snippets

It's been a month since I last posted. I've been keeping busy and dealing with some aggravating health issues as well. I've been a bit awry and have been heading early to bed. Blogging just hasn't been on the radar. Yesterday when I read Kate's post, it seemed a good way to dive back in. 

So here are my snippets from the last month:

Wandering at the river at sunset; a walk with my sister, her daughter and my girls. Such a magical time of day.

Enjoying family time at the Peregian markets on the coast...

and in Brisbane with these adorable people.

Outside I've been gardening with the girls. they've each re-done their bed, taking full responsibility for maintenance (with some gentle "encouragement" from me). We've been planting and watering and waiting and watching...

On the knitting front I've finally finished this beautiful cardigan, for Stella, from Ravelry. My mum is knitting the same, in grey, for Ruby. She's almost done too. I love the shape and fit of this cardigan. Next one I'm doing is for me. On 3 and 3/4 needles with a 5 ply wool from Bendigo Woollen Mill. I'm awaiting delivery. Eeeek!

With the leftover yarn I'm knitting up some school beanies. It's a small cheeky deviation from our school's uniform policy. The colour is a perfect match and they've each chosen their own personal stripy design.

Crocheting some squares for Kate's granny hottie crochet-a-long. I'm running behind. Because crochet is relatively new for me I find I have to concentrate more. At night when I'm tired I find it's easier just to pick up my knitting and carry on. I will finish this though.  I love the idea and I like developing new skills.

Loving Ruby's owl school. Each night these nocturnal creatures are put through their flying paces; on completion they'll receive a flying certificate ( I shamelessly listen from outside her door).

Reading lots of books, lately. I've just finished a lovely book of short stories called "Emperor of the Air". Before that, the disturbing but totally absorbing "We need to talk about Kevin". Next in line is "Nest" by Inga Simpson.  I loved "Mr Wigg", so I'm hoping this will be good.

Crafting pom-poms, just for fun. A rainy day plus kids equals craft.

Dealing with BPPV. I'm not going to dwell too much on this but suffice to say this has been making my life a bit of a misery since April. I was hoping it would go away on it's own but this week I plan to seek out some help. I can function and work and I look pretty much normal (!) but it has been been making me chronically tired and a little bit anxious. Time to deal with it.

Experimenting with bicarb and vinegar. It's amazing how much fun you can have making things go pop and fizz...

Baking whatever comes out of Ruby's head. And biscuits. I just love baking.

So that's the last month, in summary. I'm hoping to be around a bit more in the coming weeks. Thanks for sticking with me, if in fact you are still there! 

Enjoy your week, wherever you may be.

Much love.

a beanie winner

In amongst all the busy-ness of today, the girls and I chose a winner for my beanie give-away..

We used PK's new birthday beanie for the entries.

And the winner is.....

Jennifer!

Which makes me happy, as Jennifer has been a long time supporter of my blog. Even though she's obviously a very busy and crafty lady, she always finds the time to leave comments on my posts.

Thanks Jennifer! 

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend...

We had a birthday, a market meander and a boating outing...

Which was all pretty nice.

stills: around and about

1.  It's not too late to enter my beanie giveaway.  Hop on over and leave a comment :-)

2.  Posing on the beach

3.  Ivy waiting (im)patiently for breakfast

3.  Smokey taking advantage of a quiet corner

4.  Chunky green critter on the olive tree

5.  Flannelette pyjamas taking shape

6.  Bathroom colour

7.  Ripening on the windowsill

8.  I just could not, could not resist...

Linking in with Emily's weekly stills

a beanie giveaway.. my 150th post!

Hello and welcome to my 150th post! It feels like a bit of a milestone, so I thought I'd like to do something special...

 I started making beanies almost exactly one year ago today. My first one was for PK's birthday; since then I've made probably around twenty.

I use a combination of two free patterns I found online; to get a shape and fit I like. I've created a design and size that is a great "one size fits all" beanie. 

I've made them out of all sorts of yarn, from op shopped remnants through to a luxurious alpaca wool. 

Each beanie is unique; made with a specific person in mind. 

So far, I've gifted these to friends and family only. 

Now I'd like to make one to give away to a member of my blogging family. A thank-you for the last eighteen months of online sharing, motivation and encouragement.

I'm not a professional knitter. But I make these with love and care. 

Yesterday I took a couple of beanie models to the beach. It was a beautiful afternoon and we had fun running and jumping around. Let me tell you, these beanies will stay on your head even if you decide to turn a cartwheel or leap off a cliff!

this last beanie is made from Debbie Bliss cotton dk 8ply.

(thanks to my beautiful mini-models, Ruby and Seisia, and my lovely friend Cheryl. It was a wonderful afternoon on the beach)

So, if you like these beanies and would like to win one for yourself, please follow my blog and leave a comment below. You can include a request for colours and favourite yarn as well. Make sure you leave some contact details so I can get in touch with you.

I'll close the competition on the last day of Autumn, next Saturday night.

And I'll randomly pick a winner on the first day of Winter. I'll get my girls to pull a number out of a hat.

Thanks to everyone who has made this blogging experience so awesome. 

Have a lovely weekend, wherever you are...

stills: crafts and canines

1.  inside activities while outside it rains...

2.  play dough love hearts...

3.  knitting cardigans with my mum...

4.  I'm having to concentrate and count every stitch on this pattern...

5.  a reward for NAPLAN students...

6  and 7. changing earrings for the first time...

8.  Stella and Tessa. This dog surprised me in every way*

9.  Ruby and Donny...

10. fancy tails at the Million Paws Walk...

11. taking the river path back...

12. banana chocolate marshmallow parcels...

* On Sunday we volunteered at the Million Paws Walk. This is Tessa.

Each year we take a dog from the Shelter for a day out. My criteria: good natured, sociable with other dogs, good with kids, able to be walked by my children. 

I've always looked for the smaller fluffy type dogs that seem easier to manage. This year we took Tessa, a cattle-staffy cross. I've always associated these breeds with a little more... hyperactivity, shall we say? 

Well, Tessa proved me wrong. She was calm, friendly, fantastic with the kids and a complete darling. She sat for treats, she dropped and stayed, she walked like a dream and seemed in every way to enjoy her day out. I was completely smitten by her. 

If I was in a position to adopt a dog, I would definitely consider her. She was so good with Stella; it was just lovely to see. 

She's looking for a home; if you're in QLD and considering a dog, please look at her page. 

She's been in shelter such a long time.