Simple Things

I have enjoyed considering some of the simple things that make me happy. I have picked a few to share.Writing-the physical act of writing rather than composing what I write. I find it soothing. I also love to doodle and do lots of repetitive patterns, which have the same effect on me.

Toast-long time friend and easy delicious meal. I worry when I look at this picture as I seem to have put rather a lot of butter on it. The plate is from New York. I have an Orio cookie one too!

Rust-These are two things from my rusty things collection. I see rust and I feel happy. (Not on my car though-I have just had a large and expensive piece of welding done due to rust! The best thing about it was that Mick the mechanic gave me a piece of the rust to demonstrate how bad it had been! Rust souvenir.)

Stones-in general and this one in particular. My friend Sarah gave me this stone. She had collected it on holiday, carried it home and brought it to me all the way from Holland. It makes me happy because she knew it would-if you see what I mean!

The view from my kitchen sink. I look out on this view when I am washing up. I have lived in places with the view of a wall from the sink, which is not half so much fun.

Rain, the colour yellow and sunflowers. I was greeted by this sunflower on Monday morning when I came to school and started to set up the garden. Beautiful!

Visit Christina here to see the simple things she has chosen, and to visit other people celebrating simplicity!

Simple Things

On Wednesday Christina of Soul Aperture is appreciating the simple things that make her soul sing. She has invited others to join her and I thought it would be fun. Visit her to sign up if you think so too!

This is something simple I appreciated today-given to me by one of the afternoon children when she came to school. It is such a lovely colour.

Knitting Patterns and Blogger's Elbow

Again, the mosaics have come in handy! I can show you all of these great knitting patterns in one go. I love these old patterns, the photos are just so funny! I went on flickr today and there are just hundreds more waiting to be explored. This is my small collection from the jumble sale on Saturday, source of the boots and other bargains! This lot were 50p, well worth it I think!
Below are some of my favourites... I love the expression on the man's face as he tries his wife's weird anaemic looking cake! The cardigan is somewhat irrelevant to the action! I suppose he could stash the rest in the pocket until she is not looking, before getting rid of it to the dog.

I love this one because I am unsure about the relationships of these three be-tank-topped young things. Just what is going on? Also, are they in Greece? If so they might be too hot.

These two just make me happy! They are clearly having a great time on their boat and for once the jumpers have a purpose.
This is a little cushion I made yesterday to rest my elbow on when I am on the computer. It gets really painful resting on the hard table so I have invented the blogger's elbow cushion! It is 15cmx10cm and so far is doing a good job! I think I have invented the condition but I bet if I google it someone else has done so too!

I looked and Blogger's Elbow is only one of many sad conditions to be endured by bloggers-look here to see more...

Shadow Shot Sunday

Shadow doll.

Wellies! Bought at the jumble sale today for 25p a pair! A bargain. I got seven pairs altogether. They are for Forest School as spares. I also bought this mallet for 50p. It doesn't look much but will be most useful for banging in stakes should my home made one break. I have to rope off the area where we do Forest School using blue rope which the children are not allowed to cross!

Early morning shadow in the old mirror in the bedroom. That's not dust in the mirror (honestly!) it is old and speckled. I think it is more of a shadow than a reflection.

Visit HeyHarriet here for more shadows from around the world!

Fit Friday

Sports day today-no pictures-I was too busy running up and down with small children! The downside to the modern world and all its gadgetry is that I will appear huffing and puffing on numerous phone shot videos forever! Or at least until it all breaks which I suppose it will one day. It is also fit Friday as it is the third day in a row that I have cycled to work! I feel so virtuous and I really enjoyed it too. I still have not got the car back but whenever it returns I am still going to try to cycle to work at least till the end of term. The weather has made it a real pleasure but I don't mind cycling in the rain either. I will see. Most of my fads last about three weeks. If I get through the three week barrier I might buy myself some new cycling shorts as the ones I have got are old and worn out.

Here are a few sights from the way home today.

A poor old abandoned building with a poor old abandoned for sale sign. The buddleia has found a happy home though. I love the way buddleia grows anywhere. Any crack in the pavement, side of a building or neglected roof. I planted one in the nursery garden but it did not survive. I was astounded! One has taken root in my garden and I am really pleased.

This is a little nursery which has been there for years and always looks lovely. It is on a busy corner, traffic wise, and really brightens things up. This view is a little limited but I took it because I like their broom display. I need a new broom but did not want to carry it on the bike!

This beautiful tiled sign is on Herbert Road. The shop is now a Barbers and before that was a really good second hand clothes shop. I wonder how many other lives it has had in between being a Grocers and Provision Merchants and now?

Have a lovely weekend!

Bits and Pieces

This week has been so hot that I have been lying in the garden on my old lounger every evening, apart from today when I went to an eye test appointment that is, in fact, next Thursday! It is lovely out there as I have a beautiful pale yellow/green tree (Robinia Pseudo Acacia) which provides the perfect kind of dappled shade. On Tuesday I managed to do my first actual Forest School session. I was so relieved as it went really well. I have been getting ready for it for so long that I was really nervous in case it was a complete flop! But we had lots of fun, rolling down the hill, climbing the log, using the new pressy down flasks (a popular novelty!) and wearing our boots. If the photo below will enlarge you can see Chloe's comment that wearing her boots was her favourite thing!

I have been doodling away recently and here are some of those doodles. I really would like to run over a rainbow!

These ladies came from some lovely paper I bought to wrap Andy's birthday present.

I often use my journal for writing to do lists. I seem to be more likely to do them if they have been fun to make. I have nearly done all of these things!

I was going to do some more on top of this page but I quite liked it as it is.

I have finished my 'Air' doll apart from attaching her balloons and tonight have quickly started a couple more-just the drawing the body part. I am branching out into four legged creatures and am going to make a horse. It will be a bit of a panto horse I think!This is one of the tissue paper experiment pages.

If you are interested in the little giveaway in the post below, please comment there. Thanks!

A Box of Girls...

...as opposed to a box of chocolates! They are in a box which was a box of chocolates I didn't want to throw away as I liked the little frames. It lay around for ages on my desk before inspiration struck and I drew some little faces to fill the squares. And yes I have made a mosaic out of it!

Anyway, I wanted to have a giveaway as I have only had one before, not counting OWOH. So this is my little offering. If anyone reading would like a box of girls, complete with little leafy drawings, then please leave a comment. If no one wants it that's fine, I will keep it myself!

I will draw a name on 8th July which is my Mum's birthday so that seems a good day to do so!