Time out, another goal met

Hi this is me and my recount of a life of a wife, mum and crafter all squeezed in to a working life as a TA in a primary school.

So I've done lots in the couple of days and I feel accomplished. Wednesday I went for a walk with one of my dogs. It wasn't planned other than just we were going out for a walk. The sun was out and I wanted to have time to think so the local nature reserve was where we ended up, a canopy of trees blocking us away from the rest of the world, paths we've walked a thousand times but are different each time you step through them, large watered areas that are slowly turning into bogs as thick as chocolate fudge, bugs whizzing past and bloody mosquitoes!!! I loathe those things and was fortunate enough only to be bitten once but oh my it hurts! We ambled through greeting other walkers enjoying the peace and Lillie, the dog, enjoying the freedom to just run. 

The area of the nature reserve is part of the mining area, which is all around where we live, This is the cave, I've convinced myself and others, has an metal ore of some description in it as it has a green like weathered copper in it. I really like this area of the woods and I can't explain why but I do.

The Trolls Bridge
Can you tell I work in a school? The wonderment just a few white lies these walk ways can cause. The evil troll under the bridge is lurking waiting for a juicy child to munch so stamp and shout as loud as you can to scare him and make him think your not a child. Whilst walking I found myself thinking of new tales to spin, they get wise to our tales and we need to keep adding new spins to keep their imaginations alive. I LOVE MY JOB can you tell?

The log pile twisted and snarled but full of life when you look and listen closer, easily missed as we stomped through. Again my head started to think of new tales for the new year coming up. After a short walk we crossed the bridge and found ourselves at the canal. It's so tranquil my only wish was that others would treat it with the respect it deserves and take their rubbish home with them!

New life was all around as we walked which is just beautiful to see.

Plus a swan? I don't think I've ever seen one there before. So elegant and regal with the way it glided down the canal. How can this all be just within waking distance?

How lucky are we?


The afternoon brought time with big teen, little teen was still away with her friends family. We had no real plans and all the afternoon to ourselves. We headed to the Hollybush, a local garden center. I have been dropping hints (hope your reading this HUBBY) for a garden swing. I've wanted one for years and still haven't got one and the weather up to this point had been amazing. We tested out a few and found this beauty...

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha obviously this is far too much for what I would like but they do have one in there that I really like. We went to our local Range store too and mooched about. The time we spent together I realised was precious as going out and hanging out and having a giggle are coming to the end. Being with your mom isn't cool...


Last but not least baby teen is home. Gone is the quite and thank goodness for that. We've all missed her and loved listening to her tales from her few days away. Thank you Wootons for having her. xxx


Till next time
S xxx

Crocheting and feeling guilty

Hi this is me and my recount of a life of a wife, mum and crafter all squeezed in to a working life as a TA in a primary school.

I like crocheting, a lot. I like sewing,  a lot. I like any way I can express myself creatively, a lot. So why am I feeling guilty? I've spent the last few days catching up on wips (works in progress) One wip to be exact, a blanket I started 18 months ago, and today I feel guilty for sitting catching up with drama series that have been recommended and crocheting. Yes I've made progress on it but my lovely hubby worked last night and today he's been tired today but I'm sure he would of preferred to of been out doing something than been in sat with me. Where as I'm able to sit and crochet hubby can't sit. He has to be doing something and the last few days he's done lots. We've had a couple of days just catching up with ourselves and now I feel like I need to start planning my days. 

It's too easy to loose myself in the mundane and I'm going try hard not to fall into that this holiday. So what do I do tomorrow? I'm concidering a few options a walk around a local park, window shopping around a local haberdashery or maybe I'll pop to the local garden center. I'm not sure yet but I feel the need to mooch and explore. 

The bonus in crafting is the fact it's such a sociable thing to do. I feel so lucky to have made a lot of fabulous friends through a shared enjoyment. But it's also the people who receive my work or who have seen just photos that boost your confidence by liking or commenting about what you've made. I'm going to try and get as many ideas out of my head this holiday and made. Some I know will be a disaster but I'm hoping far more will be amazing and loved by the friends who receive them.

The wip I mentioned earlier is this one. I've been doing it for it for a while..... I've decided today I'm going to get it finished if nothing else this holiday as I want to gift it to the big teen. When I mentioned it to him earlier today his face lit up. he very often moans that I've mde other people things yet he still hasn't got anything so this will be for him. I will continue with the wool I have, it's running very low, then I'll be left with the job of trying to match the colours the best I can or leaving it as it is. Obviously it would of been far easier if I'd of kept the ball bands but that would of been far too easy! I think it's new fashion wool that was gifted to me so I'll need to start the hunt in a day or 2 when its out of wool.

Something else I really like doing is finding quotes. There are loads on Pinterest and I often share ones that pop up on my Facebook. Anything from inspirational to funny. I often find myself giggling at the silliest things, I also have a knack of making myself laugh at nothing. Laughing uncontrollably is fabulous medicine. You know they sort tears streaming down your face, snorting noises erupting from God knows where, running out of breath and becoming wheezy and the best bit muscles you didn't know you had hurting in protest.

My favourite type of laughter is with friends. Most of us have a group of friends who are there to help and support us through life as we are to them. You know you have a magnificent group of friends when they're there to mop your tears, thrust alcohol or cake into your hand, laugh with you and at you, share their life with you, let you share your feelings without judging you but most of all call you a knob when you're being a knob. Honesty is all that a good friendship needs, honesty is all we need in life full stop. Yes the truth hurts at times but isn't that better than being lied to and led along? I'm fortunate to have a community of friends, they don't all know each other but they all make me who I am by being who they are. The laughter is the best part of all friendships.......well with a boozy night out a very close second. No matter where you are or what you're doing find a friend and say HI make those bonds strong as we need them as much as they need us.

To all my friends I LOVE YOU x

Until next time 

S xxx

Family time

Hi this is me and my recount of a life of a wife, mum and crafter all squeezed in to a working life as a TA in a primary school.

Since breaking up from school I feel lots has been accomplished. I've met up with friends and family, sorted the house and have spent the day washing. How is it that simple pleasures can mean so much? Recently we bought a new washing line and today its had its busiest day. Usually I'm the kiss of death and it pours down but not this time there's been washing on it all day. The house has that wonderful outdoor dried clothes smell, it's quite a comforting smell if that makes sense.

Being out in the garden made me realise what a beautiful area we have out there. It's been much neglected since we adopted Pip the high jumper. We had to separate the patio from the garden with a higher fence so the garden really isn't used. Considering the lack of love it's thriving even if it has a few brambles poking through and with pretty weeds peppering the boarders. This holiday I intend on making it a usable area, come hook or by crook it will be an area to be enjoyed. We are so lucky to have such a large area that's been used for parties, water bomb fights,  trampolining, first steps you name it lots has happened in there. WE WILL USE IT AGAIN!

Most people who know me know I'm a bit of a bore when it comes to noticing things around me. Nature and the world around us can be so beautiful, there are far too many people happy to point out the terrible things in the world. I don't ignore it I'd just prefer to focus on the good and not get dragged down with the doom and gloom. Last night we had the most amazing sunset. I was talking to a friend on the phone and suddenly this explosion of colour happened above the houses in front of me. It was simply stunning and I felt blessed to be able to witness it. The photo really doesn't do it justice but it really was amazing.

The small teen and I spent the afternoon watching Me before You, WOW! I sure did sob. It made for interesting conversation after. While we watched this hubby and big teen went out doing some male bonding. Then we've spent the evening as a family. This is something that doesn't happen anywhere near as much as it should, one of the things about teens is them being locked away in their rooms or even out with friends. You go from being the center of their world to being a B&B, that makes days like today that much more special. Giggling about nonsense, taunting each other, conversations about old days it's been amazing. This holiday I'm looking forward to lots more days like that.

I'm still trying to suss this blogging thing out. I have lots if photos I want to share with you but I'm not 100% sure how to add them. If any appear that will be a bonus. Fingers crossed with a bit if tinkering between my phone and small teens laptop I'll get better at this malarkey lol.

Speak to you soon
S x

Here goes the first of many x

Hi this is me and my recount of a life of a wife, mum and crafter all squeezed in to a working life as a TA in a primary shool.

Today is the first day of the summer holiday and I've slept in, as I imagine lots of school staff have. Then I've cleaned, cleaned and cleaned some more.

I have set myself goals for this holiday as usually by the end of the summer holiday I end up regretting not doing more. So my immediate plans for this holiday are;

• Create a blog  ✔
• Deep clean the house ✅
• Finished any craft projects (WIPs) I've got left to do.
• Sort the garden
• Meet up with friends I've not seen for a while (hope they still want to see me)
• Sort my zen den and use it!
• Spend time with my teenagers doing stuff. Just us no one else.
• Be a family doing things that make us laugh.
• Discover something new as often as possible.
• Meditate often and unrushed.
• Be happy!

As you can see not much.... I'm hoping to rediscover myself this holiday too, often when I get caught up in life I start to feel spread a bit too thin. I hope that makes sense? I am far too hard on my self so I've been told and I'm hoping to like myself more. I feel truly blessed to have a large community of friends around me who in general don't judge me or make me look an idiot when I can make such a fabulous idiot of myself.

Tonight I start on my mission to be happy, it's curry night with my work family. I can imagine the rolling eyes, it's work they're only colegues not 'family or friends' but where I work its different to that. We're often commented on by people visiting that we are just that one big family. OK we don't all get along with all our families all the time and yes some member wind you up more than other's but that's what patience and tolerance are all about. We all have that prefered aunt or uncle or the ones that we talk to when we have to but we all get on. That's what life is about. We all bring something to the table to make our lives more enriched, without each one of us or family doesn't work.  This has been an especially hard end of term for me as a work family member has left to start fresh at a new school. I'll be honest I stuck my head in the ground for ages,  months in fact. But it's felt like someone has put their foot on the accelerator and the last week flew by. I returned home to my family an emotional wreck yesterday. I refuse to get so emotional tonight, tonight is about celebration a job well done, fabulous friendships and congratulating everything we've achieved this year.

So I'm sat here writing this just before I jump in the shower,  nervous excitement fluttering in my tummy as the first day of my holiday is half way through. I've managed to tick 2 things off my list and I'm starting on the finding me and happiness.