*

Our Sunday walk was a little different this week and we were joined by my brother and his gorgeous kiddos having decided that a little trip to the duck pond was in order. We stocked up on bread, wrapped up warm and headed to the park.

The ducks loved our visit almost as much as we did and soon we were surrounded. To begin with Coby wasn’t overly sure about the ducks getting too close (ducks are pretty monstrous when you’re less than two foot tall) but he soon came round and we had to stop him from trying to stroke them like a dog. Teeny fingers can easily get mistaken for yummy bread in a hungry duck’s eyes, don’t you know.

Ty decided it was fun to throw bread in a puddle and watch the ducks get all muddy in pursuit of tasty treats and then got totally distracted by a little Moor Hen that had found its way into the pack. We played some football, gathered some conkers and hung off trees for a while before Coby decided it was far too cold for anymore outdoor fun, and we headed home. The ducks sure were sad to see us go, but I think we’ll be back pretty soon.

*

The weekend was awesome. On Friday we ate some tasty tasty food (hello duck chow mein) when we went out for Andy's (my sister's boyfriend) birthday and on Saturday evening we went and watched the fireworks at our local university with B's parents and his brother and his girlfriend. We ate burgers and candy floss. It was brilliant. Lots of family fun was had.

Now Firework Night has been and gone, Christmas is really in the air. Most of the shops are now playing classic festive tunes and are stocked with shiny trinkets. And boy oh boy is it ever chilly. Bring on the woolly hats and mittens.

JoAnn~ You've made me so happy!

So. JoAnn's is having a sale this week because of Veteran's day! I mean, some of the items that aren't on sale should be but whatever...I'll be happy with what I can get! Today it was gloomy and raining so I went with Kailey to JoAnn's. We bought some fabric. I didn't buy all I need because I NEED A LOT but I bought some stuff to work on which made me happy.

I bought some fabric for my Rikku and Bridget costume. Yay~ I know, my costumes keep changing. I think the costumes I REALLY want to work on for the first half of next year are going to be (in all honesty):


Rikku~ Trainer Dressphere (FFX2)


Sheik: Zelda OOT



Bridget: Guilty Gear


Miki: Vocaloid

*

This week has been a manic and stressful week. Work over the last couple of days has been pretty horrendous, so the arrival of the weekend is very welcome. It has meant that the little things making me smile have been more important than normal.

Things to smile about this week:

1. Finishing the first item for my shop. It’s a long way off launching (I’m thinking mid-January at this point) but this week I knitted and tweaked an idea I’ve been developing, into an item that will actually be for sale. I’m more than pleased with it and everyone I’ve showed it to loves it too. Tomorrow I’m working on another idea and I’m hoping that by Sunday night that one’s also been perfected. Our living room is currently covered in wool, as you can imagine. But look at the pretty colours.

2. Re-discovering this photograph. I’d been worrying about where it got to and then found it in a stack of other random pictures. It’s now framed and settled on a shelf. It’s one of my most favourite things. The only picture I have of me and both my parents from when I was small. It was taken at my first birthday. My parents divorced when I was 4 and this appears to be the only picture that survived with both of them in. It had been glued into my Baby Book and so slipped through the net. It’s both the happiest and saddest picture. Such a lovely time with both my parents and so much fun ahead, but the fact I only have one snapshot in the world of the three of us together is heartbreaking.

3. Birthdays and an excuse to go out to eat. We don’t often eat out at the moment, what with being good little savers, but birthdays offer the perfect excuse. It’s my sister’s boyfriend’s birthday today and some tasty food is a-calling. Happy Birthday to the awesome Andy. You rock.

4. The crazy wind. Yesterday morning I walked out of our front door to a blanket of leaves. No pavement in sight. The wind had been a bit mental on Wednesday night and blown off almost every leaf from the trees in front of our house. It was the prettiest sight and made walking to work like walking through a forest.

5. Being asked to take part in Natalie’s Friday Favourites and choose five of my most favourite things in the world. Pop over and check it out.

Has anyone else noticed the number of posts appearing in the blogosphere featuring inspiring sayings or mottos over the last week or so? Maybe it’s got something to do with the New Year fast approaching, and dreams and resolutions for 2011 being formed.

I’m normally not good at sticking to resolutions. For as long as I can remember I’ve had one and only one. Stop biting my nails. Well this year I did it. Full on stopped. I think the thought of gnawed nails at my wedding was the driving force. Not really a good bridal look. They’re not crazy long or anything, but there’s white at the ends. This is new for me.

Around April time I formed another resolution (yeah OK it was a bit late, but it’s the thought that counts). I decided that I needed to make more of a concerted effort to keep in touch with people. We have friends all over the place and sometimes the weeks of not speaking or emailing turn into months and before you know it it’s been a few years since you last saw each other. My hen weekend and our wedding meant we saw all our favourite people lots, which was the most awesome thing, so ever since I’ve been trying to keep up with keeping in touch. Even the odd text message is better than nothing, right? But the last couple of months have been and gone with not much writing at all. It appears my fingers have been too busy knitting and blogging. This has to change and I vow to write one catch-up letter/email a week. This is my pre-New Year resolution.

My Grandma is the queen of snail mail and has drawers stocked with writing sets and notelets, ready to send out. Just like this one. They are always pretty and say beautiful things. I have stacks of notes from her that I cherish and I plan to follow her lead.

*

That weekend went way too quickly for my liking. After a long lie-in on Saturday and a quick trip into town it was time for a movie and Chinese from the best takeaway ever. Oh how I love veggie spring rolls. Then Sunday was an early start and lots of heavy lifting helping my Mum move flats. It took way longer than anticipated and after a quick visit to B’s parents it was time to get dressed up for Halloween.

As always my Nan did a brilliant job on the decorating front and everyone embraced dressing up. Which my nephews thought was completely brilliant. B and I chose the theme of Cowboys and Indians. Do you think I could get away with wearing a feathered headdress everyday?

We took Batman and a pretty scary pirate trick or treating and munched through way too much chocolate. It was a fun day and now it’s November. How did that happen?

Holidays are coming….

This week’s been a bit of a funny one. It seems to have dragged at work and then gone super speedy in the evenings, leaving me a bit confused as to what the day is but very happy that it’s now Friday.

Things to smile about this week

1. My floral daps. I found them in the sale in Office’s kids section. I may not be able to wear them for another 6 months but when the spring arrives, I will have very happy feet.

2. The i-Touch shuffle function. Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones followed by some classic Prodigy. Last night I was B’s assistant in the kitchen as he baked stuffed aubergines and we danced and sung as they cooked. Kitchen discos are so much fun.

3. Perfecting the mattress stitch. I knitted up some practice squares and spent the evening doing it again and again, feeling very happy with myself as each attempt got neater. Thank you to the awesome Meghan for your knitting advice.

4. Yummy treats from my husband. B stopped in Waitrose on the way home from work on Tuesday and bought me a cookie topped with Smarties. Edible surprises are always the best.

5. The fabric selection for my first ever quilt. Kathryn’s beautiful creations have inspired me and this weekend I’ll be making a start on my own. Wish me luck.

ps. I hope you all have a spookily magical Halloween on Sunday x