Boxing Day Skywatch

We went for a little walk on boxing day and it was very very foggy. The sun started breaking through and burning it off so I used the hipstamatic app on my phone to take these.

To Buy Or Not To Buy

My cooker has had a dicky temperature for a while and on christmas day the turkey should have taken 5 hours to cook and it was done in 4 hours. I'm at a stage where I'm thinking just get rid and buy a new one (would have to be on credit though :( )

It is well over 10 years old and has seen a lot of use.  The knobs kept burning their silver coating off whenever the grill was on almost from day one and once the warranty was up I stopped replacing them.  All the writing has worn off so unless it is me using the hob part then everybody else uses trial and error to know which ring they are lighting.  The ignition broke quite some time ago and a lot of the black trim has worn off over the years.  It looks incredibly tired BUT I am in two minds about whether to replace it yet or not. I am very tempted - actually no I'm dictated to by our stupid financial situation -  to leave it until it gives up the ghost and we HAVE to buy one.

I had a quick look in Comet and the lower price end isn't anything like my current one. Mine has a glass lid which is invaluable as extra worktop space so I don't really want to lose that but I need to spend a bit more to get a lid.  When we first moved into our house almost 19 years ago we bought one of those cookers with the high level grill and it had a storage section at the bottom which was fantastic for storing baking tins etc.  Again though I wouldn't have the lid and the extra work space if I got one of those. It would however free up a bit of room on top of my kitchen cupboards where I currently store my baking trays etc. Arrrggghhhh too many things to consider.  I do have time on my side at the moment though. Fingers crossed the current on stays working for a while longer.

I am secretly coveting this one from Cannon just because the knobs aren't covered in a film that will burn off and it is stainless steel but it is £620 in Comet.

I really wish I had the room for a proper big cooker but the previous occupants of our house designed the kitchen with only just enough space for a 50cm one.  Yes we do still have the same kitchen as was in when we moved in. Yes I hate it. Yes I want to replace it. The problem is lack of funds for one reason or another and other things have always been more important. I am always tempted by the DIY shop kitchen sales and would love to have the capability to fit one myself or for my husband to be more of a DIYer. We have a massive space in a corner hidden behind the cupboards which is doing absolutely nothing and is crying out for one of those snazzy corner storage thingies.  One day I may surprise people and just go out and buy one and fit it or maybe those pigs might fly past too.

Merry Christmas Everybody

Merry Christmas everybody. Have a safe one.

Harvey Nichols Christmas Window Display

We went into the city this week to do a spot of shopping.  My first ever time in a Cath Kidston shop.  You could have heard the excitement across the world I think.  I love that place.

We passed Harvey Nichols and their window display really stood out from the rest.  I managed to take a few quick pics with my phone. It was very busy and we were trying to avoid the canvassers and street sellers so they aren't very good plus the sun was glaring right at the window.

 What made it stand out was the heads of the mannequins.  They were rather freaky to be honest but different to the boring same old traditional department stores.

Skywatch

This week there was a lunar eclipse on the solstice (like you don't already know lol).

This bad picture was all I got.  The moon was almost entirely covered by the earth's shadow at this point.  I really wish I had taken pictures earlier in the eclipse.

Anyway here goes

A Winter Mystery

Mystery knitting that is.  I joined a winter mystery shawl knit a long over at Goddess Knits.

This is the progress from clue 1

I chose some pink 4ply yarn.  The pattern uses beads which I haven't really used in this way before.  They are attached very simply with a crochet hook during knitting.  I'm glad that for once a hook has had some use because I keep telling myself I will learn crochet but can't seem to get the hang of it.

Picture is pants because the light at the moment is dingy and dull.

First Punky Scraps Challenge

The first Punky Scraps challenge is up.

The challenge was to use 3 of the following:

White Cardstock
Paint
Ribbon
Buttons
Cardboard

I chose white cardstock, paint and buttons and came up with this

I took the photo when we were out in the snow earlier this month and I noticed my son had collected quite a lot of snow on his very long eyelashes.

Still A Snowy Skywatch

The snowy scenes are still here although underfoot it is very very slippery.

This photo is another one from the ones I took with my phone last week.  This week it has been more a case of trying to stay on my feet rather than being able to take outside photos.

My Goodness - Loads Of Candy

WOW just take a look at this for a serious amount of giveaway candy.

Snovember & A Snowy Start To December Skywatch

My littlest decided we had got Snovember earlier in the week when it started snowing.  I'm not sure whether he made it up or he heard it somewhere but I like the word Snovember.  Not sure what I can do with December to make it a snowy word.

The snow started last saturday and basically has been here ever since with lots of additions to it. It isn't normal for November or even early December here in England.

Lots of skywatch piccies for you today.

This is the view out of my loft window this morning.

and one of the main roads

the supermarket

Looking For A Christmas Idea?

I stumbled across this bag tutorial a few weeks ago.  It is perfect to make for a christmas gift.  I'm planning to try making one this week so I will let you know what it turns out like.

Punky Scraps Blog Hop

I am super excited to be part of the newly formed Punky Scraps design team.

To promote the start of the challenges on 10th December we are having a blog hop this weekend with a super duper prize.

Punky Scraps is starting it off and then after that the running order is

Punky Scraps Blog  
Camilla 
Nina
TIffany
Kerry - YOU ARE HERE and your next stop is Kat below
Kat
Jo
Marianne
Jodi
Hayley
Winnie
Natalie

We are supposed to be showing you our favourite layout.  I've struggled a little bit with this because I have two favourites at the moment so I'm showing you them both.

A little bit about me:

I live in Yorkshire, England.  I have been scrapping for about six years since my youngest son was born.  I also have three older children (1 girl and 2 boys), a husband, two dogs and a cat.  I love working from sketches and have a recently found love of glimmer mist.  I'm still working on techniques though.

Getting The Mop Chopped

My youngest has been growing his hair.  Mainly I think because my eldest son has had his quite long for a long time. Eldest had his cut a couple of weeks ago so the youngest has been nagging to get his done.  He is petrified of the clippers at the barbers which might be another reason he has been growing it.  So he had to have it all done with the scissors.  The lady was really good with him and he even agreed to a little bit of time with her using the shaver around the back. 

This is the mop before

and this is after

Now if only he could get his glasses to stay on his nose we would be sorted.

Skywatch

A phone shot of some misty trees last friday

Closing Down Sale

I made the decision at the weekend to close my online shop - The Craft Garden

I have made some grab bags up of the bags of flowers I had left in stock.  They are priced at £4 (plus p&p of £1) and you are getting 10 bags of prima flowers in each bag.

The grab bags are here and the remaining other stock is here

A Little Package

A little package turned up.  It is from Sweetwater, who used to be my absolute favourite scrapbook line with their gorgeous designs.  They have moved over into fabrics now and this little project package contains fabrics, numbers and string. I'll show you what I have made (per their instructions) in a few days time.

Skywatch

Another shot taken with my phone so rather out of focus.  I love the silhouettes at the top of the hill.

Those Pesky Travelling Scarves

I'm totally up to date on the travelling scarves (like a scrapbook CJ or round robin but with knitting). 

Unfortunately mine got stuck at the first hurdle when the person I sent it to went missing in action and then when they did re emerge and said they had posted it it never turned up with the next person.  I'm not happy but hey ho c'est la vie.  I have started again and sent it to the next person down the line missing out the unreliable one so hopefully I should have something to show for it at the end of the round.

I also joined the next one which is a cable scarf but not enough people are signed up yet so it won't be starting just yet.  I think I will just buy a big ball of aran and send it round with it.  If you fancy it and are on Ravelry and also in europe then you are very welcome.  Infact if you are a knitter and not on Ravelry why not?  It is a massive resource for all things knitting and crocheting related.  I don't know what I would do without it.

There is also another swap thingy which I am part of and that is a bunting swap.  We each knit 4 pieces of bunting for the other participants in their chosen yarn/size and we then get 4 each in return.  We should get 24 triangles back so enough to make a nice length of bunting.  I have asked for mine to be in blues and browns so I can put it in the boys room as it is still lacking something and looks quite plain.

This is another scarf I have started just for me.  It is called the Ruffle Fluff scarf and is fun, mindless knitting once you get past the ruffles which again are fun.

I do have a finished traveling woman but I have no idea how to photograph it at the moment so that will have to follow shortly.

Have You Seen Him?

Mr scrapping mojo is taking an extended vacation for now. I need to make a call to the tropical beach he is sunning himself on soon because I am excited to say I have been accepted onto a new design team. I'll fill you in on more info when the official post is published on their blog.

Seriously though, I have been very busy with other things and haven't had the time to think too much about scrapping. I have a kit sat on my kitchen table right now with ideas running through my head and two photos sat with it from our holiday in October. I'm waiting for the first prompt for the design team and then I will get to work.

The weight loss took a nosedive when an old ankle injury from last year flared up whilst I was doing the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. I managed 4 days of level one but the pain became too much. A new injury in my shins seems to have happened and although it is ok to walk on I am getting what I can only describe as a burning pain at the front and side of my lower leg. Trip to the doctor I think for some advice.

Skywatch

Taken with my phone so a bit on the blurry side.

Skywatch

Taken last friday from a local park with the view over a disused industrial area which is waiting for redevelopment and one of the local graveyards.  It was so quiet and peaceful.

Knitting Update

Drum roll please......I have TWO finishes.

First up is a pair of mittens for my youngest

and second is the mammoth project which was a union jack cushion by Debbie Bliss and made me decide I am NEVER doing stranded/instarsia or whatever the hell it is called, again!!

and this is some yarn I dyed for a knit a long project called Anna I am starting soon.  Here is the link on ravelry if you are over there.

Shaming Myself Big Time

I need to do this so please bear with me or alternatively click the red cross to not.

I need to shame myself into losing some weight.

This is the printout from the scales in town last week.  I bought a smartcard that tracks and prints each weighing session so I can keep a track on the same scales.

16 stones is a hefty amount of poundage and it NEEDS to go. 

My plan is to make use of the exercise DVDs I have and go on longer dog walks than normal.  I am going to have to cut down on portion sizes.  Last week I got the cookery books out and planned our meals for the week ahead to try and cut down on excess spends.  It was so much easier having an idea what we were having rather than convenience processed crap out of the freezer.  This week I am going to look for some healthier versions.

I will post another printout on 1st December and we will see whether I have stuck to it.

Skywatch

Another view of those tall trees from last week but through the gorgeous window of our lodge.

Tilda Is A Cutie

Not the Magnolia Tilda although she is a massive cutie too.  The Tilda I recently discovered is this one by Tone Finnanger.

This one is a new release called Autumn Angel. The kit is definitely on my wish list for when I have some money.

This one is in a book I have and will be attempting it soon.

I treated myself to this kit with some money I got for my birthday.  Can't wait to get started on it once the kids are back at school and little fingers aren't involved in everything I do. Not sure I will manage the embroidery on the apron but everything else looks pretty straightforward. I'll get back to you on that though lol

Skywatch

Grey boring skies here this week so I have gone for another shot from our holiday in the forest.

Pencil Lines Birthday

Pencil Lines are having 4th birthday celebrations.  Hop on over there for sketchy goodness.

Center Parcs Part Two

I'll try again to upload a few more photos from our weekend away.

Starting with all the tens on sunday. Shame it wasn't 10 degrees too.

This was the fog over the tops of the hills on the way up there.

This is the drive in check in.

Apart from our wooden toadstool at brownies I've never seen a real life red one like this but they were in abundance in the forest.

Now onto the interior of the lodge incase anybody is considering a stay there or like me you are just nosey.

We stayed in a comfort plus 2 storey lodge.

This was the kitchen area.

 the living area (plus my son's hand)

another view of the kitchen and living area

the main bedroom which is downstairs

the dining table - not that we ever sat down to eat at it. It was more of a dumping ground for swimming bags.

One of the bathrooms (there were two plus a third toilet)

One of the upstairs bedrooms

the flipping pony trekking came into the cul de sac we were in to turn around so we ended up with pony poop all over the paths (lovely!!!)

This, for me, is one of the highlights of our visits to Center Parcs - a crackle log.  They have empty fireplaces and you can buy the logs in the supermarket on site.  They are lovely and relaxing.

The boys played tennis. 

The little one had a go too.  This photo is one of my favourites from our holiday with the racket strings shadowed onto his face.