The Beach... and a bit of knitting.

This is the beach that we have been hanging out at every day.

We are very rugged up as it is still mid-winter, but there is nothing like being by an ocean when it is moody and the beach quiet, especially if you get to wear warm home knits. Hugo's jumper above was knitted for Archie a few years ago by Jonno's mum. It is one of my all time favourite patterns... unfortunately the details are at home so I will post them another day.

And Archie is clad in the jumper I finished earlier in the year.

Cold weather doesn't stop sand castle making and hole digging.

Or general hilarity.

But sometimes it does make you take a quick photo and then flee home before the rain seeps too far through layers of clothing.

During inside time, I have been working on this tea-cosy.

AND I am pleased to say that I wrote down the pattern as I went along and so I will be able to write up a tutorial on it soon.

Drinking tea after a walk on the beach is the best thing to do isn't it.

This is my holiday basket of wool. I always need to take enough so that I can make whatever urge overwhelms me. You know how it is.

My most exciting bit of news however, is that Hugo is learning to knit. I do a few stitches, then he does a few and so on until the row is done. I now have two boys who knit. Jonno will be proud as he feels it is an essential skill for every young man to have. You just don't know when you are going to find yourself in the trenches needing a new pair of socks. Well, hopefully never.

Right now, the boys and I have once again scooted down to the local cafe with Internet access. They have finished their afternoon tea and are now playing about outside with the one scooter which they are sharing wonderfully well!!!!! Who would have thunk it possible. I ate an entire macadamia brittle in peace.

Anyway, I had better hop off the computer and think dinnery thoughts - i.e. what will be the easiest way to get wadding into them tonight... EGGS!

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxxooxx.

Bird Notes.

Just dropping a little line from our holiday which the boys and I have decided to extend as it is so lovely. We are still unwell but somehow, with a little beach walk in the morning, afternoon rests, game playing and t.v. watching, it just doesn't seem to matter so much.

Thank you so much for all of your bird comments. I forgot to mention that the bird pattern (there is no way that I could have made that up) is from Lesley Stanfield's new book... a book that I have borrowed from my neighbour and accidentally taken away on holidays (sorry Dominique!).

Right now the boys and I are in a cafe with Internet access and they are having a very early dinner (3.45pm) which is such a treat for me - they can have a bit of toast before bed and I am having the luxury of peeking into my other world. I do miss my blog and all of you bloggy people out there when I am away. And my other treat at the cafe? A macadamia brittle... just for me.

Anyhoo, back to our wintry beach holiday.

Lots of love, Kate xxooxx.

Something Little.

In between the moments I have been knitting something very small.

Something the cat could have dragged home.

Something that has slowly begun to take shape.

And has turned into a little bird.

The boys and I are still laid low by this nasty coldy-virus. However, we have decided to have a few days in the grandparent's bach (N.Z. for holiday house) while Jonno keeps the home fires burning with calving. The odd beach walk when we can handle it, lego, knitting (Hugo is now learning), crocheting and t.v. watching... I think it will help us busy up with the healing process.

In the meantime, have a nice few days.

Love Kate xxooxx.

Hugo's Makings.

Hugo and Archie have a new little cousin who they are very excited about. Archie was away this weekend being a busy boy at an Indiana Jones party (he went as a cub scout which is a very handy costume considering that he really is a cub scout) so Hugo had a bit of one on one time with me. He decided he wanted to make a toy for the new baby and designed the rabbit above. I cut out the fabric (to his specifications) and he decorated it with fabric markers before it was sewn up on the machine. Voila! It even has little velvet legs poking out the bottom.

The message next to it is one of Hugo's love notes and reads (in Hugo language) "I love you Mum so much". I know I have mentioned his notes before but I really am relishing them as it is only a matter of time until other emotions will be explored through writing. I do recall another little boy beginning of this way and then going onto write the odd "Poo poo Mummy" in fits of rage. Is it wrong to admit I even treasure those notes?

Then when sewing was finished, we went onto origami - this is his dog.

And after that, a little bit of garden harvest.

At the moment I am having a little bit of quiet, home time. The boys have gone to their grandparents for the night, a treat we have all been looking forward to for some time. Except, that I have come down with the most inconvenient and noisy cold so instead of going out to dinner and the movies with Jonno, I am nesting on the couch, kept warm by the ocean of tissues surrounding me. Hmmph. At least we have a couple of good d.v.d.'s to watch the moment Jonno comes home from work and Thai takeaways for dinner. Wahoo. I must say that having a son with a peanut allergy, means that whenever he is away for the night, all we feel like doing is eating peanutty dishes.

Have a nice night.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Milk Time Again.

This is a whole jar of cream,

Skimmed from this container of milk.

It's calving time again which means the most delicious and fresh milk is coming into the house, filled with lots of probiotics for our lactose loving family. This year with children who are now at a great and capable age, I am hoping to start making cheese. I can make butter and yogurt which is handy, but I am really keen to make feta and halloumi and marscapone and all sorts of other dairy goodness, the list goes on and on.

On the owl front, I have been taking photos of them so that they can go up onto Shar's website. She is bundling them up with a beautiful bunch of flowers and some natural baby soap, moisturiser and bath wash. Almost worth having a baby for... One of the owls has already flown away to a new home so I am feeling very excited.

Well, the fire is roaring, the vegetable garden freshly planted (with lots of actual help from Hugo), a chicken roasting (which was to be served on a bed of lemon and Parmesan risotto until I realised I had run out of rice) and hopefully, a motorbike is about to whip up the track from the dairy shed.

Have a lovely weekend,

Love Kate xxooxx.

Owls and Cables

I have launched into a new project from a great book I bought in Australia, 'Closely Knit' by Hannah Fettig. There is a pattern for one of those circular cushions I have been coveting and I had to set about making one. Jane Brocket also has a pattern in her new knitting book but I prefer this one as it is made in knit stitch rather than garter which I think gives it a slightly cleaner look.... but I still love Jane's cushions and especially her colours.

I love how the cable joins the two sides together. It has been my first project using a cable and I am loving it, particularly because it is just one rope (?) of it.

At the moment it keeps making me think of an old vinyl record...

Today the owls had a photo shoot. They were very excited about it and preened their feathers furiously before I was allowed to start snapping. They insisted on using one of Hugo's painting as the backdrop. Who doesn't like branches covered in glitter and sticky taped on to paper.

Hugo has finally caught the must write on everything - bug and has started to write his own little books. We really do live on a dairy farm you know.

And these little love notes that he leaves everywhere for me... They melt me.

And as for Archie, he is still addicted to Lego and coloured blue-tack. It is a specialist field.

Time to collect the boys from school.

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.

Owls, Sassas and Scots.

This week has been a busy one. I can't begin to tell you how happy Archie, Hugo and I are to sink into Saturday with no direction and plans. For me, the week consisted of jobs, jobs, errands and a few more jobs, whereas for the boys, it was rehearsal after rehearsal. I did have more than a bit of fun with these owls (Moreporks to kiwis) that I have been commissioned to make for a friend though....

This little flock are waiting to have their wings stitched on. Every time they try to fly you hear a soft plumph as they fall to the ground.

Archie and Hugos' school spent the term studying 'arts around the world', culminating in the most wonderful concert imaginable. Hugo's class studied Samoa and Archie's Scotland. Hugo above is drumming out a beat to the Sassa.

Archie's class was piped into the concert by a genuine Scottish piper to perform their Highland Sword dance. The pride in the children's faces as they marched their way in dressed in kilts was priceless.

If you want to get boys involved and passionate with dancing, give them a sword!!

And now, some quiet time.

Lots of love and have a cosy weekend,

Kate xxooxx.

At Home.

Archie and I had a quiet day at home today. Archie was suffering from a bit of a cough and lots of accumulated exhaustion that required an immediate remedy of home time. So, we set up our stuff at the kitchen table, a huge jumble of Lego, pencils, wool, needles, paper and crochet hooks.

Archie was busy drawing rock creatures,

And making reconfigured star wars creations.

I finished a new and improved version of Stella, Stanley's mother. The only thing is that she is looking a little impatient to get on with her photo shoot. I think she was gesturing for a cigarette and martini. She really is much nicer in real life you know.

Here she is in all her striped glory in a sort of running/relaxing pose. She actually has pipe cleaners in her arms so it has been quite fun playing with her. Stella really needs a hand bag. Does it make you feel nervous too when small, inanimate toys start not only talking to you but making demands...

Lots of love,

Kate xxooxx.