Trip to a magical wood

Yesterday we went to the most magical piece of woodland you could possibly imagine. Puzzlewood is in the Forest of Dean and has grown up on some weird geological features which I think they called scowles. Once underground limestone caves and now exposed to form something quite incredible. We experienced the full freakiness of British weather by being battered by hailstorms as we tried to enjoy a brisk al fresco sarnie (timing, as ever, is impeccable), followed by dazzling sunshine. And now, as if by magic... photos:

That seems to have worked. Good. I shall now try not to get quite so distracted by the blog reader thing and discipline myself to write my own post before reading everyone elses and a) running out of time, and; b) forgetting what I wanted to tell you about.

January Knitting Catchup

I rather ambitously started quite a few different knitting projects last autumn, with the intention of making Christmas presents for everyone. Unfortunately, I completely failed to actually finish any. When I say that, I mean I finished the actual knitting for at least 2 items, then couldn't be arsed to do the sewing up. D- must try harder. So I have started this year with a determined effort to put in the finishing touches before its too late... my children, for example, are growing faster than I can complete projects. And so, hurrah at last, I finished Big Monsters hat and it fits.... Little Peeps cardigan however is a bit of a stretch. Nevermind, next on the list is a small bear for the Robo and a tank top for myself. I am trying not to think about the fact the bear will require lots of fiddly making up, which I am evidently not fond of, and my tank with lots of picking up stitches - which I am not very good at.

The thing to do now would be to post some pictures, but I don't know how to do that yet. Will work on figuring it out this week.

Why Blog?

I love reading other people blogs! I find them endlessly inspiring and wanted to join in but somehow felt a bit rude just butting in without sharing my own life a bit. So I have dragged myself from the nether regions of cyber-stalking and joined the blogging circus.

I suppose I am also looking to find a little bit of space just for me, to be me and no-one else. Somewhere I can indulge in whatever harebrained scheme or project I have dreamt up in any number of moments of madness. Somewhere I can completely, unashamedly, ignore all the trivial domestic crap that clutters up the life of a domestically challenged full time mother of 3 young children. Obviously, my family is the centre of the known universe and I would have it no other way, but honestly, I need just a little space.

The intention is to report on all the good bits, ideas, inspirations and achievements, whatever they be or however small. I want to avoid domestics and ranting as I suffer quite enough of that as it is, and let me tell you, it is pretty dull. Hopefully, by blogging about it I will spur myself on to try bigger and better projects, perhaps I will even finish the projects I start.

Grand Plans for 2011

1. Start and maintain blog.
2. Decorate house (or at least some of it).
3. Master the sewing machine - the ultimate aim is to be able to call myself a seamstress (which sounds so much more glamorous than dressmaker), but that's what I want to be able to do - make real dresses for me and my children and real shirts for my Hub. I aim to begin a with tea cosy.
4. Experiment with watercolour painting and drawing.
5. Do lots of knitting (and keep knitting until I complete whole projects).
6. Do lots of baking.
7. Do lots of gardening.
8. Regain some form of proportion in my body - after 3 children I seem to have expanded in the arse region?
9. Maintain a presentable house.
10. Remember birthdays and act swiftly enough to send cards.
11. Generally be on time.
Actually scrap the last 3, who am I kidding?