Heavens to Betsy

2012-01-05T14:48:00.000Z

New Years resolution is to blog more, I must, or I'll pop! The last month or so, since my last post, I've been wedding planning, holidaying, toddler club hosting and festivating (a word?) our home.

The wedding plans are going well, so far all the big things are booked; registrars, reception venue, transport, catering, the dress! It's hard to tell you all much about it as I want most of it to be a surprise on the day, needless to say though it is a very time consuming process and I've already had nightmares about turning up at the registry office in my jeans!

I'm collecting vintage china for our reception dinner and stumbled across this on the back of a plate. How lovely, and how orderly.

I was wondering whether to wear a veil or not when I remembered my great grandmas veil was in our loft somewhere, I managed to find it buried away under lots of baby stuff. Unfortunately it is so old that my fingers went straight through it. I did manage to get some lovely photos to share with you before it was packed away again.

The bag that it was carefully folded up in

It's a large rectangular shape of fabric

with a stitched daisy design round the edges in thick silk thread

Taking a break from it all we had a week 'down south' in Bournemouth. It was lovely to spend quality time together as a family, we all just wished it didn't have to end.

The bright lights of Westbourne greeted us

Joel learnt a new phrase, 'uhh ohh', from his dad and he uses it every time he does something he shouldn't.

As well as how to get his feet out the top of his pram fleece, what a bendy boy!

While we were away we treated our house to a fresh look by having the hall, stairs and landing decorated.

We've had our eye on this wallpaper for a couple of years now and the long drops against the stairs really show it off. The walls have been pained in a lovely grey colour and the paintwork freshened up with a lick of white. Chuffed!

Son Rise

2011-11-07T12:26:00.000Z

Since the clocks changed last weekend Joel has been getting up an hour earlier all week, that's a 5.30 start to the day! Not for the faint hearted! We had hoped that after a couple of days he would gradually adjust back to 6.30/7 (or later!!) but it's only today that he managed it. However gruelling the pre dawn starts to the days have been two things have made each one special.

Our boys beautiful smiling face, thirsty for a new adventure (and porridge), something to climb on and a morning pat of Myrtle.

It took me forever to find a button up dressing gown for him

and the beautiful Cumbrian sunrises, even Joel points and says 'ooooooooh' at the amazing bright pink sky and the birds ('tweet tweets' as Joel calls them) singing the start of the day.

The view from our kitchen window

It's all worth it though :)

It's a date!

2011-11-01T13:25:00.000Z

Mr B and I have finally gotten around to setting the date for our wedding. We have sent out save the date cards, an American custom which I think fits well into British correspondence etiquette. We bought a beautifully crafted hand drawn stamper from Emililies on etsy, and used some posh ink pads from our local art shop to stamp on vintage style blank postcards. We are well chuffed with how they look.

So now the hard work starts, planning a wedding with a 15 month old boy who climbs on EVERYTHING trying to help. Wish us luck!

Harvest for the home

2011-10-25T14:03:00.000+01:00

The other day I was a bit bored in the kitchen and decided that, even though I'm not religious, I wanted to celebrate the harvest. My mini bounty consisted of windfall cooking apples from my mums garden and bargain pomegranates from the supermarkets 'oops' section (wrinkly, injured or unloved products) It was grey and rainy outside yet colour radiated from the fruit, arranged on my lovely vintage cake stand. A moment to just stop, take stock and appreciate what we have. Not just in terms of food but the aesthetic quality of life, even on the dullest of days, can brighten the home and enlighten your heart.

Bags of Fun!

2011-10-25T13:31:00.000+01:00

I was given a lovely little project a while back which I haven't had the chance to tell you about. When our friends got married in September I was asked to organise party bags for all the children attending, along with snack bags too. Organised fun at it's best, in a bag!!

I got all their names and ages so I could tailor fill each bag to best suit the little guests. I found some really good stuff on the indoor market, brilliant joke/party stall which seemed to have stock from about 20 years ago (in a good way though) funny masks, squidgy toys, bubbles, fortune telling fish and whoopy cushions to name but a few of what I used.

This bag was for a 7 year old girl.

This bag was for the brides 7 year old nephew.

I kept the snack bags on the healthy side with home made heart shaped vanilla choc cookies, natural corn crisps, cheese, fruit and raisons and some delicate little round sandwiches made with half brown and half whites slices of bread. Fun.

There were some new babies there too so I gave their mummys some bubbles, a light up wand to keep baby entertained along with an energy giving biscuit (which I wrapped in baking paper and stuck with pretty tape) for them to munch during the speeches, feeding your baby starts with feeding yourself.

Charming!

2011-10-24T20:15:00.000+01:00

For the last few years I've had something on my list of things to get sorted, finally last month it got done. My Grannys charm bracelet (a present from my Grandad) had been sat tarnished and tatty in it's original box for around half a century.

I'm sure you'll agree that it was money well spent getting it all cleaned up and the charms re soldered on. Tradition is that a new charm would be added at each Anniversary/Birthday/Christmas. I doubt my Granny (at the grand age of 95) can remember which was bought when but there is no doubt a story behind each one.

I couldn't wait to wear it out somewhere and did so the first chance I got, to a lovely dinner with Mr & Mrs B to mark (that) Mr B's return from America. We had a really nice evening out thanks to Millie and Nick taking up their roles as 'Best Auntie and Uncle' by babysitting, we left them a nice vege cottage pie in the Rayburn to take the winters chill off the evening. Full tums all round. Lovely friends X

Mr & Mrs B

2011-10-05T17:12:00.000+01:00

No not us, well not just yet, our friends got married and became Mr & Mrs a month ago.

It was the first wedding I'd been to since I was a child, and what a lovely one it was. The ceremony was at the most divine little village church in the heart of the Lake District, the bride looked amazing in her 1950's length dress and dinky glittering Cinderella slippers. The groom was not to be sniffed at either, suited and booted he looked proud as punch. I think us girls had a smile and a sideways tilted head for the majority of the day, well worth the cricked neck though, whatever your beliefs are it was a wonderful moment, thank you for letting us share it with you x

Grandad B's Birthday Bash

2011-10-05T16:57:00.000+01:00

Mr B's Dad was 70 last month, we wanted to mark such a special birthday with a family party. He has 3 children and a fair few grandchildren (Joel being the youngest) who are rarely all gathered together in one place.

Instead of making a birthday cake we made birthday muffins and arranged them in a 70. Half were strawberry cheesecake and the others were triple chocolate, I got the recipes from a great little baking book by Good Housekeeping. It meant everyone could eat one flavour and take the other one homefor later.

The North Pom made this pom pom garland (dubbed 'the new bunting') in colours to complement our kitchen. The colours looked so good you can now order them yourself.

I finally got to make good use of my bargain birdy glasses (£2 for 12 at a really soggy car boot sale) when we did a champagne toast to the tune of 'Happy Birthday!'

Snapshot

2011-10-05T12:31:00.000+01:00

It's been a busy few weeks since I last posted, many a blog is queued up in my 'drafts' folder but I'm not sure if they will see the light of day now. Probably best to give you an abridged version of recent life.

Joels first encounter with Swans, he didn't believe me when I said they were birds. Well who would?

Lakeside fun

I've been slowly adding to my china collection, these 4 cups cost 50p and they are really old. No saucers but they will be perfect for serving puddings in

Joel got some molars, nasty things.


I spotted this baby Toad in our front garden just the other night, he was diddy! Remember the difference between frogs and toads? Frogs have webbed feet and Toads have toed feet.

We ate blackberries straight off the brambles, they were warm in the evening sun. Joel loved them but got frustrated when I couldn't find them fast enough.

My love of all things miniature continued with an investment in this delightful little knife, perfect for topping my morning eggy weggs with

We were glad when the summer hols were over and groups were back on.

Washer Woman

2011-08-24T13:25:00.001+01:00

The Washer Watcher in action!

The weather has been pants lately, adding to the frustration of not being able to go out wandering as much as we'd like is the ever growing stacks of wet washing with no where to go. Drying indoors just isn't glamorous, unless.......
You spend a rainy day totally re vamping your washing room, whilst avoiding all other housework!

I started on this little baby airer. It's been with me for years now, a bargain find in a Nottingham junk shop. I saw an idea recently in a magazine for tying ribbon around the joints but I thought I'd go one better and replace the tapes with fancy trimmings, from my collection.

Here is the finished article laden up with Joels 'real' nappy's

...drying off in front of our lovely blue Rayburn

I also got my lovely selection of old tins out of storage and set them out along the high window sill. I used some of Joel's building blocks to spell out WASH

Hanging from the ceiling are these fabric print paper lanterns which used to block a street front window at my old house.


and our traditional big airer. Where would we be without it!!!

The finishing touch was covering Myrtles crate with some bright red, spotted oilcloth. The Orla Kiely Tesco bag for life is perfect for emptying the machine into as I can carry it over my shoulder to the line whilst holding Joel. Much better than a wash basket.

So all in all I am very pleased with my efforts. Who said utility can't be pretty?

Birthday Boys

2011-08-16T14:43:00.000+01:00

One thing which has kept us very busy since our trip down south was planning for Joel and his friend Rory big birthday bash!

Rorys mum is planning her wedding so I took the lead on the boys do. After a couple of weeks of planning the big day came, we'd chosen the local village hall as the venue, sent out Mr Bs beautifully designed invites

We requested no gifts as we wanted as many people as possible to share this special day and didn't want it to cost our friends to attend. Birthdays are about get togethers not spending money.

I baked lots of buns (adult and wee sized ones) as well as some extra chocolaty cornflake cakes (oh my they were VERY good) this was my first try at baking, I figured as a mummy it's essential to at least get buns right. Mr B and Uncle M were on hand to help decorate them.
Unfortunately in all the rush to get things made I didn't get to photograph the fab eats and layout before the party started. I can assure you they looked and tasted fab!

Joel with his cousin Sophie. Rory and the two Mr Bs are in the background

It was a brilliant day, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the boys were wiped out come 5pm. It's been the fastest year of our lives and quite rightly deserved a massive get together, I can't wait for next years shin dig!

Good news

2011-08-15T10:52:00.000+01:00

The news is so depressing at the moment, it's making me feel so sorry for all the people who have had their lives turned upside down in the cities. I am glad that we live in a lovely rural area. Last night Mr B and I thought how lucky we are, in so many ways. So I thought I'd cheer us all up over the next few days by writing about the nice things in our lives.

Mum and Son fun on a Camel at one of Kendals playgroups.

I feel that Joel and I have really hurled ourselves into the world of mum and baby socialising, something essential for keeping your sanity! We had a slow start on this as the total shock to the system of having a baby, teamed with physical recovery and problems establishing breastfeeding meant we didn't really surface from Oakbank until some 6 weeks after he arrived. Before we knew it we had lots of places to go and friendly faces to see. Yet this wonderful world of play sessions and interaction only exist during term time, thus assuming all mums have more than one child! This leaves new mums who have built up networks of support and activity suddenly stranded. Who would have thought that when your children aren't yet at school the timetable has such a hold over what you do?

With this in mind I decided to take over the local baby/toddler groups booking at our village hall, Tots Tuesday Summer Club was born. I've managed to get enough mums each week to cover the hire of the hall (it's a non profit group) without doing any advertising. We have loads of space for little people to travel around (by tummy, crawling, bum shuffling and walking, however they like) a kitchen for the all important brews (I serve the tea from a hatch!) and a fab outdoor space (though unfortunately it's in full sun at that time of day so not ideal for new skin) It is small scale but I've really enjoyed it, I love making up groups and clubs and partys so am already thinking of my next venture :)

Happy Holiday

2011-08-10T11:35:00.001+01:00

It's been a very long time since my last post about our trip to Dorset. Life seems to have been so hectic since getting back, the time away was lovely and relaxing though, especially for Mr B who is all 'work, work, work'. I'll get you up to speed on what we got up to.

We rode on an open top bus from Westbourne (where we were staying) to Swanage. It was a lovely sunny day and lots of other people had the same idea as us. Mostly retired folk as the schools hadn't broken up yet.

The bus went really fast, it felt like a rollercoaster ride for OAPs!

Joel liked smiling at everyone and at one point some of the ladies sat opposite us took turns bouncing him on their knees.

It was a long journey, including a ferry crossing, Joel nodded off after a while. It was so nice to share the moment with Mr B. We will always remember this moment. His warm bady snuggled between us asleep on an open top bus :)

So much love for this boy xx

When we got to Swanage we went straight on a steam train to Corfe Castle. It was ace!


The decor was all original wood panelling

Joel liked crawling back and forth between us across the table. He is NEVER still.


Another day we went to the New Forrest, it was so beautiful and so special to see it for real 34 years after my first postcard was written there. There were wild ponies running across the roads. We also saw Deer and a huge Ants nest (hard to tell from this pic, but) it was covered with millions of Red Ants!

We spent a couple of days in Bournemouth, it was so nice. A proper old fashioned sea side town, with amazing formal gardens running through the middle of it. There was an old fashioned Balloon ride too, we didn't go on but enjoyed watching it rise up above the buildings. Isn't it pretty!

Joel thoroughly enjoyed himself, we stayed out late most days. Usual routine went out the window with regards to bed time but we figured all the fresh air was so good for him it didn't matter.

All in all it was a brilliant time for us, so nice to get away from house chores and for Mr B to get away from work and spend quality time with our little treasure.

Summer wear

2011-06-30T11:29:00.000+01:00

This last week the weather has been so hot, after being really grim. Our summers are getting stranger and stranger making holiday planning very difficult.
You may remember quite a few of my early posts were about my Great Aunt Margaret, in particular all the cool stuff that came to me once she had passed away. I didn't know her very well but looking through her stuff and seeing connections to myself was a nice way to get to know more about her life.
So with this in mind we are going to stay at Margarets old flat for a week, a whole week! Our first ever family holiday.

My last sewing project before we go is this little beauty. Margarets fabulously retro swimsuit! I've filled out, a little, since having Joel so this style looks great on my shape. Though the bust is a bit too big, even with the boning taken out so I'm doing a quick snip and tuck on the boob compartments. It's in great condition, I wonder if it was ever even worn?

There is a pool at the flats so I thought I really must wear this for our morning swims. Just hope the lovely hot weather holds out! I'll send you all a postcard x

Baaber

2011-06-30T11:21:00.002+01:00

Last night all the local girls were herded past our house to get their hair cut. You should have heard the noise they made. I bet they feel better for a trim today. Unfortunately Joel missed them but Mr B and I watched from over the garden gate. Good Life :)

Nature and Nurture

2011-06-30T10:54:00.000+01:00

Me again. You can see I'm making the most of Joels nap times. It's great to write though, I miss having the time to contemplate and express myself at a leisurly pace on here, still I get to bank my photos and ideas and draft write in the evenings. My creativity has had to adapt to family life, like everything has.
Our lane has been more colourful lately....

With this bank of fox gloves lining the way up hill

Bees were dashing in and out of the trumpets, too fast to photograph though.

There is all sorts of interesting grasses too, Joel was reaching out of his pram to stroke them. They felt lovely.

Bright red Sorrel and dainty Buttercups broke the greenery up


Joel likes holding the different grasses.

Flutterbyes

2011-06-24T12:01:00.001+01:00

A long time ago I lived in Lancaster, it's not my favourite of places so I didn't stay long, one place I always wanted to visit but never got around to was Williamson Parks Butterfly House. So when Lisa and Margot suggetsed a trip out there Joel and I jumped at the chance.

It was mega mega hot in there so we had to peel off a few layers before hunting for winged treasures but just look at what we found!

Butterflys are well into their bananas

They eat them through a straw coming out of their face

Margot and Mummy counting fish in the ponds

We were lucky enough to get to see the butterflys in their cocoons. They hatch in a special cupboard and the keeper takes them out once they have had a chance to dry their wings off.

Some of them looked just like jewels, with gold spikes. They were amazing.

It was nice to cool down in the breeze when we got out, Margot and Joel had a wee chat about who had spotted the most winged beauties while Lisa and I supped Lady Grey tea in the sun. Lovely Jubbly :)

Up Up and away!

2011-06-24T11:32:00.000+01:00

Three weeks ago Joel cracking crawling, he'd been commando crawling for about a month before then, last week he started pulling himself up on things. After many bumps and bangs he is now coasting around the house using handles, radiators and even Myrtle to get about.

We can see now why people say treasure the moments you have with your little ones, he is not yet a year old but already striving for independence.

Playing cups at his Grannys

Preperations are underway for his first birthday party, which he is sharing with his first friend, Rory (born just a few hours after Joel) It's more than a birthday party though, we had planned to do a naming day at six months but time just flew by and it's only now that I feel able to organise anything. So we'd like to look at this day as being a celebration of arrival, acheivement but most of all our love for our boy.

Lifes Work

2011-06-13T12:14:00.001+01:00

I've not been able to visit many exhibitions since having Joel, it isn't very easy to hop on a train and go see what's hot in the cities gallerys when your days are made up of frequent meal times, nap times and wriggle time!

So it was nice to go and see a local group of stitchers work at the methodist church near where I used to live. KEB told me about it, as her mum is part of the group, we went together for a look one Saturday morning.
The church was filled with tables displaying yard after yard of patchwork, quilting, embroidery as well as bags and cushions and toys all made by the church stitching group.

There was a competition for the favourite piece. We both voted for this one as we spent a long time looking marvelling at it's appearance and concept.

It was a table cloth made from recycling her mothers and grandmothers old linens (tea towels and tray cloths), with some additions of her own (an unused wedding presents of tea towels) Where the cloth was already partly embroidered she used the same style to fill that towel, otherwise taking inspiration from any pattern in the weave.

Here's a plan of what was used and where.

This section, a tray cloth, was extra special as it was made by the creator herself when she was 13 when there was still rationing on materials.

My mum has a huge collection of linens like this, one day I'd really like to work on a similar project. Perhaps even turn them into a duvet cover or bedspread?

This was a selection of teddys that made us smile. Like someone has tried a face, then thought no, but just left it half done. Brilliant.

The one and only other textiles exhibition I saw was in The Dales Countryside Museum in the pretty town of Hawes. We stopped off here on a day out to Yorkshire, it had a river and waterfall right under the main street!

We only ended up in the museum as we needed the loo, but just look at what I found in one of their education rooms!

Despite the enormity of the piece on display, I cannot find any detailed information about the woman who made it or the history behind the piece other than her name was Nora Worth and she made this patchwork quilt entirely from silk ties which were collected by her neice. Nora was from nearby Gayle but after googling and googling I cannot find any further information on her.

I love the way she chose tiny triangles which echo the pointed shape of a tie itself.

Nora broke the patchworked triangles up with the manufacturers labels, of course Liberty would be there.

Section of more subtle fabrics

Thanks for the giggles Miss Wiggles

2011-06-13T11:24:00.000+01:00

When Joel was first born Auntie Jill visited him and brought amongst other things some really funny booties made by someone at a craft fair. They were massive and had been worn by Joels giraffe toy up until the other week when it was a rainy day, boredom had set in and glancing at his feet I thought they were looking big enough for them so we tried them on.

You can't quite see their full glory in this picture. They are knitted to look like a T bar shoe over a white sock and they fasten with a button.

Joel and I laughed alot.

Teething Travels

2011-06-13T11:10:00.001+01:00

Sleepless nights are all the rage in our house at the moment, if it's not cognitive development keeping Joel awake (which means he goes to bed but cannot switch his brain off to figuring to how to walk) then it's six teeth all on the move at once.

This means that the once short and sweet bedtime story has now been extended to the larger books on his shelf. I thought what better way to forget your troubles than to learn of far away places. Joel is too young to see the world but he can still hear all about it.

So I've been reading him the 'This Is...' range of books by M.Sasek. First published in the 1960's this series of books feature some of the finest illustrations I've ever seen. They are laid out in a fun and informative way and feature all the details about a place which children love to hear. I only have four of the books so am thinking as each birthday comes up we can buy him a new one until he has the full set.

Last night we learned about Paris.

Places to visit of cultural interest, like the bird market. Pet birds aren't as popular over here.

Unusual places, like the cemetery for dogs. Which includes the odd cat too.

The illustrations mix in some very tactile bits of print, like tickets for the Metro.

He makes shopping look so much fun! I want to be in that flea market right now, buying French junk and having Myrtle clipped like a posh poodle

All the while encouraging children to see for themselves what the world has to offer.

We are really enjoying the books. I like to think that when he finally goes to sleep his head is full of the facts and sights of wonderful cities which one day he'll visit with us.

Memory Bunting

2011-06-07T21:44:00.001+01:00

Almost a year ago now we celebrated Knit Natter Stitch and Chatters first birthday, a seven course pudding club made it a night to remember. It doubled as a maternity leaving do from the world of crafting in public too, though I didn't realise that at the time!

Anyway I remembered it again today when I finally got around to putting up the fabulous thankyou present the group made for me. Each member made a flag which reflected projects they had worked on during our meet ups, whether that be by technique, or the materials used.
This strand of Memory Bunting was the outcome, what a lovely idea!


I used these unusual birdy pegs to display the bunting for the photos

Here are some of my favourite bits.......


This piece of smocking was made by Alison at our first sessions. She always wondered what to turn it into.


Sharon crocheted this piece in Mr Bs favourite colours. Burnley!!

This beautiful fabric was used by Frances to make blinds for her new flat. I love the way she has used patchwork and beading to abstract the design.

I love the mini pom poms on this, one of Sharons flags.

The centre piece is Frances' carefully stitched sampler

A fantastic memento from a fantastic group. I'll keep this forever.

Windows of opportunity

2011-06-01T20:54:00.001+01:00

So I thought that being at home with Joel would mean I could get lots of creative projects underway and also finish off some old ones. How wrong I was! Each morning I have great plans for that evening, thinking to myself 'as soon as Joel goes to bed I can start on that....' Truth is being a mum really is a full time job (and more!) so when the evening comes I'm reduced to being a brain dead sleep deprived zombie starting into the fridge wondering what on earth I can cobble together and call it 'tea'. So beyond that the evenings pan out with watching films, TV, (Bored To Death and The Mind of the Married Man) perusing blogs and articles whilst always keeping half and eye on the baby monitors flashing lights (perminantly thinking 'please stay asleep!')
However recently I've had more brain power and time so have got a few home projects under my belt, like....

A lovely set of full length silk curtains for the lounge windows. They are a kind of mauve colour and look very vintage. Joel loves playing peepo with them.

A blind for Joels room. It's blackout lined, we live in hope that this will have a positive effect on his wake up time!!!

The fabric I used was some which I bought in France years ago, little people in green with orange hair (perfect for Joels room). Cute or what!

Of course no sewing project would be complete without the 'help' of Joey the wonder cat. Here he is demonstrating a scale reference for the pattern, what would I do without him?

Transformed our bathroom with a new blind (aswell as a mirror and a cupboard, which used to be in the old kitchen, and a bright pink shower curtain, Mr B was gobsmacked) This fabric is a really great heavy weight canvas in sage green with a stunning bright pink screen print of a rambling rose.

Currently I'm on with two blinds for the kitchen windows made from Dandelions by Sanderson (I got at a snip of the price from my favourite factory shop)

I'll show you them when they are done. Best get cracking on them while little man is still sleeping. Nighty night

Bib tutorial.

2011-06-01T15:37:00.000+01:00

Spotted bib with mini ric rac trim- worn 'Cowboy style'

Joel is going through an especially druley stage with his teeth, he already has four with another four on their way. Poor little fella doesn't know what to with himself. Now he's sitting up all the time his tops get soaked through, even with a bib on. I found some super absorbant ones in the local baby shop but they were £10 each! So I thought I'd make him one myself, it was so easy and we got so many compliments I've made him a whole selection!

Here's how to do it (it's my first ever craft tutorial so bear with me) This is a really easy project which you can have fun with. It can be stitched by hand or machine as it's only a small project (perfect for stitching and knitting sessions in the pub!)

I managed to find some machine washable super absorbant cloths, just in the cleaning aisle at the supermarket. £1.75 for four. They MUST be machine washable or they will fall apart after just one wear. I pre shrank them by running them through with a wash before using.

I measured round Joels neck (25 cms!!) for a minimum measurement to work from. Then I cut the cloths into quarters, diagonally, so I ended up with four triangles (This was just because of the original size of the cloths, if your cloths are bigger or your babys neck is larger you may wish to adjust) measuring 37cm along the longest edge and 26cm on the two shorter sides.

Cut the fabric (pre shrunk in the wash) 1.5cm bigger than the cloth. You need two pieces the same size but not necessarily the same fabric. Place the aborbant cloth on top of the wrong side of one of the pieces of fabric and fold over the edging and press. Fold and press the turnings in on the other piece too then place them back to back with the absorbant cloth sandwiched inbetween.

I like to decorate Joels bibs with trim, it's a good excuse to make a dent in my lifetimes haberdashery collection, a contrasting colour of stitching would be just as effective if you haven't got trim to hand. It's only needed along the two shorter sides of the bib, pin in place ready to stitch.

Once it's been stitched all the way round you just need to stitch on a snap fastener. I stitched them in the corners so there is a rouched look to the bib ('Cowboy style') but if you prefer a snugger fit use your babys neck measurement as a fitting guide. Remember one half of the fastener can always be moved along as neccessary when baby grows.

Good luck and be warned, they are an addictive thing to make!

A Brit of a 'do'

2011-05-25T22:35:00.000+01:00

April 29th was a super day at Oakbank, we hosted an all day and night party in honor of Prince William and Kates wedding.

Guests arrived at 10am, both here and at Westminster Abbey, and we drank cups of tea from the family china whilst watching the guests arrive in all their posh outfits.

This china has been in my family for generations, now it's all mine.


Mum bought me these silver sugar tongs from an antique shop, aren't they fabulous!

This china madame wears a huge yellow knitted skirt which doubles as a tea cosy. Fun stuff eh! Funnier still is that the man who sold it to me in a charity shop thought it was a hat!

We set up a teashop in the kitchen, so we weren't making brews all day.

Buffet (L-R) egg and cress, plain crisps and peanuts (in striped paper bags) coronation chicken, banana and poppy seed cake, bread rolls, Tunnocks mountain, traditional lemonade.

Not eaten this since the 80's


The Tunnocks mountain. With 'very British' red phone box topper.

I used the box illustrations to make a mini bunting


We toasted the Royal kiss(es)

Good old M&S didn't let the side down with their fantastic biscuit tins

All in all we had a right Royal knees up with laughs, tears, fun and more union jack bunting than you could shake a flag at. Congratulations to Will and Kate, for a day we will all remember.

Time flies!

2011-05-24T11:56:00.000+01:00

I can't believe its been five whole weeks since I last blogged! I've still been documenting everything that's happened, and at least once a day imagined how the blogs will read. Head blogging, though a crucial part of keeping me sane, isn't the same as getting stuff down on paper (screen) so here is the last few weeks in pictures. * Detailed blogs of the highlights to follow.

It was roasting hot for a whole week, so toes were out for garden naps.


My first Mothers Day. Joel, with the help of his Daddy, got me some wonderful gifts. I cried.


I sorted my cupboard of fine china, my mum handed over the family sets she has kept safe for years *

We had a proper dinner party, with wine! In honour of Mr B's birthday.

Joel learnt how to sit up by himself without toppling over, too many times*.


Had a lovely lunch with an old friend (she's even older now :) KEB in a new place in town, they have different tea cosies for each table. We got Piggy.


The tiniest frog I'd ever seen hopped in the house one rainy night after Myrtle had been out for a wee. Here it is next to a 5p (our smallest coin, for international readers)

We saw the biggest wasps nest. Here it is next to Joel. He could have lived in it!


Aunt Em visited and we went to Holehird Gardens we saw Annie Lennox's house and ate a picnic in the sun whilst doting over Joel :)


Britains coalition governments first year in power.

Friends visited for a play in the sun

Family walks

We also threw a party, made stuff, went places and saw things (too many to mention in just one blog entry) which I can't wait to share with you once Joel hits the hay.
A round of applause please for the fastest typed blog EVER! :)

A bit of a Royal 'do'

2011-04-18T18:51:00.000+01:00

One of my fondest memories from my childhood, and perhaps my earliest, is of Prince Charles and Lady Dianas wedding. I was 4 at the time and we celebrated crowded into my granny and grandads back room, with the dining table folded out full and laden with a propper Lancashire buffet (remember to pronounce the 't') I was in awe watching Diana and her hundreds of metres of silk pour out of the golden carriage, it was just like a fairy tale.

Now I know times have changed, and people can be alot more cynical about the Royal family, but I think that if we all embrace the upcoming royal wedding celebrations in the same way we did back in '81 the nation will have another day to remember.

So we are hosting a small Royal Wedding get together on the 29th! (doubling also as my friend Karens birthday party) The wedding will be on the big telly in our kitchen and I'm going to make buns and trifle and a wedding cake. There will be a glass or two of bubbly and tea in propper china cups. Oh and of course there will be metres and metres of bunting, enough waving flags to deck a whole gala with and as many union jack decorations as we can muster up. Joel will sadly be too young to remember the party but we will take lots of pictures to show him when he is older, and to share on here too.

Weaning weeny.

2011-03-14T20:54:00.000Z

We are now in about the third week of weaning, giving Joel a savoury lunch and then a pudding for his tea. He's not very experimental, which is fair enough given he has only had milk for all his life so far, but enjoys his lunch of butternut squash and sweet potato and his tea of strawberry and apple pudding.
He sits in a Bumbo seat and wears a bib, now a sleeved one (I soon realised sleeves, and possibly legs, were needed) It's all very messy, as he enjoys feeding himself (or trying to). Here he is making a lunge for the spoon.

and he got it! He likes to chomp on the spoon so most times we end up with a spoon each. We tried bluberries, which he quite liked, but not the skins. No they came right back out!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2011-03-14T20:28:00.000Z

Last month it was Mr B's birthday, his first as a daddy. So I planned an extra special birthday present for him from Joel and I.
A year or so ago we saw a fantastic textile artists work at a contemporary art fair in Manchester. Debbie Smythe draws with pins and thread, her creations are amazing and unlike anything we had seen before. As Mr B is a hard one to buy for I thought a piece of Debbies work would be the perfect special present for him. Through our communications about the piece she was going to create for us I found that Debbie has the same birthday as Mr B, now that's fate saying we must have a piece of her work.

Joel and I wrapped the presents in OS maps which I bought from Oxfam, we'd searched all over town for a nice design but on a roll of wrapping (as the parcels were large) but these old maps were perfect for the job and a bargain to boot! I cut the illustrations off the covers to use as tags too.

I got Joel up early so he could see his daddy open up his cards and presents before he had to go to work. Here he is, still in his pyjamas and sleeping bag, with the triptych Debbie made for Mr B.

We love the illustrative quality of her work, and the use of perspective. Here's some close ups.

Whilst I made breakfast Joel had a good look at his daddys cards. With his mouth that is.

And Joey made further use of the OS maps.

Even though Mr B had to go to work it was a lovely start to a day for us all.

Adventure Lane

2011-03-08T15:55:00.000Z

We live in the country, which is lovely, but doesn't afford you many pram friendly walks. People tend to drive a bit crazy down country lanes, and then have the cheek to pip their horn or shake their heads at me, a pedestrian walking with a pram at the side of the road. All they have to do is slow down but that doesn't seem to be on their agenda in life. Anyway my bad driver rant is over now as the back lane to town is closed off to vehicles (all be it temporarily) which has meant a new lease of life for Joel and I.

The last couple of weeks we have done a fair few miles along this lane and seen lots of exciting things like....

A field full of gee gees (horses) which Joel was fascinated by and kept laughing at them as I fed them grass.

I think it was the way their lips curled back to reveal their massive teeth that kept him amused. The supply of carefully selected juicy grasses made up for being the but of the joke for the horses.

We also saw a bit of the hedgerow which was keeping warm by wearing a mossy jumper. Looks a bit like a Koala reclining backwards don't you think? Or maybe a Sloth?

Really interesting lichen, the most amasing shade of blue/green. It was all spikey and looked like it should be underwater.

Part of our walk goes alongside an industrial estate and we saw the funniest thing hanging over a wall there!

The shiniest fungus, it looked like it was made from gemstones.

We love our wanders, long may the road ahead stay closed (open)

Seasonal Inspiration

2011-02-03T22:05:00.000Z

I've bought Joel a lovely piece of artwork. A set of four limited edition prints, Four Seasons, drawn by my friend Jill.
They are so nice and so Jill.

My favourite is the winter illustration because of the detail on the knitted gloves and cuffs.

Teeth for the toothless

2011-01-26T19:55:00.000Z

Well what a weekend of firsts! Mr B and I took Joel on his first ever swim on Saturday morning. It was a lovely day so the pool was really quiet, perfect for a baby's first swim experience.

When we first got in he made some crying noises but not anything major and gradually he started to enjoy it more and more. We took turns holding him, bobbing along the length of the pool and he was kicking his legs around. Afterwards he even went in the shower with me, which he liked. So all in all it was a great time and he went straight to sleep as soon as he was back in his car seat, all the excitement had tired him out. The pictures are a bit blurred but you can still tell I'm proud as punch.

That night was pretty horrible with lots and lots of tears and crying. In the morning there on his bottom gum was the culprit, his very first tooth! The one next to it doesn't look far behind either so I'm sure we are in for lots more sleepless nights. Poor little man!!

We knew it would be breaking through as there had been a few days of frantic chomping on his teether, the wonderful Sophie Le Giraffe. Which really is the best teether EVER!

Oh and I had my first evening out since Joel was born. Just thought I'd squeeze that in :)

Curb your anxiety

2011-01-18T14:33:00.001Z

It's true that sometimes you just have to jump in. Since Joel was little we have been co-sleeping with him. This happened quite by accident due to the fact that up until 6 weeks he was constantly screaming with hunger as he had an undiagnosed tongue tie which prevented him from sucking properly during his feeds. The only way we could get him to sleep was on Mr B's chest with the duvet pulled up over him.

The sleeping arrangements were really getting me down as Joel now required an earlier bedtime which meant I was having to go to bed with him at 6pm and Mr B and I were getting no quality time together and no quality sleep. I had started reading a book on no cry sleep solutions as the thought of him crying and crying terrified me and brought back vivid memories of those panic striken first few weeks. I didn't want to go back to that place. However the books introduction contained a graphic account of what is going through a babies mind when 'crying it out' which left me shaken and crying when I read it. At that point I decided to follow my GPs advice (and that of Mr B) to not read anymore books!

Someone recently described new experiences as being built up in your mind to stepping off a cliff when really you are just stepping off a curb, this saying could not be more true. Two weeks ago I made the bold decision to put him not only into his cot to sleep but in his own room. Joel settled into his new sleep routine almost straight away. The first night he did cry a bit, but we took turns going and sitting with him so it didn't make the crying seem as painful an experience for all of us. We had his lantern on and the radio on low and sat close by reading him stories in low tones until he drifted off to sleep.

Now he settles down under his covers and usually only wakes a couple of times for feeds, which he will gradually drop. This new found sleep independence has improved our lives and our relationships as a family immeasurably. I've learnt to trust advice given by those close to me and not to picture a cliff but instead a curb.

Walkies!

2011-01-11T11:56:00.001Z

The funniest thing happened on New Years Day. Michael was visiting us so we had all gone on a walk up the lane together with the pram and Myrtle when Joey decided to follow us! It's quite a long way and he meowed the whole time and ducked into a hedge while we ran Myrtle in the field. You could tell he was outside of his comfort zone but all the same he didn't want to miss out on the walk.
Well on Monday I went for a walk up the lane with Joel and Joey followed, here he is trotting ahead of the pram stopping to look where I was every now and then. Here is a photo of my view.

It was about 4pm so as I had left it a bit late it was going dark on the way back. About a third of the way home a van came along the lane, I got into the side of the lane with the pram and encouraged Joey to do the same. However in his wisdom he decided instead to try and outrun the van down the middle of the lane which meant the van had to crawl along behind him. This went on for some time and i could see his little tailless wombat bum in the van headlights running all the way up the hill and out of site. I couldn't help but laugh, imagine how funny a view it must have been for the van driver!
As I walked up the hill Joey popped out of the hedge, clearly he'd realised he only had the edge on the van on the uphill run and decided not to tackle the downhill. He's so funny, he came trotting out of the hedge meowing loudly and then led the way home.
It was obvious that I now accompanied him on his walks not he on mine.

Festivities

2010-12-27T20:59:00.000Z

We left everything really late this year and so the Wednesday before christmas I was rushing round like a maniac trying to track down a Christmas Tree. All the usual places were sold out but then I managed to find some at a petrol station. There was the choice of really short or really tall ones.........so I plumped for a really tall one, and I mean a REALLY tall one!

It barely fitted inside the car, poor Joel must have wondered what the heck was going on.

We had to chop a big bit off the top and finally got round to dressing it the night before Christmas Eve. We bought Joel some decoration as we thought it'd be nice each year if there was a box of decorations that were his which we can add to.

Christmas Eve the neighbours delivered some freshly baked scones and a home made card.

and the postman delivered us a stack of parcels from Jill wrapped in fantastic homemade paper.

On Christmas day Joel got a nice new hat, though it's a little on the large size!

And a really cool finger puppet version of The Hungry Caterpillar

Not to mention lots and lots of other nice things. I don't think Joel knew how special a day it was but we did.

Winter

2010-12-27T20:36:00.001Z

I'd set out with every intention of telling you all about Joels adventures and firsts. Time seems to slip by though and before I knew it it's over a month since I've blogged. So I'll bring you up to speed.

He can now roll onto his tummy and in his own funny way crawl. He uses his face as his arms aren't strong enough yet but he is so determined to be on the move he keeps going anyway and manages to travel across his play mat.

He had his first go in his door bouncer. Didn't do much bouncing but instead pirouetted round and round on his toes. It was so funny and lovely to watch.

Today he had his first try of his highchair. I had to put a cushion under him as he is still quite small for it. I gave him some baby rice and he played with some toys with Myrtle sat by his side. No doubt the position she will assume from now on.

And every time he goes out he wears this fleecy pram suit which I customised with a nice bright orange J. I thought I'd have loads of time for crafts whilst at home with a baby but there's no time for anything much!

Men in tights

2010-12-27T20:13:00.000Z

I had no idea that a practical fashion solution for chilly legs, wooly tights, would cause such a stir. I've received praise ('Good for you' or 'I wish I'd done that when he was little') and ponderings ('Tights?') in equal measures from other mums on this. For some reason over the last 20 years this seems to have become something exclusive to girl babies. Why is that? After all they are babies, not little boys or little girls.....yet.

There used to be a far more unisex approach to baby clothes, so when did we get so uptight about gender?? Babies used to wear long nighties, with matinee jackets over the top (like this one above) and were only dressed up for visitors, imagine how practical that would have been, no need to undo and do up poppers on grows five or six times a day. Here's a contemporary version of this combo.

When they went out baby tights were common use for boys and girls, perfect for warm wriggly legs of all sizes. Yet in my quest for tights I found any multipack of super bright colours was plighted by a pink pair, or a pair with daisies on them.Clearly these products are not stocked with boy babies in mind.

Anyway I have managed to get my mitts on some plain brights and some stripey brights so thought I'd share some of the fashion combos Joel and I have put together, they made us smile and hope they make you smile too. We don't go for all the miniature adult outfits that are in the shops. You can have so much fun with babies, so why should their fashion be so serious?

Great Expectations

2010-10-12T13:09:00.001+01:00

On Sunday we went to visit my Grandma Amy, Joels Great Grandma. She was thrilled to see us and as she gave Joel his first great cuddle she said 'Hello Joel I'm your Great Grandma' and as usual Joel looked like he knew exactly what was being said, carefully studying her face lined with 95years worth of wrinkles.

We ate cake and chatted about her garden, her helpers, her memories of the blitz when she was living in Luton and her recent day out as the local Girl Guides guest of honor at there centenary party.
Amy is the oldest living Girl Guide in the village and she spoke to the guides about her years as a Guide in particular her attendance at an International Guiding event when she was 15, back in 1930, where she met some Guides from New Zealand! She aslo told us about the time she looked after a small group of scouts when there was temporarily no leader for their group. She arranged a local barn for their meetings and set up a mock camp fire in the middle of it using torches under red cellophane paper and sticks. They begged her to tell them scary ghost stories at the end of each meeting, so she did but one night they got so scared they wouldn't walk home alone, there would have been no street lights in the village then, so she had to walk them all round their houses. How funny.
The local paper featured an article on the event and published Amys picture. She has also written a piece for an article a local journalist is writing about the Girl Guides.

I wonder what it's like to be able to reflect back so clearly on 95years of life, with such alot of very happy memories to share. I'm glad that Joel and her have met and in some small way shared their wisdom on life.

Baby it's cold outside.

2010-10-12T12:34:00.001+01:00

Well actually it's warm and sunny at the moment, in fact you'd be hard pushed to believe it's October! Despite the warm days the temperature surely falls at night, when there is a real bite in the air and an exciting whiff of Haloween, Bonfire Night and beyond.

Joel has a quite a collection of fantastic blankets to keep the chill off.

Here he is pictured on his special one by Sharon, which I've already featured along with the lovely patchwork by Jill.

These thinner ones are what we have used during summer, they were both mine when I was a baby, the one on the left is what I was brought home from hospital in on the day of our streets 1977 Queens Jubilee party, infact the taxi could only get my mum so far and then she had to walk the rest, imagine that, little teeny me amidst all those rows of tables of waving union jacks and bowls of jelly.

This fantastic white one was made by my Aunty Judy, look at the amazing detail. I love the ribbon.

This is another one that was mine as a baby, a kitten eiderdown with a distinctly vintage look about it. This goes on top of a blanket to weight it down when it's really cold.

This check blanket it mainly used in his pram as it's fairly small. It too was mine as a baby, I love the satin edging, to stop any tickling of sensitive skin, and the lovely old label.

We thought a good way to put Joel down once he is asleep is to warm his cot with a hot water bottle so the cold contrast to a warm cuddle doesn't wake him. I found this lovely one in town. How sweet!

All in all he should be snug as a little bald, blue eyed bug as the weather gets colder.

Progress

2010-10-05T14:28:00.000+01:00

Ever felt like you are going nowhere fast? That's how I feel quite often of late.
I've been really concerned about my breastfeeding, convinced that my milk supply was dwindling, having nightmares about it infact. We'd had to supplement Joels feeds with formula from five weeks and whilst that helped him gain weight and conform with health visitors growth charts (which it turns out aren't based solely on breastfed babies) it has over the last few weeks meant a diminished supply of breastmilk.

We've been going to a local breastfeeding support group which has really helped us, boosted my confidence with feeding in public, introduced us to other mums and babies but most of all got some really great advice with regards to breastfeeding.

Last week one of the midwife assistants was there from Helme Chase (the midwife led unit where Joel was born), she was great to chat to, I just wanted to take her home with me. All the midwives and assistants were so supportive with the feeding as they can see the long term benefits to mum, baby and in turn the NHS.

Anyway just when I thought Joel and I were getting into the swing of things he's got a cold and decided he won't take a bottle at all! What a stressful situation, a baby that won't feed. Reading on forums over the weekend it seems we aren't the only parents to experience this in a ten week old. I don't know if it's because of his cold or something else. All we can do is keep trying and trying.

So it was nice on Saturday when Mr B took Joel to visit Grandma and Grandad B. That day I found smiles in the unlikeliest of places, in the sunflowers watching me through the nursery window while I expressed milk. Quite a lonely thing to do with Joel away from me.

Walking Myrtle, something I never get to do these days, in the woods and seeing the river in full force. Wow! She didn't dare go in.

In the yellow pepper I chopped for our tea, a proper little smiley face! It was nice to have time to prepare a meal for us. I used to love cooking our tea.

All it had taken to feel positive again was a little space to breath and remember who I was again.

Aside from the feeding Joel is making fantsatic progress, he is a very alert (that means awake all the time) and inquisitive baby who smiles regularly. Here he is smiling in his special cardigan.

He now says 'goo goo' 'boo' and 'poo', he makes an effort to hold your finger (before it just happened by accident), he can perform 'the worm', a breakdance move which involves wriggling in an upward direction on his back and enjoys playing with his cot activity centre, smiling at the kitchen lights and snuggling up at bedtime with his mum and dad.
We have quite by accident ended up with a family bed but it's actually really nice so we are in no hurry to change the sleeping arangements. There's something very nice about all being together.

On sunday afternoon Joel took his nap with his dad. Look at how his little finger is sticking out, it's like that all the time.

Park Life

2010-10-04T17:25:00.002+01:00

You can tell winter is on it's way when shadows are long in the afternoon, so I'm glad we ventured out with Joel to visit Michael in my hometown of Blackpool whilst we still have some fairly warm days. I don't really get out during the week so it's nice to do stuff as a family at the weekend.
We went for a good old wander around Stanley Park, possibly the best park I've ever been in. It made me realise what a treasure it is, a hidden one too as most people who visit Blackpool probably don't venture there, so it's really more for the residents.
There is allsorts to do putting, crazy golf, boating, slides and swings and trampolenes (which we were shocked at now costing £1 for 5 minutes!) It always makes me think of my childhood when I go there, I spent many an afternoon playing there, not wanting play time to end.
I always used to make extra effort to get a go on the crazy golf, mainly as it took a long time thus extending my 'park time' but also because it was a bit like miniatures. Oh I forgot to mention there is a separate model village there too, but that costs quite a bit so we didn't go in.

Each course has a lovely stencilled number next to it, you can see how different colours have been tried out over the years.

So some of the crazy courses resemble miniature landscapes.

Whilst some are more abstract! Not sure what this one is??

My favourite are still the miniatures. As a child I strode over them like a giant, for one afternoon a week I felt big.

I always tried to hit the toadstools, I don't think that was the idea but it took up more time and made this one a bit like a pinball machine too

This one was always solid

They have always been painted in the same five colours, each Spring it will be someones job to spruce the courses up and re stencil the numbers. I imagine them on the phone ordering ''toadstool red'' or ''castle yellow''.
I remembered how the highlight of the game wouldn't be winning but just spending as much time as possible with my dad with the added bonus of a squirrel lolloping across the course with an acorn in it's mouth, blissfully unaware of how big canons really are.

....foraging

2010-09-27T11:14:00.000+01:00

Before the changable weather set in we had a nature walk down the lanes with my mum. Joel saw hazlenuts which weren't ready to pick yet. They were slightly pink in colour and growing quite low down, I would have never really thought they were hazlenuts if mum hadn't said so.

We also filled a tupaware tub with blackberries, slightly earlier than last years picking session. They were sweet and juicy and warm from the autumn sun so I ate quite alot whilst picking as that's when they taste best.

Joel is so lucky to be growing up here.

Mr Magoo

2010-09-15T10:44:00.000+01:00

Last week I went for a wander around the small town near to where my mum lives. It's what you might describe as a 'one horse town', somewhat stuck in the past with limited shops which all close early (much to my frustration as I missed all four of it's well stocked charity shops!) I spotted this fantastic old sigh hanging outside the opticians, I thought it was so cool and retro I just had to share it with you.

It's a bit like 'if your eyesight is so bad you can't read the sign which says opticians then here is a massive pair of glasses so you can still find us'. It made me smile during what had been quite a low week for me, just the usual struggles and uncertainties of motherhood.

...post

2010-09-15T10:32:00.000+01:00

I've always treasured my first piece of post, mail to my American readers, well my mum did and then passed it on to me some years back. It's a postcard from my Granny Eileen and Grandad John (on my dads side), both of which have passed away (infact I can't even remember my Grandad John), from their holiday to the New Forest when I was just four months old (postmark September 1977)

It was with this in mind that made me so happy when Joel recieved his first piece of post from our good friend Michael.

It's a lovely thing for him to have to read when he is older, thanks Uncle Michael.

...lucky leaf

2010-09-15T10:20:00.000+01:00

I'm not getting on here regularly enough to post as things happen but I am jotting all my ideas down and storing my photos for those stolen moments when Joel is asleep. We haven't developed much of a routine yet, well what can you expect from a seven week old? So life at Oakbank still very much revolves around him.

A couple of weeks ago Millie and I got out on a stroll up the hill with him, we hadn't gone more than a few feet when Joel got his first bit of luck, a lucky leaf!

If you aren't familiar with this it's when a leaf falls from a tree and lands on you, perhaps it's seen as a rarity and that's why it's so good. It's certainly better than being struck by a bird poo, which strangely enough is also considered lucky! This is probaby something thought up to console the poo victim. Anyhow, this was a reminder of how autumn is well and truely with us now. Joels first autumn.

...cuddles with Miss Wiggles

2010-08-31T14:04:00.000+01:00

Our good friend Jill visited this weekend, it was the first time she had met Joel and we had so much to catch up on; labour, breastfeeding and what it's like to have your life turned upside down by a tiny weeny boy.

Jill brought Joel some lovely gifts. They were colour co-ordinated in the same colours as the nursery and the baby shower. Jill gave him- A lovely story book from the 1940's, Jill said she thought that the author must have been American as her photograph was so glamerous with her hair all set and her makeup done (then we laughed as we both said 'because english women didn't even know where there next meal was coming from let alone the next pair of tights)
A brilliantly funny pair of knitted boot/socks which as you can see by the photograph look like they are for a five year old in the foot but a six month old in the leg. Jills mum made a beautiful cardigan (Jill picked the colours).

The best present of all was this lovely patchwork quilt which Jill had made from an online pattern. It's in all the colours we have used in the nursery and looked spendid on Joels bright orange cot. What a lucky boy he is to have such nice things.

We went for afternoon tea in town and saw this very summery window display in one of my favourite shops, Woodbridge and Mounsey. They have a dusty dim lit back room stacked high with fabric and wallpaper books, it would probably take you months to look through them all. The window was of the new Sanderson range of wallpapers and had been displayed as though they were swim suits. We were impressed and I'm sure Joel would have been if he'd been awake.

...party

2010-08-25T18:04:00.000+01:00

Last weekend we went to our friend Neils birthday party. He organised a field for everyone to celebrate his 40th birthday in. It was a lovely, relaxed event. Sitting amidst the fantastic Longsleddale valley round the bonfire with Mr B and Joel made a great change to being at home.

Here's Neil thanking everyone for coming to his party. Some of his friends sang and played guitar and his cake was of him cycling, he is a very keen cyclist. The bonfire was super toasty.

We stayed until quite late, despite both being very tired, as it was such a lovely evening.

...nursery

2010-08-25T17:46:00.000+01:00

You may remember I just managed to get Joels nursery curtains finished before he was born, the final bit of work which needed doing to his nursery, which I promised to tell you about but the day I was going to blog about it we had Joel.
We decided on a colour scheme which was fun, unisex and imaginative. A room which could grow with Joel. Using a retro scandinavian style print on two of the walls and then two different shades of green paint on the other two walls. You can see the wallpaper in these pictures of some of his toys. We don't want him to have loads of toys, rather that there were fewer better quality toys that he will play with for longer.

Here are some of his books, some of which were my books when I was small. It's so lovely that he will hear the same stories I did as a child. I wonder which will be his favourites?

The cot turned out not only to be mine when I was small but my mums, my aunties and my cousins! How amazing is that. We painted it bright orange to contrast and compliment the greens. I strung up some of the paper bunting from our baby shower as a sort of welcome to your bedroom gesture for Joels arrival at Oakbank.

I managed to track down one of those brilliant Fisher Price cot activity centres for him, he likes me spinning and squeeking the games on it for him whilst he watches me in the mirror. Soon he'll be able to do the games for himself.

Mr B's mum and dad bought us a nursing chair which rocks, along with its foot stool, which is so comfy. Oh and here are the curtains too.

On the window sill is Joels apple money box, his swiss chalet music box which plays Brahms lullaby and a little mat from Austria.

The view from his room is of the gardens and shed roofs of Oakbank. He can see Florences beans growing, Dick and Sharons washing line and our garden path which sometimes has Joey sat on it watching the wall for voles popping out!

What a lovely room for our little boy, we're sure he'll be very happy playing, sleeping and dreaming in here.

...boat trip.

2010-08-25T15:56:00.000+01:00

This weekend our good friend Michael came to stay. We took a steamer trip across lake Windermere from Bowness to Ambleside on the Sunday.

It was Joels first boat trip and of course, like all other trips away from Oakbank, he slept through the whole thing, even when a great big spider crawled across his blanket!
The weather was great, if a little nippy on the water, so he was all wrapped up in his little hooded cardi. Alot of his clothes are still too big for him and you can just see in this picture how his hands are covered by the long knitted sleeves.
The views were great and we got to see the backs of all the really posh house which you can see set back from the main road. They had lawned gardens which came down to the side of the lake and some had boat houses and jetties.
We spotted this really cool little boat with red sails. It looked like something from Swallows and Amazons, which is set in the Lakes.

The next day it was Michaels birthday, we bought him some walking boots for when he visits us (and if we get another snowy winter!) which will mean he doesn't have to borrow my leaky old ones. I used this great wrapping paper by Alice Stevenson, isn't it lovely! I really like her choice of colours, they remind me of the colours on a typewriter ribbon or carbon paper. I used to love carbon paper when I was a child, I thought it was magic. Maybe Joel will too.

Joels first....

2010-08-25T15:48:00.003+01:00

Joel has been going on little walks round Oakbank every day that he can, sometimes the weather has been too bad for even a short stroll (hard to believe in August!). Here he is all ready for an adventure.

There's always something interesting to see but as the little man is usually sleeping he is missing out on all these wonderful things. I've been telling him what's what just incase he is half listening but I decided I'd post about these things and Joels other first experiences for him to read about when he is older. These will be under the label tag of 'Joels first...' so you can read more about Joels first experiences and encounters as posts with those tags are written by clicking on the label.

...nature walks

2010-08-25T15:48:00.001+01:00

A couple of weeks ago (I've been sitting on these posts for some time due to the demands of motherhood) Joel saw his first caterpillar, infact he saw two in as many days! The first we think was quite possibly a Hawk Moth caterpillar, it was huge!! I made sure my finger was in the picture for scale reference.

He was making his way across the lane. Mum moved him onto a nearby plant but then on the way back he'd decided to embark on the dangerous journey once again. There must have been something really good on the other side of the lane so we decided to leave him to it.

Then the next day we saw this furry fella, again in the middle of the lane. Maybe it was some kind of annual get together or migration from one hedgerow to another?

Talking of migration imagine our surprise when we pulled back the bedroom curtains last week to see all the House Martins gathered together on the telephone wires just right next to us. It was great to see them up close and they were't one bit bothered by having their picture taken.

Whilst out on a walk with Millie we spotted all these Red Admiral butterflys on a brightly coloured bush of blooms in our neighbours garden. The whole thing was covered with them and most shared a bloom with a bee or three. What a lovely sight!

Joel is only one month old and yet he already has so many amazing things to see and do all around him.

Will you?

2010-08-11T20:30:00.000+01:00

As if my week couldn't have got any better, it did. Just two days after Joels birth Mr B proposed to me. He bought Joel a cute little french mouse in a box and put the most beautiful diamond ring in it's apron pocket.

Then in true romantic fashion he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was so overwhelmed with emotion, and tiredness, I just cried and said thankyou, totally forgetting to say yes!!! Anyway I did say yes, obviously. Happy happy!

How very neighbourly.

2010-08-11T17:28:00.000+01:00

Whilst we were in hospital, and on our return home, our neighbours have been really kind and dropped in gifts and food to help us out at this very hectic time.

Sue and Stephan from Sprint Mill brought us a loaf of artisan bread (Stephan is a baker) and have also been walking Myrtle most days for us.

An anonamous allotment grower left some new potatoes on our doorstep whilst we were still in hospital.

Mary who lives down the lane brought Joel a lovely comforter with all different bits of ribbon stitched on the edges for him to rub for comfort.

Florence gave us some meadow flowers and this rather amusingly shaped courgette from her garden.

It's a great feeling being part of a really caring small community, exactly the reason we decided not to move into town and want to raise our family here at number 5.

Look what the stork brought us.

2010-08-11T16:54:00.000+01:00

It's taken me this long to get time to tell you all about the new arrival in our family. Joel Eaves-Butterworth was born on the 27th July at 7.49pm after ten hours labour and weighed 8lbs 4oz, there were no complications so he was born in our local hospitals midwife led maternity unit, a lovely relaxed place which promotes natural methods of pain relief rather than the use of drugs and epidurals (obviously this is only suited to uncomplicated births). He is the spitting image of Mr B, everyone says so. I am completely in love with him, we both are.

I spent four nights in hospital, the first night Mr B stayed with us in the units 'home from home' room which is decorated like a normal bedrom but with a sofa, TV and a nice big bath to put us all at ease after the labour and allow us all to spend our first night together as a family. We got well aquainted during the next few days and got to grips with breastfeeding under the guidance of the midwives.

Breastfeeding has been such a massive learning curve for us all, what little I read on it before Joels birth made it sound like the easiest thing in the world but it really isn't, well it hasn't been for us anyway. At first Joel didn't feed much so he got quite jaundiced and lost a bit more weight than expected by the time of his midwife check up at home, this was then compounded by me not getting him latched on properly for his feeds during his 10 day growth spurt. Anyway things seem to be sorted now and he's gained 1lb.

So aside from us getting very little sleep all is good and full of love at number 5.

Ta very much Margaret

2010-07-24T17:18:00.000+01:00

I'm a day over our due date today, trying not to think about it too much. Babies come out when they are ready and we wouldn't want that any other way really. So I'd best catch you up on this weeks activities, which contrary to everyones advice hasn't been sitting and doing nowt.

I've been making some bright orange curtains for the nursery. We found it impossible to find some fabric which was a strong enough shade without being too terracotta or sienna. In the end we managed to find a large bedspread in the Habitat sale which was self patterned with a check effect and was just the perfect shade for what we needed.
On Wednesday I finally got around to starting on the curtains, I'd been slightly putting it off as it was a bit of a mammoth job as they are full length and the fabric is pretty thick. The kitchen table became my workshop for the next two days (don't you just love kitchen tables for that).
Joey was on hand to help by making a nest in the fabric as I tried to feed it through my machine, as you can see there's not much wrong with him now these days.

Only trouble was half way through I ran out of orange thread. Now this wouldn't have normally been a problem on any other sewing project, as despite living int' country and not having the car that day I could have just waited untl the next day to buy some but given that I am in the grasps of a nesting process the curtains simply 'had' to be finished that day.
Then I remembered Margarets tin of bobbins, could there possibly be a similar shade in there which I could use? It was worth a look, despite the cotton being about the brightest orange available to man (not exactly a shade conjucive to Margarets wardrobe)
So I managed to locate the tin amongst my hoards of fabrics and haberdashery. I couldn't believe my luck, there it was the exact shade and brand I'd been stitching with, Sylko- Flame!

Sold to Margaret, then sat in a tin to eventually make my day some thirty years later. The curtains are now finished (yet to be hung) and I can't thank Margaret enough for her help.

Building nests in drawers.

2010-07-18T16:13:00.000+01:00

As I've been getting tired quite early my stints at our Wednesday night crafting gathering, Knit Natter Stitch and Chatter, have been a little irregular of late. This week I managed to make it and worked on a small sewing project of adding vintage motifs to some newly washed baby grows

I'm really pleased with the results, simple yet distinctive with a hint of nostalgia. Best of all is I can re-use the motifs when the grows have been outgrown. I just need to keep my eyes peeled for some more nice motifs.

Having washed all the clothes I felt that putting them in the new chest of drawers might make them smell a bit of old wood, losing their line dried lovelyness. I considered getting some drawer liners but was certain they are fragranced with nasty chemicals which whilst our skin can handle such exposure wrinkly new new skin wouldn't. So instead I bought a wallpaper batchend from Laura Ashley and some loose lavender. Mum helped with this last bit of nesting by cutting the paper to size and lined the drawers whilst I sat at the sewing machine and ran up some lavender bags in various sizes. Lavender has a lovely soothing quality in aromatherapy so aswell as making baby clothes and bedding smell lovely it will have a relaxing and calming effect.

Here's the clothes all neatly folded and socks paired, ready to have our baby in them. I doubt these drawers will look quite so neat and tidy once the baby arrives.

There's only five days to go until our due date and I feel so ready to be a mum, not just because of all these jobs getting done but the mental preperation that's been taking place whilst completing them. I can see how nesting is a very valid process and not just a bizarre impulse. It's important to trust your insticts and if something needs doing then do it, no matter how trivial it may seem, because chances are it's that time to think and reflect which is what's called for rather than the actual task itself.

Crocheted kindness

2010-07-18T15:32:00.000+01:00

These are pictures of the beautiful crochet baby blanket our friend Sharon has made for our wee one's arrival. It's folded in quarters in the left hand one so is ample big enough for wrapping round baby or laying in the cot.
You may remember I chose the colours a while back when Sharon very kindly offered to put her skills to use for us. The results are amazing, I'm sure you'll agree she is a very talented crafter. Neat neat work done with such love and care, this is certainly the stuff of family heirlooms. We were very touched to receive such a special gift. Thank you Sharon.

Antique shopping in the GB aisles

2010-07-15T15:15:00.000+01:00

On Monday I went to this really cool antiques place in Lancaster called GB Antiques, you pay £1.50 to look round the most massive of junk/antique shops and it's divided up into loads of unmanned stalls. People sell their stuff through them, kind of like a huge agency. It's really good and is full of all sorts of strange stuff.

I had to remain pretty focused as I had furniture to find. Namely two chests of drawers; one for the nursery which needed to be suitable for changing on and one for our bedroom which needed to be made from dark wood. However I did stop to take pictures of some of their wares.

Like these strange ceramic creatures, I'm not sure which one is weirdest but I know collectively positioned at head height they made a terrifying sight.

There was a great old radio/record player. I love the way the dial has got specific regions on it each next to a dot, like they are the names of planets and this is some map of the radio solar system.

There was a brilliant stall of old kitchen stuff too, there was everything you need to deck out your whole kitchen in vintage. It was all very neatly organised.

This massive tapestry of Henry VIII will have taken someone a long time to complete. They must have been really into the tudors!

I was mulling over this great 1960's Make your Own Soft Toys book. I wish I'd bought it now, just for the comedy value of some of the toys. Check out the bandy legs on this unlikely pair!

This set of old mahogany office filing drawers made me imagine how nice it must have been being a secretary in the 1950's, filing papers away in such lovely furniture. Much nicer than the noisy metal ones which our dull office spaces are filled with these days.

Right at the back I found the chest for the nursery, in need of a little TLC but all in all a good solid purchase to last us through the years. It had the perfect 'Waltons meets Moomins' look about it. I also managed to find a nice chest for our bedroom too.

And so the nursery gets one step closer to completion!

Recycling and spin cycling.

2010-07-08T17:23:00.000+01:00

Since finishing work I've been such a busy bee, perhaps a bit too busy. So yesterday and today I've taken things a bit easier, nesting rather than dam building.

Mum had hung onto two double cotton duvet covers which had become so thin with washing that they where seperating at the seams, perfectly soft for baby bedding. In addition to these over the last few weeks Myrtle had been quite naughty and managed to rip up three bed sheets in a rage at being left on her own (one time for just 30 minutes) So yesterday mum and I set to transforming the stacks of white cotton into cot sheets and carry cot sheets. Mum measured and cut whilst I hemmed on the machine.

We managed to make six cot sheets (hemmed in purple) and five smaller carry cot sheets (hemmed in green). I thought it'd be useful to be able to look in the linen cupboard and see what fitted what by colour coding the stitching.

The scraps that are left over I plan to hem up (in bright pink) into cotton squares for feeding, burping etc. All mums say 'you can never have enough cotton squares!'. I haven't worked out how much money it's saved us but it's certainly saved some landfill.

I've also been busy getting all the baby clothes washed in non bio and line dried in anticipation of a tiny warm yummy smelling body going in them in just two weeks time. Aparently drying clothes in sunlight kills off bacteria, which is why they smell so good no doubt.

Just look at these socks, they are so small.

To think there's a pair of teeny tiny wrinkly little unused feet wriggling inside me right now which are going to wear those socks very soo.

Likes peas in a pod.

2010-07-06T16:21:00.001+01:00

I've made our baby it's first homemade toy. A pea pod from felt. It's really tactile and he/she will be able to poke his/her fingers inbetween each of the peas. Lovely.

I want to make sure he/she doesn't grow up with any weird vegetable phobias so I figured introducing vegetables and fruit in a fun way via toys/patterns/colours and stories will help them feel excited rather than aprehensive when presented with something new to eat after just having milk for the first few months of their life.
I made it at a monthly craft club some of us Knit Natterers went to called Wool & Stuff. They showed us how to make really neat tight felt balls from fleece which are really versatile. Next I want to make a carrot, so I'm stitching the carrot top, funny how that's the nickname for people with red hair but a carrot top is actually green.

I'm only 16 days off the due date, my maternity leave started last Thursday and I don't think I've really stopped since then. Everyone says 'rest up' and 'relax' but I'm so excited/scared/behind on craft and DIY projects I just can't sit and do nothing.
We are hoping to have the nursery finished this weekend, yes that's right it's not finished yet!! So I'll show you what we've done.

The last of Marge.

2010-07-04T15:52:00.000+01:00

My dad visited the other weekend to put a new radiator in the nursery, we're gradually replacing them throughout the house with nice contemporary versions of those big old fashioned ones which really belt out the heat.
Anyway he brought with him some final bits of sewing stuff from Margarets flat which were all in this lovely box. How posh.

A very good selection of tapestry wools.

These two beautiful rolls of trim. I think the wider one would look great on a bag or dress. I wonder what Margaret used them on?

That pretty much completes her sewing biography.Thanks again Margaret for sharing your collection x

Not even a shower

2010-07-04T15:40:00.000+01:00

So last Sunday despite being absolutely pooped from our fantastic party we bid an early morning farewell to Jill and Michael and headed off to Old Trafford to watch England V Australia in a One Day International in the midst of a heatwave, we couldn't have had better weather.
It was my first ever live sporting event and I'm so glad we managed to go before the baby is born, we had planned to see a football match last season as Mr B's home town Burnley had made it into the Premiership but as my morning sickness lasted until February that didn't ever happen.
I'll sumarise the game, which I am not familier with. Australia were first to bat and managed 212 runs by lunch time (they don't actually run back and forth that many times, they get different amounts depending on how far they hit it)

I think I missed almost every wicket (someone getting knocked out) due to things like crowd distractions, stretching my legs, looking at someones pie and taking a photo of Mr B (as shown below)

Anyway they replay them on a big screen so you can get the best of both worlds. Sometimes I clapped at the wrong time too. Although I was pleasantly struck by the fact that good play on the part of the oponant is acknowledged by the crowd. Mr B said the fans are alot less vitriolic than those at football matches.

England then took an excrutiating three and a bit hours in the hottest sun to beat them, managing it on their final batsman! It was nail bittingly close and I really loved every minute of it, though I did need to take an hours break from our seats due to the sun getting unbearably hot around 4pm. The whole place was upstanding and cheered for our boys. It was great!!

It's a shame that we didn't do as well in the football. Needless to say the pubs giant flag had been taken down within an hour of the game finishing.

Not just a shower.

2010-07-04T15:18:00.001+01:00

After what seems like a social calender blackout for some months now, I have to report that I had the most exciting, lovely and tiring time in a long while last weekend.
My very good friend Jill organised and threw us a baby shower to send us off into the world of parenthood with the full backing of those we love most. We were a little nervous about it as showers are a fairly new thing over here but I think well worth it, why should such a monumental event go unmarked for the parents to be. I had lots of people asking 'what happens?' 'what do we do?' but I left them all in Jills capable hands.
It was quite simply a brilliant event, as all Jills events are. She really is the 'hostess with the mostest' and so many of our guests commented to me what a fantastic time they'd had.

It was great to see such a mix of people, I'd sent Jill the guest list a few weeks back knowing quite a few people on it didn't know each other but took the view 'well it's about time they did' and what better way to get to know each other than at a party! So often people tailor guests lists to the imagination of what it'll be like rather than chucking everyone in the mix and thinking 'if they are all friends of ours then they will all get on'.

The decorations were all in citrus colours which is funny because that ties in with our nursery. Jill and her helpers made tissue pom poms and bunting to adorn the new kitchen creating the perfect 'ohh ahh' effect.

The spread (Lancashire saying for food) was beyond belief and featured the very best of savoury and sweet. Mr B was pleased to see a 'proper' salad.

Louies Grandmas 'Cut it and Come Again' cake and her Raspberry Fluff cakes went down a treat on the pudding table.

We played 'Guess the Baby' and I won a packet of hankercheifs.

We also played Bingo, I got House and won a plastic duck and two small zoo animals. Jill sent everyone home with a jar of special tea from London to say thank you for coming, what a lovely thought.

All in all it was splendid day and it was so nice to see everyone before our lives change forever. Everyone had contributed some advice/anecdotes/quotes to a book for Mr B and I. They were all really good and made us smile. I'll leave you with our very good friend Michaels contribution.

Coming home?

2010-06-22T23:09:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow is an important day for the England team, after a pretty poor performance they've reached crunch point and if they lose tomorrows match they are heading home. It's sad because the whole nation is behind them, however this massive flag makes me smile every time I pass it.

It's so excessive I can't help but wonder if they messed up on the order form for it or they actually did want a flag the same size as the pub?

How very thoughtful

2010-06-22T22:58:00.000+01:00

Today I received our first homemade baby gift. Wrapped in pretty pink tissue and left in my pigeon hole at work was this beautifully knitted cable cardi and matching hat in the softest cream coloured cotton. Made by my friend and work colleague Joan. Isn't it lovely!

I was thrilled when I opened it up and still can't get over how thoughtful and kind it is of someone to dedicate time to making clothes for our little bean bump.
Most of my friends make things and so it is something I have been quite excited about, getting to see what they have made and having something to treasure and pass down the generations.

Moggy mending update #2- Now there's a tail to remember.

2010-06-10T15:11:00.000+01:00

I am very happy to say that Joey is making a full recovery :)

All last week he was managing to do propper sized wee's on his own so on Tuesday this week the vets decided he was healed enough to have his tail off. To be honest it had been bugging him for a while now as it was totally lifeless and had no nerve attachment, infact I was often having to hold it up while he had a wee, the things you do for those you love!

He looks very strange indeed without it and has a large shaved area on his rear, like a crew cut. You can really see how thick his tabby fur is when ther'es a whole section missing. So I'll post a picture of the new tail when some fur has grown over as I think he already feels quite degraded by his appearance and wishes to maintain his usual dashing public persona.

He is such a strong little fella and showing him so much love and care has helped him to pull through a very traumatic experience. Even the vets commented on how our dedication to getting him well again has been of huge benefit.

Moggy mending update #1

2010-06-01T14:44:00.000+01:00

Just to let you know how Joey is getting on....
It's two weeks since his accident and he is clearly still shaken by the experience. Last night we decided to try him sitting on the sofa, it was fine until a car went past and he lept of the sofa and hid under the sideboard, when we eventually coaxed him out his heart was racing and he wouldn't take his eyes off the window in case another went by. I think he's learnt the hardest way possible that cars=ouch!
On the plus side he is a lot brighter in himself, too bright some might say and is proving to be quite a difficult patient wanting out from his crate and also chucking all his bedding and pots about in protest when he has to stay in!
He's been eating and drinking just fine and managing some yoghurt to help his bones repair.

He only needs to go to the vets once a day now (each evening) as he has regained minimal use of his bladder/bowel muscles which is a step in the right direction, and doesn't need the strong painkilling injection he was on.
So this week I'm working in my office in the mornings and then from home in the afternoons as it's still too soon to leave him all day but it breaks the day up for us both.

On our travels..

2010-05-30T11:38:00.000+01:00

I don't usually post this many times a day but as I said before there were quite a few things I'd been waiting to write about which got put on hold due to Joeys accident so whilst he is asleep and Mr B is poorly in bed (unfortunately he's caught my cold) I thought it the perfect time to catch up on my writing.

Before the accident we had a nice day in Carlisle. I was very impressed by their raised beds in the city centre. A sea of forget me nots, a very understated pretty flower. One which I remember making miniature bouquets out of as a child.

Two weekends ago we were in Glasgow. We had a lovely time on our last getaway before becoming parents. Highlights were; watching Flight of the Conchords in concert, wandering the streets, having lay ins (as there was no pets to wake us up at dawn), riding the subway to visit the Kelvingrove museum which was in the most amazing gothic building, complete with full size organ on the balcony of which there was a recital at 1pm filling the corridors with eerie Hammer Horror style sounds.
My favourite section of the museum was Natural History. In particular the display of birds in the main hall and the antlered heads.

Glasgow was brilliant and somewhere we would definately go again. The people were so friendly, even on the train up Glaswegians were chipping in with bits of info about where to visit etc. What a nice time we had.

Positive picnic

2010-05-30T11:11:00.000+01:00

Last week amidst all the worry and upset from Joeys accident mum and I took the time to wander across the meadow down to the woods and take stock of all the positive things around us. It's a wonderful time of year with nature really coming alive. The woods are full of primroses, bluebells, wild garlic and ferns uncurled after what seems like the longest and coldest winter.

We took a picnic with us and sat on this bench while Myrtle legged it back and forth bringing us sticks, a beautiful spot to stop at though the bench was a bit rickety. It was really nice to get out the house and have the sun shining through the trees onto our faces.

Here's Myrtle posing head cocked next to a mass of bluebells. She has been very worried about Joey too, despite all their differences she does love him lots, so it was nice for all of us to get a breather from what's happening. Whilst eating cake outdoors!

Mellow Yellow.

2010-05-30T10:52:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to show you these amazing yellow moths I discovered by the front door. I've never seen anything like them before. They were having a lazy afternoon snooze under some wood and had really weird faces!

My last birthday before I am a mummy.

2010-05-30T10:26:00.000+01:00

It was my 33rd birthday on Thursday.
I didn't really feel much like having a birthday at the moment what with Joey being so poorly and me feeling so tired from the pregnancy, having a really bad cold and insomnia (lately emphasised by Joey creating and calling throughout the night).

Thing is you don't really have a choice if you want a birthday or not, they just happen and you can celebrate them or let others do all the celebrating for you. I chose the latter, though I have every intention of throwing some kind of belated birthday/imminent baby arrival bash in a few weeks once the house is sorted and Joey is well again. Can't wait! I love summer parties.

The night before my birthday was Knit, Natter, Stitch and Chatter night and Julie had very kindly made us all some chocolate crispie cakes, which were great. They had sultanas, cranberries, marshmellows and digestives mixed in with them. Amazing food cupboard clear out recipe or what! Mine was a special one as you can see by the picture. They even sang me Happy Birthday.

I got lots of lovely cards and presents from Mr B and all my friends and family which amongst other things included tea towels from four different friends, how well they know me. I love kitchen stuff and you can't beat a fancy tea towel. Why settle for anything less hanging in your kitchen?

So here's the selection (from left to right) MD got me Rayburn tea towels (we now have an aqua colour Rayburn as part of our new kitchen. Don't worry I'll show you some pics when the room's all done and dusted) Jill sent me (amongst many lovely things) this Tunnocks teacake one. We love Tunnocks, milk or dark their foily retroness make a party a party. If you've never had one you must try, as far as I can think back their packaging has never changed (just part of their appeal). Little Miss Ingham got me the stripey Joules for Aga one, very fetching and Joy bought me a pair of Cath Kidston. One of which is the same pattern as a mug I own, will I lose it when drying up?

Wendy House

2010-05-29T16:25:00.000+01:00

At the moment we are having lots of work done on the house which means we are without a proper kitchen. So we have set up what we call the wendy house kitchen in the garage.
Our big oak dining table has the two ring camping stove on it (with grill) and is also our prep space. We have got the fridge freezer (full of a whole batch of chili I cooked up befre the kitchen was ripped out) in there along with a microwave/mini oven which we have recently discovered has a pizza button. Result!

There's an old cupboard we have used as our larder and crockery store.

Here are some eggy weggs a la wendy frying up for butties on the camping stove.

'His and Hers' sauces, do you know which is which? It's an unofficial rule that fruity is the girls version of brown sauce (sorry if that causes any offence to male readers)

So all in all it's not a bad set up, the only drag is that there's no tap in there but we've managed ok so far. The weather has been really nice of late so we've mainly been having 'summer teas' consisting of jersey royal potatoes, salad and something. Easy to prepare.
Mr B reckons that salad aint sald unless it has some hard boiled egg included, it made us laugh that this was such a hard fast rule, bred into him from childhood no doubt. We decided this must be a Lancashire thing (our home county) as it's not common up here. So anyway I'd better get some eggs on the go ready for tea.

On the mend.

2010-05-25T14:49:00.000+01:00

I haven't posted for a little while, it's been pretty chaotic at number 5 lately. I had two or three posts in mind with supporting photos taken of each adventure and then when I was just about ready to sit down and blog them disaster struck.
Joey our beloved cat got run over! Presumably on the lane outside our house as we were out when it happened. He wasn't there to greet us on the wall outside or the stairs when we got in (usually looking groggy on the top step with 'bed head' after a deep snooze) so I sensed something was wrong. When I called him he cried from one of the bedrooms, he was curled up on a blanket looking all weird and scared. I checked his claws and sure enough they were all bust up and bleeding (the sign that he'd been in a road accident) We whizzed him straight down to the vets, who assessed him and put him on a drip to avoid shock. He was kept in for three nights so as to be observed and have some xrays done under sedation. The verdict- severe pelvic bruising, seperated tail (to be removed at a later date) and loss of bladder/bowel muscle control.

It was really hard not having him here but thankfully on the third day we were allowed to visit him twice so we took him his favourite biscuits, the flowery bed I made and some of his play things. Here he is in cat hospital last Wednesday, you can just see his drip tube at the front. He had to have a nasty tasting bandage over it to keep him from pulling it out, it made him walk about with a wooden leg. The visits made us happy but we were all sad when it was time to go.

So Joey has been home since last Thursday, recuperating and having lots of attention and care. We were all happy to be reunited, Myrtle was upset by his absence and gave him a thorough ear washing when he got home, he must have forgotten to do them himself. He was really just being a bit inactive, staying mainly in his basket or on the bed, aside from that he was his usual purry self. Here he is on our bed watching re runs of As Time Goes By starring Dame Judy Dench.

The vet then recommended confinement so as to help his pelvis heal so he's been in Myrtles big crate with his tray and food bowls most of the time with the occasional windowsill outing in his basket (carried there and back). He's enjoyed those on these hot days, listening to the birds, noseying at the neighbours and taking swipes at passing flys, just to show he's still got it.

However the basket had to go as yesterday he woke up unable to bear weight on his back legs so needs to be able to stretch out flat, a bit like when humans have back problems. The new sleeping arrangement seems to have done the trick as he is more mobile today and not growling when I stroke him. Sorry Joey no more window sill trips, just crate rest from now on.

So now it's just a waiting game, to see if he gets his muscle control back. He is making good progress, small steps but all positive ones. Fingers, and everything else, crossed he'll pull through like the strong little wonder cat he is.

Bee'n buzzy

2010-05-06T18:04:00.000+01:00

Back in August last year I wrote about the giant bee we saw in our front garden, well last week I met it's mother! It was about the size of a two pound coin. Here it is safely caught inbetween a glass and Myrtles vaccination reminder card. They are such an important part of our eco system and sadly on the decline.

Here's a shot of it's big fluffy yellow bum. It was getting a bit angry at this point so I popped it outside and off it went.

Myrtle hid under the dining room table while I caught it. She has a massive phobia of bees, well anything that makes a buzz noise actually. Since being stung on the bum last summer she thinks anything that makes that noise is going to 'get her'. This includes bees, wasps, flies, midges and humans who make the noise just to see what happens, and yes we are to blame for that last one.

Out of the blue!

2010-05-06T17:33:00.000+01:00

Yesterday whilst walking through one of Kendals many cobbled shopping yards, I noticed something new, a bright blue building looming over the now somewhat bland looking colour palette of it's neighbours.

It took me a back that I hadn't noticed it before as I trundle around this small town most lunchtimes and it was really refreshing to spot something new. Whilst some may be of the opinion that it's garish and not in keeping with the usual Lakeland style I love it as it reminded me of my home sea side town, where stretches of houses and B&Bs near the sea front are each painted in a different daring colour. Made me want a bag of chips!

The Owls and Miss Pussycat!

2010-04-28T22:03:00.002+01:00

Well the last thing I expected to be doing today whilst hurrying through town to get some train tickets was meeting two birds of prey! They were on a visit up town from Furness Owls, a charity petting zoo and owl sanctuary.

I'd actually been mulling over the idea of a bird of prey day, perhaps for when it's my next birthday, for a while now but was concerned about how I'd react, as I've mentioned previously I have a thing about birds feet which can really scare me.

But here I am holding, yes holding, a massive owl called Oscar. He is a five year old Eagle Owl and he was very big and quite heavy and just look at his feet! I averted having a 'do' over the feet by simply not looking at them, problem solved. Please note the piece of lettuce on my jumper, this was from high speed sandwich scoffing upon approach to the birds, I'm glad Oscar didn't spot it or there could have been a total flap disaster!

Inside the garden centre was a Caribbean Screaching Owl called Olly. He was so cute and stood just seven inches tall. Olly had a bit of a grump on though, perhaps he was a bit miffed about missing out on all the lovely sunshine that Oscar was basking in.

It's funny that I ended up writing about these two, as on the way to work I spotted my first ducklings of the year and thought that would be todays blog. It's not the best picture but here they are, not sure why one of them was still bright yellow but they were all equally cute and swam along busily like little wind up bath toys.

I always like to make a note of such events, even if it's just a mental note. Just like lady bird spotting it usually marks a change, small things that are all part of the big things x

The adventures of Joey the wonder cat....

2010-04-23T21:39:00.000+01:00

Over recent weeks Joey has got more and more confident expanding his terratory. He's been living at Oakbank just over a year now and had never experienced fields, lanes and cars before. Today I took Myrtle for her mad half hour in the field and Joey followed us!

I had to coax him through the hedge and he trotted along the allotments (they are a fenced off section of the field) Here he comes, meowing all the way.

...and here he is in the field. Cats generally don't like wide open spaces but Joeydoesn't like missing out on stuff, especially where Myrtle is concerned (and vice versa). Doesn't he look lovely and glossy in the sunshine.

Myrtle wasn't too interested in the cat walk as Joey didn't want to leg it around the field with her so she found herself a good stick to gnaw on.

Joey found himself a patch of grass which needed chewing and rolling on. He was really relaxed and it was so nice to see him exploring more.

Myrtle and I continued on to the river after a while, Joey wasn't for walking across the field and after we'd got a few steps away he decided to run home with his tail fluffed up, just to add some drama to his arrival home in front of the other moggs.
Myrtle and I found a brilliant beetle on a branch, we named him George (after St George and The Beatle) he was so blue and looked like he was made from metal.

Joey has to have the final say on a post all about his escapades, by deciding to sleep on the mantlepiece when we got home. I like the way his fluffy tummy overhangs the edge of the mantlepiece. Never underestimate a cat, eccentric through and through.

Where's George?

2010-04-23T12:11:00.000+01:00

Today is St Georges day and I felt it shouldn't go unmentioned as this was once a great celebration in England, our equivelant of St Patricks day in Ireland and Burns night in Scotland. Except somewhere along the way it's lost it's meaning and isn't as well celebrated as perhaps it should be. Driving through town today I did see bunting outside a couple of shops but not really the mass celebration I'd hoped for. Maybe there will be some more things happening over the weekend. Some towns are holding street fairs and reinactments of the dragon being slayed. I'll keep you posted if I spot anything.

In the mean time here's a lovely crochet dragon I found made by Lucy Ravenscar. Cute! She makes all sorts of wonderful crochet creatures, blogs and is happy to share her patterns with her readers.

Sunny Sunday

2010-04-13T16:49:00.000+01:00

This weekend was so sunny and lovely we invited some of our friends round to enjoy a good old chin wag over drinks and some good grub.

Joy is expecting a baby around the same time as me, hence her cup of tea here. Mr B and the Melville-Inghams enjoyed a cool glass of champagne beer while we caught up on life and soaked up the warm evening sun.

Myrtle was confined to the lounge as our garden gate is in need of a repair, plus she's trouble where champagne glasses are concerned. As you can see here she quite enjoyed squeezing her head out of the window ear wigging conversations. She is the nosiest girl ever!

I made a delicious moussaka, with mixed salad and flat breads (there's a Greek theme there) and funnily enough the theme (sort of) continued with the arrival of the Melville-Inghams amazing pudding, cheesecake (the first cheesecake recipe dates back to ancient Greece) cupcakes!

Oh my they were good, really good. Fortunately Joy and I got two each, one for the bump you see. Mr B had two too, just because he really likes cake.

Toot Toot!

2010-04-13T16:24:00.000+01:00

Whilst Mr B was at work on Sunday I spotted this beautiful car parked at the supermarket, it even has a
co-ordinating parking space in blue and lemon. Isn't it dinky! I would love to drive a vintage car, they have so much style and character compared to what's on the roads today. Just imagine all the lovely day trips this one has been on.

Drive you say? Yes I forgot, but this now seems an appropriate time, to tell you that I passed my driving test, it was a couple of weeks back now but I didn't like to say at the time, only just got used to it now really. Toot toodle pip!

Cat politics

2010-04-13T16:14:00.000+01:00

With the election coming up I thought I'd tell you about our local cat politics as it's a far more interesting tale than the broken promises and hollow policies splashed all over the news at the moment. Here four cats are involved in a daily saga of friendship, food and fighting at Oakbank. Let me explain...

Here's our cat, Joey, soaking up some sun on the front room window sill, isn't he a handsome mogg? He's still the new kit on the block as he's only been here a year.

This is Robert (from next door but one) soaking up some sun on our kitchen window sill, he loves company so is often hanging around the garden letting out one of his prolonged meows, boy he can hold a note!

Joey and Robert get on ok, they are very similar in temperament, though Joey is probably a bit more of a mummys boy. Since the weather's been nicer they have been seeing a bit more of each other and this weekend had two kisses and a nice fur shedding roll together. Ahhh.

This is Tilly, she lives next door and is a really old, croaky, friendly girl. Tilly and Robert have been friends for years and they often have tea at each others houses.

Joey doesn't like Tilly much, I think he's more a 'one friend' kind of cat and also prefers being around other boys to girls. It's a shame because she is lovely and it could all be so harmonious in cat land if he'd just stop hissing at her. Here is Joey stalking her behind a pile of dead grass, he thinks no one can see him.

There it is in a nutshell, the cats of Oakbank. Oh no wait I forgot, there is a really nasty fluffy cat next door but one (the other way) called Ginge who beats the other cats up, especially Joey. No pictures of him though, apart from on the mogs noticeboard, on a wanted poster. I think they are slowly forming an alliance against Ginge. I'll keep you posted.

Moominbaba

2010-04-08T13:53:00.001+01:00

Mr B and I have made a good start on the baby, or 'the bean' as it's also known, room. It's our smaller bedroom, which had been my sewing room so firstly we'd had to get shelves up in the larger spare room for all my fabrics, trims and threads to live on. Done. So beans room is now stripped of it's woodchip (that stuff should be banned) filled, sanded and ready to paper.

My mum had kept my cot, now 33 years old, so we spent some time sanding, washing and priming it ready to paint. Here it is, isn't it wonderful!

I fancy painting it in something vibrant and retro, perhaps tomatoey orange or leafy green? I'll keep you posted. Myrtle watched on, assuming this is all being done for her benefit no doubt.

Youngsters rooms should be fun and expressive, rather than passive cocoons of beigeness.With this in mind we are painting Moomin designs on the walls. We both love the colours used in Tove Janssons illustrations and her references to nature, her stories are so creative. I like the fact that she was an artist who wrote. It gives a unique edge to her story telling where she ultimately demonstrates how the fear of the unknown (floods, comets and frosts) is conquered by the love and support of the Moomin family and their friends.

Some may see the tales as dark but I see them as real and reassuring.

Neat neat stitches

2010-04-06T11:34:00.000+01:00

You may remember me showing you what Karen made me for Christmas? Well she has now joined the world of blogging so as to keep us up to speed on what her little fingers have been crafting. Follow her neat neat stitches at My Mum Taught Me to Sew.

I wonder what's in this cute gift box she's holding? Probably lots of incredibly tiny things.

Butties up!

2010-04-01T10:35:00.002+01:00

I went to Knit Natter Stitch Chatter last night for the first time in about 3 weeks, I've been feeling so tired by about 6pm it's been very difficult to do anything in the evenings, especially thinking creatively. However I think the light nights are already having a positive effect and I'm so glad that I went.

It was a reasonable turn out considering it's our Easter holidays. Sharon had already made up lots of crochet sections out of the wools I'd picked out, she's experimenting with a hexagonal sections as opposed to her usual squares and having played around on the computer with the various pattern options had come up with a whole host of exciting baby blanket designs. I've left it to her to decide which one she makes them up into, they all looked great to me.

Frances was on with a roman blind for her bedroom, made from this lovely Harlequin fabric. I have a real thing about greens so might have to get some of this myself.

Other members were knitting away- Mitzy was using some super soft wool, which Ann so aptly described as being 'really sheepy' as it was the exact colour and texture of one, from a gigantic ball which she was using as a cushion at the same time, how resourceful!

Than at about 9.30 the landlady kindly made us a big plate of sandwiches! Here they are, as you can see we were quick to tuck in.

What a nice gesture. It's such a lovely friendly pub, I'm so glad I chose it as our venue and must remember not to have such a big tea before going next week in case the butties are a regular :)

All in an hour!

2010-03-23T17:24:00.000Z

I've had one of the most productive lunch hours in a long time today. Not only did I have a delicious lunch with two of my work friends at Baba Ganoush (sorry no link to provide you with) who cook up the most fabulous soups, potato dishes, salads, sandwiches and cakes in the whole town! I had goats cheese, cauliflower and potato soup with croutons and a chunk of deli rye bread followed by a chocolate and walnut brownie.

Then I rolled on with my errands which included finding some 100% cotton crochet wool for fellow Knit Natterer Sharon to turn into a gorgeous baby blanket (she is a real wizz with the crochet needles) for little bean. How kind of her. I managed to track down a lovely range of colours in the Wendy Supreme collection and decided on the combination below of Sunflower (more yellow in real life) and Soft Jade (more grey in real life). I'm sure you'll agree they look great together.

Then I stopped off for a look in Oxfam and picked up these great vintage travel patches. Aren't they just the best find ever, especially the Switzerland one. I may have not mentioned this before but I have an obsession with all things which tick the following boxes in one fell swoop Swiss, vintage and souvenir. Yum!

I also got this vintage glitzy hand stitched flower applique, it's very old and will look great adorning a bag or plain top this summer. 99p, now that's a bargain.

I wonder what fantastic frocks it's belonged to? How many dances it saw? How many suitors eyes it's caught over the years? What a treasure!

Wombles of Oakbank

2010-03-21T17:13:00.001Z

Well today was yet nother totally neat Sunday as Mr B and I helped out with other local residents tackling the litter which had accumulated in our hedgerows and road sides over the winter months. Sadly no Wombles attended, though it is a long journey from Wimbledon to Oakbank on a Sunday.

Our local parish councillor organises the pick twice yearly (Autumn and Spring), though this was the first we'd taken part in. Only the other day I'd commented to Mr B on the number of crisp packets and food cartons drivers had thoughtlessly cast from their car windows en route home so it was perfect timing for lending a hand.

Here's Mr B donning some high vis for the pick as it was a misty morning and some cars take the bends far too fast. I bet people driving past thought we were on community service sporting these beauties!

Other Oakbank residents looked on in intrigue with their young. The litter pick really benefits the animals too as litter which blows into the fields could end up eaten by them.

It was very tiring work, lots of bending and crouching over a substantial stretch of road. I had to come home early as it was a bit too much for my bump to manage but I did a good hour and a half and Mr B was even longer. He reported that 15 bags of rubbish were collected as well as some old signage and car parts. What a good total for two hours work. Makes you think about how much litter is actually out there doesn't it?

It felt really good to be doing something that made an instant impact on our environment. As we drive past tomorrow instead of tutting at the mess others have made we can admire the litter free hedges and know that we played a part in shaping our surroundings for the better.

In a spin!

2010-03-15T11:59:00.000Z

I must tell you about the fantastic present Mr B got me for Mothers (to be) Day. It was a handy bit of kitchen equipment I'd been after for ages, since I was a child in fact. A salad spinner.

Such a simple thing can bring so much pleasure. I first encountered this marvelous machine when I was 9 and was playing at Mrs Bonds house (a neighbour of my Grannys) with her grandaughter. Mrs Bond was preparing a 'summer tea' for us girls to eat on trays in the garden, which consisted of salad, new potatos and chicken. Oh how she span that salad! I was amazed, even at such an early age I knew it was the machine for me.

These days, more than ever, it's so important to wash fresh foods before we eat them to get rid of those nasty pesticides, even more important during pregnacy. But sometimes certain things just aren't nice eaten wet, salad and herbs especially. Who wants a soggy sandwich or a wet plate? So there lies the temptation not to wash. That's why I am such a big fan of this machine, not least it's 1960's 'housewifes dream' appeal.

So here it is the Oxo little salad and herb spinner in all it's labour saving glory. Wash your greens pop em in, on with the lid and then away you go with just two presses on the pump top. No electricity, no batteries just good old kinetic design.

All this water came off just one bunch of basil, imagine that in your salad!

...and hey presto lovely spray free basil dry and ready to chop without sticking to the knife.

Once washed the greens can be stored in the dried out spinner in the fridge for extra crispness. Thank you Mr B for a lovely day and a lovely present x

Totally neat.

2010-03-14T13:39:00.001Z

Spring is in the air at Oakbank. Whilst out walking with Mr B and Myrtle we spotted the following neat and tidy things...

Growing beds raiked and ready for planting.

Possibly the neatest stack of wood ever!

Bee Keeping clobber washed and drying on the line. I was very tempted to try it on.

A smart new gate to the Bee Keeping area, made from locally sourced wood, I like the way it's a bit wiggly.

A fantastic repair to a wall in the field opposite, unfortunately I don't have a picture of when it was down but it was a real mess as the tree had made it belly over the years and then it all gave way a few months back. You'd never guess to look at it now. What skill!

Right we'd better get cracking on our own list of spring tidying and cleaning then!

Her mum taught her to sew.

2010-03-12T17:52:00.000Z

A week or so ago my friend Karen gave me this very interesting little origami parcel as a late Christmas present....

...inside was a lovely little lady....

...and inside her was a little lady baby! I pointed to it as a scale reference.

Karen is one of the neatest sewers I know and it's great that her little creations are now on sale in her etsy shop.

What a mess!

2010-03-08T21:20:00.001Z

Now that the sickly stage of pregnancy has passed I'm really into my food again, which is great. There's nothing worse than being off even your favourite ever foods. I decided to celebrate this change by making two of my all time favourites this weekend.

Sunday night I made my mums delicious pie. It's just known as 'the pie' and it's really quite a fitting title. You make it by layering up thin slices of potato (King Edwards make it best) with thin slices of red onion, wilted spinach and sprinkles of a goats cheese/cheddar cheese mix. Placing layer upon layer (in a deep lidded dish) with small knobs of butter in between, and a teensy bit of salt and pepper, it creates a massive stack of thin slices which all cook in the butter and moisture from the taties in the oven for 90 mins. Heaven.

It's so good and was eaten so fast that I don't have any pictures to show you except this one of my tummy, rather full after eating the left overs today, Mr B didn't even get a look in!

For pudding I made Eton Mess, which along with Mr B's trifle and a really well thought out fruit salad, is one of the best puds on earth.

I make this in a similar way to how Nigella Lawson does, though at this time of year the strawberries aren't worth bothering with so they were out the picture replaced with raspberries. Dead simple pud made by whipping up a pot of double cream with some caster sugar, adding the seeds from two pomegranates (I just love the rich colour from these strange, complex fruits. Considered throughout history to be a symbol of fertility)

...a punnet of raspberries and then, just before serving, a load of crunched up meringue, as much as you can mix in. As you can see by the photo, no matter how nicely presented, it is as described, a mess, a very very yummy one!

Hear all about it!

2010-02-26T17:02:00.002Z

I've recently been circulating posters and flyers for the knitting and stitching club I started up in July last year.

It's taken me ages to come up with a design I liked as I'm not into doing stuff on the computer but also seem to have issue with every drawing I've ever done! Collage and the trusty photocopier helped me out in the end and I am pleased with the result.

The pub landlord kindly agreed to display one in the window and we have had three new attendees from just that one.

I like the idea of finding out about things via posters, flyers and pamphlets, it's nice in the digital age to have a more traditional approach, makes it feel like you found something secret and special.

Fly away home

2010-02-26T15:50:00.002Z

I had the window open this morning while I was drying my hair and lo and behold almost straight away in came the first lady bird of the year!
It's a title no doubt given to many lady birds but she is definitely my first. I wonder if that causes a lot of friction on the lady bird scene? 'I was first in 2009 I tell you' 'No I was, a farmer told me so' 'Well I was the first this year' 'No Ethel was, Miss P said so on her blog'......

...anyway, here's a picture of her. A happy accident as the camera focused on the view beyond the glass so she looks like a really big bird sat on the telephone lines.

Happy L Day.

2010-02-13T11:39:00.005Z

I thought I'd share a bit of Cumbrian folklore with you for the day of love tomorrow.

This heart shaped wood grows along side the motorway near Tebay and it always makes me smile and think about love whenever I see it.

There are lots of tales about it's origins, some say it was planted as a memorial to a young soldier who was killed in the first world war, others say it was a farmers way of expressing his love for his wife.
A lot of people think that it stems from 'star crossed lovers' from rival farming families who committed suicide. Some people also think that it represents the middle of mainland Britain.

The woman who now owns the land claims, rather crushingly, that the heart shaped wood isn't actually heart shaped at all, and that is was originally a forest plantation set up in the mid 1800's, and that is all that is left of the original plantation.
Whether it be man made or accidentally created by nature, I still like to think of it is as a grand romantic gesture created by someone or something.