Snow, sewing and ducks

So, more snow fell yesterday and last night which has transformed our local area back into a winter wonderland. Which the dog, the boy and I all loved on our walk this morning. I've never seen a dog intent on such savagery on a snowball in my life. But then, savagery on a snowball is not a major concern is it?

I finally finished sewing my little mouse pattern that I can't remember where it came from. He's a rough version until I'm happy with how different things fit together but I like him. The furry baby is in the background wondering why I'm taking pictures of things he's not allowed to play with. Thankfully he didn't realise he's in the photos. He doesn't like photos being taken of him!


I am currently working on a teddy bear from a pattern I got free from McCalls. It's super cute and tons more pieces to put together than I'm used to but he's looking good so far. Will post a pic once he's finally completed. I have ordered some safety eyes and noses so will need to wait for those first.

Life recently has mainly consisted of work and although it's been pretty manic, I don't wake up cursing it's existance so that makes a nice change!

My clan have finally got our heads and agendas together and will have a big 'ol family get together in June for a week in Denmark. Really looking forward to it. My family are rather scattered around europe so getting together for random reasons or family occassions are never easy. My middle brother and his fiance have bought a beautiful house in Copenhagen so we're (the boy and I) driving up with my eldest brother, his wife and my niece to meet up with them and my folks for a week of family sociableness. Always good as my family all adore each other. We have our ups and down like any other family but somehow we always stay smiling in each other's company.

Today was spent market trawling. I loved it!! I found the most beautiful set of little tin ducks. Look at the little wings and the feet! The boy quite categorically hates them but I fell in love as soon as I saw them. His answer when I went to buy them was 'We'll come back' so I thought maybe he had a point. I often buy things I later regret so walking around a bit and deciding based upon whether the wanted item is still there upon my return has served well in the past. We returned after a stroll around the rest of the market and they were still there! Fate I thought. The boy meant, next time we were at the market! I think not!  They are now sat on my crafts table and I think at least one will be turned into a heavyweight pincushion following the cats deciding my nice little one, sat on top of a wooden box made a great tennis ball (box?). They are a lid on a little bowl style shape so a little pincushion tucked inside should keep my pins, needles and the cats safe. We shall see.

A last little look at the furry baby, Jonah. Does that face seem happy to have a photo taken??! Ha ha ha ha!! As he was perched on the window sill, woofing at passersby, he couldn't do much to avoid the camera ;)

This week will mostly consist of more work, sleep, good food and a trip into Maastricht next Sunday to have a stroll on shopping Sunday. A country where everything is still not automatically open on a Sunday, I'm getting used to it but sometimes I feel like I've gone back about twenty years to my youth in South Africa.

Champomy

So, yes, I suck at updates. My apologies. I don't make New Years Resolutions but I did say to myself long before New Year's eve that I would at least try and regularly update this thing as well as my other little goals for 2010. I'll not list them as so many of you lovely people have done as they are more personal to my health, happiness and well being but they're all good things. Trust me!

Christmas was spent in the UK seeing my lovely family. I really missed not having the boy with us but I still managed to make the most of it surrounded by the family's love and lwarmth. Seeing my niece really made it feel like Christmas so that was great. I took plenty of pictures but with my film SLR so I'll post real snowey white Christmas pictures as soon as they're developed. I have decided a handy little compact digital camera is on my wish list this year. I love my film photos as the depth of colour is just worlds apart from digital. Plus, I just love the excitement of seeing what the photos will actually look like! I also love holding them. Not sure why but freshly developed photos make me happy.

So, the title of my blog. Champomy! An alcohol free kid's version of champagne. In reality it's sparking apple juice in a bottle shaped like a champagne bottle but it was great! New Year's eve was spent with the boys' sister and partner and a good friend and it was a relaxed but very enjoyable evening. I am one of the few in my new circle of friends here in the Netherlands and although this is a good thing as I made a decision to cut down on my drinking habits a long time ago, it still at times feels a little strange and I qorry about, if I have a glass of wine etc when they're round, is that an issue. I don't think so and I know they all have other friends who really drink but I don't know, it's a little offsetting. So, it was really cool to have a a silly glass of apple juice with exceptionally good company and feel like a real New Year. Plus, everyone was super happy to watch Jools Hootananny so that made me super happy. Havewatched it every year for the last 5 years or so. Glad it will now appear to be a regular New Years tradition here too. :D

We had tons of fun with sparklers and watching fireworks. There's something about acting like children and waving sparklers as if they are fireworks tht really fulfills the inner child in me.

In other news, we have had snow. Plenty of it! But still not enough to be able to honestly call into work and say the weather prevents travel. :( Gutted, especially as friends in the UK have been posting photos of their fun in the snow when their respective employers or the national transport system has advised them to stay home. I can only wish. At least it's not had the chaotic effect here as it has in the UK so that's something to be thankful for.

The boy and I had a fabulous day off yesterday and spent this relaxing with a duvet and movies and also by taking the furry child to the park. His new obsession is chasing snowballs since I threw one a few days ago. I've never seen a dog tear apart a snowball so quickly and literally smile afterwards about his achievement! He is such a litle light in my life. He still has his warm winter coat I bought in the UK and it's been the first year he's really had to use it. My favourite thing is watching people's experessions as we walk past and they realise it is actually a dog version of a human coat. I've seen grown, very burly men reduced to whimpering simpletons over the cuteness!

Other than these wonderous things I have been sewing!

I have made a scotty dog from the pattern as seen here: http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2006/05/softie_scotty_d.html

The owl as seen here: http://www.qdpatooties.com/bluehowlaiiptrn.jpg

Elephant as seen here: http://www.karensvariety.com/NEWSLETTER/Patterns/Elephant.htm although I was most proud when I figured out how to use what I'd learnt on the Scotty dog pattern to make the elephant a standing one!

I am currently working on a mouse that I downloaded the pattern of but don't seem to have a link for where it came from. This makes me feel bad as it's lovely pattern. Maybe I'll find some type of signature on the pattern download. I'll update if I find something.

I have decided that I really want one of these:

The stories crack me up and part of the money for each purchase goes to a good cause so it's good things all round!

I also love how this couple live and think, http://somethingshidinginhere.typepad.com/my_weblog/ .I read their updates with a happy hear. They have such a great mental attitude to things and they seem like pretty funky people. I love her hand tattoos, GIVE and TAKE. Something for us all to live by I think, don't you?