Bits and pieces

Well, this has been a strange old week. Not even sure why or what it just feels that way. I have quite a few bits and pieces to blether about - I'm so much enjoying writing this blog; thinking about what's been going on and then recording it seems to be quite therapeutic.



Sewing:: I have finished the tote bag I started quite some time ago and have decided to keep it for myself. Strangely enough its just the size and shape I like! I have ordered some linen samples and once I have found one I like I think I will make some linen tote bags, similar to this, to put onto Folksy.



The boys:: are both enjoying school so much just now. Finn is learning about Ancient Egypt and Angus about castles. Angus set off to school today clutching his dragon (castle related, obviously!) to show the class and as soon as we were in the school grounds sent me a glancing kiss and ran off to huddle together with his bunch of little friends. Finn comes out of school deep in conversation with one or both of his two very best friends and often, still, they will be hand-in-hand.



Running:: seems to have reached a point where I am really enjoying myself. This is somewhat of a shock. I have always loved walking and hillwalking and have often run/jogged 2 or 3 miles on a regular basis but the incentive of a race deadline to train properly seems to have really worked. I'm finding myself thinking about when I can go out for my next run and planning several days ahead so I can fit them in around everything else that needs to be done. I must make sure I keep this up once the race is finished. E and I had a lovely run yesterday morning up in the Lammermuir Hills at Hopes Reservoir. We planned a route that would take us over some rougher ground and up and down some hills. The photos were taken on my phone so aren't great and don't show some of the rougher bits where I was just concentrating on not tripping or slipping.



The cats:: both think spring is in the air and are spending so much more time outside doing whatever it is that cats do.

Kitchen window:: has been wide open this afternoon. I have had to wear a jumper to compensate but I just love getting some, warmish, fresh air blowing through the house.



Library:: came up trumps this week. While Islay and my niece were occupied with storytime I had a wander around and consequently came home with a very heavy stack of books. The cookery books will hopefully provide a few new ideas. I seem to be in a bit of a rut just now and need some fresh inspiration.



The Patrick O'Brien book is the one he was writing when he died and would have formed part of the Jack Aubrey series (the film Master and Commander, with Russell Crowe as Jack, is based on these books) had he been able to finish it. I'm very excited to find it, I didn't know it existed and I love his other books, but need to beware it may be a bit frustrating as it's incomplete. But there's no way I'm not going to read it!



Crocheted Throws and Wraps by Melody Griffiths was just picked up to glance through until I spotted the roses and daisies throw. I think its just stunning and would dearly love to be able to make it some day. Given that I spent an hour on Tuesday trying to cast on 48 stitches (for the front of Islay's top) and then rib 5 rows, and had to give up back at square one, it may be a while before I can think about learning to crochet as well as knit! I have now managed to get up to rib number five successfully - I was casting on incorrectly - duh.