Hey ! Its Been A While

When I was a stay at home Mama I thought a lot about blogging, and if anything 'blog worthy' had happened that day. Often I would take a photo 'just' for the blog. Nowadays, I simply forget. Spending most of my day away from Oscar means I often haven't much to write about, except dinner with a tired grumpy 6 year old followed by a very reluctant boy thrown in the shower, some computer time, usually followed by a melt down right before bed, and then my little guy crashed out later than I would like.

I am willing to accept this is a 'season' of our lives, I couldn't stand it if this was the new normal. I haven't been doing ANY baking of late (except for 2 Betty Crocker cakes for a baptism), and my creative pursuits have not been for leisure, rather all geared for the shop.

I hope to change this pattern and being more conscious of it is surely one way to identify where we can change things.

We have a house guest for the next week and partly because of this a very full calendar, with either invitations out or people for dinner almost every night of the week.

I have a few projects in mind for the new year (including learning a new language, gulp!), and I already have a to do list as long as my arm. Next year is going to be an exciting year on a personal level, and I hope also for my little household. I would like to be able to record our journey here for all posterity (or until I change my blog name, again!).

Today in church one of the Brother's asked, 'what does the Gospel mean to you?' and I answered,
'Ask any mother what is the most important thing to you, and most of them will tell you its her children. I would be hard pressed to split a knife between the importance of my children and the Gospel. They are tied in very tightly. My children are my world, however its the Gospel that dictates how I raise them and how we survive the highs and lows as a family'. Life without purpose, work, eat, sleep, would be a life severely lacking in the joy that only children and loved ones can bring.

I started this blog as a documentation of our life, and I have felt sad its gone into decline. So, for December I am going to try a post a day. It will be difficult, since I haven't even managed a post a week lately. But I know that in a few years time I will be thankful for the evidence I have laid down the Christmas Oscar was 6.
Thanks for the messages saying you missed us, I wondered if anyone was actually reading !

ps. we have settled in to the flat well, the view is not as dramatic as a grave yard, however its not bad.

Valerie

New Flat

Sorry for the long silence, we have moved flat. Not far though, from one end of the street to the other in fact. Its a nice street, and a nice flat. We are all super happy, even Tilly.

I will catch up again soon.
xxx

The Highland Shawl From 'That' Show

Ah, Friday nights, they are great aren't they. I now have to work on a Saturday so its not the same as it used to be, but there are no classes in the studio its just my little shop open. I have some great Autumn projects in the pipeline including some knitted items inspired by one of my favorite TV shows, Outlander, (FYI, yes a bit saucy and a bit bloody, but very Scottish and a visual feast of the landscape I know and love). Anyhoo, first up, this amazing shawl designed by Carolyn Macpherson who blogs at THE NEXT BEAUTIFUL THING.

Carolyn has very kindly given me permission to make up shawl kits using yarns I have for sale in the shop and print off and pop the free pattern into each bag. I have just knitted one up for myself in an alpaca and wool blend and its super yummy. Keep a look out on the shop site for more details about the kits HERE


So, yes, back to Friday night. I am going to do a spot of knitting (what else), treat myself to a wee bar of M&S white chocolate (because I am allergic to milk and dark chocolate). And watch a wee bit of Highland high jinx







Unluckily for me I don't have to fight off the unwanted advances of a big kilt wearing red headed Scotsman. Life is not without its dangers though. There seems to be a merciless attack coming from the south !

Have a great weekend
xxx

Wave Of Light

Its that sad day again today, babyloss awareness day.

For my little Ellie-Rose

x

2 Corinthians Chapter 1

3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Great Start

Yesterday was a great day to start the week. Oscar was off school, I was off work, we didn't set the alarm clock and eased ourselves in. What made this past Monday better than most is that we have snagged a new flat in the same area we live now. I cant tell you what a relief it is to have a new home to move to. Our moving date is October 31st. Let the packing commence.

FYI I wouldn't recommend a kitten for company when trying for a lie in. Tilly divided her time between pouncing my feet and chasing a light spot on the wall.

Get Thee Behind Me Oh Hideous Week

This week has been a total stress pot from start to finish, the highlight of which saw Oscar pulling a refrigerator shelf out by accident and spilling full pots of cream, yogurt and sour cream onto the kitchen carpet (who thinks kitchen carpet is a good idea!). It in itself would be fairly stressful, however since it occurred the night before our flat inspection the stress levels hit the roof.

We are in need of a good tenant recommendation because the landlords have decided to sell and we need to move out (by November 10th). It is a nightmare property hunting here because there are so few places available. On the day we got our notice the local paper headline said 'No New Properties Built In The Last 3 Years, Despite 7000 Families On The Waiting List'  

I have spent the week trying to give my kids, my flat, my shop, my family, my friends, my church and my God a fair share of my attention, and really I feel spread too thin. Throw in a parents evening with one parent absent, and a no show (or as it turns out late show and incomplete), amount of child support, the constant battle of bed times V's video games/Facebook/Skype/You Tube/messenger, and I am done.

Here I am now, lying on my bed in my work clothes too tired to even get undressed.

Not yet totally defeated however, I am still able to dig deep and count some blessings,

• an excellent parents night report
• Aimee has a job interview
• I got trendy new glasses for next to no cost
• I had freezer meals made to cover the gap
• I saw a potential flat
• the landlords said the flat 'seemed ok'
• the kitten survived her holiday at my sister's
• and on checking my phone I found Oscar had taken some pictures after dinner at my Mother's house

And if you are a member of MY CHURCH then you will be like me and looking forward to General Conference weekend.

Have a great week END.

Coastal

Today I played hooky from the shop at lunchtime and went off to an Italian restaurant with my two friends, a pair of clucking Spanish mothers. Despite being very firmly Scottish, for a moment it all felt very Mediterranean, especially since the restaurant was showing Roman Holiday (with subtitles) on its TV screens.

Coming home later in the day to a glorious sunset didn't do much to shake off the feeling that we were more Mediterranean sea than North sea.

Fear not though, I hear wind and rain are predicted for the weekend, and normal service will resume.