Coming up for air

I've been on hold for a while because of huge commitments at work.  They haven't changed much but I'm just coming up for air. The air this week arrived on Wednesday:

But I had to wait (not patiently) until Saturday morning until I could start these:

A granny square with a circular centre

Second circle

The last round turns it into a square

 They are totally addictive - I couldn't help myself 

By Sunday night I had to discipline myself to stop this hooky-fest.  I sewed all the ends in and these are the first 21 squares of my 144 square blanket, inspired by Lucy of Attic 24. She is the queen of lush colours.

Other things have been going on, so here is a quick photo tour of the goings-on at Strawberry Patches:

The Silkie chooks are full size now - but which way are they facing!

Ben is at the 'I wish I could pickle them' age: 

Napping...

More napping

Testing centrifugal force

Wearing porridge

Cooking Special K

Cooking tea (let's hope he's a tidier cook than his Daddy)

just being cute...

Still drinking strange concoctions (me, not Ben):

 

Spinach and apple

Mango, guava and lime - always worth a rummage in the cheap fruit section for overripe things that would have been really expensive.

Blueberry and pear, bacon toastie and Machu Pichu coffee - I love breakfasts on a Sunday.

Mother's Day:

Me to Steph and....

Steph to me. (The boys do things for their Mammy, dig, cook etc as I don't like them spending their money on the commercialisation of a special day but it's nice to have a someone who does pretty!).

Beautiful linen napkins from the White Company when I went in to Newcastle and, strangely, found myself in their shop.

What better way to show my gorgeous coloured eggs thanks to my hens. (None from the Silkies yet though).

Re-cycling pretty jars:

The lids are covered with tissue paper

Painted with light buttermilk, then a plaid pattern added,

Green hearts painted on top of this,

Some pen work added and some buttons put in.

I have more jars to do!

There has been a bit of a yellow theme in the kitchen:

Mango ice using jars we got from an Indian takeaway.

Creme caramel

Tarte au citron

Omelettes (in case you are worried about the cholesterol these happened over a few weekends - not all on the same day!)

A teenage girl I know found herself in the family way and abandoned by her own family, so the ladies at work are putting together a hamper of things for the baby and some nice stuff for her too. The baby was due last week but no sign yet. These are my contributions:

A cardigan made from Sirdar Baby Bamboo - I decided to make the 6-12 months size.

A cot quilt - 'Cute as a Button'.  It was super quick to make and I have just got some turquoise fabrics to make another version with a pattern to follow.

I've been having a lovely time at High Street Quilting teaching, chatting and laughing with the ladies who come to the class. If there's one thing I've discovered about teaching, it's how much I learn.

So that's a round-up of the things that have been keeping me sane.  Today I'll be making some revision materials for the Year 11 exams and then a BBQ for tea. Tomorrow it's back to the maelstrom that is my life at the moment.

Would I change it? Probably not. As Diane Ackerman said: 

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to live the width of it as well."