New Tastes

Sean eating his first ever McDonalds burger

This summer Sean has started to eat the same foods as the rest of us... for the first time in his life he has been trying new foods. So, after years of surviving on bread and butter with prescription vitamin enhanced milkshakes, he is daring to put new foods in  his mouth. This is a big deal for us all!

His motivation is that he really wants to go to school camp next summer on the Isles of Scilly. We've said he can but he has to be able to eat more foods just like his friends otherwise it's not really possible. Fortunately he is bright enough to understand, and though it is not easy for him, he is really trying.

(Admittedly we are also using bribery and corruption and giving him money  as a reward when he does try new foods- but even the psychologist we saw a few years ago said this would be worth trying when he was old enough to understand).

I've started a hexagon granny square blanket this week. Inspired by the crochet along with the Inner Hooker on facebook. Here is my first 10 blocks...

 I was working with the idea that they looked like a field of flowers, but my lot all seem to think they look like lily pads, so even I am thinking of them like that now... I've even started to look at maybe making an amigurumi frog to sit on them... I'm sure  I've a pattern for one somewhere...

Anyway, until next time
Gillian

Summer Laziness

Hi, It's been a while but I'm still around, busy enjoying our summer break. Five and a half weeks off work- the advantage of working in a school- I know that should have given me more time to blog but in my world it gives me more time to do so many other things I haven't had time for it!

So, what's been happening?

Two weeks visiting family- we do this every summer- it's hard not seeing them for months on end so we try and make the most of invading their houses and spending time with them all...

Then a week and a half of high stress waiting to find out if Tom had got the grades to get into University- he did!- and also to see a Skin specialist to find out if I had skin cancer- I don't- the specialist said it was a skin coloured viral wart in an unusual place probably because it was where my sunglasses rest on my nose!!!! Anyway that was a relief and she froze the thing off so it looks better too. Still my lot are all taking using suncream more seriously now so hopefully they will never get skin cancer...

As part of looking after myself more I also started doing more exercise. I like doing DVD's at home as it's so much more convenient and cheaper than going to a gym. My asthma is playing up so doing aerobics is too much, so I've started doing pilates. Although it's really hard I actually enjoy it, it's good to feel strong and actually feel your muscles... it makes me feel good.

For the last week I have been able to relax more, Kieran got his GCSE's today, he was so laid back we had to beg and nag him to even get his results- they were really good even though he didn't exactly over do the revision for them!

I'm also making a new quilt topper- I saw two gorgeous polka dot fabrics in a shop last week and just decided to make it with just these, so that pattern is a simple checkerboard design, its working out quite well- pictures to follow soon...

I've been doing a lot of crochet- amigurumi and hats so far- again pictures to follow. I also just decided to do a crochet along with Inner Hooker on Facebook- ( see also http://oxfordfam.blogspot.com/2011/08/crochet-along.html ). I love making granny blankets but think it will be even better to do it to meet targets- so often I start something and then after a little while it gets put away while I do something else...

.....that's just the way I am I suppose....

So until next time
Gillian

Sail Away

Sometimes you can just imagine you are on a tropical beach looking at azure waters in glorious sunshine...

Isn't it beautiful!

St Ives, 3rd July 2011

So until next time
Gillian

Beach Fun

We went to St Ives today and I just wanted to share some of my favourite photos with you all...

I think you can see how much we enjoyed ourselves- no need for more words today!!!

So until next time
Gillian

Adventures in Geoland: St Ives

Adventures in Geoland: St Ives: "We had a wonderful day in St Ives, Cornwall today. It has been so gloriously sunny that it is one of those days that demands you go somewher..."

Finishing the Unfinished

Earlier this year I resolved to finish projects as I have a track record of starting lots of projects but not finishing too many. Its a big ask of someone like me who has more ideas than time...

Yesterday I dug out a blanket I started crocheting some time ago- I don't even know when- but fortunately I had some wool left and so I decided it had to be done. The only problem was that I hadn't left a crochet hook with it and I couldn't remember what size hook I'd used. I tried a 6mm but the stitches looked too big compared to the row that was already started. So I unpicked it and used a 5mm hook, this time the stitches seemed the same size so I carried on for three rows to finish the pattern repeat. I then held the blanket up to decide how to finish it. This is when I noticed that the blanket was not so much a rectangle as a trapezium. It was several inches wider at one end than the other...

...clearly I had ended with a smaller hook than I started. Aaaaarhhhh!!!!

So what did I do... well I couldn't face going back and unpicking a large amount. It was more than the three rows I did yesterday. I must have been inconsistent with my hook size more than once during the crochet. So I have left it!!!

I finished with a row of double crochet (UK) around the edge and am now sat under it- it is a thick yarn with a dense stitch and so is quite warm and it is a little cooler  today than the last few days.

I don't think anyone will notice it is not even unless they fold it in half so long as I keep quiet...

Anyway, until next time

Gillian

Apology Time

I'm sorry I haven't posted much recently. Life has got in the way!!! Again!!!

The latest thing is that I have been to the doctor about my earache and, after three weeks and two courses of antibiotics, she now believes I have something like glue ear. She is linking it to my hayfever and blocked sinus's causing sticky fluid to accumulate in my ear. Yuk!!! The result is aching pain, loss of some hearing, pain from loud noises and a completely scrambled brain- I can't seem to think straight!

So please bear with me- I'm trying to keep going but I am tired out and not able to keep up with everything. Hopefully this will pass in a few days/weeks...

... let's hope it is sooner rather than later!

So until next time
Gillian