Two Days In Norfolk

D and I sloped off to Norfolk for two delicious days on our own this week.  We've just celebrated 20 years since our first kiss so this was our little anniversary treat!

We spent most of Thursday in Holt and stayed at Byfords, having first fallen in love with it a couple of years ago.

If you ever find yourself in the area, do try and pop in to Byfords.  Their cafe/deli is open all day to non-residents and the food is amazing, from generous slabs of gooey homemade cake (D's favourite) to mouthwatering antipasti platters (my favourite).

(Eggs Benedict and smoked salmon for brekkie?  Why, yes please!)

I need to try and track down some of the locally made Binham Blue cheese online.  It's milder and creamier than Stilton and has the most gorgeous taste.  I'd have brought some home but the prospect of tooling around in the heat with whiffy cheese on board wasn't so appealing!

We pottered around Holt's little winding streets and charming shops.  (D was wildly excited to finally find a large madeleine cake tin - rather worringly, one of the highlights of his weekend I think!!!)

We dipped in and out of the hidden courtyards for a pot or two of tea.

On Friday we got in the car and explored a few of the nearby towns.

Sheringham is a typical English seaside town with flapping bunting and whirling windmills.  The pebbled beach is flanked by huge concrete sea defences which, to be honest, may be necessary but aren't terribly attractive.  I did love the splash of colour from the little beach huts though.

Oh to be beside the sea again.  We live right in the middle of England, over two hours from the coast, so it's always such a joy to paddle and breathe the sea air.

Wild poppies, everywhere.  Sometimes great swathes of them.

We then strolled around the old port of Blakeney ...

 before heading to Burnham Market.  It reminded me of a Cotswold village.  A tree-studded green in the middle surrounded by little independent shops and tea rooms.

These big blowsy apricot roses seemed to be everywhere (I'd love to know what type of rose they are) - with really nostalgic heady scents.  You remember the type you used to smoosh up to make rose petal perfume when you were a child?

We had lunch under an olive tree in the garden of local hotel; a large glass of cold white wine and a very overpriced Tricolore Salad!  Meh!!!

On the way home, we stopped at a farm shop in Cambridgeshire and bought some eggs, beetroot, strawberries and raspberries.  Close your eyes and remember how raspberries used to taste - soft, juicy and sweet.  Not at all like the tart bullets you often buy in supermarkets.  I want them to last forever.

Also, this apple juice.  I'm not a big fan of apple juice but this is the nicest I have EVER tasted.  It's like nectar.  I've just found the Watergull Orchards website and am very tempted to place an order.

Oh it was the loveliest little break.  I do love that husband of mine and, best of all, I thoroughly adore his company.  You know, especially when it's just us.  Such a treat, particularly as we come back to the chaos of the last week of the school year!

Here's to the next twenty years darling man.

xxx

Blogging Or Instagram Or Both?

Hello there!

This post is a sort of continuation of my 'good for the soul remedies' I think.  I've been feeling very mentally cluttered and know there is huge room for improvement in the way I organise my time.  Or rather the way I don't organise my time.

For the purpose of this post, I'm going to talk primarily about blogging and Instagramming.

I consider both blogging and Instagramming as 'my time'.  They're an essential hobby and, selfish or not, I need them both to be part of my life.

There is no need for me to be prolific - I don't have a business to promote or anything to sell.  I don't Tweet and I rarely check in on Facebook.  I indulge in blogging and Instagram for purely personal reasons.

I just don't think I've got the balance right yet.  Sadly it's my blog that's suffering - my posts are too sporadic and I get terribly cross with myself that your kind comments are going unacknowledged.  Trust me, I read every one and do float in and out of your blogs from time to time, only getting distracted or called away before I get chance to comment.  Bad blogging manners I'm afraid and it won't do.  For example, Patricia left the loveliest comment on my last post just this morning and it made my day.  Seriously.  Now, ordinarily, she wouldn't have known that.

The other thing that has been bugging me is that there have been several scenarios I should have shared with you, here on my blog, rather than just Instagram because I know you'd have enjoyed them.

Instagramming is easy because it's so spontaneous.  I've always kept my profile private so that I'm confident of my smallish audience.  I often liken it to a magical little world inside my phone.  Clicking the little Instagram icon is, for me, like opening a door to Narnia.  Only it's not Narnia, it's a group of like-minded, inspiring, supportive, entertaining friends who are almost constantly on call.  I consider a lot of people I have met on Instagram as proper friends.  I think that's because there is far more opportunity for conversation.

Truthfully?  Being a stay at home mum/work from home mum can get a little lonely.  Spaniels are wonderful listeners but their conversational skills aren't so great!!!  A quick exchange on Instagram about the benefits of a certain type of yarn over another or what we're all cooking for supper gives me pleasure and sets me up for the day.

I don't put as much thought into most of my Instagram photographs and consequently don't keep many of them.  I think they convey my mood more than anything of particular photographic interest.

Blogging is more measured - taking the time to construct a post affords me the opportunity to think through what I'm conveying to anyone who might be reading.  To censor myself I suppose!  Think yourself lucky that you don't run the risk of being confronted with an extra large photograph of me after a few vinos and a skittish caption!!!

I am in total admiration of those clever few who maintain a balanced presence on both their blog and Instagram.  Yes, I mean you Sandra Cherry Heart and Chipper Nelly.  I'm sure there are others but these are the two that always spring to my mind.

I hope you don't mind me voicing my thoughts (I'm aware they're a bit jumbly) but it really does help.  It has also made me realise just how much I love and miss regular blogging.

I think one of my problems is that I make heavy weather of composing a lengthy and varied post.  Don't you agree, shorter and more frequent posts are just as, if not more, engaging?

One of my favourite blogs at the moment is Tales From A Happy House.  To me, Gillian has the most perfectly balanced blog and her posts are always a delight.  I do hope she won't mind me saying this, but her posts can occasionally be no more than sharing a 'moment' or two.  Now that I know she is on Instagram too, I'm shamed into making more of an effort.

Yes, that's what I'm going to do.  Make the effort to be a little less mutually exclusive.  So, in answer to Blogging Or Instagram Or Both?  The answer is Both.  I'm going to start sharing more 'moments' with you here and see how we go.

I think I'm feeling better about it already ...

xxx

Good For The Soul

A few weeks ago, I lost my sparkle.  A succession of a few minor issues, one after the other, rubbed away at it until finally it disappeared altogether.

Past experience teaches me to try not to panic when my sparkle does a runner.  I know it always returns at some point but, until it does, a lot of positive thinking and appreciation of life's pleasures is definitely in order.

Here are some of my survival tips for when your sparkle disappears ...

Take a long walk.

Seriously.  It's that easy.

D encouraged bulldozed me into going to Swithland Wood, which lies in Leicestershire's Charnwood Forest, for a hike.  It's only about half an hour away from us.

I'm so glad he did.  There was something so incredibly soothing about it.

The colours, the smells, the sounds ...

Eat happy food.

Since my children were born, I've been very interested in the health benefits of foods.  I have a long-standing crush on a chap called Michael Van Straten, a naturopath and nutritional consultant who has written some fantastic books, of which I have a few.  What he doesn't know about the nutritional values of food isn't worth knowing, in my opinion.

Anyway, quite subjective this one; my happy foods may be very different to yours.  There is, however, proof that certain foods can help boost your mood:-

*  Anything high in Omega 3 fatty acids (oily fish, nuts, seeds and avocado).

*  Cheese.  Yes, really.  It contains healthy amino acids which promote calmness and, despite what you've heard about cheese giving you nightmares, it really does aid good quality sleep by encouraging the body to produce melatonin.

* Basil. Crush or bruise it to release it's natural feel-good oils.

* Pro-biotic yoghurt. A healthy digestive system promotes a healthy mind.

*  Turkey and bananas.  Both contain high levels of tryptophan, an amino acid which promotes seratonin (the 'happy hormone').

*  A 'treat'.  Don't beat yourself up - life's too short.  If a bowl of ice cream, a glass of icy Pinot Grigio or a slab of chocolate cake comforts you, do it.

Indulge yourself.

Whatever floats your boat.  We all need a perk from time to time.  Whether it's half an hour with a new glossy magazine, a bunch of flowers or perhaps some new bubble bath and a long soak.  My treat to self?  Well, I'm nothing if not predictable - new yarn and rhythmic crochet.  Blissful!

Sit in the sun.

I know, I know - opportunities in the UK are few and far between but if the elusive sun graces us with it's presence, please down tools immediately if you can.  Fifteen minutes is enough to reap the benefits.  The body creates vitamin D from sunlight which, not only promotes good physical health, but also lowers blood pressure and encourages the production of seratonin.

Where possible, I've been sitting crocheting in the sun for an hour or so a day.  I can't tell you how much better I feel for it.

If you're not the sitting type, take a slow stroll around your garden.

(I wish you could smell my Iceberg roses - they're AMAZING.)

Spend time with family and friends.

The temptation is to shy away from social occasions when your sparkle deserts you.  Do make the effort to join in; it is worth it, I promise.  There's nothing like having a good laugh or listening to somebody else's problems to distract you from your own.

Telling those closest to you helps too.  Everybody loses their sparkle from time to time and most people are very sympathetic.  Feeling loved is most definitely good for the soul.

***

Anyway, my sparkle is returning.  I can feel it - like the sun trying to burn away the clouds.

I'd love to know what your happy tips are.

xxx

Through The Archway, Just Off The Lounge ...

... in what was originally the dining room, then D's ugly man-office, is now my craft room!

Want to see?

I started off painting it white but decided it just wasn't me.  It was my daughter who said it should be bubblegum pink.

It's a real mix-match of Ikea storage and treasured bits.

I've still got a bit of titivating to do.  That noticeboard needs updating and mounting on the wall above my desk and I'm missing some fairy lights.

But slowly, slowly I'm getting organised.

I can't tell you how delighted I am to have my precious yarn safely stored.  I HATED having it dotted around the house in bulging bags.

I love, love, love being surrounded by my favourite things.

My wonderful pink cow print is by Tanya Palmer who was one of my very first bloggy friends.  (Sadly, I can't find a link to her now.  Are you out there Tanya?)

I bought this Tiffany-style glass lightshade on the afternoon of Princess Diana's funeral, sixteen years ago.  Funny what you remember.  It makes me think of her whenever I look at it.

My latest acquisition is this pretty thread catcher.

It's so clever.  Weighted by it's little pouch, it sits over the arm of your chair and acts as a receptacle for all those pesky yarn ends (or, of course, pistachio shells and chocolate wrappers!).

I bought it from an extremely talented lady I've met on Instagram.  You can see some more of her beautiful makes on her blog, www.daisymoon-mandy.blogspot.co.uk.

So, what do you think of my little room?

I keep popping in and twirling!

Right, now to start crafting again and the very first thing I'm going to make?  A large sign saying 'No Smelly Boys Allowed'!

Teeheehee.

xxx

Anemones ...

Hello!  It's me!

Isn't it a beautiful day?

I'm actually kicking my heels waiting for someone to collect some furniture we sold on eBay.

"This morning" they said, so I'm pottering around and listening out for a knock on the door.

Will you join me in a little anemone love while I wait?

I have one smallish pot and a large trough in the garden both planted with anemones.  I think they're my favourite flower.  The colours are amazing.  Mother Nature, you're a clever bird.

Have I told you that we've been tackling DIY projects on quite a large scale over the last couple of months?  Big room change-arounds and a lot of decorating.  Most of my crafty bits have been packed away in boxes or stacked in teetering piles.  It's driven me completely bonkers and I hope goes some way to explain why I've been MIA.

Well, today is the day that the new flooring is fitted in my craft room and then I can move in!!!

To say I'm wildly excited is an understatement.

We've lots of catching up you and I so I'll be back again very soon.

I'll leave you with pictorial evidence of my latest personal challenge - I'm learning to knit ...

... let's just say I'm not finding it very easy!!!

Have a wonderful sunny weekend.

xxx

How To Crochet A Circle Using Trebles (UK)

Fancy a Monday morning quickie?!!

You've given me such lovely feedback on my round cushion tutorial, thank you so much.  One thing I should like to point out is that that pattern is for half trebles (half doubles US) so it won't work properly if you're fancying crocheting a circle using treble (double US) stitches.

Here is my little tutorial for crocheting a circle using trebles (doubles US).

It can be a bit of a pain getting your crocheted circle to lie flat.  Lots of people (including me) have ended up with a frilly pancake more than once.

The important thing to remember is that if you start with 12 trebles in your round, you should be increasing each round by 12 stitches.  Not more, not less.  Your circle will always sit flat if you follow that general rule.

Anyway, less talking, more pictures ...

Round 1

Chain 3.

Work 12 trebles into the third chain from the hook.

Slip stitch into the first treble to close the circle.

You should have 12 trebles in your circle.  Count them.

Round 2

Chain 3 and work a treble into the same stitch.

Work two trebles into each of the rest of the stitches in the round.

You should now have 24 stitches in your round.  Do please note we are including the chain 3 at the beginning of the round as a stitch.  Because we are slip stitching into it and chaining 3 from it in the following round, it is important to include it when you're counting.

Now, slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 3

Chain 3.

*Two trebles into the next stitch.

One treble into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 36 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 4

Chain 3.

One treble into the next stitch.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next two stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 48 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 5

Chain 3.

One treble into the next two stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next three stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 60 stitches in your round. 

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 6

Chain 3.

One treble into the next three stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next four stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 72 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 7

Chain 3.

One treble into the next four stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next five stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 84 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

Round 8

Chain 3.

One treble into the next five stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.

*One treble into the next six stitches.

Two trebles into the next stitch.*

Repeat ** until the last stitch in the round which should have two trebles in it.

You should have 96 stitches in your round.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3 to close the round.

You should be noticing a bit of a pattern now.

As your circle gets bigger, it will obviously become more and more of a faff to keep counting the number of stitches at the end of each round.

Follow this rule and you won't have to ... always makes sure you are working an increase (ie. two trebles into one stitch) into an increase of the previous round.  In any one round there should always be just twelve stitches which have two trebles worked into them.  No more, no less.

***

Just as a little extra, you may have noticed I changed colours part way through the tutorial.  The way I join a new colour is half way through the slip stitch at the end of the round.  Insert your hook into the third chain of the beginning chain 3 and pull a loop of your NEW colour through.  Continue as normal.

There you go.  I've got brainache now (!) but I do hope that helps.

Frilly pancakes should, hopefully, be a thing of the past!!!

Do feel free to let me know how you get on or if you get stuck.

xxx

It's Weekend!

Well I'm glad that week's over.  What a bag of crap.  Nothing major you understand, but a constant stream of grot.

I broke a tooth on Monday night and the bottom fell out of my world.  I'm not just scared of the dentist, I'm phobic.

Bertie Spaniel has been really quite poorly.  On his 5th birthday too.  He drank from a filthy puddle at the park and was terribly sick for a couple of days.

Blondie Son has had an eye infection and Blondie Daughter has been moody and weepy after falling out with one of her best friends.

We have this little Friday tradition in our house.  When D comes home from work, he stands in the hall and shouts

"iiiiiiiit's weekend!!!"

To which we all join in with a "woohoo!!!"

Bless him.  He invariably works for a few hours on a Saturday so he does it to indulge us, his family.  It's our little way of heralding the end of the week, good or bad.

So here we are, Saturday morning, and things are much better.

A kindly dentist sorted me out on Thursday at 2:30pm (seriously, tooth-hurty, you couldn't contrive it) and I didn't die of panic in the black chair after all.

Bertie Spaniel and Blondie Son are back to rude health.

Blondie Daughter has made up with her friend.

We're going to my lovely Sister In Law's tomorrow for a roast lunch to celebrate Mothers' Day.

Now, if the sun would just come out, I'd go so far as to say we're ticketty-boo!

My daughter asked me, not so long ago, if I was blindfolded, could I pick her out of a hundred children.  Absolutely I could, I said.  I could pick her out of a million.  A mother knows the scent and feel of her own child, however old they are.  She seemed quite impressed!  But it's true, isn't it?

To all you ladies lucky enough to be mothers everywhere, have a simply wonderful day tomorrow.  Our babies never stop being our babies but life moves on at such an alarming speed, it's far too easy not to cherish each stage.

 I heard this poem on the radio this week and it moved me deeply ...

The Last Time

The father, reading to his girl

some little tale they always read

is unaware that this may be

the last one that she'll ever need;

she's grown past stories softly read

by daddy sitting on the bed.

The mother with her muddy son,

kicking a football in the park,

cannot sense as they wander home

through chilly, soft-approaching dark;

this was the last time they'd come out

to kick that happy ball about.

How secret, sneaky-soft they come:

those last times when we'll kiss it better,

hold their hand across the road

or lift them up to post a letter.

They pass unmarked, unnoticed; for

we're not so needed any more.

So they abandon fairy tales,

and nursery rhymes that mummy sings

and leave behind soft toys - and us -

and put away their childish things;

a loss so small.  Our loss the greater,

unmissed, unmourned, until years later.

© Lucy Berry

xxx