When Will Spring Arrive?

I had hoped we would avoid it, but alas, winter has had a good bash at us. We've had Dudley, Eunice, Franklin and Gladys swing by bringing rain, snow, hail and high winds.

Thankfully they haven't been as bad as the earlier storms, but the weather has worn us down. 

MIL popped by midweek to see her friend in town, and we all joked about being used as a B&B. It's always fun to have her round, she loves crafts so we compare current projects and coo over each others very different crafts. 

We discovered that the carvery around us allows dogs, so as a thank you for hosting, we had a wee midweek treat there. 

And then the snow came. Mils train was cancelled, but we managed to coordinate an action plan and she was home safe and on time. Not the best way to end a visit, but oh well. 

The snow brought other problems too for poor Missy. After a slip in the snow and a slight limp appearing, she has been on strict short walks on pavement. Thankfully after three days the limp is gone, but we'll be careful a bit longer, just in case.

With Missy out of action, and my local based friend recovering from a broken toe, the monthly Perth get together (well, we try for once a month!) was without Missy and very slow paced. It was still good getting to catch up with friends, but we all agreed it was strange without Missy along with us.

I then had a different friend pop round for some girl time doing some jewellery making, which went very well! Bit of a late night though... 

Today was a quick brunch with our Liverpool friends who have been doing the obligation tour with Bear, showing him off to the family. Missy came along for this one and was pleased to join us in the pub where she was much fawned over. 

And then it was over to my mums to measure up my aunt for a dress. There will be more on that later, but long story short, her son is getting married and cancer treatment has left her feeling very upset with her appearance. My first real commission and its gonna be a doozy!

And that's it! A full spectrum of weather, a real mix of get togethers and friends, and overall a good weekend.

Thank goodness for the weekdays to rest up for the next one! 

A belated Valentines

It's been a week! First Dudley, then Eunice - the weather has been all over place. Whilst Missy enjoys most weather's, high winds and driving rain are her least favourite...

Which summed up the week, with some snow for good measure!

So it's been a good week for cuddles on the sofa, puzzle games (both for Missy and us), quiet hobbies and refining the art of gauging for a break in the weather. 

The last point, I apologise profusely to Missy, I'm not very good at! 

This weekend was our date weekend. The theatre production of Bedknobs and Broomsticks was finally going ahead, meaning that the tickets I bought 9 months ago were finally going to use. Missy was pampered through the day, a lazy start with cuddles in bed, a variety of toys and puzzles to play with, and two (relatively) well timed walks. 

And yes. Bedknobs and Broomsticks was most definitely worth the wait. 

Todays walk was not so well timed. So it was day 2 of quiet games and distractions. Which I think all three of us needed. Hubby and I got to play some games that have literally been awaiting us for months, and Missy alternated between sunbathing and choosing who to cuddle next. A good weekend! 

I also finished a quick sewing project (procrastination from my main one) with this rock and roll vintage inspired thrift flip:

Thrift flip? It's another form of upcycling, changing one outfit into another. You can see the original on my Instagram post @missdaisysewing 

And that's it for now. It's National Love Your Pet Day, so I'd best get back to cuddling Missy. 

It's a hard life, honest! 

Overdue Catch ups

This weekend was a reschedule of a cancelled Christmas get together. Our friend from Dundee came down to stay with us, and then we all visited our mutual Bonnyrigg based friends.

I've previously mentioned that this is our friend with the twins who is suffering from long covid. Almost 2 years after catching the plague, he still has the same energy levels as a new born kitten, and his covid booster prior to Christmas really set him back a step. 

Because of this, we have to think outside the box a bit in how to get the most boxes ticked per visit, without him overdoing things. We decided to divide and conquer; mum and I took the kids to soft play (weather has been appalling) and we left the boys to catch up whilst Missy snoozed off her extra long morning walk. 

Once we got back, dad went for a nap, the boys played with the kids and I dashed out with Missy for her afternoon walk. On return I joined in the drawing whilst mum cooked the dinner.

Once the kids were in bed, we all chatted and had a catch up together. Board games was the only box we missed, but I think it was a very successful day from there. 

Not a lot to say from there. I have a half dozen projects lined up and in the works now after my disastrous at knitting again (turns out I have some kinda wool allergy, I absolutely do not recommend ignoring it)

My stitching is a bit slow going owing to slightly swollen knuckles and my thumb degloving, so I've been using the energy to prep things instead. In addition to the pirate map Missy was helping with at the top of the page, I'm going to try a thrift flip with a rather unloved dress that deserves a second chance!

Not a lot more to say, we've all been rather tired today and getting everything put back in order for the week ahead!

Armaments, Munitions and Pancakes

This weekend marks 8 years since Missy decided that she was going to come and live with us. I'm officially at that strange point with her were it feels like she's always been a part of my little family, but at the same time, how can it be 8 years?

Things are not as bad as last year with the plague (whilst there are still restrictions on mask wearing, we aren't in a lockdown again), but we decided against a big party for her. The main reason for this was that my sister was making a sneaky trip up north to come play nerf against some zombies in Foam Dart Thunders Terminal Infection. Owing to a covid outbreak, BIL couldn't make it, but I was still glad to see my sister and her friend.

It was a rapid fire weekend. I had taken the Friday off and spent it sewing and playing in the greenhouse tidying up the house in preparation for our guests. Once they arrived, we managed a quick dog walk before the worst of the snow and spent the evening catching up and nibbling on tea and cake.

Saturday did not go to plan. Well, Missy getting her presents went well, but it was the main part of the day that we were stumped with. We had discussed dog walk ideas. A sneaky dash to the zoo to see the sloths and pandas and...it was trying to snow. And the wind was howling. Even Missy looked affronted at the thought of a walk. Then I remembered, the Military Museum Scotland. I had messaged these guys back in the summer last year to confirm they allowed dogs and, other events, seasonal closures and general forgetfulness meant that it was still on our to-do list. 

With night time plans of battle and a war against the rising tide of the undead, it seemed very appropriate and we decided to pop along. Very much a hidden gem.

Its not a museum in the most common sense, more an eclectic collection of all things military in a space that, even after three laps of the room, we kept spotting new things. Missy was welcome to look anywhere she pleased and, whilst she wasn't keen on the mini trench, she very much enjoyed sniffing every corner and nook and cranny. We had a quick look outside at the much larger trench mock up and military vehicles before deciding that a stout cup of tea was calling and heading home.

I suspect we'll be back a few times. I saw a lot of things my dad would be interested in, and the in laws love these odd little museums too. The fact that Missy was welcome, even though she was not inclined to listen to the special exhibition on the Royal Observer Corps, is a bonus as it makes these little days out much easier.

Then it was home, dinner, relaxing and...zombies. This was our first Terminal Infection as players (last time we were volunteer zombies) and it was an absolute scream. It was really nice to be back at a nerf event and just run about and play games with people again. It was als our debut as Nerfys Law, and we got so many comments on the matching gear. My sister was certainly happy to hear well deserved praise on the knitting - we looked ridiculous, we knew it and we rocked it and it was tremendous fun. 

Definitely good for the soul. 

Despite much stretching when we got home, I still woke up stiff and sore, but a brisk walk with Missy saw that off. Sister is determined that she wants to be a zombie next time, so fingers crossed! We did have a chat with the event organisers about it and they were happy with the idea, so hopefully it does happen. I have grand plans for costumes, so fingers crossed!

Then it was off out to Stack and Still for a birthday brunch for Missy. The plan was for my sister and her friend to have brunch and set off back south before the weather got too gnarly. We got the usual surprised remarks from the other patrons on arrival (they really need to advertise that they allow dogs more) and a passing remark from the adjacent table had us laughing;

"Oh, look at the dog! Its so cute!"

"Is that a ribbon on her collar?"

Half beat.

"Its her birthday!"

Yes, I'd put a Birthday Girl ribbon on her. Because I officially dont care about being seen as a crazy dog mum any more. The staff were great as always, and we got Missy got a pancake all for herself - she was clearly delighted with such a rare treat!

Then it was home. Sister headed off. We tidied up. A bath is running and all is well in the world. Its funny what things make us feel like all is well again; getting out to a museum with Missy, shooting zombies with my friends and family and the mutual joy of indulgent food.

It was a slow start, but it feels like the year is getting on the right track.

February is set to be a busy month, so lets hope there's plenty more adventures to share!

Malleny Gardens

Another quick weekend; January has passed in a blur this year!

Storm Malike/Corrie saw to Saturdays plans being cancelled, so my glorious weekend of adventure was waylaid from the onset. I still managed to see friends, just virtually, so it wasn't a day lost. A sofa day was what Missy seemed in the mood for as she spent it all dozing beside me as I knitted away chatting the afternoon away. 

Today was mostly used up in a consultation for a new kitchen (long overdue and Missy was very well behaved for us as we went through all the options), and so we decided that we should go somewhere new to stretch our legs. I'd clocked Malleny Gardens as a dog friendly National Trust site. Dogs are not permitted into the walled garden, so we got some photos on the grounds she was permitted on before exploring the wider area and enjoying the woodland.

The weather started to turn again, so we decided to save looking at the walled garden for a nicer day and headed back home. 

It's definitely time for the some snuggly sewing projects and these foxy little slippers fitted the bill exactly. A nice little scrap buster! 

Bard at the Beach

It was a very busy Saturday this week - the garden was cleared and made ready for the start of the new growing season (yes, it's January, but my new book (and basically garden bible) "Ministry Of Food: Thrifty Wartime Ways To Feed Your Family Today", encourages potato planting and seed sowing (in the greenhouse) in February. Whilst I'm joking about it being my new garden bible, it has provided a month by month resource of what to plant and when in the British garden, something I've struggled to get a solid answer on in my garden experiments.

After that, it was setting up new fire alarms for my mum (to be explained below), measuring the kitchen, and gathering up all of the random treats and accessories we wanted to donate to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. If you recall back to our Holyrood #leadtheway walk, we were gathering donations for the EDCH, and Burns Pet, who sponsor the walks, gave us a big goodie bag to pass on. 

It was overdue getting to them! 

Scotland has new fire alarm legislation coming in at the end of the month, so I'd volunteered to sort my mums out. They have to be interconnected (which we set up at home just in case there was a problem with them, no worries, all good), so I'd organised a mini Burns night with her to give more meaning to the visit. 

Scope creep.

Thise two words are defining my 2022. Oh, if we're going to Edinburgh, let's pop in and ask about the kitchen (a baffling experience that somehow ate almost 2 hours of my day without actually speaking to a designer, that's next weekend!). We really need to get those donations away, how about a trip to the beach and we'll pop in and do that too? 

Then comes the rest of the family adding to scope, sister and family invited, only eldest neice comes along (she's embracing being 17 and an adult who can get the train and go where she wants; oh the reckoning she has ahead of her). That's fine, it'll be after the walk and - Oh, she's bringing Wee Ben. Thankfully we have the spare harness packed! 

It all went very well, we got everything on the list done, and it was exactly the pick me up my mum needed. I even pandered to her wanting a wee photoshoot on the beach, making sure we caught the golden hour and the best spots for backdrops. Missy is just like my mother, and she happily posed with her - whilst my neice stood for some photos, it was obvious she wasn't in the mood, so it was good my mum had one grandchild eager to join in the photos! 

We joined in the spirit of the Bard with linguistic games, although I'm not sure dear Rabbie Burns would have approved of Poetry for Neanderthals...! 

Talking of spirits, it's finally done: my Grim Grinning Ghosts SAL:

More detailed shots at my Instagram: @missdaisysewing 

Very. Very. Pleased! 

And today we booked our next grand adventure, but you'll have to wait and see what and when it is. All I will say is that I'm definitely embracing the quintessentially British vibe this year. 

Linhouse Glen

This weekend was officially our first adventure of the year - a new place has been found! Well, not really a new place, more an appendix to an existing place. 

We've enjoyed the Linhouse Circular for many years and, every time we pass the sign above, we look at the swamp it seems to be sinking into and decide, perhaps another day. Today was that day - spurred partly by the fact that I had listed the Linhouse Glen earlier this week on Dog Furiendly. Once the listing is live, I'll write a review: wellies definitely recommended.

After wading past the sign, you reach a little railway crossing. Its not quite as magical as the wardrobe from Narnia, but the effect is just the same, for once you (taking your time and safely, with dog on lead) Cross said railway line, you have left the boggy woodlands and are upon the glen:

The thin line of trees give way to meadow overlooking a steep embankment to a river, and the walking is easy going and very pleasant. With todays high of 7C,and the bright morning sun, I could have been fooled into thinking spring had arrived.

Indeed, once we got home, I've realised my daffodils are begining to sprout, as is my rhubarb. I sternly told the rhubarb to go back to sleep and then from there the days has dissolved into one of those pottering odd-job days. The big DIY is done, but there's some snags I'm fixing up, so it's been painting skirting today for me while hubby finally managed to get the carpet cut offs out to the tip. 

Yesterday we had the eldest neice round with my mother, and we all had lunch together before my neice got her overdue birthday gifts. She's really taken to jewellery making so I was pleased that the plier set and findings went down well (my sister supplimented the gift with gemstone beads which I suspect may last until the middle of next week at best, going by the speed neice is making bracelets!) 

And that's been the weekend. Busy, but quiet, certainly slower paced that recent weeks, which we've definitely needed! Fingers and paws crossed the weather holds and we can keep adventuring - we have some grand plans in the works for this year which I'm quite excited about.

Till next time!