Wednesday 27 August 2014

It's Wednesday

and that can only mean one thing....yarn

This week I'm working on a baby dress for the shop and I'm reading The Cornish House by Liz Fenwick. It's an easy read so far and one worth recommending if you like chick lit. 


Linking in with Tami and Ginny 


Tuesday 19 August 2014

Oops

I did it again. Just when I was starting to get back into the daily blogging I stopped 👎. Ah well never mind. It's yarn tomorrow so hopefully that will be a kick up the bum again.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Yarn On A Wednesday

Still working on the mystery crochet along. This is clue 5. The final clue is out today. I'm intrigued what is going to happen as out of the 52 little circles made in clue 1 only 12 of them have been included in the gorgeous little flower motifs so that leaves a lot to work on in the final part.




Reading - I finally gave up on The Book Thief. It was just too hard to get into even after well over 100 pages. I started Rubbernecker a couple of days ago and have already done two thirds.


It's one of those easy reads that you can't put down. A murder mystery but the detective is a boy of 18 with aspergers who is studying anatomy at college. Without saying too much it also has narratives from a patient waking from a coma who is frustrated because he is locked in his body unable to communicate. This is a very unique viewpoint and adds to the ease of reading. I'm loving this book and having two kids with a diagnosis of autism and aspergers respectively there are so many things the character does that I can relate to.

Linking in with Tamis Amis and Yarnalong

Trip To The Seaside

I love our nearest coastline - our town in West Yorkshire is around 70 miles from the east coast so not exactly near but closer than the west coast. 

Scarborough and Bridlington have lovely sandy beaches and whilst they are commercialised there are also spots where you can step away from all that. We had a day trip to Bridlington last Thursday. 

Our day took the usual route when we go there - use the park and ride at south beach which in reality is so close to everything you'd only need to use the ride bit if you had either mobility issues or were very lazy 


It leads down to this beach but we usually walk towards the commercialised end and get some chips and icecream at the harbour


Then it is on to the amusements and let the kids loose with a pot of 2p coins to feed the machines


Yikes that chin shot isn't very flattering!

Then it's a walk through town and back to the car to collect the beach gear. The bag has all kinds of stuff in it and we've used the same one for several years since the youngest was tiny. These days he doesn't get much more than his rugby ball out of it. It's a permanent fixture to his hand most of the time lately. A kite and bucket and spade made a brief appearance last week but they soon went away in favour of skimming stones in the sea. I guess he's getting older.  Personally I was selfish and let the husband do all the kid stuff and sit in a chair with my knitting. 



Then we took a drive a few miles down the coast to a place called Barmston where we stayed in 2012 for a few days. This section of the coastline suffers badly from coastal erosion and is living on borrowed time.  These are some pictures of the current state it is in. 

See the pipe coming out of the cliff? That wasn't there last time we were here so must have been exposed when more land disappeared to the sea.


Footpath has almost gone. 


Very sad state of affairs that Mother Nature has brought to this area and continues to take from. 

Monday 11 August 2014

August blogging - Day 11

Steph's prompt today is what have you been wearing this week.

I've only really got 2 pictures.

This one from Thursday which is a tshirt from the Next sale for £3 which I like because it is quite long. Being tall I struggle with tshirt length a lot. Next relaxed skinny fit jeans in black. Primark £1 sunglasses and my trusty Cath Kidston messenger bag.




and Friday. We were at a wedding so I actually wore a dress. Doesn't happen often. This one was by Samya from Simply Be only a month ago but it isn't on the website anymore so must have sold out.



Saturday 9 August 2014

August Blogging - Day 9

Yes I know I missed some but I do have a good excuse.

 It involves a bit of this


and a lot of this


I'll get to that tomorrow.

Today's prompt from Emma is 15 things that make you happy.

It goes without saying that my family make me happy so I'm going to go with 15 more superficial things:

1. That first cup of coffee on a morning

2. Watching the transformation of a seed into a plant knowing that I've made that happen

3. Knitting

4. The pets but only when they are being good. The dogs are a nightmare for barking at anything going past the window and in this warmer weather the window being open makes noise carry so they do it even more. Very frustrating but good at the same time because it deters the cold calling sales people. Flaming cats have pooped on the kitchen floor once or twice recently too which is frustrating. All is forgiven though when the dogs come for a cuddle or a cat sits on your knee purring.

5. White chocolate

6. The feeling when you wake up and there is still an hour before the alarm goes off and you can nod back off.

7. Laying in bed listening to the rain. Our room has a velux window and the pitter patter is strangely soothing.

8. Freshly washed bed covers

9. Pizza from dominos

10. My allotment

11. A freshly bleached and hosed back yard. Two big stinky dogs provide a lot of mess!

12. White washing blowing in the wind

13. New pretty stationery (usually at the beginning of the tax year but sometimes just because)

14. A pair of comfy shoes

15. Looking at pretty things on Pinterest.


Steph's prompt today is about your skin care routine

I'm a bit lazy if I'm honest and *shock horror* go to bed with my make up on sometimes and then waking up with panda eyes the next morning. I should know better. I do make myself get into a routine and it works for 2-3 weeks but then I end up tired and just wanting my bed and can't be bothered again. Yes I know....no hope!

When I'm on a routine I generally use whatever has come in a recent birchbox but sometimes I will buy products from the same range sometimes I'll mix and match. I really like the All Bright Botanics range from Boots but I did read on one of the products that it contains an ingredient that makes your skin more sensitive to the sun and to use extra sunscreen or words to that effect. I figured I'd save that for the dull days of a uk autumn/winter. I'm rambling now so I'll just say what I'm using at the moment - Balance Me cleanser, I'm using L'Oreal CC cream during the day so haven't been bothering with a day cream. I've got Avon Genics Dark Circle stuff for my eyes. I've no idea if it works to reduce the dark circles but it certainly moisturises the area. On a night time I use Oil of Olay instant hydration cream. Mainly because it was reduced to £2.50 in Boots recently. I'm assuming it is a discontinued item now which is a shame because it's really nice.

Bit of a mix today. I'll be back with the seaside and wedding stories tomorrow and of course the prompts for day 10.

I really need to get back into the routine again instead of a quick wipe of the panda eyes with a baby wipe on a morning.

Wednesday 6 August 2014

August Blogging - Day 6

So today Steph is asking about the last restaurant we visited.

I suppose as far as restaurants go it depends if fast food in a zoo is counted. Yesterday we had hot dogs at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The day before we had a bacon sandwich at a cafe at the side of Leeds Bradford airport. The last proper meal in a restaurant was when we stayed in Eastbourne the weekend before last. Evening meal and breakfast. The evening meal wasn't anything to write home about. It was quiche and salad and the quiche was very dry and tasteless. Breakfast however was an all you can eat buffet with a cooked order taken for as many sausages/bacon/eggs etc as you wanted. Can't beat it.





I do like Wetherspoons meal deals too. Usually a meal and a drink for around £6-7.

Yarn On A Wednesday

I've been working on an MCAL (mystery crochet along) this week. The pattern was gifted when I signed up for the MCAL and can be found here

My progress to clue 2 is this





and these are for clue 3





Lots and lots of little motifs which further clues will hopefully provide more rows making them into flowers or squares and I would imagine the latter clues will be how to join them together to make a scarf/shawl/blanket depending on how many motifs are made. I'm aiming for the scarf but you never know....

Still plodding on with The Book Thief since that photo of it with my knitting last week. Not enjoying it at all but trying to stick with it.

Linking in with Tami and Yarnalong once they are up this week. Yarnalong is dealing with an awful tragedy at the moment so understandably may not have a link this week.

Tuesday 5 August 2014

August Blogging - Day 5 Make Up and Memories

Today Steph asked us what is in our make up bag and Emma asked about a vivid memory. I've decided to combine the two prompts.

So what's in my make up bag?

I do have a fair bit of make up and the majority of it I never use. I really need a clear out of the drawer I keep it all in. When we were away last weekend I put what I considered essentials in one of the drawstring bags that come in a Birchbox and was too lazy to empty it again when I got home so here it is:





A body oil sample size, Boots No7 lipstick, L'Occitaine day cream, L'Oreal CC cream (antidullness), Rimmel eye quad, Benefit mascara mini, L'Oreal illuminating powder, Max Factor long lasting lipstick and gloss, brown eye liner, party poof lipstick and various brushes and a set of tweezers. God knows why there are 3 lipsticks in there. The max factor one lasts all day but can be very drying. I like the No 7 one better even though it doesn't last as long. The CC cream is something I really like. I made a massive mistake though and bought it on a L'Oreal 3 for 2 in Boots with the illuminating powder and got one for anti fatigue too. That one was my mistake as it is that awful Oompa Loompa orange the youngsters seem to favour not realising how ridiculous it looks. I was under the impression it was just a neutral sort of shade that suits most people but obviously not. I felt a bit cheated out of the offer but hey ho nevermind. Love the anti dullness one though and the illuminating powder.

So on to my vivid make up memory. It's from when I was in my early teenage years. You need to bear in mind that this was the eighties. Electric blue mascara and eyeliner was all the rage. Pocket money and the Boots Seventeen range. Anyway I must have looked a state at that age with the blue stuff on my eyes. I know if it was my daughter I wouldn't have been impressed. My dad was in hospital recovering from a knee operation and we had been to visit him. I had sneaked some of my mum's foundation on thinking I looked the bees knees. My mum has quite dark colouring for a white lady (Romany gypsy throwback apparently from a few generations back) and I'm quite pale skinned so you can imagine what I looked like with the way too dark and badly applied foundation together with the electric blue eye products. I will never forget my dad beckoning me over to the bed before we went home and telling me it would be better if the next time I went I didn't wear the make up. I don't think I've ever worn coloured mascara again.

Monday 4 August 2014

August Blogging - Day 4

Today Steph's prompt is which blog events have you been to and met up with people?

This one is easy - I haven't. I've met Kirsty Wiseman a couple of times at craft events but only because she was working there and I was a customer. She is one of the ladies who set up herspace MySpace back in the day.

I also stumbled upon another blog challenge yesterday by Emma at Outmumbered. I'm hoping to be able to combine both challenges starting today. Emma's prompt today is - where would you like to be in 10 years?

Hopefully with a lot less debt around our shoulders. The mortgage should be paid off as should a longstanding loan which has been a chain around our necks and has prevented us borrowing anything at all until it is gone.

I would like to be as proud of the kids as I am right now. Eldest continuing in her teaching career which she is starting in September, 18 year old to have gained the a level results he needs next week to get in the university of his choice, gain the maths degree he craves and have a good job. Our 16 year old to get good gcse results this month and for him to take the path he chooses which will allow him to continue to maturely deal with the demons living a life with autism brings. Our youngest to grow into an adult, again dealing with the demons of autism, and fulfilling his dreams. Most of all though for them all (and us) to be happy and healthy and if the path they currently choose isn't working to make the correct decision to enable them to be happy. Who knows they may even have produced children of their own by then.

I don't have any idea work wise what I want to be doing at 52. I'm not doing the same job I was doing 10 years ago nor was I doing 10 years ago what I was doing 10 years before that. 10 years ago I had a 6 month old baby.

Who knows what the future holds?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday 3 August 2014

August Blogging - Day 3

Day 3 of Steph's August blogging marathon is:

What was the last book you read?

Mine was Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse








I bought it as a pack from the Richard and Judy summer book club run by WH Smith when I was looking for some inspiration earlier in the year as I'd just finished the marathon that is the Jack Reacher series of books by Lee Child.

I'm rubbish at book reviews without giving away major plot lines. This one changes track a few times in rather an unpredictable way. I won't give the plot away so won't say any more other than that it is one of the best reads from the pack I bought and Richard and Judy made a good choice with this. Unputdownable if that's a word.

Saturday 2 August 2014

August Blogging - Day 2

Steph asked - Do You Join In With Any Linkys Or Blog Challenges?

My answer would be not regularly for a while.

I used to join in with Skywatch Friday (which actually goes live on a Thursday evening) every week and post things like these clouds which remind me of the fluffy ones kids draw on pictures.







I used to regularly link up to a knitting one called Tamis Amis where we can show our progress on whatever knitting or crochet project we are currently working on that particular Wednesday - WIP Wednesday (work in progress). On a Friday she does FO Friday (finished object Friday) where we can gush about our recently completed items. I have much much more work in progress than I ever finish. The ladies in my knitting group call it startitis (the art of starting projects). Last week I actually joined in for a change.








Then there is Rinda's Summer Photo Hunt. A list of required items is published and we have the summer to find the items to photograph. Rinda puts a linky up every so often for us to see how each other has interpreted the prompts. It can be challenging. Sometimes I know where I can find something such as I knew there would be a mascot race at the rugby BBQ but I don't have a clue where I will find a waterfall or a parade. That's where interpretation comes in.

Love this lamp post shot I got for the challenge





I think that's about it.

Friday 1 August 2014

August Blogging - Day 1

I've been rather neglectful of my little bloggy place for some time now. I always mean to write things but then I get distracted and just never get around to it. I read a lot of blogs via feedly and saw that Steph was planning to do her own personal challenge for August so I thought I'd play along with her. I'm not too sure what some of the prompts mean and I may not do all of them as I'm not that into the fashion side of it but you never know.

So day 1 - About Me




I'm 42 and live in West Yorkshire with my husband, our 4 kids, 2 dogs and 3 cats. You have to breathe in a bit to fit us all in the house.

I started this blog in March 2008. I did have another one before that with Wordpress. I discovered blogger was a better set up and here I am. My Wordpress blog was where I took part in the photo challenges Steph mentions in her post linked above. I met some lovely people through there and am still in touch with most of them on Facebook.

I blog about a variety of different subjects - pets, knitting, crochet, family, sky photos amongst other things.

Until the last few months I used to do a fair bit of scrapbooking but I've lost my way a bit with that. Mr mojo is on an extended break.

I have an allotment which has been a massive learning curve in the almost two years we have had it. All that stuff goes in a separate blog.

Beauty box reviews have been a common feature on here but just lately I haven't even bothered to blog those. iPhone games have a lot to answer for in terms of time running away. Less games more blogging is in order I think.

I will just say from the outset that I've been less than complimentary about fashion bloggers in the past. I honestly don't think anybody cares what I'm wearing each and every day. It would get very boring as I don't have tons of clothes. Over time though from regularly reading one or two I've come round a little bit. My only bugbear is the fashion bloggers who are wearing clothes that so obviously don't fit yet blog that they fit perfectly. A bigger size sometimes works wonders for how something looks. Be honest with yourself.

That's a little insight into me.