easter fun

Oh boy have we had a lovely week with family. As you know two of the younger cousins came last Tuesday and Amber went to London to stay with Auntie Nin. The four that I had (my two included) did not stop all week. It was down to the stream with a picnic to build a dam, over to the field to play cricket, up the lane to play on a neighbours trampoline and then just when you thought they must be exhausted they kept talking until 11pm one night. By this morning they were grubby, tired but so full of life. My sister and I mused that we couldn't have given them a better gift this week..............

Meanwhile Amber went on a whirlwind tour of London that took in the Kylie exhibition at the V&A, Notting Hill and the Lisboa cafe where they ate portuguese custard tarts, a meal in Chinatown, Covent Garden and the Hope and Greenwood chocolate shop in East Dulwich - my sister is speedy gonzalez and Amber came back exhausted. Then on Saturday morning we ALL got together here and for the next three days it was like christmas all over again - lots of eating, watching the odd film and general lounging about. We did manage to get out one morning for a long walk and that's where I spotted this piece of perfection:

Isn't it gorgeous? I'm not totally sure what it is though!

I haven't got masses of news for you today so I'll just show you a few things I've done over the week. While the children were out and about I managed to squeeze in a bit of dyeing:

I've done lots of yellows with daffodils, onionskins and dandelions, the brown is walnut, the reddy colours are a madder/cochineal dyebath that has been sitting around since before christmas and the light green is dandelions. I'm going to do a post about the dandelions next time if you're interested.

I got some books out of the library during the week:

and Amber has been knitting some leg warmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. She's using Cascade 220:

Just to continue the pink theme I bought some mock crocs called holey shoes(!) just so's I've got something to slip in and out of with my constant to-ing and fro-ing to the garden with steaming dyepots:

and just incase you think I do relax sometimes I crocheted a few brooches over the weekend:

I may put them in my Etsy shop when I ever manage to put backs on them.

Well, the extended family has gone back to Londinium and it seems a bit too quiet and tidy here:

Maybe not exactly clean if you want to study our stair carpet closely but we're still on holiday for another two weeks and we're going to take it easy. We're planning a trip to Cheltenham tomorrow to buy sandals and shorts and I must go and see my parents next week too. I'm sorry this post has turned into a bit of a list but I'm conscious the boys must have a bath tonight AND an early night and time is creeping up on me.

I'll leave you with our Easter table:

back soon with the dandelion dyeing..............

Comments

[tony(a) Lemos]

Hey Simmy,

I cannot wait to hear about the dandelion dyeing. The daffodil post and the tutorial are sooooo informative and useful.

Great seasonal table
Many Blessings, -t

[Siri]

Beautiful dyed woolens. Inspired by you, I've been doing some of the same lately. Just two more pieces left to do and then I'll post about it. I'm curious about the dandelions. It's still a little too soon for those around here and the daffodils are just barely out of the ground.
That reminds me, we still haven't dismantled our winter corner. I guess we're in no rush though as it tried to snow on us this morning and I'm sure that's not the last of it!

[Sue]

Wow it sounds so nice having all the children together to play all day long and wear themselves out. I love the felt colors that you dyed, and I agree with the crocs, so easy to slip on and off. I dont wear shoes in the house so they are always by the front door ready to slip on. Your easter table looks cute too.

[Simone]

What wonderful times! I wish I'd been out with Amber and her Auntie Nin too! Love your library books. We don't have a very interesting selection of books at ours at all. Oh I could comment so much on your wonderful post. I could really do with a pair of the mock crocs too for my dalliance in and out of the garden!

[Georgia]

Sounds like a perfect time was had by all.

[ramona]

It is a Buschwindröschen (in german). Wait, the dictionairy said, an anemone. but well, there are many sorts of anemones.It is one that grows in the shadow of mostly beeches. And its poisenous (sp?).

Good to see you posting. Did you receive my emails? and my parcel?

[sarah]

love the material...how did you use the walnuts to dye?