Happy Birthday!!

My beautiful baby girl is ten today.

Where did that time go??!

It seems like only yesterday and a whole life time ago since I held a tiny bundle to my chest and was so proud and so thankful that my daughter had arrived safely. After several years and several miscarriages I had feared I would never have my own child and here she was, small and perfect.

I love her a little more everyday.

She has taught me more than anyone else I have ever known.

She taught me to be the mother I am.

She teaches me something everyday.

I love her so much, my beautiful, big girl, Elizabeth;


Here she is last year, the year before and the year before that!

Knit, Knit, Knit, Knit, Knitting!!

I haven't done any real knitting for ages, please bear in mind that I only do little projects anyway as I like to finish and move on, instant gratification and all that. Last night I knocked out this funky girlie beanie hat for me (well, it has to be for me as I made a small mistake in the pattern and although I have been reassured by everyone in the house that it's not visible, I know it's there and couldn't be bothered to frog). It does look good though and is rather cosie;

There must be a way to take good pictures of yourself, tips anyone?!

In my new knitty mood, am sure it's the colder and darker evenings that drive me to it, I got out all the boxes of yarn that are stashed upstairs looking for inspiration, I found some beautiful and silky feeling yarn I bought at the Knitting and Stitching show last year. It was a big twisted skien and looked so amazing and professional until I wound it, badly, into this uninspiring 'ball';

But then I turned it into this;

Ooooooh, it's pretty and is available (with free postage and packing) in my shop!

I'm not the only one knitting in the Davies' househlod this weekend, a crippled Elizabeth (she tripped last night and hurt her toe, I told her to not be so silly and get some sleep and it would be better in the morning, actually by this morning it was huge and purple, it is the worst bruise I have ever seen!), slippers for school tomorrow! While she's been laying around feeling sorry for herself she has started on her finger knitting christmas gift list;

Don't you just love her old lady slippers!? Am hoping that the children will get me some for christmas.

Daisie xxx

My Elizabeth

Elizabeth is beautiful and has amazing deep brown eyes that change depth of colour with her mood, she has too many big teeth for her small mouth which is making them crooked at the moment and makes me think they'll end up just like mine. Her hair is getting darker as she gets older, she is clever and funny and great company. She is a fierce friend and a fantastic big sister.

When we converse it is like looking into a mirror and like talking to one too whcih I find enchanting and infuriating in equal measure.

Thank you Elizabeth for helping to shape me into the mother I am today, for teaching me things I never dreamed I could learn, for loving me even when I am cross with you, for knowing when to crack a joke and when just to be near me.

Happy 9th birthday my beautiful baby.

I Never Thought I'd Be Discussing html Code With My Eight Year Old!

See this little man;

He's not so smiley today. Teeth number seven and eight are causing trouble. He is grumpy, he is tired, he is loathe to eat, he won't cuddle, he won't nurse. He is one sad little bunny :( We sat down here through alot of the night, me expressing into a cup for him while he laid still and grizzled. He is a little brighter this morning, I am not after no more than three hours of sleep!

Anyway the reason I popped in is to point you in the direction of Elizabeth's little corner of blogland that she is grudgingly sharing with her sister. She took a bit of inspiration from the lovely Dotty Locket (please note, not Lucy) and is keeping a diary type thingie with book reviews and other such stuff bunged in here and there. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with (and how long it lasts). It would make her day if you'd pop over and say hi every now and again, gets a bit boring only getting comments from your Mummy.

Thanks, Daisie xxx

Why I Love The World Cup

For those of you that know me, don't worry, I haven't taken leave of my senses but look what greeted us when we came home from school (a half empty school as many parents had collected children early to go home and watch the match) via the park;


A very very empty park;


With lots of space for running and jumping and exploring;

Sapce for dowsing (don't ask);

And space for a second-only-in-a-lifetime-swing;

Don't let the smile fool you, he was not impressed and clung on for dear life for the three and a half seconds he sat there!

It was so nice to be just me and mine in a huge space without other people's dogs or children, bliss!

Let's hope England stay in a wee bit longer if this is the result!

Daisie xxx

And The Winner Is......

I know, I know, I should have done this yesterday but after a bad night with little sleep, damn those baby teeth, and a ridiculously early morning, why do they still get up when there is no school, and a very exciting first proper birthday party for Nathaniel the pirate;


To celebrate his friend Amelia's third birthday;

With his little girlie chums from playgroup;

I forgot!!

So Elizabeth and I brought the boys down stairs bright and early, while a very sensible Simon and Francesca snoozed on, and she set to writing all the names out;

We cut them up and folded them and popped them in a bowl;

Elizabeth put in her hand;

And pulled out Nancy, well Nancy's name anyhoo, would have been scared if she'd really been hiding in the bowl!!!

Congratulations!! I will gather something nice for you and pop it in the post this week (just as soon as you email me your postal address).

And of course this is half term week here in the UK, the weather, after a rocky bloody cold, windy, dark, miserable start seems to be improving, some retail therapy today, I have promised the girls new sandals now the risk of frost bite is no longer with us and Hobbycraft have a sale on, would be rude not to! I am on the hunt for some yummy fabrics for a quilting project I have in mind.... watch this space...........

Daisie xxx

500!!!!

This is my 500th post and I was waiting for something terribly exciting to share with you on this special occasion but sadly nothing of great note has been happening. Bits of knitting, cleaning, baking, boobie-ing, playgrouping, parking (green place with swings, not car parking), homeworking, eating etc but nothing amazing.

We've been out in the garden;


With our little friends;


We've had walks in the woods;

With impromptu hats;

Sebastian had a snooze with some buttercups;

Then something very exciting happened;

We built a climbing wall (after nearly melting while painting the new wall and re-painting the kitchen);

And I just love the sunshine and little girls in floppy hats and gingham dresses on school mornings;

And because it's sunny and the summer is soon to be here and it's holidays next week (wooooo-hooooo) and I feel a bit happier than I have done in a while and because you have all been here reading my blatherings for what seems like an age I am going to gather together some of my goodies and give them away to one of the commenters on this post. So say hello and I'll pick someone randomly on sunday afternoon.

Daisie xxx

Out Of My Comfort Zone

I went to a party last night, oooh, get me! Simon and I were invited but it just made more sense for me to take the girls and for him to stay at home and look after the boys. My very dear friend Mary turns thirty (she is only a baby) next week and held a huge celebration. First uncomfortabe bit (probably more obvious to those of you who know me in real life) no black t-shirt;


In fact not a black anything or even my comfy jeans, Simon took this pic of us just before we left.

Elizabeth posed wonderfully half way through the night, don't spill my pint;


She got to see her friend;

There were some funky rock chick moves on the dance floor;

And any sensible child knows not to argue with her slightly skwiffy mother when she asks you to pose for a 'self-portrait';

There was fun with sweaty-I've-danced-too-vigarously faces and table confetti;

And just before we came out Francesca pointed out that we had 'party feet';

So having not been on a night out in well over half a decade and going with no husband to hide behind lean on and being in an unfamiliar environment and not knowing many people and no black I feel I did rather well, I had a great time and would have stayed later than the eleven O'clock hometime if it wasn't for having to get up at a stupid hour and take Simon for the train to London this morning.

So Happy Birthday Mary, thanks for a fabulous party!!

xxx

Apologies To All In East Lancashire!

The freak hail storm this afternoon was all my fault! Bank holiday weekend, an extra day togehter, lets go for a walk and a run in the park;


It was a bit dull and a bit chilly, I made Nathaniel wear a hat to keep his small blonde head warm, it didn't seem so bad, the rest of us in warm cardigans;


Another small boy had his hat on in the sling, I even managed to take a picture of me and Simon with Sebastian, yes I have several chins and Seb does look a bit cross, I think this is due to his hat being pulled down too far (the cross look, not the chins, obviously);

Francesca was a brilliant big sister;

We found masses of wild garlic that smelled so good (think I'll be taking my little trowel in my pocket next time we go);

The children all 'conquered' a small bit of the wood and we had Elizabithia and Francescadom;

We found a butterfly;

And a woodpecker;

We took plenty of nuts but only saw one squirrel, there were just too many dogs about. The nuts may have been essential for our survival as we had to hide out under a bush while the hail fell, Elizabeth commented that we may be there for years (ever the optomist) and we would soon run out of things to eat!

The rain will have filled the river though so it's not all bad;

What did you do today?

Daisie xxx