Even porridge is complicated...

Having one of those mornings where it occurs to me that families complicate everything. Most of the time it is worth it, but why can't we even get through breakfast? Offer to make pancakes? Doesn't work. Do we want American pancakes, or crepes? Or the baby can't have them, or I am trying to be wheat free, or there is fighting over the toppings, maple syrup or lemon and sugar. And then there is the one who doesn't like jam? Who doesn't like jam? Ok, so toast for the boy, and I'll make porridge instead, for two children. But one has it with rice milk, cinnamon and grated apple - with or without dried fruit. And the other doesn't like it that way - it has to be made with cow's milk and cinnamon and sugar. Too much sugar if you ask me. :-) So - we can't even get through breakfast. 4 people having 4 different breakfasts. And then there is the one in bed, who isn't eating properly at all. There are 6 people living in this house and between us, we probably fix 12 seperate meals a day. I wonder how there is enough food left over for me to still be so fat?

Bah humbug....

So Sadie got mugged. In Bristol, on her way home. Crap. But she is ok, so we should be grateful for that.

Christmas spirit

I do find it hard to get into the holiday happy mode when we are so busy. When the kids were little, we used to spend time painting or embossing cards, going for walks along the Mersey getting holly to make our wreaths, baking gingerbread men and generally having a nice time. We even spent years getting Indian take away, so we would spend Christmas day WITH the kids, rather than in the kitchen, cooking a meal they weren't going to eat anyway.

Now they are older, and we have several end of term concerts and productions and fairs and parties, from Scouts, Guides, Music service, for Charity, fundraising, drama, and the home ed group. And a couple of birthday parties thrown in, which are more important so those with December birthdays don't feel left out. And phew. Christmas spirit goes out the window, and grumpy stressed out mother who needs December to be 6 weeks long is here.

Plus it has not been nice for Al, as there have been 6 redundancies at his work in the past fortnight. It is a small company, so this is a big deal. Nobody wanted it, but I guess it was either some people go, or everybody is out of a job. And those left behind get no overtime payments anymore, and have to do the same work, with less people, for less money. There was a week of worry about who was going, and then the interviews and announcements and it is all yucky. He is very sad, and I am sad for him, but also just stressing out about the financial side at home, and thinking I may have to get a job. Which I was looking forward to a couple of years ago, but not now we have a 14 month old. I am really enjoying being a parent of a toddler, with no other toddlers or babies, and having learned not to stress about all of the baby stuff, I think I may do ok this time.

And I haven't finished any Christmas knitting. I just kind of wish the world would let me off for a few days, and then I promise to come back and be productive.

Some knitty news and thingswhatImade...

So I did get some yarn when I went to America. Not much, but I got some Addi Clicks as well, so I am in no way complaining. 

These were all from Nancy's Knitworks on Wabash Ave in Springfield, Illinois. The Plymouth Select worsted is hopefully going to be for a Little Red Riding Hood cape for the baby. I have a year or two to get that one finished. :-) And the Berocco vintage chunky is maybe for a waistcoat for me. I just fell in love with the colour, so bought it on a whim. Of course, I promised myself that I would not do that while I was in America. I don't want to get to the last 6  inches of a project and realize I don't have enough yarn, but I have done it anyway, and no doubt I will end up making something with this yarn for somebody smaller, but who doesn't like it as much as me. :-(

I also went to Knitwits, which is also on Wabash Ave. Acutally, everything in the world that you could ever need is on Wabash Ave, the wool shops,  a game shop, the health food shop, most of the places I wanted to go to get things for people. :-)

From there I got some Rosewood DPNs, which aren't as fabulous as I thought they would be to knit with. They are beautiful to look at though. The Addis are just so much nicer. And some sock yarn.

The colours are lovely, for me anyway - but it was ridiculously expensive. So the socks will be for me too. If I ever get around to knitting anything.

I have been crocheting a lot for a while. I don't get as much free time as before baby, but I do still get to do a few things.  Here are some photos from the craft fair I did at Fallowfield Library.

I sold 4 hats, which was ok, considering there were harldy any punters there. There were only 5 stalls, and it wan't advertised very well. I guess it was sort of a trial, to see if they will be having more. And it was a fun day, because I did it with Tish, who sold her first pair of earrings.

This weekend in the Explorer Scout's Christmas Fair, which is really stressing me out for some reason. We are doing all sorts of things there, and I will try to set up another craft stall, to sell things for the Scouts going to the Jamboree next year. I really like making things - but I don't like having to sell them. :(



Women Unbound

So the Women Unbound reading challenge is finished. I must admit, that  like many participants, no doubt, I started off with more energy that I could maintain. I did, however, manage to read lots of books, even if I didn't blog about them. I did blog about a few, but lately I am finding it hard to find motivation to blog at all. Of course, I am also finding it hard to find time to read.  But I did complete the challenge, which is nice, although I am a Bluestocking, rather than a Suffragette.  ( I think, really I lost count!) That is because I was reading books by men as well, and a few young adult novels, in order to keep up with the kids' books, so we can talk about those. Actually, I wonder if I can include Halo, by Zizou Corder. It is about a young girl, raised by Centaurs, disguised as a boy in the war with Sparta, and there are some Amazons thrown in for good measure. Nice adventure book with a female lead.  So I think I will count it.  Thanks to the women who organized the challenge. I am already thinking what reading challenge I will do next year, although I may decide life is challenging enough. :-)