Little Cotton Rabbits

half term hols

Me time

Once, long, long ago in what seems like a different lifetime I used to go out lots. Lunches, meals, drinks, trips to cinemas, galleries and extended shopping trips - the world was my oyster whenever I fancied it. But these days, what with balancing the various needs of my family, going anywhere without a nappy bag is rare occurance. Which is why I had such a nice time last friday. Off I set on a trip into the countryside with the colours of autumn whizzing past the car windows and singing at the top of my voice (because the sun was shining and Amy wasn't in the car to tell me off). First I stopped off at Jolie for a browse among beautiful things and to stock up on some knitting supplies (it's the best stocked wool shop for miles and miles!) and bought some lovely things courtesy of Mary who had sent me a voucher (thanks so much Mary). After much deliberation I chose some kidsilk haze for a simple scarf and an irresistible new mug for tea.

Then it was off to Westmill and the sweetest little tearoom with tablecloths, proper pots of tea and homemade cake and as if that wasn't enough I was meeting a special person too. Well two special people actually - Dotty Cookie and her daughter Tiny Small. We had a lovely elevensies together followed by a wander around the pretty village and the ancient church.

To top it all off there were pressies too: the tiniest pair of rabbit sized knitting needles with a project ready on the go (there's even a perfect weenie ball of wool on the end) and also a me-sized set of beautiful stitch markers.

It was lovely to meet you Val, thanks for taking the time to drive down and for the very cute pressie!

Winners

Sorry about the delay in choosing the 5 winners of the cupcake patterns. I had planned to do it yesterday but the day was scuppered when Amy got knocked out in a rather exuberant game of tag at school and had to come home! She's fine now, just a small bump on the head and a graze on her knee and she's enjoying the concern of her classmates!

So with Amy all better and back at school and a cup of tea next to me here I'm free to do the draw. The random number thingy came up with the following 5: Melanie, Judy Jones,Sheila Swanson, Grace & Lisa

I'm off to email the patterns to you right now. But before I go I wanted to thank everyone for entering and for all of the kind and lovely comments and also many thanks to everyone who has bought a copy of the pattern - I hope you all really enjoy using it.

Unfortunately...

... I was wrong and Toby hadn't had this particular bug before. He got sick in the early hours of friday morning!

Fortunately it seems to have been a 24hr virus so he's all better now, as is Amy and (touch wood) H and I have stayed bug-free!

Unfortunately Toby being sick so soon after Amy added rather alarmingly to my already substantial laundry pile

Fortunately friday was windy and sunny - perfect washing weather

Unfortunately Amy had got very upset that her party might have to be postponed because Toby wasn't well.

Fortunately with Toby well again Daddy was able to take him away for the night and the party was able to go ahead as planned.

and 7 little girls had a rather funky and manic time!

So, all's well that ends well and Amy has had a lovely birthday weekend. Thanks so much for all of your good wishes!

PS: Even my wrist warmers turned out well (with just enough wool).

tummy bug

Amy is 9 shortly and is so excited about her disco that we have planned for Saturday. Though it's a bit touch and go whether we'll be able to go ahead with it, as this has been the scene at our house today.

A poorly girl with a tummy bug and a tired mummy alternating between sprinting around with a bucket, ploughing through a rather large (and still growing) laundry pile and (in the calmer moments) a little wristwarmer knitting.

I have everything crossed in the hope that she's better for the weekend, that the rest of us don't get it (thankfully Toby already had it last week) and that I have enough wool to finish these!