Still About

I am still about - We've not had much sleep the last night or two due to Mary-Jane not settling/sleeping well.  Sunday we were downstairs for 6am.  Fingers crossed, tomorrow night I shall have more time to be on here.

Afternoon At St Bees Head

I still have a stinking cold.  Luckily I don't feel as bad as yesterday, so fingers crossed that it is breaking and doesn't linger.

This afternoon, Mum, Mary-Jane and I went to St Bees Head.  The last time I took Mary-Jane there must have been about a year ago, if not slightly longer.  Or was it?  I'm begining to wonder now.  Anyhow.  Mary-Jane was so excited about everything.  So much so that she totally by-passed the swings that she had seen and squealed at from the car.  She announced that she was at the sea-side and at the beach, with out any prompting from me.  She has learned about beaches and seasides and ice cream from telly.  The sea was 'water'.

Once we got on the beach, I let her run free.  She was on a mission to get to the sea.


She did come back when she was called, after a fashion.  She had her 'Cool Dude Shades' on for a while.  I love to see her small footprints in the sand.

The water was soo much fun.  She did loose her balance and end up sitting in the sea at one point.  She was fearless with it.  She wanted to paddle deeper, even when the waves were going over the top of her wellies.  Mr Snuggles took an impromptu dip as well!

Mary-Jane was excited about all the pebbles at the top of the beach.  She wanted to find one for Daddy that she could put in Mommy's bag.

No trip to the beach would be complete without an ice cream!  This is Mary-Jane's very first ice cream cone.  She has only tried small amounts of ice cream, never had a whole one to herself.  She ate it all apart from an inch or so of cone.

We also went into the Hartleys Cafe.  I had a cream scone and Mary-Jane had a butterfly cake.  I didn't think she would want much tea when we got back, but she scranned all her pasta in record time.  She was a very tired an excited little girl.  I have only heard her slightly murmer once since I put her down.  Good, fresh sea air, lots of running around and excitement has knocked her out - I'm sure it will do the same for me!

Stinking Cold

I've got a stinking cold and I'm not impressed.  It's knocking me off my feet.  I'm watching BBC1 - the opening of the olympics.  I'm glad I can touch type.  But why are the announcements in french first?

Mary-Jane has been tired most of the day - it hasn't stopped her running around  most of the afternoon.  This morning Daddy and I took her for a walk to see the cows.  She really enjoys these walks.  It was nice that HK came with us - he didn't want to come with us till I started pulling my face.

Still working on ASJ, thought thing I need a change from it soon.... and an early night!

A Tired Girl And Pre-Occupation In Temporary Abeyance

I have organised my sugarcraft equipment into my two new sets of drawers.  I was treated to the second set today.  I have also gone through all my baking ingredients and removed all that was past it's best.  I now know what I have got and what I have not got.  My Cupcake Cases Pre-occupation has been in abeyance.  Either that or it was temporarily saited with the organising of things.  I am still wanting to make two different sorts of strawberry cupcakes.  I am toying with the idea of whether the beetroot and chocolate cupckae would work if I used strawberries instead of beetroot.  I will try it and if it works, I shall enter these three for Gosforth Show.  It is a definite that I try to make them before the day, just to make sure they come out right.  But that would lead me to think - what does a Show Judge define as a Cupcake?  The six million dollar question.

Mary-Jane has been tired today.  She has struggled, and been obviously tired, but she has done her very best.  When I put her to bed, she didn't want her storybook time, just to go more or less straight to bed.  However she couldn't catch her sleep and became tiredly frustrated - and crying and screaming.  HK bought her downstairs.  We had a pleasant tea.  Mary-Jane was in a lovely mood - she had some of our 'chippies' and a slice of bread - chip butties are something she has yet to learn about!  She stayed downstairs about 45 minutes, then she came upstairs.  She was curious as to why Daddy was going infront of her on the stairs.  One change of bum later and a small protest that she wasn't playing on our bed, Mary-Jane was on her bed.  She had a few minutes talking to her bo-bo's toys then silence! Woohoo!  Lets hope she has a good night and is less tired tomorrow.

I have done a few more rows on ASJ.  A few rows literally.  Each row has over 425 stitches.  I am nearly two weeks behind on the Mystery Shawl.  I am hoping in the next evening or two, I shall be up for lace knitting, all things permitting and being kind.

My Latest Pre-occupation

The last day or two have been a bit on the crappy side.  A lot really.  But nothing that I can particularly share with you on here.  Life is starting to tick over again. 

I am getting pre-occupied with cupcake cases.  I have been trawling t'internet and ebay looking at them and comparing prices etc.  I think it is a good form of escapism for me.  Looking at pretty, affordable and functional things.  I'm not in the market to buy any for a couple of weeks, by which time I will have either moved on to the next big thing to be pre-occupied about or will be past bursting point with it all, or will have hundreds of cupcake cases in the post from all over the world via t'internet, on their way to me!

Mum has bought me two packs with matching topper decorations plus two packs of giant muffin cases.  I've never seen any so big before.  It will be fun to decide what sort of cake to bake in them.  I have also discovered square cupcake cases.  These are now on my Must Have List.  I have sourced a few, ready for when the time is right.  If I think on, I'll try and take a photo of all my cupcake cases.

I have not been up for baking the last few days.  I want to go through my baking shelves and have a good sort out and tidy up, and see what needs replacing.  I think caster sugar is top of the list.  The next cakes I make may be Strawberry Crumb Cakes.  My mind may change between now and when I put my pinny on.  More than likely.  Perhaps.

I have not been able to do any lace knitting for a few evenings.  I have not had the concentration or been in the right head space to do any.  I have continued work on the ASJ.  It is coming on well.  I have only about ten ridges to do before I start on getting it to the length I want it to be.  Which will make absolutely no sense to you unless you are familiar with the Elizabeth Zimmerman Adult Surprise Jacket!  If you do knit, it is a pattern that I recomend!

Normal Service

We're having a crappy couple of days, hopefully normal blogging service will resume tomorrow x

Jiggered

The butterfly cakes were delivered this morning.  I stayed for an hour of so.  I didn't want to be out too long as I felt I'd not spent much time with Mary-Jane over the last few days.

We went to Workington this afternoon.  Initially to Wilkinsons then on to Asda.  After going through and sorting my sugarcraft stuff, I want to get it better organised.  Ideally I would like a large container that houses smaller containers, each of which hold one set of cutters.  I thought a set of drawers would be good.  Where I'd keep them lord only knows - I certainly don't!  Wilkinsons usually do a good selection of boxes etc.  Today they didn't.  They had very little kitcheny stuff as they were creating a new kitchen dept.

On to Asda.  Mary-Jane got very much treated by Grandma.  A few new outfits - all Minnie Mouse or Minnie Red and a Peppa Pig and George Pig toys.  MJ was highly delighted.  HK was treated to a new book he wanted by Dean Koontz.  It was only released a day or two ago and they had on a promotional price.  I was going to get his favourite sweets, midget gems.  I usually get 20 or 30 packs when I go there as we maybe go once a month or so, and these will last him.  However the price had gone up from 29p per pack to 49 per pack!!!  I'd love to know what the explanation for that is.  I have a good bet that come next week, they will be put on 'price drop' and priced back down to what they originally were.  These supermarkets pull this trick so often it's unreal.  Tesco is atrocious for their pricing and offer pricing.  Last week I saw a really good (ahem) offer - tesco brand packet powder sauces were 18-21p per pack.  Or you could buy three packs for the princely sum of £1.  The maths just doesn't add up!!

I have had a go at my knitting this evening.  I have not been able to do any the past two evenings.  I knew I was quite (very) tired when I started.  I decided to have a go with the Mystery Shawl and clue 2.  Clue 3 is out today.  On the first row something didn't seem right.  After doing the next row, it definitely was not right.  I started unpicking, but even then I was dropiing stitches.  The knitting went back in the bag.  I was too tired even to tink.  I then set myself up to do Revontuli.  I was about to start and thought I needed something even more simpler to do.  I put Revotuli down and picked up The ASJ.  Once I found where I was on that, I did that for an hour or so, whilst watching 'The Killing'.

My eyes are absolutely stinging.  I shall be having a very early night.  Did I mention that MJ woke up during the evening last night, just as I had finished the cakes, luckily.  This morning she was crying at 6.30, so she came downstairs after having a clean bum.  No wonder I am jiggered.  Tomorrow I would like a quiet and relaxing day.  If the weather is good, I shall take MJ for a little run out somewhere.  Failing that a walk!