Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Blighty Grounded

Not anymore!

Since the freeze in the skies, this blog's seemed to have had its own little break. Sorry. I've been taking the time to finish a book as I've a new one on the way. Yay!! I won Mud Mama's book giveaway!

Have you noticed how eerily peaceful the skies have looked? Motionless, cloudless and I guess pollution-less. I've had many friends stuck abroad, one thats safely back in Blighty today and another in the skies as I type. More due back over the coming days.

Poor JV, she was stuck abroad on her first girls holiday since her divorce and without her little 3yo boy. I feel sick for her as I remember Hubby and I taking our first holiday of 4 nights away from the Bubela when he was 3yo. I cried the 4th day, all day long. It was a miserable and rainy day in Venice. We had tea in the reception of the hotel watching the rain fall outside. Then waited in the boat taxi queue whilst the rain fell upon us. I was desperate to get to land and board a bus back to the airport. Somehow feeling safer and nearer my 3yo if I was sat in that airport. So, JV I too would have taken the first available flight to anywhere paying the hiked up prices and hitched a ride to Calais, paid treble for umpteen taxi's to be with your little one.

So, until airspace activities resume normal service, so will the postal services. I am holding all airmail back until normal postal service resumes. Thank you for your patience.

Veggie news: The strawberries are flowering!!! The tomatoes need re-potting.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the help of Random.org the winner is Jen from In One Ear.

Well done, Jen.

I'll be emailing you.

Thank you all to whom participated.

Have a great weekend.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Last Chance Giveaway

Comment on this post to give to enter the giveaway.

Results will be drawn on tomorrow, Friday 16th.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Look what is growing in my tomatoes

Are they heart shaped clovers?

Dolly visits the hairdressers

The sun is shinning, the tulips budding and I've dropped the youngest off at nursery.

The older one is upstairs working on a school project and I've a few hours to myself. I'd love to put my feet up with a cuppa, scoff a cake and watch Austraia's Biggest Loser, but Dolly neeeds attention... After giving her hair and a face I thought with the sun shinning gloriously out there we'd have a photoshoot. She is by no means finished, but thus far I'm quite pleased.

Love the new dress, much better than this one. I just need to buy lace and trimmings to add to the apron and bloomers.

Any suggestions for names yet?
In what would have been the prime of their life, enjoying retirement, watching their grandchildren grow, tending to a flowered garden, soaking the sun abroad...

Im sad that such a loving couple were unable to share the rest of thier years together. The mighty Lord had other plans.

What would have been their 38 wedding anniversary. Now, what would be the etiquette of marking an anniversary to the widow left behind?

Mummy, I love you. x

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Letters home

Once upon a time there lived two young girls.

If they were bad at school, they were worse outside.

They giggled and connived together at Mrs Kavaghner in class and called out the window to the boys that met them from school in their cars. They had pyjama parties at each others houses and snacked on sweets as they watched old movies. They journeyed they're first bus ride together, then their first drive together after passing their tests. They holidayed in the sun together and shared stories of their first boyfriends. They laughed and cried, they fought and hugged. Their friendship spanned decades.

One day, one of the two girls decided to go travelling for a year. This was not an end to a friendship, but the beginning of a penpal correspondence.

Week after week, I would open letter after letter, laugh at clippings cut from the newspapers, pin photographs she sent on my walls, listen to her tape recordings. Week after week I would receive the sports pages to keep up to date with the football scores. Week after week I would send letters and share my experiences of life abroad with her. I wrote about the foreign army soldiers, the boyfriends and breakups, the tours and trips. I wrote about my calamity of a week in the army, the terrifying and memorable mountain climbs, the backbreaking work in the factory and the labour of picking mango's.

Oy vey, if I was sweating, she was sweating with me.

I shared her news of being a first time auntie and enjoyed the photos she sent. Her news of her engagement, the time in between and the break up. College, University and making new friends. Tennis coaches, holidaying on boats and a million parties I felt like I was at.

Those were the days when there was no Internet, no email, no mobile phones. I just had a pad of airmail paper, a good pen and an AT&T calling card. Being the sentimental type, I kept every single one of those letter, cards, tapes and newspaper cuttings. And, I'm delighted they have just resurfaced.

Memories. I've had a ball tonight. Thank you.

Put your high heels on and come join the party

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

5 minutes for mom is holding a blog carnival in the way of an ultimate blog party. Its my first party with 5 minutes for mom and I'm very excited to be here.

OK, so whatcha wearin? Im in my PJ's, but thats ok, right? In blogland anything goes, right? Help yourself to a cupcake and let me introduce myself.

I'm Estee. Im a mother to two wonderful boys, the real sunshine of my life. I'm busy to-ing and fro-ing all day long on school runs, grocery shops and gym work outs. I'm married to a lovely man, and fall in love more each day. We met in our teens, but didn't really fall in love until our twenties. We're very proud of the family we have built.

When I'm not filling my days running in the fast lane, I love to knit, crochet and sew. All of which are self taught, with a slight exception to sewing. A couple of years ago, I took a course at the London College of Fashion in Pattern Adaption. I absolutely loved it, even though I'm still intimidated by the invisible zip!

I've been blogging for 5 years now. Read my blogaversary story here.

******And, don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY******

Friday, April 09, 2010

Friday Footwear

*****Click here for the Blogoversary GIVEAWAY*****

-------------------

How do you store them? Shoes, that is.

One of my passions is purchasing shoes. Im more partial to a wedge than a flatty. All of my shoes are stored in their original boxes at the bottom of my wardrobe. However, they are starting to climb the walls, and its impossible for me to give them a spring clean and (dare I say it) chuck out. *gasp*

They have this recycler bag at the dry cleaners where you can donate your shoes to the third world. And, I've often chucked the kids and Hubby's shoes in there. I think its a fantastic idea, but would you chuck your Miu Miu heels in there. Would they need Miu Miu's in a mud hut in Rwanda?



Ive been looking at the Hunter boot recently. Its an all year wear, isn't it?

Last week, whilst shopping in Staines, I actually spoted someone wearing a conservative black Hunter book teamed with a denim hotpant.

I love these boots. They're on my wish list!!











The Fitflop. With all its rage to miraculously muscle tone and get you fit whilst you walk. The range are attractive and to suit all tastes from sparkles to shimmer to plain jane classics.

But, they are hardly the workout I crave from a spinning class.



Havaianas. Are they the best rubber shoe in the world?

I love 'em.








But the wedge will always be my winner.

Loving these Jessica Simpson's. Looks like they're hot on my wish list this year.

Have you started shoe shopping for spring this year yet?

Thursday, April 08, 2010

*****Click here for the Blogoversary GIVEAWAY*****

-------------------


Cuteable blog of cute things

Guess who made it onto Cuteable?? ME!!! Take a lookie here.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Sowing the seeds

*****Click here for the Blogoversary GIVEAWAY*****

-------------------

Wasn't yesterday a glorious day? Where's that gone? I had a great day, both atmospherically and productively.

The Nosh and I sowed our carrots into the new vegetable patch. I'm a tad worried about those tiny weeny seeds as I didn't cover and protect them over with any netting. I'm worried the birds will peck at the seeds.

*note to self* Fix netting. As soon as!!

We also planted a couple of the tomatoe seedlings outside in pots. Again, I'm worried about those too. The wind was blowing those babies from left to right. One of the little seedlings is over hanging the pots edge - like he's run a marathon (or two). Now the wind has died, I'm hoping that that baby will be able to regain composure.

Oy, the worry veggies give you!

Lastly, we planted strawberry seedlings. We planted those straight into the ground alongside the fence. They were a spur of the moment purchase so I hope they turn out to be a good investment. Strawberries are a winner in this house. Just wondering whether to do blueberries too.

HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY - GIVEAWAY

Five years! Oh vey, such a journey.

If you dont want to read the shmultzy stuff and just get straight to the GIVEAWAY - scroll to the bottom of post!!!!!!!!!

Its started back in 2001. The doorbell rang and a big heavy box was delivered. No, noone jumped out of it, just my first laptop. It was the start of my connection to blogland. I found a huge community of talented people, of people that shared their passions and creations with the world. I found fantastic inspiration and a craving to learn to create and make.

A few years on, after a ball of acrylic and a Teach yourself to knit book, Sweetpeaknits was created.

My blog journey has seen me through many handmades, some good - some bad. Gifted - and frogged. Learning curves - and mis-perfections. My proudest moments - one being my contribution to Knitty with Bobblicious .

This love of knitting spurred a craving to learn more a craft. There was a period of home dyeing yarn, which proved too messy for my kitchen. There was my teach myself to crochet and the many crocheted blankets and granny squares that came out of it.

Then, receiving of my vintage Singer and learning to operate it - to creating my first garments. Not to mention the opening of my Etsy shop.

Sweetpeaknits, I've loved every moment of you.

This blog has grown up alongside me and my family. We've shared some wonderful holidays. We've laughed at treasurable moments. We've cried at the saddest of times. Best of all, I've made some wonderful friends in blogland and we share common passions. Bless you all.

To mark this occassion I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY.

A Sweetpea4kids T-shirt of your choice.

All you have to do is state your favourite t-shirt in the comments section and follow my blog. View the whole collection here at my Etsy store.