Lack of Speed...

Hi All,

I'm sorry I've not posted in a while. Our dratted computer, well broadband, is on the blink and trying to look at any website or even update you all on my little life is almost impossible. I hope to be back soon with big news and lot's of pictures of what I've been up to.

Till then, keep well and warm... yes the snow is coming back!!!!!!!!!!
Sam xxx

Colour

I miss colour! It's sooooooooooo gloomy outside. To lift my spirits I've been looking for some colourful pictures to cheer me up.

How about these...


Gosh, how much do I want to see blue sky right now? It feels like it's been months!

Try to have a colourful weekend people. Don't let the gloom get you down

Sam xx

P.S. Thanks for the comments on my last post. Jac, that blog you recommended is fab and Helen, yes, one day I WILL make it happen :o)

My Dream

Hi All,

Have you ever had a dream? Not the sort of dream you have at night or one that involves a new man/sofa/kitchen. I mean a dream that is soooo far out of reach that your heart aches when you think about it as you know it will never happen? I have one of those dreams. I think about it daily and wonder how I could make it happen. My dream involves a dramatic life change. To move from this tiny 2 bed flat in North London to a big family home in the country. I want land for a veg patch, chickens, ducks and maybe even a couple of pigs. I want an annex or outbuildings that can be made into a 2 bedroom accommodation of some sort, that I can rent out. I want people to stay and enjoy feeding my chickens and ducks and collecting their eggs. I want my life to be out of the smog and in the fresh air. I want the children to have space and freedom. I want them to be able to run in the house without worrying about the man who lives down stairs complaining. I want to be out in the mud in my wellies looking after my animals and veggies that would feed my family. This people, is my dream. This is what I want.

I regularly look on rightmove for an ideal property that could maybe come close to my vision and up until now there's been nothing..... up until just before Christmas my dream was far and distant, but then I found this.....

It's a 5 bed house, 2 and a half hours from where I live. It needs a huge amount of work and money spending on it...


I'm sorry for the extra small pictures. I got them from rightmove and I cant seem to make them any bigger!

It has outbuildings, a huge, huge garden. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms (2 of the bedrooms are also en suite) and 3 kitchens (2 on the ground floor and one upstairs) I worked out that the back of the house could be sectioned off to make the 2 bed rental accommodation and that would leave the outbuildings free for the animals.... The property is vast! I think I could fit my flat in it at least 4 times!!!!

And now for the 'but'...... and it a BIG 'but'..... Money. Ahh yes people, as with everything, money, or lack of it, is the problem. We could afford the house (yay) but not the cost of making it habitable and ready for guests (boo). My hubby's job is here in London and he would have to continue working. We have no savings, no building skills, unless you count building ikea furniture, which I agree, is a skill in it's self, but not much use in the long run. The project is too big for us. The dream, is soooo close I can almost touch it. Can almost smell the smog free air, can almost taste my own free range eggs. But, no, not this time. My dream is still a dream. An unreachable, distant need and longing for something better for my family. I will of cause keep looking on rightmove and you never know....maybe one day I'll be writing a post tell you all of my move and my new home....

The Snow....

Hi All, I hope you are keep warm and not getting too annoyed with the snow. I started writing this blog with a big rant about schools and gritted roads but have decided to delete it. Didn't want this to be a moaning post...

So I'm going to share some of my snowy pictures with you all today.




This last one I took on my way home from the shop. It was such a dismal and dark day and then there was this.... so bright and cheery I just had to take a picture.

I hope you are all safe and well during this cold, cold spell. Keep wrapped up warm with lot's of tea on hand.... Oh and maybe a biscuit or two

Sam xx

Happy New Year

Hello All, Happy New Year. I hope you all had a fab time over the festive period? I'm sorry I haven't been around very much. My last post was a little doom and gloom but thanks to your wonderful comments, I have picked myself up and am moving on. I'm going to take Surfer Rosa's advice and spend the first year in research mode. I've found a couple of other little shops that I'm going to approach and I'm also going to get my website finished. I'm looking forward, not back.

So, Christmas. What a busy, busy time. We went to France this year. There were 15 of us all together on Christmas day and 19 for Boxing day. Here are a few pics, hope you like them






As you can see from the above picture, we didn't have a white Christmas (unless you count the frost....) The children had a fab day and could enjoy their new toys without having to be shipped off to visit various Grandparents/Aunts/Uncles. Missy Moo got her DS Lego Star Wars game that she neeeeddddeeddd more than anything. Little Man got lots of cars and books. At 22 months, Christmas doesn't really mean much to him but Missy Moo is 6 and was very much taken by the Santa thing. We had letters to Santa, almost daily. We had gifts for the big man as well as the usual Mince Pie and a glass of something warming.... The gifts were home made and consisted of shells and pebbles that she had painted and a little thank you note for all the presents she was sure she was going to get...!

I too did very well this year. With Cath Kidston PJ's and a replacement for my favourite Orla Kiely mug that I had smashed earlier in 2009. I have to say though, that my best gift's this year were from my daughter. A little heart ring and some diamond (not real) ear rings. They probably cost all of £5 for the lot but she had chosen them and paid for them with money she had saved. I'm sure they will turn my fingers and ears green given a bit of time but they are precious to me. Bless her heart.

Well on that note, I'm off. I have tea waiting for me, courtesy of my lovely hubby. My next post will probably be about the rug I'm knitting. It's coming along nicely but I've not had a chance to take any pic's . Will save that for next week

Bye for now xxx

My Stall and a Huge Lack of Success

Hello all, hope everyone in blog land is well and looking forward to Christmas? Done all of your shopping? Have you even started? No? Me neither! I know there's only 2 weeks to go but I've just been soooo busy!

So yesterday it was the Christmas fair here in my part of North London. The rain passed over and the sun shone. It was very windy but I was in a lovely warm hall so It didn't bother me one bit. This was the view from my stand

Isn't it a lovely hall?
Well, I got there nice and early after a very nervous and sleepless night. Set everything up and waited for the rush of customers.... and waited and waited and waited. It was soooo very quite all day. Those that did come were NOT in a spending mood and not keen on my stand at all. I feel very let down as I worked so hard to get lot's made in time. My friend sent me a good luck text in the morning saying "Hope it goes well today. If not, they have no taste" Bless her but I am now doubting my new career choice a little.... See what you think



What do you think? Where did I go wrong? The thing is, I know there's a market for this kind of thing because it sells at All the Fun of the Fair in London. I just had a call from the owner last week asking for more mugs and gloves because they've almost sold out! Oh I don't know. Maybe it was just the wrong place with the wrong people. :o(

So today, I'm feeling exhausted. A little fed up and let down. I'm having a poor me day as another friend would say. I'm going to eat and drink lot's of chocolate and tonight I'm going to have a hot bath and go to bed early. I'm going to get lots of sleep and feel better about everything tomorrow, for tomorrow is another day.

Sorry for the downhearted post. Next time will be cheerier, I promise

Sam xxx

My Christmas Project

Ok, so I know I said I would show you some of my makes for my Xmas stall, but I really wanted to show you all something I'm very excited about. Have you seen this book? It's a lovely book with lots of little goodies inside that take no time at all to make. It has both knitted and crocheted bits and bobs from gloves to cup cakes, vest tops to purses. But, there is one thing I have wanted to make since I purchased this book over a year ago......


It's this.....



oooooo I love this rug. It's just sooooo colourful and delicious.



So, according to the instructions, it is made up of 35 different colours! A little expensive for me so I have chosen a select few to make mine


OK, 16!


I have decided to use Rowan Pure Wool DK as it measures up to the correct sizes as per the book and comes in an amazing array of colours.

Now I'm not much of a knitter, but even I can manage a basic knit 1, purl 1..... Can't I???? Well, we're off to France for Christmas this year which means my lovely Mother - In - Law, who an extremely competent knitter, will be on hand for any help and advice should the need arise.

The only thing I need now is some 8mm knitting needles, so I'm off to the charity shop down the road who seem to stock an enormous amount.

Take care one and all. Next time I promise to show you some of my makes for the fair.

Sam xx