Thanks so much for all of the suggestions on grated cheese removal - it definitely looks like getting a dog would be the best solution! I shall have to start buttering up my husband! Still there will be a lot less hoovering going on now Toby is back at school and a lot more knitting and blog reading!
One of the things I am most grateful about these days is that having a blog has led to contact with some of the world's nicest people. I am regularly amazed at the warmth and generosity of people. Recently I received a wonderful story written about the adventures of the missing little cotton rabbit. Reading it for the first time left me teary (in a good way) and it is now a bedtime institution in our house - with Amy tightly cuddling the bunny that the story is about.
Jill, the autor and illustrator of this story has very kindly agreed to let me tell the story here on the blog and so over the next 3 days I will post it in installments. I'm sure, like Amy and me you will find it beautifully written, wonderfully illustrated and completely enchanting, so if you're sitting comfortably then we'll begin...
A little Cotton Rabbit Story.
Written and illustrated by Jill Westgarth
Little Cotton rabbit was waiting. "Knit me! Knit me" she thought.
All the rabbits, bears, pandas and foxes hiding in the wool were excited.
"Pick me! Pick me!" Little Cotton Rabbit wished so hard her nose began to twitch (which isn't easy in the middle of a ball of wool!)
Julie began to knit. She knitted and knitted. Very, very soon Little Cotton Rabbit had ears, eyes, a nose and a very happy smile.
"Pink shoes! Pink shoes!" Little Cotton Rabbit wished so hard her toes began to tap (which isn't easy when your shoes are being knitted!)
Julie put her clever fingers into the bag of wool.
"Dots! Dots! Polka dots!" wished Little Cotton Rabbit.
Very, very soon Little Cotton Rabbit dreams of pink shoes and a dotty dress came true!
Little Cotton Rabbit sat with all the friends Julie had knitted. They waited. It was such a special day.
"Pick me! Pick me!" Little Cotton Rabbit thought. She sat very, very still (which isn't easy when an adventure is about to begin!)
Julie looked for a rabbit to send to America.
"Pick pink polka dots!" thought Little Cotton Rabbit, "with pink shoes!" She wished so hard her nose twitched and her toes tapped (which isn't easy when you're trying to sit still!)
Julie wrapped Little Cotton Rabbit up in crinkly tissue paper and tied a beautiful bow with ribbons to keep Little Cotton Rabbit safe. Very, very carefully Little Cotton Rabbit was put into a white comfy parcel.
Little Cotton Rabbit snuggled down in her crinkly package. She tried to be brave (which isn't easy when your comfy parcel is being squashed with things called labels!)
All the little cotton friends were ready for their adventures. Little woolly giggles snuffled from the parcels as Julie left them in the Post Office. Julie felt sad. So did all the little cotton friends. "Bye" said Julie and went home. Her fingers were itching to start knitting more Little Cotton friends.
Very, very soon, little woolly snores could be heard as the friends fell asleep. The Post Office worked hard to send all the parcels on their way.
Little Cotton Rabbit wasn't asleep. What was America? What would it be like? Little Cotton Rabbit was very, very excited.
"Bye Julie" she said in a little woolly voice. Pink shoes, dotty dress, how happy Little Cotton Rabbit was (which is easy when you've been knitted with love!)
(to be continued tomorrow...)