18-365 flowers to bring happiness in the dark winter

The lovely Hazel brought me this to knitting tonight for a loan - it is so cheery and bright, of course I want all of them. My favourite - for now, are the cherries, however there a few more I might tackle. I think they will make lovely brooches, or hair clips, or an embellishment for a mini haha spring hat (actually her current record for keeping a hat on is apprx 10-15 seconds, so a pointless exercise knit).

Lots of reasons to be happy today - well two more to be precise,

Archie survived his first day in the woods - I was so anxious last night I had a really bad sleep. I was concerned about how he would cope away from us for so long, out in the woods. Strange how anxiety manifests itself in weirdness, I was all concerned about him not being able to open his own lunch - weird because he never eats anything anyways! but I also thought OMG what a rubbish mum, I haven't even made sure he can open his lunch. At 7am we were up and I made him show me how he could open all his wee snack boxes, juice bottle and hot choc flask, it made me feel better knowing he could do it and fend for himself, I want him to be independent. I was also worried people wouldn't like him and not treat him in the kind and gentle way I do........I know he can be a handful - but he is a gentle soul, would they recognise that? At 4pm we were waiting in the car for him, no phone call so hoping for the best, YAI!!! he did it, He was a big success and coped very well for a 1st day. He collected sticks 1st thing this morning, so they built him a fire, he played on the swing, sat down for lunch for 25mins and apparently had a lot of fun. Poor lamb was exhausted - no wonder, he never ate much lunch, duh after all my worries. He looked adorable trudging down the hill, his back pack on, filthy face and stinking of a camp fire, when we got home he pulled a pine needle from his hair. Happy happy days, my wee man is an adventurer.

I did my 1st ever work out. I am desperate to get fit this year and as I can't swim due to money and time constraints I thought running or free workouts were the only route. I went to the gym at lunchtime and used a spin bike, did some arm lift thingies with weights and some jumping squats, which were friggin agony - but although the world was spinning and I felt as thought I'd been on some hardcore amphetamine it was awesome! So that is it, I've started now, no more excuses. I'm going for a run/walk actually probably a bit ambitious there, it'll be a walk/run tomorrow, wish me luck XXXX

10-365 little happy corners

I have little corners of  pleasure in my house, places I really like - where everything just fits right and I love the way it looks, without pre-planning or thought. I got these great vintage postcards from my dad, who got them from his dad (an avid stasher!). I have loads of them, however we chose these 6 for colour and significance. The bottom left is from a visit to croydon when we were really little kids to stay with my folks close friends, the bottom right is Oban where Pug, mum, dad and I had 2 wee holidays, Archie had his 1st swim there and he felt his first snow there. The Carmel one and the one above, which is LA fruit market are representing our CA connection and the final two have great messages on the back.
The hearts - I love, the bottom one was my 40th birthday card from my beautiful neice Peggy age 2 and 3 mos - that girl loves to paint. The one above Archie made for me at Tuesday club, it is made from all the remnants of the kids clothes I've made over the last year. This space is in the corner of our kitchen, it pleases me and makes me smile every day.

Added happiness today was the 1st of our knitting club lunchtimes in school, a few lovely girls turned up and 2 members of staff - spreading the yarn love to future generations HAPPY!