crochet

My Sunday Photo 17th February 2019

February 17, 2019 by Anne Sweet 9 Comments

I have missed doing a Sunday photo for a couple of weeks. It was mainly because of illness and not being able to spend more than two minutes at a time at the computer.

We’ve not been out much and I don’t have any brilliant shots to share with you, but I wanted to share a photo of my Axolotl that I made. I put a photo of it on Instagram and Simply Crochet Magazine have asked if they can feature me on their ‘Show Us Yours’ page. It said I’ve been shortlisted, so I don’t actually know if it will appear yet, but it’s still exciting to know that something I have made has caught their attention.

Crochet

I first learnt to crochet over 30 years ago. I didn’t get the hang of it and the only thing I made, a baby jumper for my son, was a disaster. So I gave it up.

Then a couple of years ago I thought I’d try again. I kept seeing patterns for these little amigurumi critters and fell in love. So, I started again but soon found out that fiddly little stitches were not the best idea, especially with my failing eyesight. So, I made a blanket.

I’ve made several blankets, hats and scarfs since then and I love my crochet. It’s so relaxing and I love seeing something I’ve created looking good afterwards.

Axolotl

Then I saw a pattern for this axolotl and my little girl wanted me to make one. It was fiddly but I managed it and was happy with the results. So were my girls, I now have to make two more. I might try a lighter pink for the body, it’s supposed to be lighter but the wool I wanted was out of stock so I settled for something pinker. My daughter was okay about it, as she pointed out, axolotl can be quite pink.

I’ll just finish with the first axolotl we met at Hatton in 2017.

Raisie Bay’s Series of Unfortunate Events, (and some good ones.)

February 5, 2019 by Anne Sweet 18 Comments

Well, it’s February already and it’s cold! But…we haven’t had any snow, nope, none of the white stuff here.

It Started Well

Last week turned out to be pretty busy with the girl’s parents evening and the visit to the school’s SENDco. I really don’t like going out when it’s cold, but popping from the car into the school isn’t too bad.

The week passed okay until we got to the weekend. Saturday was fine, the kid’s had a good day with very limited laptop time. I am worried about the amount of time they spend on their laptops on the weekend, so we’ve decided to ration it. They helped with the housework and cooking and played with toys, read books and watched a little television. Boo is really into Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events. Oh my, it’s so dark, those poor children having to fight off the evil Count Olaf’s schemes every episode. Even the website states ;

All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched and will most likely fill you with deep despair

She is wanting the books to read now, I’m divided on whether you should read books before watching the series or film, but I guess it’s too late for Boo now. I’ll get her the first book and see how she gets on.

Then the Sickness Struck!

On Sunday, Star was feeling under the weather, just laying around, not doing much. As the day wore on she became really hot and felt ill. I sent her to bed with some paracetamol and she managed to sleep through until about 5am. Then she got into bed with me, something she’s not done in many years. We got up at six on Monday and it was obvious she wasn’t well enough for school. She had a really awful day, and I had to change my hospital treatment to another day as I didn’t want to leave her, and I didn’t want to risk transferring the sickness to other vulnerable patients at the hospital.

Then Boo came home from School and went straight to bed because she felt ill. The pair of them are off school today, Tuesday. I’m just hoping the Little Man has avoided it. I’ve kept him away from his sisters but you can’t really stop these bugs once they start. Eldest son has caught it, eldest daughter has been hiding in her room when she’s been home. Graham said he feels unwell. If I get it then I won’t be able to go to hospital tomorrow either.

The Bad Tooth

I went to the dentist 3 months ago and she said I needed a filling in one of back teeth. She put in a temporary filling and made me an appointment in 3 months to have it filled properly.

The temporary filling came out at Christmas time while eating a crisp. It didn’t hurt, it hadn’t hurt before the filling was put in.

Then last week it started hurting. I think I had some food in it because it felt better after flossing and cleaning. But the pain came back and I’ve been counting the days until my appointment.

I went back to the dentist and she took a look. Apparently the tooth is so bad now it needs removing, as does the tooth next to it! Then she told me she couldn’t do it because I’d have to be monitored with the anaesthetic because of my medication. So now I have to wait for an appointment at the dental hospital. She did put another temporary filling in though, so I’m only eating soft food until it’s sorted. I hate tooth pain, isn’t it unbearable?

In other News

I finished the blanket I was making with a ‘Crochet Along’ Each month we were given a different pattern to make a square (or two) and then last week it was time to sew them all together and crochet the border. It’s not perfect but it’s so colourful I love it. And more importantly, it’s incredibly soft and cosy. Here is Boo modelling it, she was feeling poorly at the time, but said it was okay for me to take a photo while she pretended to sleep.

Little girl sleeping on sofa covered with a patchwork crochet blanket — CAL Blanket

I’ve also finished the Dragon Hooded Scarf that I was making, and now I have to decide whether to start another blanket or get on with the axolotl pattern.

In the meantime, I’m hoping the sickness bug passes quickly and that I don’t get it so I can go to hospital tomorrow.

Thanks for reading x

Tales From Mamaville

Welcome Home Bernard

January 22, 2019 by Anne Sweet 15 Comments

Welcome Home Bernard!

It took 4 months and nearly two weeks, but Bernard is now back home. I’ve not driven him yet, but I may give it a go soon. I’m really nervous, I used to love driving so much, but I’ve never really got used to driving with my hands.

We only have Bernard until September, then our lease is up and we can choose a new car. Graham has his eye on a Volvo. I thought it would be cool to get a WAV so I could just drive my wheelchair on, that was until I saw the cost…eeek! I think I’ll just stick to getting a new wheelchair and a hoist in the boot of the new car.

In Other News

I think getting Bernard back was the big news of the last week, nothing much else has happened.

I was glad to give my heart monitor back. As I suspected I had a good week with no problems, so they’ll probably give me the all clear. I am 99% sure it was my medication causing the issues, and I’ve stopped it now.

The monitor gave me some lovely sores, I think I’m a bit allergic to those sticky pads they use, I always get a rash whenever I have an ECG.

Wool Addict

My hooks have been busy this week. I’ve almost completed a dragon hooded scarf from a pattern from the lovely Tracey at Hooks and Dragon I can’t wait to show it off.

I’m also in the process of piecing together the CAL (crochet along) blanket that I started last February. I really don’t like the sewing part, but I will finish it after all my hard work, I have to.

I’ve also got the wool for a toy zebra, and the girls fell in love with a pattern for an axolotyl which they want me to make.

I’m going to be a little bit busy.

Crafting, Decorating and a Royal Weekend with Bounce

May 21, 2018 by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

Crafting

After a busy week last week I don’t seem to have much planned this week. I guess I’ll have to focus on my crafting.

I’ve not made any new cards yet but I’ve been working on a drawing that I’d like to include on one I need for next month. I really want to practice with my die cut fairies though, I’d love to create a fantasy scene.

I have started on a new blanket, it consists of many diamonds that will all have to be sewn together. I’m not keen on the sewing bit so wish me luck. My CAL blanket also consists of many pieces that will have to be joined together, but that won’t be until next year! I also have to make another soft toy.

Decorating

I want to make a start on the family bathroom this week, I’ll be able to do some myself but I’ll need the help of Graham to get most of it done, and he’s not keen on decorating. There isn’t really that much painting to do but the door and skirting board need doing and I get headaches when using gloss paint. I also want to paint the hand rail on the stairs, but as I need it to get up and down it’s difficult to find the time to do it. I guess I could paint it myself but I’d have to start at the top and work my way down. If I’m honest I don’t know how safe I would be.

It’s so frustrating not to be able to do these jobs, they are not the jobs I would have shied away from before I was sick. I remember painting the living room ceiling when I was heavily pregnant with Star, and I loved paper hanging. Do you like decorating or do you leave it all to someone else?

A Right Royal Weekend with Bounce

We stayed in on Saturday because I really wanted to watch the Royal Wedding. I made sure I’d done everything before hand so I wouldn’t be disturbed, and I even put a frock on. We didn’t have any banners or flags though. I watched it on television with Star and my eldest son, no-one else was interested.

On Sunday I asked the kids if they’d like to go out somewhere or if they’d like Daddy to put up the trampoline (which we’ve had since last December!) They opted for the trampoline and the girls have loved it. We have to limit Star’s time bouncing because of her condition, but she’s really good at limiting herself.

Sadly though, the Little Man started experiencing back pain shortly after his first bouncing session. He said he didn’t fall and the pain just started. It’s been 48 hours now and he still feels it when he goes on the trampoline, but otherwise he is okay. It’s very strange, and very sad. I hope it passes. What worries me is that he is now at the age that Star was when she had problems with her neck. I hope he doesn’t have spinal problems too, but maybe I’m just overthinking it. I’m going to book him an appointment with the GP for after school tomorrow just in case he’s done any damage.

What have you been up to this week?

Keeping Well

May 15, 2018 by Anne Sweet 3 Comments

It’s not been the best of time for me health wise, after catching the kid’s sickness bug I seem to have been knocked off my feet, almost literally!

It’s made me think a lot about my illness and how it’s progressing. I don’t like it, and I don’t like my family seeing me like it either.

This is not my usual state of mind. I probably get on a lot of people’s nerves but I’m really a ‘cup half full’ type of person. It’s strange really when my life hasn’t really strolled along the easy path, it’s definitely been a slow mountain climb with lots of crumbling rocks on the way.

Maybe that’s why I’m a positive thinking person. If I focus on the negative then I’d probably be a very depressed person right now. That doesn’t mean that I’ve never suffered depression, I have quite a few times, but these days I am well aware of the warning signs and I know the best ways to keep it at bay.

So, what have I been up to this week?

Well, I’ve got a new hobby! I have always been interested in papercraft but I’ve never been the arty type. I’ve decided that I’ll give it a go though and I’m making some cards. I’m using my favourite resource, Pinterest, to get some inspiration and I’ve been buying some bits and pieces to get me started. Okay, I know you don’t absolutely need a die cutter for starters, but I couldn’t resist treating myself to one.

Here’s my first attempt.

I’ve even ordered myself a cabinet to keep my bits and pieces in. With this and my crochet I’m going to be keeping very busy.

Talking about crochet, here is my latest creation.

The request for these keep coming so I can see myself making more. I’m also working on a big blanket with a CAL (crochet along) but that’s a year long project. I am loving it already though and can’t wait for the finished product. I can’t decide whether I prefer big projects or little ones. Last night I spent about an hour crocheting this jammy dodger tape measure cover.

I think now you may be able to see how I cope with my illness…I occupy my brain and my hands 🙂

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