Knitting - scarf

I LOVE KNITTING!!!

I thought that 2012 would be my year of the Crochet but suddenly, I love knitting.

I hadn't knitted for a VERY long time but last year I had an urge to knit and bought some needles (which were probably a bit too small) and some nice purple wool (Miss Bucket's favourite colour) and started a scarf, just using plain knit stitch.

It seemed to take forever just to do a small bit but to be fair, I think I cast on too many stitches and the wool was just a normal, thin wool. So I stopped and left it for a little while.

Fast forward to now and I've got the urge again.

I started knitting the purple scarf again but after looking through some other posts went and bought some nice chunky wool and bigger needles to cope with it. I also found some videos on You Tube invaluable in this, especially CyberSeams, with loads of brilliantly clear instructions.

And guess what!!??! After only two day I've finished it!! A lovely, warm chunky green scarf.

It's come out a bit like a tube scarf which wasn't the look I was going for. But I only found out AFTER I'd made it that if you stitch one row knit and one row purl (stockinette stitch), the knit row pulls slightly smaller which makes it curl.

Oh well, you live and learn and Bucket jnr loves it which is the main thing.

Source: The Purl Bee

I'm going to buy some more wool after this and do another one for Miss Bucket. I've been looking on
The Purl Bee's site and they have some really nice ones to knit.

I'm on a roll baby - YEAH!

Although I must admit I do freak out a lot bit when I drop a stitch - haven't quite figured that out yet but my knit and purl stitches are looking great.

With the snow supposedly getting here soon, I'm gonna stock up on my wool and get knitting.

Sam xx





Say what????

Kids are funny. And surprising. And enjoyable.

And they are hilariously rude at times without realising it and it takes a lot of willpower to stop myself from laughing out loud so I can tell them why that word is 'bad'.

Picture the scene, a loving mother doing the ironing (which really needed doing) whilst her small son is watching a childrens cartoon. He laughs, then dances along and sings out,

"She's an alien whore, she's an alien whore".

WHOA!! Iron down, look of shock on my face. WHAT WAS THAT???!!!

"It's the song, she's an alien whore".

Before we go any further, the cartoon was Phineus and Ferb which is fairly harmless about two boys who invent things to make the summer holidays pass by. There is an annoying sister who tries to catch them out and a side story of an evil inventor and a spy platypus (I know, I know).

This episode was about making the dad seem cool and hip, singing an 80's inspired techno song about an alien girl.

I listened very closely to the song and then explained to him that the line should have been
"she's got an alien HEART".

He did start singing the right words and we had a bit of a giggle. Luckily he's not at that age when he starts asking what the 'bad' word means. Sam xx

Reindeer-itis...

I'm channelling my inner Rudolph today.... that is to say, I have a glowing red nose that keeps itching and running. I think it's going to be the only athletic thing about me today.

I've also been reading some of the lovely blog entries that I follow and feel that I really must get my crafty vibe on soon. My fingers are itching to make something, it's just time that's against me. I keep thinking that 'today is the day' and before I know it the day is over and getting ready for bed.

But I've decided that, for me, 2012 is the year of the Crochet.

I tried at the weekend to make a magic circle and let me tell you, it's NOT that easy. It's probably because I'm a bit out of practice with holding the wool so I'm going to practice a little bit first on my stitches so I get comfortable again then I'll give it another go.

I will be doing a little sewing today, Miss Bucket has shot up in height so I had to chase down some new school trousers. Usually the stock of girls uniforms is bigger than the boys but this time all I could find were loads and loads of boys trousers (she hates skirts). I did ask her if I could buy those instead (noone would notice) but got a big NO. So finally tracked some down on the M&S website which are lovely but a little bit too long, so I'm going to be hemming today.

So it's going to be a little tea and sewing today and except for the occasional HONK as I blow my nose, it should be fairly peaceful. Lovely.

Sam xx

Helicopter Mum alert...

I've tried not to be but I finally realised that.... I'M A HELICOPTER MUM AND PROUD OF IT!!!

Sorry, just had to get that out. I'm not that bad normally and try not to interfere too much in my kids lives - when they're having problems with friends I just try to talk it through and give them ammunition help to get through it.

And every now and then I'll stand in their corner if their teacher needs to know how they feel they're getting on in school.

When I was younger I didn't have that sort of communicative relationship with my parents but I want my kids to know that I'm there for them, not having to sort things out by themselves like I had to.

But today I felt like knocking a few 8 year old heads together. GIRLS!!!! They can be right little horrors at this age and it is really, really hard to stand back and not do anything.

Miss Bucket is a solid friend, she doesn't have a best friend but likes lots of people all the same. She's grown up with a group of girls from Nursery age and is always there for them when they fall out, argue, playing by themselves etc.

Tonight was a film night at school and Miss Bucket got there a little late. All her friends knew that she was going and yet none of them thought to save her a seat.

I was standing outside and I could have cried when I saw the disappointment on her face and how she tried to cover it up. I really wanted to jump in there, give her a hug and bang some heads. I don't think they were being mean, just thoughtless. If it had been the other way round, she would have waited and saved seats for all her friends so noone was left out.

Maybe it's just the way she's been brought up, maybe she's just a nicer person and thinks of others, maybe... Just thinking about it makes me tear up again.

I'm very proud of my kids and, at this moment, especially of Miss Bucket. I know that eventually she'll need to sort things out herself but for the moment I'm going to keep hovering behind her.
Sam xx

Tidying or making a mess....

Today was a bit of a clearout day, you know the sort when you delve into the deep, dark corners and find dust bunnies waving at you. Today was one of those days.

I've been sorting a few bits out and trying to tidy up. Getting rid of things that haven't been used or played with in ... months?? years???!!

Our sitting room now seems to be sorted, there is space to walk once again and definitely enough space to swing a cat (a cuddly one of course).

But then I walked out of the sitting room, into the hallway and then kitchen and what did I find??? Bags of rubbish and lots of other things in the way. All I seem to have done is move 'stuff' from one room to another.

NO!

I know that I've chucked some of it away, the bin bags prove it. But it also seems like I've just made another mess, in another room, to be cleared away.

Is this like some kind of logic puzzle - you can clear the stuff from each room but you'll never be able to finish completely. I hope not but I'd better make sure that I've enough bin bags, just in case. Sam xx

Some new fun

We finally decided to get 'with it' and get a Wii for Christmas - they kids were over the moon
(this means happy for those that might not have heard this phrase) by this and have been trying to play it non-stop.

When we were out shopping, we joined the HUGE queue in the local game shop and purchased a couple of games to try out - Mario Galaxy and Just Dance 3. Of course, we had to play these IMMEDIATELY but we had to time them so there weren't too many arguments between the kids.

Source: Google Images

Just Dance 3 was brilliant but we could only do the arm motions. Hopefully we'll get a little better and soon be jumping all over the place. My only complaint is that I was doing really well but got confused at the end about putting on my profile - Miss Bucket thought it was brilliant that I saved it to hers, so she had a really good score.

I had to do it all over again to put it on my score. Let me tell you, the sweat was pouring off me - I'm no spring chicken anymore. I WAS KNACKERED!!!

The Mario Galaxy is fun but you need two controllers for this, one in each hand. So it was left to me to start it off and try the game.... 2 hours later, my back and shoulders were killing me. I had the family telling me what I did wrong and giving me 'helpful' advice, and how I should play it and then saying "do it again".

Mr Bucket then had a go and I should say at this point that he doesn't really 'do' computer games of ANY sort. I sat back and watched as he did really well and just whizzed through the game. Although it was only up to the point that I finished - of course, he'd watched what I'd done so he knew how to get through the levels each time - BIG CHEATER!!!!!! I'm making him go first next time.

Don't get me wrong, we love board games - Sorry, Monopoly (that game goes on for ages) and Rummikub are a few of our favourites. But the Wii is a lot of fun using hand/eye coordination and it gets the kids jumping around which must be a good thing. Sam xx

Let's welcome the Tooth Fairy..

Yay!!! Miss Bucket is going to have a visit VERY SOON from the Tooth Fairy and I can't be more pleased.

Her adult teeth have been slowly coming through but one baby tooth has refused to come out, even though the new tooth has been steadily growing.

It has been wobbled, pulled and a few apples used to try and get it out ..... Nothing worked. A visit to the dentist was on the cards to try and get that sucker out.

But just now she came in saying her tooth hurt and it was really wobbling in her gum.

"Give it a pull, get it out" I happily shouted, then "eeuuugh, turn away" - when I was younger, pulling out baby teeth was brilliant fun but now I'm older can I just say "YUCK"!!!! It's like nails on a chalkboard to some people.

But it's finally out, now I've just got to work out the going rates for teeth. Sam xx

Getting smaller...

Today is the first day of my 'diet'.

There, I've said it. I know that most slimming clubs or books or videos don't like to use that word but I will, because I want to.

I'm determined that this year my stomach will get smaller; my arms not so flappy; my legs not so wobbly; my thighs not so chafing. And I want to look HOT in a swimming costume for ONCE in my life!!!!!

There are also health issues that come with having extra weight but for the moment, what can I say, I'm superficial - I don't want to look fat anymore. It's going to be hard and I'm going to get fed up.

I know, at times I sound angry and I am but more at myself that it's taken this long to sort myself out. Although to be fair I did lose weight before the kids but then when I became pregnant and also afterwards, I just ate.

 Don't worry, I won't turn this blog into a 'losing weight crusade' but I might just let you know how I'm doing once in a while just to get it off my chest (no pun intended there).

Sam xx

Happy New Year..

Happy New Year to anyone who is reading this. I hope that 2012 will be a healthy, happy and wonderful year for you all.

I'm going to have to do this post in instalments today as I'm going to be busy cooking; watching tv; playing Mario Galaxy on Wii and imbibing copious amounts of sherry today.

Just in case you think I might have a sherry problem - I don't. It's one of those things that you only eat/drink at certain times of the year, even though you love it. Think pancakes on Shrove Tuesday; mince pies at Christmas; Cadburys cream eggs at Easter; Hot cross buns; the chocolate cake I only make at Christmas; Stews in winter time when the months are cold... Sherry is just like that, so I'm making the most of it as soon I won't drink it at all until, probably, I see the Coca Cola Santa advert on telly again.

12.40pm: I've the beef in the oven surrounded by home-grown onions. The smell is gorgeous and I've just peeled the roast potatoes and ready to put on the boil. I'm listening to Duran Duran on Radio 2 and I can hear Bucket jnr has just jumped on Mr Bucket whilst he's watching Worlds Strongest Man. Miss Bucket is currently watching re-runs of Doctor Who (it's David Tennant for all other DT fans out there - swoon).

Source: Google Images - the lovely David Tennant

1.50pm: Okay, dinner is a little late, still waiting for the beef to rest but it tastes lovely from the end bits that Mr Bucket and I have pinched. Potatoes look great and I've done loads of Aunt Bessies Yorkshires as Mr Bucket likes to have some with syrup for pudding. Hurry up beef!!!!!

5.00pm: Right then, dinner is definitely over - bellies stuffed, all bits eaten and condiments put away. I'm feeling really fat and lazy at the moment and Mr Bucket wants us to do Wii Fit

(lot of exercises) - NOT A CHANCE!!!

Pass the Roses tin and stuff me up baby...Only joking, I only had 3.

I've been considering the New Year Resolutions that is customary to do and I seem to have come up with the usual suspects.... lose weight, be happy and try to be more patient. I'm hitting the big 4-0 this year and even though I might have left it a little too late to lose loads of fatty stuff by the big date, I'm going to really dig deep this year and get it off for good. Hopefully I'll look semi-decent by the time the holidays come around. So fingers crossed and here's hoping.

Not too much more this evening except veg-ing out in front of the boggle-box and watching maybe Treasure Island with Eddie Izzard and then catching up with Sherlock Holmes or the other way round. I'll wait and see, both look good. I've just got to make sure that I don't start snoozing instead.

Once again, I wish you a joyous 2012.

Sam xx