Hot Water Bottle Time

This afternoon I settled into the plump whiteness of my bed with an old friend, one that has not seen the light of day for quite some time - my hot water bottle. How can I even begin to describe the depths of love for this bastion of warmth that has kept my feet happy for so long (it is made from silicon so doesn't perish). I made the cover a couple of years ago from linen (outer) and flannel (inner) with a middle layer of Matilda woollen wadding. I then printed the tree and sewed on velvet ribbons. It stays warm all night and doesn't snore, unlike some people who will remain nameless. When sewing the cover I realised that thin velvet ribbons are much easier to stick onto the fabric with strips of sticky tape rather than pins, the tape is then pulled off just before it is sewn without skewing the position.

A Hint of Autumn

The first slightly cold day crept in this morning so Hugo's vest (which was finished just as summer settled in) was whipped out of his cupboard. Thank goodness it still fits.

My Sling

All fancy in my sling and just hanging out with my friends.

Actually the truth is I am trying desperately not to go up the wall. My hands have been empty for the past week. What is it that non-makers do? Are they unhappy... cranky... lonely? I have to admit the highlight of the day was having all four of us pile into the hairdressers to be processed at the same time. I swear we came out better people.

Paintings, Flowers and Three Year Olds

Our Hugo is now three. We know this because he ran into our bedroom shouting "I is three. I is three". There is nothing like turning three, it's the first birthday that counts.

Just concentrating on the nicer areas of our house. So good you can't see those rats tramping their nasty plague through the house.

Magic Blossom

Magic Garden Trees are my version of heaven. Thank goodness Archie is just as fascinated and was over the moon to be given one from his auntie and uncle. I can still remember saving all my pocket money to buy a set. I think if I could have eaten it afterwards (which you most definitely cannot) I would have declared it the world's best man-made invention..

Birthday Cake Induced Madness

What can I say other than a little boy loved his party but obviously saved the most joy for cake!

The Rainiest Night.

Today our house has been an ark while over 7 inches of rain fell into the cocoa powdered earth. The boys and I huddled inside with my brother and his girlfriend (her hands are featured above) who kept vigil knitting as all good women do during times of need. Jonno however, went out with steely grit setting his jaw at right angles and tenderly alleviated his cows' swollen udders. Their tendrilled breath sent whispers of steamed thank yous to their gentle-eyed master. Jonno has just corrected my vision so I am now imagining a hot and sticky shed with the cows languid and Jonno wiping sweat from his beleaguered brow.

Hugo is having a little pre-birthday morning tea tomorrow and his little goodie bags are bursting with anticipation. My baby will be three on Monday. When did he stop crawling?