Finishes

 And look, new toys!

The result

Not teal, I went too heavy on the green, but I love it!!

More dyeing adventures

 I have a new wrap. A gorgeous Kokadi Diorite stars. I bought them to dye and I have decided on a deep teal. However I can't find a machine dye that is right so I am experimenting with colour mixing.

Wish me luck! It is rinsing now!

Simple pleasures

Things are very hectic here at the moment but we are enjoying loads of simple things that bring a bit of happiness.

Helping muck out a friends horse and sweeping the yard. We have gone from a fear of horses to an absolute love of horses in a very short space of time. It doesn't even have to be riding, he even loves the shovelling poo, you can't get more down to earth then that!

Not the best picture but picking and eating strawberries in the garden. It is the little man currant favourite food. We get a handful everyday, and they are mostly in his hands. He will turn down jelly and Ice cream in favour of strawberries.

Throwing stones in puddles. Something so simple can keep small boys occupied for hours!

And something that keeps me happy, selective weeding! I haven't got time to keep all the garden free of weeds, but by selectively weeding I get simple pretty colours like this, I get wild stawberries, I get brambles for making jam and pie. Not all weeds are the enemy!

Then there are the things without pictures, a paddling pool, a few days of sunshine, a picnic in the park, a gift of pretty yarn.

And a very large pleasure should be coming soon. I have 2 very near knitting finishes! Erm and about 4 large projects lined up!

Rain rain Migraine and rain

Things I am grateful for this week

• The rain that makes my garden grow. Today I have eaten strawberries, broadbeans, purple mangetout and peas from my garden. There are blackcurrants and redcurrants ready to pick, and courgettes that won't be long.

• The abundant rain that means we have water on tap, to drink, to wash our clothes, to bath and shower.

• The rain that my boys love splashing in. I read something recently on a blog about how rain doesn't stop a child playing out or going to the park, it just stops adults taking them. This is so true and although I do sometimes take them out in the rain there are days I can't be bothered, which is odd given that some days there is nothing I love more then a walk in the rain. Anyway my boys seem happy in the rain. They love splashing in puddles and running around the garden half naked in the rain.

• NHS direct. I have had what everyone keeps telling me must be a migraine this week. I have never had a migraine, and I rarely even have headaches. So to be stuck to the sofa with my eyes shut and a pounding head and eyes has been horrendous, throw in a temperature that was all over the place and I was getting a bit concerned. So to be able to ring a medical helpline who took my details then instantly put me through to a nurse who took loads of details and put me through to an out of hours doctor was all quite reassuring. All from my own sofa, it beat having to move anywhere, it's a great service.

• My husband that has been working at home all week so he can look after me and the boys. I don't think I mention him that often but he is an absolute star.

Having said all that I am most grateful for the fact I am now much better and the sun is shining. It may be short lived but at least the rain has stopped for now.

Pictures from my week

Spanking - A rant.

There are times when facebook winds me up. More to the point there are times when the rubbish that people post on facebook really wind me up.

Todays offering was about laughing at people who are against smacking, and that kids who aren't smacked show no respect and have no problem and that is the problem with the youth of today. I did leave a comment but almost instantly deleted it, and I have come here to rant instead. I'm still tempted to go back and rant though....

I shall start with this little gem "I didn't fear them, I feared getting caught doing something wrong" Fear. Fear is my biggest issue. It isn't just in the moment of the actual smack. It isn't just in childhood. It isn't just with the person doing the smacking. I was smacked as a child. It left me with a fear of leaving my children with my mother as I didn't want her to treat them like she treated us. We have talked through this together but it has been a very real issue for me. It left me with a fear of anger. It has left me scared that whenever someone gets angry and starts shouting that someone is about to get leathered.

Next offering is this "I wasn't abused, I was disciplined, this is why kids nowadays have no respect for anyone" Firstly, not smacking does not equal not discipling. I can discipline my children without smacking thank you. Secondly smacking a child does not teach them respect, it taught me quite the opposite infact. Disdain maybe, dislike definitely at times, and anger. I respect a lot of people, oddly enough they didn't need to belt me to get that respect.

Smacking can teach children if you don't like someones behavious it is ok to hurt them. This is not something I want my boys growing up believing.

You may laugh at my decision not to spank, but it is one I whole heartedly believe in.