The novice crocheter at work

As a novice crocheter, I thought it best to practice simple granny squares. These are a few of what I've done so far from my stack of odd bits of wool. They're a bit scruffy and not exactly the same size but I can only get better...I hope!

An old bench and a haircut

Take an old bench, a large cushion which you picked up at the charity shop, move it to the backyard and everyone is happy....even Katty the cat (who gets the most use out of it - it's a hard life being a cat). Sam flakes out on it after school and Bella takes herself, her many doudous and her sippy cup and sits there watching the planes and the birds.

Secondly, I took quite a drastic decision of getting a lot of hair chopped off. It took me a couple of days to get used to it, but I love it now and am going to keep it this way for a while. It felt quite liberating!

Not so Autumn

Today has been a play packed day and I'm shattered. We've made cupcakes, picked strawberries, played cars, conker games, walking round and round the garden - falling over, picking up. Non-stop! It should be cooler outside, but the temperature just seems to get higher and higher. It's definitely too hot to paint. I'm having a rest after 3 coats on the ceiling :)

This weekend

This weekend we did a 10 mile bike ride to the bar in the next village. Admittedly, we did eat steak and chips there and later a meal at my mum and step-dads but it felt great to do some exercise. I only got off the bike once to walk up a hill. Sam was very concerned when I complained that my legs were burning!

The chestnut tree outside our front door is dropping many conkers and leaves. We weren't much help (Sam and Bella squabbling over brushes and rakes), but the job is done for another few days when it will be exactly the same again.

At home

the ultimate photobooth photos....glamourous grannies (my nan and great nan)

At home this week. Sam back at school and my little shadow following me around the house. We lit the fire for the first time in the evenings. It's getting a little chilly. I've been painting the beams, trying to lighten the room and finally making items for my shop using the many offcuts of oak Scott throws out.

We're off to the doctors now. Bella needs two jabs - double ouch!

Fly a kite

I don't know who enjoyed flying a kite more - Scott or Sam. It was definitely windy enough. Bella was oblivious to the kite and was quite happy sat with nana playing in the sand.

Day one of mini break

Sorry, more photos. I dread to think how many I would take if we stayed the whole week. The gite was a maison longueur (I think that's the correct wording), so it flowed from one space into another, which = great for scooters and toddlers. Sam and Bella played hide and seek many times. There was no television = horrified Sam! But, he actually enjoyed himself more I think without a t.v.

Mini break

We took a trip to the coast this weekend - near to Bordeaux. These photos are of the journey to the gite my mum and step-dad rented for a week. As we drove, the fields turned from farming to vineyards. We took the ferry across to the peninsula to save time (we lost count how many times Sam asked if we were nearly there yet) - also fun for the kids!

The beach

I love the beach out of season. Just a few weeks ago it was packed and now, no one - just Honey the sheepdog rounding us up.