Home Alone

Today has been rare for me, a day home alone.  Ok yes, I know I am home on Friday, but most weeks I either have Jess or currently her Mummy and brother popping in.  Peter is out with the girls and Gus for the day, they have been to Potter World (his Christmas present) then shopping and late lunch.

What to do? My first thought was to spend the day knitting.  Then I decided that I would tackle the under stair cupboard, in which was also lurking a huge pile of paperwork that needed dealing with. I have been tackling each room since the beginning of the year having a sort out.  Its amazing how much "stuff" we keep that we have no use for.  I have filled so many charity bags and feel a bit "lighter" for the experience. I still have my craft stuff to go through, but currently I have bags of yarn all over the place with ideas for the Easter Bazaar.  We also have the biggest task - the stables aka Peter's workshop/dumping ground/where he keeps stuff he wont put out.............

First things first, I put a wash on.  Got my ironing board and basket in, so this would get done at some point.  We can now get in the cupboard properly, its tidy, junk free, and that paperwork, all tackled, filed, any sensitive stuff has been burned. I whizzed round with the cobweb brush, ran the vacuum round, made the bed, then did the ironing.  Took some photos of my latest knits and here I am 4:30, the house is tidy, quiet, apart from Radio 2 in the background.  And now I will put my feet up and get on with some knitting.  I feel satisfied that all those jobs I neglected due to knitting have been done, and I'm guilt free!!

So what have I been making since last I posted?

Melissa scarf in 2 colourways, I have another on the needles

December shawl with lots of changes

 Gus was having fun yesterday, pulling apart the pom poms his mummy was making!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Here is todays look back from Google - little Rufus

for a friend

On Saturday I received an email from a friend.  One I wished I'd not had to read.  In that email she asked that I gave my husband an extra smile and to have some extra fun with our grandchildren, then to post some happy photos.

My heart aches for this friend and her family, and to be honest smiles weren't that abundant for a while, but small children have the ability to lift ones spirits.  We had a good weekend, tiring yes, as it would be - the first time the 3 older ones had stayed without their parents.

These two shared a bed on Friday night.  I won't tell you how many times I went up to them.  Ended up with me sitting in the room until they finally went to sleep.  They did managed to sleep til 6:20

It was a cold weekend, but these two were happy playing in the garden with Pops, whilst Rufus stayed in the barn with me.  We did sort all the Duplo and Lego, with him making up all the sets.

Laurie took a fancy to Pops' hat, in fact it went home with him.  He wore it most of the day, and must have been very hot inside - loving the matching JD overalls

Gus came with his parents the collect Jess on Saturday afternoon, and joined in the fun for a while

Sunday was a beautiful COLD day.  Laurie and I decided to go out for a walk, to check out the frozen puddles and lakes. We had a lovely walk, he never stopped talking the whole way round.  Goodness that child can spin some tales, no problem with his imagination!!

This photo popped up from a year ago, those plastic boxes featured then too, look how tiny Jess was

So dear friend, I hope these photos lift your heart for just a moment - stay strong. Big hugs to you all x x

40 not out

Happy Sunday everyone, today Peter and I have been married for 40 years.  Can you believe it 40 years.  How did we get to be old enough to have been married that long?

We treated ourselves to a lovely weekend away in Norfolk.  The Victoria Inn in Holkham to be precise.  We stayed in the Ancient House and our room was Waterden, you can see all the rooms on the link.  It was roomy and comfortable, lovely toiletries, complimentary Prosecco in the fridge, whats not to like.  The Victoria does really good food too, we ate far too much but we did do lots of walking on Saturday.  It was a beautiful, cold day, unlike today which was WET.

Chimney pots on the Ancient House

We walked about 14 miles, my phone ran out of charge at some point around the 8.5 mile mark (I took too many photos on it) and we walked for a further 3 hours.  Here are some of the views, love Norfolk, where the sky reaches the sea.

and here we are 40 years ago - baby faced

Here's to the next 40 years.......... love you Peter xx

Starting the year

Can we still say Happy New Year on the 9th January?

This year is getting off to a positive start.  My friend Sally and I are organising an Easter Bazaar in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK, check out our events page on Facebook.  If you are considering giving to charity this year, then why not make it Alzheimer/Dementia Research in your given country?

Granny's World will be having a stall at the event, still deciding what I will make, but there will be some Easter themed items.

2017 has seen plenty of knitting action so far, I have completed 3 projects, all of which I am happy with especially as 2 of them are for me!

Gallatin scarf for me

Quasar Shawl also for me, this has a few amendments to it

2nd yoked cardigan for Jess

That's it for now.  Good luck to two friends that are having operations this week and to anyone currently battling for illness/pain, you know who you are xx