Comforts of Home

Oh, I am tired. Tired and slow. I just managed to to write a post, publish it, go back in to amend it because I forgot to credit something then, while updating it, accidentally delete the whole thing. Yes, I am tired.

Anyway, lets try again. It was a slow weekend as Bella was unwell. One ill child equals two tired adults and we are all taking it easy. We had a really nice day on Saturday - we went into town to buy ballet and tap shoes for Bella and had lunch out. But by Saturday tea time Bella was pale and had no appetite, she even refused pizza for tea. We were all up a lot throughout Saturday night and by Sunday morning I felt grey with tiredness. The children sleep well now, and I'd forgotten what broken night's sleep feels like. Did we really do this every night when they were small? We must have.

So on Sunday we cancelled our plans and had a sofa day. Blankets, tv (Winter Olymics, hooray!) and lots of crochet. Bella, usually a very independent and self sufficient thing, was tied to me all day with an invisible elastic band. She had to be near me. It was strange but nice too. She even fell asleep on me. I got a lot of work done on Angus's scarf.

It's almost finished now - just the ends to darn in. I also spent some time exploring a new cookery book, baking spiced ginger cake (a bit like parkin) and "flappenjacken" (a cross between a flapjack and a cake). Both were good - heavy and wintry, but good - and I want to try out the savoury recipes now, there are lots of nice looking pastries and breads in there.

Bella stayed home from school today. She's still subdued but much perkier than she was yesterday. She requested hot blackcurrant squash, hama beads and jigsaws.

I was happy to oblige. I am having so much fun with Hama beads lately! This pattern below is from Alicia Paulson's Embroidery Companion. John gave it to me for my birthday last year and I haven't managed to sew any of the gorgeous patterns in there, but I did re-create one with beads. Go me.

Mmm, poached eggs on toasted rye bread for lunch. Whenever I cook poached eggs I wonder why I don't eat them every single day, they are so perfect.

I meant to say - thank you for all your feedback, ideas and comments regarding Bella and Angus sharing a room. It's going well, except for one thing: light. Bella likes a firmly closed door and total darkness, whereas Angus prefers a night light on, door wide open and the landing light on too, thank you very much. It's been a lesson in compromise. Now, the door is left ajar and Angus has this adorable night light which fits on his shelf nicely. It's battery operated and portable, which makes it excellent for lighting dens made from blankets and chairs too.

I have been thinking about our home. About how it's not big or desirable, about the long list of jobs that need to be done, the dreadful state of the exterior render, the sometimes-leaking roof. But when we are tired and ill and in need of comfort, what we've created within these four walls offers us just that - comfort.