Weekender Blanket Along with Cherry Heart

Happy weekend folks,

Hope you are all fine and dandy this Sunday.  It is a wet and windy afternoon in my part of the world - a day for hunkering down - perfect for cosy crafting.  I thought that I would share progress on my Target Square blanket which I've been crocheting this month.  I thought it would be fun to join in the 'Weekender Blanket along' that Sandra was hosting on her lovely blog and had great plans for progress over the month.

I've enjoyed the simple rhythm of making these squares - they don't require a great deal of thought or concentration and you can feel quite productive working away in a quiet fashion.  I've now crocheted 78 squares (although no ends are sewn in).  The colours are reminiscent of the sea and contain some of my favourite hues and of course many of you will recognise them from Lucy's lovely Coastal blanket pack.  

While I was playing around with placing the squares I decided to omit a couple of the colours - just for my personal taste.  I'm really happy with how these colours work together and hope to complete the blanket by the end of April.

I had made a start on this blanket before Sandra announced the "Blanket Along" but had only completed 21 squares and so have made progress in those interim weeks - which was all that was required to join in!!!  I had set myself the target of 8 squares each week of March.

Excellent.  I've managed to achieve one of my many goals on the crafting front this month!

There are some gorgeous blanket creations being shared at the blanket along on Cherry Hearts Ravelry group so if you haven't looked yet I'm sure you'll see some inspirational crochet when you have a spare moment.  There is also a voting system as Sandra is so kindly giving a prize to one lucky winner!  I feel lucky to have been involved, even in a small way with such an inspirational, creative community.  A big thank you to Sandra for providing the motivation!

I will need to order another pack of coastal colours to complete my blanket - it's going to be a big one and can't wait to share more progress with you over the coming weeks.

J9 x

Tough Times & a Promise

I am increasingly aware that across the world many people are faced with challenges which may seem insurmountable.  Many people struggle daily behind closed doors with issues far worse than mine and I wish everyone the strength and fortitude to manage and overcome such trials.  In writing this post I am in no way seeking sympathy but purely documenting elements of my Every Day.

It is true however, that the month of March has been an immense struggle for me both physically and emotionally.  Scheduled hospital visits, weekly blood tests, a visit to A & E combined with brain fog, uncontrollable pain and real incapacity have left me exhausted and ready for a week of rest.  I am recovered enough to enjoy such a week.  A week to hide away from pretending to the outside world that I am OK.  Where I can curl up and allow myself to rest completely.  Sometimes I know I need to force myself to go out and push through.  On occasions I know that it is my own four walls called HoME that will help my mind and soul most of all.

Next week the school breaks up for the Easter holidays and so I have given myself permission to have a completely indulgently restful week starting today.

I don't plan to go anywhere - except seeing a friend on Wednesday for a birthday lunch.  I have the normal school drops and pick ups to do, plus after school clubs but I have nothing beyond that.  I need a week where I can retreat to the sanctuary of my home during those 6 hours of school each day.  In order to rest and recuperate without self inflicted feelings of guilt I am declaring it as a "Plan".

In the spirit of maximising this rest I thought that I would fully commit to my week of leisure through a series of promises.  Accordingly, this week I promise to...

::  indulge in some leisurely crochet... ...ideally in PJ's

::  practice meditation techniques to help with my fatigue and calm my mind...

::  enjoy spring flowers in my home...

::  enjoy quiet times with my family...

and,

::  to refocus on gratitude for the Simple Things that bring happiness to my life.

I hope you all have a positive week and that you are able to embrace the things that will bring balance and health to you in the week ahead.

J9 x

A Big Adventure

Little Lady returned home to me today after her first independent intrepid adventure.  She had been on school camp - leaving on Monday morning and returning home at 3pm today.  We had no contact other than a general text from school each day to confirm all was well.

It was the first time she has stayed away from me overnight excepting when I've been in hospital so it was a big step for us all.  An opportunity to grow and learn.

Of course she absolutely bloomed.  We prepared, packed, planned... all to ease this transition.

Little Man has really missed his sis.  They have a very lovely relationship of which I am really proud.  It is helped by the fact that she is not a girly girl.  By far she prefers to run, climb trees and be outdoors and so they have played together from the start with only 21 months between them.

She is home now and tucked up in bed.  Happy and exhausted.  Feeling all grown up yet grateful to be home.  I feel enormously happy to have my family back together under the same roof again.  I shall kiss her forehead before I sleep and revel in the fact that she is safely back with us.

For her a big step forward in emotional growth; embraced wholeheartedly and stored as a treasured memory of her childhood.

Pretty Me & Make Me Challenge ~ February

Regular readers of this blog will know that I have committed to stop my procrastination and commit to a 'Pretty Me' project and a 'Make Me' challenge each month.

I am still working on my Pretty Me project for January (doh) and my first Make Me project had overrun slightly so I need to select a relatively quick project from my long list to complete within the rest of the month and thereby catch up.  Sooo...

Pretty Me ~ February

I had a quick win recently - a neighbour was skipping this trunk.

As you can see it's a little battered - the lid is split and the clasps are rusting but there is still function in this trunk. I asked the neighbour if I could rescue it and he looked at me as if I was mad!!  I could see some use in it so thanked him profusely and the trunk came home with me.

I have a purpose for this in mind - to house board games in our lounge so they are easily accessible by all but not stacked on tables in full view all the time.  I think a bit of paint and wall paper will soon pretty this old trunk up!

Make Me ~ February

I purchased Lucy's Coastal Colours pack from the Wool Warehouse online.  These colours are all my favourite tones - I do really like the look of them all together and they are so reminiscent of the sea.  My hands are a real problem at present and I have been long wanting to make some of Sandra's gorgeous mitts.  They should be a quickish and purposeful make.

Obviously it's now early March so I hope to finish this quickly for a crafty win and to get me back on track for some of my larger projects! In the short term though these should be two very enjoyable and rewarding projects. I look forward to the creative process and sharing the results with you soon.

J9 x

If you would like to look at my previous Ta Dah posts on the Make Me and Pretty Me challenges just click on the link below:

January