Warm Woolen Mittens.....

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things 

Poor LSO(my long suffering husband - for you first time readers) has been spending a extra ordinary amount of time in Aberdeen Scotland. Now I am not entirely sure how many of you have ever been to this beautiful city far up north in the hinterlands of Scotland..... I have, I went in March a few years ago to join him. Little Madame was only a wee thing( lol - notice the Scottish word) I was told that it wasn't that cold at that time of the year...... WHATEVER!!!!  As I walked out of the hotel with my baby in a pram an icy wind cut through me! It was the coldest thing I have ever felt! Little Baby Madame instantly started to cry, I turned myself and my pram around, went back to the hotel room and put every single item of clothing I had, on myself  and Little baby Madame. THEN went shopping for proper cold weather clothes. With out using real bad words I can only say it was cold, REALLY COLD! I vowed never to go back. Me and cold just don't go !  

 

 

Fast forward a few years and LSO is spending a vast amount of time there now! The last time he was there(December) He said that his hands were really  cold, now LSO is certainly not a glove man. However being as though I am a nice wife, well I try. I decided to knit him a pair of mittens.

  

I found a very convenient and easy  pattern in a magazine, (I forget which one) and got going. I chose a very chunky and masculine wool. The pattern was easy, and as I am not a great knitter, this was a good thing. Cast on then knit 2 , purl 2, until it was the perfect length.

Then make a thumb, it was a bit of a challenge and I am not entirely sure I got it right but  there was a thumb  where it was supposed to be!

 

Two mittens were done in 2 days, not only am I not a great knitter but being as I am left handed, I am also a very SLOW knitter.  I am sure if my mother knitted these they would have been done in an hour or two.

Sewed in the bits and pieces and Ta Dah...... Big Chunky Man Mittens (although the word mittens seems a bit odd for man clothing doesn't it?)(See what I mean about the odd looking thumbs)

 

I popped them in LSO's cupboard and his reaction was favourable. He seem mildly impressed! To his credit , they were packed into his bag when he left in February and he did say he wore them and that they were comfy and warm....... Do I believe him? I am just not  sure, any of my Scottish readers see a gorgeous man with MITTENS on? If you do, dont say anything, just take a picture and send it to me please! And please don't say nice MITTENS,you know how macho men can be..... xxx

Granny Sunburst Update.....

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away........ (yes I love Star Wars) I started a crochet blanket, During the renovation to be precise. In my head it became the renovation blanket and I was determined to finish it during the 3 month of  breaking and building. Alas it was not to be! I tried, I tried really, really hard but so much  STUFF kept getting in the way. What stuff you may ask.... I mean what is more important than crochet?

  

It is a WIP (Work in progress) Now to be perfectly fair to myself. I have managed 35 beautiful blocks. However as those of you who crochet will know, 35 beautiful blocks are a mere drop in the ocean when one is crocheting a blanket. I wanted this blanket to fit a double bed... so it has to be big, and 35 blocks just don't cut it. I sort of had 60 blocks in my mind. So thought I was nearly done....

 

Shock and Horror!  When I lay the 35 blocks down, (as you can see from  the picture above) it is not even big enough for a baby blanket. I mean when you put a blanket over you, one  wants it to warm more than just you knee's ,right?

And so it is back to the production line, I  am making these blocks in stages..... I do 20 middle rounds, finish them weave in the end then do the next step and so one. I usually finish one whole block at a time but this way I don't have to take all the yarn with me in a huge basket. This way, it a ball of yarn, my hook and 2 or 3 round in my hand bag, its working well!  

 

 

 

 Now even though I have a far way to go and at this stage it seems like a galaxy away.... I am loving this pattern and the look of how it is coming together. The colours are muted and tranquil. I love sitting on my patio and hooking the little rounds. I will confess to having just started a crochet wreath.... I kept getting asked, had I seen Lucy from Attic24's beautiful wreath? Yes, I had and  so I am working on that too. Obviously a post will follow!

Little Madame took one look at it and told me that  her crochet blanket was way to small now and that this was her new blanket. Oh, and to get a move on as winter was coming! The cheeky little mare! So maybe it will become  a single bed blanket and maybe just maybe, it will be finished by the start of winter. Maybe....... xxx

A Little Directon....

 



I am no stranger to boy bands in fact Take That was possible the best boy band EVER!!So , a few years back when Little Madame started to take a interest in the phenomenon that is One Direction, I was mildly amused, She takes after her mama! Clever Child!!

 

I was totally naive to think that it would wane, in fact after having to purchase 1D bedding, 1D towels, 1D pyjama's, 1D bags, 1D tee shirts and any other 1D item she saw, I was beginning to think we had a problem, she is only little after all.

 

 But not too little to hear that they were coming to our neck of the woods and BEG and PLEAD for tickets. Which after sitting in a waiting room on the world wide web for 2 hours with fingers poised over the key board... we managed to get, well I cannot lie, my friend Vic's got in before I did and got us tickets with her gang! Thank you Vic's.

 

That dear peeps was over a year ago...... YES...1 year ! For one year I have heard 'Mama is it nearly time see One Direction?'  

 

 

Well, finally the day came. We were going to the Cape Town show as none of the big gun ever come to our fishing village. We were also going to spend a few days there before and after the concert as it all coincided with our school holidays. Excitement reigned supreme  as we left....... We had an amazing holiday but that's for another post..... 

 

The long awaited day arrived, hair was flat ironed and a little lip gloss was allowed. Adorned in every piece of 1D clothing she had, our little gang set out .The big and small girls were equally excited! I even had a 1D T-shirt on. The stadium was already full when we got there and the excitement was high! You could feel it in the air!

 

The older girls were kitted out in their best, tightest, smallest and shortest attire. Signs were cute and funny, and  some were actually very clever......

 

 

 

After a long walk(we were sent in the wrong Direction.. Get it?) we found our seats, and I must say 7 rows from the front, was a great place to be. As I sat there taking everything in, I was transported back to days when I saw Robbie Williams, Sting, Micheal Jackson, Janet Jackson, Gloria Estefan... to name  a few. The excitement of a live concert is something you cannot describe and I honestly fell blessed that I could share that with my Little Madame.  



As the sunset over Cape Town, the opening act started, a local talent, named Johny Apple(I had never heard of him) He was funny, sweet and appealed to the girls who were screaming and yelling in minutes....

The excitement  mounted and mounted and soon the stadium was full of 60 000 screaming men(yes, men) women, sons(yes, sons too)  and  daughters ..... people of every shape, form and persuasion were there all waiting......

We were on our feet screaming, clapping, doing wave after Mexican wave. Waving, joking and making friends with those 'Directioners' around us.....Waiting in anticipation.....FINALLY...

The lights went down, and from were we were seated I could see the boys in the wings, I wondered how they were feeling right then, waiting to go on stage with thousands of adoring fans screaming their names, what a magical feeling.  The music build..... The big screens started to flash images of them....And suddenly a whole years worth of waiting was over. There before her little eyes was were Little Madame hero's One Direction. Now I am no big photographer or writer but I wish that could have captured her face and reaction to seeing Harry Styles for the first time.... It was priceless, it was inspiring, it was a gift!

 

Now I would be remiss if I didn't give you a big 'girls' take on these fine young men. They are all really good looking young men - Lois, being cute and funny, Liam the spokesperson and Naill, a real talent, playing guitar and singing through the entire show.  I have always thought that Lois was quite cute, however..... Harry Styles is another story altogether! What a gorgeous, sexy young man! He oozes charm and he knows it!  No wonder these girls were hysterical over him! He has hair flipping down to a fine art and those gold boots were HOT! If only I was a few years younger... (Alright, all you smarty pants peeps! ) ALOT younger!

I think what works most about them is how much fun they had on stage. No synchronised dance moves or dressing all the same.... they chase one another around the stage, don't dance, pour water on each other, chatter away while the others are singing and take so many selfies...... They put on and unbelievable show, everyone was up and dancing, singing along and generally having fun. Not once did I lose interest or get bored.

As they began to sing 'Little Things' my favourite One Direction song, a slow ballad about the imperfection that make a man love a woman, I glanced up, a full and haunting moon was rising above the stadium, it was a moment I don't think I will ever forget! The song, the moon, my little girl's first ever concert, it was quite simply  perfection! 

The night ended with the 'Best song ever' followed by a fantastic fire work show and then it was all over! Done and Dusted!  The lights came up and I felt quiet sad that it was finished!

So am  I a convert, no I am not! I am a total and absolute DIRECTIONER! Should they ever pass by our shores again, I will be the first in line to buy tickets, well right behind Little Madame that is....... xxx

 

 

1,2 Buckle My Shoe



A while ago I waxed lyrically about a icing class that I attend. Remember...... Have A look Here if you don't. Well if you look at the post it was written one year ago. we have made some really pretty and incredibly beautiful things... Love bird cupcakes, skateboard figures, a little ballerina, Santa's and gingerbread men, cute mini cakes and decorated Easter eggs to name a few......

Now before I tell you what we made I need to talk about the group of ladies that I go with.... We have become a 'club'..An Icing Club  There are 8 permanently ladies and a few that flit in and out.... but more than a club we have become friends. We laugh together, cry together, are happy for each other, share all the joys of being parents, and the trial and tribulations of husbands.  We all live vicariously through each other. There is a teacher, a beauty therapist(she is single and having a blast) a receptionist,  a few  business women (1 flies in for classes from far away), a couple of moms and our beloved and amazing teacher Kerry! Kerry is a saint, we laugh when she talks,  talk over her, tease her unmercifully and sometimes I think she would like to put us in the naughty corner. We are a group of very different women but somehow the dynamic of this group works perfectly!  

 

 

So we made SHOES...... Beautiful creative gorgeous shoes. Exquisite high heeled shoes! now they were all supposed to be the same but each and every shoes was different, each and every shoe had the personality of the Icing Club I have just talked about. 

 

They looked really difficult, but ever the great teacher Kerry showed us exactly how they would come together, every step of the way(and I promise not  to bore you with each and every step) explained in detail. And then we were let loose to create and make......

Shoe's of every kind began to emerge. Oo's and ah's could be heard all down the table and to be honest with you .... I think it was the  quietest this class had ever been! Shoe's of all description were produced... Snake skin shoes, stencilled flowers, bows, little embellishment of silver, some covered with bling bling, others plain, some chic, some a little edgy, some a little over the top but each and every shoe was a master piece and reflected the creators personality!  

 

Sunday morning dawned and the only thing I could think about was a pretty pink shoe. A lacy pretty shoe with pearls on it! So when little Madame asked what we were doing I told her we were making shoes... My pink shoe took shape and it was everything I had imagined while lying in bed the previous evening. I added stitching to the sole and a label - see what I would call my shoe line....LOOLABOO of course!  

 

I am in love with my shoes, actually totally smitten! I keep going  to the kitchen  to just look at them. I cannot believe I made them! Maybe I missed my calling maybe I should have been a shoes designer, I could make a fortune, give all the designers a run for there money . Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin  - Be afraid be very afraid...... Looalaboo is coming to town xxx

 

PS. The collage below are the pictures of the shoe Little Madame created.... Maybe I should be afraid!

A Little Cup of Yummy

 

What is my favourite thing in the world?  Well, yes besides wine, stop trying to be smart!! I think you have heard me ramble on about chocolate enough to know that it is the  ultimate and best thing I can put into my mouth..... My ample rear end can attest to that!

 

Over Christmas My sister and I did our usual market and decided to add a little extra to the general fare. We decided on pre mixed cookie buckets, ready made Christmas cookies - you just had to frost them and these little cups of  yumminess. A hot chocolate drink thingy.... Not really sure how to explain them, but you will get the picture toward the end of the post. I know this treat should have been a Christmas post but as you have read, time has been my nemesis recently, and so with Easter coming up I thought why not tell you all about this. They could be 'adult' Easter gifts.

 

So what you need......  

 

 

*Chocolate -

 *Some wooden spoons -

*Small chocolate moulds(I used silicone muffin cases) -

*Melt the Chocolate in the microwave -
(short bursts of 20 seconds at a time)

*Pour into the moulds.... our moulds were big so we filled to about a quarter full
Place the spoon in the centre of the Chocolate, the find a way to keep the spoon upright, aluminium foil worked for us
Allow the chocolate to harden then pop the little discs out.
Place in a plastic bag with a few mini marshmallows, and close with a ribbon....

*Add a little tag that says place in a mug of boiling milk and stir until dissolved!

* Ta Dah  - Hot Chocolate

We added some sugared mint in a few , just for some Christmas cheer.... But you could do anything, maybe a small bunny biscuit... a little bottle of  liqueur... this list is endless.
Simple, quick and very easy! They sold really well as stocking fillers, and what was left over came home with me.... They were going to get attached to family gift but alas never made it that far. How do you think a came up with the liqueur idea..... Little cups of YUMMY - Hic Hic  xxx