daisy chain

Way Behind the Blogging Eight Ball

I have been a virtual blogging recluse.

I haven't even blog thanked (I have definitely email thanked)

my lovely Secret Santa Ulla for my beautiful gifts...

I was very lucky to have her as my Secret Santa for sure-thanks again Ulla:)

I haven't shown my Secret Santa gifts I made for Paula..

Or even really blog welcomed the New Year..

 But I have decided to get over it and just get on with it!

Holidays have been wonderful-busy socially but just wonderful.

I do so like the slower pace.

I have been crocheting in the air conditioning-something that I can do automatically without much thought..

It is good therapy to just go round and round and add another colour.

The walks have been happening and the swims..

And I seem to have been fiddling more with my iphone camera than my usual one..

I have had lots of lovely Lilies flowering..

And now I've been inspired by Ms Ric Rac extraordinaire to finally start a rag rug.

I bought a big fat crochet hook last year and now I've been busy tearing up sheets

and working out what to do.

Back to it!

Busy in a Good Way

Just like most people, the multitasking going on around here is a bit overwhelming at times.

In between doing these...

I have seven to go-yay!

And making Softies for a woman at school's soon to be born baby and two year old...

And doing very Secret Santa things...

I have been admiring my flowering something or other...

I think is a kind of Zygote cactus

That I got as a cutting from a friend along time ago.

It is fascinating to watch these weird looking buds..

Turn into something quite beautiful..

A bit like the story of the Ugly Duckling really..

The flowers only last a day or so.

It is tiring work being busy in a good way..

But there is always a bit of crochet therapy going on.

Hope you are keeping up with it all:)

 

 

School Holiday Project Done

I really wanted to finish putting my granny rug together.

It is so satisfying going from 126 of these...

Working through the piles, weaving in the ends..

Joining, joining...

The piles get smaller, the rows increase..

Until finally....

Yay!!!

You're done:)

What to do with Lemons

On my walk I pass a lovely house with a lovely garden quite frequently.

I have become friendly with the owners who travel up from the city every weekend.

I would even say that Michael is a friend of mine. He is 86 and quite amazing.

We have chats and a laugh and discuss all manner of subjects. He still flies his plane and is writing a book!

He tells me that the secret to his long and productive life is hard work! He is always in his garden digging and planting and designing.

He gave me some lemons and mentioned that a friend of his had made some lemon butter not that long ago but he didn"t have a chance to taste it because his wife scoffed it all!

So I decided to have a go at making some myself.

It turned out really delicious.

I popped on some labels and fancied up the lids a bit...

And hey presto-lemon butter (we always called it lemon curd in my house).

The cranes are still happening...

My students have been taking photos of their cranes with the school camera and I was very impressed with their photography skills-especially rhis one..

I have been madly edging my grannies with blue so I can finish this rug and start a new one!

Yikes-look at all those ends!

Looking forward to the holidays next week-yay:)

Crane Crazy

After reading this story to my class this week...

 
we have all gone crane crazy.

Every time I read this book the students respond so well and are so moved.

The depth of questions that come after it is astounding.

And so they wanted to learn how to make cranes and off course they want to make 1000:)

They have inspired me as I haven't made any cranes for awhile and I forgot how much I love doing them.

Many of them found their way out into the garden...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I think this one looks more like a pelican!

 
They are fun to play with at all stages of development..

 
 
I would love to do something like this one day (photo courtesy of flickr)..

 
Hmmmm! I'll put it on my list.

Flower Power

 These cheeky birds just know when it is the right time for a good feed.

 
Love the poppies'  funny little hats..

 
Have spent a leisurely time experimenting with flowers..

 
Cotton ones..

 
And wooly ones too..

 
I thought these would make good fake buttons and may have a go at felting them.

I couldn't go past this book from my local shop.

 

 I love the idea of favourite recipes, tried and perfected and passed down from family to family.

There are some beauties in here.

Like this chocolate, date and walnut slice..

 
Scrumdiddly Umptious!

 
I also scored this old basket from my local market that I just loved.

 

I like to make up stories about who owned things before me.

I think I like the idea that the previous owner has one of her recipes in my book and used this basket to carry all her delectable goodies to family gatherings and picnics-you just never know:)

Here Comes the Sun

How lovely to have such beautiful weather for Fathers' Day

 
A cloudless sky so blue.

 
Blossoms out.

 
Bees about.

 
Without a doubt..

 
 
A beautiful day...

 
I hope the students' dads like the fridge magnet heads they made for them...

 
It was a bit of a fiddly process..

 
But..

 
definitely worth it.

 
They made me smile..

 
And the funny thing is the likeness to some of the dads was quite amazing:)

Happy Fathers Day to my wonderful papa.

Thank you for being such a special dad and a beautiful,loving husband to our mum xxx

 

Out of Hibernation

I am pleased to announce that I am officially

Out of Hibernation

 
Ready to enjoy the touches of spring..

 
 
And get busy being crafty again...

 
I am looking forward to rejoining blogland.

I have been enjoying my new pasta maker..

 
 
It is amazing how different the home made variety tastes..

 
 

It is always good to have your handy furry helper nearby who is always ready to help clean up the bits that drop!
 
I have spent a lot of time in the garden..

 
 
 
 
The noise of the bees doing their job is deafening in some places..

 
 
And gentle in others..

 
Izzy had a friend for a sleepover

Just like bookends..

  

 
 I captured this sight with my phone after all the lovely rain we had..
  
It feels good to be finally out of hibernation-it seemed like a lonnnng winter:)

Back on Track

Well....

 

Here I am....back on track.

Last term was a blur, a much too busy blur where balance in my life was basically non existent.

Just near the finish,when I was well and truly running out of puff, the promise of two weeks holiday kept me going-bliss!

Time to do all those wonderful things, relaxing things and necessary things.

Time to catch up on blogland, craft, cook, garden, read and dream.

 Time for the things that have been put off-the dentist, the car service,the cleaning, the hair cut, the waxing.  

Time for family and friends.

Time to ponder, to fiddle, to rejuvenate, to potter, to plan, to recharge the batteries that have been dangerously low for awhile.

Time....

To WASTE.....

being SICK:(

Grumble....Grumble...

Today is the best I've been for over a week now.

Previously,I have been fit as a fiddle-surviving the dreaded snuffles,coughs,splutters,tummy upsets, head lice and other various "lergies" that just goes with the territory of being a primary school teacher.

I thought my immune system was iron clad. But not so..

I have been told that my flu injection that I received free of charge at the end of the term has nothing to do with my week of aches and pains and grumpiness and coughs and mega headaches and lethargy and did I mention grumpiness??

Hmmmph! I am yet to be convinced!

Anyway, I am back on track now and am in a last minute holiday frenzy!

 

 I have managed to try out my love heart sushi maker...

 
And my non love heart sushi maker..

 

Do some reading.... very enjoyable reading..

 

And plod along with my grannies..

 
I am edging them all in blue...

 
My computer is verrrryyy slowwww (it is seven years old now) and I get to do crochet rounds in between it doing what it is supposed to do..

 
I found a beautiful and oh so delicate nest on my wander this morning..

 
Before the end of term my sister and I had a lovely few hours at the zoo..

 
 
 
 
 
What an amazing zoo we have.

 I am off there again next week but this time with 100 eight, nine and ten year olds!!

I need a nap just thinking about it!

 
 
Hopefully, my very neglected blog, you'll be seeing a lot more of me.
 

 

The Last Post for 2010

Firstly, I would like to say a BIG thank you once again to the fabulous Secret Santa Organiser Extraordinaire the one and only Ms Chooky Blue.

Your endless good cheer, superb organisation skills and enthusiasm is amazing.

This has been my third SS swap and I look forward to many more!

I received a beautiful table runner all the way from Norway along with some daisy buttons, material and a lovely card.

 
 
Thank you Oddbjorg. I LOVE my gift and

am very happy to meet you:)

Talking about gifts, I owed one to I Wanna be Crafty from a swap we organised a lonnnng time ago.

An embarrassingly lonnng time ago! I decided to turn it into a Christmas gift instead!

 
Front..

 
Back..

 
And a drawstring bag to go with it..

 
 
It feels so good to be sewing and crocheting again after a busy school year.

I've done a whole lot more grannies..

 
And have done quite a bit of baking..

 
Ahh!! Holidays-I truly recommend them:)

The blossoms on the gums are about to do their show off thing..

 
 
 
 
Izzy's sister from another litter has been staying with us..

 
 
Pretty close resemblance!

 
 
They are good company for each other..

 
 
Enjoy whatever you're doing tonight and all the Best for a Wonderful 2011.