Frank and Josie's House

After my previous post about cutting down on plastic I got lots of comments and messages from various sources letting me know what others have done to reduce their single-use plastic waste. Interestingly I was led away into a world of well-being and general caring for oneself. All I did was look for a bamboo toothbrush and I found these amazing toothpastes that are really good for you and only use 5 ingredients. I'm going to try some out and when I have I'll let you know what they were like. For now I'm still trying the bamboo toothbrushes and so far I'm not convinced. I'm giving them a fair trial but I'm slightly disappointed with the ones I got to start with. I'll do a full review another time but my first impression of one type was that it was a bamboo toothbrush wrapped in plastic packaging! The bathroom seems a complicated place as when you look almost everything is plastic or encased in plastic. I had a trip to my local Lush and it was very educationa...

Sometimes life is easy, Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes you feel empty and lonely, Sometimes you feel so unbelievably loved. Sometimes life can get in the way of spending time with the ones you love. Sometime you feel close to everyone, Sometimes loves ones are so far. Sometimes the faces you love can make you sad, Sometimes the faces you love are the only ones who make you smile. Sometimes pain can envelop you, Sometimes you can walk carefree. Some days you can walk amongst the daisies, other days in the snow. Sometimes it's all too much, Sometimes the wine helps. Sometimes someone says you have courage and it takes you a while to believe that it's true. Sometimes you don't stop to appreciate the view. Sometimes no one can help you but you. But most days it's mostly ok. People express love, are fed and happy, are proud of each other and hugs abound. Sometimes life is beautiful, not exciting perhaps, but beautiful and sometimes it's just beautiful to you.

One of my aims for this year is to reduce our plastic usage as a family. I have been thinking on it for some time and just watching the final episode of Blue Planet 2 clinched it for me. As a race we humans use too much plastic and we have become so used to it that we don't even think of it anymore. Plastic is everywhere! From toothbrushes to food packages. From DVD cases to picture frames. From plant pots to toilet seats. From baby bottles to toys. It's even making crochet hooks. I understand why: it's versatile. It can be any colour, it lasts for ages and is waterproof. It can be different thicknesses and have different flexibility depending on what you need. It can be big or small. I can understand why we've become so dependent on plastic as a material. But you know all this. You can see it for yourself. Hell, let's be honest, you're probably reading this on a smart phone or tablet and there's a high probability that that device has a plastic cover on it....

As lots of crocheters out there know there is a subscription company called Little Box of Crochet . (I've mentioned them in previous posts). I first found them on Instagram and followed their story as Amanda dealt with the terminal illness of her daughter Jenny (read more here. ) Last year I saw this on their Instagram feed: A Hygge Ponchette. Now all the other designs I'd seen, whilst I admired them and thought they looked lovely, weren't for me. Simply a matter of taste and desire. But then I saw this and thought "I've got to have it!" So I asked Father Christmas/ Père Noël/Santa if I could have it for Christmas and (lucky me!) he said yes! Now this box they called their first Not-So-Little box of crochet because the yarn was super chunky and there were six balls of it! Basically it was a super chunky, snuggly, cosy, hygge project so couldn't fit into a little box. When I opened it on Christmas day it was so exciting. I think only fellow crafters can un...

Sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't. Sometimes it's a minor setback and sometimes not. And some days you just need to give in and have that extra sleep, watch the tv and just be who you are in yourself. Not someone's mum or wife, sister or friend. Not someone who constantly needs to do something for other people but just you being you. Sometimes your brain needs it and sometimes your body does. Some days the hoovering can be ignored. Some days the washing can be left where it is. It's ok to have those days, those days when the most you do is play tea parties with your toddler in her play tent. I truly believe all that. So why do I find it so hard to except for myself? Rose makes the tea I have to start admitting to myself that I have a long-term illness which can flare up unexpectedly and throw all my plans out the window. So my plans for today (which were pretty mundane) are now passed over to my husband. I always feel incredibly guilty for this. I see i...

It's a miracle: I've managed to make myself something, a whole garment in fact. It did take a total of 3 years from start to finish because it was always someone's birthday, or Christmas or I had a commission to work on. But finally, after a few wrong turns it is no longer 4 bits of crocheted fabric, it is a jumper. I'm actually wearing it now and love it. It started life as a few balls of chunky marble yarn . I love this yarn as it has a subtle colour change effect. I've no idea why now but I went with a multi-coloured effect. In all honesty I probably ran out of one colour and had another in my stash. I got the pattern from an issue of Inside Crochet magazine and it's called Jessica Sweater from issue 52. I made it in a bigger size as I am a bigger size and wanted a chunky jumper. As you can see from the picture above I had to completely redo both the arms. It's been a faff, picking it up randomly after a few months. After one long gap I ended up using th...

I am fed up of illness in our household! I knew we'd be affected by all these new germs what with the kids starting another new school earlier this month but I'd like one week where someone isn't home sick or in pain. Merida stayed home with laryngitis all last week. A couple of times we weren't sure if we should have pushed her out the door and demanded she go to school, but after she fell back to sleep on both days for at least 3 or 4 hours we knew she still wasn't right. Now it's little Rose's turn. She's like her mum and not good or patient with being ill. She was up every hour in the night so this morning's alarm clock ringing was a bit of a shocker. Poor Frank trudged off to work looking so tired, but he reassures me they have nice coffee at work so at least he'll survive the day...if be a little high on caffeine when he gets home. And then there's Finn. Good old Finn who gets on with stuff in a happy way he so often gets ignored. Latel...