Happiness is having sisters

I finally finished my cross stitch project! When I walked past this in our local Spotlight I just had to have it. It so looks like my daughters, the original text said happiness is having friends which I changed to sisters, I love it and can't wait to get it framed.

A miracle has happened in completing this project- I actually have no UFO's not one WIP. I have a line up of projects ready to cast on though. Now, which one to start...........

Forget-me-not.

I finally got around to finishing this long hibernating pair of socks. Love the pattern, hated the yarn. The yarn was bought a while back when filling time wandering around Lincraft. It is Moda Vera Gelato which is 50/50 cotton/acrylic. I don't like working with acrylics but the colour jumped out at me. Anyway lesson learnt on trying to make socks with yarn that has no stretch, especially in tiny little needles.

I now have no knitting wips. I have projects set up and ready to cast on, planning to try and finish my cross stitch this weekend before I cast on some winter projects.

Daffodil and Blueberry Waffles.

Not flowers and yummy treats but some knitting projects fresh off the needles! I made Daffodil for myself, a cardi I absolutely love in some 4 ply Rowan cotton wool I brought from Deramores and Blueberry Waffle Socks for Josie made with some of the lovely yarn I picked up back in January from Blackheaths House of Wool.

Beyond puerperium

I made a long sleeve puerperium cardi with some left over cotton fleece yarn for a friend expecting her 3rd baby. I also made her a little beanie not in the above picture.

Another friend is expecting her 4th baby. She had 3 boys and has found out this one is a little girl so I have put the little Helena cardi away for her along with a little singlet I have yet to photograph.

On the go I have 2 pairs of socks and a cardi for myself. One pair of the socks have been a real pain to knit the other I will probably get through over the long weekend. With My cardi I played a little yarn chicken and ran out with a tiny bit of second sleeve and button band to go. Ggrrrr! I have ordered another ball of yarn and have my fingers crossed that the dye lot will match.......

A little freestyle

I have enjoyed a week off work and finished off a wip, a little freestyle ( because that is all I can crochet) scrappy throw rug. I have been trying to make my way through my growing wips and have got 2 socks and one cardi left on the go. I played yarn chicken with the cardi and ran out of yarn on the last sleeve cuff. Yarn has been ordered, looking forward to it arriving. 

House of wool.

Back in January we made a trip down to Sydney. I got to visit the house of wool in Blackheath and enhanced my wooly stash with some lovely hand dyed skeins of yarn. Tonight I have cast on some socks for Josie with the blue yarn.

Helena

A sweet little baby cardigan -Helena- knit up with some left overs from Scarlett's little butterflies.

It has been a while between blog posts! since getting my ipad for Christmas I haven't been on the laptop for ages. I have tried posting to blogger from my ipad but it just isn't working for me. It is hard to believe we are nearly in May. The year seems to be flying by. It has been an eventful year so far- mini trip to Sydney back in January, 1st term of school done and dusted, new friends made, catching up with old friends, a family Easter celebration and an enjoyable school holiday with some day trip fun.

Ziggy

Another Little butterflies.

We had a little mishap with the first version of Little Butterflies that I made for Scarlett when Jay did the washing and accidently felted it! oops!! I salvaged the buttons and re-made the sweet Tikki seamless pattern for her in some lush Rowan cashsoft dk from Deramores a great yarn store a friend told me about. The cashsoft is machine washable so hopefully we will be right this time, I have told him cold and gentle wash only!

Acacia

WooHoo! 2014 is here, bring on the Happiness I say! Happy New Year to everyone. We spent the day at one of our favourite spots, picnic lunch at the bay. The weather has been beautiful and I was lucky enough not to have to work today.

I thought I better catch up with some crafty posts - I made another fabulous Tikki pattern up for my 3 youngest girls - Acacia. A perfect little seamless knit made in some lush cotton fleece for the Summer months. They have been enjoying wearing them too!

The week leading up to Christmas

We have been baking and making some goodies!

My daughters love to get in the kitchen with me. We made gingerbread cookies, truffles, cupcakes and a gingerbread house. It gives them something to do each day while they try to be patient and wait for Christmas. They have all been spoilt and well gifted as have I. This very post comes from my iPad mini! 

Merry Christmas everyone! 

So blessed

To have such beautiful friends! Some people are just meant to come into your life I truly believe. I met Anne by chance, we bumped into each other getting off a train and she recognised me from my blog. I was amazed that my blog was actually read to be honest. Anyway, my dear friend Anne sent me a lovely wooly gift, some yummy purple sock wool to help me on my road to  happiness in 2014. Nothing better than happy knitting! Thanks so much Anne, I can't wait to catch up with you at the end of January!

Reverb 13 last day.

Today, I'd like you to revisit what you wrote on 1 December on the first day of Reverb13. How does that compare to where you are now?

Then, without thinking too hard about it, grab a pen and some paper and finish the following five sentences:

2014 is going to be MY YEAR because...I want it to be.

In 2014, I am going to do...what makes me happy.

In 2014, I am going to feel...Happiness!

In 2014, I am not going to...hold on to burdens that are not mine. I am not going to give up on me.

In December 2014, I am going to look back and say...I did it.

Thank you Kat for leading the reverb 13 journey and all those who have come and visited my blog, I have loved all the comments.

The way forward

reverb 13 - day 20

Forward is the only direction.
The mirror never lies, but everything in it is backwards. 

Look at what you see in the mirror. How does it change if you view yourself with eyes that can only look forward?

What does the future hold? I am hoping to continue with my journey to a healthier me, a more positive and grateful me. Looking in the mirror with eyes that can only look forward, I see choices, and I choose happiness, I choose peace, I choose love. I am looking forward to what is forward! 

Self-Compassion

reverb 13 - day 19

The Buddha said, “You, yourself, as much as anybody else in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

In the past year, I have been on a mission to understand and practice self-compassion, which is sometimes defined as "extending compassion to one's self in instances of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering," and what I have learned has made me realize that this practice is at the heart of everything. 

How will you practice self-compassion?

I intend to practice self compassion with some of the things I have already mentioned:
- Looking after my mind
- Looking after my body
- Forgiving myself
- Perhaps a retreat
- Just taking time to do what makes me happy.

Peace

reverb 13 - day 18.

I am often surprised where I find peace, it is usually in the midst of chaos.
In the midst of living, did you find moments to breathe? Were there moments that held you in the embrace of peace and quiet and pure contentment? 

Did these moments catch you by surprise or did you create the space for peace to find you?

how will you make space for greater peace in 2014?

I am normally a calm and peaceful person, but this year has been a challenge. I think back about 4 months ago and I am sure I would have answered very differently. It would have been - I have had no peace.
 Now I feel like I am closer to the old me, and it has so much to do with finding moments to breathe:
I found peace when I had some time off work.
I found peace when I acknowledged I can't control everything.
I found peace when I let go of burdens that are not mine.
I found peace in forgiveness, this was a big one and I am still working on it, for my memory is so good and when you can't forget its hard to forgive. Forgiving myself is even harder.
I found peace with good old gratitude, because I am ever so lucky for all that I have.
I found peace with sharing, talking to friends and letting them know how I am feeling.

Pure contentment is another thing.
I embraced peace and quiet in the bath with a good book, sitting up the headland with my husband, reading to my girls at bedtime, and generally when I am at home.

Making space for greater peace for 2014 is a goal. That is why I am inviting in happiness! I am continuing with the above. I would love to go to a retreat, but think I will miss my girls too much. So I have been looking at some day retreats.

My word

reverb 13 - day 17.

What word did you select to be your travelling companion in 2013? What gifts did this word bring?
What word will you choose to guide you through 2014? What do you hope it will bring into your life?

My travelling word for 2013 was Gratitude. The gifts it has brought me are endless. I have never chosen a word to accompany me through a year before. The most important gift this word has brought me is knowing gratitude changes everything, it changes what we have into enough.

My word for 2014 is Happiness.It is a simple word and its all I want so I am choosing to be happy and it follows on from gratitude which will stay with me now throughout all of my days so I am hoping happiness will too.

Habits and addictions

reverb 13 - day 16.

Habits and addictions, some are silly, some serious; when we have issues without answers, they can hold us so tight that we stop moving forward with the life we intended.
Were you able to loosen those fetters this year, and if you were successful, how did you manage it? Did you accept outside help, or work alone?

If you still feel that grasp of addiction or hurtful habits, what will you do differently in the year to come?
I have blogged already about my healthy habit changes for 2013. I have managed most of the changes but the healthy eating is the one I come undone on most. 2014 I am committing to better eating and maintaining my exercise. I am accepting that I need support and encouragement for me to be successful and I am opening up to accepting that help.

Another habit from 2013 is falling back on my credit card, I go really well budgeting most of the time but sometimes I just use the card and then regret it. So for 2014 I will be cutting up the credit card and budgeting my way to completely clear the debt.

Sensory Highlights

reverb 13 - day 5

Give us a sensory tour of 2013. How would you describe the year that’s passing in terms of:
Sight?
Sound?
Smell?
Taste?
Touch?

Hhhhmmmm, let me think....

Sight? I have enjoyed watching my daughters grow, I see our beautiful coast everyday and I love the colours in my yarn stash too.

Sound? Our house is full of constant chatter and laughter, add in a few girly screams and our dogs barking at frogs and other guests to our garden.

Smell? At the moment my garden is in bloom, the house smells like my teenage daughters impulse deodorant and unfortunately the car smells like wet towels.

Taste? I am enjoying some nourishing vegetarian dinners, loving summer fruits and love sipping different teas.

Touch? My job brings me one of life's greatest touch sensations - I am touching newborns every week, that doesn't beat the touch sensation at home - family hugs and who can go past patting your dogs.

Decisions, decisions

reverb 13 - Day 14

What was the best decision you made in 2013? What were the results? How will you continue the good work in 2014?
The best decision I made in 2013 was to pay some attention to me. I focused on my health which as a mum I have often neglected. So this year I got myself a fabulous GP. My arthritis was diagnosed and I have had physio and seen exercise physiologists for that. Its good to know what I am dealing with and how I can improve it. I have been sorting out my women's health issues and have been getting on to my iron and Vit B12 deficiencies. Starting to feel more alive with all that in order, so I am now back to my weight loss journey. I have also been looking after my mind as I have mentioned before. In 2014 I am choosing happiness and am firmly committed to a healthier me. I will keep my health in check and will nourish my body with healthy foods.