French Knots

Allotment

My poor allotment has been totally neglect this first season that I've had it, due to late pregnancy, effects of a section and a new baby and this last month a sprained little finger! Anyway we went down there the other evening,Mr FK was coerced into building me a compost bin from some palletts and we picked some blackberries for a crumble

 

The blackberries are growing in a thicket amongst redcurrants, blackcurrants, raspberries and gooseberries. An impenetrable thicket so there was much reaching with the spade to drag the juciest blackberries within arms reach. I need to thin it out somehow for next year, probably wearing a suit of armour to save me from the prickles!

I'm going to make some raised beds for next season - well when I say 'I' you know Mr FK will be wielding the power tools and doing the chopping up for me. So I'm going to use this B&Q 15% off voucher to get some gravel board, help yourself if you'd like to use it too! It's valid from today till next Tuesday. The strawberry plants have been ordered from Ken Muir so  we have a deadline to encourage the bed building!

Did you see Grow Your Own the other night? It's was about an group of refugees who were given allotments, how the locals reacted, the healing power of growing food. The only problem with it was how tidy all the plots and paths were! So unrealistic! Perhaps if aim for their perfection next year I might fall short but at least it wont be the wilderness it's been this year!    

Another year older

This time last year as I celebrated my 40th birthday a wonderful thing happened

 

a precious little bundle started life. I know he was my birthday present as Mr FK was working away the rest of the week ( sorry TMI!).

I feel so lucky to be able to enjoy a new baby again, sleepless nights,saggy body or sick on my shoulder are nothing compared to the joy of his little face as it looks at me and MR FK, at his brother and sister, at the world around him. And he smiles! SMILES! At everyone and everything ( though I like to think he saves his bestest smiles for his Mama!), such a happy little man, happy to be here, happy to see you. Such a sweet disposition and  our little treasure.

Oh yes, I'm delighted to celebrate the passing of another year, such a wonderful, blessed year.

Excitment!

Firstly 'Hello and welcome' if you are visiting from The Crafty Crow and thank you to Cassi for mentioning the game I made for my nephew's birthday, I'm really excitied to be mentioned on a blog my children and I enjoy.

More excitment arrived in the post as I was the oh so lucky winner of this wonderful wool from Asti at Lilys House. 

  

The colours are wonderful, much nicer than I've been able to photograph and I'm going to save it till my brain is functioning on a little more sleep then I'm going to knit some socks just for me! Go and check out her Etsy shop for more temptation!  Juno Fibre Arts.

 

I also signed up for a Graze box as mentioned by Domesticali 

  

I love the idea of some healthy treats popping through the letter box and the element of surprise 'what will I get'!? You can log your preferences on their website so you don't get anything you really dislike and I've loved everything they've sent me so far. I'm saving the boxes, no not because I'm a hoarder and can't throw anything away, but because they are a good size for storing scraps of paper and card and they stack nicely.........and I hate to throw anything away! If you fancy trying one you can enter the code NLFQTWZM and you should get one for free and one half price too.

Right got to go, the big two want to bake cakes and naturally I enjoy unhealthy treats too.......!

Wet windy week

We've had a week away in the beautiful countryside where Lancashire and Cumbria meet, I suppose the fields and fells wouldn't be so lush and green without all the rain! The caravan was pitched on a site overlooking the sea, wonderful views but the wind seemed detrmined to blow us out to sea as it lashed against the caravan and awning. We had to buy extra storm straps to hold it down.

  

Despite the weather we had a good time and the sun made a couple of apperances for us

 

A day of fish and chips, sticks of rock and fishing nets - a typical English holiday.

 

The playground at West End Gardens in Morecambe - amazing equipment unlike any I've seen before and very popular with My Little Helper and The Big Sister. Modern and imaginative.

  

Arnside is a lovely village with a fab bakery selling tasty treats for tea.

  

The Big Sister nearly got blown off Arnside Pier admiring the views.

 

My Little Helper made the most of the wind and nearly took off with his kite.

 

The clock at Carnforth Station where  Brief Encounter was filmed, the refreshment room recreated as it was in the final poignant scenes and serving delicious sandwiches made with homemade bread. The day we were there a chap called 'Roger the Human Jukebox' was playing records from the 40s. After explaining what a record was to the children(!) The Big Sister went up with our request - It's only a Paper Moon , it really made the afternoon, sitting listening to such evocative music.

   

Finally a picture by the Big Sister taken from in front of our caravan one dry evening as the sun vanished behind the farmhouse.

Yes a wet and windy week but we still enjoyed ourselves!