Ah, the serenity

Hi there!

Hope you are well and happy. We're all fantastic, loving the new life in the country.

Country living though, isn't quite so serene when you have to go on a chook hunt in the early evening. No chooks to be found tonight - not in the chookhouse, the backyard... nope, they were out the front, roosting up in a tree at about 2 metres high. Picture one very pregnant woman, trying to gather said chooks from tree and carrying them one at a time to the chookhouse in the backyard. And meanwhile, hoping that the two small men inside were playing nice...

Ah, the serenity.

crafty crocheted owl show and tell

crafty owl, originally uploaded by summer pickles.

Hello there! Back already with some crafty goodness! 
This is a freshly crafted crocheted owl.

He is very much inspired by this lovely owl by peanutbutterdynamite on etsy.

He is my first stuffed crochet project ever!
He is intended to be for gracing a chair in a nursery, for resting a head when reading, or just being cuddled.
Sadly, as my first ever, his stitching is way too loose around his centre, so you can see the wadding through the wool. Anyone who knows much about crochet could probably have warned me of this, but, a beginning crocheter, I just made up the pattern and gave it a go.

Next time I may even line the front or use a smaller hook, or different stitches, or use double strands of yarn. Next time.
Any advice from you seasoned crocheters out there who know what you are doing?
xo

home-grown fruit is the very best

home-grown fruit is the very best, originally uploaded by summer pickles.

Okay, so I have been missing for ages. And ages. Sorry! I am trying to finish up this uni degree, work part-time, be a reasonably decent mummy and make it through pregnancy number three (whew!).

Not a lot has been going on at the pickles ranch - we have been eating a lot of home-grown citrus (our limes were beautiful, mandarins are soooo sweet, and the oranges and lemons are getting ready to eat). We've been playing in the autumn leaves, puddle-jumping and climbing trees. Autumn is just the best season, isn't it?

And I have been using my evenings for crafty adventures - making some things for Sprocket (pickles baby in progress), some for the boys, and some for me. I promise to pop back in here with crafty photos!

I hope you have been able to get some outdoorsy time in too.

Have fun, chat soon xx