End of the Holidays

We're ready to start getting back to the normal routine. We have Zack tomorrow and Imogen starts 6th form college on Wednesday. It's been a wonderful summer, but I'm definitely ready for autumn to start creeping in and for a bit more routine (it completely flew out the window during the summer).

One of the days we had Zack and big sister Izzy (she's only 9), we took deep breaths and took them to a local soft play place. I have to admit, these are not my favourite places to go, I find the noise quite deafening and they always seem to feel a bit claustrophobic despite them often being in enormous rooms, but I was a good nanny and off we went (OK I did take my book with me too as Imogen was supervising Zack and Izzy). Zack loved the ball pool and climbing on and off Thomas here.

We stayed for a couple of hours (ok, may have been an hour and a half), then left as Zack was falling asleep on his feet. Izzy was very keen to do some crafting with me, she really is the most creative little girl and loves making things. We cut out some birds from some felt she chose and Izzy sewed a couple of the wings on. It's been put to the side for when she has some time here again and I think we're going to fill them with lavender for Izzy and her mum's wardrobes., but it's a secret so can only be done when mum's not around.

Have to show you these cute little photos of Zack.My son sent them to me as he was trying the dungarees on Zack, but they were unfortunately too small. They were Imogen's, they're reversible and the other side is covered in brightly coloured cats. Imogen wore them when she was over 2, she was always very tiny, but at just 12 months they don't fit Zack... he's a big boy! I love his face in the second picture!

I've also spent some time sewing and made a dress for my Luna Lapin.

The instructions were very good, I've never made anything like this before and had to reread it a few times and unpick the collar a couple of times before I got it right with the binding, but it added to the sense of achievement when I finished it.

Imogen's had a busy summer with her NCS (national citizen service), a week in the peak district, a week staying on a university campus and a week working hard to raise funds for the RSPCA. She also had her GCSE results and enrolled in college. As a reward for doing so well and because we felt we hadn't seen much of her we took Imogen to Meadowhall where she was treated to some new clothes, we had tea out and went to see a film (I couldn't remember the last time we went to the pictures). We had a lovely time, really enjoying each other's company.

Some good news for my parents too, my dad finally received a date for his heart operation. He had a few tests to go through and goes into hospital later this week for the surgery. So pleased it's going to be done (a new heart valve), but also very worried for them both.


Take care
xxx

The Fairies are Staying, Birthdays and Burglaries

 It's been a quiet week for us, Imogen was away for the week in the Peak District having fun with the NCS (national citizen service), which I heartily recommend for any teenagers who are 15 to 17. Adam and his family were also on holiday for the week near Great Yarmouth, so no babysitting duties for us either.

We had a lovely day out during the week, went for a drive to Scarborough. We visited the most enormous fabric shop, which left me feeling very spoilt and went for a lovely stroll to breath in all that good for you salty sea air. The views are amazing in both directions.

We passed this rather large gentleman on a bench looking out to sea.

Andy posing for scale

I tried to take a photo of the information next to him, but you have to enlarge it to read it. It tells you a little of who Freddie was, born in a mining village, went to war and how he went into Belsen concentration camp on his 21st birthday and saw horrors that we can't even imagine, how every year he cried on his birthday as he remembered those poor souls and grieved for their dreadful suffering.

It's also been a big week for our little grandson, not only on his first holiday, but he also celebrated his first birthday... gosh that went quickly! I embroidered a bib for him to wear while eating his birthday meals, but we saved his presents for when he came home so parents wouldn't have to take them all the way there and back in the already packed car.

Little Zack had no idea of course that it was his birthday, but had a wonderful day playing with mummy, daddy and his big sister and was exhausted by bed time.

Unfortunately on Friday morning before leaving to come home, my son had a phone call to say they'd been burgled during the night. We're so upset for them, they came home to the whole house being upside down from all the cupboards and drawers being emptied out. All their electrical goods were stolen, but the worse thing was Holly's jewellery. It's probably worthless as it's mainly costume jewellery, but it's priceless to Holly as it belonged to her beloved nana who sadly died last year. What an awful end to their lovely family break, but they're going to remember it as the holiday that Zack turned 1 rather than the holiday when they were burgled.

I've had time to spend in my craft room and made a little toadstool house for the fairies to come and stay in when they visit. After baking the clay, I glued it on a large stone from the beach. I did enjoy making it and definitely want to experiment and make more.

Also a little seahorse (I do love seahorses), just need to thread some of my gorgeous velvet blue ribbon through it so it can be worn as a pendant.

 I'm so glad the weather has cooled down a bit and we've even had some rain which we badly needed. It's been a funny summer, but a good one.


Take care
xxx

Is it Nearly Christmas?

I can't believe we're just a few days away from Christmas, I just don't seem able to find my Christmas Spirit this year. I've been quite organised, cards were written and posted early on, presents are always bought over a few months, but they've all been wrapped for a while. Normally the tree and decorations go up at the beginning of December, but this year we waited a bit, not feeling the excitement we used to. I wonder if it's because Imogen is 15 now, no more putting reindeer food out or excitedly writing lists to Father Christmas?

We do have our first grandchild, which is the most wonderful thing to happen, but at 4 months old, he doesn't know it's Christmas! I'm hoping we'll be spending some time tomorrow with Zackary and Izzy, Izzy is 8 so a lovely age, full of excitement and I'm hoping some will rub off on me.

The tree in the dining room

Imogen has finished school today for the Christmas holiday so that's rather lovely. We're planning to do some baking together tomorrow and I'm sure we'll play some festive music at the same time.

I've finished Zack's quilt. It's very soft and will be just the thing to have under him when he lays on the floor.

The background is brushed cotton, so feels really nice against the skin.

If all that isn't enough to put me in a Christmas mood, I do have this beautiful photo my son sent me... a real life little Christmas elf...

Have a wonderful, safe, happy and healthy Christmas

Take care
xxx

Half Term Catching Up

Where did October go? Time is definitely getting away from us at the moment and last weeks half term went by in a finger snap.

It was my mum's birthday on Sunday so we wanted to do something special, even more so after the horrendous year my parents have had. It was half term last week so it seemed a good opportunity for Imogen to go and spend a few days with her grandparents, perhaps help her granny out a bit as well as spending time with them (Imogen adores her granny and wishes so much that they lived closer to us). Adam and his family took Imogen down at the beginning of the holiday, we were supposed to go as well, but I was full of a nasty cold and as my dad is waiting for heart surgery he mustn't get ill. My mum was able to spend some good quality time with her great grandson as they stayed over and had a lovely time with Imogen too. Andrew and I went down at the end of the week to pick her up (I tried to keep my distance from dad so he wouldn't catch any germs from me) and had a lovely afternoon and good catch up.

I need to establish a routine that fits our new little charge in and still gives me some crafting time as well as everything else that needs doing. How easily one forgets how much time little ones gobble up, though worth every minute, just look how sweet Zack is in his little Gruffalo jumper.

I've managed to spend a bit more time on the cross stitching for Zack's stocking. Last timeI showed you

it's starting to take a bit more shape now. Still a long way to go, but you can see the snowman beginning to appear with the little penguin on his hat.

I've also been doing some crochet on a jumper for Imogen. Last time on here I showed you the rib with the marble yarn

I've done the front design now so it's on track for Christmas.

I haven't spent any time in my craft room for a couple of weeks, so I'm hoping I may have an evening there soon. I have so many ideas of things I want to make and do, just in need of more time. It hasn't helped having a nasty cold and wow, hasn't the temperature dropped all of a sudden!

Here's another photo of our beautiful grandson having fun with his nanny and grandpops.

Take care
xxx

More Reading sat in God's Pocket

Hello and welcome to my new followers, please don't be shy and leave a note to say hi. I much preferred it when I could click on the follower, link to their page and say hi back, now it seems we can only do that with followers on google plus, most annoying of google! I do always reply to emails and thank you to those that have sent notes and messages.

The weather here in Yorkshire is absolutely wonderful. After a couple of days with some much needed rain, the sunshine has returned in all it's glory. It's the school half term so we have our lovely Imogen at home for the week (not that I feel we've seen much of her) and it's been lovely to have her come and join me in the garden so we could sit in the beautiful sun and read our books together.

I've read a couple of books and enjoyed them both.The first was The Escape by C. L. Taylor

 I've read a couple by C. L. Taylor before and enjoyed them, perhaps a little more than this one, but I still enjoyed it. The book is about Jo and her young daughter Elise. A stranger turns up professing to know more about Jo's husband and daughter than she should. It's full of twists and turns, sometimes told from the point of anxious Jo and at other times from her frantic husband, Max's view.

I also read The Couple Next Door this week by Shari Lapena.

 A well written book, this was my first experience with this author and I shall definitely be reading her again. It's every parents greatest fear, the couples 6 month baby disappears from her cot. The story takes you through the emotions, doubts and fears the couple experience and how far people will go when pushed to their limits.

I did most of this reading in the garden (I like to read when I go to bed too, though I do suffer from the 'just one more page' syndrome and have to try to discipline myself). I love our little garden so much, it makes me so happy, I feel like I must be sitting in God's pocket! I've taken photos that show how much things have grown since my last lot of pictures... even the fish are growing.

This is our rambling rose, I'm not sure if I should move it to go against a wall rather than try and tame it up the pergola. This was the first time I've bought a rose so I didn't really know which would be the best.

This is the rose on the other side of the pergola, this one is a climber, I think I should have purchased two of these really. Also, it seems to be thornless whereas the rambler is very thorny. The aphids aren't fussy though and both have been covered in greenfly until we sprayed them. I'm hoping we may get some ladybirds to come and gobble them up.

I wasn't sure if we would get any roses this year, but look... lots of buds appearing.

 I so enjoy sitting by our new pond feeding the fish. They must see my shadow appear and they race around coming to the surface to eat their breakfast. The plants in the pond are starting to fill out more now too.

 The alliums have had their moment, perhaps past their best

though I think they look just as stunning as seed heads without their petals still towering above everything else.

I've put a few hanging baskets out, one is full of strawberries so I'm looking forward to some juicy fruit. Some pretty petunias in this one.

You can see the suns' rays shining through from behind the greenhouse.

Carrots and sprouts in one, lettuces and cauliflowers in the other.

Tonights radishes were picked, you can see how big this one is compared to Andy's hand - so delicious too.

I hope you're all able to enjoy some of the lovely weather we've had.

Take care
xxx