Shopping

After a very wakeful night with James wanting to be up at 2 am and not settling until almost 5, we were all very tired and a bit grumpy this morning. Rather than moon about the house we decided to head into the town and moon around the High Street instead. It's a bit of a joke to call it a High Street as it has gone the way of many a town centre - empty shops, hairdressers, opticians etc. I remember when I was younger that the street would be thronged with people on a Saturday afternoon and the varied shops and cafes would be buzzing. Today it was so empty and sad looking that I half expected to see tumbleweed rolling down the monoblocked surface. The boarded up Woolies - in the same place since the 1920s, was a testament to the disappearance of what used to be the heart of the town. Nowadays instead of saying "Guess who I saw down the street?" - its "Guess who I saw out at Tesco's?" Doesn't really have the same feeling of community, but maybe that's just me.
Anyway - there are a number of charity shops of course, so we lurched into our favourite, which is the Barnardo's shop. it usually has the best selection of stuff, mainly because it is not in the pedestrian precinct, but on the street, so cars can park outside it. This means it is the easiest shop to offload your cast-offs to if you have had a big clear out. To get to the others located in the pedestrianised part, you have to park in the car park and walk a fair way dragging your bags of clutter - such is the way of our car-dependant culture.
Sorry - I didn't mean to turn this into a rant - sleep deprived hysteria maybe. I'll stop moaning now, because we did pick up a few goodies in Barnardo's today. Here it is arrayed on the table - some dinner forks (where do they all go?), a couple of brass candle holders in a size I needed, a Kate Greenaway illustrated book of Mother Goose, several photograph frames and a fabulous book called The Beatrix Potter Knitting Book, by Pat Menchini. I love vintage patterns and so couldn't resist this, even though I knew I would never attempt anything from it. Here are a couple of my favourite styles from the book. I just love the totally posed photographs - obviously shot in the Lake District. The Squirrel Nutkin coat and hat look great, and I adore the very pink Peter Rabbit set, which actually looks within my capabilities. Oh - and isn't this Benjamin Bunny outfit just the best? I so want to knit one each for James and Finlay! I'll add it to the list and dream on...

Hello Kitty!

I knitted this cat the other day. The wool was left over from a cardigan I knitted when I was pregnant with James. I remember sitting on my bouncy ball, watching the World Cup and knitting away. The pattern came from the book The Children's Year, which is filled with wonderful craft ideas - all of which I would love to have time to do. I think he is very cute.

Just in time.

When I worked for the Electricity Board in the 1980's, a new 'big idea' was being introduced called "Just in time" stock control. It meant that instead of keeping a huge stock of cable, cut-out boxes etc in our stores, we could keep enough for day to day requirements and order replacements as they were used. So... just in time for the winter snows, I finished my hat last night. Here I am wearing it with the matching handwarmers in a terribly scary photograph just as I am about to go outside and play with the boys. It is the free pattern on the SouleMama blog , which I have knitted three times now. The first one, at the beginning of Winter was in pink and purpley shades, and I was very pleased with it. Unfortunately it has disappeared from the face of this earth. I suspect it has found it's way into No.2 daughter's bedroom, which effectively means it has "ceased to be" - I cannot remember the last time I saw her actual bed there is so much stuff lying around. Ah well - it is her space I suppose (sighing deeply). The second hat, I knitted in the same wool that I am sporting today as a birthday present for one of my step-daughters - it is such a great and easy pattern. Off to knit something else now.

A very good place to start.

A good day to start this blog - lots of indoor activity as the sleety snow fell silently past the windows. James is getting a bit better at finding his own things to do for short periods, so I don't interfere unless he comes looking for me. So, whilst he rearranged the tupperware tubs over the conservatory floor and filled them with various toy cars, I made cottage pie and leek and honey-roasted parsnip and celeriac soup. A bit of an albeit tasty mouthful for what is essentially a use up the veg box dish.
Later James helped me to make a honey, lemon and yogurt cake. The trouble with James and baking is that he is absolutely petrified of the food mixer. It is just a hand held electric one, but he becomes hysterical at the mere suggestion that it may be used. (wonder if it is a past life issue?) So - simple living it is and wooden spoons were brandished with abandon. Next culinary delight was tapioca pudding for desert. A childhood favourite - it was always the Wednesday pudding at my Gran Duncan's, where I went every day for lunch when I was at school. In those days of course the main meal was at noon - glad I don't have to get myself together to do that every day. I can actually still remember the meal plan that my Gran had, as every day was the same. Monday was always soup and some kind of tart and custard; Tuesday.... no I won't even bore myself never mind any unwary reader.
I also finished knitting a pair of fingerless mitts in a fabulous yarn by Manos del Uruguay, now I will start on a matching hat - all for me. Mind you, elder son was eyeing the mitts up earlier - "they would be ideal for me walking the dog." I pretended not to hear him though, bad Mummy that I am. If I had knitted them and given them to him as a present he would have run a mile from their 'uncoolness' or whatever the word is now.
And - I also started this blog! So - all in all a good day.