Working….

School holidays are still powering on but I did manage to get a little bit of work done on the Stanley book when the boys went camping overnight with Jonno. I only had two photos to take and now feel as though the finishing line isn't too far away. It's almost as though I am hanging out with friends whenever I have a scene with Stanley and his mother. They never interrupt me.

I finished reading Wally Lamb's 'We are Water' a couple of days ago. I loved it sooo much that I have to admit the house has fallen onto hard times. And now I have begun Amy Tan's 'The Valley of Amazement' it's looking as though the domestic neglect may become a more permanent situation.

Better go.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Books and Crazy New Hair.

 So this is what happens when you get cooped up with unwell children over summer. You start to feel a little drab and then the next think you know, you ask your neighbour to dye your hair… which she very obligingly does. I really like it but it did take me a couple of days to get used to it. My head piece was bought yesterday on sale as I thought it would come in handy for our mid year school ball (which is dress up). I will try to wear it only when I am tidying up the house - it will make cleaning more enjoyable.

 I also went to the library yesterday and borrowed a few more books. 'The Goldfinch' was such a stand alone read that it was quite hard to settle into a new one for a couple days. I actually ended up culling a couple of less than wonderful books as they couldn't measure up and life is too short for Not Very Good Reads…. sadly this for me included Adriana Trigiani's new book which I will try another day when I am not feeling so fussy (I usually really love her). I then read 'Dreamquake' the sequel to 'Dreamhunter' by Elizabeth Knox which I adored (I think I mentioned that in the last post) and am  now reading 'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman which is pretty good. I'm thinking Amy Tan next. I am so spoilt for books right now.

 Another head shot. Just hanging out with the kids…

And little cool cat Hugo with his new $6 sun glasses. Apparently they are very hard to wear inside as everything becomes dark.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

p.s. Lesley, it was lovely to meet you in the library the other day and such a thrill to see your reading list!

Crochet Bears and Things

 Hugo has now finally had about 4 days of being temperature free. He was a sick little lad for 10 days and it feels as though we are only just starting to breathe again. So as I am sure you can imagine, Christmas and New Year's were very quiet. I am finding it heavenly to be on the other side of it all. Anyhoo, I saw that they have released the new cover of Simply Crochet uk, issue 14 and as I hinted a few times, I have a project in it. So here is a sneaky little peak. The brief was to design a vintage teddy bear. I thought I would go a little circusy with it. So here he is above (in a different wool) and below… 

I had such a lot of fun with it and the boys were very pleased as they both ended up with a new toy.

I've just finished reading 'Dreamquake' by Elizabeth Knox, the sequel to 'Dreamhunter' and am feeling glossily satisfied from having had such a great read. I love when an intricate plot is set up and then  manages to answer everything at the end. It is for teenagers (which never puts me off) but I have come away with so many thoughts to chew over which is always a wonderful result.

Now to choose the next one. Fortunately I have a pretty great pile at the moment. What are you reading at the moment for your summer/winter.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Christmas Carols and Changing Plans.

 Well, Christmas for me has changed a little. Hugo has been sick from a nasty virus since Friday and last night came out with a rash. Our wonderful doctor is not quite sure what it is (nothing serious) but would like us to stay away from society until the end of the weekend which means our plans for tomorrow have changed quite radically. We were having 14 people for lunch but my much loved sister-in-law has said she can have everybody at the last minute. Wahoo and phew. Jonno and Archie will go up for lunch and Hugo and I will snuggle at home together. At first I was quietly devastated for us both (I know it's a small thing but still… I come from a big family, Christmas should be busy and LOUD) but now that I can see how excited Hugo is, I am happy again. He is not a big meat eater and has requested waffles for lunch. I can do that!

He had a moment of perkiness this afternoon and decided that he would like to wrap presents while I was doing a bit of festive cooking. Jonno came home from milking the cows at just the right time and they set to work together. We had the Three Tenors singing carols in the background and the next thing we knew, Hugo was warbling along. Jonno couldn't help but join in. 

 It's such a serious task, to sing and wrap presents at the same time.

 Look at Hugo's joy! Pretty amazing to see after so many days of unending temperatures….

 Little boy hands.

Dairy farmer hands.

Lots and lots of love and a very happy Christmas Eve to you all,

Kate xxooxx.

Books this Year.

 Here are the books that I picked up from the library today. A few to get me through the Christmas season! I thought that I would do a quick run over some of the books that I really enjoyed this year….

 And here they are:
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (hilarious and poignant)
Wool (the whole trilogy, Wool, Shift and Dust) by Hugh Howey (riveting)
The Signature of all Things by Elizabeth Gilbert (sublime)
Maddaddam by Margaret Atwood (the final of her trilogy(isn) which I loved).
The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells
Sea Creatures
Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield
Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox (I am gutted that dreamquake is out of the library)
Wake by Elizabeth Knox (gory but sooooo good)
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny (possibly one of my all time favourite authors)
The new Bridget Jones book - I liked it.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (I couldn't stop reading it, whether I liked it is another thing)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor (how dare she take 18 months between books)
Karen White (books by)
Carol Goodman (books by)
Wendy Webb (books by)
The House at the End of Hope Street ( I always like a bit of magical realism)
The Raven Boys series by Maggie Somethingorothermaybe-stiefvardt
Crochet at Play by Kat Goldin

There are so many other books that I have read and loved this year but these are the ones I remember for the moment. If any more spring to mind I will let you know.
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

Our Happy, Messy Christmas Tree.

 So this is what our Christmas tree looks like close up. Haphazardly decorated as I mentioned yesterday, but cheerful all the same. Lots of crochet, paper lanterns, pompoms and fake flowers. And it smells sooo good.

By night…

Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

Christmas in New Zealand.

 I love looking at all of the blogs from the northern hemisphere at this time of year. Seeing the snow and fires lit. However, I wouldn't trade our summertime Christmas (well actually I would if someone gave me a plane ticket for a holiday) because it really does have its own magic.

 I steer away from traditional Christmas colours. To me summer is all about vibrancy so my Christmas is usually full of pink, yellow, turquoise, orange, navy and red. The brighter, the better. This year I can't get my crochet ball wreath to stick to the wall (???? A true first world problem, the sticky hooks keep falling off - maybe it's too humid) so I am using it as a centrepiece with flowers stuck in the middle. It really seems to be enjoying its new challenge this year - in fact it's quite hard to stop it from going on about it….

 I'm also taking inspiration from the cook book, 'Notes from a Swedish Kitchen' by Margareta Schildt Landgren. I made Kladdkaka (chocolate sticky cake) last night - oh my giddy aunt, it was insanely good, like a light chocolate brownie with a really wonderful flavour. It lent itself really well to being gluten-freeanised as well - always a bonus.

 It's also berry season. We are all so full of antioxidants and vitamin c at the moment that we seem to be zinging about the walls - although that doesn't really explain why Hugo is at this moment, languishing on the big blue couch with a temperature. He seems to come down with a virus on the first day of the holidays poor little man. School is a big commitment for a 7 year old and he does put his all into it.

 And this is our kitchen/dining room. Sunlight lifts the spirits so much doesn't it. Our Christmas tree is so haphazardly decorated that it looks kind of wonderful but most definitely needs to be admired from a distance. Do you like my new silver shoes - I bought them from the children's section (kids have big feet these days) from a very inexpensive shop - best buy ever.

I hope you liked a peek into summer down under. The irony is of course that we are becoming quite antsy for rain, so as beautiful as it all is - we really, really need some fat and dark clouds blotting out the sun! It's just sooooooo lovely though!

Lots and lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

p.s. I would love to see what you are doing Christmas wise at the moment. Please leave your link in the comments section and I will pop by!