Friday Happies of A Pondering Nature

Oh man. What a week. It's been busy (when isn't it?), I've been under the weather, and I've been trapped in a crochet panic, which is thankfully now over, and I feel all discombobulated and unsettled. I find the longer the gaps between blog posts, the harder it is to sit down and write one. Odd, that. It's like I can feel myself drifting away form this space. The more regularly I post the more connected I feel to this blog, and to you all. 

1. Ok, the first reason for happiness (or maybe relief?) is that I finished this cushion. It very nearly killed me off. Ages ago, I agreed to make it for a dear friend - she was giving it to her sister for her birthday, and paying me, so it was a commission I suppose. I totally left it until the last minute and started it on Saturday. I finished it on Thursday about half an hour before she came to collect it. Stressful, anxiety-dream crochet. Not relaxing, oh no. I avoided facebook, instagram and ironing. It's amazing what you can achieve if you avoid those distractions.

So I learnt two lessons this week. This first is don't agree to crochet things which take 15 or 20 hours to make when you're drunk. The second is agree a price first and ask for double what you think you should. I don't regret making it though - the look on my friend's face made it all worthwhile, she properly beamed and her face lit up, and I thought "I made that!"

2. Wild flowers and coffee. 

What with all that crochet, and John's ridiculous shift pattern at work, we've spent precious little quality time together lately. On Wednesday we popped over to Saltaire for a wander and a coffee. I saw the most beautiful wild flowers growing along the edge of a footpath. 

We had a coffee (well I did, John ordered this milkshake) and talked about things we never seem to be able to talk about in the house, there are just too many distractions. It did us good.

3. Bella spotted this violet growing between two paving slabs on the drive. Her delight was delightful to me - she made us all look at it, then she put it in this egg cup. I love her.

Bella is at Brownie Camp this weekend. The cabin is in the most beautiful spot, just outside Ilkley, with incredible views across the dales, a stream and a big meadow.

I dropped her off this evening. If she doesn't cry, I wont cry, I thought, and she didn't so I didn't. I miss her. She looked happy and independent in her uniform, with her bags. I hugged her four times (for tonight, tomorrow morning, tomorrow night and Sunday morning). John is working all weekend. Angus and I were both a bit lost when we came home, but it will be lovely to have some time just with my boy.