! Christmas presents, snowflakes..........endless crochet...............

Anyway, avoiding all the crochet excitement, here are three reasons that I am cheerful.

Beautiful flowers from my Mum

My oldest son's class assembly this morning, he makes me soooo proud!

Learning new skills.....this one is almost ready for paint and glitter!

So there you have it........hope you have lots of Reasons to be Cheerful too...... if you do, why not join in with yours on Planet Penny's blog.....or if you need some more cheer in your life, go read others reasons for being cheerful, I'm sure it will put a smile on your face!

Reasons to be cheerful!

Just as I did last Thursday, I am linking up with Planet Penny, to give three

 Reasons to be Cheerful!

New crochet projects!

I have also just 'discovered' my new blanket project (going on the theory that you can never have too many blankets) which given a quick (expensive) trip to the LYS will be started very soon.

Autumn light........

(this is the view from my back door, and this is my permanent reason to be cheerful)

Christmas crafts with the boy and my favorite.........glitter

As I said last week, I have many Reasons to be Cheerful and the very process of thinking about them is very good for the soul.

To see other people's Reasons to be Cheerful please check out Planet Penny's blog

Reasons to be cheerful!

This week I am linking with Planet Penny again with my Reasons to be Cheerful

I think the process of thinking of reasons that I am cheerful, makes me realise how many there are!

Its the small things that can make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I saw the first lot of starlings swarming this morning..........an amazing sight.............I could watch for hours.  There are some amazing clips on youtube if you haven't seen them before.

Anyway.........I digress............my three Reasons to be Cheerful

Snowflakes for babies

Pumpkin pie for tea

(hubby was entrusted with taking it out of the oven this morning and followed my instructions a little too literally to check if set, by sticking his finger in it!)

I won a giveaway!

I won this beautifully handmade phone case from the wonderful Rosie Hearts who has rosiebull designs  in Not on the highstreet.com  I have admired her lovely things for a good while and her sewing is amazing!  How lucky am I to win this beautiful phone cover with sparkles on the front!

Right, I'm going to attempt putting up a youtube clip of some swallows.........no clue how to do it........... lets just give it a whirl!

Ah........easy when you know how (and you find the big icon that says 'Insert a Video')

Reasons to be cheerful

I'm linking in with Planet Penny today on three reasons that I am cheerful!

Actually I have a lot to be thankful for, but here are just three..............

Days out during the school half-term holidays

(this particular garden centre had some really strange garden gnomes!)

Feeding the swans.........and appreciating our wonderful surroundings.

It's finished!

Please check out Planet Penny's blog to see other peoples' Reasons to be cheerful posts.