Ever Wondered...

What would happen to the mind of a mother of 4, with a partner, who is left completely and utterly alone for 3 days?

Madness sets in!

The 'Mum's Holiday' is almost over (although I may be getting an unexpected extra day due to travel issues, we'll see). It has been thoroughly relaxing. I openly admit to doing nothing but zoning out in front of my favourite TV shows, mindlessly knitting and browsing my usual online haunts. It would have been perfect, but for 'Sod's Law' - that is, I came down ill. But, having no children around meant that I could relax and get over it much quicker and less stressfully (Mum's don't have time to get ill, so I'd have fought through it and taken twice as long to recover and felt twice as bad while doing so).

As I was saying: madness sets in... for the first part - I started dropping stitches in my knitting! Panic not fellow yarnaholics - the pattern said that I should. Its a gorgeous dropstitch shawl (Clapotis, for you Ravellers). It's a nice, peaceful knit once you settle into the rhythm of the pattern.

The second part of the madness, you ask? Well that would be being awake at 6am contemplating housework. Apologies for the use of such foul language, it was necessary in context, teehee. Now doing so may be normal for those I consider wonderwomen. But I am not one of those women. I will do house*ahem*, that, when it becomes bad enough for me to see. With 4 children mess is unavoidable, and I would never have time to drink a single cup of coffee or knit or blink if I attempted to keep on top of it all. Also, 6am?!? That is not even a time of day for me (barely - I usually get up at 7.30 on school days, but this is the summer holidays, and my extra-special one at that!).

I can only conclude that I am missing my brood. The house is too quiet, too still. Cabin fever must be setting in.

A Mother's Summer Holiday

Yes, apparently it is possible for a mother to have a holiday. My oldest 3 children are away with their dad for a few weeks. My partner has taken our youngest to his mum's for a long weekend to house/dig-sit. And so begins MY summer holiday.

I could have gone with them. Some may feel I should have gone. But I cannot remember the last time I had NO responsibility, other than to feed and clothe myself. Even just to sit for a few hours in the house, there's always at least one child asleep in a bedroom, or my partner sitting a few feet from me - he's grown up enough to take care of himself of course. But sharing a room with someone, you automatically allow for them. Is the TV volume ok? What would they like to watch? I'm making a drink, can I get them anything while I'm up?

So no, I didn't go. I'm sitting watching my TV shows, knitting, drinking a cup of coffee and I'm completely, utterly alone.

It's bliss.

For now :)

Quiet. Too quiet...

This house is far too quiet today and I'm not sure I like it. Mondays are usually hectic, with two kids at school and two at home. However, my oldest three children are away for 3 weeks of the summer holidays with their dad - so its just me, the other half and the mini-one. Too quiet, but it has its upsides.

Like the ability to lie in bed until 11am on a Monday morning.

Like having your dear MIL (I'm serious, she's a dream) call to say she's on her way over and do we want a MacDonald's while she's passing? Hmmmm. Pregnant - Mac'D's for breakfast? Hell yes!

The peace and quiet has also allowed me to get on with the current knitting project - my daughter's vest/dress. I've completed 1.5 cable repeats since yesterday afternoon and admit that I'm thoroughly enjoying the pattern. The yarn is lovely to work with, very silky feeling (its a bamboo/cotton blend), so it feels like its flying along.

Been wrestling some UFO's...

For those who don't speak Ravelese (or knitterese in general): UFO's = unfinished objects. I have a stack of them constantly, and decided that June was going to be dedicated to shrinking that pile.

I succeeded!

I completed a baby cardigan (for the impending bump), a pair of booties, a scarf in gorgeous handspun yarn given to me by a friend, and a shawlette for wrapping baby in, and a cardigan for my 3yo daughter. I'm feeling very accomplished, I must admit.

During that time, I managed NOT to cast on many extra projects - very different from my usual 'start something new every time I'm bored' mentality - only two. One of these was the girl's cardigan, the other is a top for her, which I'm currently dedicated to. No more of this picking up 3 different projects a day (although I will admit to intermittently picking up a now-memorised lace scarf when my 1 year old won't allow me enough concentration to work on a pattern I need to read while I work).

Intro and Welcome

This will hopefully be the first post of many. My life is hectic but I wanted an outlet for my life pleasures, frustrations, adventures and monotony.

I am a perpetually exhausted mother of four children (I think they're beautiful, but then I'm biased). I'm also pregnant with my fifth, and last. I'm very young (25) but now that my family is complete, I can relax and focus on the rest of my life - bringing up those children with morals, manners and principles; and finding out who I am as a person, outside of being a Mum.

Part of that identity is my crafting - primarily knitting, but occasionally dipping my toe into crocheting, sewing and jewellery making.

Not an interesting opening, but this is my place for emptying my brain...