Long Legs Granny Blanket

Back in May I bought some wool with the hopes of making myself a vertical stripe vintage blanket but when I got home and played with the wool for a while I decided a granny square blanket would be better. I had 6 different colours which were made into 60 granny squares. I love making them, they work up so quickly and need no thought as you hook. The wool was smooth on my hook and was a pleasure to work with. On Fathers Day I convinced B I needec more wool to finish Long Legs blanket and went back to the wool  shop and bought 4 more different colours and started to join all my grannys together. This is the part I dislike and with the help of Kevin Bacon in the Following and mych procrastination I avoided my project for almost a fortnight. After an incredibally quiet shift at work I was back on track and the rows of squares came together thick and fast. The edging took me almost four evenings to finish but finally, finally its done! Woohoo!! Ready for my ta dah moment? 

Ahhhh, the colours are not done justice in these picture (damn you Iphone) but they really do pop in real life. I love the picture of it hanging from my washing line. 

I used King Cole Pricewise DK wool, which was smooth on my hook and soft to touch and at £1.55 a ball a complete bargain. I used 11 balls - 2 were the same colour costing me a grand total of £17.05. I LOVE IT! and more importantly Long Legs does too. 

Have you finished anything latety? xxxxxx

Airshow Weekend

I live 2 miles away from Royal Air Force Waddington and this week its been bustling with activity. The first weekend in July is always RAF Waddington International Airshow. The skys are filled with the thunderous roar of fast jet aircraft, traffic cones cover the surrounding roads and all sorts of vans, caravans, classic cars and food stalls amongst many many others decend on the camp. As of Thursday hoards of caravans headed to the fields surrounding the airfield. Its such a brilliant atmosphere, i love it. And the best bit about the Airshow? Airshow FM radio station which runs in the fortnight building up to the weekend and of course the weekend itself.

We had tickets for the Saturday. I packed a picnic, froze some waterbottles, smothered everyone in suncream and armed with ear defenders we were ready to enjoy our day. Long legs was as exited to see an ice cream van as she was all the planes and flashing lights of the the fairground rides. Sausage socks waved at all the planes he could and learnt how to say helicopter. I was robbed by an Ice cream van man who charged me £5 for two small 99p cones! I thought they were called 99ers for a reason. Drinks were extortinate but with it being the hottest weekend of the year so far we had to by one a ours had all been drunk. One of the stalls I visited was two lovely guys who set up the charity Soldiers Off the Streets, in my opinion a very worthwhile cause who should get more help abd profiling. I follow them on Facebook and love it when they update good news on housing for ex service personnel. The highlight for me has to be the Red Arrows. They always make me smile :) 

 

Here they are in the Lancaster formation. Look at the view we got, not crowded or busy. Lucky us! We snuck out early, about 3 pm so the flying was still in full swing but the kids had had enough of the noise and the sun and 8 woneringing round in the sun pushing a pushchair and a buggy board had finally gotten to my feet! Ouch. The roads were empty and I managed to get home in good time.Cant wait for next year.

Here are my beauties with their ear defenders on.

Wedding Anniversary

This time 5 years ago I was a newlywed. I got married to Mr B on Friday 20th June 2008  in the beautiful Grade 2 Listed Georgian House Caister Hall in Caister St Edmund on the outskirts of Norwich, Norfolk in front of 50 or so of our closet family and friends.

The venue had been chosen because it matched my colour scheme and the idea was the wedding would flow from one room to another and out into the gardens which were so green and in keeping with my green theme.

The Wedding Co-ordinater said we were one if the most relaxed couples shes ever met but we were just pleased that we were sharing our day with people we wanted and without the pressure of worrying if we had invited enough people and whether an over the top balloon archway would be in keeping with the place - it wasnt and we couldnt of had one anyways as my stepmum has a balloon phobia. We opted for simple and beautiful and I still get told that my wedding was one of the best ones friends and family members have been to, and that is always nice to hear. 

Fastforward 5 years and me and the Mr have moved house and counties twice and had our 2 beautiful children. My role in the relationship has changed somewhat with me now being the stay at home parent rather than the working gal I once was. I do work occasionally but the work I do is for an agency so work night shifts when B is home to watch the children. 

We have grown together and after 9 years of being together I think we have established a routine that works well for us. I am looking forward to the next 5 years of marriage and many more afrer that. 

Me and the Mr on our wedding day.

Me and the Mr yesterday :)

Fathers Day

I ran out of wool for my current WIP blanket a few days ago and the wool shop that I bought the last lot from was a tiny gift shop called Polka Dot in the beautiful village of Woodhall Spa. So it was suggested we should take B for an Ice cream and I could top up while we were there!

 First port of call was the ice cream parlour.

The kids had strawberry tubs with chocolate sauce and B had a banana ice cream in a waffle with chocolate sauce. I was a good girl and only had a coffee.

Woodhall spa is famous for its Delicatessen. I could spend all my pennies in there. When I win the lottery im so buying my own Deli. From Chocolate to cheese there is something for everyone. If it wasnt for the Slimming World plan I could have bought half the shop.

Not the best picture im afraid but a few of the cakes in the window. We were having lunch with B's brother and his girlfriend so bought cake for pudding, apple strudel, carrot cake, chocolate brownies, and gingerbread faces.

We stopped in the memorial gardens of 617 Sqn the "Dambusters" to sit and reflect on these brave men who gave their lives on Fathers Day. 

Eeek not the most flattering picture of me!

Then finally to the real reason I suggested Woodhall Spa, the wool shop. B suggested that him and the children would wait in the car and I could pop in on my own.

Aaahhhhh so pretty. I only needed three more colours to finish my blanket so I dont think I done bad when I left the shop with 5 balls. Two of them were the same colour so i really was very restrained ;)

We had a lovely lunch cooked by Donna and the kids were really excited as they have a 9 week old Labradoodle puppy called Bailey. Finished off by scrummy cake and home in time for bath and bed. All in all a really lovely fathers day! How did you spend your day?

Ladies night and falling off the (diet) wagon

Last night I went out to a ladies night at my local rugby club. The event was to support a little girl who needs an operation in America. Dress code was pink so I rooted around my wardrobe for a suitable pink top. In the end i went with a Ted Baker top Ive had for years but bugs me every time I wear it because it has two large square beads which are attached to the bow at the back and they are so heavy they keep coming undone. I even painted my nails pink but was politely informed by husband that with this colour nail polish my fingers looked like a drag queens!!!! Thanks for the confidence boost.

There were a few stalls there including Bluebella, The Body Shop, Stella & Dot and some talented ladies selling handmade jewellery and cakes. Loved this clutch bag by Stella & Dot but at £45 was far out of my budget.

There was also a raffle, I am not usually lucky bu this time I was and won these homemade bath bombs. It would have been rude not to try the cake - it was for charity after all and the coke because I was driving. Also took a slice home to B.

Today was a say for errands, we needed a wiper blade for the car, some ant traps and a top up shop. B managed to convince me that Dominos Pizza would be a good idea for lunch and I have the breaking strain of a Kitkat and agreed that pizza would be good for lunch. Its been about a year since our last Dominos so I was pleased yo discover two new flavours. We ordered one Carolina and one New York Deli. Both were really tasty. Half and half, Carolina on the top and the New York at the bottom with the sausages, yum!

After all the cake and pizza I felt the gym calling me :-/ Only managed 45 minutes but better than nothing :)

Brown paper bags

I have started back with the Slimming World plan last week and testerday was the first time I weighed myself. I have decided to go it alone for the time being as I am feeling motivated enough to do it by myself and if at a later date I feel like im slipping into bad habits then I can join my local group. But for now im happier keeping that £5 a week in my purse and buying more fruit and veg.

I have lost 4lb this week so am very pleased. 

This was my lunch yesterday. Chicken salad with homemade colslaw made with virtually fat free fromage frais and a spoon of mayo and bread with a Dairylea triange spread over the last 2 pieces of bread in the house. It was delicious. 

I also topped up the fruit and veg drawer in the fridge with stop at the market. Here  is a picture of the sweetest juiciest cherry tomatoes. 

Not sure why but fruit and veg always taste better from a brown paper bag from the market than the horrible plastic bags you get in the supermarkets. 

Will have to be careful how many more strawberries me and the kids eat, we might turn into strawberries if we aren't careful! 

Bingo

I had my first night out with the girls last night since Christmas. There were 5 of us out and four of the girls were celebrating their birthdays. So were do you go for a cheap night out..... Gala Bingo.

I've never been to bingo before so my friend who had only got her membership a few hours before signed me up and we only paid £3 for the early, main and late sessions and got a free dabber! We were also booked in as a birthday party so had  a meal, cheap bottle of plonk and some free additional games all for a fiver.

During the evening I won £8 on the slot machine but not on the bingo itself. One of the girls in the group won twice she was up £75 at the end if the night. 

My winnings!!!! Good job I didnt win any big money I was so excited. Once I was one number from a full house but it wasnt to be.

I will definently be going again :) 

Top 5...... Films

Am hoping to do a top 5 on a few topics so here is the first. I think you can tell a lot about a person from their favourite films. So here are mine.


1) Grease - Has to be my all time favourite film!!!!!! And most peoples guilty pleasure. Cliche maybe but I dont think there is anything that can compare with the outfits, the cars, the singing and growing up in 50s America, IMO anyways. Wasn't John Travola gorgeous it that outfit? and I always wanted a pair of red peeptoe shoes like Sandy wore in the end scene.

2) Dirty Dancing - The film that made me want to be Baby. Johnny was your typical bad boy and Baby so sweet and naive. The music is brilliant and the clothes Baby wears are lovely. Again the soundtrack is iconic and I even persuaded my parents to let me take up ballroom dancing. However I had the co-ordination and grace of a Hippo and only went for about 2 months.

3) The War Bride - Anna Friel stars in this heartwarming film about a London girl during the Second World War who meets a Canadian Airman, marries him and is sent to live in Canada with his mother and sister while he fights in the war,neither of whom want her there. A really lovely film with the expression "Keep your pecker up" which always makes me smile. Anna Friel is brilliant in this.

4) Funny Face - The 1957 film Audrey Hepburn at her most beautiful, with Fred Astaire looking dashing too. The costumes are to die for and the music is just right for a Sunday afternoon on the sofa.

5) Notting Hill - The house in Notting Hill with the blue door. I love every single actor in this film, from Hugh Grant to Hugh Bonnerville. I could watch it again and again. 

So those were my top 5 but I would also like to mention some of my other favourites.
Pretty woman, Pulp Fiction, Drop Dead Fred, Love Actually, Twilight Saga, Harry Potter films, Grease 2, The Goonies, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Forreset Gump, Breakfast at Tiffanys, Miss Potter, Elizabethtown, Point Break, Tango and Cash, Rocky 1, 2 & 4, Thelma and Louise, Stardust.

Crochet - The most recent love of my life

My mum was brilliant at crochet. I remember as a child there were lots of peach coloured doily type coasters  around the house which my mum had made. Its only now I can appriciate how intricate and detailed they were.

I nagged my favorite Auntie to teach me how to crochet while visisting her for a week in Dec last year. Between us we made a beanine hat. I took it home to finish it and made it too tight so I had to "frog" it (rip it rip it rip it). But was not at all put off.

Since then my talent is getting better. Ive made two baby blankets, a poorly blanket for me, a WIP - work in progress bag, a cloche hat, a neck warmer, 2 x cushions and 16 premature baby hats for  my local hospital :) I am currently working on a Granny square blanket to go with the poorly blanket.

 The poorly blanket, inspired by Lucy at Attic24 my first and favourite blog. I love Lucy.

2 x cushions made for my Dad and Stepmum to put in their Campervan. Really quite pleased how these turned out.

Some of the Preemie baby hats I made. They are so quick and easy to make up. Only take about 15- 20 mins per hat and were great for using up the leftovers from my poorly blanket. I will make more hats whenever I finish a project to "stash bust" and keep a teeny weenys head warm. 

 Finally my current WIP, the Granny square blanket. B wants me to crochet him a Batman logo blanket. That will be my next challenge.

Does anybody else have a crafty love in their life?

Me again

I am trying to figure out how to customise my blog but am a complete techno phob. Im sure i'll get it eventually.

I also downloaded the Intagram app so have been playing around with my photos. Will attempt to put a picture on here so there is a face to go with the name. 

Wow i think i might have managed it!! Yay me! 

This Pic was taken by B whilst riding the little green train at Margam Park in South Wales. We had a brilliant afrernoon wondering round the gardens, visiting the nursery rhyme houses and during the Bank Holiday weekend there was a kite feasival which was pretty amazing. Small kites had to be bought for the kids. A small one for Long legs and an even smaller one for Sausage socks.

Hello

Hello, im Sian. 29 years old, stay at home mum with a husband B and my two children Long legs aged 3 and Sausage socks aged 20 months. I live in this "Pleasant Crescent" and we have been here for almost a year. Bs job requires him to move occasionally so we pack up and move when we are told ;)
I have been a stay at home mum since Long legs was born and have mostly enjoyed my time as full time carer but have been finding lately that after too many choruses of Old Mcdonald and one too many episodes of In the Night Garden my brain is starting to become slightly mushy so lately ive been looking for an outlet to let out my grown up feelings. Even if I never get any followers.
My hobbies include reading, blogs, books and the odd glamorous magazine, hunting for bargains in charity shops and car boot sales, baking with my helpful assistants and crocheting. Oh how I love to crochet! I have only been doing it for 6 months but I cant ever see me putting my hooks down.
Well thats me, more soon I hope.
xxx