French Knots

Creating

While 'he whose tummy is always empty' had a quick nap between feeds I rustled up some thank you gifts for friends who had kindly passed on some nursery furniture.

It was Pebbledash who posted about recycled Toast and it lodged in my brain. In the wee small hours as my mind drifted during feeding I came up with an idea that was quick to make but, hopefully, touching to receive.

I stamped some wooden pegs, backed some pleasing images from the aforementioned Toast brochure and chose some of my sweet hearts - lavender filled sachets made from recycled fabric. I stiched the hearts inside brown paper parcels instead of wrapping them in the usual way. Once the notecard was pegged to the parcel I was pretty pleased with result.

 

If I get time I'm going to make some more for the end of school year teacher's presents from the big children as they have 5 teachers between the 2 of them I need a simple solution. Though Mr L might not appreciate a lavender sachet.....!

Snuggled in love

A wonderful package arrived, filled with snuggley cardigans for The Baby Brother. Amazing, intricate knitting, complicated patterns and all soft against his skin.

 

 

I love the colour of this one, so vibrant

but this one is my favourite, it has a real vintage feel to it. I could imagine a '50s baby in a cute little jacket like this

 

Hasn't he got a clever Grandma!

The weeks are flying by in a bit of blur, I keep trying to remember to take photos of his tiny baby days as they are so fleeting but one day blends into the next without a proper night time to differentiate it. He has a wonderful range of grunts and groans, accompanied by lip pursing and gurning.  He smiles at opportune moments too, which I know is not a conscious act yet but his timing is so good it melts my heart, and when his lower lip does it's little wobble......! 

What day is it......??

How on earth did I forget that newborn babies don't sleep at night??! After two children you would have thought that fact would be carved into my memory - seemingly not as the lack of sleep over the last couple of weeks surprised me! That said if he's snuggled in my arms he'll happily sleep for ages, which means the rest of the household gets some sleep and I get to overdose on cuddles with my baba. Much better than wasting the night hours sleeping.

Thank you for all the good wishes and kind words of welcome to our little fella, it already seems as if he has always been here. I have written several witty and amusing posts in my head in the wee small hours and of course now that I'm grabbing a few minutes while he's asleep all I can think of is ' humm I could just eat some chocolate, or some jelly beans!'  - just what you've called in to read!

Lovely flowers have been delivered from kind friends

 

 

 

 

and the creative and generous Lesley aka Moogsmum sent me a wonderful surprise parcel

  

needless to say the chocolate has long gone! Thank you Lesley!x The bib is so cute and as for the sweet little booties..

 

Off to lie down with my lavender scented pillow and relax for a minute................

Love is ................

When you ask him to mow the lawn but to leave the patch of daisies because they look pretty.......

 

..................and he does!

Happy 21st Wedding Anniversary Mr FK xx

Welcome!

We are now a family of 5!

Welcome to Benjamin Alexander, born 1st May. 6lb 7oz of perfection.

 

nearly, nearly

 

Primula denticulata. When I was growing up we lived next door to a lovely retired couple Mr and Mrs Milsom, I remember going round to visit always being told to ask if 'it's convenient' and spending time with Milly and Mr Milly. He was a keen gardener and I remember being about 9 and and working on a project for school, a project on flowers. Mr Milly told me the proper name of purple pom poms and for some reason it embeded itself into my brain for evermore. Primula denticulata such a lovely spring flower.

Tomorrow is a big day, THE big day, I go into hospital and our family grows. Surreal really, whilst I have a bump that could house a baby elephant, have seen and heard the baby there is still a lingering feeling that it's all too good to be true. So I can't wait to meet it, those magical first moments falling in love, fierce piercing mother love. I'm also looking forward to seeing all three children together as they get to know the new baby. So I'll be back some time next week. Thank you for all your good wishes and kind comments over the last months.xx 

Just in time

 

Way, way back at the beginning of January we ordered a new small settee and sofa bed to replace the old settee that we have had since we got married ( 21 years ago next week!). As we don't have a spare room now the sofa bed was for visitors, with a deadline for it to be used when the baby arrives - so planning ahead, plenty of time we thought. Sadly Habitat had other plans, inefficient, lack of communication blah, blah, blah. Eventually they sorted themselves out but I'd just about forgotten what the blummin things looked like! 

Just in time they arrived, fitted in the room and needed making homely. So a spot of rummaging in the fabric mountain resulted in a few new cushions.

 

Just managed to squeeze myself in behind the sewing machine!

A busy afternoon

 

sitting in the sun watching the washing dry on the line!

Easter Hols

We've had a lovely two weeks, lovely but exhausting when v v pregnant! Thank goodness the weather has been so good, the children have enjoyed playing in the garden and I have enjoyed sitting in a deckchair watching them.

 

We decorated our Easter Tree, made some gooey chocolatey cakes, had an Easter egg hunt and stuffed ourselves with lots of eggs.

As the sunny weather continued we barbecued and chilled out in the garden.

 

Family visiting, bits of DIY for Mr FK who long ago learned to dread the words ' I've been thinking...'!

I had to change my car, the final remnant of my old working life - my beautiful pale blue beetle convertible. Totally impractical for two children never mind three, but so lovely driving along in the sunshine with the top down! Ah well, I now have a Scenic in a colour described on the details as beige....beige.... I can't drive a beige Mum's Taxi - I'm calling it stone instead as that makes my toes curl less! It's actually a great car, well designed for it's family market I think.

 Today is a day to just get through, when my thoughts are focused on my Mum. The sort of Mum she was and how the things she did gave me my blueprint of how to be a mother, baking, cooking, gardening, growing, nurturing, creating the heart of our home as we were growing up. Our safe haven.She made me who I am.

Image from Grow'em Plant Propagation Database.

Presents delivered

 

Now that a few homemade presents have been delivered it's safe to show them. Union Jack cushions and bunting have been popping up all over blogland this spring. A great graphic and easy to do, unless you use satin ribbon, and decide to edge each ribbon with more satin piping..no..no far too slippy. Next one will not feature satin methinks.

   

Jolly applique towels, My Little Helper has a busy social life with lots of parties to attend so I need a supply of suitable quick to make presents.

Eggceptional Softies for Easter are on our list of things to do over the hols plus making some healthy, low sugar(!) Chocky Rocky, decorating the Easter Tree and trying out some of the great Easter craft ideas over at The Crafty Crow. Well that'll keep me happy, the children can join in too if they want!