Monday 24 December 2012

Happy Christmas


Just a quick post to wish all reading my blog a Happy Christmas.  Hope you all have a lovely time.

Haven't posted for a while life just seems to have been really busy recently and I don't feel I have been in the right frame of mind for blogging, am hoping it will slow down now and get back to normal.

Any way hope you all have a lovely Christmas and hope Jingle Bells (Father Christmas - renamed by our 3 year old) brings you lots of lovely things.


Tuesday 13 November 2012

Decisions, Decisions



Josh is to start school in September and I have been looking at schools for him.  There are good and   not so good schools near us.  It all seems a bit of a mine field - do I go for a school near home just because it means we can walk to school or do I go for the one I like but it would mean using the car every morning.  The classes all seem really big (in number of pupils ).  I've looked at one village school which had smaller classes but it means travelling by car.  It was a lovely friendly school and it had good vibes. There are so many thoughts going through my head at the moment , it is hard to put them into words.  It all seems such a huge decision to make.  There is also another thing going through my mind - do I just go for home education instead, could I cope doing this.  I sometimes lie awake in bed thinking things over and just wish someone would give me an answer to all my questions, concerns.  I can see lots more sleepless nights coming before submitting my application. (If I submit it - which I won't have to do if we home educate but that brings up more issues, concerns).


Tuesday 6 November 2012

Early Christmas







It feels as if Christmas has come early - I ordered the above from 'myriad' - www.myriadonline.co.uk yesterday and it came today. What service.   The Caterpillar dice game is for Josh's Christmas stocking and will also be useful for taking on holiday.  In the bag there is some kite paper which I am planning to make some window stars from.  The idea came from mamauk's blog which is very inspring.  And lastly the candles are to use while we are having our meals - we  have been finding that lighting a candle at meal times is very calming and gives us something to focus on.

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Half term


This week is half term so Josh has not had preschool and a different routine - our holiday routine.  We have done our usual visit to the museum which he loves doing every holiday.  This time was slightly different he spent more time actually looking at things and wanted me to read some of the display notes to him.  He is growing up.

We have also been doing lots of playing at home - his favourite at the moment is making soup and cups of tea and making biscuits out of play doh.  He has spent hours doing this and has had lots of fun.

The seasons are changing - the trees have just about lost all their leaves but a few weekends ago we did manage to squeeze a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum.  (It was a present from my parents for Andy's birthday back in July).  The colours were good and the weather was actually quite warm.  It was beautiful.  Josh spent quite a bit of time looking at the tags on the trees telling you what sort of tree they are and also looking for the fairies and trolls.  We have been reading a book by Elsa Beskow - Woody, Hazel and little Pip.  This is new to us but is fast becoming a favourite and has some beautiful pictures in it.


Wednesday 26 September 2012

Knit a long



The last few weeks we have been trying to get back to our term time routine so have not had quite so much time to blog.  I have been knitting though and I have been making Featherweight by Hannah Fettig.  Unfortunately the weather has changed and has been colder just right for putting on a woolly layer - but I think this will be too thin as it is made in lace weight yarn (knitpicks laceweight) .  Oh well, that just means I might have to make something else!!

As regards reading I had a kindle for my birthday a few weeks back and have just started reading the Fairacre Novels by Miss Read - about a country school head and her life in the country.  They are an easy read and just what I need as I usually read in bed at night just before going to sleep.


Wednesday 12 September 2012

Routines are returning


Our term time routines are beginning to return and Josh is a bit happier.  He has started doing two full days at preschool and a half day.  He is finding this quite hard and quite tiring and seems ready for bed a lot earlier than before, this is shown in the mood swings we seem to have at the moment.

I am also finding the whole days at preschool a bit unusual.  The house is quiet and housework seems to take less time with no interruptions.  It has also given me time to do a bit of sorting out and clearing and time to just be me.


Wednesday 29 August 2012

Knit a long


~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, .  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ( Joining with Ginny of Small Things for this weeks knitalong.)

This is the sample knit I have just done for Great British Yarns.  It is Chatam from one of the new Rowan books.  I had been meaning to take pictures as I was going along but the weather hasn't really been great for taking pictures.  This was the best for colour.

Now I am back to finishing off the socks I started before doing this - Hermione's Everyday Socks.

Not done that much reading this week.  I think we need to do a visit to the library again.

Hope you are all having a good week and enjoying your knitting.
Morag x

Tuesday 28 August 2012

August almost gone


The summer holidays are almost over, where has that time gone?  Next week Josh goes back to preschool and will be doing two full days and one half day.  Over the summer we have cut out his lunch time sleep to try to get him used to not having it when he is at preschool all day.  This has been a rocky ride - some days we cope others we don't.  I think Josh has also been missing our term time rhythm and so I have had to explain what we are doing each day at breakfast so he knows what we are doing, it will be nice to get back to our usual routines and have a bit of stability to our days.


Sunday 26 August 2012

Simplicity


After having a few mood problems over the last few weeks with our little one I decided that I would cut out lots of tv watching and sort through the toys and books we have.  I found after watching tv it was putting him in a bad mood and temper tantrums were happening a little bit too much for my liking and he seemed to have forgotten how to play with the toys he has.  Ok so it means I have had to occupy someone a little more but after a little bit of playing together he is now happy to play a bit by himself and I can get a bit of something else done.  It is amazing to see little changes happening so quickly - long may it last.  For a couple of days he has asked to watch tv but is now quite happy to go off and find something to play with when I say no and in fact today he hasn't even asked to watch tv.  He spent a long time this afternoon playing with my pegs that I use to hang the clothes on the line with - making them into models.  So we now have a few less books and less toys and we can see the wood for the trees.  Things are a little bit more age appropriate and a bit more open ended.  Things are being played with in a more imaginative way.  I hope I can cut down maybe a little bit more and I also plan to cut down on some of the things I own as well and not just put them out of sight but actually take them to the charity shop .  Clearing out is feeling really good like lightening the load and not feeling so bogged down.  I think this is going to be a on-going project that I will need to keep reviewing.

Hope you are having a good weekend.
Morag x

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Knit a long



~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, .  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ( Joining with Ginny of Small Things for this weeks knitalong.)

I am still plugging away with the sample I am making for a friends knitting shop and must try and take some pictures of it now that I have finished the back and almost the fronts.  I also decided this afternoon on a whim to make the above duck.  Not sure it really looks like a duck but hey ho!  

As regards reading I am reading through 'Simplicity Parenting' by Kim John Payne. I have read it through once and did start on our journey but after a recent troublesome time we have been having with our little one have decided to read it again.  And hopefully put some more ideas from it into practice.


Hope you have a good week.
Morag x

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Knit a long

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, .  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? 


It seems so long since I have put anything on my blog,  We were off on holiday 2 weeks ago and I just seem to lose the thread of putting anything on here.  I have still been knitting.  At the moment I am working on two things, one is a sample for a friends shop which I haven't currently taken any pictures of, the other is the sock pictured above - this is Hermione's everyday socks by Erica Lueder.  I haven't made socks for a long time and these are going to be mine.  I was thinking the other day that I ought to get around to starting Christmas knitting.  Have you started yours yet ?

As regards reading I have just finished the book I was reading last time so I think a visit to the library might be called for this afternoon. 

Joining with Ginny of Small Things for this weeks knitalong.

Hope you have a good week
Morag x

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Knitalong


~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, .  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? 


This week I have just finished knitting a jumper for Josh.  The pattern is Jummy from Jaegar Handknits book and the yarn is ricobaby classic dk.  The yarn is acrylic but is not too bad to  knit with and hopefully will wash well.


I am not sure what I will start next - maybe a Christmas gift or something for myself.  There are several things I would like to make from the new Rowan book.


As regards reading I am giving 50 Shades of Grey a miss, I just don't think it is the book for me, so I have picked up an Alexander McCall Smith book.  So we shall see how we get on and report back.  I know others have enjoyed this series.


Hope you all have a good week and have lots of time to do your knitting and reading.


Morag x

Friday 13 July 2012

Preschool Sports






They had races of all sorts, egg and spoon, running backwards, balancing the coil on your head  and all the children were encouraged to join in.  It was very good and I think all had a lovely time.  At the end the children were all given a certificate for attending and a medal. (which has been worn since we left preschool and no doubt will be worn for days to come!)

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Knit a Long

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, .  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? 







I thought it was about time I included some pictures of finished ariticles - so the top two pictures are of the shawl I made for my mother in law - Oaklet Shawl.  The bottom picture is my latest project - Jummy byJaegar handknits.  This is a pattern I have made several times for my little one and this is the latest version.


As regards reading I have just started Fifty Shades of Grey which I blogged about last week.  It is an easy read which is good because at the moment I seem to crash quite quickly once my head hits the pillow.


Joining with Ginny from Small Things for this weeks knit a long.


Morag x



Wednesday 4 July 2012

Knit a long



This week I am knitting Anderson by Lisa Richardson for a friend's baby.  It is an easy knit so can be picked up and put down as and when.

I have almost finished reading my current book so have jumped on the bandwagon and have bought
'Fifty Shades of Grey' by EL James.  I have read lots of good things about this book and hope it lives up to my expectations.

I am also hoping that my copy of the next Rowan knitting magazine arrives soon so that I can start thinking about my autumn/winter knitting.  The weather has been so terrible in the UK for the past few weeks that there has been a little bit more time to knit rather than spending time in the garden.
Shame the garden could really do with the attention.

Hope you are having a good week.

Morag x

Wednesday 27 June 2012

knit along


Joining with Ginny (Small Things) for this weeks knitalong.

I have read several blogs recently where people have made the 'oaklet shawl' so I have jumped on the bandwagon and have joined them.  This is my version which is made in Old maiden aunt merino/silk 4ply in bluebell.  This is for my mother in law whose birthday is in just over a weeks time so hopefully I will get it finished in time.


Friday 22 June 2012

This moment


{this moment}
A Friday ritual. A few photos- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 


along with SouleMama

Wednesday 20 June 2012

June Knitalong

Joining with Ginny (Small Things) for this weeks knitalong.


This is a sample I have been working on for Great British Yarns for their show room.  It is from the new Rowan book for babies - Just Baby.  It is made in baby merino silk dk - which is incredibly soft.  I loved making this and found that it was quicker to knit the tiny cables without a cable needle.

At the moment I only have my Debbie Abrahams Mystery blanket on the needles.  This is my inbetween project project so is not growing very quickly. I am way behind.

As regards reading I am not reading much as by the time I get to bed at night my head hits the pillow and I just need to go to sleep. We have been spending lots of time in the garden especially when the weather is good.

Hope you are enjoying what you are working on at the moment and have a good week.  Hopefully I will have something else on the needles this time next week.

Morag x

Friday 1 June 2012

Happy Jubilee weekend


Just a quick post to wish you all a happy Jubilee weekend, hope you all have a fun weekend and enjoy the extra days to spend with friends and family.  Thought I would also show you my Jubilee flower I made earlier to wear to the two parties we are hoping to go to over the weekend.  Red, white and blue but not necessarily in that order (sorry!).

Have a lovely weekend.
Morag x

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Knitting

Joining with Ginny (Small things) for this weeks knitalong.  I have started something new this week and something for me.




This is Cobalt by Kim Hargreaves from her latest book Indigo.  


Reading wise has been a bit slow of late. I seem to only read when I go to bed otherwise it is maybe a magazine.  Far too much gardening to do at the moment while the weather has been good.  This is one I picked up this morning at the supermarket when I was doing my weekly shopping.


Hope you all have a good week.
Morag x

Tuesday 29 May 2012

This past week







Just a few images from the past week.  The weather has been so good we have been spending a lot of time outside in the garden and going for walks in the fields close to our house.  The paddling pool has been out.  We went to watch the Olympic flame pass nearby.  The flowers are blooming.  And someone has been wearing his pirate hat he made at preschool.

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Knit a Long


I can't believe another week has gone by.  I have hardly done any reading this week as the weather has been so nice and we have been trying to get on top of the garden which means less time to read and knit.  Talking of knitting I have been doing a little bit in the evenings - I am making a jumper for a friend's baby - Mickey by Kim Hargreaves.  I hope to get this done by the end of the week and then start something for me next week.

Morag x

Friday 18 May 2012

This Moment


{this moment}
A Friday ritual. A few photos- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 




along with SouleMama

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Knitalong

Knitting has been moving along slowly this week.  I have finished knitting Poppy now and she has a dress unlike in the pictures I have on my camera so far (must take some more with her clothes on).  I have also been trying to catch up a little on the Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket - almost completed February's squares.



 

As regards reading I am still reading my way through the Adele Parks book I was reading last week.  It is an easy read and something I can read when in bed just before going to sleep.

Plans for knitting this week are hopefully to start something new - a friend has just had a little boy so I hope to make something I can gift to them, just need to find a pattern now.

Morag x

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Knit a long

Joining with Ginny (Small things) for this weeks knitalong.  Since last week I have hibernated the jumper I was working on last week and am knitting Poppy from Whimsical Little Knits by Ysolda Teague.  I have made a little progress on this since I blogged about it yesterday.  She now has two legs!  I also hope to make a start on a jumper for the little man using some stash wool but need to have a sit down and look at some patterns.  I have just started reading About last night by Adele Parks.  It is a read that I don't really have to concentrate too hard on which is quite good when I seem to only read when I go to bed at the moment.


Hopefully she will have some arms, hair and clothes by next week.

Morag x

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Quiet weekend

This last weekend was a bank holiday weekend  and we had a really quiet weekend, well as quiet a weekend as you can have with a 3 year old. (House building with the clothes airer and some blankets, generally lots of toys all over the place!)  With daddy around it did mean I got a bit more knitting done than usual.  And this is what I decided to make over the weekend.




This is Poppy from Whimsical Little Knits by Ysolda Teague.  I wanted to make something that I didn't
have to concentrate too much on.

Last week I was working on my Warriston jumper and after joining the sleeves have decided they are going to be too short (argh !!!!!) so I am going to have to rip it back a few rows  and add some more length to the sleeves but I hate doing this so it has ended up being put to one side for the moment.  I know I shouldn't do this and it will remain untouched until it will eat away at me but for now it is just out of sight, out of mind.

Hope you had a lovely bank holiday weekend.

Morag x


Friday 4 May 2012

This moment


{this moment}
A Friday ritual. A few photos- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 


along with SouleMama

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Knitting




Still working on Warriston but have finally done the stocking stitch body.  Boy was there lots of stocking stitch and now started on the sleeves.  The egg cosies were just some knitting I did over the weekend when we had a craft get together on Saturday at church.  (They are from Debbie Bliss' book - the Knitters' Year)

I am still reading the same book as last week but have also been reading back copies of Green Parent Magazine.  The book is a little bit slow going so may have to find something else to read at the same time.  Suggestions welcome.