Ridgeway Cottage anyhow

  What would you do if you had more time?   I would spend any extra minutes writing stuff down, those precious memories that I fear will get lost in my over-crowded mind. My craft / life balance is slightly out of kilter and I have a headache . Both indications that I am doing too much for my head to process and I need to sit back and allow my thoughts to catch up without being compelled to craft every spare second or constantly adding more items to my to do list. It is after all almost Christmas and there is so much joy to document. What if I didn't get a chance to note down how entertaining I found it to watch Charlie spend the majority of the performance trying to remove the tinsel from his wrists as an angel in his school nativity? Or his description of Widow Twanky as "like this mum who was actually a man and wore these like really weird costumes and kept changing her costumes and telling all the jokes?" Josie is far more grown up in her approach to Christmas this ...

  I love my new shelves. They are rather like frames for all our precious Halloweenland crafting. My ancient crocheted pumpkin and the world's smallest pumpkin make ideal shelf buddies.   Topped with the ghosts of parsnips gone to seed in an orange vintage Tupperwear beaker. Add Halloween bunting   And finally some candles to complete our Halloweenland for 2014.   Posted with Blogsy

There should always be a bit of an excursion to a museum in the school holidays. A day trip is just so exciting. Eating sandwiches on the train and trying to hold onto their little hands as all who are purposeful and important race by through the subterranean tunnels of the underground. I wouldn't miss their sheer delight at the immense entrance halls of the great museums of South Kensington.   Today we strayed from our well trodden path to The Natural History Museum to explore the world of science.   With shapes of mathematical marvels   Interactions with the interactive   Cabinets of specimen phobias Thought provoking photography from the exhibition "Making living worth while" by Nick Hedges, commissioned in 1968 by the housing and homelessness charity Shelter.   And even a spot of retro gaming. The only thing that could have possibly made the day better would have been if I'd let them go skating on the outdoor ice rink. Filled with excitement, sweets ...

Yes that's right, it's that time of year again. The train of terror has terminated at Canterbury West unleashing two delightfully fiendish ghouls on no. 17. The kiddies love Halloween and there is often talk of costumes, crafts and delicacies from the start of October.   Skeleton girl is a great fan of Tim Burton's gothic and dark animation, delights in scaring her friends with frightful tales and practices her horror film make overs throughout the year. She practically squeals with delight at anything that sends shivers down her spine.   Zombie boy is a little more sensitive to the potential threat of the undead. It's not that he's frightened or anything, he just feels like putting his fingers in his ears and burying his head into an adult. He's still more than happy to get involved in the Halloween crafting though and I imagine there will be a lot more spookiness to come this week.   Posted with Blogsy

          Posted with Blogsy

After putting my heart and soul into the Pink Ladies WI, I have discovered just why many WIs are made up of older ladies, it takes over your life. Not one for doing things half heartedly, I have dedicated hour upon hour to the inspiration of women and it is sadly time I do not have. Perhaps in 20 years when my children have left home and I no longer have to work, then I would be able to devote my time and energy, but there are so many other things I want to do. It's time for me to step aside and hand over what was always just going to be a temporary role.   It has been a total blast and the wonderful ladies I have met along the way have made it utterly worth every single second. I've made the best friends ever and shed several tears agonising over the decision but when it's time to go, it's time to go.   Cheers lovely ladies Thank you for having me.   Posted with Blogsy

Ahh to lie around in the sun flicking through magazines.... what better way is there to enjoy life. Maybe a cold beer, a sprinkle of magic dust to transport me back to any one of my camping excursions this year and a good magazine. For me it's all about the way it looks , the style of the photos, the illustrations, yes that's right I want to look at beautiful images. When we arrived back from our latest adventures at Wellington Country Park Campsite, my two favourite magazines were waiting for me (I love it when the postman brings good stuff). Mollie Makes is a total craftfest, with every page full of the stuff I love and Anorak magazine is for the kiddies. Charlie and I have read Anorak every night since. Mr Bumblechucks is our favourite in the current issue so far. In my mind I can see my finished hexablanket laid out on the grass covered in all the magazines I dream of owning but I know are way beyond me. These are the serious interest magazines for artisans who don'...

  We've been on a couple of camping trips recently and both have been lakeside locations. Vast areas of tranquil waters are beautiful whatever the season, I just love the light and reflections, come rain or shine. 5 things I love about being lakeside 1. The early morning sun than glistens on the rippling surface. 2. The stillness of water despite the approach storm   3. Mist rising from the cool water in the warm of the rising sun.   4. The hypnotic effect of water and clouds. They even work on the dog.   5. Even seven year olds aren't too old to feed the ducks                   Posted with Blogsy

The Killing doesn't really sound very summery, but it's more a new way of watching TV than the subject matter. Technology has changed our viewing habits greatly and stuff like Netflix is ideal for someone like me who never remembers or knows when great stuff is on. Watching a series on Netflix works perfectly with crocheting a blanket in the summer holidays. By the time I have finally wrangled the kids into to bed after all the feeding and entertaining of small people, I'm seriously ready to sit around crafting and escape into a dark shadowy world of make believe crime and murder. Last summer it was Breaking Bad, episode after episode, there whenever I was ready. No waiting until the following week to discover what happens next. Jesse Pinkman and Heisenberg were part of my life. This year work on the hexablanket is accompanied by the gloomy rain drenched Seattle based drama, The Killing. There's something comforting about being so warm on a summer's evening watchin...

In a perfect world there should be a vast amount of idleness about in the summer. Since the children have finished school though, I feel that I have been rather busier than usual organising this and sorting out that. The garden always seems to require my attention and the feeding of the smalls involves enough activity to fill my days. My Summer has been rammed with an active type of idleness but I dream of being busy doing nothing. It seems a while since I have sat and simply stared at the sky without having to resolve arguments, think about what I'm cooking for lunch or watch out for potential issues that might shatter the peace.     We are going camping twice more before the end of the summer and I plan to be as idle as possible. I intend to sit by the lake, stare at the trees and lie around cloud watching.       Posted with Blogsy