Distracted & Dreaming ...

Oh my goodness!!!

it has been one of

thOse weekends ...

My crochet course started on Saturday

I was VERY excited.

So excited that I spent 5 minutes

looking for my bra before I realised

that I was already wearing it!!! :0

and then

I drove to the Drs surgery to

collect a prescription ...

but totally forgot what I was doing/where I was going

 until

I realised that I was parking my car...

at the local supermarket!!!  :0

but I am pleased to report that

things improved, as I arrived at the bottom

of crochet hill

 at the top of the hill I

started to relax

when I was greeted by a resident - bearing gifts

sorry about the quality of this photo, but she didn't stay

still for long!  This brought back memories of my first dog, a

working border collie.  Border collies are the most intelligent and

loyal dog you could wish to own, but they need a lot

of stimulation or they become bored and destructive!!  (hmmm a bit like Ollie!!!)

Anyway more of my crochet course next time

 (in my mind I have already

mentally ticked off the crochet box!!)

because inside I was distracted by this

fabric stash envy!!

So, I stopped at Hobbycraft on the way

home and bought a few things .....

and now I want to start quilting :) :)

and as this slipped into my shopping bag too ...

I couldn't resist making this...

so Belbin, I think I am a typical

Plant!

Plants are creative, unorthodox and generators of ideas.

If an innovative solution to a problem is needed, a Plant is a good person to ask.

 A good Plant will be bright and free-thinking.

 Plants can tend to ignore incidentals and refrain from getting bogged down in detail.

The Plant bears a strong resemblance to the popular caricature of the absent-minded mad professor.

or am I a

Resource Investigator ?

A Resource Investigator has a rush of enthusiasm at the start of a project and vigorously pursues contacts and opportunities.

She is focused, and has a finger firmly on the pulse of the outside world.

Where a Plant creates new ideas, a Resource Investigator will quite happily adapt ideas and gain inspiration from other people.

 A good Resource Investigator is a maker of possibilities but has a tendency to lose momentum towards the end of a project and to forget small details.

Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear!!!

in conclusion ...

I haven't got very far with the crochet -

more details to follow.

Take care xx





Back to work ..

Work ..

I really, really love my job.

I will admit that I look forward to the holidays and spending time with my own children and catching up with friends, but I think I am very fortunate to be able to work in  a wonderful school, with amazing colleagues and fantastic children. 

But ....this is how I have been spending my evenings!

When really I would prefer to be doing this ....

WiP number 3!!!!

My lovely Ollie had an

 accident at the beginning of the week.

We're not sure how, but he fell out of our kitchen door

one evening and injured his paw/claw.

After a couple of visits to the vet, they

decided that the best way forward was to operate

under anaesthetic.

Although the operation was successful, Ollie took at least 48 hours to

get back to normal (a tail wagging, happy, hungry dog). 

It is amazing to see how Ollie has adapted to walking around on

3 legs.  Hopefully, after another appt. on Saturday, the dressing will

be removed and Ollie will be running around on four legs again.

A new plant

 Retro baking - Key Lime Pie (Yummy)

I'm very excited .....   my crochet workshop starts on Saturday!!!!



Friday bits and bobs ....

The rest of the week in numbers!

Number 1 - how many projects should you have on the go?

Mr B really doesn't get the whole making things/crafting life.  He believes in order, not chaos, in his life!  If I have a project on the go he thinks I should complete it before moving on to the next thing.  In an ideal world, I would agree with him.  But in my real world I get bored and distracted far too easily.  I am like a magpie - I like collecting pretty things that might one day come in useful. 

So I have two projects on the go (I don't think that is excessive, do you?)

Project A

I have two squares on the go in this project at the moment.  I am knitting 20cm x 20cm squares in various stitches to make a sofa blanket.  There is such a long way to go with this project -  I have 3 completed squares and two more works in progress!!  Sorry the colours are not very clear in these photos but I would say they are stone and very earthy green combinations.

Project B

I am enjoying this project so much, but it is difficult to sew at night when the light is starting to fade.

and that's it!!  Surely this can't be classed as 'too many'?

Number 2 - Bedtime reading

Recently I bought a lovely book about the story of education and schools in my village from 1553 to the present day (1920!!).  It is a wonderful book.  I now understand that many of the street names in the village are called after teachers at the school.  One street in particular is named after a popular Head, Mr Towning.  Apparantly his ideal was to see the school as a family.  His aim was to know each child and to give responsibilities and opportunities for initiative.   His motto was "Manners maketh man," and he was equally concerned with the a child's moral values as well as arithmetic.

What I particularly love though was his belief "aim at the stars - one never reaches them, but soars higher than the tree tops".  refreshingly he didn't believe in using the cane but used it as an ornament in his office.  I think I would have enjoyed meeting this man.

Alarmingly it is reported that in 1884 a unique punishment was given to a young girl  - she  was locked in a coal hole for punishment!  After her parents complained, it was recorded that the teacher was considered to have done no wrong but in future she was to abstain from locking up any child!!

Number 3 - Great British Sew Off!

Have you heard that 'Love Productions', makers of The Great British Bake Off, have been commissioned to produce a new programme and the search is on to find a great British sewing enthusiast.  They are looking for amateurs to take part

"From skirts to shirts, blinds to bags, if you're at home behind a sewing manchine and a dab hand with a needle and thread we'd love to hear from you"

So lovely people, what are you waiting for - I would love to see you on TV! 

Number 4 - have you seen this blog post?

As you know, I am very new to blogging, but already I am addicted.  I found this lovely blog recently little birdie.  The post this week that really meant a lot to me was called Inspiration.  I am sure many of you will identify with this post - I know I do. 

Number 5 - look what I just received in the post!

I am so excited !!  I love Helen's blog Helen Philips. 

Do you think it is ok to start on project number 3?!!

take care

Lorraine xx



To have and to hold ...

Look what arrived in the post today ...

a wedding invitation!

So, time to start the diet (again)!

After all the gardening activity this week, I

now have space to plant some sweet peas.

Take Care
Lorraine xx



Mrs B - 1, Weeds - 0 !!

Time to tackle the weeds .....
The sun was shining today again and so it seemd appropriate to tackle the weeds growing in my garden.

blue sky over the roof tops

muddy boots

 

(vintage!) garden fork

Closer inspection led to the discovery of some pretty things growing here ...

 

 

and some other garden features ...

Blackcurrant cuttings (growing indoors)

 

Then inside for hours of fun with a cardboard box!!!

 

Before slippers off and to bed ...

 

Take care

Lorraine xx

Easter Fun

HAPPY EASTER

Beware!!

This post has an overload of

Easter love!!

I must start by saying a belated

Happy Birthday

to the lovely Mr B.....

Yesterday we combined his

birthday party with

our Easter celebrations.

I love Easter.

I love Easter decorations.

I love family 'get-togethers'.

I love celebrating new spring life

after dark winter days.

I have also had great fun playing

with my Easter photos.

Bunnies, present from Miss B, eggs in a jar, zinc bucket from Miss B,

flowers from Mr B, Easter tree and lovely scrummy marshmallows!!

Flowers, eggs, chicks, bunny, Easter tree and delicious chocolate eggs!!

But the bestest best thing about Easter was

having our family here to celebrate

together.

From the very young

 my lovely dog, Ollie

to Mr B

who was worn out

from all the celebrating

(and as you can see from

his bulging cheeks, all the eating!!)

And finally ...

I made a candle in a pretty

teacup.

It was so easy to make.....

details to follow in my next post.

and finally, finally

a very, very belated

thank you again to Jooles at

sewsweetviolet.blogspot.com

for encouraging me to start

blogging - I really, really love it!!!

Take care

Lorraine xx 

Famille de quatre?

We are a family of four again!

Just a quick post today.

Miss B is back from her trip to France!

I am so happy we are all together again.

Miss B is very close to her grandad

and he was happy and smiley too.

We had a lovely time with my

mum and dad today.

Thank you for all the lovely comments you left

on my last post.  I am so pleased that you share

my white love!!

Lorraine xx

Living with ... colour

I have a confession...

I love colour - but I struggle to live with it in my home.

My house is very neutral white!

Homely, because I like to add bits and pieces,

treasures and accessories.

This book has become my current Bible

... because I would like to decorate Miss B's

bedroom.

Miss B would like colour please!!!

I have gathered together paint charts...

Farrow & Ball, Zoffany, Little Greene Paint Co,

Dulux, Crown etc etc etc

but I keep returning to ...

shades of white!!!

Miss B can add

colourful accessories ...!!!!

Love Lorraine xxx

Growing Up ...

Empty Nest!!

Oh my!!  It has been a few weeks of growing up (for me!).

MissB was away for 4 days at Pembroke College, Cambridge Univerity on a residential law course.  I missed her so much - counting down the days until she came back home. 

Suddenly, the possibility that she is going to leave home in the not-too-distant future became a harsh reality.

  Of course MissB had a wonderful time.  She made some lovely new friends from around the UK, enjoyed uni life and decided that a law degree is for her.

 

We live about 40 minutes away from Cambridge and often spend a the day there enjoying the shopping (a new Cath Kidston!) and punting .

Then I had to go through all that separation anxiety again! 

My Boy was invited to spend the weekend skiing with his friend at their family apartment in France.  Now this was a really stressful time for me - he was flying there!  Well, I don't enjoy flying and I am not fond of skiing either.  You can imagine the stress levels!!

Happily, My Boy had a wonderful time.  No thoughts of Uni for him - he wants to spend the winter seasons as a chalet boy (as yet, no plans for the summer season!) 

I tried not to listen to his tales of conquering his first black run!!

 I was hoping that things would settle down and I would be able to enjoy having my babies at home again but we have (temporarily) become a family of three again.  MissB is away in France, practising her french speaking and listening skills for her AS level exams!!





I think I am really going to suffer from empty nest syndrome! 

On a much brighter note I am going to learn how to crochet....

   I love reading blogs with wonderful crochet ' ta dah' moments but I will admit to suffering with crochet envy (which make me sound like a horrible blogger)

The beginners course is split over two Saturdays in April.  Hopefully, by the end of April, I
might be able to make a granny square.......


And finally!!
l would like to buy a new camera.  I am so confused...
Digital SLR v Bridge camera
Nikon v Panasonic v Cannon
Help!!!