Mud & Mischief

To name but a few things that have been on my mind as of late.

The Secret Stole knit-a-long is going well - second clue was out on Friday but I’ve just about finished clue one today. Slow and steady, I think, is the key. That, and it’s good to read what mistakes everyone else has been making so as to try and avoid them myself. The yarn is gorgeous, light and delicate and a rich pine green. Who knows, I may even wear it when it’s finished!

Made my fourth batch of marmalade this year today, except I did a lemon and lime one instead of seville orange. I probably won’t repeat it, though, as it’s a bit too bitter, even for me. It’s not nice bitter, either, but the kind that leaves a nasty taste at the back of your tongue. Not sure what I needed to do differently with the lemon and lime - maybe not scrape out so much of the pith as with the oranges? Might practise with a smaller batch later in the year. I must get into the market tomorrow though and pick up a final few pounds of sevilles to make one last chunky breakfast batch.

And the veggie cooking… well, to be honest I’m surprised how easy it’s been. Last week we ate veggie balti, spicy beanburger tortilla wraps, root veg stew with dumplings and falafel, spaghetti bolognaise made with Alpro soy/tofu fake mince stuff… sandwiches for school have been cheese and hummus and lots of salad veggies. They did get tuna one day.

I did do a roast dinner yesterday though, and found a small chunk of topside in the freezer. Which was lovely, and made gorgeous gravy. However, Piglet didn’t eat her meat - I’ve noticed lately that she doesn’t seem to like ‘proper’ meat. She’ll eat sausages and bacon and stuff like that, but not a slab of carved meat.

Tonight I’m making another veggie balti curry, but I’m adding some tofu that I’m going to cut into ‘chicken’ sized pieces, if you understand what I mean. Anything with rice is fine with me and Piglet to be honest.

Right, off to unearth the piano as I’m having my first piano lesson in about 25 years today, and I’m sure my completely batty tutor is due any minute now. TTFN

That’s the best way of describing last night - completely, totally awesome. We went to see Linkin Park at Sheffield Hallam Arena and they were incredible. I can’t remember the last time I went to a concert/gig but I’m not leaving it so long next time. They put on a phenomenal show and pretty much brought the house down with ‘What I’ve Done’ as an encore. We were right up in the gods of the stadium, but had quite a good view in spite of it. And we weren’t the oldest ones there either

Now it’s back to the daily urgh of dealing with sick children/spouses/parents. The girls went back to school on Thursday after being ick for so long, but Piglet still isn’t her normal self. She’s not eating much at all. James has lost nearly a stone in weight. Bit of a drastic way to do it, but I’m very jealous… Mom came up on Wednesday afternoon to stay for a few days and babysit last night, but then yesterday lunchtime, she was ill and it was touch and go whether we’d get to Sheffield. But bless her, she packed us off saying she’d be fine, even though she looked like death only half warmed up. Luckily the kids behaved for her. She’s got the same thing James had, although hopefully not so virulently. *sigh*

Me and Tea seem to have got away with it so far. :crosses fingers:

This is a sick house. James, RJ and Piglet all spent the best part of the night barfing. Myf was poorly this morning. Tea is as bright as a button and has spent most of the day on the Cbeebies website. I went to the hospital (see post below)

I’m not sure it’s norovirus, but James has been the sickest. Top and bottom, horrendous stomach cramps and he’s just sloped off to bed for a nap (it’s 5.30pm) after getting up at 1pm. Girls are watching Transformers again.

However, I’ve been muttering on and off about how we should do at least a couple of days a week veggie, mainly from a health perspective. And just now, he asked if we could go veggie for a week.

Sure, says me. Not entirely sure what my carnivorous daughters will make of it, but absolutely. So I’m looking through the Vegetarian society website and then I’m off to Vegweb for a few meal ideas. More with Less should also have a few suggestions.

Before Christmas, I had an MRI scan on my back. Today, I went to get the results.

Part of me was nervous about what they’d find - what kind of problems could there be? Another part was worried there wouldn’t be a concrete problem to find.

There is a problem - I have a prolapsed disc. A second disc has a ‘tear’ which means it’ll prolapse sooner or later.

So, what to do?

Actually, nothing. I didn’t see my consultant, but his deputy. And he offered me an epidural style injection of painkillers and steroids if I wanted it. Which only has a 50/50 chance of stopping the pain, and then it would only last a couple of months at the most, a couple of weeks in some cases.

Then he referred me to Pain clinic and basically that was that.

He said I’m too young to operate on (wtf?) and then went off at a tangent about my leg pain. I’m not worried about the damned leg pain - the sciatic thing comes and goes and is perfectly bearable. It’s the seizing up of everything that I want addressing. But it wasn’t.

Disappointed is the mildest word I can come up.

Can you believe a whole year has passed? My laughing little fat man is one today. No longer such a fat man, and definitely not little anymore, he continues to laugh at pretty much anything and everything. A more pleasant, happy little chap you really couldn’t expect to meet.

Once we get a handle on the sleeping thing, he’ll be perfect

We had a pretty busy day - tea and scones with M at the garden centre cafe first thing, followed by an early nap so I could make him a cake, then off to a friend’s house near school for a little tea party with four of my longest standing friends - we all met up with Piglet was a baby, so that’s four and a half years ago. Since that time, most of us have had another child (I was the only one with older kids). So RJ had his first taste of chocolate cake, as well as some cheese spread sandwiches and watermelon.

Picked up the girls, came home, fed them and did the birthday cake thing. Am very please with the way it turned out.

Cake with Smarties (good use of leftover xmas sweeties)

RJ and Daddy blow out the candle (Piglet had already done that once, so we relit it just for the photograph)

Adventures with Blue Icing.

“Reckon if I scarper now they won’t notice the trail?”

I really must sort out that red eye thing though. Evil child with blue icing - now there’s a combination.

To all my friends with yarn stashes they don’t want to admit to the size of in public, may I respectfully request that if you have any cashmerino aran lurking around, even the odd half ball here and there, could you possibly see your way to offering it to me, for suitable remuneration, of course.

Ta ever so. xx

A hair curler!

Honest - I saw it on Ravelry, via a blog and thought, I can make those. They’re really soft, so good for sleeping in.

I know, I know… but it was fun.

Same thing, just different exposures. Go on, have a guess what it is. I just made it for the heck of it, as it amused me, but might make a few more.

Any ideas? Answers on a postcard (or in the comments box if you prefer)…

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
But they hold happiness, love and joy
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
And laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don’t take ‘no’ for an answer
When they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
And cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
A birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
Yet they are strong when they
Think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
Can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
To show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
Makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love..
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
Family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
And everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Read it, understand it; and then let a special woman know how much she is really worth. xxx

I do love my brother. He’s handsome, funny, a real gentleman.

But he’s also a complete plank from time to time.

Mom’s birthday went extremely well though - will post a few photos once I finish cropping them and generally making them suitable for public viewing .

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Oh - and Rob’s voice did return to normal, but not until the wee small hours of the morning. He spent several hours talking like a chipmunk.