this and that

A day of this and that, I started out by preparing all of the bits for Maddie's party on Saturday. I am so behind the drag curve this week that it kind of snuck up on me. I started to panic that I wouldn't get all the bits together in time. I have yet to think about the cake or cookies to make for her birthday. I cannot seem to get motivated with the whole birthday cake thing down here as the results are less than stellar.


I spent the morning wet felting balls for the butterflies heads, dry felting the bodies and collecting together some flat felted pieces for them to cut out for the wings. I wrapped snakes heads and pulled together some buttons and trinkets that the girls can sew on their items. Hopefully they will enjoy the process.

On Wednesday I managed to finish drawing up and piecing together the St Andrews Cross to go on the back of Euan's quilt. It all seem to go together well and now needs a press before basting it. I must admit I am not looking forward to this part at all.

My boy has slowed down so much just recently. Most days after his morning run you can find him claiming bits of furniture as his own. He started out on the sofa who's covers were in the wash and then

He moved onto the small chair for a while but nearly fell off in his sleep. Later he tried out the sofa with the quilt on and then progressed into the dining room under my feet for a while.

When he drops off he is absolutely gone to the world and I can go out and back in without him noticing me away.

The kids and I had a good game night last night where we played some vowel games and then this Star Wars one out of Euan's magazine. We had lots of fun with it even if the kids tried every trick in the book to change the scores, it was a victory to Mum!!

Euan has spent all week working on this Transformer. We have had lots of tears when it got dropped five times in a row one morning. Frustration that it wouldn't look like he wanted because he didn't have the bits of lego he needed. Quite why he couldn't find something at that time to work is beyond me the room is sinking in Lego. I tried to climb into the other half of his bed on Tuesday night (thanks to my husband's snoring) and I couldn't a) get in the room for lego on the bloody floor which really hurts when you stand on it and b) as I climbed into bed I ended up having to extract over a dozen pieces before I could even lay down.

Still he managed to finish it tonight and he is very pleased with himself and quite right to as he has done a fab job. The light was really bad tonight but I promised I would put these on my blog for him.

And here it is after transforming. Pretty marvelous I say. Right I think I am going to head to bed. J is in Stanley tonight for Farmer's week and I don't envy him the night out or the drive home in the dark on that road. I don't think I will settle until he gets back safely. Until then I think a hot water bottle and my book (if I can keep my eyes open).

Love to all Helen x

Beginnings and Endings

The last week seems to have been marked with beginnings and endings. I have awoken to watch beautiful scenes like these just on my doorstep. I think this has to be the most spectacular colour to date of all my sky photos. The air glowed, none of these photos have been photoshopped, they are straight out of my camera.

This morning wasn't as spectacular but lovely in its own right. We awoke to several inches of the white stuff making a return.

I argued with my self and went backwards and forewards on whether to risk the road into Stanley or not. I had a hospital appointment at 2pm and didn't really want to go out on the road with last nights snow fall still icy and fresh on the MPA highway.

A quick call to the road hotline made my mind up, although Mount Kent and Mare Harbour road where restricted MPA road was open. I decided to drive as far a Fitzroys ridge and make an informed decision then. I took the kids to school and then returned home to find these feathered friends sat on my hot roof. Such a bizarre sight even now. I started to load the car with my sleeping bags and survival rucksack and then remembered I needed my cool box to.

I headed out of the back door only to find more feathery creatures on the tree. It was like being stalked!

I gingerly headed out at just over 20 mph and took my time pootling along the road. I have to say even though it is a frightening as hell driving on this road it is still simply stunning to me. Not beautiful as it is to harsh to be that but still an amazing sight. The roads were icy but not to bad so I made the decision at Fitzroy to carry on into Stanley.

The hills are heavy with snow even though the ground has just a sprinkling. The forecasters said the temperature would not rise above zero but there shouldn't be any more showers until tonight.

At one stage in my rear view mirror I was treated to this rainbow on the horizon.

It took me just over an hour to do my usual 40 minute run but I made it safely into town and headed to the West Store to do a large food shop to restock my cupboards. I had hoped to pick some flowers up for Jane who had kindly offered me lunch but they were not of a fit enough standard to acquire. I stopped by the Land Rover garage to see if they had got the trim in for my car yet and to book an appointment to get it fitted.

Jane cooked me a lovely pasta lunch and we chatted about Euan and his work. Soon enough it was time to head quickly to the Chandlery for some ham and then to the hospital for my appointment. Fergus had a quick toilet break along the front of the harbour before being popped into the back again. After nearly loosing it with the Practise Nurse I completed my appointment and headed back onto the road home for about 3:15pm.

I had been concerned that it would freeze over and become lethal but thankfully it was no worse than the mornings drive. Idiots were still whizzing past me at over 50 mph but I just pottered along at the standard 25/30 mph which is good enough for me on ice.

The sun was just starting to set on the ridge line and it was casting the most wonderful glow in the distance. These photos don't do it justice.

I thought I had missed most of the sunset and was busy unloading the car of all my groceries when I looked out to the west and saw this starting.

slowly at first and then over the course of five minutes developing into

this beauty.

A quick coffee with my friend Jayne and a big thank you to her for picking up my motley lot from swimming for me and it was time to start dinner. Having eaten a good lunch at Jane's I wasn't really in the mood for cooking so the kids ended up with mac cheese and J had to fend for himself. I couldn't even be bothered going to the families shop tonight I was to knackered.

J came home from work with a stack of boxes one of which contained the snorkels I ordered for Ascension in August.

Euan had to give his a quick check during bathtime which of course brought Mum running with the camera. I have no clue what he is doing with his eyes in this one.

Back to the gym tomorrow and I suppose I ought to think about preparing for Maddie's party which is on Saturday. We are meant to be making felt creatures but I will need to get a wriggle on and get some balls felted for it. Love and best wishes to all Helen x

Getting There

This week so far has been quite productive. I have managed to get to the gym both days, complete my walk and then run for 6 mins which is good. I have to admit it has been hard to get back into it after three weeks off. We have had some more stunning sunrises this week. Up above was yesterdays sky with all its burnt oranges and yellows.

I managed to finish piecing together the top of Euan's quilt and even with broom lines it went together alright. Next I have to do is quilt it which is the bit I hate. I still need to draw up the Scottish flag for the back but that should be slightly easier than the Union Jack.

This morning we were treated to another beautiful sunrise. Last night the moon was so low in the sky it looked like it would fall out. It was a rich yellowy orange colour and looked quite eery as the clouds blew across in front of it. One of my neighbours was telling me that I had missed the moon eclipse last week which was a shame because apparently it was stunning. I didn't even know it was happening.

On Sunday I finished Maddie's party invites and now I need to get the felting ready for her butterflies and snakes. Thankfully I have a week and a half to go yet before the party.

Today I finished off these two penrolls which have just been delivered. I used up the last of my pink and red spot which is a shame as I loved this fabric, it really brought a spot of colour and whoosh to patchwork.

I helped out with swimming tonight but thankfully there was PT session in after the school slot so I didn't have to stay in with the kids, I am knackered. I am just about to go off and fight in the families shop for fresh fruit and veg, oh how I am not going to miss Tuesday nights!! Right better go and chase the girls up and make sure their hair is dry. Love to all Helen x

Home Safe

Yesterday I had to go into Stanley for Euan's lesson which meant I had to face "the Road". It is an interesting drive at the best of times but with recent weather conditions it has become lethal. The car would get an interesting shimmy every time I went from tarmac to gravel and back. Thankfully we made it back in one piece and I am not sorry to say I was relieved.

As you can see from the photos it is a rather mucky road to and the once shiny car is now a brown muddy mess. Enter one loving husband who is happy to wield a pressure washer and clean it for me. It may have something to do with the fact everytime I clean it I end up scratching it with the hose which has a mind of its own!

Even my rear gunner didn't have a view yesterday.

Last night I popped over to Jayne's and had a play with her Cricut machine. She has a Disney cartridge and since I still haven't done my album from 2008 i thought I might make a start using this fab toy. After a few duds and trying to work out why it kept screwing up the heavier paper we were well away and I now have a Minne, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto head to put on my pages, plus a rather swish title for the front page. I think Jayne was ready to have me let myself out when I kept saying "just one more thing before I go". So thank you Jayne and I will be back once I have my next list sorted out :)

Today is going to be a lazy day I think, I have some birthday invites to make for Maddie and said album to work on. The house could do with a tidy and then there is the age old dilema of what to make for dinner. Enjoy your Sunday Love Me x

Making a Start

The weather has been very changeable this week. All the snow was gone by Wednesday after a night of very heavy rain and wind. We awoke Thursday morning to this sight, absolutely stunning. I know you will be bored of my sky pictures by now but I love them, definitely a mini book in the making I think.

I have finally got off my backside this week and made a start on something, don't get me wrong there has still been far to much tea and chat going on but I think that is important to sometimes. I decided to make a start on Euan's (Hush Hush) christmas quilt. I plan to make a quilt for each of the kids for christmas and hopefully also a bunny or such to go with it. I am fed up with the kids dragging their big duvets through to the living room in the mornings and hope this will be an alternative. Euan's obviously had to be a union jack and so I set to work trying to plan it out.

Problem number one is that a flag is long and thinish so it doesn't really suit the shape I wanted for a quilt. So the purests out there please look away as I have fattened up the flag somewhat to fit the shape I needed. Problem number two was that I didn't bring my metre ruler with me so a broom handle had to be used to draw out my straight lines. Only hitch with that is, it is round and rolled all over the place as I was trying to draw said lines.

Still I am getting there and just have one quarter left to piece together for the top. I plan to attempt the Scottish Saltire for the back but haven't decided how I am going to quilt the two together yet. All of this also has to be done during school hours as I don't want little people to see it. Please don't spoil the surprise viewers at home.

I did take some pictures of my penguins that I made to brighten up my bathroom. Please excuse the appalling light, they are much brighter but it has been so dull here that I haven't been able to get good light in which to photograph them.

we have the Magellanics

the Gentoos

Mr Rock Hopper

and Sir King.

I still want to do a few more bits to my bathroom and then I will try to take a before and after picture.

Yesterday I went into Stanley with some good friends and had lunch at the Malvinas. Unfortunately it was a very average meal, the starter was lovely, fresh spring rolls with chilli sauce. For mains I chose thai green chicken which should have been good but the sauce had split and half way through I couldn't eat anymore. I felt rather queasy for the rest of the evening and my friends didn't fair any better. We did however manage to do some damage in the Stanley shops, the girls got a new pink sledge with Euan having a black one. I picked up some new gloves for Ellie and Euan but Ellie's don't fit her so Maddie is very happy! and now Mum has to get another pair for Ellie. A few new candles as my others have just about run out. Two new baking tins as my spring bottom ones are so rusty now and then a big food shop. We had a very loaded and dirty landrover of Jayne's on the way home. Sadly we did see quite a few rolled cars in the ditches and it is a rather sobbering reminder of just how treacherous the road can be. Although clear of snow and ice now it has lots of potholes and is very muddy and slippery still.

Tonight I was going to head to happy hour but due to a function it wasn't on. A quick phone call to Jayne and off to Oasis with us all for toasted sandwiches for tea. We did try to go rock climbing but the instructor didn't turn up so we went back to Jayne's for more tea. A phone call from Alex and we headed up to hers for Pimms and Wagon Wheels, what more could a girl ask for? My back is really sore at the sides now so I think I might go for a bath and have an early night as I am off to Stanley again tomorrow for Euan's lesson weather permitting.

Oh and to give all of you a laugh, jumped in the bloody car this morning to take the kids to school and completely flat battery. Jayne took great pleasure in driving her older car around to jump start our shiny new one, John will be teased for some time to come I think by the neighbours for that one!

What a difference a day makes

This was the view out my office window on Friday morning. The wind was blowing a hoolie and it felt like we were in Dorothys house out of the Wizard of Oz.

The view out of our living room window at lunch time.

when J came home for a late lunch.

Wake up to Saturday and brilliant sunshine with no wind. I had promised the kids that I would take them sledging again if it calmed down. This time we tackled the big slope. It has a rut at the bottom which causes theeee most spectacular wipeouts and faces full of snow.

The older two loved it.

This one not so much, she really wasn't up to it so I took her back to a quiet spot away from all the raucous boys with a gentle slope and no jumps. She had a few slides and then decided she really wasn't feeling so hot and would come home with me. She has been rather clingy lately and I am hoping she isn't coming down with any of the bugs that are going around.

We of course had to have the mandatory silhouette shots, they are a bit like the sky shots now.

I am not quite sure what all the lumps and bumps were, I had a camera bag over my shoulder and a sledge tucked down my jacket in my defence!!

This one reminds me of the old books Meg and Mog can anyone remember those?

heading back over the field to home with big skies and clean views.

to our own personal home from home.

and this boy sat at the door howling his head off and very excited that I was going to take him across the field for a quick walk. Please note the tongue and not a lick of seaweed in sight.

Maddie and I spent the rest of the day baking, mincepies; lemon cheesecake; toffee meringue; gingerbread with phili icing and then puff pastry tarts. She is such a wonderful help in the kitchen, no fussing just doing whatever I ask her and she never seems to get bored bless her.