We're enjoying a lovely holiday at the moment back home in Northern Ireland. Or Norn Irn as we like to say :) The word "home" has a couple of different meanings for me. If I'm in England, I'll walk "home" from dropping the children to school, or I'll drive "home" from the shops. But, equally, I might say to someone "at home we have brown lemonade" and in that context I mean Norn-Irn-home. When in Norn Irn I'll sigh and say "gah. It's sunny back at home" (England-home). Also when I'm at home (England) I will talk about going "home" (Norn-Irn-home) and when in Norn Irn I'll sigh and say "boo, we have to go home next week" (England-home). But if I ever talk about Home-home, I mean Norn Irn. Got it ???!!?
Anyway when I said it was sunny back at home, I was alluding to the fact that it's been drizzle-drizzle-drizzle since we got here, interspersed with heavy showers just to mix it up a bit. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being at home (Norn-Irn-home) but it would be even better if it was a bit drier. Actually it's not usually this bad. We go home (NI) most years in the summer and this year has been the wettest ever. Oh well, it could be worse, we could be camping !! And at least the birds are happy!!
We've managed lots of fun despite the incessant rain. We've gone swimming - and met more Norn-Irn'ers who live in England who are home (NI) for a holiday; we've gone to the cinema with my cousin and her Little People - lots of mixup with tickets resulting in a set of free tickets for next week - result ! ; and visiting with my bro, sis-in-law and little nephew. Little Nephew is my Little People's only cousin, he is only 4 and is ToTaLlY GoRgEoUs - my lot completely adore him and the feeling is mutual. We spent a great evening with them, with a (rather damp) barbeque - golf umbrella anyone ???!!! We're staying at my parents' house - they are away at the moment so we are house-sitting for them. When they get back we move into a holiday home for a week, we don't really all fit into their house any more.
Even though it's not too sunny we've enjoyed lots of ice-cream. It is a holiday after all. This one was bubblegum flavoured apparently. Eurgh. But I do like the cone :)
And there have been lattes for the grown-ups of course ...
... and we've stayed in a bit and just chilled, with some new colouring stuff.
I've taken advantage of the new grown-up colouring that's taken over the world! I've always loved doing a sneaky bit of colouring in the children's books, finally I don't have to keep it secret any more !!
I'm loving this birdhouse design, I've decided to make it into a cushion when I get home (perhaps with less fancy brickwork though ....)
Next to crochet and craft, my other favourite thing is shopping. Any kind of shopping, and in fact, the cheaper the better. I do love a bargain! There are loads of local shops here that are dead cheap, pound-shop type of places, we do have them over at home in England too, but I don't usually go as they're in the town-centre and I rarely venture that far (its at least 4 miles for heavens sake, the local shops are about a mile and thats as far as I go - how adventurous!!
Anyway. The cheap shops had loads of those grown-up colouring books, and nice new pens ....
... and loads of craft bits and pieces .... these packs were £1 each ....
.... and some totally bargainous craft books. I treated myself to the Dressmaking book as blogged about by Jo here (http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/in-navy.html), and also I bought the Mollie Makes "Woodland Friends" book. Normally £12, I bought it for £3 :)
I've coveted this Mollie Makes book for ages but really couldn't justify it (yes, there are limits to my spending), but this price was perfectly ok! And look, how cute....
and Haaaaaalelujah - a couple of the shops also sold yarn! Hurrah! Hurray! Deep joy! Okay so its cheap (obviously) but at £1 a ball AND at 3-for-2 (I know, I know!! total bargain!!) I couldn't really walk past it now could I. I'll show you the somewhat limited colours I bought another time. But I decided to use this pink to make a cowl. Not sure how the colour shows up here, but its a sort of rosy dusky pink.
As I mentioned its been drizzle-drizzle-drizzle since we got here, interspersed with heavy showers just to mix things up a bit, and my cagoule/raincoat thing has this butterfly pattern on it ...
(incidentally at school we always called them pac-a-macs but people look a it weirdly at me in England when I call it that so I'm not sure if its a Northern Irish thing or a kiddy thing ??!!).
Anyway I had also bought some crochet magazines here that I struggle to get easily at home (without traipsing into town I mean) ....
.... and in one of them is the "Everyday Cowl" ... so I got started ....
I know what you're thinking - you said you were doing it in pink Jill" .... yes I was, but I bought the magazine first, then some nice grey yarn in some cheapy shop or other, and I started the cowl in grey. I love how the first row or two looks a bit like a DNA strand. Now I know how to crochet DNA should the need ever arise.
So anyway I then bought the pink yarn the next day, and decided that a pink cowl would go better with the pac-a-mac. Its not that warm here either, as well as being not that dry. So I started the cowl in the pink last night.....
Pink DNA. Excellent. So I finished nearly the first ball of pink yarn and it looks like this ....
Really pretty. Lovely, even, but seriously short. So I went back to the shop where I got the pink yarn - and yes - of course - No Pink Left. Argh. There was however grey. Just not quite the same grey as the first grey. Which I also didn't have enough of. So "Oh Dear" I said, "I shall just have to buy More Yarn". Is this actually some kind of obsessive compulsive yarn addiction I have ? So after this post I'm starting it for the third time. In the new grey. Good job I enjoy crocheting, eh ?!
I agree with you, the 'home' thing can be a bit confusing. I keep saying "when we get home" (we are returning to the UK from NZ) but my daughter replies "but mummy, we are home". My argument is that home is where the heart is (hence the name of my blog), and my heart is definitely in the UK x
ReplyDeleteClaire @ homesweethome2015
If it is any kind of consolation, that drizzle-drizzle you have in NI at the moment, is to be found almost everywhere... Even here in Belgium. Cold, rain, almost like fall ! They say the weather will fínally change from this weekend on. I'll keep my fingers crossed that will happen over there too :-) !
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous about your "bargain spending" - that MM book for only £ 3 ! And those crafting supplies ! Wherever I go, I always look for those bargain shops. So much fun ! Not only because it's cheap, but also because you can find other stuff than in your regular shops "at home".
We have had non stop drizzle and heavy down pours here too, so no change there then. Lots of great craft goodies at bargain prices. Is that the poundland yarn? I have looked at it a few times, it looks to be crocheting up really well.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post, good luck with the new wool maybe you might get the cowl finished before you get home (home home) :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad that you are having a great time at "home" and that you are getting to indulge in yarn and books!! Your MM book is especially good isn't it!! Oh, and yes, pac a mac, I remember! So I don't think it is just a NI thing because I have never been to NI! xx
ReplyDeleteGlad you're enjoying 'home' - I have the same problems with the word and confuse people as to whether I mean 'my' home or my parents' 'home'. I love your bargains, what a great way to spend the summer. I have to admit I am slightly intrigued with the bubblegum icecream :) xx
ReplyDeleteOur 'summer' this year has been really dire in Norn Irn. Yes cold as well as wet. Your pink crochet almost-cowl is so lovely - you'll have to find another use for it. I always say I'm going to stop buying yarn but somehow I still just have to buy some more. I'm finishing my king-size blanket at the minute and am NOT buying any more cotton for it. Far too expensive to buy a ball for a few stitches just to finish a row of the border. It will be a mix of colours in the rows. I've seen those grown-up colouring books and really wanted to buy one (or more). Thought I'd buy one as a present for my mother-in-law for starters and then progress to one for myself. But I don't really have time to start colouring in - I need to crochet.
ReplyDeleteThis year's 'summer' is pretty disappointing so far isn't it! I love the adult colouring books and want to get one too, at least then I can enjoy myself whilst the littlies colour! I sometimes crochet or knit but it's a bit risky putting my wool near two toddlers! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're having such a nice time in Norn Irn. I gave my husband a grown up coloring book for Father's Day, one of the Johanna Basford ones. There was a waiting list on Amazon for them! I think they were waiting for more to be published. They're so popular now. I should have gotten in on that business myself, ha. If only I could draw. I look forward to seeing your crochet projects. Take care and enjoy your trip.
ReplyDeleteOh Jill - you crack me up!! I'm sitting here with giggles between the "home" confusion,er I mean, talk... and the pink DNA! ;) Lol
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lovely time and I'm so glad you're able to get home (NI) and see your family and catch up on life there. Perfect (altho rainy) summer days of ice cream, swimming, crafting and lately my favorite - COLORING!
I can't wait to see your completed projects or what you'll come up with next. Can one crochet an umbrella? Ha! xoxo
It sounds as though despite the rain everyone is having a good time. I'm that way with home, as in where I grew up, and home, where I live now. It can grow a bit confusing. Fun finds you found while shopping.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
I love all the busyness of your family, doing art and all. We made it to Boise, Idaho and will be home tomorrow eve. Cannot wait. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteLove all your different definitions of 'home' Jill. Sounds like you are enjoying your holiday despite the rain x
ReplyDeletePac a macs are in Merseyside too, that's what we always called them.
ReplyDeleteAnd my mind is boggling; in what imagined context do you ever think you'll be called on to crochet DNA? I have a couple of scenarios;
God comes down from heaven and says, "Hey, I knew it once but I've forgotten how to whizz up some DNA; could you just run a double helix up for me? I fancy bringing back the dinosaurs. St Peter borrowed Jurassic World on DVD I figured if you like messed up DNA, you'll love what I can do!"
Or the aliens invade on the second Sunday in October (because nothing ever happens in October) and the President rings up to say "We have a plan. We're going to mess up the aliens by making a mutation of their DNA with some lace-weight silk mix. Just drop it in at the White House later on, please."
I'll let you decide which is most likely x
I am glad to hear you had a good time despite the rain. It poured down (including storms) here for the last week but today the sun crawled out again! It feels so good to see proper sunlight again!
ReplyDeleteTake care
Anne
Crochet Between Worlds
Looking out into the drizzly mist.... I use the word 'home' quite liberally. Wherever I stay is home but then there is home and home! Have a lovely week. x
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed going 'home'. Sounds like you had a fun time with all the shopping.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course you found yarn! And then more yarn. Love your cowl pattern.