.......2018 Dear Vanessa, Goodness, that year went so fast. It seems that with every year that passes and one grows older (and hopefully wiser), the years just go by at a quicker rate. I'm sure soon it will feel like each year is only a month long. Well, as I touched on in my November post, 2018 saw a creative year for you. Whilst 2017 felt really rather non-existant in creative terms, it seemed that as soon as the New Year of 2018 rang in, your brain exploded with a never ending list you felt you HAD to make. It was a bit of a shock actually, to go from really having no inclination to want to make anything, to ones brain just going haywire with a gazillion ideas all at once. There were a couple of small projects........and there were a few LARGE projects. You had started a blanket at the end of 2016, inspired by a patchwork quilt made by the talented Alicia Paulson from Posie Gets Cozy Blog. You've just about finished it. You found it hard going in 2017 to make any real progress on it. It turned out to be a huge blanket. It was slow going, the pattern on it was slow to emerge. You needed a lot of room to get all the colours out to do it. As much as you loved the blanket idea and knew it would look lovely when it was done, I have to say it's been your least favourite blanket to make. It took all of 2018 to finish it. You still have the border to do, but that's ok. It actually looks ok without a border and you have been in two minds whether to add to it. You have realised that you could have actually learned how to be a master quilter and made a proper quilt in the time it took you to crochet your version.The irony is not lost on you. As lovely as the blanket looks now, it took you a whole year as you kept having to start new things just to get them out of my brain. You are usually a one project girl at a time. Especially blankets. You like to focus solely on one thing. However, this year, you felt like you needed to just keep starting things that were in your head. You felt like if you got them out of your head then your brain might slow down a bit and give you some peace. You found it both exciting and exhausting at the same time. Anyway, four blankets were on the go at the same time. It was super crazy. They were your usual big blankets too. What is wrong with you woman?! Even when you tell yourself that your next blanket will be a modest sized lap blanket, they end up being HUGE. You guess it's the whole snuggle thing. You just hate the thought of only one person being able to use them. The 'Isle of Skye' blanket was lovingly made, soon followed by 'Winterberry'. Three turned out nicely (although you have just remembered that 'Winterberry' needs the ends sewing in. Something you forgot when Christmas took over), the other (oh my, how you love it so much), did NOT turn out so well. That was actually due to the fact that it was a cushion pattern made in the round and you adapted it to make it a blanket. You were NOT paying attention to your first 20 rows and it went all wonky. You use it every evening to snuggle on your sofa, but you cannot bring myself to sew in the ends because it's not right. Actually, unless you lay it our flat you'd never know it was wonky, but you have the yarn to start again and produce another one, a perfect one. You love it THAT much. There goes your plan to not make any blankets in 2019. I wonder when it will get made. Remind me in a later post! As for everyday life, things are ticking along ok. Life has its ups and downs and good and bad. You haven't really had a sense that you have achieved that much this past year. You seem to have found that time has been in such short supply. You work part time now, and on your days off you split it between trying to maintain some semblance of order in the house and trying to get creative stuff done. A domestic goddess you are NOT. You find it tedious, unrewarding, soul destroying, life sapping.......and many other things. The monotony of spending hours first thing every morning doing the same old stuff to just start your day with a clean house slate is...well....quite frankly...utterly pants. However, you have come to realise that this has been more of a problem recently because you have allowed way too much clutter to take over. Less stuff means less dusting. Remember that Vanessa for the future. This was the year you came out from the 'rabbit hole' that you were lost in in 2017. It felt good to reconnect with people. You wonder why you feel the need to retreat into your own little world at times and just live with yourself, your thoughts and your little bubble of a family. You think you like your own company far too much. You have reached an age where you do what you feel you need to do in order to keep yourself happy, not what is expected of you. You realise it's actually quite 'freeing' to think like that. You are who you are. Your Bears are growing up. Two now at College and one at Secondary School. Goodness, where has the time gone? You ache for the days that are slipping from your memory of Wibbly Pig books, cuddly toys, Lego and toy cars; of boys being small enough to scoop up and embrace entirely. The older Bears now scoop YOU up. You feel like you are being pushed into your new role in life instead of walking willingly. You still hate change that you haven't initiated. Having said that, you find it a wonderful thing seeing your boys growing into fine young men. You feel that despite all the things you wish could have been different, you haven't done a bad job at the whole mother malarky. You have rather surprised yourself on that score. You have also missed blogging this year. You have felt at times over the past 12 months that you've really wanted to get back to this little space of yours, and jot down a few thoughts and feelings. Never in the last few years has the desire felt so strong. You are reminded of how pants you are at computer stuff. You are also reminded how bad your memory is on how to actually blog. You have been feeling that you might like to do seasonal posts instead of yearly catch up posts. You have loved picking up your camera again and seeing the world through its happy lens instead of your phone. So Vanessa, you have welcomed 2019. You wonder what the year will hold for you. Your creative brain has been ticking along on an even keel so far. That makes you happy at least! You hope to make this year the year of the garment and NOT the year of the blanket. Time will tell. As always, you have at least five blanket ideas in your head you want to get made at some point, but for now, you have around ten garment patterns that can keep you occupied! Ness, I will leave you with some reminder pictures of how 2018 was for you. It is evident that you never stray too far from your favourite colours..... Cheerio Ness, I'm sure when I say it, that it won't be so long until we next catch up. xxx

CoCo Rose Diaries

Well......who'd have thought 2020 would turn out to be like this? A year not easily to be forgotten that's for sure. I walked into 2020 with such a heavy heart. Trying to deal with the grief of the loss of my brother has weighed so heavy on my soul. My new companion, Minnie, and my crafty love managed to drag me into 2020 with a little more lightness. Getting out for walks with her everyday lifted my mood......and of course, making accessories to cope with the outdoor winter weather helped no end. I did make rather a lot of hats! Worth their weight in gold I can tell you. I used this pattern here if you are interested ♥♥♥♥♥ As I write, we are still in the midst of lockdown of sorts. Four weeks now of utter anxiety, uncertainty and weirdness. Whilst all in my little bubble are at home and some working from home, I am classed as a key worker ....so my days are still the same, but not the same. Just add a big dollop of stress and that's about it. On my days off, I have been trying to just be calm and focus on all the things that make me happy. Crochet of course! I made a start on a blanket.....obviously a blanket....what else could I possibly think of doing?! A picture on Pinterest caught my eye. I wished it hadn't........but you know......once you see something and it embeds in your memory, it's a hard thing to ignore. Ignore it I tried, because it was VERY similar to a blanket that almost killed me to make. It just wouldn't go from my head. It was an Irish Chain Quilt pattern. I made a crochet version of an Irish Chain Quilt that I had seen Alicia Paulson make on her blog. I can't sew. I loved the pattern, and I loved the colours and it was basically squares joined together. Easy peasy crochet then. The problem was the vast amount of squares. If you have read this blog for a while, you know that me and small blankets just aren't a thing. I kid myself it's because I want them big enough for all the family to snuggle under. Whilst the family have had MANY a snuggle together under my blankets, the real answer is that I'm utterly pants at planning, and the blankets just always end up huge because I have no size awareness. The first blanket took forever, and I DID NOT enjoy it's process......HOWEVER, I utterly loved the result. You can be reminded of it with the snippets from this post . I don't think I ever managed to photograph this blanket in all it's glory. It does deserve a post all of its own really. I should do that. The blanket still has a thread hanging from it as I couldn't decide whether to make a border for it. I still can't! It was a bit like having a baby. The birthing process is incredibly unpleasant, but you soon forget about all the pain when you stare at something so beautiful. Well, I must have forgotten about all the pain, because sure enough, I wanted to make another one. The new blanket was slightly easier. Less squares in the pattern, bigger squares. This time also....... I WAS GOING TO PLAN IT!!!!! I had wanted a very soft and pastel blanket. I was loving the colours on the ZARA HOME website.....mainly in their kids section. I'm still very much needing the calm of pastels and soft hues. That sealed it for me. I worked up several sized squares, planned how many squares I would need, and what the sizes would be with each square to get the right size blanket. I then weighed the yarn amounts for each square to get an idea of the yarn quantities I would need to order. That way I wouldn't do my usual of not enough yarn and dye lot issues. Chart mapped out. Yarn ordered. A VERY excited me. I felt so smug I can tell you. After years of never planning any blankets, this was my first. I was actually doing everything right. Except I wasn't It was pretty clear after the first two rows that my blanket was going to be another HUGE one. I hadn't planned on a really small one, but I hadn't planned on a huge one either. Seriously, even when I plan, I can't do it right! Just goes to show! Not sure how on earth I managed to get it so wrong. It wasn't total chaos. I just made the width into the length (as the pattern allowed me to work it like that) and then cut off quite a few planned rows. It's fine. The pattern still works. I just worked it that I'd lose a couple of repeat rows. I just had a fair bit of leftover yarn now!!!!!!! So....on the lockdown days, I had been calming my anxiety with this blanket. I was loving making it. No stress. Really enjoying it. Then I suddenly decided that Minnie, my sweet puppy, needed her own blanket ASAP. It was always my plan to make her a blanket of her own, but for some reason, it needed to be now.....and I had plenty of leftover yarn! I think she gave me her seal of approval. At every opportunity when I had it on my lap, she was on me....on it. The beautiful weather on the lockdown has helped enormously. The puppy has really blossomed and has loved just being with me sitting in the garden whilst I work away on her blanket. I have soaked up her comfort. She has been such a tonic over these last few months helping with my grief. ♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥ Ahhhhhhh just look at those colours. that just brings me so much happiness. My last few blankets have been in these shades. I feel like I really need them at the moment. They are soothing, and calming, and they scream comfort and big enveloping hugs. ♥♥♥♥♥ Easter came and went. A strange one. I have (like us all) struggled with not seeing my outer family. However, technology is a wonderful thing. My mum and I have been replacing our coffee mornings with virtual Facetime coffee mornings. We grab a coffee and then have a Facetime chat catching up with the news and showing each other our latest projects. It makes all this bearable. It has been hard having everyone on top of each other at home all the time. Our tiny little home is bursting to the brim. Finding somewhere to have a quiet few minutes is nigh on impossible. Trying to homeschool is a challenge. The lovely weather has meant at least I can sit outside and work a few rows of crochet. I am thankful for our tiny little garden space. It is really just the size of a postage stamp, but I have never been more grateful for it. Whilst being drawn to the soothing and the pastels, I started playing around with my beads again. I haven't dipped into them for such a long time, but I wanted had a real urge to have Rose Quartz and Amazonite around my neck and wrists again. Those have always been my favourites to work with. I don't know if it's the placebo effect, but I find them so calming. When I wear anything that has the stones in, I feel very calm. When I am anxious or stressed I like to have something around my neck that I can just stroke with my hands. The colours of Amazonite and Rose Quartz have always featured heavily in my home colours and in my crafting. Can you tell?!!!! Actually, the necklaces I made in this picture aren't either of those gemstones, but I have loved making and wearing them. I wanted really long necklaces and didn't have enough of either beads to create something so long so these made do. I have more beads on order and I'm super excited to get them and get beady creative. I have a couple of knitting projects that I would like to start after I finish the two blankets. I realise that I need more stitch markers.....so my plan is to make myself some gemstone stitch markers. I would like to carry the calmness over into my knitting. Heaven knows I think I'm going to need all the calm I can get. Knitting just doesn't come easily to me. Maybe if I actually spent a good portion of my time knitting and trying to get better at it, that might help me! ♥♥♥♥♥ I have baked a fair bit. I have also put on a fair bit of weight that has come with aforementioned baking. It's actually annoying that it's turning out so well. I would have given up if my fist attempt would have been awful. Bread is my complete downfall. Warm, crusty bread with melted butter. Hummmmmmm bliss. Not bliss for the old waistline. Need to do something about that soon. The Bears are very happy with my daily bread making arrangement, but they are just not quick enough to beat me to the first few (or ten) slices each day! ♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥ So.....that is my Spring. Two blankets in the making. Weird days. and other bits and pieces planned for the summer. If lockdown continues for a much greater length of time, I may be even more productive than I could have ever imagined. ♥♥♥♥♥ Lets see what Summer 2020 holds........ Take care and stay safe everyone. XXX

Did you have a good weekend? Mine was one of those, where you do a lot, but you don't achieve much. It was nice though. It was chilly to say the least....but the sun shone brightly in the sky, and that was good enough for me! We lazed in bed. My perfect kind of morning, relaxing in bed with a hot cuppa, snuggles and book reading with Baby Bear..... Then book reading just for me.... We filled up on fresh air........... The Bears played Pirates...... ....and ran about in the wooded maze house.... Then it was back home where I had the urge to have a china play. Remember this Well, I thought it was time to re-arrange. So off it all came. Shelves were dusted and crockery was all washed, and new china went on there..... I was having mainly a Cath day I fancied bright and cheery to match the sun I l❤ved re-arranging Such happy, bright colours lifted my spirits no end I L❤VE sorting. Ah....stripes and flowers. Pretty, cheery shades. I was in my own little colour world. Almost done.... Ahhhhhhhhh....happy me. One little project I did on a whim was to paint some enamel canisters. The set of three blue ones were a tad plain and boring, and in need of a bit of something extra (I can't leave alone, I realised that the bottom canister I had was one that I had got my mitts on a while ago also!). So, out came the paintbrush, and taking inspiration from my favourite floral sprig (in the first pic), the jars were painted. Although, the big tin bugs me, as....in my usual slap dash way, I just 'did it' and the rose placement bothers me! I didn't seal that one so I might re-do it if I can be bothered! I also whipped up some little vintage style pot holders for my pot plants. Again, bright and cheery. But you know.....I stared at this arrangement...and I loved it so. It lifted my heart.............but then I looked and saw all the stuff that I had taken off. A LOT OF STUFF Where was I to put it? There was more taken off than put up! Hummmmmm So do you know...... it all came back off again, and replaced with what was originally there! What am I like! But.......all nice and sparkly, so I guess something was achieved! I will just have to look at my pics for the moment. When I decide where to put the other bits, I'll change it back again! Happy Monday To You All!!!!! XXX

Hellooooooooo.....How are you? I'm just popping in, because I wanted to tell you the story of a blanket. I was going to do my usual yearly round up post in January, but I felt that this deserved a post of its own. I felt like it needed to be written down and remembered. This year my hands have not stopped with a hook and yarn. It's been euphoric and draining all at once. I'll explain more about my crafty year in my round up post in January, but this blanket, well, I have thoroughly enjoyed its journey. Here is the story of how it came about........ ❀❀❀❀❀ I had an idea to make a granny squares blanket using pastels. I had been spending time on a project that was draining my life force, and I was dreaming of a simple little granny squares blanket that would restore my 'happy' box. The kind of pastels I wanted were sludgy and faded pastels. That was all I knew. Then I watched a film. The Light Between Oceans. Whilst I enjoyed the film, what struck me most was the scenery in which it was filmed......and the costumes. The film revolves around the life of two main characters who live on a lighthouse on a remote island. The time is just after the First World War. The scenery was beautiful; windswept and rugged. The costumes; natural fabrics, wool, lace and utilitarian. The colours, oh the colours, they really spoke to me. Just lots of neutrals, greys of the sky, blue of the ocean and grey blues in their costumes. After I had seen the film, I suddenly thought how nice the idea of my pastel blanket would be if it reflected the ruggedness of the land with the hues of the windswept skies and seas in the film. So....a new blanket was born. I had a specific idea on what I wanted. Similar tones, and a blanket with an outdoors utilitarian feel. I chose most of my yarns to be pure wool or Alpaca mixes. I think I had only two colours which had any percentage of acrylic, albeit a small percentage. Many were tweed yarns as I wanted to replicate this connection with nature. I did not want soft or fluffy or cosy. It's funny, because usually the soft warm feel is very important to me in a blanket. This was the total opposite! Now.....in my usual haphazard, non thinky way, I just made the squares and made enough to try and work out what length and width I would like it to be. I needed 360 squares. They were an utter joy to make. After working on a project that was huge and all connected, it felt like total freedom to just make the odd square as and when I could. Turns out I became absolutely besotted with the blanket. I couldn't crochet the squares quick enough. My brain would start itching about five in the morning, so I was up with a cup of tea and a hook. Yarn and a hook seemed to go everywhere with me to get the odd one in. I made the granny square quite a compact one, as I wanted it to feel thick and tightly bound.......more hard wearing for the outdoors. I wanted them to be quite openly seamed together to create a more vintage feel. For the border I wanted something simple, plain, and utilitarian. So......do you want to see it in all its glory? Get ready for an epic amount of pics. It was a nice day, what can I say? meet........ Isle Of Skye ❀❀❀❀❀ It's everything I wanted....and more. I'm totally in love with it. It's HUGE. As usual it's way bigger than I had in my head! Of course it would be, it wouldn't be me if it wasn't big. 360 squares. I made a basic granny square, but I wanted it quite compact so the blanket would be tight and robust. I just omitted the chain one from in-between each cluster, and did 6 trebles (uk) on the corners without any chains. I used a 3.5mm hook using dk yarn. It turned out just how I wanted it to turn out. It sort of links it to the era of the film in my mind (which is somewhat fitting too with Rembrance Sunday this weekend). It's SOOOOOOOOO heavy. Oh my word it is heavy. Ridiculously so. The squares are compact and tightly crocheted, and using mainly pure wool yarn, crikey.......it's hard on the back to carry! Also, I'm not gonna lie.......it has a faint whiff of sheep and wet dog. Sounds a tad gross I know, but actually, I like it. It sort of adds to the whole entity of what I wanted to achieve. It's a different one for me. I rarely just use one hue of colours. I loved working on it though. I loved how it was plain. I think my brain, at the time, needed plain. Of course, it looks totally out of place nestled in amongst my other blankets. However, this one will be amazing in the coming Winter. It's soooooooo warm. The Bear's are fighting over whose bed it will be going on. I'd like to think mine, but I am turning into the Princess and the Pea with the number of blankets thrown on my bed. We shall see. All I know is that I love it. I truly LOVE it. So there you are. One of my 2018 creations. I shall be back in the New Year with a round up post. I might even have my act together and have some photos of all the projects I have been working on. Seriously, I have been so creatively stupid this year, you wouldn't believe!!!!! Have a super few months. I'll see you in the New Year with a round up post of all my 2018 makes and goings on. cheerio XXX P.S I forgot how long it takes to write text and upload the gazillion photos I took of this blanket. I have loved it though. I have missed it a lot this year. I have thoughts I will share in January. P.P.S After I published this, I went and lay under said blanket with a huge cup of tea and a book. It was HEAVEN. This thing is going to be utterly toasty in the Winter months. BRING IT ON!

From Coco Rose Diaries.

Morning all....how are you? Have you just had a half term break? If so, did you survive it well? Mine was a rested one! We did nothing but simply chill! Life has been so full on of late, it was nice to just wake up and not have plans. I still have a lingering cough, but feeling better now. Thanks for all you well wishes....you're an awesome bunch! well.................... ....The Spring throw........ ..........goodness me, it feels like I have been doing this blanket FOREVER! 432 squares made...... 432 squares sewn together....... 432 squares ends weaved in...... I actually would have liked it a little bigger too. I contemplated adding a few more rows.....but I think I just was so desperate to see it in all its glory, I just couldn't hang on any longer! So.....here it is in all its glory............ Do I like it?.................. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ I finished it midway last week. I was really excited , but still not feeling 100%, so as soon as I finished it, I folded it up and put it to one side. I have spent so many hours on this blanket, my fingers were sore from all the sewing in of the ends, and I just wanted to be completely well enough to appreciate the finished result! So I waited a few days until I felt decent again, then got it out and began to drink it all in.......... spend several minutes just looking at it and feeling happy with what I had achieved! I really, really, really, really do love it! Sure, I would have loved using the yarn recommended, but a) the purse just really couldn't afford it, and b) if it could have, I wouldn't have wanted to use it....AT ALL!!!! My blanket is more vibrant. I really loved the chalkiness of the colours used in the one in the book.......... ....and I think at some point I would like to make one more similar.......but I am REALLY happy with what I have. The colours are brighter....but you know me..........love my brights........so I am not disappointed. All my crochet makes are made to be used and to be loved. The Bears really love wrapping themselves up in the blankets and that brings an immense smile to my face. I wanted this blanket to be the same (although, at the moment I am struggling with wanting it all to myself just draped lovingly on my bed! I know that will not happen though!) I cannot stop looking at it, touching it, smiling each time I see it. I truly love it! I loved it the first time I set eyes on it...and that is what kept me going. I made a scarf last year I nicknamed the 'Dr Who' scarf as I made it really long so that it could be wrapped round me a couple of times, not sure if anyone remembers..... I completely love that scarf. It is sort of made in the same way....maybe that's why I love the blanket so much! The squares were quick to make but the sheer number was really rather off-putting! Crocheting them together wasn't so bad, but the angle that I seemed to do it, gave me a headache each time. (I left the tin out in the garden with all the strands for the birds. It was fun watching them dive in and take beak-fulls up into their nests!) I did feel elated when all the squares were together, but that turned to horror when I turned it over and saw the sheer volume of ends I had to weave in!!! However....I am glad that I did it that way. If I had sewn in all the ends of each square as I went along, I honestly think I would have given up as it would have taken so long to reach 432. I sort of resigned myself to the fact that I would spend a week just sewing in strands, but knew that the end was so near and that would keep me going! I had to make sure I did a REALLY good job as this blanket was going to be used and abused by the three bears, and I didn't want it falling apart after all my hard work!!!!! This is a simple little blanket project, but it is a big one, and you have to have patience and really want to see the finished result! I used various yarns, different brands, acrylic mixes, all the same weight, just to get the colours I wanted. To be honest, I couldn't say exactly how much it cost me, but hardly anything compared to what it would have cost had I used the yarn they recommended! So.......a big sigh......one more blanket completed. I have a mountain of other WIP's to be getting on with, but I may just have another little ta-dah moment by the end of the week....my little crochet fingers are smoking!!!!!! Right, laundry and toy tidy are calling me now. After the half term break, the house looks like a bomb site! The boys have an inset day today too, only Baby Bear is at nursery, so a little break to get some housework done............the real world is so exciting!!!!!!!! xxx

When I was younger, when asked, I would say that Winter was my favourite season. I enjoyed the frosty days. I enjoyed being wrapped up and seeing my breath expelled in the chilly air. When I was in my mid teens, coats were really annoying things to lug around a secondary school; I would happily brave the frosty winter mornings with just a scarf around my neck and a school bag. I never seemed to feel the cold. EVER. The chill felt fresh and exhilarating. Spring was alright, just always 'damp' to me. I never quite saw beyond that. Summer was annoying. I was pale and never suited sun. I never quite saw beyond that either. Autumn envisaged shades of orange, my least favourite colour. I was never a fan of Autumn coming. Orange.......orange.......orange. Everywhere. YUCK! Fast forward quite a few years. I have grown to appreciate all the seasons in equal measure. Age, and wisdom, make you view things from other angles. If I'm honest though, Winter, which I loved so many years ago, annoys me somewhat. I appreciate it....but it annoys me. It seems we rarely get a crisp frost these days where I live. It's usually just grey and damp. I really struggle with it. Often, throughout this season, the grey just seems relentless. On those rare days where the days are bitter but full of sunshine, I feel quite alive. They really are rare though. Grey, dull days, it's when I just want to hibernate. Continuous grey dull days make me feel quite depressed and hermit like. I now view Spring as the birth of the new.......not just the damp I used to see. Shoots and emerging greenery that offer hope of better days to come. I'm totally on board with that and relish the brighter days with excitement. Summer, I've grown to somewhat enjoy. I no longer dread with a vigour. Colour. Lots of it. Long days filled with light. I do love light. I adore waking up to sunshine. I'm an early bird and waking up at 4 and seeing the day begin is just so beautiful and uplifting. Sitting on my little back step in the bright early mornings. Cup of tea in hand, and still a sleepy house crew. That cannot be beaten. I still can't get on board with the whole heat issue. What can I say? I'm a true English Rose. I don't sunbathe. I wilt in heat. I like shade. The long sunlit days more than make up for it though. Dog walks in late evening watching the sun go down. There is a big hill behind my house with a copse right at the top. Surrounding the copse are benches. It's a big dog walkers hill, but in the Summer evenings, you get a gorgeous view of the sun setting over the valley. People go up there with evening picnics and bottles of wine, just enjoying that gorgeous golden light. It's a wonderful place to watch the day begin its wind down. Autumn. Well, Autumn has been a very slow grower over the years. I still struggle with the whole orange theme (I know. It's ridiculous), but I have grown to look to the things I really do love in this season. Nature gets sleepy. I LOVE how it gets sleepy. I love the crunch of leaves beneath my feet. Conkers on the ground. I love the 'nip' in the morning air and the low lying early morning mist. I love the smell of damp decay in the forest. The smell of bonfires in the distance. The chance to start the evening candle ritual. Rummaging through drawers finding scarves and accessories I'm going to want to start wearing. I love that. That MORE than makes up for 'orange' these days. This Summer, flew by. Time seems to speed up exponentially as you get older. I try to get off the fast wheel often now just to take it all in. Sometimes your head is just so far down and in the thick of things, you forget to look up, stand back, and take a moment to see where you are in life. It was a mixed bag of weather this summer, but I was sure to make the most of the good days... I have really enjoyed the Summer this year because of three things: 1. I grew Cafe Au Lait Dahlias this year. I have mentioned before that I have the death touch with plants. My garden is postage stamp sized, and yet I still cannot manage it. A VERY wet year about ten years ago brought black spot to our town. It affected everything. My morning school walks with Baby Bear past beautiful Horse Chesnut trees became very sad. We would watch these glorious trees that we had walked past and admired for lots of years look awful and withery. Then it hit in my garden and affected all my rose bushes. They have never recovered. Each year since they have looked such a sorry sight. The roses still bloom, but the leaves turn with the fungus and they wither and drop. I have researched and tried my hardest to combat it, but it's just a failing battle. It saddens me so much and really helps to create a deep loathing of gardening of any type. Anyway, this year I was determined to try and grow these beauties. To my delight I succeeded, and have had an abundant array of blooms. They have just given me so much pleasure. Even more so because I just thought it would be impossible for me to grow such beauty. 2. Jam. Yes, Jam I tell you. I have a love of all things rose scented. I wanted to make a jam with the scent of rose for summer. Thinking what kind of fruit would work well, raspberry seemed a no brainer. Well wouldn't you know that if you type in rose and raspberry jam recipes online, a whole host of recipe ideas come up. Obviously a good pairing, I found a recipe that looked good and set about making this jewel of a jam. I used this one here. It's as simple as you could get All I can say about this jam is OH MY GIDDY AUNT ★❤★ How on earth have I not made this sooner? It pains me to think of all the years lost that I hadn't been eating these jars of gorgeousness. It makes for the most deliciously different jam. A proper Summer jam. You can add as much rosewater as you like to either make it either lightly or heavily scented. I like a decent dollop. I make batches of both seeded and unseeded jam. The unseeded jam is gorgeous and jewel like. Perfect for delicate toast and Summer sponges. A good old Victoria Sponge cake made with this jam is truly to die for. The seeded jam is lovely and rustic looking and perfect paired with rustic breads. I really cannot stop making and eating it. It's a jam I didn't think anyone else would like to be honest, so I thought I could be a tad greedy and eat it all. Turns out, they all like it. Bumcakes. (Notice my homage to Bon Maman?! Purely for fridge identifying purposes!) Each time I have a mouthful, it's a moment of pure joy. Can you tell i'm a complete fan? I'm probably a bit late in the season now, but I also really want to try making honey and lavender ice cream. Lavender has not really been something I've really ever wanted to have in a food. I do love the scent, but sometimes it can be too overpowering for me and quite medicinal smelling. Watching the film 'It's Complicated' with Meryl Streep (I seriously love that film), she made lavender honey ice cream and I thought it sounded weirdly wonderful. I've looked up several recipes, and I think (as with the rose and raspberry jam), you can flavour the lavender to suit your liking. I think I'd like just a hint of lavender. I really want to give it a try. Watch this space. 3. Thirdly, this summer.......and the thing that really does make this summer a great one.......... I learnt to knit a pair of socks! For about 12 years I have wanted to knit my own socks. I don't know why it has taken me so long really. Maybe I was just so engrossed with crochet. I had a lot of ideas to get out of my system with crochet. The fear of the dropped stitch, and that they just looked complicated. Toe up, cuff down, a million different toe and heels to make. Learning was always something I just kept putting off until the following year. I don't know why this particular day was better than any other, but one day I woke up and decided that I wanted a pair of knitted socks under my belt before I hit my fifth decade on this earth. I found a tutorial on you tube. It looked simple enough. I had some needles and yarn already (from a previous burst of sock enthusiasm), so I was good to go. Actually I wasn't. My usual fly by the seat of my pants and not pay full attention attitude, got me into a pickle at the very first hurdle. The air was blue, my knitting was a blob of a mess and seriously, it got thrown across the table several times. I tried to remember my first foray into crochet. The air was blue then and frustration high. Hook and yarn flew across the table several times too; until I realised what a muppet I was. I was reading the instructions for a left handed crocheter......of which I am not! Patience Vanessa. I was actually using the wrong needles with my knitting. Perfectly good sock needles, but not right for the actual pattern I was using. Starting again, with the right needles, I slowly began to get the hang of it. My first sock was actually meant to be a test piece. I thought it'd all go pear shaped, and I'd have to rip it all back. I was fine with that because this was a piece just for practicing stitches and elements of the pattern. I actually did okay following the tutorial, and in the end, the test piece became my first sock. It wasn't perfect by any means, and I was concentrating so much, that my tension was incredibly tight and it was so hard and painful on my fingers. By the second sock in the pair, I was able to remedy the mistakes from the first one. My tension was still so tight and they weren't a pleasure to knit, but I felt like I was getting the hang of it. Roll on second pair, and I knit in yarn I wanted. I was beginning to relax now and not fear each new step. Starting my third pair, I decided to do what I had actually really wanted to knit socks for. I wanted coloured cuffs, heels and toes. I was still learning....and still making mistakes.....but by my third pair I actually felt relaxed knitting. My tension had eased and it became more enjoyable. I'm pleased with my three pairs so far. Each imperfect, but I did it. I made three pairs of socks before I turned 50. One life goal ticked off. Now I feel a little more confident, I'll tackle other patterns. Toe up, different heels. I'm still very much a tutorial girl at the moment. I like to be able to see where I need to do a stitch. I think being a beginner and trying to read a pattern on it's own would have been a nightmare for me. Some of a beginners mistakes are not holding the yarn where it should be. I gained extra stitches because of this. A visual tutorial was perfect to be able to go back and see what I was doing wrong. It's those little things that you can't see from a written pattern that can get a beginner into such a pickle. Maybe after my tenth pair I might feel confident to make a pair from a written pattern. Famous last words Vanessa. ❤❤❤ ❤❤❤ So, three things that made me oh so happy this summer. Dahlias, Jam and Socks. Summer memories made........ ....and Summer cuddles had. We have now head into Autumn. I have my heavenly scented candles on the go. I have the fall episodes of the Gilmore girls on standby. I have my Autumn favourite movie You've Got Mail at the ready and I've fished out my scarves, wrist warmers and hats for the chillier days and evenings. Let's go Autumn........ XXX

...that I should be distracted with something else... ....but how could I not be when such sparkly yarn just fell into my lap? Simply delicious. Perfect to team with a Christmas outfit. Well......that was my reasoning anyway. I loved the shade of grey I loved the simple little sparkle I loved the shade of pink on the wrapper..... .......actually, it was the shade of pink with the grey that sold it to me. I just love ballet pink with soft grey. I have a skirt I ADORE in that shade. A grey sparkly skinny scarf would just be completely perfect with it. Here I go again then....i'll meet you on the other side...... XXX

Okay, so after my last post, I guess I couldn't keep the pastels hidden. So here are some from the archives..... Ahhhh, it's been so nice re-visiting some images. I've not yet had the desire to read through past postings, so it's been nice to just catch up on what I found interesting enough to photograph. It's been fun. I hope you have enjoyed the photo blasts too! xxx

Okay, so after my last post, I guess I couldn't keep the pastels hidden. So here are some from the archives..... Ahhhh, it's been so nice re-visiting some images. I've not yet had the desire to read through past postings, so it's been nice to just catch up on what I found interesting enough to photograph. It's been fun. I hope you have enjoyed the photo blasts too! xxx

It has been half term here. It has flown by. We had no major plans this half term, so it was relaxing in that respect. I was looking forward to some later morning starts, but found myself awake even earlier in the mornings than usual. Still, it was nice. I love being awake early in the mornings to see the sun rising in the morning sky and the birds singing madly. I enjoy the lazy mornings more than lie-ins in a half term. No rushing to get out of the house in the mornings is a lovely thing to savour. Morning coffee sipped slowly instead of gulped down....yes.....most definitely appreciated. We did take a trip to Wisley one of the days. It was a spur of the moment decision. I had been watching the RHS Chelsea Flower Show all week and I think I was all 'flowered up'. The Bear's had all been with their school but I had never been, which is weird as it's relatively close by. It was a beautiful day there. The weather held out, and the Bear's were awesome. Not exactly the ideal day out for two young teenagers, but Big Bear was happy snapping away with his camera, Middle Bear was happy as I had taken a back pack full of refreshments, and Baby Bear was loving the freedom to run around in lovely surroundings. The colour was something that day. The grass was almost a luminous green in shade, and everything was vibrant against it too. I do love wisteria. This fascinated me. It was an oak tree. At least I was sure it was, but it had a wisteria growing around and up its trunk. I wondered whether the trunk of the wisteria would almost 'suffocate' the oak if it wrapped around it tightly and not allowed it to grow and expand. I actually could have stayed there for hours pondering on this thought, but the mighty-ness of this tree with all the wisteria flowers intertwined on all the branches really was a total fascination for me. I thought this intertwined seat was rather lovely too. Wonderfully carved and each arm was carved with the loving memory of someone lost. So sweet. Palm trees in a walled garden. You can't get more perfect than that to me. It's my dream one day to have a palm tree in my garden. Lots of colour. Lots of purple and blue I seem to have photographed. The grounds were covered in Rhododendron bushes too, in shades of white and vibrant pink. I'm not sure what it is that doesn't make me warm to them. They have beautiful big, proud, fuchsia type blooms, but they do nothing to my senses, which is why I guess they didn't make it onto the camera. These two caught my eye though....... Never in my life have I seen something coloured like that. I didn't catch the name. It was a flower on a big tropical vine in their big greenhouse. It had a big crowd around it, as I don't think anyone could quite believe that that colour was natural. I loved this one though. Ahhhhhhhh the colour. All silvery green and ethereal. I also LOVED walking through the orchard. I only wished I had seen all the blossom on them a few weeks earlier. I shall know for next year as I think it would be a beautiful sight. There was also this lovely Bonsai walk. These fascinated me too. Some were over 85 years old and they were just so perfect, I felt like Gulliver. I have to say though, that out of everything, it was this sight that made my heart leap. It was called Toona Sinensis (flamingo)and was the most glorious pink against the green of the trees. Sadly the clouds had come by this time but I could only imagine how it might look against a clear blue sky. Simply stunning. I could have stared at it all day......and now I really want one of my own. It really was a lovely day out. A stop in the RHS shop meant that I came away with a watering can. An indoor watering can, but in the shape of a teapot. It was a Mad Hatters teapot and I thought it rather delightful. I just about resisted the large outdoor teapot, but for the indoor teapot, I'm rather keen on making a tea cosy for it. Rather pointless really, and a difficult thing to fashion as the teapot is not a usual teapot size. I'm almost laughing at what a pointless exercise I am setting for myself, but it's a scratch I think needs itching. I'll keep you posted on whether I can achieve it. It'll be a faff, and my usual wing it as I go along kind of thing, but it could be fun. I had sort of wanted to use the relaxing rest of the week to indulge in a bit of crochet, but other things needed attention so nothing more on that front. If you live near Wisley and love beautiful gardens then I'd highly recommend a trip there. Have a super weekend all xxx

Morning all....how are you? Have you just had a half term break? If so, did you survive it well? Mine was a rested one! We did nothing but simply chill! Life has been so full on of late, it was nice to just wake up and not have plans. I still have a lingering cough, but feeling better now. Thanks for all you well wishes....you're an awesome bunch! well.................... ....The Spring throw........ ..........goodness me, it feels like I have been doing this blanket FOREVER! 432 squares made...... 432 squares sewn together....... 432 squares ends weaved in...... I actually would have liked it a little bigger too. I contemplated adding a few more rows.....but I think I just was so desperate to see it in all its glory, I just couldn't hang on any longer! So.....here it is in all its glory............ Do I like it?.................. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ I finished it midway last week. I was really excited , but still not feeling 100%, so as soon as I finished it, I folded it up and put it to one side. I have spent so many hours on this blanket, my fingers were sore from all the sewing in of the ends, and I just wanted to be completely well enough to appreciate the finished result! So I waited a few days until I felt decent again, then got it out and began to drink it all in.......... spend several minutes just looking at it and feeling happy with what I had achieved! I really, really, really, really do love it! Sure, I would have loved using the yarn recommended, but a) the purse just really couldn't afford it, and b) if it could have, I wouldn't have wanted to use it....AT ALL!!!! My blanket is more vibrant. I really loved the chalkiness of the colours used in the one in the book.......... ....and I think at some point I would like to make one more similar.......but I am REALLY happy with what I have. The colours are brighter....but you know me..........love my brights........so I am not disappointed. All my crochet makes are made to be used and to be loved. The Bears really love wrapping themselves up in the blankets and that brings an immense smile to my face. I wanted this blanket to be the same (although, at the moment I am struggling with wanting it all to myself just draped lovingly on my bed! I know that will not happen though!) I cannot stop looking at it, touching it, smiling each time I see it. I truly love it! I loved it the first time I set eyes on it...and that is what kept me going. I made a scarf last year I nicknamed the 'Dr Who' scarf as I made it really long so that it could be wrapped round me a couple of times, not sure if anyone remembers..... I completely love that scarf. It is sort of made in the same way....maybe that's why I love the blanket so much! The squares were quick to make but the sheer number was really rather off-putting! Crocheting them together wasn't so bad, but the angle that I seemed to do it, gave me a headache each time. (I left the tin out in the garden with all the strands for the birds. It was fun watching them dive in and take beak-fulls up into their nests!) I did feel elated when all the squares were together, but that turned to horror when I turned it over and saw the sheer volume of ends I had to weave in!!! However....I am glad that I did it that way. If I had sewn in all the ends of each square as I went along, I honestly think I would have given up as it would have taken so long to reach 432. I sort of resigned myself to the fact that I would spend a week just sewing in strands, but knew that the end was so near and that would keep me going! I had to make sure I did a REALLY good job as this blanket was going to be used and abused by the three bears, and I didn't want it falling apart after all my hard work!!!!! This is a simple little blanket project, but it is a big one, and you have to have patience and really want to see the finished result! I used various yarns, different brands, acrylic mixes, all the same weight, just to get the colours I wanted. To be honest, I couldn't say exactly how much it cost me, but hardly anything compared to what it would have cost had I used the yarn they recommended! So.......a big sigh......one more blanket completed. I have a mountain of other WIP's to be getting on with, but I may just have another little ta-dah moment by the end of the week....my little crochet fingers are smoking!!!!!! Right, laundry and toy tidy are calling me now. After the half term break, the house looks like a bomb site! The boys have an inset day today too, only Baby Bear is at nursery, so a little break to get some housework done............the real world is so exciting!!!!!!!! xxx

I ♥ADORE♥ Pip Studio China. I ❤LOVE❤ china in general. I can never resist a cup, I have far too many. But, I do use them. I am quite particular about cups too, but i'll save that one for another day. I don't have a big collection of Pip, but it's slowly growing. It's very girly china. Not a family china set....well not a family china set when you are the only female, and the males don't appreciate its beauty as much as you do! So, Pip is saved for when I am on my own. For years, I boiled a kettle, plonked milk and a bag in a cup and voila. The cuppa was instant and I drank it on the go. And I do this all the time still.....but I realised a few years ago, just how nice it is to take 15 minutes in the day to set a place for just me.....with a pretty pot, a pretty cup and saucer and, to just relax and enjoy it. There is something really very soothing going on here. Like a little ritual. Taking pleasure in putting it all out.....pouring.....relaxing. I have made sure that I find time most days to do this. Just me. I didn't like the fact that I had this beautiful china and didn't want to use it for fear of breaking or chipping it. China is made to be used, however delicate and beautiful. Life is too short to keep everything for best. I've realised this. Why have something stuck in a cupboard? If it breaks it breaks, but at least you have some lovely memories with it! So, a relaxing start to the morning. The Bears are dropped off at school, and as I sit with my pot of tea (yes, and sneaky morning oreo), I write a list of 'to-do' things that need to be done today after my tea is drunk. ❤❤❤❤❤ I need this......I'm not sure I could function without this now. Just a little 'me time' in the day. Quiet, tea and pretties. It does me the world of good....the perfect little 'pick me up'. When I am bogged down with laundry, stinky boy bedrooms, the general daily mess and chauffeuring about......I need 15 minutes of 'me', to help me feel like the whole day is not just about everyone else all the time. Let's face it, no one else is going to set a pretty little table and pour me out a cuppa! Happy me....happy mum. Happy Friday and weekend to you........... xxx

.........from this week..... This week has been a mixed bag weather wise. We've had beautiful sunny days, mixed with wet weather days. I have LOVED the warm weather days. Sunshine, warm breezes, open windows and doors. Yet, the cooler, wetter days have been quite nice. It's still been mild. I have walked to school and loved the big trees against the blue skies, and I have loved the walk to school with the pitter patter of rain and the smell of wet, warm pavements. It has been a relaxing week, yet a productive week. Things made, things put up on walls, paint colours decided upon(!), Spring cleaning done, lots of walks, and good healthy food eaten. It's a start. I will have walked 28 miles (by the end of today) for this week, so not bad. I have been listening to the soundtrack of 'The Lakehouse' all week. Oh, I ♥︎ that film. The score is lovely and it's just been perfect to listen to on a beautiful sunny morning whilst I potter about. Somehow the daily chores don't seem to have been so 'chore-ish' this week. I've tidied up more nerf darts than I care to count. I've loved how a bunch of 80p tulips have radiated all week and given me so much pleasure. I've loved seeing new growth and buds in the garden. It's pleasing to see that I'm not a total gardening loser. I've snuggled under blankets and eiderdowns and loved every minute of crocheting. I've squeeled (ever so slightly under my breath) at finding the peachiest pink pots with lovely grapefruit scented wax candles in. I've loved a coffee treat, savouring it's aroma and loving every sip of it. It's been a little piece of heaven. I've baked fudge brownie muffins.....the Bear's favourite. The aroma is gorgeous and I have had to summon up willpower not to taste one, as you do, but I have amazed myself at how mega good I am being! I even said 'no' to dipping into a big box of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts that were cheekily wafted in front of me to see if I caved. Oh so tempting, as I just love those naughty treats........wow, I've SERIOUSLY been a good girl. I have also seen a few of my favourite films this week. Happy, feel good films. 'It's Complicated' has just finished playing. I had it on in the background whilst I caught up on a few things. I think it's so funny. I love Meryl Streep in it......and her house........sigh....... I've had company all week from a furry friend. A neighbour's cat seems to have suddenly decided that he likes our little abode. Being an outdoor cat, and never really bothering with us for 10 years, he has suddenly decided that he likes it here. I am not so much a cat person, but I have taken pity on him. He is an old chap of 21. He has bad arthritis in his hips and he seems to want more attention. In the mornings he is at our door meowing to come in, and when I come back from the school walk he is there ready and waiting to be let in for attention and a snuggle. The Bear's are fairly happy with this little arrangement. So....little moments. Happy moments. Have a beautiful weekend all. xxx

Like I need any more shawls..... ....but I just love them. I saw one that caught my eye on Pinterest here. I loved it so. But it was just a picture. It linked to a page that went nowhere with re

The sun is shining briefly after a shaky start. I have a playlist on to keep my spirits up. It was a choice of calming and soothing or upbeat and jump about crazily. I surprised myself and went for upbeat. Jumping about in amongst crockery stacks to sort my washing......looking like a right old idiot. Paint on my hands, paint flecks on my face and hair....and no matter how hard I try.....polly filler blobs on counter tops. The chaos of my life at the moment should call for soothing music and calm moments (remember those New Age whale tapes you used to get? I should be playing those), but, the sun is out, and when that baby shines, it makes me feel productive. Grey clouds and rain make me want to hibernate. I always feel like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon when the sun dares to grace us with its presence. My house is a T....I....P It's laughable. I have to laugh or i'll cry! Just another couple of weeks and I should begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. So just.........B-R-E-A-T-H-E Not known for my organisational skills, I haven't planned well. Cups, plate stacks, pots and pans are scattered here, there and everywhere. The Bears are fed up. Fed up with trying to find things to put their food on. I keep moving it all too, just to make it all the more annoying for them. Painting, sanding, and coming up against hurdle after hurdle. It should have been so simple for a teeny tiny kitchen. Huh, who was I kidding! Oh well....... To keep calm I have been working on the above bit of knitting. Having a slightly unhealthy love affair with moss stitch, and seeing a rather gorgeously inspiring piccy on Pinterest, the above was born. Once again, being bored to death with it. I thought it was a good bit of plain practice. My speed is getting up there and my tension is better and more consistent......but it feels like i'm getting NOWHERE! Grrrrrrrr, boy, do I LOVE the speed of crochet. I fear this may be a MAJOR drawback in the whole getting to grips with knitting thing. Really not known for my patience, i'm going to really have to push through this boredom factor. However.......I will be in love with the above project when it is finished.......I JUST KNOW IT. I've already got my threads picked out and some fabric in mind too to finish it off. It might just be finished next year though. So.....in the meantime...... Flowers.....well....because i'm feeling stressed. A great stress reliever for sure. Colour.....because I need it. The glow of some early morning sun. It fills me with immense joy. Apricot and aqua. A combination I LOVE And Hyacinths, because I simply cannot get enough of them. Right......I hear the spin of the washing machine end.......cue more stupid dancing.... xxx

When I was younger, when asked, I would say that Winter was my favourite season. I enjoyed the frosty days. I enjoyed being wrapped up and seeing my breath expelled in the chilly air. When I was in my mid teens, coats were really annoying things to lug around a secondary school; I would happily brave the frosty winter mornings with just a scarf around my neck and a school bag. I never seemed to feel the cold. EVER. The chill felt fresh and exhilarating. Spring was alright, just always 'damp' to me. I never quite saw beyond that. Summer was annoying. I was pale and never suited sun. I never quite saw beyond that either. Autumn envisaged shades of orange, my least favourite colour. I was never a fan of Autumn coming. Orange.......orange.......orange. Everywhere. YUCK! Fast forward quite a few years. I have grown to appreciate all the seasons in equal measure. Age, and wisdom, make you view things from other angles. If I'm honest though, Winter, which I loved so many years ago, annoys me somewhat. I appreciate it....but it annoys me. It seems we rarely get a crisp frost these days where I live. It's usually just grey and damp. I really struggle with it. Often, throughout this season, the grey just seems relentless. On those rare days where the days are bitter but full of sunshine, I feel quite alive. They really are rare though. Grey, dull days, it's when I just want to hibernate. Continuous grey dull days make me feel quite depressed and hermit like. I now view Spring as the birth of the new.......not just the damp I used to see. Shoots and emerging greenery that offer hope of better days to come. I'm totally on board with that and relish the brighter days with excitement. Summer, I've grown to somewhat enjoy. I no longer dread with a vigour. Colour. Lots of it. Long days filled with light. I do love light. I adore waking up to sunshine. I'm an early bird and waking up at 4 and seeing the day begin is just so beautiful and uplifting. Sitting on my little back step in the bright early mornings. Cup of tea in hand, and still a sleepy house crew. That cannot be beaten. I still can't get on board with the whole heat issue. What can I say? I'm a true English Rose. I don't sunbathe. I wilt in heat. I like shade. The long sunlit days more than make up for it though. Dog walks in late evening watching the sun go down. There is a big hill behind my house with a copse right at the top. Surrounding the copse are benches. It's a big dog walkers hill, but in the Summer evenings, you get a gorgeous view of the sun setting over the valley. People go up there with evening picnics and bottles of wine, just enjoying that gorgeous golden light. It's a wonderful place to watch the day begin its wind down. Autumn. Well, Autumn has been a very slow grower over the years. I still struggle with the whole orange theme (I know. It's ridiculous), but I have grown to look to the things I really do love in this season. Nature gets sleepy. I LOVE how it gets sleepy. I love the crunch of leaves beneath my feet. Conkers on the ground. I love the 'nip' in the morning air and the low lying early morning mist. I love the smell of damp decay in the forest. The smell of bonfires in the distance. The chance to start the evening candle ritual. Rummaging through drawers finding scarves and accessories I'm going to want to start wearing. I love that. That MORE than makes up for 'orange' these days. This Summer, flew by. Time seems to speed up exponentially as you get older. I try to get off the fast wheel often now just to take it all in. Sometimes your head is just so far down and in the thick of things, you forget to look up, stand back, and take a moment to see where you are in life. It was a mixed bag of weather this summer, but I was sure to make the most of the good days... I have really enjoyed the Summer this year because of three things: 1. I grew Cafe Au Lait Dahlias this year. I have mentioned before that I have the death touch with plants. My garden is postage stamp sized, and yet I still cannot manage it. A VERY wet year about ten years ago brought black spot to our town. It affected everything. My morning school walks with Baby Bear past beautiful Horse Chesnut trees became very sad. We would watch these glorious trees that we had walked past and admired for lots of years look awful and withery. Then it hit in my garden and affected all my rose bushes. They have never recovered. Each year since they have looked such a sorry sight. The roses still bloom, but the leaves turn with the fungus and they wither and drop. I have researched and tried my hardest to combat it, but it's just a failing battle. It saddens me so much and really helps to create a deep loathing of gardening of any type. Anyway, this year I was determined to try and grow these beauties. To my delight I succeeded, and have had an abundant array of blooms. They have just given me so much pleasure. Even more so because I just thought it would be impossible for me to grow such beauty. 2. Jam. Yes, Jam I tell you. I have a love of all things rose scented. I wanted to make a jam with the scent of rose for summer. Thinking what kind of fruit would work well, raspberry seemed a no brainer. Well wouldn't you know that if you type in rose and raspberry jam recipes online, a whole host of recipe ideas come up. Obviously a good pairing, I found a recipe that looked good and set about making this jewel of a jam. I used this one here. It's as simple as you could get All I can say about this jam is OH MY GIDDY AUNT ★❤★ How on earth have I not made this sooner? It pains me to think of all the years lost that I hadn't been eating these jars of gorgeousness. It makes for the most deliciously different jam. A proper Summer jam. You can add as much rosewater as you like to either make it either lightly or heavily scented. I like a decent dollop. I make batches of both seeded and unseeded jam. The unseeded jam is gorgeous and jewel like. Perfect for delicate toast and Summer sponges. A good old Victoria Sponge cake made with this jam is truly to die for. The seeded jam is lovely and rustic looking and perfect paired with rustic breads. I really cannot stop making and eating it. It's a jam I didn't think anyone else would like to be honest, so I thought I could be a tad greedy and eat it all. Turns out, they all like it. Bumcakes. (Notice my homage to Bon Maman?! Purely for fridge identifying purposes!) Each time I have a mouthful, it's a moment of pure joy. Can you tell i'm a complete fan? I'm probably a bit late in the season now, but I also really want to try making honey and lavender ice cream. Lavender has not really been something I've really ever wanted to have in a food. I do love the scent, but sometimes it can be too overpowering for me and quite medicinal smelling. Watching the film 'It's Complicated' with Meryl Streep (I seriously love that film), she made lavender honey ice cream and I thought it sounded weirdly wonderful. I've looked up several recipes, and I think (as with the rose and raspberry jam), you can flavour the lavender to suit your liking. I think I'd like just a hint of lavender. I really want to give it a try. Watch this space. 3. Thirdly, this summer.......and the thing that really does make this summer a great one.......... I learnt to knit a pair of socks! For about 12 years I have wanted to knit my own socks. I don't know why it has taken me so long really. Maybe I was just so engrossed with crochet. I had a lot of ideas to get out of my system with crochet. The fear of the dropped stitch, and that they just looked complicated. Toe up, cuff down, a million different toe and heels to make. Learning was always something I just kept putting off until the following year. I don't know why this particular day was better than any other, but one day I woke up and decided that I wanted a pair of knitted socks under my belt before I hit my fifth decade on this earth. I found a tutorial on you tube. It looked simple enough. I had some needles and yarn already (from a previous burst of sock enthusiasm), so I was good to go. Actually I wasn't. My usual fly by the seat of my pants and not pay full attention attitude, got me into a pickle at the very first hurdle. The air was blue, my knitting was a blob of a mess and seriously, it got thrown across the table several times. I tried to remember my first foray into crochet. The air was blue then and frustration high. Hook and yarn flew across the table several times too; until I realised what a muppet I was. I was reading the instructions for a left handed crocheter......of which I am not! Patience Vanessa. I was actually using the wrong needles with my knitting. Perfectly good sock needles, but not right for the actual pattern I was using. Starting again, with the right needles, I slowly began to get the hang of it. My first sock was actually meant to be a test piece. I thought it'd all go pear shaped, and I'd have to rip it all back. I was fine with that because this was a piece just for practicing stitches and elements of the pattern. I actually did okay following the tutorial, and in the end, the test piece became my first sock. It wasn't perfect by any means, and I was concentrating so much, that my tension was incredibly tight and it was so hard and painful on my fingers. By the second sock in the pair, I was able to remedy the mistakes from the first one. My tension was still so tight and they weren't a pleasure to knit, but I felt like I was getting the hang of it. Roll on second pair, and I knit in yarn I wanted. I was beginning to relax now and not fear each new step. Starting my third pair, I decided to do what I had actually really wanted to knit socks for. I wanted coloured cuffs, heels and toes. I was still learning....and still making mistakes.....but by my third pair I actually felt relaxed knitting. My tension had eased and it became more enjoyable. I'm pleased with my three pairs so far. Each imperfect, but I did it. I made three pairs of socks before I turned 50. One life goal ticked off. Now I feel a little more confident, I'll tackle other patterns. Toe up, different heels. I'm still very much a tutorial girl at the moment. I like to be able to see where I need to do a stitch. I think being a beginner and trying to read a pattern on it's own would have been a nightmare for me. Some of a beginners mistakes are not holding the yarn where it should be. I gained extra stitches because of this. A visual tutorial was perfect to be able to go back and see what I was doing wrong. It's those little things that you can't see from a written pattern that can get a beginner into such a pickle. Maybe after my tenth pair I might feel confident to make a pair from a written pattern. Famous last words Vanessa. ❤❤❤ ❤❤❤ So, three things that made me oh so happy this summer. Dahlias, Jam and Socks. Summer memories made........ ....and Summer cuddles had. We have now head into Autumn. I have my heavenly scented candles on the go. I have the fall episodes of the Gilmore girls on standby. I have my Autumn favourite movie You've Got Mail at the ready and I've fished out my scarves, wrist warmers and hats for the chillier days and evenings. Let's go Autumn........ XXX

about this pattern: i found this pretty picture on pinterest and was totally smitten. after a lot of googling and searching i wasn’t able to find the pattern, so decided to figure the pattern…

One of my happiest makes for a while. I bought a couple of balls of Drops Alpaca in a nice little yarn shop one day. I bought them with the vision of perhaps some nice little wrist warmers to take me into Autumn. It was gorgeous yarn in a gorgeous colour. A greeny/grey/blue. Totally me, and totally scrummy. I like drapey, slouchy and swingy, and have a Zara knit top that I like to wear.....a lot. One day, I'm staring at this gorgeous yarn.......then my focus shifts to this Zara top that is next to it....and the light bulb moment happens. Why don't I make a slouchy, drapey sweater thingy from this gorgeous yarn, instead of some measely little wrist warmers. This yarn seemed too gorgeous to just be a pair of wrist warmers. It can't be hard I thought. I looked at the Zara top and it was basically two rectangles joined together with sleeves. How hard can that be? So......in my usual, fly by the seat of my pants, hurridly rushed sort of way, I scribbled what I wanted to do, got some more yarn, and just crocheted, hoping for the best. I had many a moment when I was really worried that it would turn out horribly wrong, and it would be a complete waste of effort. But once I started putting all the pieces together, I started to relax and realise it was going to turn out just as I had hoped it would. I LOVE IT It's just a dream to wear. Sloppy and comfy. Warm and cosy, yet light if that makes sense. Anyway, I'm thinking, as I usually do, that a couple more would be lovely to add to my wardrobe. I did spend a while wondering it it needed some sort of fancy edging or embellishment. I was quite taken with the idea of some teeny little roses right on the join there between the neck seam and the arm join, but I still haven't decided. I might make some detachable ones that I can just put on if I feel like sprucing it up a little. I also had some cross stitch rose patches that I quite fancied sewing on, but, again, I am undecided. Maybe if I make a couple more I will experiment. I do like the colour of this one and I like it plain. So who knows. I like having the option though. I decided against any edging or fancy border. I think I just quite liked it simple. But the great thing about this pattern is the possibility or adding loads or keeping it simple. So, the easy peasy basics of this sweater. It's basically two rectangles made for the front and back. I used Drops Alpaca in shade 7120 (Light Greyish Green it is called). It really is gorgeous yarn to use. It's 4ply, but I used a 4mm hook to make it soft and drapey. I made a chain of 180 for each main rectangle. I'm a UK size 12 and this was perfect for me as I wanted it really loose and swingy. I'd say give or take 20 chains if you want to go up or down. I used 4 x 50g balls for each rectangle and went up in rows until I had used all the balls. That equated to 108 rows to be even on both rectangles. For the sleeves, I made a foundation chain of 40 and used 1 x 50g ball for each sleeve. I did 90 rows for each sleeve (so a thin, long rectangle). I laid out both front and back panels (WSF and one above the other) and crocheted (using the remaining yarn) each sleeve panel to both sections of the rectangles. I then just closed up each sleeve seam remaining, and crocheted together to two sides remaining. I worked out how much of the neckline I wanted to crochet together. Just enough to give a drape off the shoulder, but not so much that it would be annoying and always falling down. It's really down to you. I just tested it with stitch markers until I felt it was right for me. I believe I crocheted in 81 stitches from each side to get it just how I wanted it. The stitch I used, I really loved for this project, and think it worked really perfectly. I believe it is called the Seed Stitch. It is the crochet equivalent to the knitter's Moss Stitch, which is s stitch I TOTALLY love in knitting, and what I wanted to re-create in a crocheted garment. I looked it up and some people refer to it as Moss Stitch in crochet but to avoid confusion for myself, I call it Seed Stitch (it does actually look like little planted seeds in the ground). There are lots of tutorial for this stitch on the internet. It's simply 'DC, chain 1' (UK terms). Well I love it. Really simple to make. Snug. Soft and it's like wearing a big warm hug. It's fine to wear with something light, but I'll be wearing it with layers underneath for the wintertime too. I'm liking the idea of a big wide Drops Alpaca Scarf to add to it, just to increase the snuggly factor in the Autumn time for walking. Oooooooh yes, doesn't that sound scrummy? There is quite a nice selection of colours for this yarn too, which makes it even more appealing. It really was a dream to work with, and it's a dream to wear. Maybe not everyone's style or choice, but it's very 'Me' so I'm all smiles! Apologies for the quality of the photos. The weather has been rubbish here, and I had to try and capture it on rare day when the sun was out, and I had one of the Bear's to take a few shots. A little out of focus, but you get the picture, so to speak! As I said in my previous post, I shall be taking a little break. I have so much to do in the day to day, that I just need to focus and get it all done. Also, I'm really getting into the frame of mind that this little blog of mine has run its course. I often have these thoughts, but they disappear and I carry on. Lately, they have been hanging around a lot longer. I think perhaps the break might be a good idea to see if I come back refreshed, or if it's to say goodbye. May all your days be beautiful xxx