{quilt} while you're ahead

11**2013

Today we woke up to this:

No this is not my house, but the local architecture is even more beautiful in the snow.

This is my driveway

Slowly we went from this

to this

(I know different bush... but I had my slippers on at this point and didn't want to get my feet wet!!)

So I dressed the boys (no school today)

and chucked them out...

the little angels...

Not.

I watched them from the window,

of course that was to encourage independent play... it had nothing to do with the blizzard like conditions and the mug of Assam tea with vanilla in my hand.  Of course.

After a while my guilt inducing Catholic upbringing won over and we headed to the park.

Sigh.

For a sledging session.

Or so I thought.

 

Sitting down on sledges is sooooooo last year.

59//2012

Random Friday is back.

Because it's Friday and my mind can't focus on one thing for more than 10 seconds.  It's bad.

- First of all... Simon Cowell's dog is just like my Lilli.

(Simon's dog)

Lilli.  In real life the similarity is kind of spooky.

- Second... who invented this stuff?

O.M.G.

Don't try it.  You won't be able to stop eating it.

Sigh.

(little black dress little black dress little black dress party party party...)

- Third and last (because I must go do some housework now!)... what the heck is this?

And what do I do with it?

10//2012 {{lilli's cushion}}

When I first set eye on this retro number I didn't immediately thought "oh great cushion for the dog", but as soon as I took it home she claimed it... and what can I say, the girl has taste.

Fast forward two years and the psychedelic pillow was in serious need of some tlc.

I coverd holes and tears with this cute 'doggie' fabric from who knows where or when,

I'm sure she missed the irony of the imagery... but the boys haven't.  They think it's brilliant...

and who am I to argue with that?

I hope you're not bored of cushions... two more posts to go!

59/2011

I think it's time to go random again and catch up a little.

- we're all into cycling this year. Mr M cycles into work, I'm trying to cycle everywhere (although, putting a helmet on right after the hairdresser wasn't a very smart move) and the boys have got the cycling bug big time too.  It's cool.

- The votes on the nail polish election have been counted and the winner is.... BLUE! My nails are actually green at the moment but this will be rectified and then I'll show you proof that democracy works... they will be blue.  (Green had taken an early majority and I was a bit precipitous in calling it a victory).  Orange 3, Green 10, Blue 12.

- I tried this recipe with a little variation (I just added some cooked carrots I had) and it was delicious.  Will be doing it again.

- Mr M built a swing for the boys in the garden... you might say they're a little old for it... but they're not!

- This is Lilli's ball.  You touch it at your peril.

- I wouldn't want to steal the 'science' crown from Val (I couldn't even if I tried!!) but if you have a child who likes science this is a cool present that doesn't break the bank. (part of the science museum range)

... an enourmous (8 meters long!) balloon made out of thin black plastic.  You run around the garden like an idiot to fill it up with air, tie a knot and voila' the thing immediately starts floating higher and higher... Seriously brilliant.

- You should never drink green tea straight after eating a banana.

- And have you seen this video?

 

 

 

45/2011

I passed my test!!!

(gratuitous photo of cute Lilli)

Hurray!

* 140 *

Randomness.

I'm still alive.  Not frozen but almost.  We haven't really had much snow either.  Just below zero temperatures that have caused Lilli-the-hound to sit on a radiator as soon as she comes in from her walk.

She looks a bit peaky but her paws are probably frozen solid.  The choice is arctic cold walk or sauna bed in the lounge... it's tough being a dog in this day and age.

And it's not easy to be a dog owner these days either.  I've been living in England for almost 20 years and have never been so cold.  Ever.

And busy.  Life busy.  School Christmas production, Christmas preparations - do you know there are only 17 sleeps till the big day?  Isn't it scary?

Our tree is up:

and we have regular fights every morning for whose turn is it to turn them on...

but they're so pretty... I love twinkly lights... in fact I might turn them on myself tomorrow!

And lastly, work to the lastest quilt is proceeding, even if a little slow paced:

Funny how the borders don't ever sew themselves on...

* 77 *

- Last night I attempted 'zucchini bread' (courgettes).  It was a disaster... the blasted thing just wouldn't cook.  It was in the oven for more than 2 hours... didn't burn and the inside was all mushy.  Yuck.  Has anybody got any idea why?  And yes the oven WAS on... thanks for the trust.

Lilli didn't want it either.

- Speaking of which... isn't she gorgeous?

 

Scruffy little thing.

- Our house still hasn't sold.  And now I don't want to move... unless it's to a place like this...

 

This a house in Madison, GA.  And I love it.  It's mine (well, I'd love it to be, sigh).  It's me.

Or maybe this one, in Covington, GA

 

A bit more classy, less quirky.  Ah it would be a difficult choice.  If only.

(and yes I'm the mad person who screeches the car to a halt to take picture of other people's houses...)

- Gotta go back to my sewing.  Skirt no 2 it's half done, and all the other UFOs are getting to me...

- I have too many UFOs

- I have too many projects I haven't even started but are still in my head.

* 25 *

Random Friday.

Lilli the dog like the children doesn't eat anything green - unless it's sweets.  She loves carrots and apples and bananas... but if you give her a grape or an olive or a piece of cucumber you'll find it behind the sofa or on the floor of my study, her favourite place to eat.

Yes, you.  I'm talking to you missy... I don't like olives under my desk. 

Actually she's not ignoring me, she simply doesn't understand English.  Lilli only understand Italian, after all it's me and her all day long... I have to talk to someone, it would be weird if were talking to myself, right?

I've been trying to bake blueberry muffins following this book:

Unsuccessfully.  I was warned that some recipes might be a bit iffy... but I'm not writing it off yet... I'm planning a cupcakes stand off soon... 'high-noon cupcakes style', on one side of the street The Hummingbird Bakery on the other The Primrose  Bakery.  Watch this space.  Flour will be spilled.

And my other piece of news... Mr M relented and put together his birthday present (last year's one...), we now have

this. Five little stripey things (and in my case five more mouths to feed as nobody else EVER remembers)

But you know what... who knew that something as quiet as fish could be such company... I'm absolutely loving it.

* 24 *

-  more plotting

 

- more swapping

(Thank you Emma... it's beautiful!  Hope the garland reaches you soon!)

- more flowers

because you can never have enough...

Has spring reached you yet?

We're still waiting, but at least today the sky is a little bit blue!
 

Not long after I wrote my last post the phone rang.  It was the boys' school: No 1 had forgotten his recorder and was wondering if I might be able to drop it off to him so he wouldn't get into trouble with his teacher.  The following went through my mind:

thought a) I'm not going to do it, he deserves a lesson in keeping his stuff organised.

thought b) Of course I'll do it, he's only young,

thought c) typical, I've got a list of things as long as my arm I don't need anything else.

thought d)  If I were in his place I'd be so worried and I don't want him to be worried.

thought e) He's a lucky boy I'd just cleaned under the sofa in the playroom and found his recorder.

thought f) It was obviously a sign, I must go.

And so I went, because I'm a push-over and don't want my boys to be upset even if I asked a million times 'have-you-got-everything-for-school' and I got a million yes back.  I went running out of the door but I grabbed the dog too so whilst I was waiting for school to finish I had time to take the hound for a long walk on the hills behind the school. (another item on my list...)

Now, the boys have been attending this school for the last three years.  I've had this ferocious beast for two.  The hills have been here for considerable time... and I'd never even looked at them before.

Scandalous.

They're full of berries,

and the view is amazing! 

Not to mention the bizarre objects found in remote gardens...

(a boat???? we're miles from any water... cool boat though)

I had a wonderful time.  My spirit was lifted and was a much nicer mum to the boys than I would have been otherwise.  Serendipity?  Perhaps.  Carpe Diem? A little bit.

But the thing that gets me the most is discovering this amazing 'new' place.  I've lived here for almost 20 years and I'm still discovering new places.  It's almost embarassing.