Homework

Oh the shame! It's been four months since I wrote and that's not been out of choice, life has got super hectic since I started work and Joel dropped his naps. It was amazing what I could get done in the time he slept; a blog, some cooking, some washing and maybe even a hot brew. Yes hot, as in drunk on time!

Its taken a long while to settle into work, especially given that my job means I am based at home. Initially I missed being in an office with other people, the purposefulness of having a destination not to mention the added bonus of new friends and people to eat lunch with. I'm now pretty well adjusted to the role and its challenges, I am grateful that when the sun pops out from behind the clouds I can (though not always) pull on my boots and hit the fells, take advantage of being around for when the washer finishes, watch the pennies and have what I like by eating lunch at home. Best of all though is to work with a hot brew in hand and the dog at my feet.

Across to The Mill

I couldn't count the number of times we have wandered past Sprint Mill, catching glimpses of it's treasures through the cobweb threaded windows or ajar doors, nor the number of times we have been tempted to sneak in! When we heard they were having an open day, as part of the National Gardens Scheme- Open Gardens, we were among the first in line to enter.

Immediately we were greeted by hens roaming the pathways and some very friendly goats housed behind a beautiful handmade gate, which somehow looked very 'Goaty'

Then on to the Mill; It was crammed to the rafters with three floors of wonderful objects, furniture, boats, tools, toys and everything that had ever been treasured by the family who had lived there for the last forty years.
The Mill itself is used for storage and work shop space with the beautiful Mill house next door, which on the open day was serving homemade cakes and teas. Here's what I managed to get pictures of, however it was very dark inside and I was keeping an eye on Joel around all the tools.

This boat was made by the Mill owner

Well organised. Loving 'Broken Dolls'

Woven chair made by the Mill owner

Check out this blue beauty

'I know what I am doing!'

Lots of lovely old tools were everywhere

I would love a cabinet like this one day

This impressive bench was sat next to the river

We spotted this teeny weeny cluster of bugs on the arm of it

Joel found a rope swing

It was a great day out and just across the field from us. I came away full of aspirations to one day have a big big space to keep everything ever in.

Simple Pleasures

Joels help in the garden, "a pile for you Mummy"

In just over a year Joel starts school, he will be amongst the youngest in his year turning four a mere five weeks before term starts. I cant imagine how I'm going to feel when the time comes but right now it feels like a panicky tick tock Countdown clock is starting up inside my head. I'm trying not to get flustered but I want to make sure we do lots of nice things together, we always have as this blog is testament to, but now he is at an age where he will get more from the experiences (and hopefully some memories) than he has in the past.

A big part of this is celebrating the simple pleasures in life; we made a wigwam using canes, string, pegs and a 1960s sheet. He loves it and asked for his picnic lunch to be served in there.

We have been preparing our allotment for the imminent arrival of our runner beans, courgettes and purple broccoli.

We spent quite some time today watching a snail we found whilst weeding slowly emerging from it's shell. It was a beautiful moment and the longest he has ever sat still in the garden.

We are lucky enough to have a post box at toddler height in the wall near our house, as well as being lucky enough to have a toddler with a Royal Mail obsession!

He tries the handle every time

Joel has started to take more command with Myrtle and loves holding her lead. "Heels" he tells her

A hunting we will go

Not since I was a child have the Easter holidays meant so much as I feel they do this year. Joel is at an age now where he can fully appreciate what's happening and so far there has been plenty.

We started the holidays at our good friends Easter party. Fresh air, digging, chasing, watching horses go by, moving with the sun, making baskets, eating butties and buns and (of course) hunting for eggs kept a gaggle of little'uns and big'uns happy.

That same weekend we met our great nephew for the first time. I'd forgotten how to hold a tiny baby so let Mr B hold him for our picture. Joel wasn't feeling very sociable and tried his hardest to sabotage the picture by blowing a raspberry, it was taken just as he laughed at his own joke so smiles all round.

A brilliant Easter parcel arrived from MD (Cuncle) which brought about the arrival, and fascination with, Lego in the form of a mega sticker book (Joel loves "ticking")

It was fascinating watching him stick people in line with the perspective of the images and where there were shadows denoting where the stickers should go he attempted sticking it face down, really carefully. It was cool. He's cool.

Gagga bought him a new trike, an early birthday present as if the weather is anything like last years waiting until his actual birthday would mean no triking. He spent most of the day carefully stacking items in the back of it, so proud of the results he said "Mummy take my picture"

Joel and I caught up with an old pal, who I hadn't seen since getting married. We visited Canopy The Woollen Woods, a woodland art installation of wildlife made from wool and felt.

It was great fun exploring the woods looking for critters. The work had been made by people from all over, they are still taking submissions so its a constantly evolving and growing piece.

Joel was obsessed with who might live through this door. He shouted "Hello. Are you in?" through it and said he could hear someone coming down the stairs inside.

I said that maybe an owl lived there but had got too fat to use his front door, Joel found that a plausible answer and low and behold if there wasn't a big fat owl sat in the branches!!

Weirdly seeing this little door tied into an idea I had just the day before, confirming to me it was a good one. I will keep you posted on it.

Oh and I got a new job which I start on Tuesday, eeek first job in three years. Excited, nervous, tired...all of the above. Again I'll keep you posted!

Make do and mend

I bought three pairs of jeans almost two years ago, two skinnys and one straight leg. They are all a great fit but something I do in my everyday life has meant that each pair has got a hole in the left knee. The mystery remains as to why the left knee goes and not the right but the hole is no more as I patched it using some Liberty print canvas.

Here's how I did it....

You will need;
Fabric (has to be fabric of equal thickness to garment or you'll just end up patching the patch)
Threads (one that matches the garment and also one, or more, for the patch-in contrasting or matching colours)
Bondaweb
Card
Pencil
Unpicker
Iron and board
Sewing Machine (optional)

1) Using an unpicker carefully unpick the jeans down the outside edge (that's where there is just single stitching) from five inches above to five inches below the area to be patched. This gives you the ability to work on a sewing machine. If you are happy hand stitching then this step isn't necessary but could still make the job easier.
2) Make a template of your patch shape using card, I chose a circle but traditionally they are square, ensure it is bigger than the hole you are patching. Draw round this template on the paper side of the Bondaweb. Then follow Bondawebs simple instructions on pack to end up with bonded patch.
3) Iron bonded patch onto garment.
4) Carefully run through sewing machine, or hand stitch, over edges of patch (this will ensure it doesn't lift) I chose a zig zag stitch in contrasting colour.
5) Optional- Then either by hand or machine work more stitching onto the patch. This gives decorative effect but also means patch is well secured.
6) Carefully stitch the garment back together (remember to change your thread!)

Back of patching when complete

Front of patching when complete

It seemed wrong to throw them out just because of a little wear and tear, so hey presto one pair of jeans with no draughts! I wonder if the patch will out live the right knee???

October in a nutshell

The clocks have just changed for winter time, for people who don't have children that means an extra hour in bed. For those that do it means yours is the light that's on at 5.30am. This month there has been a lot of of lighting of fires, being thrifty with out food shopping, watching some good films and TV, had friends round for dinner and a daytime date with my husband (lunch out and the new 007 film) Here is some of the month of October in pictures for you.

Joel and his good pal visited some bunnies

An actual Velveteen Rabbit

New socks for me! No longer am I the holey sock Mummy at the soft play.

A trip out to a private landing strip with my Dad

It was really cold but Joel just loved watching the planes land and take off.

Leaves fell in all sorts of colours

Blackpool Illuminations turned 100 this year

KEB brought some heart illusion specs along for a heightened experience!

A puddling session without 'the gear'

Fearless on the playground.

The summer of two and beyond

We haven't had much of  a summer this year, with the wettest August on record, so what sunny days we did have we made the most of them! Joel turned two on the 27th July, a sunny but windy day, we spent the day at the big park in Morecambe with his Gaga (my mum) and then the following day with my dad (who he reminds me of, a lot, both in looks and in his sense of adventure)

Pretty much round about that time he has (almost) dropped his afternoon nap (hence the silence for the last few weeks) and started going to nursery two mornings a week. Both of these developments have led to a very trying couple of months. The first making for impossible times with an over tired toddler (between 3pm and 6pm is now known as Beelzebub time) and the second pushing my patience and then anxiety levels to the max. When you say your child has started nursery people always go "oh that must be nice for you" well in a word No it wasn't!

Watching the farmer take away this years bales

The first six weeks of nursery I spent most of my time at the nursery sat on a tiny plastic chair, amongst the children all making car and choo choo noises. Some of the kids even new my name, anyone would have thought I was a new member of staff, I had to stay so long into the sessions before Joel would let me go (though truth is I resorted to sneaking off as the 'Goodbyes' caused too much anguish) and what I thought would get easier got worse, because he then learnt that I was going! There came a point after a few weeks where I thought, it's too soon for him, I'm going to wait until he's older and re-start him.

Wheel spinning

But that was for me not him, our days had gotten repetitive and dull and he was spending more and more time doing naughty things out of frustration (trashing stuff and having tantrums) plus I've never dealt with conflict or anxiety very well and this had been heightened since having Joel. So we persevered and now he has whole sessions without me.

Re-arranging labels on a display of Succulents at the local Horticultural Society gardens

There have been many tears (both of us) but having observed him through the nursery window (as I'm sure so many 'new to nursery' mums do) he has an amazing time and is enjoying all the learning and interaction with the staff and the other children. The best thing of all is we have fab time together on his non nursery days, it had become over facing having so many full days on my own with such a physically active and knowledge thirsty little man.

Echoes into an abandoned boat house

So now I am starting to thing 'Yes, it is nice that he's at nursery' Joel gets to play without his my watchful eye and I can hopefully start to get 'Me' back, at the very least twice a week!

His first ice cream