love those cupcakes

Diversion

I should have been busy doing Quite Important Stuff, namely cracking on with the remaining bits of my consultancy work.  Instead, I've done everything but, such as:

• finishing Boo's blanket (but no special edging, I can't fathom how to do that)
  

• baking Sue's apple cake (using allspice rather than cloves and adding chopped walnuts)

• making jam (three jars of damson and two of strawberry)

I've also baked bread, planned the next trip to Spain, visited the beauty salon for a little pampering and been to the cinema in the afternoon to see this (Prohibition era.  Bootlegging brothers.  Violence.  Brutality.  Blood.  Tom Hardy in a cardigan.) 

 Next week: focus.

 

Chchchchchanges......

We took the Boy to university in the big city yesterday.

His flat is better than expected and the wardrobe larger. 

His flatmates are younger than hoped for, fresh out of school undergrads unlike the postgrad Boy.

He forgot to pack clothes hangers.

I forgot to buy a bath mat.

He chose a cupboard in the shared kitchen.

I unpacked olive oil, spices, bagels, wholewheat pasta, a piece of very tasty mature cheddar, pesto and more.

He raised his eyes heavenward.

I wept in the car park.

It was our job to teach him to fly.

He flew.

The nest is empty.

The cats had better look out......

This and that

Much of the last eleven days has been spent glued to the telly (yet again), avidly following the ups, downs, tears and triumphs of the Paralympics.  All of that telly watching did enable some crafting to be started (and finished) - a second crocheted blanket, for Boo this time, who sneakily settles down on the sofa after we've gone to bed, and, for me, a cowl and mittens.  These were quick and easy knits, on two needles as I'm not up for the challenge of grappling with knitting in the round.  Butterflies eventually appeared on the buddleias in the garden and there's been evidence of much activity in the fields round about, providing opportunities for a bit more practice with the new camera.  I decided The Dress (mentioned in the previous post) is a keeper, brazenly ignoring the little voice in my head muttering something about mature sheep.  I'm certainly not modelling it for you (oh, your poor eyes if I did) but there's a sneak peak of the fabric below and a full length version (with the black tights I'm planning to wear) here.

 

As nature intended

Spending a little time at the beach was called for today, to breathe in that fresh, salty air and to treat the Boy Who Will Soon Be Leaving Home (gulp) to lunch.

Look who we bumped into.

Yep, Naked Prince Harry.

I didn't know where to look.