We Will Prevail

We have a hospital bed!

The confirmation email arrived yesterday afternoon while she was napping and I was adding rows to a knit project. I am somewhat relieved but still anxious and I so really need that feeling to go away. So, this mornings tasks to keep me focused will be to get our small cooler box packed with snacks for breakfast and lunch for tomorrow as hospital cafeteria food is way overpriced and not pleasant at all. I will need to pack her bag too and add an array of books and puzzles to keep her distracted from the fact that she will not be able to nurse from me from mid night tonight. I know there is reason for this but it really will be a little traumatic considering she is a feed and cuddle on demand child. But, we will prevail and we will see the light at the end of this very dark and daunting tunnel.

  

And Oh Yes.. I will need to pack my knitting to ride out the nerves when she is in theater - right?

I know I haven't done a homeschooling update for a couple of weeks now. But we are still marching forward with lessons in the morning. It has been a slow two weeks were we have dragged our heels somewhat. With the end of the third term looming in the next couple of weeks. I do feel that we will be right on check for that. In the meantime we just do as much as we can without any tension and catch up next week when we will hopefully be back in some sort of routine again. The joys of homeschooling - you get to choose your times and days! 

Josh is on the last week and a bit of school too. He has been quiet of late. This time of the year they write their common tests which will prepare them for the fourth and final term and exams. The pressure is scary for all the grade 11s. I feel for them, really I do.

Both Rob and I want to thank each and everyone of you for your kind messages through email, whatsapp, instagram and here on our blog in our comments. We feel very blessed to have you watching over us and giving us a little more strength with all your gentle healing vibes.

The weather forecast for this weekend - rain!

Have a blessed weekend my friends and I look forward to catching up with you all again in the new week.

lots and lots of love as always

Angela ♥

ps - the photos :

1. last nights sky showing the first star of the evening and the witch's moon.
2. danika's new dress made with love by Oumie for when she gets out of hospital.
3. our new favourite breakfast - Coconut flour + Cinnamon Waffles.

Happy Valentine's Day.

I took a few moments to "celebrate" Valentine's Day this morning. I don't usually find commercialised holidays my thing and often try to steer clear of it all. But, these sweet hearts were screaming to be knit up. And knit them up I did in about a few minutes each while G was working on his Math sums in the first lesson of the day.

Tonight we will feast well on the special supper I have prepared and desert on homemade ice cream still to make it's way into the ice cream machine topped with pink homemade meringues that are now baking on low in the oven.



We will also take a moment whilst feasting on said homemade deliciousness to think of our Josh who wont be joining us tonight. He left for Camp in the early hours of Tuesday morning. I hope to set aside a sliver of each desert for him to enjoy on his return later this week.

Do you celebrate St Valentine and what small (or big) traditions do you and yours play out on this day? I always find it so very interesting how each person interprets and celebrates each "special" day which ever one it may be. Ours almost always gravitates around food.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

If you would also like to add a few sweet hearts to your day, you can find the pattern over at my RAVELRY projects (with other pieces I have worked on or I am busy working on) .

Or, head on over to Liz's site for the originals and more - she is one talented lady.
(you may remember her as The Sitting Tree from years gone by.)

love and more love on this day of love,
Angela XOX

Woolen WIPS

Bonnie bear is complete, well almost. I am pleased. I know that in all her imperfections she is made with love for our sweet girl and there will be no other one like her out there. I loved the play on colours with these prints. I plan to use what is left of the skein for a Foxy Neckwarmer in each colour and if enough just maybe a Baby Star Gnome in each too for Our Shop.

I cast on for her frock through the week and with good judgement I will be done before the big day. Now, for a pretty box to gift it in.
I will share the dear Bonnie on the big day!

************************************************************************************

I love adding woolen rows to my needles and watching as the hoops and loops and stitches transform into something sweet and beautiful. I would love for you to join me here every Wednesday for Woolen WIPS and share a link to your blog in the comments below, or a tag on Instagram #woolenWIPS of your knitting or crochet.

Woolen WIPS

Hot off the needles and oh what a difference from all the ones before. I think I am quite enthralled by this rich creamy double knit Foxy Neckwarmer. I have made quite a few before, all different colours on different sized needles with different gifted balls of wool. I may have a soft spot for this one and I may just keep it for our a sweet little girl's neck for the Winter to come instead of adding it to our handmade shop.

I cast on for a knitted Bonnie Bear this week. I have knitted one before for Danika, with left over Teaberry but I wasn't happy with the feel of it, so didn't go on to knit up the frock to go with it.

I've had it in mind for a long while now that I wanted to gift something homemade for her each birthday and when I was given Val Pierce's Knitted Bears All dressed up! I knew what it is that I wanted to knit for her for her first birthday. But it had to be just right! Finding the right wool sometimes proves to be difficult and often very expensive. I finally found Charity DK Pull-Skein Print in Gunmetal. Obviously not what I had pictured in my mind before walking into the Wool & Habby but when I saw it, picked it up and felt it, I knew it was the one.

I ended buying one in Gunmetal grey for the body and Italiano rose  for the frock.

Now, please hold all those finger and toes so that I can get it all done before her birthday next month.

*********************************************************************************************************************

Hello there and welcome to my first Woolen WIPS link up party on the blog.




document.write('');

Thank You July.

I am totally in love with the fact that I am sharing everything off one platform.

I have my shop >here< and links to Ravelry >here< Instagram >here< and Facebook >here<.

There is even a little space for my shares for my Wild Witch Cottage. Something more personal, it may not be for everyone and that's why most of the shares will be kept away from the main blog itself. For those who share the passion about the seasons and living in the magic of it all - then it is for you. You can follow along on Facebook >here< and Instagram >here< and pages added to my website will be shared to these social media platforms once complete.

We have all found a theme and layout we are all super happy with. Simple and clean and nothing distracting at all - it should be here to stay for abit. Of course we hope you like it too. This now should give me (and the men folk) more time to focus on family and more shares about the happenings all around us.

I, personally, have seen in this New Moon phase on the quiet side.
The younger two boys on the other hand have started their third term of school this week and we've had a Aunty Debbie spend the week with us while she awaits her flat to be completed to move into next week. It has been so lovely having Aunty Debbie to stay. All the men folk just adore her and Em giving Danika until end of the week and then she will shine ever so brightly (as only Danika can) to her too. She is going through her shy phase at the moment and anyone new (or not that new too in fact) - to our home or on our travels - finds her grasping at my body with her little hands and burying her wee face in my chest coyly. Bless her. Aunty Debbie will be adding her touch to the holistic wonderfulness that is HANDS-ON EDUCATION & FACILITATION CENTER.
I am so very excited for her.

To end off the month that was July

Blog Update:
For those that missed it here are the shares for the month gone by.
Let it be.
Beginnings of new.
The Moon after Yule.
Nine Full Moons.
Happy Birthday Garren.
A Week Of Nines.

Shop Update:
I hope to be adding a few luxury bars of soap in the new month. I will send out an update for that with links to the shop on the day. There will be an option for delivery, if you are out of town but still in South Africa, and there is a Postnet in your area. Postnet 2 Postnet is the option I have chosen as a safer route for your parcel getting to you in one piece. I am looking into the costs and convenience involved with the Post Office Parcel Plus option too. I dont sell daily so getting in a courier service like Courier Guy and the likes just is not economical.
Id love to know if you have any other suggestions?

Knitting Update:
oh dear.. I wish I could have more to add here, but alas - not. After the last batch of Star Gnomes I sent off to their new homes I just haven't had the time to add any more. Sometimes its good to have a break from doing the same thing over and over again - right? So, I have started on a Foxy Neck-warmer. Its something to keep the fingers busy in the wee hours of the morning while the small boy person reads to me in the car before school begins. Who knows, may be there will be a couple to add to the shop a little later on in the season?

To you all that follow along with us here - bless you and thank you!
To you all that comment on our shares - it really is lovely to know you are there and we so love to hear from - thank you too!

Goodbye July now past and Hello there brighter beautiful August!

brightest blessings,

And Again.

 

I have been running. Nowhere in particular really. Maybe more like a good ol’ sprint in one place.

I have a gazillion photographs to sift through and I’m sure I will get to share them eventually. But this last week has found Rob and I filling humidifiers, filling humidifiers with essential oils of eucalyptus and lavender and rosemary and… whatever I can drain out of the last of my array of oils. It has found us slicing up bags of oranges and sneaking tiny little tissue salts into everything. The children have been slathered in home and shop bought Vicks ointments and we’ve boiled the kettle all but away for cups of homemade med-lemon drinks and shop bought ones (which ever we had at the time and whichever one we had not yet run out of).

And then once our heads hit the pillows it was morning again and we started all this all over again.

We made it through though. Usually around this time of the year we’ve spooned out on an array of anti-biotic bottles to both Joshua and Garren and somewhere I think there may have even been a hospital visit for the sickliest of them all, dear Josh. Not this time, not an anti-biotic at all not even for our littlest flower, who has cut all 4 top and 4 bottom teeth and had her first flu virus all at once - here Earthside. Now, I’m not going to get my highs on the real high right now, cause we still got some ways to go before the winter months are done and dusted. But, it’s a good start – don’t you think? There is a rattle here and there and I am determined to get as far as I can this season without a doctor.

Hold all those fingers and toes for me?

In the meantime, in between it all I am knitting up Star Gnomes (ever so slowly) for the Shop, other than peacock I will now add teaberry to our collection and I have still got soaps that need to be photographed and packaged for the shop. Packaging has become my nemesis with my soaps. I can whip up the lovelies but then I can’t get the right packaging for them. I do know that somewhere amidst it all I need to knit up another Knubblechen for a girl child that will land earthside soon and a bear with accessories for Danika’s first birthday too.

I’ll get there. Soon. I hope.

There is also talk of a new adventure into a few homemade outsourced products by other mums and dads out there that I will be affiliated with. I really am excited about it and I hope that you will be too. I have found myself gravitating towards supporting homemade and handcrafted home-grown businesses around these parts. It’s a rarity to find the likes of such treasures, so when you do you surround yourself and others with it too. But, more of that soon.

This weekend the boys every so kindly cleaned out the Lapa and we Sunday lunched there. It felt wonderful claiming back that space again. I’m sure if the weather keeps at it we will be making it our weekly shenanigan. I’ve add a quick clip from our after lunch Sunday meander up and down our road. Just for fun.

https://youtu.be/NNOnsP5Mo2g

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNOnsP5Mo2g]

ps. did you see from the photographs … Danika is days away from crawling.

September. Spring. and His day.

Well hello there, September.. Spring and a Happy Birthday to our eldest who adds another meander to his travels around the Sun.





Our eldest Spring baby turns 20 today and sadly this will be the first year that he will not be home for me to bake a cake for on his special day or to make him sit down at the table for the mandatory “happy birthday sing song”. I am sure he is smirking and breathing a sigh of utter relief from the safe haven that is his digs in another city altogether.

But, I will be sure to double up on all the aforementioned when he does come home!

Happy Birthday Tristan!

I’m not one for believing that the first day of spring falls on the first day of September. It’s not in my practice but sometimes as a mama one puts these kind of beliefs to one side and let her children just go with the flow and mention in conversation that the change of seasons is rather a gradual celebration of the turning of the wheel. We do this… For our loved ones…

I tend to gravitate toward taking a more inward reflection and outward celebratory demeanour during our Equinox and Solstice times of the year.

But it’s fun, right, to think that on this day it is officially SPRING?!



The little boys will get all dressed up in their brights to celebrate Spring at school tomorrow and of course with the change of routine where their school uniforms are place aside for a more relaxed set of home attire - well, you can just imagine all the excitement.

The days preceding have found my now chubbier looking fingers knitting up a little something for our little human due earth side in the not so distant future. I had left over baby knit from the slip on booties I made in the beginning of this adventure. This little bunny reflects all things Spring don’t you think? And, I must add that its so superfast and easy to knit up too. I am not taking or making any claim to the pattern – but for the life of me I can’t find the picture tutorial that was once shared on my Facebook wall and I thought it would be so super sweet to share this for you to give it a go, if you would like. My Bunny Project will be on Ravelry and as soon as I know who to give credit to I will be sure to share it there.

Spring Day Bunny

Plain knit (or garter knit) a square.

Fold in half and make a rough stitch through the centre.

Keep stitch going from the one end to the centre of the top first row and then back down to the other side of the centre.

This should make a triangle through the top half of the square.

Where the piece of yarn meets at the one corner of the triangle meets slowly pull both sides together to for the head with the ears.

Before tightly pulling the piece together add your filling and then sew up and fill and sew together what is left of the outer edges to form the bunny body.

I will be leaving said bunny plain with no added adornments as it will be for our new born litte one.

You on the other hand can now go crazy-town on eyes and a pretty little bow and whatever your heart desires.

I thought this would be lovely for Easter gifts too – too early to be thinking about that? Nope – never to early!

Blessings for Spring (or Autumn) my sweet dear friends…

homespun chicks

I have woken to a morning of blissfully cooler skies and a more comfortable 23 degrees. I cant believe how sweltering it has been over the last few days. Yesterday, midday, saw us reaching temps of over 40 degrees Celsius! How are we expected to cope with this kind of heat? (only Mother Nature dearest must know). I feel a little frightened for when our Summer does eventually arrive. Garren said that when they weren't in PE lessons, yesterday, the teachers let the boys take breaks through the day and run through the sprinklers at school. And when the boys got home from school they all jumped in the pool again. 

 
But, with that being said, yesterday afternoon the heat wave finally broke and dirty grey clouds circled the sky for a slightly cooler afternoon and milder evening. Not quite the weather and natural light I needed for picture taking for this post today though. It seemed, at the time, that there may not be a post today at all - Zeus had a hand in it too - when he saw me trying to take photos outside for a little more natural light, he kept on playfully pouncing at me and truly thought the eggs here were a treat just for him. Contending with a puppy his size can sometimes be overwhelming. He of course has no clue that his puppy bounding can almost knock me right off my feet. Oh well, its just one of those things - right? I will have to try again through the week.

The inspiration for our Homespun Chicks came from the lovely Nalle's House, they are so very easy to whip up with simple stitching. I just love that! I am busy with other knit projects, that take a little longer to finish off, so I find that knitting up something like this is fun and I could see the results within a few minutes. I haven't quite finished loading all the blaah blaah on my Ravelry account just yet - I will get to that a little later in the day. And as soon as I capture the right picture I will load them up on our little store too. 

 
Of course, today I will be joining the lovely Ginny for Yarn Along. It has been far too long since I linked up! 

 
Will I be connecting with you there? 

 
love angie xxx

today

Last night it rained. I love the sound of rumblings from the skies and as the rain drops fall on our roof I always get the feeling that all is being cleansed. It is soothing… comforting. 

The week has passed by and all I have had strength for was watching series. Game of Thrones and the beginning of Vikings which I have so enjoyed. (please forgive my heathen-born heart). But it’s time to start again.

Today I have plans. Plans to walk a little, to add a few more rows to my knit projects. To get out of my pjs and into something that feels more like I am living. I may, a little later in the day, make my way into the kitchen and try my hand at making fudge in the slow cooker. That really can’t be strenuous, can it? Adding all the ingredients and letting it all do its own thing. I’m sure the boys will be happier for it too.

Love 

Angie xxx

joining ginny

gnome-lets.... completed (yarn along)

I am so very pleased that our goddaughter's first birthday gift is completed and with still plenty of time to spare. Although it took me a little longer than I initially anticipated - they are all ready and awaiting a pretty gift box, which we are still in the process of finding. Soon as I find the perfect one, I will be sure to share it too.

I started reading Janet Fitch's Paint It Black a few weeks ago. I loved White Oleander and completed it within the week. Paint It Black is a little more difficult to get through. Not for lack of beautiful writing. It really is... I love Janet's powerful words - but, with this one, I am finding them too powerful right now for me to handle. I feel myself slowly feeling depressed and find myself a little tearful. It could be that I still need a little more time to heal up. So I am putting it to one side for now, and will return to it when I have a better hold on my mind and emotions.

I need to go online and purchase again, come month end.. I have been looking for Lenora Henson's - The Wicked Garden series that a friend suggested I read, but sadly they have not yet been released here in South Africa. I have Rhonda Hetzel's "Simple Life" on hold for order, I could do with another one to keep me busy through the month. What are you all reading and what do you suggest I order?

The week is going by so much faster than I thought it would. And although I look forward to the weekend, I really hate wishing the week away. Oh and its Tristan's 19th birthday next week! Where have all those 19 years gone?

Love
Angie xxx

joining ginny

Yarn Along..... Gnome-lets

It's been awhile since I posted a knit project! For the last couple of months I have been working on something in secret. I know that my sister keeps a close eye on our updates so sharing that project (for now) will just have to wait a little while longer. But, what I can share is that - the above hush-hush project is for a little baby boy growing all snug in safe in her belly! Yes, friends this ol' gal is going to be an aunty again!! I am so super excited! As soon as I can I will share more!

Now, back to this project. The Gnome-lets for our little god-daughter who will be turning one next month.

While perusing through Ravelry this weekend I found this Gnome-Baby pattern on the lovely Elizabeth's account and knew that these would be perfect for our little princess!
I of course started immediately. I love how fast it is to whip just one up. So I've decided to make one in each of the colours of left over hand-me-down acrylics that Rob's Mum sent my way. I should be able to get about seven little gnomes out of the left overs by the weekend! A gnome for each day of the week!

Garren asked me who I was knitting the little dolls for and why I was taking a photo of them last night. When I told him that it was for our Link-up today he begged to be part of it too. A red eye-mask he says. I cant wait to see how it turns out!

Love Angie & Garren xxx

joining ginny

Book - Yarn - Cards

We should be celebrating!! 

We have finally heard word from our insurance company, but only after a call made to them from our lawyer. After almost three weeks in waiting and being accused of adding and building on to our home and stating that our home was under evaluated  (trust me we most certainly do not  have money for that!) the insurance company admitted to the fault being entirely theirs and they have put through our claim and will be covering everything!

I am elated yet at the same time utterly exhausted. It may be from the stress of the past two and a half weeks finally coming to an end?

The flu like symptoms, I was telling you all about at our last link-up with Ginny's Small Things Yarn Along, have seemed to improve. Well except for the exhaustion so I am pleased for that.  I'm sure as we start getting our home in order and unpack and repack when the construction work comes to an end I will start to finally catch up with myself. I cant wait!

I finished White Oleander over the weekend. What a book. If you havent read it you need to add it your list of books to read. Really!! I think I will leave it at that. 

I have started on Just Another Kid By Torey L Hayden. I am not that far into it, perhaps a few pages or a chapter at the least. I predict this one to be a goodie too. 

I will let you all know in the weeks to come *wink*.

I finally found (well actually Oumie found) a star knit pattern for the front of the hot water bottle cover. I will start working on that soon. In the meantime I have be clinking the needles together and finishing off a couple more "Dish Towels". So now I have one in natural, blue/natural and green/natural. There are still about 3 or 4 more balls of each colour. So hopefully by the time I have gone through them all the "Dish Towels" may turn into something else? I started a knit project in the beginning of the year and when I feel the need for a change from what I am working on I go and work a little on it. The needles are on the small side and the wool is a soft double knit so its best to knit when I have a sufficient amount of light. There is no rush to finish this one, when the urge arises then I will pick it up and knit up a few more rows.

Thank you for stopping by! 

I love reading all your comments and ~ well ~ just knowing that you there!

Angie xxx

Book - Candle - Yarn - Cards

I can't believe that it has already been a week since our last link up with friends on the blog.  I for one wont admit to "time flies while you are having fun" this last week! Don't get me wrong, I love my life and my family and I treasure every moment with them and feel so blessed daily... but the In-Home-Camping-Adventure is starting to feel a little wearisome on this soul of mine. We are still awaiting replies from the insurance company and it doesn't seem that they are on the same page with us and their contractors, that in actual fact our home has been listed as "critical and needs urgent attention".

I think I may manage a little better if my beloved coped better with change. 

I'm sure by the time we get our home back he would have gotten used to the idea... *chuckle*

Our weekend found the sky bursting with deep dark clouds of grey and a steady drizzle. After finally getting the last of the plastic sheeting on the roof and buckets placed strategically around the lower levels of the house I curled up with a warm fuzzy blanket on the couch and took turns in alternating a little knitting and further reading of White Oleander. I have finished both sides of the hot water bottle cover and I am still at a loss for how I will be finishing it off. I think I may just have to make a turn at the Wool & Habby shop at the end of the month for a little more inspiration (and more wool... shh - dont tell Rob!) I am still looking for the right Star pattern for the motif on the front. Do any of you have a knitted 5 pointed star pattern that you are willing to share? I would be so grateful! 

What do I have to say about White Oleander......?

*sigh* I absolutely love it... I love that when I am reading, the words turn into poetry and I feel that I am there experiencing it all with dearest Astrid... So much so that I have had to put the book down the last couple of days. The emotions were a little too intense and a breather away from the smell of the pages were in order. I only have a few chapters to go and tonight being a no homework night I may just breathe and then continue. Some things just feel a little too close to home with this one! While on my breather I got a little closer one-on-one time with Earth Magic Oracle Cards Guidebook by Steven D. Farmer. Not everyone's cuppa tea but for me it gave me a little more insight on the cards that I have been reading. I like to get to know the cards first without the guidebook and then peruse through and see what the  Author has to say about it. It's a beautiful deck and I am enjoying the readings that are coming from the cards.

I was once again on the couch yesterday. I have been fighting an onset of flu symptoms and yesterday I decided I just couldn't fight them anymore! I surrendered... and while surrendering pulled out the seriously chunky Elle CottonOn that Oumie bought me a few months back. The original plan was for me to knit up simple place mats for our dinning room table. I love the natural colours! The only thing.... the 100g of 100% Virgin Cotton only makes a mat of about 38cm x 20cm which is slightly small for a place mat. I marched on through to the cottage to have a chat with the Ol' Crone and she admitted they were on the small side but maybe we could use them as dish towels?? What do you think?

Last night I use it to do a card reading on! 

Perfect sizing if you ask me... *wink* and *chuckle*....!!!

Oh and look at what's peeping up through our marg! Rob says its because of all the rain!

Me... well I say we have been visited by the fae.

Joining the lovely Ginny (Small Things) over at Yarn Along & Nicole (Frontier Dreams) over at Keep Calm Craft On ~  for their Link Ups. Thank you special ladies!

Angie xxx

Book - Candle - Yarn - Cards

One thing that has been keeping me going, while we have been ever so patiently waiting for assessors and insurances to begin the process of getting back to some form of normality after the weekends Storm That Broke The Hearth, is knowing that I will be catching up with all the lovelies over at Ginny's Yarn Along! I love perusing through all the link ups and seeing what they are reading and of course what they all have clinking and clanking away on their needles.

I haven't let the darkness that now engulfs part of the house deter me from getting on with chores and the few hobbies that actually on a normal day keep me sane. I may have to thank our previous load-shedding adventures for that! The heat this week has been cruel and I do hesitate in the afternoons when clouds start circling as I am not too sure if they are here to stay and whiplash us with another freak-of-nature-storm or the slight pitter patterings of rain. The rain I enjoy and know we can withstand but another storm... I hesitate.....

Our kitchen has now temporarily been moved into our dinning room and of course our dinning room table has always been used by the boys for homework. Although a little crammed we are getting it right and I feel so blessed the boys are taking this all in their stride. It's our in-home-camping-adventure... *wink* *wink*. I have heard from others who were hit by the storm too. Although not as much damage done to their homes as to ours, their little ones just haven't coped well and have been sent off to stay with families in another part of our town. So yes, again I am blessed!

To get back to Ginny's Link-up.....
The Witching Hour that I was ever so slowly but surely reading last week has come to a grinding halt. The pages are slightly damp so I have put the book to one side and to let the pages dry slowly naturally. It is not damaged and the pages are legible thank goodness. In the mad rush on the weekend to save my books from their place on the shelves while the water poured through the huge gaping holes in the roof, I was able to save White Oleander. I found this Janet Fitch novel while perusing through one of the stalls at the Farmers Market many many moons ago. I had watched the movie before and knew that the book would be so much better as with all books! But of course I never seemed to get around to actually reading it.
I only remember snippets of the actual movie, so as I'm reading along by candle light it is all coming back to me.

The hot water bottle cover I have clinking and clanking away on my needles is almost half way done. I have finished the back half and started on the front. I may just craft up another one in the future but this time on a circular needle or double pointed needles so that there wont be a seam. I'm not very good at sewing and always feel that when I have to finally sew all the bits and pieces together I really dont feel entirely happy with end result. So for me seamless knitting is the way to go. When I figure the pattern out I will pop it on my Ravelry Account.  I haven't yet made up my mind if the front will have a knitted motif or if I will cut out some felt and then knit a star to sew on. All I know is the protective star will be placed on the front of it.

I think I may just want to add that today is also the last day of Mercury Retrograde.....
I feel a great big ol' sigh of relief about to depart from my heavy lungs and through my lips!

Angie xxx

This. That. The Other

Some of This....

Two Very Broody Gals.

Some of This....

Space ~ Reach for the stars!

Some of the Other...

Happy Halloween!

A little bit of Us....

School Scene

October is Cancer month around these parts... If you drive along the little roads that lead off the city roads towards the school you will see all the trees lining these little roads wrapped in pink.

It has been all the buzz around town, and for those who do not go to our little school, they have caught up with the happenings by reading the Maritzburg Sun (our free town newspaper) Where brightly coloured photos are splashed beautifully over the pages.

Have a little peek ~> (HERE) to have a look 'n see a few of the beautifully decorated trees.

This morning I opened the paper to find our Joshua smiling back at us (can you spot him?)
Just lovely - Vic, Karen and Lukie have been part of our lives for such a long time.
I would say its safe to say that our Josh and Luke are "besties"!

"Merchiston have embraced supporting Cancer month, not only by wrapping the trees in Bulwer Street in pink, but by inviting one of their own parents Karen Stander to the event. A moving morning! The Grade 7S class at Merchiston Preparatory School, decorated a tree in pink and dedicated it to Mrs Karen Stander, who is fighting cancer. Her son, Luke, is a member of this class. Karen Stander was invited by the boys, where she was given their messages of encouragement, love and support." ~ Maritzburg Sun page 19.

In other news.. that is the yarning news.... Knubbelchen is coming along... nicely, yet slowly.
I have been a little preoccupied this week with Garren's first swimming gala... precious moments!
Tristan's final year-end exams that started this week, our Joshua's 14th birthday AND  the preparations for our Halloween Under The Lapa shin-ding with special family and friends this weekend.
The little ones are so super excited!
I am also fighting off a sudden bout of "change-of-seasons" flu bug that has hit parts of the body that are really needed to keep this mum going through the day!

It has been crazy beautiful around here....

Shared with friends over at the Yarn Along Link up.

Yarning Along

I couldn't agree more with Ginny over at the beautiful  Small Things ...

Knitting and reading, although not done at the same time, are two of my favourite things too!

I have so enjoyed joining in the last few times on her Yarn Along Wednesday Link-Up, that I have now decided to dedicate a day in the week just for that and join in with the fun too.

Share what I'm reading and update on whats happening between the knitting needles.

The link Up is such fun - I have met a wonderful new group of like minded crafty crafters and I am enjoying whats going on all over their blogs - I may just dedicate the same day to share a new blog friend too!

Such excitement!

I have also started on the cutest little Knubblechen, OK so I didn't wait until I could get to the Wool 'n Habby Shop to get the right type of wool used in the "recipe"!
But, hey, I REALLY couldn't wait - I just have to see how it turns out!

I have this beautiful pink in DK that I was keeping to make up a little something for a very special little baby girl for Christmas.. I don't see why it would make any difference If little Knubblechen was a little bigger and chunkier than supposed to be.
So hold them fingers and toes for me ~ please?

This month I also ordered 3 E-reader books to keep me company on those long dark lonely nights when the boys are all snugly tucked in, fast asleep and while Rob is out Patrolling for the Safe Community Watch.
I love me a good ol' fashioned book.. The one with pages to turn and when you hold your nose to the pages you can almost smell the story come alive.
But...... I am running out of space! Our home is really not big enough for all the books I want to buy and keep.
So I have promised to do my little green thing for our Mother Earth and start (very slowly!) buying eBooks!

Right at this very moment I am all about "How To Do Pickling" by Dr D.Jayne & Sons.

It is wonderful!!! It was published In 1917 and the layout and wording is simple and gorgeously refreshing. Something a little different to how things are published today. It has an array of pickling recipes, and although I thought I would have to do some kind of conversions with the measurements, they are all in easy spoon and cup measurements.
He has also popped a blurb after each section about the Doc himself and his home remedies and tonics, and about family life.

I cant wait to get pickling!

Shared with the friends over on Ginny's Link-up Yarn Along Wednesday.

Blooming Super Moon

Did you all get to see the Super Full Moon last night…… ?
We had cloud cover and the lightest of sprinklings of rain. I may not have seen Luna but I sure did feel her…!

Well I for one am slightly elated that we are now on the waning gibbous.. The lead up to said Super Moon has played havoc on our once tranquil life. If there was anything else that could go wrong through last week well then…. &^%#!

On a normal Full Moon, yes our Lifestead does become a little crazy. My family do tend to get all hyped. But this one was Super ~ Rob ended up with migraine (thank the stars I keep Tissue Salt no 8 on hand! I may just have to get a few more bottles at the rate he is guzzling down on them ;) ) and the Boys, well..
I kept them outside to just release all that pent up all sorts!! Whew….



But then again…… On Saturday, Mama Mavis blessed us with a new little fluffy butt to add to our growing homestead… <3



I am a Granny you all!!! AND I am so super proud. I was planning to wait until all the little peeplings were hatched.. Oh wait – you don’t know!! We found the missing eggs  that Pookaloo DID in fact lay… They are all hidden warmly under Mavis!! :) The egg-napper!!

I am spent.. And I am so looking forward to a little of a breather.

Time waits for no man or in this case woman…. So I have to get myself busying again with our gifts for our special family up north for their Yule celebrations!