Simple Mom (a site I haven’t been reading for very long, but which I’m enjoying), is having a Spring Cleaning Party for Normal People.

This idea really appeals to me, especially after a long winter of not-a-lot-of-time-or-energy-for-housework. And it’s come at the perfect time for us, given that W has taken the week off work, and we really want to get our house sorted out, (amongst other things.)

Realistically, it’s likely to take me more than a day to get each ‘day’ done, but I’m ok with that.

I’ll try to post some interesting before and after shots, and maybe give away some bits and pieces, should I come across anything that could do with a new, crafty home.

And now I’m going to gush… I think I’m a little in love with Rebecca Danger‘s toy patterns. They’re so full of life (and the patterns are so well written, imho.) I’m pondering which one to knit next…

FB’s easter basket turned into the easter basket that never was, due to a bad throat infection and raging temperature that had him in hospital over night on Good Friday. (Though – bless him – he managed to still grin at everyone and want to play with a temperature of 39.8)

After clearing him of the scary illnesses that could have been, and sending him home for cool baths, calpol, and ibruprofen, Easter was a wash out and I never managed to put together all the elements of him easter basket for Sunday morning. (Of course he wasn’t the wiser, and I was just relieved that his temperature didn’t spike again overnight.)

However I had already finished his monster, who proved to be the perfect buddy for a little unwell boy.

First off, I love being a mum. And FB is this amazing kid who is pretty low maintainance – he’s a big smiler, and not a big crier.

And god, I’m so behind on things…

I started the year with a secret plan to post twice a week – *laughs* –  yeah well that worked out well.

However W will be at home for the next week and a half, so I’m planning to spend a bit of time each day getting things caught up here, as well as everywhere else, because I have lots to share about crafting and Oxford Kitchen Yarns, and because I miss this place.

However here is the short version:

• Oxford Kitchen Yarns is alive! However no dyeing got done this winter for a whole host of reasons. I’m hoping to get started again very soon, but at the moment it’s all about getting a work routine that fits around our lives safely. But I have plans for new things as well as old familiars!
• I’m not doing any shows this year, but I’m hoping to do some next year, which I’m planning for now.
• I am still filling what free time I have with making things. I have things to share that I’m really pleased with, and links to places and people that you’re going to be glad you know about (if you don’t already), because they’re interesting and fun.
• The challenges are challenging, and life is good. I haven’t been sharing much because I don’t tend to get my head around things publicly but there are a few interesting stories to tell, so I’ll try to tell them.
• You’ll be glad to hear that I refuse to beat myself up about things – especially in public. It’s just not my style.

More very soon…