Getting "it" done

"It" being that mamoth to do list swirling around my head (and somewhere on a piece of paper in the house).

Peg doll scarecrows from toddler group for the flower festival. CHECK

Nan and Grandad's scarecrow for the flower festival. CHECK

Prepped the "Dad head" craft for toddler group. CHECK

Sorted my personal photos for the camera club exhibition. CHECK

Taken new versions of old village photos for the exhibition. CHECK

Reply cards for places we've been invited to made and posted. CHECK

Name cards ready for printing for the photograph exhibtion. CHECK

Yesterday Mr Bogert, the small person and I took a walk around the village taking the new photographs to go with the old ones for the exhibition. So that Alex didn't get too bored, she had a bag with her to collect flowers. When we got home I showed her how to press them. Once they're ready we're going to turn them into a lovely birthday card for Grandma.

We also made apricot flapjacks yesterday. Alex is really becoming a great little chef :) She helped make pizza for dinner the night before. Mr Bogert swears it's the best pizza he's ever tasted. (and he's been to Italy and New York!)

The Dad (or grandad) Head craft is ready to go. I sat scrunching balls of tin foil on Saturday and then covered them with PVA and white tissue paper. Now they just need the kids imaginations, some more tissue paper, some more glue and some paint, and they should look fantastic :)

We've just finished the small person's homework. This week it's Oscar Orange and the letter "O", but that's one she already knows very well, so it was a very quick painless experience! Now she's sitting drawing rainbows and the sea with a big tin of lovely coloured chalks. Later today, we're going to make the last fathers day card. One for Grandad (my Dad).

I've also been planning and plotting the flower arrangement from toddler group for the church.

Last year we had a rainbow tower of flowers with lots of lovely butterflies the children had decorated "flying" around it. This year in keeping with the scarecrow theme (for the competition the committee is running) I thought we'd have scarecrows too. I'll post piccies once the actual arrangement is made on Friday.

Last years Rainbow flowers

I also want to get on with my sisters birthday invitations so that they're ready to go once the time comes so I want to get cutting out more Sizzix numbers and swirly squares. If I don't get chance today, it's not the end of the world 'cos I'm off ALL week! Yay!

Papercrafting

All this morning the small person and I have been sticking lots of little bits of paper to lots of other little bits of paper. Very theraputic (but I really must get some housework done!). Alexandra has been creating lovely collages using some sizzix cut outs I gave her and other bits and pieces from her craft drawers. We also made a Father's Day card for Dady and Grandpa. We still need to make one for Grandad. I can't show Mr Bogert's card (as he does occasionally drop by to see what I've been up to whilst he's at work) but I can show the masterpiece that is Grandpa's card.

I whipped up 2 very quick little notelet cards as replies for a wedding and a birthday party, I just need to sort out envelopes now and get them in the post.

I've also made a start on my sister's 21st birthday party invitations. I've been stuck for a while because the thought of cutting out that many 2s and 1s by hand made my head spin. Completely forgot I have some sizzix number dies! Yay! They're far less chunky than my original idea, but I think these will actually look better anyway. I've made a few different combinations in the colour scheme chosen by my sister, I just need her to look at them and choose the one she wants. Then I can get on with it :) Which colour combination do you like the best? (there's a fluffy pink feather or two to be added under the 21 badge pointing towards the top of the card, and I may think about some added sparkle, but for now this is the base.)

Black DL size card with hot pink gross grain ribbon across the centre, swirl corner square sizzix punch with swirl number "21" mounted on.

In other more amusing news (well it made me smile anyway) the postman delivered a letter from my work today (you know, the boring day job). It's a notification for my long service award! And I only started work there just whilst I was studying! 10 years is way too long to spend in a job you didn't want in the first place, never intended to stay for, and still don't want to be at now! Oh well, another 5 weeks and I'll be away from there for a whole 12 months getting to know my little wish number 2 :)

Which reminds me, I never shared a picture from our 20 week scan. Look :D Squigglepop's getting bigger by the day :D

Right, back to housework, making lunches for tomorrow, doing homework with the small person and making important phone calls. I've had my fun for the day :)

Scarecrows everywhere!

Well, yesterday was busy. The children's centre open day was great. It's a really lovely place (I especially liked the garden area). Everything was light and spacey, the staff were really friendly. I already knew 2 of them anyway who've been supporting the Toddler Group. I really hope that I can take squigglepop to a couple of things once Alex is settled in school. The baby massage seemed good, and I'm interested in the baby first aid course. It just all depends on travel and time.

They also run adult classes including Christmas crafts, easter crafts and summer crafts. I REALLY want to go and join in, but I suspect I wont be able to (time and money wise) :(

When I got back from the children's centre and Mr Bogert returned the small person before heading off to work, we went around to Nan and Grandad's for lunch. We weren't going to stay too long, but we thought we'd at least sort out a few bits and pieces ready for making their scarecrow. Well, we ended up making the scarecrow. Finding the bits turned into lets just stuff the legs, then we thought we might as well add the shirt, then it seemed mean to leave him headless. He just has a few finishing touches (a hat, a waistcoat and a sheriff's badge).

Meet Sheriff Oaks :)

Sheriff Oaks is wearing Grandad's shirt (which he would like back, please), Potato salad Heather's old ripped jeans and a yellow duster for a neck scarf. His head is made from half and old pillowcase stuffed with an old towel and then stitched with cotton and embroidery thread to form his features. The cuffs and bottoms of the trousers are tied off with elastic bands, and then his whole body has been stuffed with old newspapers (the small person loved that bit!) He has a piece of wood running from his head to his bottom to give him a bit of stability. I made it up as I went along, so on the whole, I'm quite pleased :)

Back home I made another yummy milkshake.

• 1 mango chopped up
• 2 bananas
• 1 large carton of vanilla yoghurt
• top up with milk in the blender and whizz it all together

The scarewcrow peg people got prepped and the kids had fun putting them all together today. The straw really didn'twant to stay on the heads though :( Here's a mini collection of them ready for the flower festival.

And last but not least was our trip to the theatre. Turns out my Mum and her partner had booked to go the same night. We saw their car in the car park, but couldn't see them anywhere in the theatre. I really enjoyed the show. The set was well planned, the cast were great and it was a generally enjoyable night out. We both agreed we preferred last years production, but that had nothing to do with the performances, just that we liked the plot for Spider's Web more. I really hope we can go again next year.

So, you can see I have 2 things to tick off that craft list of mine. I have got a new item to add today though and that's prepping the craft for next week's toddler group. I'd forgotten (surprise surprise) until I checked my notes, that we have got father's day craft next week. We're going to be making "Dad heads" to give to the dads and grandads as gfts. The idea is from one of the Usborne Activity books. I really love all of the different books they have for cooking and crafting with kids. Anyway, the dad heads are going to take a bit more prep than the usual ones. I'll show you my progress. I also need to track down some skin coloured paints 'cos we don't have any!

Just don't know what to do with myself......

Well it's 8:18am and a rarity for me to actually get onto the PC at this time of day. Mr Bogert and the small person have just left in the car to pick up Mr Bogert's Mum and her friend from the airport. In London. Yeah, that's going to take a while. I feel a little bit lost actually. I'm never in the house on my own (except maybe for half and hour or so whilst they pop to the shop or something), it's quiet and feels a little weird.


A friend is picking me up at 10am to go to the children's centre open day, so I have a little time to kill. I'm thinking something really exciting like washing my hair!

I did (finally) get Mr Bogert's trousers turned up, but I did nothing to get on with the mini scarecrows (which will have to be done later today) we watched "Public Enemies" and ate chocolate instead :)

Now that crafty list (which is around here somewhere.... I know, I know, but I put it somewhere safe) goes something like this:

• prep the mini peg scarecrows craft for toddler group tomorrow (there are more craft preps to be done, but this is the most immediate)
• make my nan and grandad's scarecrow for the competition for the open garden weekend
• make our scarecrow for the same thing
• make my sister's 21st birthday party invitations (for Oct)
• finish a scrapbook that's been on going for a while
• make Alex's birthday party invitations (for Nov)
• make birth notices so all I have to do is fill in the details (for Oct)
• finish alex's bed spread and curtains (yes, I know, from way back when)
• take or sort out some existing photographs for my part of the camera club exhibition and get the prints done (for the open gardens which is in less than 2 weeks time)
• I have a plan for some birthday and xmas gifts aswell, which obviously I can't say much about on here but that would be about 8 birthday presents
• and 15ish christmas presents
• Alex's costume for her party which has now changed from magical themed to superheroes
• restock my Folksy shop (which is looking very sad and neglected)
• perhaps actually make something for this poor little Squigglepop who does not have a single thing that is not hand me down at this point

So, no worries there then. Just a few things. How many I will actually acheive remains to be seen (by everyone in bloggy land as I publish my progress) but fingers crossed, I'll get the most important things done.

And finally in news about the Wishes clan, Mr Bogert and I are off to the theatre tonight. Yay! We're going to see Witness for the Prosecution (Agatha Christie). We saw the play they put on last year and it was fantastic. Really enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to tonight. Even Mr Bogert enjoys it. It's funny, he can't sit and watch something like that on TV, but on stage? Not a problem. I'll let you know if we liked it as much as last years (which was Spider's Web).

The importance of making lists

I'm in full on housewife mode :)

I have big plans for cleaning tomorrow after I return from the children's centre open day (Sad isn't it?) and today inbetween chilling out, I've been tidying, cleaning the kitchen (what feels like about 10 times, but is probably only 3) and I was all prepared to cook a lovely sunday dinner with roasties, but Mr Bogert decided to treat us to a pub lunch down the road. Well, I'm not going to put up a fight am I? I did make his lunch for tomorrow though, so I still get wifey points. :)

I've also made 2 more squares for Mrs Woo (but only photgraphed one of them) and made lists. The making of lists is a very important job in itself you know. I have a HUGE list of crafty things to get done between now and December (but more likely need to get done before October) So I'd best start ploughing through them! I may share my crafty list next post (but will have to keep it mildy censored because some are birthday and Christmas gifts.) I have other far more boring lists too, but who wants to talk about the housework list or the shopping list? No, me neither. Lets stick to the fun stuff.

Mr Bogert had a wedding to photograph yesterday, so I've also spent a big chunk of the day looking over his shoulder being nosey and generally getting in his way. (He hasn't grumped at me too much though :D). Some lovely pics on their way to being ready for another newlywed couple.

I also made this milkshake for us all which is from Tonya Staab's blog. (Very yummy. Just wish I had some new ice lolly moulds to make the lollipops). She always has lovely things going on especially to do with her children. Pop on over and take a look!

I'm now going to (finally) finish turning up that pair of trousers for Mr Bogert, then I'm thinking scarecrows...........

Foggy pea soup

There is a fog in my brain as thick as pea soup. It makes it very hard to find where I've stored away little bits (or even big bits for that matter) of information, expecially important things. There's lots of whosits and whatsits and thing-a-me-bobs flying around and everyone's just smiling nicely at me pretending they understand what on earth I'm on about.

All of a sudden little things are triggering memories like "you haven't replied to the holiday park with confirmation for August" and "Your black sewing thread is sitting on the arm of the chair because you were going to turn up Mr Bogert's trousers. On Sunday." I've just had another of those moments where the small person asked me what we were making at toddler group next week and I said something to go with our flowers for the flower festival. Then it suddenly hit me (hard) that I hadn't even replied to the organiser that we were taking part. This is going back weeks now. I feel absolutely terrible :(

I telephoned and apologised, but she's a very nice lady anyway, so it wasn't a hard conversation to have :)

I just keep doing that all the time though. It's a horrible feeling to sit here and think "What else have I forgotten?" and more importantly "How urgent was it?"

Anyway, no amount of forcing myself to think is going to make me remember things I don't even realise I've forgotten (yet). As promised, here is our new addition to the Wishes household. Buttons the blue bunny. He has been made by either Pat or Sally of Miss Tilly's who sell lovely things at the Craft Centre in Lynton, Devon. Sadly, as far as I'm aware, there is no website for either the craft centre or Miss Tilly's, but if anyone knows different or comes across the name again, please let me know!

Couple of quick piccies of the squares for Mrs Woo's project. I haven't posted them yet, but I don't think Mrs Woo would mind a quick sneak preview. One's just treble and double crochet used alternately in rows, the second is double crochet and bobbles. (I love crochet bobbles!). If you like knitting, crochet (and I think even quilting was mentioned) pop on over and read Mrs Woo's post about her project and see if you'd like to join in :)

Now, a request for help and suggestions. I have an entire summer holiday with the small person. I'll be on maternity leave from just before her last week at pre-school, and the new Little Wish isn't due until a month after she starts school, so I'm trying to think of lots of lovely crafty things we can do together over the break to occupy her and make the most of our time together. So far I'm thinking:

• some cooking projects (maybe even putting some picnic things together and going out to eat it.)
  
• making jewelry (because I know she loves that anyway)


• decorating our own t-shirts with fabric pens/crayons (thought maybe she could decorate a vest for the baby too)


• plenty of collages (maybe go on a walk and collect bits to use)


• I promised her I'd show her how to tie dye after she saw a dress she liked on holiday (that was far too big for her)

But I'd really love any extra ideas. If you've got any specific projects, recipes or other ideas you think might be ideal for a 4 year old girl, pass them my way! Thanks!

Look at me go!

Woo hoo! I must have had a holiday because that energy is back! I have actually had a holiday. We spent a lovely (hot and sunny) week in Woolacombe just the 3 1/2 of us :)

We stayed on a holiday site in an apartment. The site had loads to do (indoor bowling, amusements, and indoor pool and 4 outdoor pools, kids clubs, caberet, climbing wall, pottery painting cafe etc etc) but because the weather was so nice we went out and abuot loads.

We spent a day looking around Woolacombe and on the beach.

The Monday we visited Coombe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. We've been there before, but it just gets better every time! It was the most expensive admission we paid all trip, but it was also the one that was most worth it! We fed Wallabies, sat in the Meerkat enclosure with them running around us, watched the sealion show (but had we have known they now do swims with them, we would have booked it for Mr Bogert), and we fed raisins to the ringed tailed lemurs who were so gentle! Fantastic day.

We spent a morning on site so that the small person could go to the kids club at least once, then we took her to the pottery painting cafe and she painted a pink dragon. The afternoon we spent at Lynton and Lynmouth. I got my crafty fix by visiting the local craft place that is in the old Methodist Church in Lynton. Mr Bogert bought me a bunny! Yay! He's called Buttons, but I haven't taken a picture of him yet, so I'll show you next time. The small person also got a bunny who is called Parsnip.

We took a ride down on the Victorian pump lift and had yummy fish and chips on the sea front. We looked around the shops of Lynton and had local ice cream. So Yummy! (Yummy again? Everything was yummy :D)

Wednesday we visited Watermouth Castle (but forgot to charge the camera). We took my sister here once BSP (Before Small Person) and thought we'd see what Alex made of it. We managed to fill another whole day there and I beat Mr Bogert at Mini Golf, which is always worth a mention. Alexandra's favourite ride was The Snail Trail. She Made Mr Bogert go round twice!

Thursday we took a trip up to Mortehoe but were really disapointed to see that the place we've always been for cream teas in the past wasn't doing them anymore. We had a quick drink and stopped into a lovely little shop (I forgotten the name) and I got new egg cups. Now that may not sound exciting, but they're Giselle Graham, and they have little dots on :D Well they cheered me up, anyway. We spent another chunk of the day at the beach again.

Friday (our last day *sob*) we went to Exmoor Zoo. Never been before, but I really quite enjoyed it. (I didn't enjoy the huge school trip that was visiting, but it could have been worse). We got to hold 2 snakes, a King somthing or other, and a milk snake. We also stroked a goose, a really big duck, a guinea pig called Jeff, a giant bunny (well it looked giant sitting on the small person's lap), a polecat and a skunk. Phew! We had just enough time after finishing there to run over to Mortehoe again for the weekly craft fair. It's only small, but they had some lovely things. They sell the items so cheaply for the amount of time and work that must go into them. The small person bought herself a knitted Jelly baby (who is sleeping in bed with her at this very moment) and I bought a microwave heat pack for my nan for her birthday next month. I could have bought plenty more :)

The day we were coming home, we woke up to rain. We were so lucky!

So, I haven't been back to work yet. That's tomorrow. Also, half term, so a break from Toddler Group too. I feel rested and energised and I like it.

As well as the housework today and getting things ready for tomorrow, I've had a go at wet felting which I've wanted to try for ages, and I liked it (and didn't even mess it up!) so I'll be trying that again with a few more things I think. I've also made 2 squares for the lovely Mrs Woo for her project (I just hope they're not too late!) and I've made soup for tomorrows lunch AND some homemade lemonade with some left over lemons! Yay me. Look at me go!

I will produce photographic evidence to support my claims of productivity, but in the mean time, hope you enjoy the piccies from our lovely trip away!