General Loveliness

Such a busy week!  I've travelled a bit with work and managed to catch up with a few work friends who I haven't seen since Christmas, so that was fab.  [I realise that saying I have 'travelled a bit with work' makes my job sound glamorous and international but I went to Sheffield.  Don't want to mislead you.]

On Thursday, I was working from home when a man hiding behind an enormous bowl of white tulips appeared at the door.  The OH had sent them to cheer me up (I've got another rotten cold).  Lucky me!:

Tapas and sangria kicked off our weekend and I had a lovely time with my Mum on Saturday learning to sew.  Having redecorated our living room, spending an absolute fortune on curtains and cushions, I decided to learn how to make them myself, roping Mum in for some free lessons.   Mum made loads of my clothes when I was little (with matching outfits for my dollies, of course) so she knows what she's doing.  I have treated myself to a fancy sewing machine with all the relevant paraphernalia and I'm learning to make an apron.  I never wear aprons but the sweet old lady in the shop was quite insistent that you need a project when you learn to sew (she became really quite fierce and I found myself trotting around behind her in John Lewis picking up everything she told me I'd need without even querying it.)   Anyway, Mum came round on Saturday and the apron is very nearly finished; I'm already thrilled with my handiwork and will post a photo when it's done.  I may even donate it to the scary lady in John Lewis. 

I also managed a quick turn around the shops over the weekend and bought this lovely recipe book:

It's a gorgeous book; a thick and heavy number with matt pages and really simple photography.  I love it.  The OH, who never ever cooks, said he wanted to look after me today (aw) and used the Toad in the Hole recipe.  It was delicious and turned out really well, yay for him.  The first recipe that I make will be this one:

I could live on soup and this sounds delightful.

I've also been doing a spot of internet shopping and some pretty little Greengate bits have arrived.  I think they look quite nice with my Cornishware:

The heart-shaped ramekins were a present from Mum.   She picked them up knowing I'd love them and I do!  I bought these little Greengate bowls for my cereal but they are tiny!  I have discovered that they are the perfect size for a portion of mini eggs though...

Finally (are you still with me?!)  I've been crocheting my socks off and here is my first attempt at a square:

Not very square at all, I know.  I have been using [*blush*] a child's 'Learn to Crochet Kit' and this is the 'fancy square'.  It does say to do two single crochets in each corner to reinforce the square, which I've done, but they just don't look quite right.  Can anyone shed any light on where I've gone wrong please?  An online crochet clinic would be just the job, right now.

We all have to start somewhere, I suppose.

Have a great week!