Little Cotton Rabbits

knitting away the worry!

Whenever I'm worried about something I find sinking my needles into a large ball of wool to be the best way of keeping my mind off the worrying thing. So this last week, what with Mum in hospital, there has been a lot of knitting going on!!

I'm finishing off some toys for Mahar Drygoods, a batch for my own shop and a the rose jumper is for a big bunny that I'm hoping to auction off to raise money for a special little girl who needs some specialised treatment in America - more of that by the end of the week.

Moving uncomfortably slow...

I visited my Mum on Sunday. She's adapting well to a very different existence and remains pretty positive considering the situation. She even managed to joke with the surgeon who fitted the halo brace and it's good to see her fighting and winning against the panic that any of us would feel in the same position. She's slowly being elevated and tried sitting up yesterday for the first time but fainted fairly quickly - this is something to do with changed blood pressure as she's being lying flat for nearly a week. She'll be trying again though and now that she's been told that she can come home once she's up and about I know that there will be no stopping her!

On the journey home from my visit I was listening to a new CD Hand Built by Robots by Newton Faulkner and one track had some very apt words to sum up what the last week must have been like for my mum...

"Don't take my photograph. I don't want to know how it looks to feel like this. As cars and people pass it feels like standing still but I know, I'm just moving uncomfortably slow..."

Well Mum, the pace is quickening so hold on to your hat!!

what a week!

I won't be sad to see the back of this week, which has been a much wilder rollercoaster ride than usual. We've had the highs of little people's birthdays and the lows of terrible accidents. Just quickly to mention my Mum has now had an operation to fit a 'halo' (I always knew she was an angel!) which is a metal frame anchored to her skull and going all the way down to the small of her back to prevent her from moving her head at all. Hopefully with this in place she should be able to start sitting up from early next week and start the long, slow and painful process of recovery.

This week has left me feeling a bit weary but my spirits have been lifted by all of the wonderful supportive comments that you've left both here and on private emails - it means a lot to know that there are people out there sending good thoughts to my poor wonderful Mum. Thanks too for all of the birthday wishes for both of the children. Toby had fun with some helium balloons yesterday (his favourite pressie) and of course he enjoyed cake!

The week is ending on a high note though. Now that the postal strike has finished I've had some lovely mail.

I've been enjoying all of the treats and delights that arrived in this package from Kat at Secrets of a Butterfly. She sent such a pretty bone china cup saucer and plate (I added the tea and muffin!) and some much appreciated cath kidston goodies but my favourites are the beautiful and intricate cards which she makes.

Then this wonderful and thoughtful surprise arrived yesterday with a very beautifully worded and apt note all the way from Kim in Australia. It's such a perfect handcrafted bag for keeping my 'work in progress' bunnies in and I know they'll dream happier thoughts of what exciting lives await them while they nestle together in here...

Lastly in the post today came a brand new, just launched magazine - Let's Knit which I couldn't wait to open because not only is it stuffed full of patterns, features and yarn reviews but I'm in it too!! If you squint at this picture you can just make out my smiling face (I'm too shy to show it bigger!) and 2 of my toys.

It's a really nice article about me and my work and it's great timing as I'll take a copy to show Mum when I visit over the weekend.

So, I'm going into the weekend with a smile on my face, thanks so much for your friendship and support in a difficult week xxx

Happy birthday to my little chap...

"In that book which is my memory, on the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you, appear the words, 'Here begins a new life'."

Dante Alighieri, La Vita Nuova

Another quick update...

Been to visit my mum today. Unfortunately it's a 130 mile round trip - it's at times like this that I wish we lived closer! Anyway despite the initial shock of seeing her strapped to the bed in a full neck brace Dad and I were pleased to find her in relatively good spirits. She's not allowed to move her head at all and we're still waiting to hear if she needs to have an operation - there are 3 fractured vertebrae in her back and 1 (the most seriously damaged) in her neck. She also has a fractured sternum and lots of deep bruising. It appears that it will be a long recovery period but considering she fell 2 storeys it could have been a lot worse. My mum is a real fighter and I know that she'll have the right mindset to get back on her feet as soon as she's able. Thanks again for all of your good wishes x