October recap

October was a busy month so this is really just a recap for my own memories sake!

Another Amelia Rose...another line of bunting.

and a baby girl card to send with the bunting!

The first of my Christmas cushions.

Farming fields for a farming crazy boy.

A dress for my neice who turns 1 just before Christmas.

The back of the dress!

We had a lovely half term trip to Chester and Liverpool. Staying with family, visiting friends, train ride to Liverpool and checking out Tate Liverpool, Liverpool museum and the docks.

Outside the new Museum of Liverpool.

Bird watching at the Rye Meads Reserve.

Filling our Operation Christmas Child boxes.

A visit to the National Space centre.

A card for twins, Michael and James.

October was a fun, fast paced month while November is turning out to be a slower, 'back to normal' (as MJ would say) kind of month!

War: who looses?

'A thousand splendid suns' by Khaled Hosseini is a fantastic book and one that I was unable to put down. It opened my eyes to the reality of life on the streets of Afghanistan and helped me understand a little of the wars the country has had to endure in the past 30 years. It's portrayal of the innocent victims of a war torn country was captivating but also heart breaking.

Friday was Armistice day and as my parents were visiting we decided to go along to the American War Memorial for the 11am rememberance service.We considered and remembered those who bravely found in battles only to loose their lives.

I am struggling with the way we celebrate the lives of soliders who go to war and those who loose their lives to war. Do we ever consider the millions who are simply living their day to day life when their world is turned upside down by war, their families are torn apart by war and they are left with devastation in every way. Even now as I type, parents and children are being separated, homes being destroyed and many many living in continual fear. Who are the real victims of war...those who choose to go and fight or those ordinary people who are in the worng place at the wrong time?

I wish I could eloquently articulate my thoughts but writing is not my strength so I suggest instead that you read this book!

A bargain filled month

I'm sure I have mentioned my local charity shop on here before. Our house is full of things we have purchased there and everything we no longer use finds itself there. Over the last few weeks we have found some interesting, useful and fun things to buy.

A 201k Singer...I watched a lady drop it off and knew that although I don't need another sewing machine I just couldn't pass it by. To my eye it is the most beautiful thing. This picture doesn't do it justice. Last night I read online a bit more about the 201k Singer and it turns out my £10 purchase was a huge bargain...not that I will ever want to sell it on.

6 metal Thomas and Friends engines... On a Friday when we pick MJ up from school he gets his pocket money and can choose to save it, spend it in the charity shop or in the sweet shop. His £1 pocket money went far in the charity shop today! The engines are very well worn but as M loves to paint warhammer models he is thinking of repainting them...I don't think MJ had noticed how worn they are!

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly rhyme book...This is a curious rhyme which always intrigued me as a child. I was delighted to find this book which is so beautifully illustrated. It turns out that MJ and Lj are also equally thrilled with this 25p purchase.

Large word cards...MJ is reading! I thought to help him along I would like word cards. I fondly remember my word tin from primary school...the tins were perfect for storing our words and were used again and again. I wonder what the tins originally held! I also wonder if this is where my love of storage boxes began! Before I ordered some word cards for MJ online I found this set which looked like it had never been opened. Now as he learns a new word we find it in the pack and stick it to his wardrobe door. It is so exciting to watch him learn to read.

And finally...a little girls buggy! I had planned to get Lj a baby buggy for Christmas but why spend £10 on a new one when we could spend £2, save on landfill and support a charity all at the same time...the only issue is I couldn't resist letting her have a play straight away and I'm not sure I have the heart to put it away til Christmas.

So would you agree...we live beside the best charity shop...ever!

Zara Marion

'Baby Zara' (as my children call her) has arrived...so it was time to make another quilt. I kept this one plain and simple.

I think I'm improving with the freestyle sewing...it is difficult to see here as I used a purple thread.

Lj and her bag

When out for a walk Lj loves to pick up acorns, cones, apples, stones or whatever her little chubby hands can carry. So for a long time I have been meaning to make her a little bag for her to store her treasures until she gets home. Yesterday when in town I almost bought her a little Cath Kidson bag. Indeed it was very cute but I'm not sure Lj would really have appreciated it. So I felt spurred on to make her one myself.

It was finished just in time for a walk in Hatfield forest.

Tonight as the kids were in the bath, I decided it needed a little embellishment. So some little felt flowers with a button in the centre were added.

MJ keeps remarking on how much he likes Lj's new bag, so perhaps I need to make him a slightly more manly one!

Kooky children

Lj- An explorer. Afraid of nothing. Has a love of bags, shoes, dress up and phones! I thought if I zipped my knitting bag up the yarn inside would be safe...apparently not!

MJ- I can't believe I considered keeping him at home to home school him! A child who wanted me to play with him all of the time, in a unfamiliar place would cling to my legs, wouldn't play dress up and didn't want to be taught numbers or letters has  become a different child since he has started school. Of course there will always be negatives involved, a bit more back chat, more toilet talk and more desire to play fighting games but in my eyes the good is out weighing the bad. He is so much more confident, he loves dress up, plays in his room on his own for long stretches and actually enjoys sharing his new phonics with me.

The Winter Bear

I'm not quite sure how this children's story book ended up on our bookshelf but 'The Winter Bear', written by Ruth Craft and illustrated by Erik Blegvad is magical. I can't really explain why, all I know is that every night at story time I am drawn to it.

The story is of three children out walking in the depths of a winter landscape when they discover among more ordinary winter things, a small knitted bear discarded. They bring him home, care for him and adopt him.

As I searched for a photo online to share with you I discovered that I am not the only one drawn to this book, there were many reviews of how this book was a childhood favourite in the 1980's and one that is read to many children today. Sadly it is out of print, but should you happen across it, buy it and share in the beauty and adventure of it.

But how did it get on our shelf...I will have to ask around!