{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemamma. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

What's the Happy Haps?

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL!

I have been trying to find some time to do a big catch up of all the things I've been up to. It's taken me until NOW to find the space and the quiet. The kidlets are tucked up in bed and all I am in the mood for is a creative catch up. Yes, I have been knitting and sewing up a storm recently. Being the kind of all or nothing gal that I am, I decided to make my (very tall) hubble a quilt for Christmas. I haven't ever made a quilt before and my hubbles ended up being 6ft wide by 7ft long (to cover his toesies). I made it because he has been sleeping at work off and on for the last two years due to the workload. We live nearly two hours out of the city and when he is finishing at 3am it's hardly worth coming home to get up a couple of hours later to go back, so he sleeps on the floor under his coat. I know. So I am putting together a 'Work Survival Kit' so that at least he has something warm and comfy to overwork under. But this quilt (and a couple of other little bits) kept me up until 2am on Christmas Eve. I still didn't manage to finish it but here is a picture of the WIP.

Apologies for the crap picture.

It needs sewing through and binding at the ends. It's also a bit wonky but then, so am I. So there you go.

I've also been doing a little of this:

Tie onesies for a couple of friends who are pregnant. Made one for Finn too because they are so cute! I made them from this tutorial which is awesome. Try it. You'll like it.

And once the wee girl saw Finn's she wanted one. Because that's the kind of funky sister of chic I am raising. Of course, it will probably be trashed by Friday because she is a little rough on her clothes! 

I've also been knitting up a storm. I knitted up some 'sleeves' for a couple of good girlfriends (and hoped they wouldn't think it was a crap present!). Apparently they love them (though they could just be being kind). They are like long (to the elbow or upper arm) soft, silky things that look like very long fingerless gloves. You can wear them with t-shirts or tank tops etc. I think they're cool. I'll have to get photo's of the girls wearing them for my ravelry site which is here.

I have also been up to my neck 'Neck Warmers' -  the pattern is listed on my ravelry site for FREE. And it's SO easy but it looks surprisingly good. Honest. My husbands was the most muted of the one's I knitted but with all of them I used three to four balls of wool (together) and they turned out lovely for such a beginner. The buttons that you add really make a difference too. They step the project up and make it look like something you would buy. 

Nice hubby volunteered to have his photie taken wearing his neck warmer (and his pjs!)

I have finished Finn's Eastment Jacket but need to sew it up. I also have two vintage red pixie hats finished but in need of sewing up and two jumpers. I know. It's just that I don't like the sewing things up bit. I like the knitting bit. Anyway, when I get it together to finish it. I'll post and link to them, if you're interested.

What else? Hmmm... The beautiful wee boy is now 7 months old and soooo beautiful. 

7 Months and covered in solids.

The Beanie is wonderful and dreadful challenging in equal measure at the moment. She can be amazingly helpful and she LOVES her little brother but we have had an increase in the defiance and she is developing a somewhat aggressive streak in little ways. Not sure what's going on with her but I'm trying to keep my cool and find the patience to deal with it. I'm not even going to talk to you about the whole eating thing! Too traumatic. As you can see though, she's full of life and personality!

 Oh and these are some other little crafty projects I've finished recently.

 The lovely 'Bandit' - a sock monkey made for Finn while I was pregnant with him.

And this little fella is for a friends nearly 2 year old boy whose birthday is coming up. He keeps stealing 'Minty' the green and white sock monkey I made for his sister!

Well, I have another two blog posts up my (knitted) sleeves including one on my 'word for the year' (last year was 'Compassion') but this is just really a round up of the crafty goodness I've been enjoying.

Photo Meme #2

The Red Tent (as created by me for The Divine Feminine).

As I'm not feeling particularly inspired or inspiring today. In fact I'm out of everything today - energy, patience, cheerfulness. You name it, I'm all out. So, I thought I'd play a game and create a Meme. I've called it Meme 2 because I have a vague recollection of creating one before but I could be wrong. It's the best I can come up with right now and I thought I'd make it a 'Meme' for want of something better to do with it. So here tis.

I've called it The Omen (666):

Go to the 6th folder on your computer, open the 6th photo and blog about it. Then tag 6 more people to do the same, linking back to the person who tagged you.

Here goes my offering - it's called 'One Sophisticated Dinner Party'


This combination of photo's was taken by various members of said sophisticated dinner party during a little experiment I like to call 'Rubber Face'. To play rubber face, you must shake your head vigorously from side to side and get someone else to attempt to take a picture of the results. You can also vary and further add to the game by also playing the additional arm known as 'Trout Pout'. Here you simply put your lips together and, well, not so much 'blow' as make a 'brrrrr' sound using your lips not your tongue. Again, have someone with a camera handy to record the unnerving results.

Yes. This is as sophisticated as our dinner parties get. No deep and meaningful conversations for us. No. We play Rubber Face, Trout Pout and, occasionally, Cranium.

*NB: The other members of this photograph have asked not to be identified for reasons of shame and embarrrasment. That's right. Embarrrasment with 3 'rs'. Thank you.

While we are here, why don't we also play 'May The 'Fours' Be With You'. Similar idea to The Omen game above.

Go to the fourth folder in your photo archive, select the fourth picture in it and then write about it. Tag 4 other people to do the same, linking back to the person who tagged you.

Again, here's my burnt offering.

* Mamma and Me

This photo was taken after a birthday night out for me and my mum. Our birthday's are 6 days apart and my wedding anniversary falls in the middle of her birthday and mine. We had been to this local Hungarian restaurant and had the most wonderful (comfort) food and a few glasses of vino and had trundled back to our house for a cuppa before bed.

My little Beanie-girl was only 8 weeks old at the time and in other photo's taken at the restaurant, she can be seen sleeping peacefully in her bassinette next to me in our booth. Mum had flown from the UK to meet her first ever (blood) grandaughter and namesake (Lily's middle names are Charlott MacDonald after my mum and our scottish clan). As a birthday treat mum had bought me the entire outfit I was wearing and it was the first non-maternity outfit I had been able to wear - even if it does show off the baby belly a bit. I still have the outfit and I still wear it.

My mum is very cute.

I tag the following people.

Moonroot, DocWitch, Griffin, Sara, Mon,and Erin,

So that's it. I look forward to reading your offerings and to peeping into some quiet (shameful) corner of your lives. Feel free to spread the love (shame, embarrassment, fear) around. Oh and for those of you who prefer to remain anonymous, simply edit the picture and hide your face or feel free to chose a picture that you are not in.