dottyspots

Please update your bookmarks as I’ve moved to: http://hearthandhomeeducation.co.uk

Here’s the customised knitty pattern ‘Childhood‘ (from a cardi to a jumper with an elongated hood instead of the one included and of course a different colourway). It’s knitted in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran which is a joy to knit with. My photo-taking skills don’t do it justice, it looks far nicer ‘in real life’:

one of my new little ad thingies

Whilst I’m at it, I’ve given the Ninny Noodle Noo site a new year ‘revamp’ and would appreciate some feedback as it’s a very different look. Not everything is back up as yet, as I’m ordering some more castle and fairytale pieces as well as some more British animals. A few new lines are also planned from around April.

I’m also hoping to build upon what’s there and add ideas for crafts, days out, etc. So any ideas or suggestions are welcome - and if you’ve bought things from me it would be great if you could leave some feedback on what you’ve bought.

Thanks!

Meet Monty, the almost 9 week old English Setter pup.

He’s really lovely and doing really well.

The cats aren’t particularly impressed, but don’t seem to be hugely bothered, mostly because they get to gloat as he can’t jump onto windowsills or bookcases or sit on the comfy warm space by the radiator - all prime feline real estate (and subject to much internal feline bickering), so as far as they’re concerned he doesn’t really register as important as they’re far to wrapped up in their own (sometimes contentious) feline politics to much bother about him.

Currently on 1-2 hourly toilet trips outside, with only 2 accidents because of this (best to do everything possible to help his small bladder out, the trips can cut down as he gets older and has better bladder control). He’s a bright boy and toddles off to the gated part of the garden despite having only been with us since Saturday - not bad for such a small baby. I got up with him at 5am for another toilet trip (he slept from an 11pm toilet trip through to 5am) and he was fine on a blanket in our bedroom, settled down quietly, only to come and complain when he woke up and needed the loo.

He’s the recipient of lots of cuddles

… but only in blogland. In t’other world I’ve been busy - really, really busy. Part of me wants to blog this, but part of me is struggling with words. R. chose to go to school f/t in January, however, he is having no little amount of problems atm. Ahhhh, I can hear many of you say - then take him out and HE. Well, no actually, I don’t think that is the best thing for him right now as his behaviour is becoming steadily more and more ‘eccentric’ and to be frank, being at home wasn’t helping any either. A few phone calls from school and the picture isn’t exactly looking much brighter, except that the school seem to be being very, very helpful, to the point where teachers have actually given him a lift home. It’s all rather complicated and I don’t really have the words to go into it right now, save to say that he seems to be taking a downturn again, however this time there’s more people to see it, so perhaps there might be more support?

Added to that I’m studying a HNC in Early Years with the hope that it will lead to a degree and am having serious thoughts about bridge-building with the LA on the HE front, amongst ‘other things’, but this is taking quite some thought as to how best to move forward - so there are some positive things happening amongst the gloom

On the knitting front there’s a lovely hooded jumper in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran on the needles. Inspired by a pattern on Knitty, but never quite being satisfied I’ve changed it from a cardi to a jumper and have had a fiddle with the hood. It should be finished soon

I also know who my Secret Pal has been - she’s here: Chickenlips Knitting - so a great big thank you to her for being such a wonderful Secret Pal!