For Sale.

* Small assistant. Nice line in shouting to be let out before wee accident occurs. Inability to read clock and recognise 'reasonable hour' dictates sales. Terms negotiable.


* Child (blue 2001 model). Quite tall, sound teeth and advancing fixation w style of hair. Growth spurt and resultant shitty moods when required to do something non-compatible w personal life view demand removal from premises. Kicking of tyres when viewing not recommended. All good offers considered.


* Proto-teen (pink 1998 model). Witty, dry SoH. Despite best efforts and years of practice am still unable to communicate w said model. Result - inability of model to understand need to be aware of PE bag when at school. Minimal negotiation on price as need to buy new PE kit. Sadly instruction booklet unavailable. Would suit patient languages student/lecturer.


* Lace pattern book. Thick book w glossy pages and many colour pics. Sadly all patterns include fatal flaw, some just gibberish. Very useful for jigsaw-loving family or care group. Will ensure all pieces included in posting envelope.


* Swap/Trade - buggery awful cough. Just noise, no yuk. Two weeks of ownership means have gotten best from it. Willing to exchange for new lungs and/or oesophaegus. Benefits - sexy husky voice, great abs workout.

OK non-believers, hold on to your hats!

This is said quilt in its finished and drapey state. Pretty, non?
Filled with lovely colours Emma Scrapbag put together, interesting texture in the chenille.
A mix of both my worlds with the inner fabric a blog friend gift and the outer a mix of shirts
(one of which I actually loved and wore - don't tell my mother about the other) and a dress belongum Princess C-W.

And then we have the binding.
Gorgeous girlie, frilly pretty binding a gift from a friend.
Binding that was machine-stitched on both sides.
Oh Patch Andi, you clever, clever girl to make me feel brave enough to try this.

And then we have several reasons why it took so long to actually finish completely and 100%.

A farming success.

Two weeks ago my assistant decided it was time to harvest the crops down in the Lower 40

There was much dirt scattered as these beauties were uncovered.

On reflection the harvesting may have been a bit premature, the largest of these was about 2.25 cm and the smallest about .5 cm

Walking, wet wellies and The White Lady.

Had a day out with CK, the terences and my assistant today. CK had packed a picnic the previous night prior to us going out to the circus (she drops head into hands and shakes a little. Story to follow when tremors cease) and so we set off at first light.

Well, aiming for 8am.

Actually got away at just after 9am.

First had to walk all three dogs (even though possessed hound was coming with us) , wash dishes from previous night (freely confess -AM a house slut), hang out bed linens so children would have clean sheets this evening AND have a shower. CK and terences just managed to have breakfast and get dressed in that hour and a half.

Two hours later we landed in Lydford and set out on our adventure.

We started off in the old goal, walked up and down the stairs imagining being imprisoned in such a dank, cold and gloomy place. They imagined that. I imagined them being locked up and left behind to rot ;-)

destructoBoy and I raced down the hill (think tech name is bailey) then some minutes later raced back up the hill to see who could be the ultimate winner. Without a second of cheating I touched the castle wall first. Honest. I did not hold back small boy to ensure my victory nor did he end up on the ground squealing with laughter and being clambered on by a highly excited, licky puppy. Once equilibrums had been restored Lydford Gorge beckoned.

We headed off following the up and down path all the way down. We even got all energetic and at final node chose the steep, speedy route to the bottom. Yay us!

(photo from www.geograph.org.uk/photos/16122)

It was lovely and pretty and beautiful and after about five minutes the childer were a bit bored. Fortunately there was more than just a stunning cascade of water, there was a pool-type area.
(Somebody's tourist brochure picture from the innernets)

Much hilarity and enjoyment ensued as we paddled, splashed and gave my assistant swimming lessons. While no-one actually fell in both d/Boy and myself got a little cocky and ended up with soggy wellies and socks. But only a little wet.

Once on the far side of the river from the falls we walked the mile and half back to the car park. The path was slippery and damp and steep and steppy and beautiful and stunning and fabulous. It took us near enough three hours and we had a fabulous time. We chatted and did science, we talked about history and folklore, we gripped the rail for dear life and made jokes and had a fabulous family day. Eventually we got back up to the top, had some lunch, piled back in to the car and made our way home. The old men were pleased to see us and more especially pleased to see the great outdoors as they reeeeeeeaaaaaaaaalllly needed a wee.

Despite being an inch or so shorter in the leg than she was at the start of the day, after just half an hour's rest, my assistant came out when I walked the big dogs tonight. I haven't heard a sound since she finished her dinner, I think we should do this more often ;-)

Lots to say but the innernets hate me.

Been a busy this week with Sylv and her husband away.

• Played in the closest big town and after McDonald's saw a movie about Guinea Pigs saving the world.
• Pr. C-W had a day at the beach with a friend from early until late so ... d/Boy and I picked our own strawberries before going to the local pool with friends for a swim.
• Wednesday was spent mooching at home reading before the smalls walking the dogs off the hill by themselves and then home to paint some bowls and mugs. Pulled out all the fabric for my Fortnum and Mason's quilt. Is 40 different fabrics too many for a quilt top? Nah, I didn't think so either.
• My assistant had a haircut yesterday after which we went to the beach in Bournemouth with kids, husband and the other black dog. Went without towels, sunscreens, bathers, hats and even left the water in the car! Kids in water in their undies loved it, CK sitting on sand hated it, both black dogs LOATHED the water. Rolled up my trousers and ended up soaked getting both dogs into the water. Drove home and about a mile from front door went into the back of the car in front of me. In CK's car. With CK sitting next to me. Bugger! Hooray for fully-comp insurance :-)
• Cleaned and tidied house today while CK and kids went for a drive. CK's Kate (new sat-nav) travelling with Sylv so he winged it. Bad idea. Phoned me from Exeter to say had aimed for Glastonbury but hadn't seen any signs for it. Suggested he come home. Said he was trying but couldn't find city centre to get back. Hoped to be home for dinner, maybe Sunday ;-)
• Off to see Ms Amy Butler tomorrow - yay!

Got lovely post recently but the photos are on the grown-up Vaio computer. It hates me and it hates the innernet so am using the water-logged Dell until in-house tech support can fix it. When I can get to the pics you can see the fabulous seaside swap parcel that came from the lovely meplusmolly.

There was rock, traditional seaside postcards, some fabulous sandcastle flags that have pleased CK no end (childhood memories), a beautiful long-legged seabird she made. My lovely swap partner also sent me a gorgeous patterned emery board all green and yellow floral swirly pattern and delightful smelling shower gels. There was also a great driftwood hanging. What is the name used for stones with holes in them? Witches' coins? Witches something. This now lives in my kitchen. It makes me smile. Thanks for swapping with me. I had a great time doing this.

Any time before 0600 is too early!

I have been up now for nearly an hour and there is no one to blame but myself. For it was I who several years ago suggested to CK that 10 was old enough to be responsible for your own dog.

It was I who gave up half my birthday day out to take said 10 y.o. to visit a litter of puppies.

And it is I who is cursed blessed with mother hearing and wakes at the little yips and squeaking noises that accompany an urgent need to be outside at 5a.m.

Of course it is also I who is particularly glad that the housetraining lesson thing seems to be clicking in to place.


Sadly now though I shall never know the conclusion to the dream I was having. After listening to Mr. Locket try to explain the maths behind making the dolls' clothes over the phone I passed him across to CK so that they could quote geometry, trigonometry and general scientific principles at one another. Perhaps I should thank that puppy!?!?!?

OH! MY! STARS! (again)

Princess Curly Wurly was still awake last night when I went to bed at 1000 hours. She told me 'she wouldn't be able to sleep'.

She was up, crawling into my bed at 0600 because she was 'too excited to stay asleep'.


At a reasonable hour (I made her hang out until 0900) we went over to the puppy woman's house and after politely chatting for a bit Princess C-W's enthusiasm and bouncing was too much so we scooped up young Miss Isabell and headed home.



We had a specially kitted out cane basket to put her in for the 40 minute trip home. It seems there was far too much fun (and chicken bits) to be had on 'someone's' lap ;-)

My poor old men are currently running scared. I don't know why - butter wouldn't melt, would it?

Not that she is a prodigy or anything but she had only been in the house half an hour when she figured out how to negotiate 'the stairs'. (These stairs will eventually be her access up to Pr.C-W's bed, it is v. high.)

And after all that exercise it was time for a well-deserved sleep.

Yep, I think she is going to fit in just fine.

Ever had a moment when reality bites?

CK and I have been sharing a few philosophical discussions recently. You know, him sitting on his couch staring intently at every channel for five seconds as he channel-surfs through all 40+ stations, me on mine knitting, frogging, stitching, ripping out, cursing.... normal family evening. And one of us will casually throw a topic for comment out into the air.


Usually it kind of floats for a bit then sinks under the apathy which coats the room but just recently.... just recently it has been saved from crash landing at the last minute because it strikes a chord with both of us. Our lives are about to change.


I mean really change.




I phoned the nice puppy woman last Friday to see if we may go and visit Isabell this half term week. Having waited for this pup since the end of November Pr. C-W was just about fit to burst given that collection day was less than two weeks away and we figured a visit may just lessen the tension somewhat.

She sounded almost taken aback to hear from us and hemmed and hawed for a few seconds while issuing hissed commands to someone (something) off to one side. It seems we were very welcome to come and visit but by chance one of the other new owners was taking their pup home the coming Friday and while she didn't want to force an issue we were also very welcome to come and collect Isabell a week early. More muttering, hissing and whispering.

The longer this conversation went on the more clear it became that poor old nice puppy woman was in a slight state of shock as the reality of having nine dogs in her house was becoming clear. Was it mean to giggle?

So tonight is our last night sans puppy and both CK and I are revelling in the whole 'dogs who do what they are told thing'. I suppose it will return again one day.

Okay, so I have made it this far...

.... and I am pretty happy so far with how it looks (except for how I hadn't mixed up the repeat of the nice retro small children playing- but that has all been fixed now).

But it is a very wide thing and not especially long so I thought I would do something like this.

Now though I think the nice small retro children playing are a bit overshadowed. Suggestions?


Thank you all for your birthday wishes, the terences are slightly put out that they are on a losing team. I say they should be used to it after I thrashed everyone at bowling yesterday ;-)

Also we have a (working) short list of names for Princess C-W's puppy - Midnight, Isabel, Lyra, Grace, ummm..... I like Daphne but no-one else is voting for it at my house. Although it is all in the hands of a 10 y.o. girl so anything could happen!