French Knots

Do you think

strawberries still count as one of your five a day when mixed with lashings of cream and bowlfuls of sugar?

Mmmm, what next? Raspberry, vanilla, chocolate? What a wonderful new toy the ice cream maker is! 

A celebration

After my aforementioned night of no sleep I spent Saturday rushing through a to do list in preparation for The Baby Brother's Christening on Sunday, cake, flowers, tablecloths to iron. Thank goodness for the energy rush provided by the wonderful Mr Cadbury!

 

I covered jam jars with pretty fabric from a recycled pillowcase, held in place with raffia. The asters gave each table a cheerful touch and I used my collection of hand embroidered cloths, the ones that are too nice to chop up!

Sunday was an early start as the Christenings are during the 9.30 family service and first I had to set up the hall in the Cricket Club. The Big Sister and I sat in the car park at 8am as arranged and waited.....waited....waited, eventually I barked a message into their answer machine and dashed home to put on my glad rags. With visions of our family and friends arriving at the gloomy hall going round in my head I rang again just before 9, phew the cleaner was there and The Big Sister and I dashed back, dragged tables and chairs into place, whizzed the tablecloth and flowers around and screeched back home on two wheels.

Naturally my purple face set off my outfit to a 't' ! The Baby Brother looked a picture in our antique family gown and, as I hoped he didn't drool on it too much, worked out it must be about 100 years old. It is a lovingly made confection of silk, embroidery and lace worn by my children, myself and my siblings, my Mum and her brother and Grandma and her brothers. A connection with the past, with other Mothers before me and those dearly loved who are no longer here.

 

 

To sleep....

....perchance to not be woken up every 5 minutes!

10.30 to bed, late night watching Strictly!

11.02 The Baby Brother wakes crying

1.56  He wakes again and has a huge feed

3.04 My Little Helper wakes up crying

4.27 Mr FK kicks me hard and mumbles ' sorry, was dreaming I was playing football' after I dig him in the ribs

5.25 The smoke alarm outside the bedroom door tests itself. I can't go back to sleep just in case the house really is burning down and am running through how to carry all 3 children at once in my head. 

Tonight I'm going to camp somewhere peaceful, like the hard shoulder of the motorway. 

Wibble, wobble...

.......gone!!

 

My Little Helper lost his first two teeth and had a visit from the Tooth Fairy, she left him a pound for each tooth which he spent on two more fish. Patrick and Squidward!

Sunny seaside

 

The cards from the Janet Bell gallery, bright and breezy in the sunshine on my crumpled tea towel.

 

I'd love a window looking out over the sea, watching the boats go to and fro, the changing light and weather.

 

Little houses, colourfully piled huggermugger by the sea. And cake....always good!

 

We could take a stroll along the front or perhaps climb the hill to see the view.

 

More ochre tones in this one, greeny blue sea. Lets go crabbing off the harbour wall.

They will look lovely in a white frame against the bluey green of my sewing room wall, ready for the day I have few minutes to go and sew.

Late summer

Yes summer seems to have arrived at last, the last two days have been glorious! I've been washing and enjoying the sight of it flapping in the sunshine on the line and it's certainly good for the spirits. The Baby Brother and I have been out walking, he's loving watching the trees and sky roll past above him as he coos and gurgles and his busy feet dance.

 

The children are slowly getting to grips with the new school routine and we're trying to remember which day is PE, when the Big Sister has football practise and when My Little Helper goes to Beavers and swimming. Oh life is a social whirl........for them!

 

My Little Helper won this goldfish - Goldie, of course - at a family fun day. I thought it would only last a day or two but it seems to be made of stern stuff and is withstanding his enthusiastic love! Naturally Spongebob was the only decorating choice for a six year old.

I really enjoyed making this cushion, playing around with colour combinations and chopping up my hoard of recycled fabrics. There's a pair of jeans, tablecloth and a pillowcase ready for a new life.

  

The Big Sister has discovered a love of cake making and she's old enough to do it all herself now - I only need to help eat it! Mmm

Have a lovely weekend, make time for fun in the sun while it lasts. 

Weather 1 - Us 0!

Our wet and windy week away at the start of the summer hols was followed by another on Anglesey at the end of the hols - in fact it was so wet we came home early! (And a bout of chicken pox for The Baby Brother in between!) We managed to squeeze in some fun first, on the sunny day we headed to the beach at Lligwy and made the most of the sunshine.

 

The Baby Brother tested the water ( with Mr FK under strictest instruction not to include me in my swimsuit in the photo!)

 

We all took to the water, including Grandma (but not the BB!) in our inflatable kayak and explored the bay.

 

When the weather was chilly and damp we tried catching crabs..................

 

taa daa! Much shrieking and excitment from the children - despite the bacon treats the poor crab was probably begging to be put back in the peace of the water!

 

 

 

 

I wandered along the harbour wall taking pictures, so everyone was happy despite the rain.

  

ah yes the rain, can you see the lovely view?! A trip to Beaumaris so I could nip into the  Janet Bell Gallery which was wonderful. I love her artwork with it's bright colours and seaside scenes, a few cards made their way home with me ready to be framed and hung in my little sewing room.

 Yes a good holiday despite the weather, the farm we stayed on had sweet sheep

 

and good views

Hopefully we'll get a bit of an indian summer during September before we head back to winter, otherwise I'll have to pack up and head for the southern hemisphere!