We had the most magical Christmas. Strangely every photo I took was of a certain wee small girl looking festive and happy:But I was also pleased to have a warm and cozy Mr Stitches in his finally finished Snowflake Jacket:I’ve adjusted the buttons to ensure that the pattern actually matches at the centre front!But I’ve discovered on more problem with this pattern….getting Mr S to stop wearing it!!!!!!!!!
The most wonderful time of the year
Thankfully we are all hale and hearty again Chez Stitches. Thanks to all for your kind messages. That was a miserable couple of weeks.
All was rectified at the weekend with an impromptu visit from my niece and great-niece. (Apologies for grainy pictures…the light here this weekend has been pretty grey)
It was the first time Button and Princess Rosebud had met, but they were as thick as thieves within about 30 seconds of meeting and were pretty much inseparable for the whole weekend, howling as Princess Rosebud was bundled screaming and kicking into the car to go home. They even went to bed together and were heard plotting over the baby monitor… “I don’t think we can get out!”
Whilst they worked out how to scale the cot walls for all of three minutes before falling fast asleep, we were joined by my nephew for supper. Normally there are more of us squooshed around the table, but this weekend we managed to keep them to ourselves. It was wonderful.My brave and beautiful niece is inspirational. She is an amazing mother, wife and daughter as well as a wonderful woman in her own right. She is developing her talent as an artist and is about to embark on a degree programme. She does this on limited financial resources but doesn’t complain that she doesn’t have lots of stuff, just counts her blessings that she has her family around her. I wish I’d been that grounded at 21!My nephew has donned the mantle of family comic. We didn’t stop laughing from the minute he walked through the door and gave us all bear hugs. Normally he is quite reserved but over the last few months he has grown in confidence and he was the life and soul of the party. Despite all his challenges (and he has had many) he is doing well at college, making plans for his future and looking like a cool dude whilst he does it!Sunday we had a lovely sunny day, so it was off to the park for breakfast for us and breakfast for the ducks.For me this marks the beginning of the Christmas season. I find it truly sad that there are people who can’t or won’t surround themselves with their family at this time of year, but I’m not one of them. I’m glad I was able to kick off the festive season in this way.
I still have the smile on my face.
It’s fashion, dahling
Start ’em young, I say.
Well, it’s been a busy weekend. And we couldn’t have done it without Dave and Simon’s muscles. Thanks guys! We are blessed with our friends.
Ma is safely ensconced in her new pad and it’s looking lovely already, despite the large piles of boxes. We thought the big van was overkill…it wasn’t.
We won’t talk about the driving rain, high winds, accidents (not us, thankfully), broken windows (that was definitely us) and broken cookers that conspired against us!
Ma and Pa Stitches-in-Law have been chief babysitters all weekend, for which we are immensely grateful, and whilst Button was with them today Pa SIL took these pictures of Button’s new jeans. And her auditioning for Anna Wintour’s job, above! You may remember that I copied a pair of ready to wear to make the pattern. I’ve added a little to the front for the next pair, but all in all, I’m pleased with the result.
Another milestone
Saturday would have been my parents 45th wedding anniversary.
Normally at this time of the year, the Aged Stitches would have been in Cornwall for the annual holiday. This year Ma came to us.
She arrived late on Monday evening but Little Stitch woke up, insisted on getting out of bed, and greeted her with the biggest hug.
We had a lovely week of shopping and playing and generally having fun, rounded off with dinner with the Stitches-in-Law on Saturday evening. It was another bittersweet evening as we were so obviously one seat short at the dinner table and Pa had so wished to be with us for this evening. But it was not to be.
Ma is home again now and Little Stitch is running around the house shouting “Grandma”. Thankfully her work is done…Ma is moving back to Lancashire as soon as we can make the necessary arrangements. We are thrilled.
What a difference a (few) day(s) makes.
Well, I feel like a different woman….but where would you find one on a Sunday evening? I know, terrible joke.
Seriously though, Alice arrived late on Thursday morning, just in time for us to bundle Little Stitch into the car and go out for lunch. We had a great time, Little Stitch mostly enjoyed flirting with the waiter. In the afternoon I was pummelled by Ryan the magic osteopath and came home feeling (and, I’m told, looking) about 3 inches taller. The evening was spent knitting and chatting with Black Purl, Himmelbjerget and Tallie the Polar Dog. In fairness Tallie and Charlie didn’t do much in the way of knitting.
Friday was a quiet day with Mr and Little Stitch as Alice had to work, but in the evening I found my cooking mojo enough to make us all a pea and asparagus risotto.
Saturday we were joined by Kelly and decided to head off to Lytham for a stroll by the sea. It was only when we got back to the car that I realised that I’d managed to walk for several hours without any difficulty. It seems the osteo is working.
Another relaxing evening, lots more sleep and lunch out with the Stitches-in-Law and, though I’ve still quite some way to go to being back to my normal tiggerish self, I’m feeling better than I’ve done for quite some time. I’m blessed with the best friends and family a girl could wish for.
Waiting. Again.
Well, the adoption papers were submitted to the court today. In quadruplicate. Is that a real word?
Now we wait for a court date for them to be approved. For probably about 4 or 5 months.
Don’t worry, we’re used to it by now. And she’s worth it!
Ooooooooh weeeeeee!!!!!
The plan for today was a visit en famille to the zoo as Mr Stitches has a rare day off from work.
Unfortunately we had forgotten to take into consideration that we’re in the middle of British Summertime. Which means that today we have torrential rain and weather warnings for flooding and high winds. Of course!
So in a last minute change of plans we went to the aquarium instead. I can’t say that I was particularly enamoured with the idea. I didn’t really think that oversized fish tanks was my idea of a particularly good day out.
How wrong can you be?
We had such a good time. All three of us.Little Stitch was mesmerised. All we could hear was ooooooooooooohhhhh weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
All in all a good alternative to the zoo, I think.
AND we’ve got an appointment next week to draw up the application for the final adoption order.
Ooooooooooh weeeeee indeed.
71
It’s 1am in the morning.
It’s cold and raining in Lancashire. I’m curled beneath the blanket that Ma knitted for me, drinking hot chocolate.
I’m pretty sure the weather in Surrey is much the same. And I’m also pretty sure that Ma is also awake, curled beneath the blanket that travelled the world with Pa Stitches. If she has any sense she’s drinking something a little more substantial than cocoa.
We can’t sleep because today would have been Pa’s 71st birthday.
Last year we threw a small surprise birthday party for him. Even when all the guests had arrived and the platters of food appeared as if magicked from nowhere, he still didn’t quite believe it. The 70 cupcakes convinced him.
We had such a great time. We always did at such gatherings. Family and friends and food and wine. Then later, the last few around the dining room table with a bottle of Jack (Daniels) and Tales of the Desert (again!) until the wee small hours.
Well, it’s the wee small hours again, but oh so different.
Happy birthday, Pops.
Father’s Day
Well, continuing the bittersweet nature of life Chez Stitches, today is Father’s Day here in the UK.
It’s the first one for Mr Stitches and it was made pretty perfect for him by a lovely elderly lady at church this morning who commented on just how like her daddy she looked. I did think he might burst with pride.
And Pa Stitches-in-Law may be fit to burst if he eats all the chocolate cake we left him with.
But it’s my first Father’s Day without Pa Stitches and it’s early days.
I still miss you Pops. I think I always will.
Hold the lunch, Mummy
I left Miss Stitch playing with Piglet on the rug in the sitting room. I was away just long enough to put some pasta on the stove to cook. I came back to find her thus:
That’s what playgroup does for a girl. She’s now snuggled up in her blanket on the sofa. I’ll hold the lunch order.