It's what I do . . .

It's Friday.

I have made it to my 32nd year on the planet and celebrated last night with the best Margaritas that I've ever tasted. Sadly, as I'm such a lightweight in the alcohol dept these days I felt just a bit under the weather this morning. Or as my friend Ishbel would say - I felt a little pastel.
Cinnamon French toast and coffee sorted me out though and I spent the day taking C to singing & playing with my lovely new sewing machine ( YAY!!!! Thank you my love.)

My 31st year has been the best.

This . . .

Became this . . .

And in a few short months she has become A PIXIE !!!!

I can't imagine my 32nd year could possibly top it but I'm sure it's going to be just fine. After all, I have a little pixie friend with me all the time now and she makes most of the cloudy days less grey.

There will be a lot less writing here over the next few weeks as we're off to Spain and  I'm going to be making a concerted effort to finish clearing out my studio so it' s ready for winter working when we get back.
See you in October  xxx

Sundays

Old aeroplanes + blue skies = strangely attractive photos
Old aeroplanes + blue skies + a few thousand people = an airshow

"I've been to an airshow today"  is not a phrase that would usually come out of my mouth - but it has, I have and it was fun. There's a man in the next village that flies a Mustang over our house on sunny days and we got to see him roll and do loop the loops - very cool indeed - but I think you have to be slightly crazy to get into what appears to be a 70yr old crate with wings and an engine. Simon took this picture by the way. I couldn't find them in the sky and then I wasn't quick enough : ]

It was also an afternoon for a bit of Granny/Celeste cuddling.

This week will be hectic. I have so much to do and we leave for Spain in 8 days. I am counting them down.

Buenas noches  x x

Thursday

C has been enjoying her new chicken onesie from Foxy & Winston whilst lying on a lovely blanket/playmat from Aunty Juliet.
I had good intentions about making a playmat - but when there's one this pretty already in the blanket box - why bother? You can't see it in all its beauty - but I promise that it's quite the ticket.

Wednesday

This is Kjetil's yurt, in an orchard, in the sunshine.
One of the many good things we did at the weekend was have breakfast here. It's the perfect home for summer - not sure that I'd cope that well with the trips to the very pretty outside toilet in the rain & snow though . . .

It's suddenly becoming really cold and I've been having my annual 'it's going to be winter soon' panic. To try and quell this a little I hauled everything out of the greenhouse and then put it all back in a different order. C sat in her buggy and watched me for 45 mins without making a noise, but with a slightly bemused look on her face. Sometimes she really looks like Simon!
This is she in her new Bumbo ( oh what a great invention) looking pensive.

Happy Wednesday. We're off swimming. xx

Clouds

I know that clouds make an easy photo - but isn't it great that you can capture something so beautiful without a lot of effort? There have been wonderful skies over Norfolk this weekend. Sometimes they look like mountains - sometimes like candy floss.

There was a packed weekend to be had under these skies and I am exhausted by it. More photos here. More tomorrow.

xx

New Things

Last night I finished Baby Theo's present and today I gave it to him. It's a laundry bag if you were wondering and about the second thing I've sewn properly (not counting experimental art college stuff) for about 7 years- hence it is a little shabby in some places - but looks quite good if you stand back and squint. I have a tendency not to follow recipes when I cook and that trait slips over to other stuff too - ie. there was a lot of freestyle cutting and guesswork. I used the handle idea from the little tote in Bend the Rules Sewing, but the rest is all my own design. I'm quite good at designing sacks with handles!!! The fabric was from a little goodness a few weeks ago and I have a little bit left for a tiny project one day. Anyway, Theo didn't cry when he saw it and his Ma appeared to like it - so as long as he has dirty washing - we're sorted.

The other New Thing I did today was leave C with her Granny from midday until she was bought home at 6pm. We've left her for a few hours in the evening several times and I've always been quite glad of the break but today I felt completely bereft for about an hour and then a bit listless on and off for the rest of the day. I missed her.
I also got more done in half a day than I have in the past couple of weeks - I think I'll get used to it.

If you live in the East of England you'll know that we're having some lovely late sunshine - and if you don't - well, you have to believe me. C and I have been out walking in the early morning and evening and these horses always look so happy in their hazy, grass- filled field. I intend to not pass on my healthy fear of horses to my daughter and I'm starting her off by standing some way away from the field and taking photos. Next week we'll be stepping onto the track that leads to the field . . .

The last New Thing from the past couple of days is this . . . Mrs Zola has made a nest and she sleeps in it all day. It's sweet - but also a little pitiful and she gives me a look that says ''Look what I've become now you've taken my catflap away - part cat, part bird'' .

Have a lovely weekend. x

Why is it what I do ?

For anyone who is interested - this is why my blog is called 'It's What I Do'.
It's really quite straightforward. First you must read this

From that morning onward, ' He/She's the Bishop of Southwark' became a sort of catchphrase around our home, as demonstrated in the following scenarios:

Me: The cat's caught a rabbit again - it's in pieces on the living room floor.
Simon: Of course he has - he's the Bishop of Southwark.

Simon: Why do you always load the dishwasher in that spatially challenged and enviromentally unfriendly way?
Me: I can't help it - I'm the Bishop of Southwark.

Simon: Are Juliet's new sculptures very large, beautiful and made of natural and/or reclaimed materials?
Me: Of course - she is the Bishop of Southwark.

Ok - that last one never happened - but you get the idea. If you are just doing what comes naturally to you - if it's what you do - then you are the B.o.S. At least in our house you are.

Of course - The Bishop of Southwark is not a great name for a blog, unless you are indeed The Bishop and then I imagine it's just perfect, so I used the 'It's What I Do' part.

Really, I'm not sure if any of that was interesting or made much sense. Also, I'm sure that he just allegedly said it - as he can't actually remember anything.
Oh, and I hope his head is fully recovered. It seems to be - he's always quite coherent on Thought of the Day.

Tuesday

Today I woke up speechless. But luckily it only lasted a couple of hours - two paracetamol and a hot ribena soon sorted me out. The rest of the day pleasantly sauntered by while I did, in most of a day, what used to take me an hour. It's a bit sad to have felt a sense of achievement just because I'd managed to wash myself, some dishes and a baby, put some washing on and out and tidied very slightly - but I did. I felt like Wonder Woman. I deserve this jumper for sure ( but will never have it as it took a very accomplished knitter a very long time - I have made half a bootee and a snowman when I was eleven).

The rest of my 'free time' was spent grappling with the sewing machine that my neighbour very kindly lent me. The one I have was my Mum's and it's a silver beast from around the time I was born - or even before. It likes to sew only one kind of medium weight fabric with preferably one length of stitch and god help you if you fiddle with the tension wheel thingy. Using Claire's was like getting into a nearly new hire car (the only time I drive a new car) after bumping around in an old landrover.
What I am trying to say is that I need a new sewing machine and that it is nearly my birthday.

Today's pictures are of my naughty chickens wrecking the greenhouse floor by scratching it up for a dustbath. Also, a banana plant - just because I like them.

Light

On the way back from London we stopped for a quick feed break at Flatford Mill. The light was beautiful because the sky was teetering on the edge of a storm, We ended up wandering in the meadow and taking photos even though it was really getting too dark.

We are home now and I'm happy to be back. C is sleeping and I have to finish a present for baby Theo. I only have a small bit of the fabric I wanted to use so it's applique all round.

Sweating it off. . .

I know, I know - I've spent the last few weeks carping on about the heinous weather and now that it's HOT I'm still not content.

But let me explain - the arrival  of the hot and sticky weather coincided with our arrival in 'only just post tube strike'  London. It's been an eye opening - and sweaty - experience.

I love London. I love coming here to visit, I love staying in Emma and Simon's lovely flat (but it would have been much nicer if they were in it too - bad timing), I love exploring bits I don't know, I love the galleries, restaurants, museums and our friends that live here. But MY GOSH, it's hard work with with a big and heavy buggy, assorted baby crap (and yes - literally some of it is crap - you have to carry it with you if there's no bin don't you know) and of course - baby. It would be much easier if it were just a bit cooler - and I don't say that everyday. Mini moan over.

Apart from the uncommon stickiness  it's been very good trip with lots of looking, exploring, photo taking and walking. C has had her first visits to the V & A (very nice Campana Brothers' show in the garden) and Tate Britain -  where she christened the floor of the entrance hall with a big puddle of vomit. I was just glad it wasn't projectile and that I wasn't standing in front of a Turner. The man was very understanding - but as he was behind the desk I don't think he understood the extent of it.

There may be pictures here later if I can get it together - in which case I'll post some photos of the very cool new leaflets in the Tate. Celeste's chosen leaflet was 'The I haven't been here for ages Collection' and mine was 'The I like yellow Collection' . You get the idea.

Back home on Sunday. Have a really happy weekend.