love happy

Alice is 12 and in year 7 at school, her first year in high school. She brought this home last night. An electronic game which everyone in her technology class had a chance to make and decorated to their tastes. I was pretty amazed that my girly had made this, cut the wood, made the electric circuit and designed her game with the finishing touch of a red light in the crown which lights up to say "you're out" if you touch the wire. Now, I wasn't educated in England and I sometimes find it a juggling act to keep up with the different systems and philosophy of teaching but, to be honest with you I am pleased. Yes, I am very pleased when I see her being able to apply herself like this and learn the theory and then translate that into practice. I am pleased that she has adjusted so well to her new, huge (over 1200 kids) high school and how she has disciplined herself to independently get up and catch her bus by 7.30am to Eastbourne each morning.  I am pleased with her scho...

Sometimes, just sometimes a little granny goodness is all I need to see me through a busy week. Have a good one and I'll be back. xox Penelope

Dearest bloggy friends I am ever so pleased its the end of my working week, I absolutely LOVE my job in Oncology, I am learning so much and really enjoy working with the complexities that Cancer can bring. I count my blessings each and every day that I have a job that is so fulfilling and rewarding being able to support people on their cancer journey with nutrition related symptoms. BUT...... you knew there had to be a but in there! But, when Friday evening comes I just need to kick off my shoes, let my hair down and have a glass of wine and wallow in the joy of my weeks ending. I'm sure I am not alone in feeling this. Now for my reflection on my happy & simple little things of this past week. First up, my latest knitting project, a tea cosy for my mother in law. She wanted an apple green and baby pink cosy and has left the rest up to my imagination. It's fun making this in stripes and i hope to decorate it with some spring buds and pom poms, no doubt I will have a ta-dah m...

I'm late with my W for Wednesday post, it's 11pm and I want to get something out before midnight. I am having a weird sleeping cycle week this week...I keep getting sleepy around 7pm whilst reading or just being cosy on the couch and find myself taking forty winks which is really interrupting my normal sleep cycle. Come on January be gone with you and your dark, cold days! I guess I shouldn't be too harsh, you did shine with blue skies after a rainy start today. So here's to some serious wishful thinking. I have become a real admirer of  Daniel Heath's work  and thought you might like to see some it too? His beautiful wall papers Will they ever adorn my walls one day? What can I possibly say about these antique wall mirrors? Oh, and textiles too... Yes please and thank you very much Mr. Heath Ahhh, sometimes it's just nice to be a little wishful don't you think? All images from  here Go have a look, it might just make you wishful too x

In the early 1980's my Sister got a Printers tray for one of her birthdays. I think they became a popular thing to have then, maybe a little trend to collect teeny tiny things in the blocks of a wooden printers tray. Hers was new as far as I can remember, they were made specifically for this new trend and I have vague recollections of what she put into those wooden blocks back then. Well, to say that I had some birthday gift envy is probably an understatement, although I would never have admitted it at the time, I was truly envious of this treasure trove of little things. A place to put them all and admire them from a distance on a wall somewhere. As time went by I don't know what happened to her printers tray and must ask her about it someday, I don't think she has it any more, which is sad given the fact that you go through phases in your life where you think you might not have any use for something from your early teen years but now, as we get older and dare I say it a l...

Have you had a good week despite some disruption of snow and the freeeeeezzzzzing air? (or for those of you down South, hot air?) My week has been filled with these little critters, the papa, mama and baby bear crochet faces I made while playing with my Rowan  fine tweed yarn . Alice did me the honour of drawing on their faces with felt tip and obviously decided they needed to be sleeping bears, something this little family of 3 know and love to do! They are rather sweet don't you think? Simple dc crochet circles around pebbles found on our beech. As for the ears.... well these are just freestyle and turned out quite cute. I think they look like quite a contented bear family and not grizzly and growling this January of 2013. This pleases me somewhat! Simply watching �1 daffodils opening as the snow melts away this week. Nothing can compare, especially with having no real sunshine this week. Next up was being asked to embellish my friend Helen's hat with a crochet flower or two ...