Another Spotty Day.

I'm thinking Hugo must be part cat the way he snuggled on the bean bag in the sun.

Another chicken poxy day almost reaching its close. Archie and I worked companionably side by side up in my studio working on our various projects. After the wedding invitations yesterday, I needed to make myself an ice cream picture and I have to say that it satisfies the weight watching part of me that would love to be gorging on ice cream right now as I type. I think I had better now do lots of self-saucing puddings. Maybe I should just make one out of food stuffs instead. I can't stop thinking about it now - an apple-caramel-self-saucing-pudding- yum.

A good weekend to you all. Love Kate xxooxxooxx.

Invitations, frog thoughts and crochet.

I still have to tuck the tails in - why oh why do I always put it off. Mock up wedding invitations have also been keeping my mind active and thinking of nicer things than itchy Archie's chicken pox... and potentially Hugo's that may flare up next week. Housework may have slowed down but craft is still happening.

I am hoping that the healing qualities of wool will help to heal Archie - note the basket next to him letting of vapours. Umm, yes, if you are wondering, we are all starting to go slightly around the twist.

Hence the huge doily/jug cover I have been working on for the last two nights. It comes from Susan Cropper's book 'Vintage Crochet'. The coasters pictured in the top photos were made in 8 ply cotton and taken from the same 'recipe'.

Right now the boys are watching "Muppet Treasure Island". It always gets me when Miss Piggy purrs to Long John Silver "Looooooooonnnggg John Silver". She really is quite a naughty pig-girl. I still have a bit of a crush on Kermit the Frog. He always reminded me of the most popular boy in our school who went on to become school captain. They have a lot in common, although it must be said, most pop. boy was much better looking.

From the Green Room.

I am still loving Hugo's green room - his crochet blanket looks pretty happy too.

Starting to play around with ideas on the back of a knitting pattern. They are so versatile aren't they!

One of the rabbits taking time out to smell the roses.

Archie is now covered from head to toe with the chicken pox and they have reached the really intense stage. Last night he couldn't get to sleep even with all of the anti-itching remedies so I resorted to reading Harry Potter at midnight (quite a cool time to read it). We accidentally woke Hugo up and he came into Archie's room completely furious that I have never read him a story in the middle of the night. He was very cross for a long time which meant trying to settle two little fellows. I am definitely napping today, I can taste sleep now.

Thank goodness it is the first day of Spring and the air is tinged with a warm sort of promise. You can't help but blossom with cheerfulness.

The view from one of my favourite sneaky resting points around the house. I look at these door frames a lot.
Last night's project...

Archie puzzling away his itchy hours.

Poor old Arch, the chicken pox have truly settled in with lots and lots of itching particularly late at night and early in the morning. Thank goodness for pinetarsel baths and calamine lotion. We seem to have boxes full of lego in our house so the special treat box is down from the top of the cupboard and Archie has spent hours trawling through it making all sorts of discoveries (including a fantastic but slightly incomplete puzzle set that we have been working our way through). All kind of cozy in a very exhausting way. Hope you are all well and not dotty. Love Kate xxooxxooxx.

Stanley at the Auction.

A new pincushion - the pattern came from one of Mum's more recent magazines. I will ask her to put the details into her next post.
Finally some flowers in my pots... self-sown from last year's batch.

One of Stanley's ancestors.

Unfortunately I have no photos of Stanley (let alone Jonno and myself) at the ball but I thought I had better tell you his results... $115! He ended up being at the centre of a furious bidding war between two men... That Stanley! I tell you, he enjoyed every minute.

This week will be a quiet one. Archie has come down with a very convincing case of the chicken pox so we are staying very close to home. I managed to duck out quickly to the vegetable shop and have been cooking up a storm before all of his pox become too itchy - the calm before the storm. So at the moment, I have a lamb shank casserole slowly simmering alongside a beef and red wine stew and a chicken soup. Wahoo for nutrients. Anyhoo, I had better go and do some stirring. Love Kate xxooxxooxx.

Bye Bye Stanley.

Stanley and the paintings have been delivered to the hall in order to be auctioned (silently) at tonight's school ball. He looked so handsome and nonchalant as he placed him carefully on the goods table.
This is what I am working on for fun at the moment - little blossoms. I'll write more about these at a later date.
Hugo snuggling up under his blanket watching Saturday morning cartoons.

And some fabric waiting for me to transform it into large cushion covers for an old couch. I might let that wait until next week though. Today the sewing machine will be busy making adaptations to my Bollywood outfit for tonight...

P.S. I have just been told that Stanley has already had the first bid of the auction by one of the mothers involved with setting up the hall. How exciting!

Filling Pidgeon Holes.

My new desk arrived yesterday - an old rimu postmaster's desk.

One day when homework starts to become a huge thing, I will have to pass it on to Archie. But for the moment, it is all mine to fill with as I see fit.
I love their way of sorting - k. with l. brilliant.
Stanley and his friends were star gazing last night. Sadly they all became stuck in the same position.

Hugo's space. He needed to have a green room - simply needed to.

And I was more than happy with that.

Love Kate, xxooxxooxx.