Yarndale!

Following my massive hiatus I feel that a few snaps from my trip to Yarndale this weekend would be the perfect way to get back into this weird and wonderful world of blogging. 

Hello Sunshine!

I don't think I have seen such a persistently blue sky in a long while. I don't think I've spent a whole day lounging outside on a day where not a single cloud obscures the sun from waking to sundown. Today was such a luxury as it was the first summer Sunday for almost three years where I didn't have to bundle myself in the car and spend the afternoon on the motorways back to South Wales. 

A project to be proud of (and a cock-up!)

I have an amazing friend who has been pushing through some incredibly harsh treatment for breast cancer. I wanted to make her something whilst she was going through the treatment process.  I chose the colours (Stylecraft Life DK, 25% wool, 75% acrylic) Fuchsia, Rose, Teal and Pebble Nepp (grey with multi-colourd flecks) and made 6 large granny squares which I then joined and bordered. 

Back to Basics

It feels massively overdue, and having been blogging on and off for almost 4 years now, I want to go back to why I started this blog in the first place. I had recently moved to a new city, I had part time jobs which allowed me lots of free time during the day and flexibility that I had never had before. I was at the point in my life where the possibilities were limitless, if only I could settle upon what I wanted to do.

Brain overload

I started writing a post about how overloaded my brain is at the moment, both creatively and with life in general, but getting my thoughts into words proved too much for my already overworked, under-rested, incredibly scatty brain. I think the post I started will be a bit of time in the making whilst I gather my thoughts. I have had big (exciting) news this week that I will share once its all settled which has also contibuted to the mind blowing. This morning I spent a quiet 15 minutes in the garden and it was a welcome relief

When we moved into our flat four years ago we started growing herbs from seed. Some are doing amazingly well, whilst others faded after a couple of years. Over the last few weeks we have started planting some vegetables using the principles outlined in this book- Grow All You Can Eat in Three Square Feet. 

Nothing relaxes me more than pottering about with my camera, so here are a couple of shots from our garden.

These mushrooms are quite possibly the weirdest mushrooms I've ever seen....does anyone know what they are? 

everyone has to start somewhere- my top resources for learning to crochet

Further to my post on dipping my toes in the water and going back to swimming lessons I thought I'd share some of my earliest crochet, along with my top books for beginners. A few months back whilst sorting out some old boxes I found these flowers I crocheted back when I was just starting out. 

Dipping my toes in the water

On Wednesday I did just that. I took an adult swimming class. Terrified is a bit of an understatement as the thought of putting on swimwear is enough to bring me out in a cold sweat and get my heart going like the clappers. However, I really wanted to be able to swim properly again. For years as I child I grudging (though secretly I'm grateful Mum) went to swimming lessons every Sunday morning. I wasn't the greatest swimmer (I never made it onto the club swimming team!) but I was pretty competent. Fast-forward almost 20 years and I cannot for the life of me swim a length front crawl. 

Unicorn Monday

This week I have been using my new-found focus to write 3000 words of my Masters dissertation, finish a book, finish a hat and make significant progress on a blanket with not an ounce of stress (yet). So far so good.

Focus in 2017

So I'm thinking you can guess what my resolution will be then? Not so much a resolution, but a mantra that I think will be necessary for me to get through the next 8 months. You see I'm now in my final year of my training programme to become a qualified Clinical Biochemist. If you would like to read more about this here would be a good place to start.