Being Mom...

Being a Mom is something I think about everyday it really is a gift...I love my role as Mommy and as someone who has drifted from one job to the next I have finally found something I love doing and I hope I do not assume to much here...but feel I am good at... So with Mothers day this weekend I am going through my usual thought processes of having a Mom and being a Mom. Well in fact having two Moms, being adopted throws up some funny thoughts around times like Birthdays and Mothers Day. I wounder if my birth Mom thinks of me, I know my Mom does, she has already been on the phone making sure I remember to send her a card...which was entertaining as I had just fought my way through rush hour traffic with the children to get to town for a little something for Mothers day for her.

Becoming a Mom completely turned all my emotions about adoption on its head...if I am honest some of those feelings are still rolling around my head having not found the right home for them...I mother with a passion and I can not think of anyone I want to spend time with more than my children, sure they drive me up the wall at times...I am human after all...but there is a tighter bond there than I could have ever thought possible...the thought that these two little pickles of mine really are a part of me...conceived and grown in my body, brought into this world where I continued to feed, nurture, love, teach and take care of them...it just blows my mind. Could I have given them up like I was given up...well without knowing all the details I have no right to make a judgement and as I will never know the whole story, it is one of those things I will just have to accept. I have no roots, I never feel like I belong and yet someone I never met loved me enough to carry me and bring me in to the world and made sure I was taken care off...It might be a different Mothers Love to how I love...BUT it is LOVE...DO I look like her? Do I have a sister or a brother? Did she marry? Does she think of me? Are there health issues I should know about? So many unanswered question's. A Mothers Love...IT has so many meanings and possibilities.

If your a MOM I wish you a special Mothers day...Remember though its not the size of the gift you get on Mothers Day its the Love and thought put into it. Give your babes a cuddle (no matter how big or small they are) and hold them tight and never let them out of your heart...

The earth moved...

OK so last night was a little creepy...I had had a bad night's sleep the previous night and at the children's bedtime I feel asleep in a big cuddle with my youngest...I awoke around 10ish and went downstairs to tidy up the toys. I sat for a while in the quite and got engrossed in a little silly sewing. You know me by now, silly sewing to me is totally useless little objects made 'just because'...When I next looked at the clock it was gone midnight. So I made a cup of camomile tea and headed up to the cosiness of my bed (pre-warmed by my heated blanket)!!! I turned off the light and snuggled down and felt that lovely relaxed state wash over me and I started to drift into dream land...Only to be pulled out of it by two odd noises and before I could register what it was the whole house quivered loudly...for a moment I was paralysed with fear...but then in an instant it was action stations, I sprung out of bed and checked on the children only to find them totally oblivious in their slumber. I looked down the hill and saw a neighbours light on with them also peeping through their curtains...Now I was wide awake and totally unable to sleep...
I contemplated carrying the babes to my bed, but I ended up staying awake till three-ish filling my stupid head with all sorts of stories from aliens landing to bombs falling etc...eventually I fell asleep only waking to hearing my youngest screaming...Panic again ran through me and when I looked at my little babe he had a nose bleed and he was upset as it had messed up his bed...Panic over, babe comforted and back to bed I went...
I was pulled sleepily out of my bed this morning by two lively babes 'Get up Mommy'...so I staggered downstairs and put the news on to see if there was any solution to 'things that go bump in the night' Yes we had had an earthquake, a big one by our standards bearing in mind the last one was over twenty years ago...So no aliens no bombs just an over active imagination of someone who was left standing in her kitchen trying to wake herself with a coffee and feeling pretty silly...
So on to the making...the silly sewing bug hit hard and I rummaged through my felt box and using my cheap felt I made a couple of eggs for the Easter Egg Tree...my children did not think they resembled eggs at all so I got out the good stuff...my much sort after wool felt and I prepared a little tray of hand sewing to keep me busy for a few hours...the results are much more pleasing...I wanted to be a bit more creative than just egg shapes so I pulled out an old copy of Homespun, I love this magazine it has such lovely stuff and is very inspiring...Unlike me, I copied the ideas pretty much to the directions, usually I go off in all sorts of tangents so I make the design very much my style...but when something works...why change it...the wool felt made all the difference, they do look homespun which only adds to their charm...
I still have a few more key rings to make to finish a small order so I am doing a few off each (keyring 'n' eggs) and really enjoying it, felt is so lovely to work with. As for today I have been busy decorating cakes as we have some children over for supper tonight and I was requested by my youngest to make some tasty treats...

Just for the fun of it the last picture is a corner of my home, right above my sewing machine in my sewing room...

Guess what?

All in all the weekend was good, it had a rocky start but it eventually turned out quite well. I had some fun playing with the children and lots of things got made, we even managed a trip to the pictures and a meal out which was such a treat. The film we went to see was The Water Horse, I thought it excellent, my little one jumped in his chair a few times but ended up happily clapping at the happy ending whilst his popcorn flew across the seat!!! I even felt a little tear run down my cheek at one stage. Even the trip to my Moms went well, with some time spent with family as my brother also popped over for a while. SO guess what I have been doing lately? I seem to have found the time to do a little cooking and baking over the last few days...I have made a couple of meals for the children, nothing odd in this...I do it everyday, only this was food they have not eaten before...they have now called me 'Their Little Chief' so I guess that was a success. As for the baking, how I like to bake when I have the time...There is nothing like the smell of cakes cooling under a fresh tea towel to make the house feel like a welcoming home...
A whole heap of cup cakes to go in the freezer to be pulled out when I need a sweet treat for an unexpected guest or two...The Raspberry cake, well that got cut into whilst warm with a nice cup of afternoon tea...it all stops for a cuppa here!!!
So with the making vibe well and truly in full throw at the the moment I have been working on some little projects...I had made a keyring with some of the lovely felt I have...This was then commented on very favourably and has now prompted a little production line of them in a range of colours...
SNEAKY PEEK TIME....I am thinking Swaps, Easter and Spring...
Enough said...How I want to show and tell...only that would spoil the surprise...

I did it...well nearly...

I did it...well nearly, I made my first pair of socks. I have wanted to get sock making for a while now, but the thought of those double ended pins and dropped stitches etc, well quite frankly it scares me!!! So whilst I was away last week I had ago at a pair of socks for my youngest babe...I am thrilled with the results and it has restored some of my faith back in my own ability to knit. The nearly bit...I have to admit they are knitted on two needles and involved lots of shaping and sewing up so I still have to master the art of sock making properly. But they fit...when I went to try them on my little one he was sleeping and I looked at his little toes and thought 'Why would I want to cover these little piggies up with bed socks'...just look at them...so cute!!!
As a Mom you do not get much cuter than this...after a busy day and someone nearly falling asleep whilst having supper 'Mommy I am so tired' not something you hear very often from a little guy who's ability to do without sleep is stunning. We ended up in the cuddle whilst this Mommy finished her cuppa and before I knew it I had a gently snoring babe all curled up in the cuddle...
So its Friday already, how did that happen? The children are looking forward to being home for a couple of days as they have found going back to school hard and I shall be jolly pleased to have them at home I can tell you. We are off for a visit to my Mom's on Saturday and plan a lazy Sunday. As for the craft front...well I spent the first part of the week putting the house back together after our week away. I had started to get a little twitchy and gave in yesterday and spent the afternoon and some of the evening in my sewing room...I altered a pile of clothes that had been sitting there for so long...three pairs of slouch pants and a dress...I would rather make them than alter but there you go! I then had a little fun sewing, I am in two swaps (I will post about them next week) so I got my best linen out and thought Spring and Easter...Mmmm having fun with this, working with pastel shades of linen instead of the heavy winter warm fleece or cord is a treat.
Here's to a happy and healthy weekend.

GREAT NEWS Blogger has its spell check working again, I apologise for the poor spelling over the last few weeks, if you have read my profile you will know why;-)

These Boots are made for walking...

The silence that comes after the children return to school is chilling...or may be its to do with the fact that it is the middle of the day and its still -3. So the post holidays blues have kicked in and the fun, laughter and constant chatter of the last week is just a memory...role on school out time!!! The memories are still clear and rich in my mind, full of colour and warmth and lots of hapy smiles with the infectious sound of giggles. Our week was a good one, it did have a couple of blips, I guess that is to be expected, but all in all the week was precious. Something about the clear air and sky is different in this place, its peaceful, fresh and feels pure...so most morning we awoke to an amazing sunrise, as the children ran around and played Mommy would get some knitting done...
Then off to the pool, Ah my little water babes, both my babes love to play in the water, I personally am not a fan of exercise, show me a pool however and I can plough up and down all day. My second child was one of those babes that got thrown into the water when only weeks old, and yes they really do swim...
Of course we took in the sights and smells of the farm, we had a special place in our hearts for the chickens...funny, funnny chickens... After a light lunch we would take in some more of the views on offer in this beautiful countryside, it truly is inspiring...
Infact we walked our little boots off...

Blue as blue can be, a rich blue sky watercoloured over with a milky coat of cloud...beautiful...
As the day trickled by the mist would roll in...
Time to head indoors and get the crafting box out, picture after picture was produced, some with love hearts, some Pokemon and best of all from my youngest ...'Look Mommy this is you with the chickens' and you know, you could make me out, not just a stick with a blob for a head, now we have a genuine body (quite large too) with arms and legs even curly hair, pictures to treasure...
As the daylight disappeared and veil of darkness swept across the hills we would warm ourselves up in front of the fire and snuggle under our blankets till it was time to scoop up the sleepy babes and put them in their beds...
Ahhh how I love the holidays...

Back to Blogger...

Well I have returned from not a few nights away on the farm but EIGHT...Did we have a good time? Rosey cheeks, the wind in our hair, cuddling up under blankets, toasting marshmallows, walking our socks off and just been free of time watching...FANTASTIC...I have so many photos to upload and go through, so many pictures of the children just playing totally unware of the camera, with Blyton-ess adventures to keep in our memories...sadly though today I can not share as blogger is refusing to operate...In the meantime I shall enjoy a cuppa and catching up reading some much missed bloggs...

Happy Half term...

It has come round at last...Half term, lazy mornings and endless craft time with my babes and no time restaints... Well its felt like a long time coming and I am going to make the most of the week. So I am going to sign off, I will be back the following Monday to 'show and tell' I am sure I will have lots of photos to sort through and I have lots of craft things planed. I am taking the children off for a few days to a working farm, I have been busy packing the craft basket to keep little hands busy, we hope to have a day at the beach with blankets and Hot Chocolate and I am sure a visit or two at a National Trust place. So I wish you a very good week and I look forward to reading what you got upto...Take care and stay well and happy.

PS Still very upset about my knitting (see previous post) I just do not know what to do...I think I am going to bury my head in the sand untill the holiday is over and I am less emotional about it all...

Not one but two!!!

I thought I would share with you my two awards. My Spread the Love Award came from the talented Sal of Sals Snippets (I have mentioned Sal a few times previously as she is becoming a good blog friend and I get some of my much loved fabric from her shop, as for her blog it is full of fasinating facts. So I thank you Sal from the heart...
My second award, the Wonderful Women of the Web Award came from the delightful Kitty, Kitty's blog is a joy, ful of living life with making and madness all the way...Kitty your a star, thank you.

Now to link to other bloggers, Oh how I hate doing this as to choose is just so hard, also I am a little late in accepting these awards (very ungracious of me I appologise) quite a few pople I would pick have also been awarded them. But I do have one blogger who comes to mind, someone who has supported my blog since day one and never fails to inspire me, make me laugh and whilst she is many miles away I feel like she is a such a good friend...the amazing Small Fox. Sarah...my book shelf is getting fuller by the week with all the great books your recommending at the moment. If you have not seen her blog get yourself over there...


I see blogger have not fixed their spell check yet!!!AHHHHH!!!!!!

Apples and pears with a disaster thrown in...

You know when you see something in a magazine and you think 'I could make that' well this is what happened to me this week... I saw this picture in a magazine and as you may be aware I do love apples and pairs, I am sure you are familar with my much loved Treefall pair cushion. Also pre sewing days when I used to sell cards one of my most popular cards was a pair design...I made so many of these and they would go within days...So when I see anything in a pair or apple design I am drawn to it. I thought this would be a nice easy project with a lot fun thrown in...
The thing is I have enough cushions so with the bulbs popping up in the snow, a sure sign that eventually spring will be with us I thought I would make a bag using the design...it is a gift for a friend many miles away from here and when its spring here its not in the place she lives...Australia. I think I am safe posting this as she does not read my blog often...So I went to town selectiong the fabrics and drawing up the design...
I got busy with the bonaweb and iron on wadding (never used iron on before and I will not be in a rush to buy it again) I put my little belated birthday gift together...I just sort of 'did it' I went with what felt right...I like the contrast in the lining and I made ipod size and maybe a mobile phone or a collection of pens size pockets. A magnetic glasp...if you have your ipod in there you want it to be safe...
I even played about with the staps to get them just right, to fit comfortably over your shoulder, not to long and not to short...I am happy with the outcome of the bag and I might even make myself one...I was worried about the linen, but with the iron on wadding it seems to be maintaining a lived in look rather than creased look...so good all round...Yikes!!! I hope the receiver likes it!
Now for the disaster...I am actually shaking as I type this...what a BAD evening I have had. Whilst knitting this weekend I have been so proud of my swing coat and encouraged the children to make all the right Oh and Ahs 'look at how much knitting Mommmy has done...its so big...all that knitting' well tonight as I sat and worked on my knitting I got to thinking that it was big...no real BIG!!! So with only another inch to go before the back is finished I lay it on the floor and measured it all...its about four inches to wide, the lengeth is OK but it is so wide, well its a swing coat...do I carry on or do I chance it? I think I found out the problem...my needles are 4.5 and not 4mm. For me to get the size of needles wrong I must have done it for a reason...but I can not remeber doing a tension square...although I am sure for the cost of the yarn I would have and that would make sence for having the larger needles, it would also explain the largeness of the coat....WHAT DO I DO NOW? I feel sick, yer I know there are worse things in life and it sounds daft but I really could cry...Frog it or carry on???

Spell Check...still not working, you may have guessed that...is anyone else having this problem?

Snow business!!!

What a weekend, after all the illness and bleakness of January...February swept in with a flurry (or two) of snow...
The long awaited snow eventually (the children have been so wanting snow since before Christmas) arrived and I had two happy children...On Saturday morning the children raised me from my slumber by one child jumping on me whilst the other pulled back the curtains and both shouted 'Mommy Mommy its snowed'
So without losing any time...on went the winter layers, the hand knits, we pulled our wellies on and ran into the garden giggling...
Ofcourse with all this activity in the garden one of our other family members could not wait to get out and join us. Archie the rabbit so loves some company whilst he is free ranging...He binkied about (jumped and lept...which is rabbit speak for 'I am happy') and we generally all got very wet...

After a couple of miss-fired snowballs Archie gave up and had a little grooming session...
Meanwhile a snowman HAD to be built...OK its a little one...but never the less he is still our snowman and deserves his own nose and eyes...
The stream at the bottom of the hill I live on looked ever so sweet....almost fairy like...
After a few hours the chill factor started to reach our toes and the rosey cheeks started to turn a shade near to blue...so we came inside and warmed our hands and tummies with some proper Hot Chocolate made with melted chocolate and some muffins....
PS My Spell check on my posting is still not working EK!!! So I am going to hold on to Weird Bunny's comment on my last post...Yep thats a good one;-)