Memories

Last Sunday, when the girls were off doing their own thing, Mr Bun said to me I need to show you the most beautiful shop window ever. We walked a fairly short way, but in the freezing wind it felt like a very long way. I thought ungraciously, 'this better be worth it'.

Then we arrived at Junk & Gems and I knew straight away it was worth it. I should never have doubted or questioned as my man knows a good thing when he sees it.

The shop was closed and would next be open on a Tuesday. I looked at all the beautiful things in that window and thought of how much I would like to hold them. Now as I only teach a half day on a Wednesday I planned over the next couple of days to head over to that part of the city and have a rummage of my very own. Just before 12.30 a couple of friends called to take me to lunch. I kept quiet about my plans, enjoyed their company and then headed off to Junk & Gems.

Christmas treasure from the past is exciting and magical. These are just once a year things that have survived partly because they get packed away carefully at the end of the festivities. 

I took a few rolls of the wrapping paper to add to those already at home. I love this paper not only because of the feel and look of it. The paper is slightly thicker than tissue paper with garish colours and jolly bold designs that make me feel so happy to look at it again and again. I also love it, and this is probably the main reason I wanted it, because it takes me right back to childhood.

Mrs Leeder's sweetshop in the village I grew up in was packed to the gills with comics, jars of sweets, toys and at christmas this beautiful paper which Santa always wrapped my gifts in. I can still remember my dad taking me there late one evening to stop me crying before my mum got home. I chose a thick rubber bouncy ball, sherbet sand and a Twinkle. My tears had been brought on by Lassie finally finding his owner. I guess the relief was really too much for me and I just gulped and sobbed endlessly before my dad decided something drastic needed to be done. As this was the 1970's treats were only on birthdays and christmas, getting something on a normal day was a big deal which is probably why I remember it so clearly.

Buying old stuff isn't just about a love of the thing, it's about all those wonderful memories that are stirred up. Good memories that make me feel sad sometimes and squeeze my eyes tight so I don't well up. 

Now if you're eagle eyed you might have spied the Gumball Advent Santa in the shop window. Now he lives with us. Every now and then we pull the string between his legs to make his arms and legs shoot up and his eyes to flick back and forth. He has all the original gumballs behind all the windows, we'll be leaving them there.

Last night we decorated the tree. Gumball Santa joined all the other christmassy bits I've added here and there. I moved the deer bunting and put up my Kiss Kiss garland in its place. Not that I'm finished yet as there's a host of Santa's waiting to sit on shelves. Sometimes I wonder if I could do a stylish minimal as I do like it when I see it. Somehow in my hands loads of stuff gets added to the mix.

The Bun's made a wonderful job of decorating the tree. While I wound lights they went through the boxes with such delight at all the memories they were uncovering. Small tree crackers made by my Mr's dad when he was small, decorations made by the Bun's and others that we have given them each christmas.

All endless memories evoked by the past and the small rituals we are creating of our own. Simple things that remind me of so many other stories.

The Power of the Rug

This weekend our cottage has been the cosiest and toastiest place ever to be. I only had to do a few simple things and life was just made even better.

I sprinkled a few more fairy lights here and there, I ordered our first ever pile of logs and sorted a chimney sweep so we can have a coal fire in the Jolly room over christmas.

The biggest and bestest thing of all was getting a soft and furry rug for the sitting room.

An idea suggested by my mum to stop all those draughts whizzing through the floorboards and over us. Not a difficult idea to come up with I admit, but we feel as if we've won the lottery from the amount of joy we've all had from just a couple of days with the rug.

The room instantly feels and looks cosier, the floor feels all squishy and squashy underfoot and we have enjoyed being in our home even more than ever.

The Bun's loved finally being able to roll about on a soft floor and not get splinters in them. Alfie thinks it's the best thing ever as he can usually only get a good manic roll and back rub upstairs (carpets up there you see).

On Saturday I barely left the room, which for a fidget like me is unusual. I plonked myself down on the rug with paper, felt and notions, lit the fire and settled down for what I thought would be just a wee spot of stitching. The wood man came and dumped a pile of logs on our drive. I sat and stitched away while Mr Bun lugged barrow after barrow load round to the log store. I only felt briefly naughty keeping my head down remembering the endless bags of logs I usually lug home each week to keep us all toasty.

Stitching inspiration came from a book I bought in the summer. I thought Laura Howard's Super Cute Felt had a great choice of things to make for and with the Bun's. Although I'm not overly keen on Scandi Style christmas decorations I was really taken with the gingerbread garland. So on Saturday I gathered together the bits I'd bought the day before and got cutting and stitching. The Bun's joined me to finish up their felt tree decorations and we spent a peaceful while stitching together.

Somehow, apart from stopping to eat and to feed the animals, I managed to stitch my way through the whole of Saturday. We watched Elf and I stitched sequins on, then the radio came on drinks were poured and my lovelies made paper chains while I still stitched away.  Last stitches were put in while I chatted to Miss Rosey in her bath. By the end of the last dance on Strictly all the biscuits were hung on a ribbon with jingly bells tied either side. I've never stuck my head down to one thing like this before. Usually I flit here and there.

I think the rug made it impossible for any of us to leave the room. Such a simple thing to give us such pure joy and fall in love with home all over again. 

On a previous note. Thanks for your lovely comments about the deer bunting I made this week. I'm thinking of adding some bobble trim and bells as it's looking too restrained for me at the moment. Not sure if it'll work, but I'm going to have a fiddle and see. Interesting to see I'm not as alone in my feelings as regards Ms CK. I wondered if it was going to the equivalent of saying the naughtiest swear word ever on here to say I wasn't as enamoured as I could be. Saying that Little Bun was really excited to be visiting the shop today on her christmas shopping trip with my mum so I haven't brainwashed anyone around here honestly.

Like Mother Like Daughter

All this wintry days darkness isn't good for happy blog posts. Coming home when all is black and the lights are twinkling away doesn't make for my kind of photos.

Good light today and a whole day of this and that stretching ahead of me meant I could take some pictures and pop into blogworld again.

The weekend was a whirlygig of all sorts of stuff. A christmas bazaar at our village church, swimming, massive clearing and chucking out and cosying up for a spot of hooking and stitching with the Bun's.

I made up some bunting in christmassy colours to add to the other general hangy things we have hereabouts. This morning was the official choosing a spot and hanging it up day.

The gingham ribbon came about for two reasons. First I couldn't be bothered to hook a cream chain and second I thought the contrast would make rather a nice change. Do you know, I'm really rather pleased I was feeling lazy and impatient for results as I love how it's turned out.

Little Bun had a good long stare at it tonight and said she'd definately like another go at learning how to crochet. Being a left-hander she's found it pretty hard up to now. Her top present on her christmas list is a pink sewing machine. Might have that girl converted to my ways. Miss Rosey loves to make too, but is honing her art skills and becoming fabulous at drawing like her dad. I'll have to share some of their pictures with you one day soon.

On Friday I bought a CK making book for the Bun's to help them with their stitching skills. I'd left this book on the shelf before when Miss Rosey found it as I thought "hey I can do that so who needs a darned book".  

After nothing much happening from me in designing and then cutting out felt shapes for them I reckoned buying the book with all the felt and makings along with the patterns, instructions and pretty pictures would make it all a hell of a lot easier for them and my patience. I'm good at being patient teaching strangers, not so good with my own so we need all the support we can get.

There are 12 really sweet felt christmas decorations in the book and as it's designed for kids they were happy to just have me on hand to help as and when. It was lovely actually and was probably the most relaxing making session we've had.  Or maybe it the large snowball my Mr put in front of me while we munched on dolly mixtures and sang to our first outing of 70's christmas party songs.

Little Bun is busy working on a Robin, while Miss Rosey is beavering away on a snowman. I'm sure Little Bun will show and tell on her blog very soon. She wanted to have a go at all this stuff a while back as she's always enjoyed writing stories and making comics. I think she's visited a few of you to say hello and she's been thrilled to have a few visits back (her mummy is pleased for her too).

Final shot just to prove the claim I made to clearing up this weekend. This was part of the dumping ground we have in the back hall. Three hours spent here making it all luvverly again and even christmassed up in early anticipation.

Last bit of Razzle

Little Bun had fun making me a sticky and gorgeous gummy bear trifle for birthday tea. Eldest Bun made the tastiest chocolate birthday cake (all munched). Mr Bun's a great cook, but all food becomes inedible if he tries to make anything cakey or puddingy so he's banned from trying.

We had planned to go to our favourite Italian restaurant in the evening, but they're back home in Italy. Then we thought we'd try the new Veggie restaurant, but they're shut until the New Year. The 29th's not a great date if you're in Norfolk as all the shut signs go up.

We drove up to the North Norfolk coast in the morning as I fancied going on the Mince Pie steam train ride along the coast to Holt. The traffic was beyond rubbish and so we missed it. I sulked for a bit and then we went for a bracing sea walk followed with soup and cakes in a tea shop. We also found a lovely shop and I treated myself to a couple of things. Promise to show you another day.

Today is a lovely chill out day - well until 3ish when we're going for after christmas drinks and then off to see the film Hugo in our big 3d specs. The cold I had before christmas turned into enormous loud sneezes on christmas day. Now I've got a swollen throat and the back of my tongue feels all huge and sore. Mr Bun can't stop laughing when I speak as I sound special apparently.

So I'm being quiet and having a rifle through some of the lovely books I've been bought. Last night I snuggled in bed with the Strictly annual that Eldest bought for me.

I'm taking time to enjoy all the bits and bobs around the place. Like the jolly new deer that Mr Bun found for me. 

I'm dreaming up plans of new makes, even though I still have two toys, a sock, a cushion and probably something else to finish first.

Having time means I can really enjoy all the bits and bobs we add to the tree each year. Ever since the Bun's were born I've bought them a decoration each for the tree. This year Little Bun got a drummer girl.

Eldest got a small crocheted monkey. Johnny her monkey has been her best cuddly friend ever since we spied him in a charity shop when she was one. He's no longer fluffy and bears all the signs of worn true love. There have a been a few long drives back to places she's left him, our hearts pounding all the way hoping that he would still be there.

Then we have the old friends that made up Mr Bun's christmas childhood.

Now it seems it's time to start thinking ahead. I've started on the slouchy hat that Eldest has chosen from Jane Brockett's knit book. I'm using Debbie Bliss aran tweed which is a bit itchy, but has the most wonderful colour flecks running through it.

Once they all go back to school and work I've one day free to try and finish painting the stairs. I started them just before the holidays as I'm getting sick of them not being finished.

After that fun I've planning to do writing up three schemes of work. Two for completely new courses I'll be running and the other that largely depends on the individual learning needs of the students I'll get so it has to be vaguish and flexible if you know what I mean.

Let's try to keep the real world at bay for a few more days though shall we, keep munching the roses and daydreaming?

January Joy

Hello at long last. The snow's finally gone and our internet connection has come back. Our garden gnome knows he's more than just a head once more. And me? Well I discovered that yes I can cope without blogging and reading my emails, but it's really not as much fun. So I feel all well and truly back once more too.

A general catch up is needed I think. Happy New Year first to you all. I'm banking on this being a really good year.

Now the fairy cakes above are to be shared around to celebrate my first year of blogging. This happened in my abscence on the 2nd January. I'm looking forward to another year and seeing where it will take me. Overall blogging to me has meant lovely people I've met and chatted to; thoughtful comments left and read with real appreciation; inspiration and entertainment from all the wonderful blogs I visit and a sense of focus for whatever on earth it is I'm really trying to do. Hope that all makes sense.
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As the snow made a big impact on us all I thought I ought to pop a couple of white shots in before we get on with the real colour to warm us up. The hens were not happy at all with the situation. Their poor feet went a shocking shade of yellow. I think it was our version of cold blue feet.

Posh sledging called Tubing at a ski place party for the Buns. I drank hot chocolate and dreamt of the warmth of the fire at the bottom.



Before all of this stuff we had Christmas didn't we. So in my general catch up I want to show you what I made for the Bun's presents. They had a pencil roll each, with their names stamped onto linen and sewn on the outside. I didn't use a pattern so I was left with one extra slightly larger pocket at the end. This has actually turned out to be a design plus as secret things are now stored in here.

For Eldest Bun I crocheted Camilla the Horse (all madly done in the two days I had free after the Pick 'n' Mix Market, before school broke up and inbetween the two days I started my new job). That last week was very tiring to say the least.

Little Bun asked for an Owl to keep Snowy company on her bedstead, so I obliged. My first memory of making was aged six and turning an old floral cord baby dress of mine into an owl, stuffing it with my mums tights and gluing cake tins on for the eyes. Using this 70's memory I thought I'd make a similarly retro one, but without raiding Mr Kiplings cakes.


Then there is the make that is a gift, but not a christmas one. You might remember me cutting this out a fair while ago and then nothing. The absolutely freezing need for tons of blankets and me nailing blankets up at windows to keep out drafts (T's very helpful hint) drove me to quickly finish this for Eldest Bun. Perhaps that hurry can excuse the fact that I sewed the flaps the wrong way round. Ho hum. It still keeps her feet warm whichever way they face.

Then there was the day that school actually opened and I wasn't at work so I popped into the much missed charity shop and found this gorgeous turbanned lady and blue flower brooch.

Without blogging to distract me I curled up by the fire and knitted up these wristwarmers for Little Bun (still as yet to finish the flowery twists for the top).

Then I bought yet more wool (Rowan Felted Tweed) to knit up what was planned to be a jumper in the shop, but turned into becoming a tank top, by the time I got home so I don't have to do the sleeves too.

I also bought some divinely soft Louisa Harding Thistle to knit a short lacy scarf with.

I also made another Big Flower Brooch to bring a shot of sunshine into the wintry gloom and finally set to with a cardigan I've been meaning to make for Eldest Bun for ooohhhh ages now. Halfway there with that so I hope to show you one day soon. Just goes to show what I can actually get on with when I'm not distracted by visiting all of your lovely blogs. Will I finish it all now I'm allowed back again I wonder?

Glittering Snow

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you all. Since writing this post I thought of all the jobs to be done and realised I won't be back for a few days.

Late on Saturday as we drove back home through our village everything was so still. I don't like the silence that comes with the snow. Actually I don't like snow at all. Yes it looks quite attractive and our messy garden is hidden nicely under lots of neat and tidy white. I hate being cold and not being able to go places if it's suddenly deemed too dangerous.

Anyway, ignoring my contempt for the white stuff, I have to say the village did look stunning. The ducks managed to find a small piece of pond that wasn't frozen. The war memorial looked perfect in this frozen setting. I forgot the church which also looked amazing.

Behind us the sun was setting across the fields and that scene did take my breath away. Now I'd like it all to go away as I've had enough of it now.

Inside is much cosier. School made decorations have come home and been hung from the beam.

For the first year ever I stopped being such a control freak and let the Bun's loose on the tree. Maybe I was too tired to take over after having got back from Pick 'n' Mix the day before.

So many memories as each year we have added a new bauble for each of the Bun's to the family ones. This year I somehow never got round to buying one for them. I still have time to get them as I feel sad that I forgot.

I bought this lovely paper fan from Daniella which popped into a vase from Teena looks perfect.

After all this glitter I want to tell you another reason I hate the snow. Living in the countryside means that the rats and foxes who live here get very hungry when the ground is frozen. This morning I went to fill up the straw in George and Lucy's hutch. They are small dwarf rabbits and get cold easily. Such a terrible terrible sight of our two gentle friends laying side by side, killed by a rat. I'll spare you the gory details, but I can't get the sight of them out of my head. I bought Lucy for Mr Bun as an anniversary gift five years ago and then George moved in with her months later. She bossed him and he quietly took whatever mood she was in. They laid on top of one another and got panicky whenever I took one out of the hutch without the other. Just such a senseless awful way to die. We can't even put down poison as we'll probably just end up killing the cats, hens and daft dog. Our hens have been barricaded in for safety and we've checked over Pixie and the Pigs. It's not easy giving your heart over to all these animals.