So, this is why we haven't been consistently writing for a while...
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN HAPPENING!
(this may or may not be hyperbole)
I'll talk you through things. First, remember that crochet baby blanket that I started, er, in February or something? Z was born healthy and happy about four months ago. But I still hadn't finished the blanket. FINALLY, when I had finished they got invited over for lunch (unfortunately very brief) and I got to meet mummy for the first time, and little Z. So cute!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRcxnHEeJe4jtkn5VBsUznYxtA4VFxpzbuSWUigqTh7mxxomNKVbkl2-yYYf80Obu8er4YKEtl3Mh6XmW82M7C5Ika2ILVZkESCk_GCtegYTLvevv0FOeL0CNqHopl1lVd6-_Wif3EkCX/s320/IMG_1710-2.JPG) |
All the ends cut off after being sewn in - what an achievement! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYAL4Gwm-5qsqAHszRQVly7dDSYLOoDQRc2nmfI9cz7RZ-z6mrFRYjnt-u90F_YuP-pByCpCCkOvv5C2F4i8e-FXYCumQlv_NiBdODTT6JjB06Lqf0B1qi11xHrFmpcEherkDT4RgfJ6g/s320/IMG_1704-2.JPG) |
Mapping out the blanket - took a long time as it was really hard to colour match properly. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdluOojKfWh5fZ6DWyQ9MXKA10JSjaLrqQ7vgptONhQS4Fx1Id8mpCMhu7cjbT8RSjrgZJxPDRLvDKiIyZJBHiULCjg2_Awo_cgXbwEMNAtsQBlB6mPuNdjhWqYzU7cTE8BIkJJDMlwV8/s320/IMG_1725.JPG) |
Doing four more lines of border |
The TA-DA picture will have to wait until I can get it off A, I'm afraid, but they seemed very pleased. It was my first go, so a lot of mistakes and pretty messy, but they seemed to appreciate it. Just hope it gets used!
Okay, so big thing NUMBER TWO has been taking up A LOT of time. We (as a family) have decided to raise £1500 over the year for The Hope Project, which is a branch of The Dogs' Trust. It specifically helps dogs whose owners are in housing crises, as a lot of shelters will not accept dogs, and there isn't a lot of veterinary support for them. Dogs are vitally important to some people: a friend, protection, warmth... We'll have another post more on the fundraising in the future with lots more details, and in case anyone wants to be involved.
SO, we left it all a bit late, so by the time we'd booked our stall at a local school's PTA craft fair, we only had four weeks to make everything for it. Here's some shots of our work in progress:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fxmZIJq0Dr0xSSbQSwGVKBWLX8aO7rIzqsA2nB9CKPSBAZjdduMeLPFUpkqzOj1K7-9BUQhUWenyxdRKM0OVL-A5TMtvLl_LXWQmn03n1hoc2dpvM0SxRHBFsazC1scs9CtlWlEO72vL/s320/IMG_1736-2.JPG) |
Sequin ball-balls - would you believe that we spent £18 on pins alone?? We didn't know that, and certainly made no money! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQtkDhKsmP2v7rsxNuVBkpY3Fe7-WcW5jHOe0bteL2VXAE6chaIWXqXEZHCeugHwvL_eG-J2JU0iEFJqA7PWtXz6yTmeoz5SDgIfsE__QLaZIpMt1hGz1GgXAE_KPIaWvoVwuqKYRZXmH/s320/IMG_1742-2.JPG) |
Felty decorations (there were also stockings and snowmen) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7elY1iMi77xoKv5ikxftX5FTXvfXalXAvy2Ce1gqGIFITVmanhuF-hqzdKSPBVdHyRFYzbczIwcXpesmhrLcb3FyCXczLsfquct-bM6XmEO1ToQMgMjtL6H1wNoQQ9s5n1dvNYhqxnaia/s320/IMG_1744-2.JPG) |
Cutting out the tops for A's 'Luxury mincemeat' and 'Christmas Apple and Cranberry Chutney.' They both sold very well. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaUqPwfJ0zjeTUXTi5jvDqqo9WoUbvZja87S5xnOScZD9UbhOVleRK2cEWWhZS2rf8-cPToco9bsRuTaROOnSG0t-2LkYglTFkipbQuXGUq_WrCRW0QlsiVQObg_ZlkjTvG5SErUzVTU7/s320/IMG_1813.JPG) |
Stall putting up in action - great way to display things between canes with sticks. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eFikd-f5w33597insDYUuA3DXrz46kBJ8QTBWEt9tuM0FXuSgAoznOnZQHht39dMlcPEPw5Xw-Im9gWJNoIJRfWSLa2NAE2ksyqQmJ2ouNHQmWbRG0hP9pW3v0eQGbirks9TQm9R6oa5/s320/IMG_1859.JPG) |
And here is our stall! I won't bore you with pictures of everything we made, but I can do a list, can't I? Mini bunting, big bunting (both sold well), hot chocolate sticks, Christmas cards, glittery baubles, reindeer baubles, mini and larger glittery stars, printed wrapping paper, a scarf, beautiful paper stars made marvellously by Alison (we had 30 or so and only FOUR left), little felt critters made by a generous woman from A's work, salt dough decorations, willow stars, willow bird feeders (all went quickly), Christmas cushion, Christmas flannel... I think that was it, but it would've been really easy to miss something out. What a great stall. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yqJ7RPe-Cwf8_CpxDXZF-0jTlfTGxTEOcb2lv1rbBsw5BnOlfL7iv8ktu7W5jJfIHNgXxCZQI5otuVQs6hRrk-Z4ZbD-PktQb-QBCepE9eFFIiUrWUkcmE-5VTZA-9Et8frZ83XCkOVu/s320/IMG_1861.JPG) |
And look how much went! The top bunting was reserved already, but everything else went. A few bits and bobs left for sale TWO (yes, I know we're mad, but it's a little stall this time). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5QFC8dP9CKqCm3lNwCgaqm6ii6_0g5k2nomGB_Io6R6ggsnXuh44ykBaeMpMNn0HDAM5bmX_Ed7qjHSk5sIWS1Hi_rHGiehQbYJIuLt404iTC7e_0p2eV-ihyphenhyphenjY-kOX2xn1K2t3PfJzD/s320/IMG_1835.JPG) |
Good idea for next year - cinnamon sticks wrapped up nicely. So easy! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QFT_vfISd4f6SyA3x1ExQ9yj2sjKp_s8jLCVeW_MiuAEQP0aOf7hNeH9fznHhXACFJpzT0havBb9IEfAkCy1vuwMhbKtjqrrDeRP2G3lJbx55ZNHjyivqxNbdLIRLrS2QwNh65j4ow0A/s320/IMG_1851.JPG) |
I had to show these. They may be very cute, but they are made from books. As in entire books. One book = one hedgehog. I just couldn't do it. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlUWXY_i9H9oBr9In-kz53XGOGVjb0YxKFT8CrZ-xkfcxEWDgGyI5fdtKy_CWxxR58NxpAhAAeDcRRzqRwbbBQE3lecshN2hZOROVsW1g4Sbqelg9_xfn_puGvfnqOdqHcsvli4mO8HET/s320/IMG_1814.JPG) |
These were our very nice next-stall neighbours. Apparently, this was a really bad selling year, but we did all right! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfpzXsSYxObkjU2OagzbcC_BCL1praVnas8NNz0txqd_kiiufsxbHjiNJlqAoYcIRPyt-2FEDV9YUtS-7PrvkzMU2y3LdTtOn7MT76g_uRWVLenrb7OSbgrRQ4GHWCWzVHG7qOy5drmxv/s320/IMG_1856.JPG) |
Few other bits and bobs - a lot of chocolates, big raffle, jewellery, nick nacks, pens, wreaths, glass work, loads of cards, clothes, scarves, accessories... A real mix. Not much time to get round, but looked like a great a sale. |
So, onto other things. We had our very last family therapy session with J and S. It was hard, and heartening, and humorous and sad. We've been with them for a long time, and it seems so alien that they won't be journeying with us anymore. We will be travelling in a different way.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ar_zPVAK3HyGNBMDXTUO-FUTq-w88QLPKqN8E82rTkB7fr2T47z9oCMxCF7C9Hx36xg4XYfbEo7_UPWfwV8A3p_j0qfl890QDREL9gHQYNCu2UnE0zo-mwRY0GNsYWrn9rZOPdqIRAIH/s320/IMG_1761.JPG) |
Our memory book - one for each of them |
And not to forget Joyce's 93rd birthday! A nice evening at Sewell house with two cakes (a homemade Victoria sponge and a shop-bought chocolate cake) and alcohol! Only one person got drunk, so that's not too bad!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94_rf7JegmGiH3VQMwayPoa_Zb5Sfn2KaBzvoDhQhgHXX0sDzi97yRfLVi3BzoeefVK6se35SeWqK7eXxtwUjcCH16rmyQ2Z8MrUe-P7aUrgENHc7p1K7Ct3xel5H7Dq5KZAc6jL4b2tV/s320/IMG_1802.JPG) |
Joe, Susan, and Joyce |
That's about all, folks! Well, a lot of other things have happened as well, but it's a quick run-down. Hopefully, we'll get into a schedule again, but no promises.
(No Guardian Quizzes - no time!)