Busy, busy, busy....

Where does all the time go? Now that I'm back at work, the days and weeks just seem to fly and it seems we never get chance to get anything done. I blink and Kitty has learned something new and outgrown her clothes. The washing pile just gets bigger and bigger, the house is being neglected, the dogs aren't being walked properly and I haven't set foot in the garden for over six months. It's worth it though. I'm glad that I will have this blog to look back and see the whirl-wind that was baby Kitty Bean.



We went to visit mama and grandad Simpson at the end of Feb. Kitty had a great time playing in their sink. It's much deeper than ours, so she was able to sit safely without her bath seat.

Great Mama Kitty gave little Kitty some (more) money. Thank you. She added most of it to her already bulging piggy bank, but decided to treat herself to some nice crayons and drawing paper. We had a go today. I helped quite a bit, but she soon got the idea.

With the proceeds from one of Peaheads gigs, he bought us a nice new hoover. It's ace. See, there is a place for rock n roll in the thirty-something lifestyle. He has another gig coming up, Manchester Dry Bar March 21st.....we need a new toilet. \m/ yeah!





















Darren, Nicky, Ben and puppy Flinn came to visit. Chaos but fun. We went down to the river and got mucky. Lifting a pram over a stile is something we won't be repeating in a hurry.

Since seeing the Chinook, I have become obsessed with UFO. I swear I spotted something the other night. It was a really clear night and I was checking out the various constellations while walking the dogs and saw something really strange. It was so far away I had trouble focusing, but it look like lots of little green, blue and yellow lights moving around. I tried to take a picture, but it didn't show up. It was directly above the bright star visible in the picture. I think I need a telescope. (Hum.... I feel another gig coming on Peahead).

I have been trying to fit in a bit of knitting here and there. So far, I have completed the back and the left front side of Kitty's new purple cardi. Probably be complete 2011!!!

Rei's ear was healing nicely, but the other day I went to check on him and the inside of the shed looked like a scene from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Blood EVERYWHERE and Rei not looking too good. I managed to stop the bleeding with corn flour (a tip I found on the web) and cleaned him up. He has been fine for a few days, but tonight it was bleeding again. I bathed it and gave him some pain killers. It doesn't seem to bother him too much but it needs to heal soon.

Apple sauce

I finally got my birthday blender. I have been looking for a while and really liked this one as it's small but quite powerful and we can use if for lots of other stuff as well as baby food. It was the only one left in the shop and had a blade cover missing, so Peahead did some haggling and got us a generous discount on it.

Anyway, today I have been busy trying it out, and Kitty has been busy trying out the produce! I made apple sauce and carrot puree.





















Since we saw the heath visitor last, Kitty has been having a little apple or orange juice in the morning and a little bit of baby rice for lunch. Today, fresh apple sauce was a big hit.

As per usual, Kitty prefers to do it herself!

I finally finished Kitty's tangerine tank top. Phew! just a few more things to complete before Christmas now.

Goodbye

When we visited Great Mama Kitty at Easter, she was her usual self. Playing with the children, quick to get out the toys and chocolate biscuits, busy in the garden and as always, concerned that her hair didn't look right for a photo. It came as a massive shock to all when she was admitted to hospital after some kind of stroke. In hospital, she looked terribly frail and it was hard to hear what she was saying but she was still there. She was worried that she had milk and bread going bad in the fridge and that no one would be feeding the birds. Despite how sick she was, there was obviously no question that she would be better soon and returning home. She asked me about the children, laughed and thanked us for gifts and drinks. She did mention seeing her mother in the hospital, was worried about the rabbits in the room and at times obviously forgot I was a grown up, but most of the time was miraculously clear about who everyone was and what was going on. Unfortunately, she just wasn't strong enough and we lost her.

Despite the fact that she was 94, no one can quite believe she has gone. I think one of the main reasons for this is that for an old lady, Mama didn't have that 'when I'm gone' kind of approach. For Mama, there was always going to be a tomorrow. There was always going to be a next growing season, a next year. There would always be another family wedding to attend, another birthday, another grandchild and another generation of family visiting her and her beautiful garden. She was going to live forever.

It has long been popular for people to aspire to 'live for today', but I think Mama's approach of not worrying about today as there will always be a tomorrow seems a much more sensible and effect one. I worry constantly about the fact that I am an older parent, and that I may not be around to see my children fully live their lives, but from now on I intend to take a leaf out of Mama's book and be happy in the thought that I just will be. From now on, I'm going to live forever. Thanks and goodbye Mama Kitty. We love you. xxx

The Black Bloomer

I needed something to keep the kiddos busy while I did a spot of gardening. We got a couple of boxes from the skip at the supermarket and set to it.

It soon started to take shape.

And before long the troublesome two were ready to set sail in The Black Bloomer - the best, most speedy and beautiful pirate ship ever (apparently).

A good three hours solid fun.

An mummy managed to plant some strawberry runners from Mama Kitty's garden and fashion a little fence from hedgerow sticks.

I also inherited lots of seeds that Mama had saved from her garden. She had carefully labelled each little paper bag. I planted them in hope that a small bit of her garden will continue here on my little plot.

Festive robot?

We had a lovely Christmas split between the Pih house and the Simpson's. Kitty got roller-skates from Santa.

It doesn't take much to make our little bean happy....a sparkly mask from her stocking on Christmas morning.

Christmas season is always a really busy time at work. After being off sick I had to do some serious hours to catch up so we just didn't get around to a Christmas tree this year. Kitty made a lovely Christmas robot which at least brought a little festive decoration to the house.

Kitty Simpson

School hasn't really worked out. We went a few times and although Kitty seemed ok with it, I wasn't really happy with the place. Too big, too busy and too much for a five month old. We have decided to look for somewhere more homely, perhaps a friendly childminder or a much smaller nursery.

To cheer ourselves up today we ate peaches and Simpsonized Kitty.

Pineapple kid

We have had a busy couple of weeks. Lots of visitors, outings and chores. Kitty has also had lots of new presents, despite Christmas being so close.

Last week, Kitty received her first parcel from the postman. It was a new book from Darren, Nicky and cousin Ben. She likes it a lot.

She got a new toy from the supermarket which she picked out herself. She particularly likes the bobbly bits she can put in her mouth. This month from the library she picked 'Banana!', a book about a naughty monkey who learns how to say please.





















At the weekend grandma and grandad Pih came over, bringing more presents - a pretty new dress and a new singing cube toy. Darren, Nicky and Ben came up too and we all went to Hebden Bridge for the afternoon. We had lunch at a pub and Ben and Peahead fed the ducks.

When Kitty is awake, she mainly wants to sit up. Her bouncy chair is ok for a while, but daddy bought her a play doughnut to help. She really likes it as she isn't strapped in and can move around quite a bit.

Kitty is always interested in our food, so we have started to let Kitty suck on bits of fruit. Her favourites are apple and pineapple.

After all the fun over the last few days, Kitty was exhausted. She spent most of today like this.

Tonight she has gone to bed early.

Summer staycation

Since holidays away are always difficult (asking someone to feed the goats for a week or two is not quite as easy as asking a neighbour to keep an eye on a cat!) and money is tight, we decided to take two weeks off work/nursery and just stay at home. We have been very busy and so far thoroughly enjoying ourselves. The weather has been an odd mix of torrential rain and hot hot sun, but this had made for some great rainbows.

We have visited the Simpson's and fed Grandads enormous fish.

We have been tending to Kitty's miniature sunflowers in the hope that some extra care may make them suddenly grown another 10 foot in order to beat cousin Olive in the sunflower growing contest.

Kitty stayed overnight at Grandma and Grandad Pih's house for the first time. Grandad Pih lit a Chinese paper lantern to mark the occasion.

It was the first night mummy and Kitty had ever been apart. Kitty wasn't worried at all and had a great time, but mummy felt a bit strange.

We tried to make the most of a night off and went to the cinema to see Inception (OK, but don't blink or you'll get lost, plus Leonardo is terrible as per usual). We even went to a pub in Burnley after (also pretty terrible). There is not much to do around here so we have not been missing much over the last two years.

There have been lots of walks and Rosie has been showing Kitty all the best spots for Blackberry picking.

Many, many trips to the park.

Kitty's first babycino.

Lots of crafting.

Kitty got a production line going for birthday present thank you cards.

Mummy made Kitty a new cardigan from bits of wool left over from other projects. It just needs the ends darning in and some buttons, but we are in no rush to finish it as Kitty says she hates it.

Something worth blogging about....

I haven't posted anything for a while as I have been busy making something new. It took a while to get right and was hit and miss at times, but after some really hard work myself and Andy managed to turn this......
















.....into this, and she is perfect.
Kitty Moi Moi Simpson. 8lbs 9oz. 54cm.






















She wasn't quite completed on time (just a week over though) and we needed some specialist assistance in the end to help with the finishing touches, but after years of planning, nine months of development, 16 hours labour and a few final snips and stitches, at 6.30am on Saturday August 2nd 2008 she was finally ready to meet the world.

Today we are home from the hospital, well and ready to start our new lives as a family. Thanks to all that helped along the way.

Goat walking

As usual we have been very busy. Inspired by this picture, I devised a way to save time. I taught the goats to take themselves for a walk. Now I just need to teach them to chop their own veg, fill their own water bucket and muck the shed out!













Although I have been slacking with my posts as usual, I do add pictures to flickr quite often as it's a bit quicker to do.

the bits in between.....

May was busy with work and assignments for uni. I tried not to miss out on the few bits of good weather, by doing most of my homework in the greenhouse.




There was no time for gardening, but the plants sorted themselves out and I enjoyed them anyway.



In the middle of it all, Peahead and Bert cheered me up with an early morning trip up to the top of Pendle Hill.



The only things I made in May were a couple of new face cloths to take on holiday. The blue one works really well, but the white one is a little stiff and has ended up as a dish cloth.



Went to see Dinosaur Jr in Manchester.



White cat moved in permanently.



Bert finally figured out how to herd the goats. He now makes sure they stay in the field eating the grass and not in my garden eating the vegetables!

With June came our long awaited holiday to France.
















Me and Peahead on the roof of a castle.


A snail squidging himself behind a perspex sign. I guess he figures no one will eat him there.

A lovely house and garden we visited.

We took a boat ride at the town where they made the film Chocolat.