here and now

Recently my head has been quite muddled with thinking about what to do next (schools, work, the house...) so in an attempt to clear it, I've decided to make a concerted effort to enjoy the present. We have such a lot going on at present that there is plenty for me to choose from!

We had a great weekend just staying home and enjoying each others company. I cleared out the cupboard at the top of the stairs with a little help from my friends! 

We played lego and took the dog for a walk. There was an interesting game in the woods, involving smearing blackberry juice everywhere, there followed baths and showers and pyjamas at 5 o'clock.

I am very pleased with my shoes that I was sure were heading for the bin, but have been resurrected with a £1.95 tin of brown polish. They still really need re heeling and probably soling but they should keep me going a little bit longer.

Not much making achieved this week. Managed to finish another pair of slippers, only the size 11s to go now! 

bird for a birthday

I finished this painting last week. It's a present for a friend's 40th, hope she doesn't look at this before October 18th! 

It's been a while since the last post, life has been a little fraught and I have had trouble finding positive things to write about. Yesterday, determined to turn my mood around, I went in search of happy things. Here's a bit of what I found. 
I found a friend waiting at the school gates offering baby sitting help before I even realised I needed it. I found the warm september sunshine on the beach, the tide was way out, Jumble and I walked along the waters edge as far as the seaweed rocks. I found sea birds and rock pools and wet sand. 
I found the new stair gate Rog made at the weekend so  that we don't have to climb over the barrier, put up to keep Jumble downstairs.

I found some pretty corners around our home.

I made bangers and mash and gooey chocolate brownie pudding for dinner. And I talked to my husband about our troubles and everything didn't seem half as bad as it had before.

Things have been so ridiculously busy these last few weeks and so many chores have backed up that i feel in a constant state of confusion. The problem is that I can't seem to find the space to sort the wood from the trees, let alone to take any action. The children are properly back to school next week, which will force a well needed routine in our house and I hope life will settle down into some autumnal peace. Until then I will embrace this muddling through, take one thing at a time and realise that even when it seems I have achieved nothing, if I list all that I have done in a day, that is certainly not the case. 

making:

A pair of slippers for Reuben..

 

On the needles..

a pair for me!

eating:

home made rolls, delicious with peanut butter and grannies raspberry jam and pancakes, always pancakes.

Listening to:

lots of wonderful radio, especially the book at beach time series on radio 4 extra. The reading of before I go to sleep was really gripping, it made me work late all week! Also lots of Tove Jansson which always gets me feeling like I want to go and live somewhere really remote and full of weather.

Another commission for a gift, this cushion was to give to a little girl on her christening.

My garden is a complete mess but there are little pockets of pretty in amongst it all...