Yesterday morning I felt we were all in need of some fresh air and a change of scenery.

We quite often will go for a walk as a family but we tend to stick to the same 2 or 3 familiar places and Vince had mentioned that it might be nice to find somewhere new to go.

I was giving this some thought when I realised our bluebells are finally starting to flower and it occurred to me that there must be a bluebell woodland somewhere nearby.

A quick google came up with all sorts of places (that we intend to explore soon) and the nearest was a mere 10 minute drive up the road from our house. Who knew?!

It was beautiful.

The entire woodland was awash with bluebells.

Ahhh it was so gorgeous. I was so completely at peace there.

It was very quiet and the paths were good so we let Emma walk on her own. I think it’s safe to say she thoroughly enjoyed the freedom. We just loved watching her fascination with the flowers and the wind in the trees

We walked for around 45 minutes or so until Emma was tired of walking. When we got back to the car we weren’t quite ready to go home. Vince suggested we drive on to Winchelsea, as we’d never been, to see what was there. We were expecting a beachy/seaside touristy type of place.

We discovered that Winchelsea Beach is much as we expected with a great number of caravan parks.

But Winchelsea village itself is almost an entirely separate place. It is just beautiful, full of age and character and history. Vince and I were walking around dreaming up our ideal home here.

The church is the heart of the village and we decided to have a little walk around and then back to church. We found this perfect little nook against the church walls that was ideal to take shelter from the wind and eat our little picnic lunch.

Then it was time to take our worn out little lady home for a nap!

It was such a lovely morning, it wasn’t sunny or particularly warm even, but it was beautiful, peaceful and thoroughly happy

Happy Monday!

How is everyone today?! I am in a wonderful mood today, hubby has a weeks holiday and we all had a lay in until half past 9 this morning! Marvelous!

So on to this weeks HHM post which of course I am linking up with Sandra for

The Weather ::

Somewhat grey and miserable today but it is dry and not too cold. That said it is incredibly windy and that wind can be bitter. Not that it has stopped us getting out and about today!

Right Now I Am ::

I am currently sat next to Vince on the sofa, enjoying a cup of tea and typing up this post.

Thinking ::

About the garden, I forgot to check on it this morning, although it rained overnight so should be ok.

On My Reading Pile ::

My Bible but not too much else at the moment. I really need to spend a bit more time reading again.

On My TV ::

Throughout the week there will be, Doctor Who, BGT, and hopefully I’ll catch up with some shows online. Oh and of course we’ll watch Eurovision this weekend… if only to cringe through it all

What I Found While Surfing the Net ::

I’ve been on a bit of a sewing kick recently and have been loving all the sewing blogs around but a new particular favourite is Did You Make That? She sews her own clothes and knits aswell

On the Menu This Week ::

Ack. I have no idea. I know I’m making meatballs tonight with spaghetti, I might even throw some ice cream in the machine for dessert (who needs sun for ice cream anyway?), but past that point not a clue. My menu planning has gone right out of the window these last few weeks somehow… and I’m hating it. Must sort myself out.

On My To Do List ::

Birthday shopping for my nephew, soon to turn 1!
Type up and publish the photo tutorial for my sandal pattern.
Make a menu plan!
Finish some design work for a friend
(Is it even worth saying laundry… we all just take this for granted right?)

In The Craft Basket ::

Some crochet sandals
A sun hat for Emma
Some jeans to be upcycled (into a skirt perhaps?)
A Sorbetto top for me (If I’m brave enough to use the 30′s vintage silk passed down from my mum – terrified of messing up)

Looking Forward To This Week ::

Having Vince home all week, celebrating my nephews 1st birthday with family, enjoying some fun days out with my little family.

Looking Around The House ::

Hmmm….. well the front room needs a tidy… Emma’s toys seem to have exploded all over it… There are a few dishes in the kitchen sink to be done in a moment. But right now Emma is napping, Vince is playing a game and I am enjoying not worrying about any of it for an hour

From the Camera ::

(A quick phone snap from a walk we took this morning but I’ll be sharing that tomorrow)

Bible verse, Devotional ::

…We have had mystery illnesses (Emma), knock-you-out migraines (me), random rashes (Emma again) and a heroic husband/daddy taking care of us all (Vince, of course).

Thankfully this has all cleared up and everyone is right as rain now!

…We have also had some lovely, happy, cosy, crafty, family moments this week too. So let’s focus on that!

…we had a visit from my father-in-law who very kindly spent the day in our garden bringing it back under control and getting it ready for me to plant in…

 …I baked a lovely loaf of cheese & onion bread …

…Emma enjoyed the sun, stomping and dancing on our gravel…

… I finally found a way to organise my embroidery threads… pin them on my pin board! …

… I saved a pair of Vince’s jeans (he wears them too long and had worn a good 3 inches of material away) A snip & a hem and they’re good as new! …

… Taking windy morning walks on West Hill with (or just behind!) my gorgeous husband and beautiful little 1 year old …

 I just love that picture. It gives me the warm fuzzies!

How has May been going so far for you?

]]> http://www.lovelylittlelife.org/2013/05/in-the-first-week-of-may/feed/ 0 http://www.lovelylittlelife.org/2013/04/happy-homemaker-monday-19/ http://www.lovelylittlelife.org/2013/04/happy-homemaker-monday-19/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:36:57 +0000 Naomi http://www.lovelylittlelife.org/?p=1815

Happy Monday!

I made it! Just! Haha another busy day!

But I’m here and I’m linking up with Sandra again for another HHM

The Weather ::

We’ve had some sunshine! Admittedly we had crazy hail a couple of days ago but for now we have sunshine and I think it’s staying this week! Yay!!!

On my reading pile ::

My Bible.

On my TV ::

This week I’ll be watching…

Bones Season 8
New Girl Season 2
Doctor Who
Game of Thrones

On the menu this week ::

Monday – Homemade fish & chips
Tuesday – Homemade fishcakes & veggies
Wednesday – Sausages & Mash with Onion gravy
Thursday – *Still working on a menu*
Friday -
Saturday -
Sunday -

On my to do list this week ::

Laundry.
Wash and clean the  car.
Have the cars MOT done (dreading it…)
Sort out birthdays cards and gifts for May.

What I am sewing, crocheting or creating ::

I have a small order to crochet and some things to put in the shop. Also hoping to sew Emma a little gardening apron this week, if I get time!

Looking around the house ::

It’s late!!! Emma is in bed, Vince and I are watching Bones while I type this up. The house is fairly tidy but I’ll have to do a bit of sorting in the morning. Very seriously considering going to bed now, I am so tired and my little lady isn’t feeling very well so tomorrow might be a long day!

 My last photo ::

Bible Verse, Devotional ::

Oh my! I have been gone a while haven’t I!

I can’t believe it has been a whole month since I last posted here!

I guess I have been busier than I had realised! Oh well, time for a cup of tea and a catch up!

Lets see… where to start…

Well as you know I have opened a little online shop to try and supplement our income a little (and to stop our home from overflowing with crochet!) This has rather taken off just recently, specifically with lovely people emailing me to order commissions which I love doing

At the beginning of this month I was contacted by a business owner in the town where I grew up who was interested in selling some of my crochet things in her cafe! Very exciting for me! Subsequently she made a lovely big order and I found my self working on that in every spare moment I had as well as a few smaller orders.

This basically means during Emma’s nap time and after she’s gone to bed! Whilst still trying to keep up with the day to day chores, being a wife and a stay at home mum are my primary roles and take pride of place! I am very lucky to have Vince though, he is very supportive and makes sure I can find an extra hour or two of quiet when I need it

I’ve also been spending a little time working on something completely different. I am working on an exciting new project with a very dear friend of mine. She is creating something I think will be quite incredible in time and I will share more about it with you at some point in the future. All I can really say is that I’m loving being able to help her work towards her vision.

On the odd days when we have had some sunshine I have also been able to do a little gardening, at last! I finally have some little seedlings coming up in the form of salad leaves, beetroot, spring onions, courgette plants and a few sunflowers Emma and I also have a runner bean growing in a jar on the windowsill which I’m hoping will plant out ok.

This is all going to be container gardening as our main garden has a major cat problem (if anyone has any really good cat deterrent ideas I’d love to hear them!) and the raised beds need a really good sort out. Luckily, all being well, my green fingered father-in-law is visiting next weekend to help us do just that

In amongst all of this Vince and I also quietly celebrated our second wedding anniversary this month. I just don’t know where the last two years have gone, but I do know they have undoubtedly been the happiest of my life!

So you see any spare minutes I usually use to write a blog post have been used for other things just recently, but I seem be back on a more even footing now and should be posting more regularly again!

I’ll be back on Monday with a HHM post

Have a blessed weekend,

Happy Monday!

Can you believe March has almost gone by already?! I feel like 2013 is just flying past! But Spring has still not arrived!!! sigh…

I hope someone somewhere is experiencing some good weather and if they could send it in this direction it would be very much appreciated!

Well for now I’m linking up with Sandra again for another HHM

The Weather ::

If you hadn’t already guessed it is still grey, wet, windy and bitterly cold here. On the up side we have at least escaped the snow this week, sadly the north of the UK has been hit awfully in recent days.

On my reading pile ::

Thinking about re-reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown before his new book comes out.

On my TV ::

This week I’ll be watching…

Arrow
Bones Season 8
New Girl Season 2
Doctor Who (New season starts this Saturday on BBC1 – Yay!)

On the menu this week ::

Monday – Spicy black beans, spinach & tomatoes with baked eggs
Tuesday – Loaded Chicken Salad
Wednesday – Beef Stew & Dumplings
Thursday – Leftovers / Dinner out
Friday – * Still working on Easter weekend menu*
Saturday -
Sunday -

On my to do list this week ::

Laundry. Blahhhhh…
Finish organising the pantry.
Family baking session!
Start my indoor sowing of veggies and flowers for this year.

What I am sewing, crocheting or creating ::

I need to complete some embroidery on an easter gift for my nephew and sew it together.

Looking around the house ::

The front room is tidy and the kitchen is clean and ready for me to make a late dinner for Vince (he works late shifts). Emma is snoring ever so slightly and I can hear her over the monitor. I am sitting on the sofa under a blanket, watching New Girl reruns and writing this post.

 My last photo ::

Bible Verse, Devotional ::

What on Earth has happened to Spring this year? It is the end of March and we a being forecast more snow for tomorrow!

I can’t bear it, the wet and gloom have an awful affect on my mood and I am longing for some bright Spring sunshine.

To counteract my bad weather blues I have been sprucing up my mantel for Easter!

Do you like my card? It was Mothering Sunday in the UK a few weeks ago and Emma drew me my first card (with quite a bit of help from daddy!) and I love it so much more than anything that could have been bought.

I have beautiful cheery daffodils in all the downstairs rooms right now in a bid bring some sunshine indoors. I have a serious lack of vases though so I tend to use other random household items, usually jugs, sometimes pretty mugs and often empty jars. I try to use the more unusual shaped jars like the coffee jar above for visual interest. I have prettified it a little by giving it a quick crochet jacket, made using a few lacy flower square motifs.

I’m also crocheting some little easter eggs. Every now and then I make one and add it to the jar. You might have noticed I’m shying away from pastel colours that I feel are often associated with easter, in favour of brighter, bolder colours that make me smile.

At the other end of the mantelpiece there are more lovely daffies in my favourite flower mug (thanks mum!). They were looking lonely though so I crocheted a little Easter Bunny and dressed him up in matching ribbon. I love love love him!

All that was needed was a new print for the wall. I decided it should be a piece of scripture for Easter and settled on Matthew 28:6 NIV. ”He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”  I designed an 8×10 print based on this and hung some bunting underneath. The bunting was some I made last year for Emma’s first birthday.

All in all I think it’s quite a lovely way to bring some spring/easter cheer into our home. Quite honestly I can’t not smile when I see it, it makes me extremely heart happy

I hope you are all finding a little spring sunshine somehow too!

**I’ve just caught up with the news, I hope if any of you are in the north of the UK you are managing stay warm and safe in the horrific snow!**

Oh my. It has been a while since I’ve posted hasn’t it! Sorry to have been so absent but I’m back again now!

That’s what happens when Vince has a two weeks off work and routine flies out of the window! It’s been a wonderful two weeks, we spent the time celebrating Vince’s 30th birthday with a date day (and birthday spending spree!) in London and visiting with lots of family.

I do like having our routine back now, though it sucks seeing Vince off to work again and Emma has got used to the extra playtime with daddy!

Well it’s late now but I still have time (just) for a HHM!

The Weather ::

Honestly the weather here is crazy at the moment. Two days ago I was in the park without a coat and felt sure Spring had sprung. This morning I woke up at 7:30am to find it snowing.. snowing hard… and it is still coming down now, without pause. What happened to the lovely Spring sunshine?

On my reading pile ::

Not a great deal!

On my TV ::

This week I’ll be watching…

Call The Midwife – BBC1 (Catch up)
Arrow
Once Upon A Time
Bones Season 6

On the menu this week ::

Tuesday – Leek & Potato Gratin
Wednesday - *Menu Planning*
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday -
Sunday -

On my to do list this week ::

Laundry. I’m crying..
Give the pantry a makeover on a budget.

What I am sewing, crocheting or creating ::

I need to finish my wrist warmers but I have a new project in mind.. a decorative runner for the top of a small bookcase

Looking around the house ::

The front room needs a tidy but I’ve been a bit out of sorts today and have as yet neglected my evening toy pick up, in the same vein the dinner dishes are waiting to be washed up as well but thats a job for the morning now :/ Vince is just making a hot drink for us, then an episode of Bones before bed I think.

 My last photo ::

For the SE coast of the UK in March this is a crazy amount of snow for 12 hours. 

Bible Verse, Devotional ::

Happy Monday!

How are you all today? I’m glad to say that this week has gotten off to a much better start than last week did

We had a wonderful family Sunday yesterday to mark the start of Vince’s two week holiday from work and we’re all so ready for it!

So on to this week!

The Weather ::

It is ever so cold here at the moment, it has been trying to snow for the last week but it isn’t settling at all (thank goodness!). I do feel as though my feet have been numb for days though.

On my reading pile ::

Not a great deal!

On my TV ::

This week I’ll be watching…

Call The Midwife – BBC1
Arrow
Once Upon A Time
Bones Season 5
Jonathan Creek reruns

On the menu this week ::

Monday – Lamb in Gravy, Mashed Potatoes & Peas
Tuesday – Chestnut & Mushroom Soup
Wednesday - BBQ Salmon Burgers
Thursday – Pork & Pineapple Curry with Couscous
Friday – Slow Cooker Chicken & Mushroom Pot Pie
Saturday – Dinner Out
Sunday –  Cauliflower Crust Pizza

On my to do list this week ::

Laundry. Always. Sigh.
Call the gas company. (Oops still need to do this)
Pack a weekend bag for us all.
Sort out Vince’s new prescription.

What I am sewing, crocheting or creating ::

Wire bracelets, a granny square patchwork cushion cover, my little rabbit needs a little more finishing too. Oohh and some new wrist warmers as I accidentally left mine at the hospital this morning!

Oh and do take a look at the tutorial I posted yesterday for the wire bracelets!

Looking around the house ::

Emma is having her afternoon nap. Vince is writing lists and doing something on his phone. I am watching Jonathan Creek, enjoying a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit while typing this up. I really need to pick up the front room a bit, the floor is covered in puzzle pieces from Emma playing.

 My last photo ::

This morning I was waiting for Vince in the car park while he popped in the shop and this Herring Gull swooped down and landed on my car bonnet… to attack the windscreen wipers!

Bible Verse, Devotional ::

I posted about this bracelet last week some of you expressed interest in the pattern….

Sooo…. Here I am with my first ever photo tutorial! Hopefully you will find it helpful!

As you might expect you are in for an extremely photo heavy post!

Are you ready?

Lets start with the humdrum technical bits, shall we?

Things you will need:

24 guage silver plated wire
18-20 beads (that can be threaded onto the wire)
a toggle clasp
2 jump rings
a pair of wire cutters/pliers
a 4mm crochet hook (metal will be better than plastic/bamboo here)

Stitches & Terminology

I use UK terminology, these are the stitches and abbreviations being used.
st(s) = stitch(es)
ch = chain
ss = slip stitch
htr = half treble (half double U.S)
tr = treble (double crochet U.S)
chWB = chain with a bead

The first thing you need to do is determine the length your bracelet should be. Do this by measuring your wrist, taking into account how tight or loose you want it to be. Whatever this measurement is take an inch off to allow for the clasp length.

To start, thread all of your beads on to the wire before anything else.

Start making chains, you will find that working with wire requires a little more effort than yarn, there will be some tugging and pulling!

Slide a single bead along the wire until it sits under your hook. Complete a chain (wire round hook, pull through) keeping the bead snug to your work.

Ta-Dah!

Here is the quick written pattern for those of you don’t need the step by step!

Beaded Wire Bracelet

Determine the length your bracelet should be. Do this by measuring your wrist, taking into account how tight or loose you want it to be. Whatever this measurement is take an inch off to allow for the clasp length. Chain this length ending in an odd number, then chain 3 more. The following pattern will create a bracelet with a 7.5in circumference, adjust the stitch repetitions to suit your bracelet size.

ch28
R1: tr into 6th ch from hook, *chWB, skip next ch, tr in next ch, ch1, skip next ch, tr in next ch*, repeat ** 4 more times, chWB, tr into last ch. Turn.
R2: ch3, *skip a st, tr in next st, chWB, skip a st, tr in next st, ch1*, repeat 4 more times, skip next st, tr in next st, chWB, skip next st, tr in last st. Turn.
R3: ch3, *skip a st, tr in next st, chWB, skip a st, tr in next st, ch1*, repeat 4 more times, skip next st, tr in next st, chWB, skip next st, tr in last st. Rotate work 90 degrees clockwise.
R4: ch1, htr in next st, tr in next st, ch1, skip a st, tr in next st, htr in next st, ss in last st. Fasten off and weave in ends.
R5: Turn to the other end of the work, pull through the wire, ch1, htr in next st, tr in next st, ch1, skip a st, tr in next st, htr in next st, ss in last st. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Finishing: Attach each part of the clasp using jump hoops to the central chain space at each end of the bracelet. Ensure there are no sharp ends sticking out anywhere.

One last note, always over estimate the number of beads you thread on at the beginning because once you start there’s no going back to add more!

Phew! Did you make it all the way through that in one piece?!
It is now very late and I’m thoroughly exhausted so if it appears I’ve missed something out or it isn’t quite making sense, please feel free to drop me a message and I will try to sort it out

Enjoy!