A time to Dance

:: My time to dance ::

2011-12-23T02:54:00.000-08:00

Remember me? I was the woman who once had time to do a blog post ever Saturday morning and sometimes mid week...I was the woman who had time to regularly visit the blogs of her many blog friends, to read and comment and try their suggested crafts ideas. I carried a camera, took copious photographs, spend hours uploading them and wrote and wrote about my adventures in my little green van.

I once wrote a school production involving 250 children, I would knit all day long in the car (not while driving) in the cinema at dinner parties or in coffee shops...I wonder now, where did that woman go?

Well the little Green van had to go in a different direction every other month, towards Manchester, and my part time degree in ministry and mission at Luther King House and suddenly my life was turned upside down with reading, assignments placement tasks, preaching, pastoral visiting - oh and teaching full time and running my home etc etc...

Am I busy ? Yes. Have I time to knit? Not really.....But am I happy? - YES YES YES!!!! Never have I been so fulfilled and so filled with joy. I feel I have come home, I have found my place, I have found where I belong.

So, I now begin plans and preparations to apply for the ministry, and now I am known as the Vicar of Dibley by my colleagues at work.

I continue to publish my sermons on my other blog A still small voice but my training, college work, full time job and work in the church has taken over somewhat and it is with regret that I have been an absent friend since my last post when I prepared for my summer holidays. Where has the time gone?

So please accept my apologies and my blessing to you and yours this Christmas....I would love to hear from you so please don't be strangers, email me and keep in touch ...but until my next window of opportunity I will love you and leave you and thank you for your support and friendship over the years.....be sure of one thing my Friends....now is my time to dance......

:: At last ! ::

2011-07-25T02:07:00.000-07:00

I don't know where the days weeks and months have gone....but life has been hectic and very full. I have been finishing off various craft projects and re-writing all my lessons and resourcing them ready for September. I will have to hit the ground running when I start school again as I will be starting my 4 year course at Luther King House to train to be a Lay Minister.

I have also been taking services at church, spending hours writing sermons, working, helping with Sweet Pea's school production, being a Mum, church groups, plus everything else that seems to fill my days and keep me away from blogging. I think this seems to have been the case for a lot of us recently....How did I find the time to write a post every week?

So to apologise for being absent of late I thought I would do a show and tell.

Last year we visited Charleston House, the beautiful home of the Bloomsbury set, it was such an inspiring and magical place.....and I hope to return one day.

There is also a wonderful shop.... I spent rather too long in there and couldn't stop myself from buying some fabric, but at £50 a meter I could only afford half a meter.

This little piece of treasured fabric lived in my study for a year!

I kept taking it out and looking at it, I would proudly show it to friends but I just couldn't take scissors to it....and I couldn't decide what to do with it.... A week ago I finally summonsed up the courage to make a decision - which was to make an Amy Butler 'birdie sling bag' for my holidays....

I used every single scrap of fabric on the bag - I couldn't bare to waste any of it....

I even made frayed patches to decorate the handles....

I added Suffolk puffs for decoration and some hand embroidery
I lined it with thick calico adding buttons and pockets and more embroidery.... well running stitch ....

Nothing was wasted...I am delighted with the results....

So it is now ready for our holiday...two weeks in Normandy....leaving on Friday....Hurray!

I can't wait to feel the sun on my back...

Alfie has been enjoying the sunshine in his little hidey hole under the giant white foxglove....

I wish for plenty of sunshine for you to enjoy my friends and I look forward to catching up with you all on my return....

:: Show and tell ::

2011-05-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Since the drama exams ended in the middle of May I have finally felt the pressure lifting from my life and so my knitting needles have been going clickety clack....I have just finished one of my own designs...Snow Queen .... because I love the fairy tale...

I wanted to use lots of different hand spun natural yarns from Yorkshire sheep...it's amazing to see all the different textures and subtle tones of cream....

I then added detail in tweedy reds and my inspiration was a lovely book I got for Christmas about Swedish embroidery...I love the way they use the combination of cream and red....

I also used vintage red buttons and little bits of lace which I bought at a flea market in Brugges....

This has been a very difficult post for me to do because I hate having my picture taken... poor Mr. B has been snapping away about with my iPhone camera in the garden...so I could fiddle with my new photo shop App.

The reason for undergoing all this humiliation in the garden is you dear blog pals.
When I have shown my designs and creations in the past you have asked to see me wearing them...so please excuse my pained expressions...focus on the jumper...(it's must nicer....)

I am planning to make some matching fingerless gloves and a hat for the winter...

I think its amazing what you can do
with an iPhone camera....

I have been having a lovely play...

Then all you do is upload and you are ready to go...

all ready for my blog...

thank you iPhone...you have made blogging so much easier...

and fun...

If you have an iPhone the app is a hipstamatic camera....

my friend Becky introduced me to it and I am addicted....

can you tell...?

I have also been having a wonderful time shopping recently....

I have lost two stone since Christmas and gone down two dress sizes...so thanks to eBay I have sold all of my old wardrobe and spent my profits on completely new one and ...'Toast' and 'Gudrun Sjoden' have been doing a roaring trade thanks to Slimmers world!

but that is another day and another post... until then my friends....

I have a red Debbie Bliss Luxury tweed coat to finish knitting....

Clickety clack.... and I will practice my smile for my next show and tell...

ps is anyone else having problems with blogger...its taking ages to move pictures and write posts and then I can't get rid of these huge gaps??? Help

:: Rested ::

2011-04-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

Hello!! ...long time no blogging...I am so sorry...my crazy manic life has taken over and kept me away from my lap top....and my lovely blogging pals...do forgive me...

you were in my thoughts and when I could catch a minute I tried to pop by to see you...

although sometimes this was on my IPhone and I hadn't time to comment.....I hope these lovely pictures will make up my absence....

After the most amazing and the most frantic and busy start to 2011, working regular 15 hour days at school then dashing down the M62 to attend my Lay preacher course... a week in my beloved Skye was just what the Dr. ordered....

and not just for me.....

we were blessed with the most amazing weather.....

Even after seven years of visiting every Easter we still found somewhere new to explore...

We took a tiny ferry from Skye to the main land....the scenery was breath taking...

At the end of a walk we came to the end of the island...and here we discovered this little shed where we could have a welcome cup of tea....

in the company of these handsome fellows

Seven years ago I first became fascinated by Skye when I read about a book binder called Laura West who lived there.

Every visit we tried to contact her with no success...until last year when we visited her studio ...and my clumsy other half broke her toilet!

This year our annual trip coincided with a book binding course run by Laura in Portree - the capital....Sweet P and I attended....this is the view from the window of the room where we worked...

here we are at work...I brought our deeds which go back to 1864 and Laura helped me make them into a book....

Everyone will be getting books for Christmas...

I am hooked...I may even put my knitting needles down....

The finished project.....

and Sweet P made a lovely note book.....

While we made books Mr. B climbed the old man of Storr....

We also discovered the most amazing cake shop...these cakes were like little drops of heaven in your mouth...so hang the diet....where else would I go to celebrate my birthday?

We had another wonderful holiday...... Skye heals and brings peace and rest to the weary soul......

Let these pictures work their magic the healing views of magical Skye....

Yesterday we had a blissful walk in Bluebell woods

We were surrounded by a carpet of fragrant bluebells

Every year these little blue flowers never fail to delight me....

picture postcard views round every corner....

with every step....

A wonderful start to a long weekend in the sunshine......I hope you all have a lovey Easter weekend.....and the sun shines on each and every one of you....

::

:: Blessed ::

2011-03-19T02:48:00.001-07:00

Three years ago the principle of my school laid down a challenge to me to write my own school production. This wasn't a formal conversation, it wasn't in his office and he probably won't even remember our brief chat on the corridor outside the library after my last school production of 'Charlie and the Chocolate factory'. However, that chat planted a seed in my mind, a seed that grew and grew, just like Alice, into the whole school production that ended last night.

It took two years to write, using 4 adaptations of Lewis Carroll's story. This was followed by 6 months of planning and preparation and finally 6 months of rehearsal.

Two hundred and twenty students from all areas of the curriculum, of all ages and abilities were involved in the acting, set design, choreography, costume, music and much much more.

This was added to by a huge amount of staff who worked hard to bring that little seed, planted three years ago, to life. Without their support and expertise, that seed would never have grown and blossomed into what began as a jumble of ideas and developed into a whole school production.

The last night will be a treasured memory for the rest of my life.

I had two prayers, the first was that 'Alice' would be a truly inclusive production with all pupils from our school community being allowed to be be involved and to be able to share and develop their skills.

My second prayer was that each and every one of them would have great fun, and take the experience with them into the future.

My prayers were answered.

I woke this morning feeling happy and blessed.

The hard work, lack of sleep and during the last week the stress and pressure of getting everything ready was worth every minute when I looked at the faces of those students during the finale as they danced to 'Tainted Love' for the last time.

This was my final production after serving the school in this way for twenty one years.

It marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another.

In all those years I have never worked with such a lovely team of young people, we laughed and had fun at every rehearsal. I didn't have to shout or get cross, they made the process so pleasurable and memorable.

If you read my other blog 'A Still small voice', you will know I am a great believer in the power of love.

The hall was filled with love last night.

My last production was all I every dreamed it would be and more.

I feel blessed .....

:: Spring has Sprung ::

2011-02-24T01:41:00.001-08:00

I walked up to the hairdressers yesterday, it wasn't a particularly nice day, but I wanted some fresh air. It's half term, I have escaped my little black box with now windows, I wanted daylight - any daylight. At the moment I only see darkness in the morning when I leave at 7am and then in the evening when I return home at 6pm.

So you can imagine my delight when I saw these little white maidens bobbing their heads in the breeze out side our house, they were finally in flower.

Signs of spring didn't end there...as I walked through our small park to the shops I saw these little darlings poking their heads above the soil .... soon there will be a carpet of crocus in the park...the mice will be delighted !!

As I continued my walk my mind wandered to my youth, nature walks in the woods and fields close to my little village primary school, nature tables, catkins and pussy willow, and the delight of delights, this book which I used to love to pour over ...

There is nothing quite as magical as spring as nature awakens and delights us with its beauty....what a blessing....

:: Mad March countdown ::

2011-02-13T11:16:00.000-08:00

I had a very frightening experience last week, I was preparing the rehearsal schedule for 'Alice' and realised that I could fit the schedule on one page...why you may ask? because we have only three weeks left! Only sleepless nights can follow....

So March is going to be mad mad mad...and I feel like that poor dormouse being squidged into a teapot....as my weeks are being filled with rehearsals, parents evenings, meetings and far too many 12 hour days...this explains my absence of blog posts and comments...plus I have my first service on March 6th!

So please forgive me for not keeping in touch with all my friends and my blog being rather 'post free' at the moment...

I have put so much into this production from its birth two years ago when I started to write 'Alice', to the monster it has become with 160 students involved and 7 departments writing production projects into their curriculum ...and only 'one' me to coordinate it all...so please forgive me for my absence...

I am wishing you all love and blessings for Valentines day tomorrow....a celebration of love and appreciation for those who we love....so here is a heart to show my appreciation of your love and support over the years....

but the only heart I can think of is where I can get a costume for this one.....

:: A Still small voice ::

2011-02-03T02:33:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I made some life changing decisions last Summer, I relinquished my responsibility as Head of Drama, a job which I have been doing for the last 10 years, in order to have space in my head and my life to follow a calling to be a Lay Preacher.

I thought it appropriate to begin this new chapter with a second blog, which will record my journey and share the ups and downs, highs and lows, valleys and mountain tops.

It may not be to the taste of many of you, for one there will be no wool or knitting, no records of holidays and excursions in my little green van. But whatever your faith or beliefs it is my hope that from time to time there may be something which provokes thought and moves you forward on your own journey....

the new blog can be found here

http://astillsmallvoiceofcalm.blogspot.com/

:: A labour of love ::

2011-01-30T08:33:00.000-08:00

Saturday was a day of blessing for me...to start with I received a parcel from my lovely friend Julie who made this beautiful little cup for me as a swap that we recently did. I was delighted...it's beautiful and just what I wanted, I have coveted her creations for a long time...thank you so much Julie....I love it!

I would encourage you to pop over and pay her a visit.... These are the wristies which I made for her in hand dyed pure wool.....(sorry for stealing your picture Julie, I didn't take one.)

The yarn was dyed with avocado skins would you believe??? Isn't the colour lovely?

The second blessing was the end of a labour of love.

The 'Mouse blanket' was finally completed at 9.50 yesterday morning, I had risen early at 6am, (on a Saturday I ask you ), to finish this mammoth task.

Dear, dear blog friends please, please remind me of this public vow to never attempt another blanket should I get such a crazy idea again...

Each of these squares took an hour to make in Maggi's linen yarn.

It is not as large as intended , I wanted it to be 12 square by twelve to fit our king sized bed. However, I ran out of yarn several weeks ago, only to find, to my horror, that it was no longer available in the UK !
After much surfing and searching the web I managed to find somewhere where I could get the yarn, but only in ecru, hence the rather large edging.....I was also horrified to find the yarn had gone up to £7.05 per 50g ball.....
I would also like to apologise to, and thank, my lovely friend Sue who gave me the pattern and was at the end of many an email begging for advice and help.....or my wailing and lamenting....

So after pressing the blanket, laying it out then smoothing and admiring , in our newly plastered and decorated bedroom.....Mr. B and I snuggled under the blanket last night....with the hope of cozy sweet dreams......and a wonderful warm nights sleep.

well dear friends it was only one of us who had the warm and cozy nights sleep as Mr. B pulled the duvet, blanket and all over to his side in the night leaving me to wake this morning shivering....and wondering if it was worth all the hard work?

::

:: It's a new day, Its a new year! ::

2011-01-01T02:40:00.000-08:00

::An Old Irish Blessing::

May love and laughter light your days,and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

Wishing you and yours the happiest of times in 2011!

:: In the bleak midwinter ::

2010-12-27T01:38:00.000-08:00

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him,nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels

may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But His mother only,in her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd,I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man,

I would do my part;

Yet what I can give Him: give my heart.

A belated message to all my friends in Blog land....

I hope you had a peaceful and a very happy Christmas...

:: Blessed ::

2010-12-18T01:37:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had that feeling when you were constantly choking on a deep deep desire to weep?

That's how I felt on Monday...as I whimpered quietly in the car on the way home my dear friend Mrs M said ...." we always knew this week wouldn't be an easy one Helen...."

and she was right....

Sometimes, even when we know the decisions we are making are the right ones, we cant help hurting and feeling sad....

letting go is so difficult...even when you are letting something go into the hands of someone you admire, respect and trust...

and so it was for me as I worked my last week as Head of Drama.....

but what a wonderful week it turned out to be...a week of blessings, and a week that for me, a person who has very little confidence or feeling of self worth, was a week of feeling affirmed...

a week where I gently closed a door behind me, and opened another..... took a deep breath and beamed...stepping out onto a new path, a new journey with a light shining so brightly that I know I can't lose my way, I feel so certain, so clear and so excited, but most of all blessed by the words, gifts and love that I was shown this week....I feel that my time to dance has finally come....

:: New friends from afar ::

2010-11-30T10:45:00.000-08:00

We have a new friend at number 32....

Sweet Pea has named him PigFly ...which I think rather suits him....

as he has flown a very long way to come and live with us all... he has flown all the way from Sweden, from the creative hands of my lovely friend Becky
We have done a little swap....I sent her a hand knitted muffler, made of pea green alpaca wool...I hope it brings her as much pleasure as my new little friend has brought me...

:: A story for Advent ::

2010-11-28T11:00:00.001-08:00

THE STORY OF THE OTHER WISE MAN

HENRY VAN DYKE

You may know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how theytravelled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man, who also saw the star rising, and set out to follow it, yet never arrived ?

Once there was a wise man called Artaban who had three friends, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They had seen a special star, a star that marked the birth of a new king. They decided to follow the star to see and worship the promised one who was to be born King of Israel. Artaban arranged to meet his friends and made ready for the journey. He sold his house and all his possessions, and bought three jewels--a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl to take them as tribute to the King.

::

Before the birds had fully roused, before the white mist had begun to lift lazily from the plain, the other wise man was in the saddle, riding swiftly along the high-road, "The King is coming, and I will go to meet him." he said as he travelled, westward.::As they trotted near a grove of date palms his horse startled. Artaban dismounted. The dim starlight revealed the form of a man lying across the road. His humble dress and the outline of his haggard face showed that he was poor and Artaban took the motionless body for dead. He turned away with a thought of pity, But, as he turned, a long, faint, ghostly sigh came from the man's lips. The brown, bony fingers closed on the hem of his robe and held him fast. Artaban's heart leaped to his throat, the man needed help, but how could he stop, tonight of all nights? If he lingered but for an hour he could hardly reach his friends at the appointed time. They would think he had given up the journey.They would go without him. He would lose his quest. But if he went on now, the man would surely die. If he stayed, life might be restored. Then he turned back to the sick man. Loosening the grasp of his hand, he carried him to a little mound at the foot of the palm-tree and tended to the sick man.

It was now past midnight, Artaban rode swiftly around the hill. He dismounted and climbed to the highest terrace, looking out towards the west, but his friends had gone without him. Artaban sat down upon the ground and covered his head in despair."How can I cross the desert," said he, "with no food and with a spent horse? I must return to Babylon, sell my sapphire, and buy a train of camels, and provision for the journey.
::

Artaban did this and continued on his journey until he arrived at Bethlehem. Then the other wise man drew near, weary, but full of hope, bearing his ruby and his pearl to offer to the King. "For now at last," he said, "I shall surely find him, though it be alone, and later than my friends. The streets of the village seemed to be deserted, and Artaban wondered whether the men had all gone up to the hill-pastures to bring down their sheep. From the open door of a low stone cottage he heard the sound of a woman's voice singing softly.

He entered and found a young mother hushing her baby to rest. She told him of the strangers from the far East who had appeared in the village three days ago, and how they said that a star had guided them to the place where Joseph of Nazareth was lodging with his wife and her new-born child, and how they had paidreverence to the child and given him many rich gifts. "But the travellers disappeared again," she continued, "as suddenly as they had come. They have gone to Egypt to escape the Roman soldiers ." Suddenly there came the noise of a wild confusion and uproar in the streets of the village, a shrieking and wailing of women's voices: "The soldiers! the soldiers of Herod! They are killing our children." The young mother's face grew white with terror. She clasped her child to her bosom, and crouched motionless in the darkest corner of the room, covering him with the folds of her robe, lest he should wake and cry. But Artaban went quickly and stood in the doorway of the house. The soldiers came hurrying down the street with bloody hands and dripping swords. At the sight of the stranger in his imposing dress they hesitated with surprise. The captain of the band approached the threshold to thrust him aside. But Artaban did not stir.

He held the soldier silently for an instant, and then said in a low voice: "There is no one in this place but me, and I am waiting to give this jewel to the prudent captain who will leave me in peace." He showed the ruby, glistening in the hollow of his hand like a great drop of blood. The captain was amazed at the splendour of the gem. He stretched out his hand and took the ruby. "March on!" he cried, "there is no child here. The house is still."
::

Artaban then went to Egypt, seeking everywhere for traces of the household that had come down from Bethlehem where he was told "the King whom you are seeking is not to be found in a palace, nor among the rich and powerful. I Those who seek Him will do well to look among the poor and the lowly, the sorrowful and the oppressed."::And so the other wise man , travelled from place to place, searching among the people. He passed through countries where famine lay heavy upon the land, and the poor were crying for bread. He made his dwelling in plague-stricken cities where the sick were living in misery. Though he found none to worship, he found many to help. He fed the hungry, and clothed the naked, and healed the sick.

Three-and-thirty years of the life of Artaban had passed , and he was still a pilgrim and a seeker after light. His hair, once dark, was now white and his eyes, that once flashed like flames of fire, were dull as embers smouldering among the ashes. Worn and weary and ready to die, but still looking for the King, he had come for the last time to Jerusalem. Artaban joined a group of people from his own country, and asked where they were going. they told him they were going to the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, a man who has done many wonderful works among the people, but who Pilate had sent to the cross because he said that he was the 'King of the Jews.'

How strangely these familiar words fell upon the tired heart of Artaban! They had led him for a lifetime over land and sea. And now they came to him darkly and mysteriously like a message of despair. Could it be the same who had been born in Bethlehem, thirty-three years ago, at whose birth the star had appeared in heaven, and of whose coming the prophets had spoken? Artaban's heart beat unsteadily “I shall find the King, at last, in the hands of His enemies, and shall come in time to offer my pearl for His ransom before He dies." So the old man followed the multitude with slow and painful steps towards the Damascus gate of the city. Just beyond the entrance of the guard-house a troop of soldiers came down the street,dragging a young girl with torn dress and dishevelled hair.

She broke suddenly from the hands of her tormentors, and threw herself at his feet, clasping him around the knees. "Have pity on me," she cried, "and save me,my father was a merchant , but he is dead, and I am seized for his debts to be sold as a slave. Save me from worse than death!" He took the pearl from his bosom. Never had it seemed so luminous, soradiant, so full of tender, living lustre. He laid it in the hand of the slave. "This is thy ransom, daughter! It is the last of my treasures which I kept for the King.

" While he spoke the darkness of the sky thickened, and shuddering tremors ran through the earth, heaving convulsively like the breast of one who struggles with mighty grief. Poor Artaban , What had he to live for? He had given away the last remnant of his tribute for the King. He had parted with the last hope of finding Him. The quest was over, and it had failed. But, even in that thought, accepted and embraced, there was peace. It was not resignation. It was not submission. It was something more profound and searching.He knew that all was well, because he had done the best that he could, from day to day. He had been true to the light that had been given to him. But he knew that even if he could live hisearthly life over again, it could not be otherwise than it had been. He lay breathless and pale, with his gray head resting on the young girl's shoulder, as she bent over him, fearing that he was dead, there came a voice through the twilight, 'Peace be with you Artaban. When I was hungry you gave me food. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was distressed you comforted me. As often as you did this for the least of my children , you did them for me'.

His journey was ended. His treasures were accepted. The other Wise Man had found his King.

:: Lifes little disappointments ::

2010-11-11T10:10:00.000-08:00

You may remember, some time ago I was approached by the manager of a boutique who wanted some hand knits and asked me to put a small knitwear collection together....

This included theses chunky beads made from pure Alpaca wool .....and filled with fragrant lavender....

My raspberry ripple chunky knit scarf made from Rowan yarns and collinette....

This granite cowl made from Wensleydale yarns....

and my favourite...a duck egg blue and raspberry Dickensian muffler, again made from Wensleydale yarn...

Unfortunately things didn't work out, and I now have spent a lot of time and money buying yarn making the garments and having labels and tags made.

Leaving me with these ....and other hand knits which now need loving homes....

necks to warm and ladies to adorn....

if you are interested in any of these pieces please email me and I can provide you with the price list...and details of the other pieces...

:: Rest and be thankful ::

2010-10-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

I have had the most wonderful half term, and it's not over yet.

We have spent a lot of time with our nearest and dearest family and friends, had lots of day trips(and been blessed with beautiful weather) , pottered in the house and in the afternoons and evenings snuggled under a blanket by the fire knitting....

Every day has been wonderful, sometimes relaxing, sometimes creative sometimes filled with laughter and others...just perfect....

which brings me to the latest love of my life...

I am sorry to be so materialistic...but I just love this coat to bits, I have spent two years looking for a Harris tweed jacket/ coat...and at last I have found this one in a vintage shop in Haworth...and it was worth the wait...in perfect condition... and fits like a glove...all for £30!!!

it has now been dry cleaned and I have added these wonderful wooden buttons bought in a junk shop in Germany this summer and polished and restored by my Dad....don't they look wonderful...?
I have added two to the cuff and one on the back....and this year I have knitted poppies for the family...backed with a vintage blanket and behind that is vintage fabric and a vintage cloth button to finish.

My needles have been clicking too, I have been making socks for the family for Christmas and my first commission for my friend Vanessa who looks after all our beauty needs at her beauty salon.

Vanessa asked for a palate of pink with shades of chocolate and brown...

I have used a merino and alpaca mix and Rowan Donegal Tweed in pink....oh dear, it's going to be hard to give it up.....

You might notice our background is my newly plastered bedroom....

it's actually growing on me now! I will show you it when its been painted.

I also thought I would share Sweet Peas birthday cardigan...this was a real labour of love...I stayed up till 2.30am on the eve of her birthday to try and finish it,I failed so I then awoke, bleary eyed at 5.30am to finish it for her to wear on her birthday....

I couldn't face the 38 heart shaped buttons which needed to be sewn on!

My lovely Mum in Law did this for me last night....

The pattern is a Louisa Harding from a pattern book inspired by 'Alice in Wonderland'...

well I had to buy it didn't I?

We also had a lovely day out in Hebden Bridge, one of my favourite places...and at the market I found a red Mulberry handbag for £15, it matches my coat perfectly, another job for Dad and his polish.

It's such a lovely place, beautiful scenery and packed with amazing shops and gallery's with irresistible and creative products,

I always spend a fortune....

I never tire of the drive over to Hebden, my beautiful Yorkshire, I love the wild and bleak moors, my imagination runs riot and I can see Heathcliff and Cathy running in the bracken...

I never forget how fortunate I am to live so close to such a beautiful part of the country...

Its been a lovely week, lots of happy memories to store up for the winter...time with family and friends making and doing, travels in my beloved little green van...and it's not over yet...tomorrow the little green van is taking a trip to Haworth again to see an instillation in the parsonage by Su Blackwell....

Much to be thankful for.....

:: The fruits of our Harvest ::

2010-10-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

We have been busy in the kitchen this weekend. Our beautiful apple tree has blessed us with a huge harvest of cooking apples ....so I have been scouring cook books for recipes with the primary ingredient of 'cooking apples'.

My lovely friend from Sea Angels did post on this wonderful book (The Fruits of the Earth by Gloria Nicol) which has fantastic recipes for all sorts of preserves...

I couldn't resist this recipe ...mainly because of the name ..... Dumpsydearie Jam and its delicious

as my breakfast plate confirms...its also the most beautiful dusty pink colour...a treat for the eyes and taste buds...yum...

Here is the recipe:

Makes: (2.1kg 4lb 12oz)
500g (1lb 2oz) Cooking Apples roughly chopped
500g (1lb 2oz) Pears roughly chopped
500g (1lb 2oz) Plums halved
125kg (2lb 12oz) Sugar
25g (1oz) Root Ginger
2 cloves
Zest and juice of 1 Lemon
300ml 10 1/2 fl oz Water

Peel, core and slice the apples and pears. Halve the plums and leave the stones. Place all of the fruit into a heavy bottomed saucepan, add just enough water to cover the base. Cook for 40 minutes or until the fruit is tender.
Remove from the heat, add the sugar, stir until fully dissolved. Add the juice and grated rind of the lemon into the pan with the bruised ginger and cloves in a muslin bag and add to the jam.
Boil rapidly until the setting point is reached.
The jam is then ready for potting
::

Sweet Pea has also been busy, she has become a wonderful little baker and makes the loveliest of cakes, these muffins were for her fourteenth birthday party yesterday and they were delicious...(from Nigella's new cook book), apple and Cinnamon muffins....they didn't last long I can tell you....

Well onward and upward, I have a pile of ironing to do today and my reward is a little light knitting!!!

I am so sorry that I haven't been a good blogger pal recently, I haven't had a moment to myself and I am aware there have hardly been any posts or visits to my lovely friends...but half term is in sight and I shall make it my priority to visit you all...

Have a wonderful week in this lovely autumn sunshine...

:: iTs A maD hOUsE ::

2010-09-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

Its all a bit mad here at the moment and those dreams of a more stress free life with time to read and relax seem a very very long way ahead....

hence my absence from my beloved blog since my return to school three and a half weeks ago...

SOOOO what have I been up to?...Well mainly knitting and ALICE!

Regulars may remember that I have written my very own school production based on Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland... I used a number of adaptations of the book including the original and some lovely 1950's children's versions and two years later I have written the 2011 school production. Worked started on it last term but after two days back we were in the thick of wonderland....

So work has been quite mad and I feel like the mad hatter chasing cups of tea around a very large table and never havign TIME to drink them....

Over 120 students auditioned followed by 60 recalls... and trying to find parts for everyone has been quite an undertaking...plus these days we have 'the technology '.....

so I have regular presentations to create as uploads on the many plasma screens dotted around school, blogs to write, spaces to fill on the learning platform...and teaching! phew....

But as well as Alice....my knitting needles have been busy...creating a collection of winter warmers for a wonderful little boutique in Ilkley....I must say it was hard to let this one go yesterday...I love the combination of duck egg blue and raspberry....

I wanted to create old fashioned Dicken's Style mufflers to snuggle into against the elements...it gets cold up North ...we already have the heating on...

This collection is made of Wensleydale wool....I love these little flowers which were the design of lovely Diana from Pebbledash....they instantly beautify any garment...( although I feel I am becoming obsessed with them....) Thank you Diana....

I made myself some of these funky beads with Alpaca this summer and wore them every day...but be warned people cant resist squeezing them....

I also made a matching corsage...which I forgot to photograph....

and finally the 'Raspberry ripple'...I love this chunky little number...knitted on one very very long row...I have used a mixture of silks and wools to create this piece...and its my favourite...such fun to make as I combined lots of different yarns and played with colour and texture.....

I am using Suffolk puffs to attach my labels.....this one is made from Sweet Peas old PJ's!
::

So my busy fingers are now crossed....hoping that all this knit wear will sell...and supliment my soon to be shrinking income....

But in the mean time...back to the lesson plans.....

...and thank you sooooo much for your words of support and encouragement about my new direction in life ...a little update....I had my first meeting about lay preaching on Friday and the training starts in March...perfect timing as Alice is being performed in the middle of February...exciting (if not busy) times ahead....

have a good week everyone.....

:: A time to Dance ::

2010-09-11T01:05:00.000-07:00

There is the sound of laughter down the corridors of the Drama Block once more...

I find I walk once more with a bounce in my step, a smile on my face...

greeting people on corridors is no longer painful...

people think I have changed...

and I have....

A very dear friend and colleague died at the end of the Summer term...and the loss had a huge impact on me...I realised my creativity and joy were being crushed by the weight of my job and its responsibilities...

...if I didn't do something soon... I would lose everything ....

So this summer, in my German Castle, I made the very difficult and very painful decision to relinquish my responsibilities as Head of Drama, after ten years...

.I cant tell you how afraid I felt...what thoughts tormented me...the financial loss, the lack of control and power....The ten years I had spent building the Department up, the twenty years I had spent at this school ......but once the decision had been made ... the feeling was of amazing relief and immense joy....

The space in my head which had constantly been filled with work was empty and into it came flooding back all the reasons why I became a teacher...all the happiness and fulfilment that my job had given me......

During this first week back I have been elated, every lesson has been a joy...and I feel transformed...I feel I am home...

Sometimes the hardest decisions are hard because they are worth making and sometimes...whatever our faiths or beliefs...there is a negativity that doesn't want this for us... so it fills our heads and hearts with fear....

You may be wondering what I plan to do with this space in my head....

well I plan...

to become...

a ...

lay preacher...

for the first time in years I have passion and purpose in my life and it feels wonderful....

I think this poem sums up how I feel we should live our lives....

and as for me...

Well its my time to dance....

dance

as though no one is watching you

love

as though you have never been hurt before

sing

as though no one can hear you

live

as though heaven is on earth

:: Watch the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves ::

2010-08-30T03:52:00.000-07:00

I have just found out something very interesting which I want to share with my fellow bloggers.

We hardly use our phone and yet we get considerable phone bills.

After a conversation with our provider, Virgin, the lovely Dave informed me that this was due to calls to utilities and in particular my Tesco pet insurance (which by the way cost me over £10 last month arguing the toss because they are refusing to pay Alfies insurance.)

The lovely Dave told me about the SAYNOTO0870.COM web site which has been featured on BBC's Working Lunch TV programme, Five's The Gadget Show, BBC Radio 2 (Jeremy Vine Show), BBC Radio Norfolk, and also appeared in many newspapers & publications, including The Guardian, Which Magazine, Readers Digest, and many more.

All you do is search for the company you want to contact ans they will provide you with an alternative number which is either local or an 0800.

The lovely Dave used the website recently to ring Yorkshire Water - they answered within two rings - yes two rings, then sorted his problem out and reduced his water bills!

So please check when you make calls to any organisations - particularly banks and insurance...you could save a lot of money...it adds up! Some of these numbers charge 9p to connect and then you pay 6p a minute whicle you wait or get transfered....

so as we say up North...think on and look sharp!

:: Charlston...well worth the wait ::

2010-08-22T06:55:00.000-07:00

For years I have drooled over this book...which was a Christmas present from my parents....

I poured over the contents and dreamed of one day visiting this wonderful house....

Until one day my friend Miss Mc visited, and saw my book.....

She asked if I had ever visited the house.....I sadly shook my head.....

She told me she lived twenty minutes away....

So we took a detour to Brighton when the little Green Van left the ferry in Dover.....

and on Thursday morning we all crammed into the tiny shop at Charleston House and purchased tickets for our guided tour.....

I can't tell you how excited I was....

Was it worth the wait?

it certainly was..... I nearly cried afterwards....it was so, so lovely.....I was in heaven!

unfortunately we couldn't take any pictures inside...but I took lots of the garden...

even the toilets were beautiful!

Did I buy anything? well certainly not this deck chair at a cool £120!!

The tour guide took to Sweet Pea who was in her element and oohed and ahhed as she went through every doorway.....

We then drove to a tiny church in Berwick, which contained murals painted by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant..... and I could take pictures....

please , enjoy....

I loved the shepherds.....

I don't know how you could concentrate on a sermon when you were surrounded with such beauty...a very lucky couple were prepare for a wedding rehearsal so we had to cut our visit short...

how wonderful to be married in such a beautiful church......

It really was the perfect end to a wonderful holiday...... I hope you have enjoyed sharing our adventures.....and now...back to reality and my GCSE course work marking.....

Happy Days!!
::

::reflections ::

2010-08-16T01:49:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe this is the last day of our lovely holiday in Germany. Was it two weeks ago that we were staying in our lovely German Castle?

Today Sweet Pea and I are in an internet cafe in Rothenburg, a beautiful medieval town where we have been staying for the last three days.

We have been a little snap happy, so I have tried to select a few of our many photos and memories to share....

One of our day trips was to visit the parents of our friend Miriam, who had been a German assistant at my school. They were very generous with their time and hospitality and we had a wonderful day with them. They live in Lichtenfiels which is famous for basket making.

The hand made baskets were out of my budget at 80 Euros!! But they took me to basket heaven - a factory where they are imported and made....and here I found a beauty for 12 Euros

but it was hard work choosing.....

We had a lovely tour of the town and the beautiful buildings. This bookshop was made from stone that had once been a convent.

We then went to Coburg...

a lovely little town which was the birth place of Prince Albert.

Apparently Prince Charles recently visited and insisted on having one of the famous sausages made in the little van at the front of the winter palace....

this was brought to him on a silver platter!

But Sweet Pea had to make do with a napkin!

We had our evening meal in a beer garden in this little village often known as little Rothenburg because of the similarities in artchitecture....

Outside the walls was an exhibition of wood carving. This part of Germany is famous for wood carving, but to buy anything..even a very small piece, is expensive.

I found a little antique shop and bought a bag of wooden buttons for a few Euros....
I could have spent a lot more, the enamelware was lovely!!

We then travelled to Rothenburg for the last part of our stay. We have used this Hotel before, its very friendly and was designed in the Art Nouveau style inside and out..... have a look at their website the pictures are fab.....

Rothenburg is like a picture postcard in every direction, cobbled streets, timber houses, steeped in history....

I will let the pictures do the talking for me....

Please enjoy....

Tomorrow we have a seven hour journey back to Bruges for the night then the ferry back to Dover. From there we are staying with a friend in Brighton for a few days so we can visit Charleston House, home of the bohemiam Bloomsbury set...I have wanted to go for so long...

a perfect end to a lovely holiday....
::

:: A room with a view ::

2010-08-08T09:41:00.001-07:00

After a very long drive we finally arrived at the Castle Unsleben...

As we drove into the courtyard I couldnt take it all in... my heart was skipping......it really was a fairytale castle...

with towers hanging with ivy and creepers, a moat and stone carvings....

and our little cottage was beautiful...full of authentic features.... just as it had appeared on the website....

As I type I sit in the courtyard on this step with my back against this weatherbeaten door.....

the church bell strikes seven, and I write this post with the last of the sun on my face and a cup of earl grey tea by my side...

perfect.....

so my first holiday post will be a tour of the surroundings starting with Sweet Pea's circular bedroom... I didn't like to go into what this room may have been in days gone by ...but the door is a little creepy..... what do you think?

A chair fit for a princess....

look at the ceiling..... and the views from her windows.....

In fact the view from every window in the cottage is magical... it's like being caught in another time....

I cant wait to take the little green van out to explore...

and of course we will share our adventures with you....

:: Fairytale holiday ::

2010-07-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

We are leaving for Germany for two weeks on Wednesday via Bruges...and we are very excited because we are staying in a castle...well not the whole castle ...but what I imagine was once the servants quarters...deep in fairytale Germany.....

This is the little house which we will be staying in.....

they also have a romantic apartment which I fell in love with.....but its only for two....

It is hard to believe the little green van will be driving us home to this every night...

I think Sweet Pea has watched 'I captured the castle' too many times as she thinks she will be swimming in the moat!

The Castle Unsleben is a registered historic monument of the region. Its distinctive architecture reflects numerous additions and changes made over the centuries. The castle is privately owned by Christoph Count zu Waldburg Wolfegg, a descendant of the Habermann family, who lives there year-round with his wife, Viktoria. Can you imagine...we have been emailing a countess to organise the holiday!

I don't think we have ever needed a holiday more...its been the worst year I can remember...hopefully we will be able to get the Internet somewhere on our travels so I will make sure I share our adventures....

:: show and tell ::

2010-07-18T03:57:00.000-07:00

Do you remember this beautiful hand spun cashmere which I bought in Skye at Easter?

Well, this delicious yarn has finally been knitted up to reveal these wonderful colour combinations...

These colours are typical of Skye, every time I look at them they remind me of all the wonderful holidays we have had there....

The different yarns work so well together....all hand dyed with natural dyes...

which can be bought here

I have been knitting away with tiny 3mm needles... (I prefer larger ones) and finally the waistcoat has emerged...

although I have found it impossible to photograph....

I have tried some shots lying on the sofa....

and hanging in the hall....

and hanging on the front door....

some close up shots of silk and cashmere flowers I made following a pattern given to me by my friend at Pebbledash

I am thinking of adding some more, perhaps three on the other side...

like a knitted corsage...

but I don't want to over-do it....

I can't quite capture the vibrant colours...

but its raining outside and so unfortunately I can't do any out of doors shots...

I think the sofa photos are perhaps the best.....

I just can't wait till the winter when I plan to wear it with big white cotton shirts, jeans and big leather boots....

This is a close up of the lovely button, which I bought in France from a vintage button shop, (Art Deco I think) .....its been waiting in my button jar to decorate a very special garment....

I also have plans for the left over yarns.... I have bought a pattern to make huge knitted beads

so I am going to make a wonderful chunky knitted bead necklace to wear with it .... I think that

these colours will look wonderful together... and every time I wear it I will think of my beloved Skye...

and as we are showing and telling...my clever husband has learnt to spin!

we inherited a spinning wheel years ago and our trip to Skye inspired him to learn to spin...

so he has turned a rather smelly fleece into this....

and now its ready to knit......so I am teaching him to knit it into a simple scarf...

to complete the cycle....

so...

perhaps my dream of having a little wool shop may come true one day.........

in the meantime I have my crochet needle out and I am making a Shilasdair stripped blanket for our holiday to Germany.....

although I do need some help , I wonder if anyone could tell me how and what stitch I should use to pick up along one edge to change the direction of the stripes? I would appreciate some advise...I have tried it out and there are either too many stitches or too little and it wont lie properly...

Have a lovely week, I only have four days to go.....

:: Dare to believe ::

2010-07-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

In Four days my scribbled notes on a script and all the ideas and pictures in my head became a full school production with 52 children, a band, and a team of three 6th formers.

It was a truly amazing experience, one I shall never forget. I am afraid I can't show you any pictures because of Child protection. The performance took place on Friday afternoon to a packed audience in a very hot school hall.

This was a premier of a musical written by a local author to raise awareness about young careers. The story tells of a child called Matty who has to care for her mother when her father tragically dies of cancer. It is not a sad story, although there wasn't a dry eye in the house at the end, it is rather a story of hope and vision. Matty doesn't want people to feel sorry for her, she believes this is the hand she was dealt with and she will make it work for her.

As I watched the children perform a slick and highly professional performance I remembered the first time I read the play and the jottings I made and thoughts I had for the concept...it was magical to see my ideas come alive in front of me.

The author was in the audience and he was delighted, he said that it was all and more that he had imagined - which was a huge relief because I had not met him or discussed the production with him.

Its amazing what can be accomplished with support vision and determination. I don't say this to blow my own trumpet, but to make the point that as it says in the closing song:

They say, there's nothing you can't do,

if you truly believe it

no one can hold you back or stand in your way

There is nothing to be frightened of

No faces in the shadows

Hold onto your hopes and your dreams every day

:: Time is running out! ::

2010-06-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

I feel just like the white rabbit this week - in fact I have felt like the white rabbit for some time!

The question - am I mad comes to mind ?

I really think I belong with the Cheshire cat and pals in wonderland!

On Monday morning at 9am I walked into a local feeder primary school, with a team of 3 sixth form and 51 year 6 children

- the mission

- a school production incorporating every child by 2pm on Friday

- watch this space......

:: Distant memories ::

2010-06-12T00:16:00.000-07:00

For what seems like a brief time, this is the view from my kitchen window....

every year Mr. B and I await this magnificent gift from mother nature with baited breath....

and every year...unfortunately without fail....

Mr. B sings 'don't go sitting under the apple tree' to me.....

then we wait to harvest the delicious apples in the autumn....

I forgot that I intended to do a post on our lovely tree, and the gifts that spring brings us every year without fail....

then I found these pictures of our garden in a little corner on my hard drive ....

when my lap top came home from the repair shop....

and as we have had the central heating on this week! and worn cardigans to school!

I thought we could all do with some blue skies

and beautiful blossoms found for a brief but much appreciated time in my garden

to start the weekend.....

and maybe...

just maybe...

the sun may come back to visit!

Sweet Pea and I are going to the Ripley castle fair so best go to the cash point!

:: Counting your blessings ::

2010-06-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I was inspired by a post written by the lovely Sue from Mouse notebook.

She suggested that every day you think of 5 good things which have happened.

So Sweet Pea and I have tried to do this every night at bed time. We snuggle up and take it in turns to reflect on the day and make a list of five good things no matter how small....Sometimes its easy and others difficult...but always a blessing...

try it...

I guarantee it lets a little light in and chases away the dark...

:: Prayers answered ::

2010-06-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So love the people who treat you Right, forget about the ones who don't and believe that everything that happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said that it'd be easy, they just promised it would be worth it." Unknown

I found this quote in the School Governor's bulletin of all things...but it resonated with me and made me think and reflect on all that we have gone through since January.

Those of you who follow my little blog will know we have had quite a hard time during the last six months, we have been so encouraged and comforted by all your kind words. Thank you.

I am delighted to tell you we have turned a corner... Mr.B had an interview last week and now has a new job for September, in walking distance would you believe ?

Work has also turned around for me and through all the pain and anguish good has prevailed and positives have come out of it all.

I still have lots to do, my new routine at the weekend is rising at 5am and working till the family get up, but I am getting through it all and feel I am almost at the top of the mountain to admire the view. Please share it with me...

:: Bluebell woods::

2010-05-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

All I have wanted to do this month is to see the bluebells..

I have been taunted with posts on blogs...even the front cover of Selvedge

today my yearning was finally satisfied....

and my cup was over flowing.....

my lovely friend Miss W took me to Middleton woods in Ilkley....

she promised me the best display of bluebells for miles around...

and she was right.....

every path, and around every corner.....

a beautiful carpet of bluebells....

the smell was intoxicating....

the smell of my childhood and the bluebell woods opposite my home...

where I would play...and wander with my dog...

always with a bunch for my mum which she put in the kitchen....

the woods are now private property and you cant get in them any more...

so I was delighted to wander these woods......

and so was Sweet P....

just the tonic after a very stressful week at work....
the healing properties of the bluebells worked their magic....

ready for the week ahead....

:: Eye candy for wool lovers ::

2010-05-03T09:58:00.001-07:00

I have just got a new toy and it is making me squeal with delight....and only for £16.95..

Can you guess what it is?

a wonderful, wondeful wool winder which has created works of art from my recent purchases from Shilisdair Yarns

pure eye candy for wool lovers....

the colours of these yarns are magical,

especially the green which looks like the sea at coral beach

These beautiful balls of yarn made my heart skip a beat.....they are made of pure hand spun cashmere which has been hand dyed using natural dyes.....

...they will turn into the waistcoat...although I am going to change it...make it bigger and just have one vintage button to fasten...yum

I am saving these beauties from Teo's Hand spun for later ...

when they will turn into a Sarah Dallas cardigan....

I haven't shown you my latest creation either...I made this jumper from natural Shilisdair wool using a Sarah Dallas pattern from the Scottish inspirations pattern book.....it is sooooo warm ...

I am still thrifting...I am using up all these little bits of yarn to make a snugly blanket for the car for my little sweet P to cuddle under on long winter drives.....

and last but not least..my beautiful journal has arrived from Laura West...it is magical....

(and I daren't use it...)

well...must get back to the crotchet hook before tea...

I hope you all have a wonderful week and Mr. Sunshine pops out again soon....
::

:: Time flies ::

2010-04-15T23:21:00.001-07:00

Was it only a week ago?...

time really does fly...

since our return from Skye, Mr B and I have celebrated birthdays, ploughed through mountains of washing and ironing and madly prepared for next term and exam madness!!

So its been lovely to find a little time this morning to reflect on our lovely holiday and look at the photographs that we took less than a week ago...

We sat here last Saturday afternoon at Plockton eating ice cream,

enjoying the sun on our backs and the beautiful view...isn't this an idyllic spot?

I couldn't get over how clear the sea was...

and this is one of our favourite spots where we stopped to eat lunch on the way home....

and later re-explore the ruins of this beautiful little church....

what a beautiful place to be laid to rest....

I also wanted to share the highlight of our holiday with you.

Seven years ago I read an article about this lady in Country Living and it was this article that inspired me to make my first visit Skye, and which we have now returned to every year, ever since, and yet her studio was never open...

but this year I made contact with her and we arranged an appointment to visit her studio...

We had a fascinating time looking at her work and admiring her craftsmanship...

Laura is a book binder and you can see her website here

I loved looking at her work and the fascinating tools of her trade...

Did we buy anything?

well Mr B. has commissioned Laura to make this....

into a journal for me for my birthday - entitled.....' A time to Dance'
and I couldn't resist a couple of her little notebooks...

although they are too nice to use....

...and here is a show case of some of her stunning pieces....

the pictures don't do them justice...they are so lovely to hold and to look through...
I sooooooo wanted one of these books...

but they were too many pennies...

maybe one day ...

These are such fun, made from re-cycled fruit boxes!

Laura also runs courses, so I will be booking a place next Easter....

and now its Saturday...and work lies before us with all that goes with the hectic exam period...

so we need to hang onto the sunshine and all the happy memories from another lovely holiday in Skye...

it has worked it's magic, refreshed and revived, inspired and healed...

and prepared us for the journey ahead....

:: Skye magic ::

2010-04-08T10:41:00.001-07:00

No trip to Skye would be complete without a trip to the wonderful Shilisdair.....

where I did happen to treat myself to some hand spun cashmere...

the colours of the yarns are exquisite...every colour of the rainbow and such depth and variation on each hank...I cant wait to get home and get my needles out!

....then we went for a walk to Talisker bay...

.....come on get your boots on...it's a little fresh and windy but the view is worth it....

Mr B got a bit romantic.....
...and Sweet Pea laughed....
I dont know where the days have gone...plenty of lazy mornings....beautiful drives and walks and lots of chats and catch ups in the wool shops......coffee and cakes.....meeting old friends and making new ones...Skye is such a magical place....we are already planning our next visit.....

:: Skye and the Hebridean jumper's first outing ::

2010-04-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday...the little green van was resting after a mammoth drive up to our beloved Skye and outside the sun was shining and the sky was blue...

already I could feel the healing powers of Skye working their magic...

I woke early and sat by the window knitting my Hebridean jewel jumper looking at the view above....bliss...

We then went to church in Dunvegan which was inspiring...the sun shone through the clear windows, no need for stained glass ...

the view outside was spectacular....

so after a quick sandwich, we jumped in the little green van and drove to our favourite Sunday walk in Skye...

coral beach.....

in the distance the cuillin mountains were snow capped....

the weather was magnificent...and what better place to model my newly finished Hebridean jewel jumper...

so ...I will let the pictures do the talking....enjoy the view...and sense the pride of thrift at its best...a jumper made entirely of scraps of wool from the Isle of Skye.....

The walk blew away the cobwebs, Sweet Pea and I collected shells and made a mermaids necklace.....then made our way home to make hot chocolate, munch on easter eggs and watch Jonathon Creek...

bliss...

:: The Little Green Van heads North ::

2010-04-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

I have been overwhelmed by the amount of work I have had to do recently and so I apologise for neglecting my blogging...however the holidays have finally arrived and in a few hours the little green van will be setting off on an eleven hour journey to our beloved Skye....a place of peace and stillness ...beauty and wonder....which is just what we need....of course there is a huge basket of knitting to take...Sweet Peas guitar,and the Hebridean Skye Jumper....with a sleeve to complete on the journey up there...hopefully I will be able to post from there and share our adventures, if not, you can be sure I will on our return...refreshed and rejuvenated...

thank you all so much for your lovely comments and encouragement...your words have been a source of comfort and strength...

:: Every old sock meets an old shoe::

2010-03-20T04:33:00.000-07:00

::
Just being alive
It can really hurt
And these moments given
Are a gift from time
Just let us try
To give these moments back
To those we love
To those who will survive
And I can hear my mother saying
"Every old sock meets an old shoe"
::

I used to love these lyrics....from The red shoes, Kate Bush 1993...

I especially liked the final line which I quoted today to encourage and comfort one of my friends who has just broken up with her partner...

I truly believe we all have a shoe to match our sock, and I believe in seasons in all relationships...sometime the shoe it fits perfectly, sometimes its comfortable, others painful and leaves wounds...which eventually heal ready for new shoes...some fall apart and if we are lucky there are those made to last and stand the test of time and wear...

However, on reading the lyrics the first lines seem to apply to my life right now, I can't tell you all how awful things are ...I am facing lots of demons...and its incredibly painful....my confidence has been shattered and it would be so easy to give in....

but I am a fighter....I believe the impossible can be made possible and so I am working through things... processing, making sense and trying to heal....drawing on everything I can to have the courage to turn things round and move forward....to use all this to work for good....to be a better person from the experience..to be defined by who I am and not what I do as a job....

this is another season...it will pass and time will heal the wounds which are feeling rather raw...

It is not my intention to feel sorry or myself, or to ask for pity....rather, it is my hope that this post will encourage others who feel in a similar position and bring comfort to aid their healing....to bring a blue sky to where it may be dark.... because the sun is always just behind the clouds....

:: Yorkshire Logic ...and a give away ::

2010-03-14T06:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to Ilkley...famous for the song 'On Ilkley Moor Baa Tat'

It was a glorious day, and the Cow and Calf rocks looked dramatic with the clear blue Sky framing their silhouette.

The rocks are supposed to depict a cow and its calf.....

on a day like this there are walkers and climbers everywhere....

I thought you might like to see some of my Yorkshire..the Yorkshire I love so much...the dramatic rugged scenery that fills me with thoughts of my romantic childhood heroines created by the Brontes, Cathy in Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre....

I picture them crossing the moors, shawl on shoulders, basket in hand...bracing the elements....

and today I think of how clever they were at making do and mending of re cycling and making the extra ordinary out of the ordinary...

us Yorkshire folk are often seen as mean...or careful with our money....

perhaps born out of poverty....

during the past few months we have been going through a difficult time...

and to sooth and comfort myself I make and create....

and tidy and sort...

being organised helps me feel in control when things seem to spinning out of control in other areas of my life....

Today I have turned to my wool basket...

I am trying to use my yarns up making my Hebridean jumper...

However, there are still quite a few balls which I will not use again...

so I wondered if any of you would help me recycle them ....in an extra ordinary giveaway...

I have listed all the yarns in little groups below and given as much information as possible....

if you would like any of them please leave a comment saying which you likeand how you would like to use them...I will put your names in a hat and then post them to you...

these four balls are Louisa Harding kasmir dk...I have used a little of the grey, but its not the right texture for the Hebridean jumper, I only bought them last Saturday, there are four 50g balls in total

these are humongous needles which I don't think I will ever use again...size 15 and not sure about the others...

Two scrummy balls of collinette, in soft greys and pinks and turquoise, wound from the hanks into balls and then never used.....

These three balls look small, but they are ideal for socks...made in Skye in a very fine tweedy twist in beautiful mustard shades, again wound into balls from hanks...enough for a pair of socks and they still smell of lanolin....

Louisa Harding in shades of sea green - a very sily texture....and a yummy ball of German yarn which I used on my big red and green sloppy Joe, a wonderful texture when it knits up

This yarn is from Skye from the lovely Teo's, not wool ...in fact I am not sure what its made of but it has a wonderful wobbly texture and jewel like colours....

and finally another hank wound into a ball from Teo's, on Skye, hand dyed in colours of the sea..

not sure how much but I knit a hat for Sweet P with some to spare from a simlar hank....

if would you like to make a small donation for the yarn to the NSPCC, I would be very happy...

or you can send a donation to me through pay pal as a gift, and I will then send all the money to them...

I look forward to hearing from you.....

Please think of me tomorow and Tuesday ...

just to top it all I have OFSTED in to inspect our faculty....

followed by parents evening and a long awaited hospital appointment...

Happy days!

:: Hear the music ::

2010-03-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

My friend recently sent me this poem written by a teenager with cancer, it made me think, the words resonated and after reading I had a better perspective on my own life.....

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day

On the fly?

When you ask How are you?

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores

Running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift....

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over....

:: Making Progress ::

2010-03-06T23:44:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for your positive, encouraging and supportive messages, its really lifted me and I feel much stronger...ready to face whatever life throws at me tomorrow!

Sometimes when it all seems dark the kind words of friends bring the light flooding in...

I have been so busy with work that I haven't had much time for being creative....

I think this takes its toll, being creative, making and doing is a great healing and mending therapy for me....

I love the feel and texture of wool, the colours and the challenge of combining them ...seeing how they can bring out the best in each other as they snuggle side by side....

Do you remember the yarn above, lovely linen from Maggi knits.

With a little help from my friend Sue from Mouse Notebook, I have finally managed to create these ....

Which will come with me, along with a big bag of yarn, to Skye in April and hopefully be transformed into a blanket for our bedroom. I always like a project for a holiday....

I have also been working on the 'Skye sloppy Joe'... and I have added a little pink inspired by the little plant which my lovely friend Miriam bought me ....

So the palate is changing a little, with Spring emerging and colour coming back to the outside world, in fact its nearly daylight when I leave for work in the morning...bliss

I can almost feel spring starting to work its magic in my tangled mind as the bulbs start to burst from the ground and the snowdrops carpet my garden.....

I really like what the colour does to my work....it lifts the blues....and greys....
which were inspired by Sweet P's shell collection from Mull and Skye last summer...

and a little lace and frippery is giving a quirky touch to the garment as the pattern develops in my head....

I love making Sloppy Joes, I have four now of different lengths and designs....as they grow on my needles, the design grows in my head...I hate following patterns.

To give you an idea of what this garment will look like....this is my most recent Ultimate Sloppy Joe...

I love the texture of this wonderful yarns,

I used 4 different yarns and they did all the work for me......

So watch this space.....

We are going to see Alice in Wonderland today so my needles will be clicking in the cinema....

Thank you again for all your comments....

Every Blessing

:: It never rains but it pours ::

2010-03-04T22:48:00.001-08:00

It says in the good book that the rain pours on the just and the un-just alike.....

I think we need a bigger umbrella.....

there seems to be a down pour on our little family...

Whatever your beliefs may be.....

please send us some positive thoughts and prayers....
::

:: Problem solving ::

2010-02-18T00:41:00.000-08:00

I really don't know what has been happening in my head this half-term, but it has been full of wool...colours textures and most of all - projects..I even wake up thinking of them!

This morning was such a morning...

I have sorted out my heaving wool stash and collected together similar colours and weights in a blue palate...most of which are from Skye...so I decided to make a Hebridean Sky jumper (with a little Yorkshire Dales thrown in for bulk)

These beauties will become my fifth Sloppy Joe...

::

::

This one is going to be more feminine...or at least it has turned out that way...as I cover my tracks (for tracks read mistakes!) ...how many in the round projects have I done? How careful do you have to be to keep your round neat and un-twisted? (Very) ...

So how come I end up with a massive twist 8 rows in? and being far too lazy to un-pick those 8 rows of 275 stitches I come up with a cunning plan Baldrick!....

and add a little lace and frippery...hey presto the style of this jumper is beginning to emerge....

::

::

Next problem...pure silk yarn curls when you use stocking stitch

(Should have done the moss like I always do but I have to be different....)

Once again too lazy ...

I go to bed pondering ...

I wake up with a brainwave and don't even wait to get dressed to try it out...

crochet shell edging to give that lovely soft and feminine touch...

perfect!...

I wonder how many other mistakes I am going to cover up?

Watch this space....

:: Busy fingers ::

2010-02-14T05:15:00.001-08:00

In between a very, very hectic time at work...parents evenings, reports and school productions...

.I have kept my fingers very busy.....

I often wish I could knit while I speak to parents....

but not sure if the Senior Team would approve...
::

I felt I needed some small manageable projects and so I made this lovely cowl n moss stitch ...I used Wensleydale wool which has a lovely sheen and depth to the colour....

I found the pattern on this blog via my lovely friend Diana at Pebbledash.....

I have also made one of these fun gauntlets ....

I bought the yarn and pattern at the 'knitting and stitching fair' in Harrogate..

I made a pair for Sweet P for Christmas and I have only just got round to making myself some.....

I just love them and the yarn is wonderful to work with...there is still a slight smell of lanolin....

this afternoon I have to make its partner...

and my next project?...

well this lovely yarn has been sitting in my study for three years now and the pattern that I bought to knit with it is no longer right for my new 'look'...

(remember when I sold my whole wardrobe on eBay?)

...don't you hate it when that happens...

especially when the yarn was sooooo expensive.... it's pure linen.....

I have two options in my head so far....a blanket for our bedroom, like this one , which my friend Sue has just made... or to create yet another 'ultimate sloppy Joe'...

(it's so annoying that I can't link you back to previous posts!)

but I am not confident about what it would look like in linen..... either way I think it will call for a few more yarn purchases....which is the last thing I need as we are now on thrift alert since poor Mr. B lost his job......what do you think?

I would love to hear from you all.....

:: New beginings ::

2010-02-07T10:17:00.001-08:00

A new day, a fresh start, putting the past behind and walking into the future without regret, letting go of something precious, so something new and fresh can begin.....

Unfortunately my dear blog 'Cocoa and Blankets' and my lap top has got a terrible virus from a recent comment left on my last post...

I feel it would not be safe for any of my dear friends to visit any more...

So it is with regret that I must say good bye to that road and take another one...

Please, please beware of any comments in Chinese, delete them at once...

My poor lap top needs to be cleared and I will lose everything...

I would hate that to happen to any of you....

I hope that you will come and visit my new home and share my adventures....