'Big Knit' by namolio

Big Knit, a photo by namolio on Flickr.

As my crochet learning didn't really go to plan - I can crochet, I just can't read a pattern - I have found myself knitting again. I must admit I find it really relaxing. I have been doing my bit for charity by making little hats for Innocent Smoothie bottles (you can read more about it here) and now I have decided just to knit squares and perhaps rectangles. I am going to make a sampler blanket as a way of practicing lots of different stitches.

The picture above is an example of the little hats I've been making. I think these are lovely. I love all these earthy tones. Mine are a bit different as I've been using lots of bright colours. Oh and the actual photograph is rather fab too!

Happy weekend everyone!

'Little Brighton beach huts' by Me

Little Brighton beach huts, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

I took my children down to Brighton yesterday and what a wonderful day it was. We paddled in the big paddling pool, we played in the sandpit, we went on some rides (well my daughter did), we ate ice cream by the sea, we went on the pier and most importantly played on the beach. It was a perfect summer day. And there was me being all sad it was September. Looks like summer might hang around for a little while longer.

We also looked in a few shops, one of which had all these little wooden beach huts for sale. We couldn't help but spell a few things out and take pictures. Luckily the owners of the shop didn't seem to mind.

'Cocktails' by Nokes

Cocktails, a photo by Nokes on Flickr.

Reason #453 why I am not really a grown up yet - I can't help but giggle a little bit when ordering cocktails. Seriously, I really can't order a Slow Comfortable Screw, a Screaming Orgasm or even a Sex on the Beach without feeling a little bit silly. I know I could order something else but I do like cocktails and often the ruder the name the more delicious they are!

Here is a cocktail related photo that doesn't make me giggle, it just makes me say 'Wow'! That definitely looks like a wonderful place to be drinking cocktails. Apparently these were consumed after a successful bungee jump. I think I would be needing alcohol before, after and even possibly during if for some reason I found myself doing a bungee jump!

'Autumn Dream 1' by FXTC

Autumn Dream 1, a photo by FXTC on Flickr.

It's only a few days until September so I am really trying to get excited about autumn. It's not easy but here are a few of my thoughts.

I had a bit of a shopping spree at the weekend and bought myself some lovely autumn clothes. They are far too warm to wear right now so they are sadly hanging up with labels still attached in the wardrobe. Can't wait to wear them. And talking of clothes I must admit I am a bit bored of wearing ths same few pairs of shorts and flip flops. Would be good to get back into boots again and my trusty old converse of course.

I also hate the stress of trying to keep the family safe in the sun. I spend my life running around after them all (incluing my hubby) with sun cream and sun hats.

I fear I may have started to dread the words "Let's take a picnic". Warm soggy sandwiches are starting to lose their appeal. I look forward to the return of friends saying "Let's meet in the coffee shop for a hot drink and a cake"!

This photo makes me smile. It was taken on an autumn day and it looks so beautiful. A lovely blue sky with not a hint of drizzle! That light is so pretty. I hope every day in September, October and November looks like this.

Ah, who am I kidding? I've just looked out of the window and seen the beautiful sunshine and blue skies. I bloody love summer I do!

'My boy in his sun hat' by Me

My boy in his sun hat, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

Sometimes it really annoys me that I've chosen not to share my children's faces on this blog. I am so proud of them and I would love to show the world how gorgeous they are. It does however feel right to me to keep them anonymous so however tempted I am I will keep it that way. It does mean though that I have to work extra hard to take photos of them that show them off with out actually showing their faces. I think I am managing it. I think through my pictures you can see how grown up they're getting and how amazing they are.

Here is a picture of my son that I took today at Polesdon Lacey in Surrey. I really like this picture but the more I look at it the more it bugs me that the house in the background wonky. I guess we must have been sitting on a bit of hill when I took this and was just concentrating on getting the picture of my son. Or perhaps the old building is in fact sinking and we didn't notice!

'whisper in autumn' by mayu♪

whisper in autumn, a photo by mayu♪ on Flickr.

The countdown to the end of summer has begun and autumn is on the way. I don't know what it is but there is definitely a whiff of autumn in the air already. The weather's still nice so it can't be that but there is something. Perhaps it's the shorter days as the sun seems to have all of a sudden started setting so much earlier. Or perhaps it's because my daughter now has a wardrobe full of name-taped school uniform all ready to be worn for the very first time. Whatever it is I am going to try and embrace it and not be sad that summer is over for another year.

This year I really want to take some lovely autumn photos. I say this every year but never seem to manage it. I need to find some beautiful places with gorgeous trees that will have turned every shade of brown, yellow and orange. This lovely photo has filled me full of inspiration and makes me think I should order myself some more polaroid film too.

'Bee' by floridapfe

Bee, a photo by floridapfe on Flickr.

I'm posting another insect photograph tonight. Not because I suddenly love creepy crawlies but because I got stung by a bee today. It really hurt, in fact it's still a bit swollen and sore now. I thought though that I would use my pain as an excuse to post a pretty picture. I think this one of a bee is beautiful. It's hard to imagine something as delicate looking as this could cause so much pain. And in the interest of keeping this post factually correct I wasn't stung by a bee like this. I was stung by a big fat furry bumble bee. I felt rather sorry for it when it whimpered off and died just a few feet away. Hope you've all had a less painful start to your week.