1) Knit one hat each week for The Innocent Big Knit.
2) Do something nice for me.
3) Choose a non fiction book from the library.
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I've decided that all the hats I knit for The Innocent Big Knit from now on will be Innocent Big Knit Hat With Brim which can be found on The Creations Of Crazy Dazy blog. I love this pattern and the hats turn out so nice. It's a five week month so there's been five hats knit for August.
My nice thing for August was a family meal last Sunday. I traded in some of my Tesco Clubcard vouchers for Bella Italia vouchers so we went out for pizza. I haven't seen much of Daniel over the summer as he's stayed in York where he's at university so family time means so much more to me these days as it's rare that we're all together. Not only did Daniel join us but so did his girlfriend, Jasmine, and Eleanor's boyfriend, Ollie. It was nice to get to know them a little better too.
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I've never really been a forager so I thought a book on the subject might be the place to start. The Hedgerow Handbook by Adele Nozedar covers lots of different plants and provides information on culinary uses, medicinal uses, tips and recipes.
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It's illustrated beautifully too.
Mick's taken a week's holiday from work so we've been out and about quite a bit since he finished last Friday. Eleanor's in to her last week off school now so she's making it count, though she's looking forward to being back in to the swing of things and can't wait to get to grips with the new challenges which await her. I'll be quite sad to see the end of the summer holidays, I've loved having Eleanor at home with me for an extended period this year owing to her GCSEs, I've never understood those people who moan when school holiday time comes around.
It does seem the holiday Summer is much too short when the kids are young and still at home.
ReplyDeleteThis is our Labour Day weekend here an unofficial end to Summer but there will be plenty of humid days left.
Your hedgerows in England have so much to offer; blackberries, currants, apples and pears all yielding the most yummy jam. Here I seek out abandoned orchards that long ago have been left to themselves but the fruits they share are the sweetest you can imagine.
Susan x
I've always loved having the kids at home in the school holidays, they never seem long enough though, even the longer summer holiday. The fruit from your abandoned orchards sound delicious. I've never really been a forager but it's something I'm becoming more interested in.
DeleteSounds like great family time was had by all and you suddenly realise how quickly they've grown up. Enjoy while you can. I'm still loving your little hats and hope to see you soon. Take care.
ReplyDeleteWe had a wonderful time. It's lovely to have the family all together and to get to know their friends a little better too.
DeleteHow lovely that you shared your something for you with all of your family this month, it sounds as though it was a lovely time. Your little hats are coming along very well!! xx
ReplyDeleteMy something for me was having all the family around me, I love family time most of all. I've got quite a few little hats now, not many more to go.
DeleteSchool holiday this year was too short by a LONG way!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Eleanor in 6th form!
It definitely was. Eleanor's got a little extra tagged on though, she doesn't have to go in until Thursday. Thank you for your good luck wishes for Eleanor, she's really looking forward to starting.
DeleteThe wee hats are gorgeous, Jo, and the book looks interesting. Enjoy the last week before "normal" starts again. :o)
ReplyDeleteI've got quite a collection of little hats now. It's been nice having Mick at home with us for Eleanor's last week off school, we've been making the most of it.
DeleteThat book looks lovely. I can see why you like the hat pattern too. Ex
ReplyDeleteThe book was a good read. I'd no idea you could do so much with things foraged from the hedgerow.
DeleteThank you for the mention again about the Innocent Knit pattern, Sounds as if you had a lovely Sunday lunch.....enjoy the last few days of the summer holidays
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, it's my favourite little hat pattern by a long chalk. We had a lovely time out with the family, we must do it again soon.
DeleteHi Jo, your little hats look lovely, you have done so well with that challenge! The book looks interesting, reminds me of the victorian flower book, can't think of the author right now, I think you have had it on here. Did a catch up read through your posts, Congratulations to Eleanor on her fantastic results! And lastly your day out in Kettlewell looked good, I don't think we have been there, I do find the faceless scarecrows a wee bit creepy. Oh, and your crochet looks nice. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm coming to the end of the hat challenge now, they'll have to be sent off soon but I think I'll make my challenge of fifty. The illustrations in the book are very similar to the Edith Holden books. Thank you, it seems a long time now since Eleanor got her results, but it was only last week. She's looking forward to being back at school next week.
DeleteYour little foraging book looks really interesting. You'll be making Sloe Gin, Damson Jam, and Wild Mushroom Soups before you know it :0)
ReplyDeleteI love the school holidays, and love having Violet at home with me. We've had some great times together, and yesterday I took her to London Zoo.
Enjoy your final few days together. xx
I'm not too sure about the wild mushroom soups, mushrooms are one thing I wouldn't dare forage for, knowing me I'd end up picking some deadly variety. I've always enjoyed the school holidays and having them at home with me. I bet a trip to London Zoo is a great day out.
DeleteI like those innocent hats with the brim, the shape reminds me of my old school hat, in navy felt with a yellow ribbon and the school badge!
ReplyDeleteGlad you have had some happy family holiday times too. X
I think it's the shape of the hats which I love so much and the little fancy brim. I suppose school holidays will be much the same as the rest of the year once Eleanor's completed this next year and I don't have any children at home any longer, though we'll move on to the next stage and I'm sure there'll still be lots of happy family time.
DeleteHi Jo
ReplyDeleteYou are doing well with your challenges. Its so nice to have a bit of family time isn't it. It is so few and far between that we are all together these days. Sometimes the big kids manage it more by meeting up a particular place and getting together but I think even they struggle now they are all working and living in different places around the UK.
It's nice that your older ones meet up with each other occasionally, though as you say, once they have their own lives and have flown the nest it can be quite difficult. I suppose it makes it all the more special when you do manage to get time together though.
DeleteHope you've had a wonderful week with Mick being off.
ReplyDeleteThe book for this month looks like it's been an interesting read, will you be looking for free fruit for jam making?
The meal sounds like good fun with everyone going along.
Lisa x
It's been lovely having Mick at home with us. I've still got lots of fruit we picked from the allotment in the freezer which I could make jam with, I just don't seem to have had chance this summer, we've been quite busy with one thing or another. It was lovely having everyone together for the meal, and they all came home with us afterwards too, so that was nice.
DeleteNice post. That looks to be a really interesting, and useful, book with terrific illustrations. Good to see that you've enjoyed your week with Mick.
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend. Flighty xx
I enjoyed reading this book. It's got lots of interesting information in it and some good recipes too. I particularly liked the illustrations, good ones always sell a book to me.
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