sunday snapshot

My Sunday Snapshot – Festive Feeling

December 20, 2020 by Anne Sweet 9 Comments

What gives you that Festive feeling? For me it’s most definitely the Christmas tree, lights and decorations. I couldn’t imagine not putting them up at home.

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

My Christmas tree is so old. I bought in our last home which was a lot smaller and we only had a small space. When we moved here we had a huge space for the tree and it looked measly. But as the years have gone by we’ve had more and more furniture and now there is barely space for the tree. Last year I wanted to buy a bigger tree and move some furniture but the family didn’t agree. This year I nearly never bothered putting a tree up at all, but I’m glad I did.

When I was a child we lived in a house with a big bay window. My Mum would move all the furniture around and even remove some to make room for a huge tree. She’d get rid of armchairs and replace them with spare kitchen chairs for all the guests that would come. My Nan would stay for Christmas and even bring her own armchair with her. It seems like a lot of effort for Christmas but it was always special.

I think that’s why I get frustrated sometimes by my own family’s lack of interest in decorations. But I can’t bring back the Christmas of my past, we just have to make our own traditions. It can still be festive.

This year is going to be tougher than ever with all the restrictions. It’s heart breaking to know that families can’t be together. More people than ever will be spending Christmas alone. It’s hard to get any sort of festive feeling when you realise what is going on around the world. I may wish for a family that loves Christmas like my family used to, but at least I have my family here around me. I’m really lucky.

What makes Christmas festive for you?

Linking up to Rachel for her Sunday Snapshot

My Sunday Photo and Ordinary Moments – Cushion

October 18, 2020 by Anne Sweet 9 Comments

I love to crochet, especially while listening to an audio book. This week I finished one of my Works In Progress, a cushion.

photo of a cushion in purple, pink and white pattern, lying on a brown settee.

I started it a while ago, the back is plain white and was very easy to make. The front consisted of three colours which were to be made in a complicated pattern. The pattern was not too bad to understand, but when you are changing four colours in each row it can be complicated and creates a lot of work on the back to sew in all the threads. I tried and gave up. I decided to use the same colours but make some squares and sew them together. I designed the pattern myself. I’m never 100% happy with what I make but I’m happy that I didn’t just give up on it. And now I have a super soft colourful cushion.

The Ordinary Moments, Some Might Say

Today’s Blogtober post is ‘Some Might Say’ and I have to say, I really don’t like Oasis. I never have, the Gallagher’s both annoy me beyond belief and I don’t like their voices. But I do like some of their songs and this is one of them. And the lyrics are quite relevant for these time don’t you think.

Some Might Say we will find a brighter day!

So many awful things that are going on in the world right now. There has to be a brighter day coming. At the moment, all I can see is division and suffering. But life goes on, and we have to think of our children. I don’t believe that there is a big plan to get us all under control. That is not possible, we have been free for too long. We can’t even follow simple instructions like not gathering in crowds and putting on masks. Its a crazy situation. Following the rules could get the pandemic under control, but if it you don’t believe there is a pandemic then you won’t follow the rules.

I can see us going around in circles for a long time over this and there will be a lot of lives lost or ruined.

Some might say that we will find a brighter day!

Let’s keep hoping they are right!

In the meantime, I’m going to keep home as much as I can and do my favourite things like read and crochet. I may even make another cushion!

image shows a drawing of a camera with flowers. A badge for My sunday Snapshot from Rachel Swirl blog.

My Sunday Snapshot and Ordinary Moments – Let Me In!

September 27, 2020 by Anne Sweet 9 Comments

Let me in! It’s a cry I hear several times a day. He’s in, he’s out, in again out again. It’s a good job I sit near the door, otherwise he’d just have to stay out. We don’t have a single door in our house that would be suitable for a cat flap, so with an outdoor cat like Ash I have to keep letting him in.

Yesterday he was at the back door meowing ‘let me in’ and Sabrina, our indoor cat, was lazing by the door watching the falling leaves. Ash came along and started meowing and Sabrina stretched up to the door handle. She had a very long way to go though. She’s never opened the door before, or even tried to, but I thought it was amusing that she made a half hearted attempt.

Maybe she was trying to appease Ash by showing an effort. He doesn’t look very impressed though. Look at that frown, it’s as if he’s calling her a dumb cat for even trying to open the door. Poor Sabrina.

Five minutes after I let him in he was meowing to go back out.

Ordinary Moments.

Boo and the Little Man have been to school all week. They come home, get washed and changed before coming to me for a hug and to tell me any news. It’s our new normal. The Little Man is thoroughly enjoying school, he likes being in smaller groups, especially in the playground as he didn’t always get on with all the kids. Boo is a bit quiet about school, she told me about some things she wasn’t liking and I gave her some tips to deal with them. Then she came home the next day much brighter and happier. I’m worried they are school, the virus is rife in our city at the moment and there has already been a positive case in Boo’s school. But they really are happier at school and if it’s what they need then we’ll take the risk for now. There school’s are really good though and are following all guidelines as well as implementing their own. The kids feel safe.

Star, is completely different. She has been very poorly, but I know she doesn’t want to go to school. One day was enough for her, she couldn’t take it. But she’s in her final year and needs to get her work done. We had a meeting with the school and they arranged a phased return which she seemed happy with. Then she got sick. Very sick, I had to call the GP. She has medication which appears to be helping. So, tomorrow we are going to try the phased return. Fingers crossed. The problem is, I can tell from her being on her tablet chatting all day, that none of her friends are going to school either! This doesn’t help in persuading her to go.

Apart from school there is nothing else really to report. I’ve been busy reading and crocheting. I’ve even practiced a little more knitting with Boo. I have been playing Hedgeways with the Little Man and it’s become his favourite game that not on a screen. It’s a kickstarter game so if you are looking for something new, or a great Christmas gift, do take a look and you’ll be helping out a couple of really nice guys getting their business off the ground too.

I’m joining in with Rachel and Donna for their weekly link ups.

My Sunday Snapshot and Ordinary Moments – Happy Birthday

August 30, 2020 by Anne Sweet 10 Comments

Our Summers are all about birthdays, and this week we had birthday number 4! We also had car trouble, did some knitting and some baking.

image shows a row of birthday cards with a pink happy birthday banner in the background

Eldest daughter was born June 30th, Boo on July 27th, The Little Man August 9th and Star August 24th. That’s four birthdays in eight weeks weeks!! Three of them fall between four weeks!

Thankfully the kids are older so birthday parties have not been missed this year. It was a shame we couldn’t have done something special for Boo’s 13th, or celebrated Star’s birthday at Pizza Hut like we usually do. But we have been very strict with outside contact.

The birthdays are all over now, the kids all a year older.

Ordinary Moments, Cars, Knitting and Baking.

The car broke down. We had it serviced last week, and this week the gear box goes on us. I’m glad I wasn’t in the car. We have the car booked into the garage but they can’t pick it up until Tuesday because of the bank holiday. We did get a courtesy car sorted pretty quick though. Or should I say Van! It’s Ford Tourneo with 8 seats.

image shows a black Ford Tourneo car behind a hedge. — *image from the door cam!*

I’ve not been in it yet but I do have a hospital appointment in the morning.

In other news this week, apart from Star’s birthday, I have been learning to knit with Boo. I can vaguely remember my Mum trying to teach me but I never really caught on so it’s just as hard for me as it is her. She was so excited to manage to cast on and knit her first row. Then she put it down and hasn’t picked it up again yet. 🙁

I also did some cooking with the Little Man. I subscribed him to a cooking kit and the box arrived this week. There is just something about receiving a box that makes you want to get stuck in and make the stuff. Well, it’s always worked before, it was a bit more difficult this time to drag him away from his computer games. But we ha a go and made some key lime pies. The recipe was quite involved with lots of blending and mixing. The results were not quite as I expected but they taste okay, and they are gluten free. We will attempt the fish cakes next.

image shows a hand holding a key lime pie which is cut in half — *Key Lime Pies*

My Sunday Snapshot and Ordinary Moments – Granny Squares

My Sunday Snapshot and Ordinary Moments – 10th Birthday.

August 9, 2020 by Anne Sweet 8 Comments

Today it’s the Little Man’s 10th birthday. I’m struggling after getting just 2 hours sleep last night, but I’ll do my best to make the day special. In fact we have a special week planned, I’m sure it’ll be a birthday week to remember.

10th Birthday Boy

This time ten years ago I was holding my baby for the first time. He was a bit of a surprise baby as I believed my family was complete and I was ‘getting on a bit!’ But to have another little boy at that time made me feel truly blessed. And he really is the sweetest Little Man.

He was a weird baby who was happiest just lying on his back, he didn’t want to crawl, and ended up being a bottom shuffler. He didn’t want to walk and he was nearly two before he was walking independently. He didn’t want to talk either, but now I can’t shut him up. We moved house when he was three years old and he’s the only child who doesn’t remember the old house. The place I lived for 24 years.

Cake for the Little Man

10th birthday cake — *10th birthday Cake*

You can’t have a birthday without cake. I had no idea what to do him this year, he’s had some pretty amazing cakes in the past. I spent many hours making his Minecraft sword cake, and even his Paw Patrol cake. But this year he gave me nothing…so I just iced his cake and put Happy Birthday and candles on it. At least we can hope it tastes good 🙂

The Little Man

He has always been my Little Man and probably always will be. But as he grows I know he’s going to become a real man. All my children are growing up and I’m left with no babies. I’m looking forward to what the future will bring, what they will achieve.

In the meantime we will enjoy the rest of the summer. He has friends coming around to spend time in the garden tomorrow, and on Tuesday we have a special day out planned. But today, we are going to play with his new presents and enjoy a BBQ (hopefully) later.

Happy 10th Birthday Little Man xx

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