Exercise

Exercise is a funny old thing.  The kind of thing I dread doing, hate the actual doing of, regularly cry over and then love having done, once its over.  Since Paul become a cycling addict, we have all become cyclists to some degree and this is my year to get fit and achieve some miles. Starting with a 47 mile sportiv on the 01st April.  I started last autumn and now go at least twice a week, averaging circa 15 miles each time.  I guess its become the norm, and actually I need to start upping my miles if I ever want to achieve my goals.
Tonight though, I went swimming with a friend.  I haven't been swimming (for excerise) in at least 18 months, probably 2 years.  The last time I went I really struggled with my cardio and whilst the swimming was fine, being out of breath and almost wheezy was not.  I was doubly not looking forward to getting in the water!  But it was different this evening, I found the cardio great, I really enjoyed being in the water and my lung capacity totally shocked me because there was no shortness of breath or wheezing.  And thats the funny thing you see, I've been out and about on my bike, dreading, hating and simultaneously loving the cycling and somehow along the way, I got fitter than I was.  And now I want to swim more - does exercise beget exercise?

New year

Yesterday, new years eve, we made bread. I adore the making and eating of bread. You can only really do it well when you have plenty of time, and I think thats a life lesson. They don't know the quantities, but the kidlets know the ingredients and the order of bread making. Once all the ingredients are in the bowl, I form the ball, then we split it by however many of us are making it and we each knead a small piece, passing the dough round regularly so each piece gets kneaded by everyone. I don't make bread as regularly as I once did, although I aspire to make it more often this year. We do however, always make bread (or cake or similar) on special occasions and I love that this is normal. I enjoy feeding people, and I enjoy eating food, particularly food everyone has contributed too!

Last night was good. We ate bread, cheese, meats, dips, crisps and chocolate. We drank bubbly from fluted glasses. We wore our pyjama's, sat on the sofa, I sewed, Paul chatted. We watched Jools Holland and welcomed in the new year. I am excited.

This morning I (finally! Whoop whoop!) stitched the last of the Christmas cushions, which Lochie and Bebe happily stuffed for me. I will finish sewing the hem today and take a decent picture. Seems mad that they will now go into a bag, into a loft and sit in the dark for 11 months!

I had planned on going on my bike this morning. Start the year as I mean to go on. But actually, my legs are tired from yesterdays ride and I think I will make coffee and go back to bed, where Paul and Niamh are currently sleeping!

Craft

I am trying to show the children that a homemade gift is far better than anything you can buy (except pearls!) and so for the last 2 christmas' everyone has received a homemade something or other. I think time and effort will always outweigh cost, although again, pearls may over ride this.

My closest family all got a cushion this year, and I have just realised that I never finished my own. I will attempt to do that this weekend, can't put the decs away if I still have unfinished business. I'll take a pic of them once they're done.

These hearts were inspired by Kirsty Allsopp, she made bunting out of hers, but I preferred mine hanging free. As I type I can say that these were my favourite thing to make - so easy and rewarding!

Then with A LOT of help from my partner in crime, Lucy, I made a wall hanging for Paul which is now hanging above the computer desk. It came together far better than I could have hoped for and I'm very proud of it.

These random squares are another of Kirsty's ideas, known as stack and slash. Basically you take 5 different fabrics and make them into jig saw pieces.. Not sure what I'm going to do with them, but I have 15..!

Two posts in one day.. Shocker :-)

The end of the 2011

and nearly the start of 2012!! The decs came down today and I'm ready for the new year, feeling inspired and optimistic.

So much has happend since my last post, I'm sure where to start really. This year saw the arrival of our third child, Niamh, and she will be 1 in Feb. Its been a little hectic getting used to having 3 kidlets, and with Lochie starting school last Sept meant that we also needed a routine.. something I still aspire to!

So this was that arkward first entry after a huge time lapse, and now thats over, I'm going to start making regular entries. No really!

Here's to 2012, to a clean house, a tidy garden that gives us food and enjoyment, to my children being free spirited and happy, to sewing and stitching and crafting, maybe earning some money working from home. To turning the tv off more, to studying. To cycling for fitness and achievement. To living with and doing it all with Paul and my closest friends..

Just quickly before I do dash off, which I am about to do, promise, here is my simultaneous first piece of artwork and first attempt at felting.. Ever! Made entirely from scratch and, for better or worse, hung proudly in my kitchen!

End of week updates

Paul cycled to and from work in Basingstoke on Tuesday. 68 miles total. I cried I was so proud of him. Its silly, but this time last year we were so fat and unfit I could never have imagined either of us on a bike and now look at us. 5 stone shed between us and many many miles on our bikes.

I turn 30 on the 01st June and Paul has a 'party' planned on Saturaday. I say 'party' because I don't actually know. I am light on details and am looking forward to a suprise. On my birthday actual, Paul will be at work so My parents and my sister and coming to take me and kidlets out to lunch.

This week has seen me attack the veg patch and there isn't a weed on site. We are eating spinach, lettuce and rocket every day and there doesn't look to be any running out. My peas have pods in the flowers, and my beetroot are growing nicely. Carrot tops are looking bushy and Bebe ate the first ripe strawberry of the year yesterday - straight off the plant without telling anyone! I have back filled with seeds in all the holes where the originals didn't sprout and I'm hoping to for continuous cropping..

I had my last assignment back this week too, I got an 'A-' so I was thrilled. I have another assignment all but done for writing up, and as Paul is out tonight, I can't decide if I should write that up and hand it in to feel smug, or do some more felting.. I have a feeling felting might win!

Speaking of crafty things, I had a go at scrap booking on Tuesday. I did a little 6 week course offered by sure start (free creche!)and the last session was a go at scrap booking. Really enjoyed it and may give it a go again.

Ok, so its the kidlets bed time and I have an evening to enjoy (with icecream!) so I'll make tracks x

Really opting in this time!

Lets pretend 9 months haven't really lapsed since my last update! I guess the biggest things to happen/come up since last Sept is that we would like another baby, I have lost 3 stone and got fit (what a shocker!), we are having a new bathroom fitted in June (finally!) and we are going to get some chickens by the end of the summer, once all our planned house alterations/ holidays and trips are over.
There isn't really a huge amount to update other than that, I will upload some pics to bring you up to speed and promise to keep at it.