Craftiness

Finally finished some knitted dollies for mine and other people's littlies. Get my very posey photography! Yay!

Flight of Self Indulgence

Its been a strange kind of a week, hence my neglect of the blog......some time ago our offer on a new house was accepted. £120K for a cottage that needed some modernisation. It would be a cash purchase on our part and we don't have anywhere to sell. So pretty easy you would think. No. We had a letter this morning from the Estate Agents saying that despite them saying they had taken the house off the market, they have still been taking people round to view it, and the vendors have accepted a 'substantially higher' offer. So they're not going to sell it to us. We've put so much money into doing it already, and I can't understand it. It is literally cash from us. As in, i'll be going to the bank and drawing out £120,000.00. These new buyers are apparantly stuck in a chain and reliant on a mortgage. I don't understand people sometimes. But maybe its just not meant to be. Who knows why these things happen. I've had a good cry, and have perked up enough to look at the property pages again, so all is well.

Also, another odd one this week. On Monday I had a Court Summons to let me know that I am being prosecuted for driving without due care and attention. I was in quite a serious accident back in april, whereby I bought a second hand VW Golf GTi from a chap on EBay. Anyway, it panned out that he sold it to me knowing that the brakes were faulty and went to some lengths to conceal the fact. I'd had the car a couple of hours, and whilst driving home tried to corner, the brakes failed and the rear began to drift from side to side. There was a gravel lorry up ahead and I was heading straight into someones front room, so I took a chance and pulled the handbrake on to try to spin into the hedge. I didn't know there was a tree stump in the hedge, which acted as a lever and flipped the car over four times, nose to tail bouncing on the roof each flip, and barrel-rolled accross the road, landing on the roof. The front of the car was utterly crushed, and I had to be cut out by a fire crew some hours later, trapped while I could feel and smell petrol dripping onto my face and see the engine sparking. My life really did flash before me and I honestly thought I was going to die. So 8 months on, I am being prosecuted, and apparantly the man who sold me the car has committed no offence. Strange world, isn't it?

Anyway, this makes me want to think about all the things I am grateful for. And it will take a pictorial form. Firstly....spooning porridge into my tiny girl's mouth every morning, and her enormous smile thats just for me. Secondly, the other four, who I love dearly even though they drive me crazy. Thirdly, my darling other half, who has the patience of a saint to put up with me. Fourth, silly things that mean such a lot, like a fruit St Nicholas that Bobby and his friends made at playgroup. Fab, isn't it? Rich laughed his head off, but he's not as sentimental as me! Lastly, that I live in such a beautiful part of the world, and sadly that my photography never does it justice.

Busy Weekend

Well, it's been a jam packed weekend. I don't seem to have stopped. We're thick and white with frost in this part of the world, bu it doesn't seem to have stopped Rich, who has been up and working at 6.30 the past two mornings. As a consequence, it doesn't really feel as though I've seen him much, but the productivity does make up for that. The bus is having its off peak tlc session....this year with a few new panels, a new braking system and a fresh coat of paint. She looks so sad, sitting on the drive dressed in her grey primer.....a far cry from her former purple glory. But the purple started to flake, so it must be done, I suppose.

I've spent the weekend chained to the kitchen, which I must say has been a pleasure. Nothing better than baking next to a warm oven when its cold outside. So the Christmas Cake, Pudding, 2 dozen mince pies, a lemon madeira, a dozen scones, and a tinful of little almond biscuits are all done. The winter broad beans are sown on the windowsill, washing is done, floors are swept and the stove top has been cleaned. And about time on the last count!! So I can finally sit down with a cuppa and my knitting. Little cardigan for Jaya, and a pair of handwarmers for Rich. Even next to the furnace, his hands are still frozen blue. Gloves aren't any good, as he needs as much dexterity with his fingers as possible. He made the most beautiful candle sconce for the hall today, steel, with copper oak leaves and acorns. I can't decide where to put it yet though.

Last night we went to the Ludlow Castle Mediaeval Fayre. And fabulous night out it was too, as always. They make such an effort, and particularly for the little ones. We saw a wonderful puppet show, themed around the turning of the seasons for a mediaeval man. It was accompanied by a girl playing a hurdy gurdy and 'narrated' by a Green Man, that was an amazing moving mask (manipulated from the inside) made of green leather leaves. It was both hilarious and very poignant. We also saw the Plantagenet Knights doing their weapons demo's and melee. My boys LOVED it, and have spent the day today bashing at each other with wooden swords and shields. One of the men let Bobby try on some of his mail, gauntlets and armour. There was one happy little boy. I managed to pick up a few Christmas presents and a brilliant night was had by all, albeit evocatively cold and frosty.

I am going to retire to my knitting now, as the little ones are safe in bed, Iris is drawing and Rowan and Joe are outside enamelling some jewellery Rich has been making. that said I've got a sack of fleece to card. Oh well, looks as though Jaya's cardi will have to wait.......

Oh yes and we had the most beautiful sunset as I was walking home this evening, although the photo doesn't do it justice

hello and good evening

Well, it seem that peace has descended for a while here. The littlest ones are bathed, milked and storied and now tucked up safe and warm in bed. Joe and the girls are outside in the workshop doing something secret. I haven't asked this time due to the upcoming event of around a months time. They've become cagey and secretive and cunning of late, and its leading us to think they must be making something very exciting indeed. It surprises me that I don't really have a lot to say.....it hasn't been a busy day today. I've repotted some houseplants, made a cherry cake and made a dolly for Jaya's Yule stocking. I'm about to settle down and carry on with some dollies for the lovely Spica (Em) of the Green Parent Forum, which is both my solace and frequent hidey-hole when I need reassurance.

I'll stick a few photos onto this post and I think hold off until I have something to say! They are a few of my children, Jaya today being a diver, and our new land, bought recently at auction, and a glowing beacon of light and hope for us all!