Tuesday 21 February 2012

1st Crochet Project





well......feeling very pleased,I have been working on this for about a year and a half and it is very nearly finished !! Some ends to sew in and maybe a few decorative flowers. It is very luxurious, made of mohair from an old jumper, some wool I have had since  I was seventeen,some chenille from charity shops. I                                                    
A friend showed me how to do this simple afghan pattern and away I went; I had always wanted to learn to crochet but have found the instructions confusing so to be shown was perfect and since You Tube and all the great little tutorials one can see I,m going to keep at it .                                                                          
It feels so cosy wrapped up in it and already the kids have commendeered it .
I love It!

Dad and Son in the Woods



the beginings of a shelter








a dragon  i think


Bleak Wet Walk



I woke up and was inspired to mend the punctures that had for so long  been on my list of things to do.The bikes have been gathering dust and had not been magically mended by men elves like I had imagined. No ..I was going to have to do it and of course as soon as I did there was no end of help and before you knew it  all was done, readjusted brakes and seats ( some serious growing has been happening ). I did have to mend one puncture twice as I forgot to check inside the tyre for remaining sharp bits but at least I won,t     be making that mistake again..in fact next time I,ll help them mend them themselves .                                                                                                                          
So, where to go ?
Well, we all squeezed into the van and drove a while to Maldon where there is a good park and some estuary walking.First they had fun on the ramps and then we went walking. Forty five minutes into it we noticed the black clouds and it was so windy we decided to turn back but too late we were caught in icy driving rain and were soon soaked to the skin..Of course the kids were very miserable and it did seem along way back but it was good for the experience. I secretly quite enjoyed it . We peeled the wet trousers and socks off huddled under blankets  warmed ourselves up with hot drinks, homemade cake and pasta and then cold and tired  drove back to the cosy  home .                                                                                      
We used to go here and camp overnight in the van ,now there is no staying over night,the park used to be free and now it is a pound an hour and even though it was a Saturday we saw three different council vans checking for  tickets.                                                                                                                                  
One thing hasn,t changed i,m sure and that is the bleakness of it all, we try and imagine what it would have been  like when the Vikings came up the estuary  all those years ago.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

we were the only vehicle left in the park !!

Friday 10 February 2012

Still Snow

                                                                                                                                                                


....and in the night another little flurry of snow,not much but enough to dust the still there but very icy layer left from the weekend.: covering the ground with a fresh white , fine powder . Each step delivering that wonderful crunch crunch sound as we tramped through it amidst the quiet of it all. Well, that is apart from the shrieks and yells and sometimes tears ( from a direct hit of a snow ball ) of three excited  people........
it was cold but exhilarating
and so so beautiful too !


              

this little miss slept cosily thoughout 

Sunday 5 February 2012

Snow


It snowed last night. We were all very excited and went to bed hoping to wake up to lots and lots of it. Well.. not this time ,it was a bit wet and slushy and most of the main roads had been gritted ..Still, the kids were kitted out for the coldness of it all and were taken out for an adventure before it all melted away.



a snow throne and footstool


a snow bed...brrr..









and our trusty old van , we love him. He is at the heart of most of our adventures. Now we are five we,ll have to do some crafty space management before our spring camping ??


Wednesday 1 February 2012

Birthday



                                                                             Pressies...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   


                                                                       
a cake