Well hello there

A lot has happened since I last posted.

Four weeks left to go

A lot of very exciting things.



Only a few minutes old

 My life has changed so much.


In the recovery unit about one hour old.



Life these days is fab fab fab.

I cant believe its possible to feel so happy and contented.

The last eighteen months havent all been plain sailing, oh no, not by a long way. My pregnancy was pretty textbook thankfully with no major setbacks or problems, but I did suffer the most horrendous pregnancy sickness and vomiting throughout the whole nine months. I may at some point write a post about this. Unless you have suffered it is very difficult to empathise how someone is feeling and how every waking minute of every day is spent either being or feeling sick. But you know what? I would go through it again one hundred times worse for my Coco baby because she is the reason for every day of my life both now and every day of my life before she was born. She is the reason for every breath that I breath.

She was born on the 4th September 2012 by elective C section weighing 6lb and 12ozs.

 I discovered I was pregnant following a first attempt at IVF following ten years of trying for a baby with three miscarriages and sadness every month the pregnancy test showed a  negative response. Following the IVF treatment we had to wait two weeks before taking a blood test that would measure Hcg levels in my blood to determine if i was pregnant or not. We went to my surgery on the morning of 30th December 2011 and was told the blood results would be ready in a few days. No way could I wait that long so we bought a digital pregnancy test on the way home and lo and behold it read two to three weeks pregnant YAYYYYY.

Our beautiful little girl has three names and is named after my grandmother, a beautiful Scottish island, and an olympic swimmer from last year. But on this blog i will refer to her as Coco baby.

Coco baby is eight months old now and weighs just over 16lbs. Im still breast feeding her which has worked really well for us and we are two months into baby led weaning which is great fun but very messy he he.

Well thats me for now but hopefully will find time to blog again very soon. Ive got so much to share with everyone including lots of knitting and crochet ta dahs.



Jumping on the band wagon

I've been admiring all the beautifully crocheted tea light holders and wishing I had one for myself. Well now I have. As you can see it's a very basic attempt and I've no idea what stitch it is but I'm chuffed with my effort and might have a go at a few more.

See you soon.

Melanie x

Ta dahhhhh just for once

Hello there,

Long time no see.

Just thought I'd show you my little nephews beanie and mitts that I've knitted for his birthday.

Still loads of WIPS peeping out at me from my knitting bag.

See you soon I hope.

Melanie x

Watching Nirvana on the telly and remembering fab times when I was young and carefree. Good times.

Have a great weekend everyone

Melanie x

Back from hols

Hello there,

How is everyone?

Im back from a fantastic holiday in a beautiful place called Flushing near Falmouth in Cornwall. We have had a lovely time and i so do not want to be having to go back to work. Boo hoo....

A few pics of what ive been up to whilst dodging the showers (some lasted all day) in Cornwall. Didnt spoil our holiday. When you have a dog the rain is neither here nor there as Charlie choco still needs his walks two or three times a day. Thank goodness for waterproof gear. Very glam especially with a pink brolly.

This is how far i got with my second cable and lace sock. Thats the ankle, heel flap and heel turned, now just have to finish the foot. The heel flap, turning the heel and grafting the toe are the only bits that are done with just two needles. The rest is knitted using four double pointed needles. Some people use five needles but i find that to fiddly so just stick with four.

This is the beanie i was working on for my nephews first birthday. For some reason the piccie has come out on its side..... ive no idea how to fix this and get it right way up.

Just have to start the second mitt now and then the set is complete. Second sock mitt syndrome DOH.

A little baking was called for today. Something naughty but delicious to cheer up a dismal day.

Mini cup carrot cakes. Very tasty with a cuppa after my afternoon walk with Charlie.

I cant remember if i showed you these. Socks that i knitted for Mr back a couple of months. Knitted on two needles so have a sewn seam. He loves them and finds them very comfy with his wellies. I caught Charlie wandering around the house this morning with one of these socks in his mouth along with a hide chew and a cat toy. The other sock was in Charlies basket. Im shaking my head still in disbelief as i write this.

Stay safe from any spooks or witches that may be scurrying up and down your pathways over the next couple of evenings. Ooooooooyyyyyooooo.... Thats supposed to be a ghosty sound by the way he he.

 Happy halloween

Melanie xx

knitting and catching up

Hello again,

Im sorry i havent been around much lately. Lots going on in my little world at the moment.

Thankyou all for the lovely encouraging comments about my attempts at crochet on my last post about a month ago. Truth is i havent been any where near those squares for so long that i cant even remember which knitting bag / box that ive hidden them away in. I think you are either a crochet or a knitting gal and i most defo am a knitting gal he he.

This is my latest project. Im making a beanie and mitts for my one year old nephew Jay. Little angel boy. Im using Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino and its an absolute joy to knit with. So soft and smooth as im knitting and perfect for a delicate baby skin.

These little hand warmers were made in a day with a ball of yarn out of my stash. Its a cotton mix yarn and knitted up ok but probably wont offer much warmth. Ok for cooler autumn days maybe.

This little beauty is the first of a pair of cable and lace socks knitted on double pointed needles using Rico Poems yarn. I am so chuffed with this sock as ive never followed a lace pattern before and i really enjoyed knitting this up. Have still to start the second and i plan to do this on saturday in the car on our way to Cornwall for a weeks holiday yippee. I love road trip knitting and listening to radio four and feeling that holiday excitement. Alot of knitters suffer from second sock syndrome meaning it never gets knitted and the one sock ends up all lonely stuffed in with other wips. I dont exactly get second sock syndrome but i do have to knit something else in between times before starting second sock.

These are cranberry and orange muffins and sound very healthy but in reality are filled with a lot of butter and sugar but very delicious especially with a cuppa after a very cold and windy walk on the common.

Horses grazing on the common.

This is the view from my front door that greeted me yesterday. It lifted my soul and kept me smiling all day.

God bless you all and wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.

Melanie xx

Crochet practice

Not sure how far forward I'm getting with this crochet lark. All these ends to sew in not to mention needing to crochet at least a trillion more squares if I'm to have something snug and cosy come the winter time. I do so love the colours though and the gorgeous softness of the yarn. Another bargain bucket find from good old John of the Lewis.

Might have some socks to show you soon......

Xxx