{Somewhere Over the Rainbow}

It's been a while since I have had a finished knit off of the needles. 

This was on the needles for three months and I am in love with it. 

The pattern is by Julia Stanfield (aka Just One WIP) and is called Western Hills - The Blanket and what's better, it is free. 

This is the second time I have knitted this blanket and it is quickly becoming my go-to baby gift at the moment.  It takes a little longer to finish, but the end result is worth it.  There have also been requests for one in an adult sized one, I somehow don't think that it will be on a set of knees for this winter but is certainly something to aim towards. 

The yarn in this one was a hand dyed pack that I purchased 2 years ago by Red Ridinghood Yarns, the colours are amazing. I'm currently attempting to knit from my stash, so the only thing purchased was the white from Bendigo Woollen Mills.

 

There are more knits on the needles at the moment as it has cooled down somewhat and again I remind myself that I should be more organised, mybe next year.
 
What is on your needles at the moment?
Have you been doing anything crafty?

Back to the Blog...

Where has the time flown?  I don't know about you but it feels like I have blinked and we are already at Easter.

One term into school and I finally feel like I am getting on top of things.  The young man started his formal school learning this year and is doing very well.  He has come such a long way over the past year with his language and social development and we are thrilled that he has a loving a nurturing teacher to continue that this year. 

I've gone back to work this year as well and am loving being back in my field of early childhood and making a difference in little people's lives.

I have been knitting (more on that later)  Requests from both kids are coming in thick and fast with the weather slowly changing.  I am also part of a fun new blog about travelling with kids.  Pop on over to Punch Bouggy Travel and say hi.

{Eight}

With the blink of an eye my little girl has turned eight. 
She is growing into a little young lady before our very eyes.

This year she requested a 'craft party' for her birthday.  I limited it to 5 friends (six pairs of seven and eight year old hands were enough for one Mum to manage)  They all did a great job.  Some did more then others.  Some did not move from the table and had to be encouraged to have something to eat whilst others came and went.  I think that I re threaded their needles 100 times each over the three hour period. 

I kept the party food simple and set up a buffet style table where the girls were able to help themselves to it during the party. 

Happy Birthday beautiful girl enjoy your year of being Eight.

Making the most of our {bonus} Kinder year

I won't ever look back on this year and wish that I had sent Baden to school when he should have started with his peers.  Apart from getting to spend some special time with my little boy, it has also been fantastic for him.  He has grown and developed so much this year and his language and social skills are far better then this time last year. 

I'm not sure what the weather man is up to, but we are getting something similar to our winter here this week.  Instead of locking ourselves inside we decided to go for a ride and explore our 'backyard' 

I've completly failed Blogtober this year.  Oh well.  There is always next year.

BlogtoberFest

  Offically late to this years BlogtoberFest.  Better late then never though and it might get me blogging and showing some of the things that are in the works and that I have finished in the past few months.

I can not believe that we are already into October.     To join in with the BlogtoberFest fun make sure you stop by Shells in the Bush's Blog.

Blue Blanket

It has been a long time between posts (I really need to do something about that don't I)  I don't know about you, but the year is screaming past at an alarming rate and I can not believe that we are only just over two months until Christmas again.

Anyway,  Whilst I have not been blogging I have been knitting.  I finished a bassinet sized blanket for a friend for her baby shower and it was very well received.  It is always nice to receive thanks for a gift that you put many hours into creating.

The pattern is Western-hills - The blanket  by Julia Stanfield.  It is a free pattern and a delight to knit up. There will be more of these and I'm thinking that the next one might be a rainbow inspired piece.

More information can be found here.

Where is the year disappearing?

I don't know about you but this year has disappeared at an alarming rate and before long it will be Christmas and we will be wrapping up another year.

The car speedometer says that I have done alot of km's in the car this year and I know that it is not lying.  Baden is attending a kinder two towns and 30km from home.  Then there is the swimming and dance lessons in town and back and forwards from Melbourne for different appointments and it feels like I am never out of the car.

I have also managed to get myself onto two committees this year.  I am scaling down next year (I know famous last words) and will stay on one.

There is knitting happening here and there and then there is the pile of material that I bought at the very beginning of winter that I had massive plans to sew things for myself that is still sitting taunting me from a to-do pile.

I would also love to get back into regular blogging.  Hi to all those that have hung around waiting for the next post to pop up in your reader.  So to kick things off I thought that I would join in with Pip's Taking Stock

Making :  An Eco Fairy for a WWFY job
Cooking :  30 second Orange cake
Drinking :  Raspberry, Strawberry and Loganberry Tea
Reading:  The End of Your Life Book Club (have a feeling it is a box of tissues read)
Wanting:  More time in my day
Looking:  At the pile of washing that needs tending too
Playing:  Connect 4 with the kids
Wasting:  To much time on Pinterest
Sewing:  A calico strip on the back of a blanket for a friend
Wishing:  That my sore neck would take a hike
Enjoying:  Listening to the kids laugh
Waiting: For Tim to come home
Liking:  My special friends that are more like family here due to our closeness
Wondering: What next year will bring
Loving: That my Mum hoped on a plane at a moments notice to come down and spend the week  
               with us so I could go into Melbourne for a few appointments and not worry about the kids  
               or being back for school collection.
Hoping:  That tomorrow's morning tea goes well
Marvelling:  That Baden has done so well with his speech this year and so many people have         
                       commented on how well he has done and how they can now understand him.
Needing:  To do grocery shopping
Smelling:  Dinner in the slow cooker
Wearing:  My bright yellow cowl
Following:  Two kids on their bikes
Noticing:  The change in the seasons just around the corner
Knowing:  I am loved
Thinking:  Of what I should be doing
Feeling:  Overwhelmed
Bookmarking:  Ideas for School Holiday Craft Program
Opening:  Bills
Giggling:  With the kids

Do you find that the year is flying by?
Do you need extra time in your day to get everything done?
What have you been making?