Signing off the project...

Unfortunately, with things going on in my personal life and my main laptop packing it in, I've not been able to keep up with my 365. I was enjoying it, but things have caught up with me and I will be unable to continue with it. Thank you so much for following me. When things settle down at the end of college in June, I will be starting back onto my main blog, Topsy-Turvy of the Mischievous Heathen, which is a blog of my random musings, photos, crafting, etc.

Again, thank you.
Mel

Day 91: New Buddy

The Imp and I have travelled to stop with friends in Wales for the holiday, and she is loving her time so far. This is of her having cuddles with their rather soppy dog, Smudge.

New Buddy

Day 90: Cartoon Watching Buddies

I woke up this morning to not being able to move my feet, because Loki and The Imp were hanging out, watching telly.

Cartoon Watching Buddies

Day 89: Small Hello Kitty Bag

Another Hello Kitty bag, in a smaller size for another birthday gift.

Small Hello Kitty Bag

Day 88: Non-Assistance

Loki decided that he would be ever-so-helpful and curl up on the afghan that I am crocheting. It makes it a bit difficult to turn at the end of a row.

Non-Assistance

Day 87: Papoose

I've been a taking loads of photos, but a bit behind on posting them, so here goes a string of catch-up.

The Imp having a lazy day, and because she can get Neal to carry her because he can move faster, I encourage him to learn how to use the mei tai, to make it easier on his arms and back.

Papoose

Day 86: Even Under the Mud...

The Imp got to play in the mud at nursery today, and I guess she was rolling in it. There is mud in her hair and spattered all over her face, but she's had a fantastic time. She's still gorgeous, even under all of that mud.

Even Under the Mud...

Day 85: Study Buddy

Florence decided to help me write my Sociology essay.

Study Buddy

Day 84: My Quickest Project

Today I fancied finding a project for some of my favourite aran wool, and found a quick and easy pattern for some Mary Jane slippers from OhMyGoodKnits. I was rather shocked at how easy they were, and that they took me only about three hours to complete.

My Quickest Project

Day 83: Purple Baby Afghan

I've finally completed the purple baby afghan that I wanted to make for a friend, and I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out.

Purple Baby Afghan

Day 82: Sparkly Sprinkles

Today was Baking Day for us, and we've made gluten free scones and chocolate cupcakes made with quails eggs. 

Sparkly Sprinkles

Day 81: Once a Babywearer, Always a Babywearer

The Imp hasn't spent any real time in a sling for about a year and a half now, but today we had to improvise one. Little Miss is completely partied out, after a party yesterday afternoon and another one this morning. An unplanned journey to Newark did her in, so after a bit of thought, the cure for her grizzles was for us to buy three metres of velour and tie it like a wrap sling to give her a bit of a break from it all. I directed this photo to be taken by her Grumpy on my phone.

Once a Babywearer, Always a Babywearer

Day 80: Sparkly Pink Shoes

These were way too cute to pass up....

Sparkly Pink Shoes

Day 79: Fairy Princess

The Imp has a string of birthday parties, and today was the first of them, which had a Disney theme. She chose this gorgeous fairy costume.

Fairy Princess

Day 78:Finding Any Space

The Imp doesn't like standing on the bus so took over the luggage space.

Finding any space

Day 77: Springtime on the Waterside

Since the weather has been mild over the past few days, I stopped on my stomp to college this morning to observe the difference that the beginning of spring has had on the Lindum hill bridge that crosses near the Waterside in comparison with the snow that I previously photographed.

Springtime on the Waterside

Day 76: First Bolognaisse

It is the ultimate trail of destruction. Jim, Petra, and Baby Alex came to visit for lunch today, and they do baby led weaning to introduce him to food. Today, he was introduced to Auntie Mel's pasta bolognaisse. After The Imp repeatedly put his pasta back into his bowl, he actually ate every last bite.

First Bolognaisse

Day 75: Making birthday gifts

The Imp is all of a sudden a social butterfly, and starting with next weekend has three birthday parties for four little girls to attend. Because I'm on my crochet kick, I've decided to make them each a little bag, and I'm experimenting with Hello Kitty and some new-to-me techniques. Hmm...I reckon I've made this one just a touch too big, and I must have one for myself because it's turned out so pretty :P

Making Birthday Gifts

Day 74: Mother's Day

This is the first year that I've received something from Sophie, and I absolutely love the homemade card and sunflower.

Mother's Day

Day 73: Little Feet

The Imp decided that my knee made a good foot rest this morning.

Little Feet

Day 72: A Very Happy Bunny

The Imp wanted to show off her new bag this morning. :)

A Very Happy Bunny

Day 71: Bunny Bag!

I'm quite pleased to announce that I've managed to finish a project, even if I did have to improvise (a lot). The Imp spotted me looking at the pattern for a Peeps-a-Boo bag from Caron Yarns. I couldn't quite suss out how they did their granny squares, so I went for the basic ones that I know how to do. The Imp chose the pastel wool for something else, she wanted it to be a messenger-style bag like what I carry, and I don't yet own a tapestry needle, so the eyes and nose are buttons. I'm actually quite pleased with how it's turned out...she'll love to see it done in the morning.

Bunny Bag!

Day 70: Pastel Explosion

This is what happens when I let the Imp choose wool. I have done a couple of my granny squares for my project with it, but after seeing a cute pattern for a bag, I'm currently working on making it for her. Fingers crossed I should finish it tomorrow, to share. 

Pastel Explosion

Day 69: Evening Snack

I don't normally have a snack in the evening, but I really fancied apple slices dipped in condensed milk.

Evening Snack

Day 68: Colours

The Imp has had poorly ears, but hasn't whinged too much about it. So, when she asked to have purple sparkly nails, I was happy to oblige. As you can see, she has a fair bit of choice. I won't let her wear the blacks or greys, but anything else is fair game.

Colours

Day 67: Tender Loving Care

The Imp has woken up with an ear ache this morning, and after curling up in bed with me, I looked over to see that Loki was trying to help make her feel better by wrapping himself around her head and purring as loudly as possible. He's never done this for either of us, so it was a rather lovely surprise.

Tender Loving Care

Day 66: One of my hiding places

(Friday photo, day late)

It was a bit of a low day for me, so at lunch break I went to one of my favourite places in the college to relax. This is in the library, in a corner that I've not seen many people in. It's by a window, so I get good mobile reception the the wifi hotspot to connect my netbook.

One of my hiding places

Day 65: Watching for us to arrive home

This was the view that we spotted when crossing the road after our long day.

Watching for us to arrive home

Day 64: Brooches

This is another catchup post.

These are the gorgeous brooches that have arrived for me to gift to my future sister in law. I'm still on the lookout for more.  I took the photo to share with her and my mom, but thought the lighting and emphasis was way too gorgeous not to share.

Brooches

Day 63: Lap Hog

I'm a few days behind due to illness and exams, so I'm catching up with a few today.

This is Loki taking advantage to me feeling freezing cold. He takes up an awful lot of space.

Lap Hog

Day 62: Big Eyes

It's been another slow day for us, as I have a cold and am supposed to be revising for a GCSE exam tomorrow. So I thought today's photo would be another attempt at photographing one of the cats without the day-glo gleam in the eyes. So far, just hoping that there's enough light in the room to take it without the flash seems to be the only option, and then adjusting the contrast.

Big Eyes

Day 61: Concentration

Today was Grumpy Saturday, and we've spent the day shopping, and having a late lunch. Whilst waiting for her food, the Imp happily got stuck in with colouring the mat. I love the level of concentration that it requires for her to work on the precision of colouring, and it's a good thing that I keep a box of Crayola's in my handbag, because the four colours of the free crayons just aren't enough for her liking.

Concentration

Day 60: Trying to encourage her to go home

We didn't get home from nursery until after 6pm, all because The Imp spotted a puzzle that needed doing, and was blanking both me and her teacher until she finished it.

Trying to encourage her to go home

Day 59: Cheese Tops

I fancied some more gluten free bacon, onion, and cheese scones for lunch at college tomorrow, and I also thought I would experiment with using buttermilk in them. I might even share...maybe :P

Cheese Tops

Day 58: Eulogy to a Dead Bag

Six Months. That's how long this rucksack has lasted under the pressure of my college work. On my busiest day, I carry just short of 17kg (37lbs) in my bag.  Today called the end of the era of the blinding pink rucksack when the plastic buckle that holds the strap together snapped when I got onto the bus.

Eulogy to a Dead Bag

Day 57: Fashionista

I've had to giggle at the Imp, yet again, at her wardrobe choices. The weather has been mild, and comfortable to be in just a long sleeve tshirt. The Imp was very specific about her choices today, and it was blinding, to say the least, and the pale pink Minnie Mouse hat added just as much to it as her singing Christmas songs at the top of her lungs on the bus ride home.

Fashionista

Day 56: The Thing Just Won't Die!

This is the balloon that gets on my last nerves. The Imp and the Cats will bat it about, it'll disappear for a while, then reappear for the three of them to start all over again. This is from The Imp's birthday...in the middle of January. The other one of these was popped by the cats, and the mylar balloon disappeared. Yet this one refuses to go away. Any longer, and it might just have to find the point of my embroidery scissors, accidentally.

The Thing Just Won't Die!

Day 55: Start of my granny afghan

A bit of a late post for me, but it's been such a slow day for us, I was struggling to come up with something. I then thought about what I have been doing, which is working on some squares for my planned granny afghan. Some, hopefully most, will be of scrap ends of wool from other projects, and the rest will be from stuff that has randomly taken my fancy.  So far, the black with silver squares are from what I had completed of a scarf, as is the lustre merino that is the pink and ivory. The blue speckled is from a scarf, and the pink, black and grey is some Welsh black wool aran that I really took a fancy to.

I am doing a bit of a shout-out to anybody that might have some scrap DK (double knit or sport knit) wool that they have no need for...I would love to make use of it.

Start of my granny afghan

Day 54: Wrapped around her little finger...

Today was a trip to Nottingham to visit Ikea for us. Because The Imp is so short, once in a while she manages to get Neal to pick her up and carry her because he wants to walk a bit faster. She was all smiles and cheeky grins today about it. This was taken with us trying to walk and getting jostled by other people, so it's a little blurry.

Wrapped around her little finger

Day 53: Reading Time!

Apologies for missing yesterday...I was completely shattered and forgot. I think that I'll double post on a day or two to catch up with the two days that I've missed.

Today was The Imp and Neal reading a book, and it was really sweet. The Imp doesn't normally let me read to her any more, but she demanded that Neal read to her and it was the first time that I've heard her repeating back almost everything that was read to her.

Reading Time

Day 52: Today is brought to you by two words...Cherry Lucozade

Last night turned into an emergency all-nighter due to me misreading the date on my biology assignment. Cue me managing to finish my paper just before my first class, but only getting an hour and a half of sleep. Wednesday is my long day at college...I start at 9am and leave at 5pm. I don't normally like energy drinks, I don't like coffee, and I'm not a huge tea drinker. I do have a Pepsi habit, but figured that today I might need something with a bit more kick. These have definitely worked, and I'm still going. Now to have a decent dinner, finish up some homework for tomorrow, and try to get to sleep.

Today is brought to you by two words...Cherry Lucozade

Day 51: Laptop Problems

I've been having a lot of problems with my main laptop overheating and crashing, which I guess is quite common for the Toshiba's. It's now done it three times today, but it's the one that I need to work on, so I've finally given up and pulled the netbook out of my college bag to make it do some of the work.

Laptop Problems

Day 50: The loss of the bachelor pad...

Well, George is completely beside himself. With tonight's planned roleplay game for me, arrived three new girls to join him. He has been by himself since the passing of his sisters in October or November. George has already had an epic fail with all three of them, including having a go from the side of a couple of them, and falling over the top of another.  When Raine got the eggs for all white quails, I've really been looking forward to their arrival. They're now obviously big enough to hold their own, and one or two of them has started laying eggs. Unfortunately, trying to get a good photo of all three of them is even more difficult than trying to get George on his own (and that was a challenge). 

So, please welcome Snowball (Left), Inkblot (middle, head out), and Spot (back, you can't see her head).

The loss of the bachelor pad...

Day 49: George

Today was Quail Hutch Spring Clean in preparation for the arrival of some new white girlies. After some predator disasters outside, one of the hutches was moved inside, and George is what is left after three attacks (he was injured in all three, and healed beautifully, but the girls didn't fair so well :(  )

He is a currently very chatty (crowing) golden coturnix quail, and I though I would take up the challenge of attempting to get a decent photograph of him, when he's such a moving target. It finally took me waiting until he went into the darkest part of the hutch and actually sliding part of my mobile in between the bars. Hmm...I guess that's the advantage to using my mobile over a proper camera.

George

Day 48: Saturday Morning Chores

Because I tend to be busy, I aim for Saturday morning to be the main time for our chores. The Imp decided that she wanted to help and asked to run the hoover in the living room. I did have to go back over it again, but at least she was out from underfoot so I could get some other bits done.

Saturday Morning Chores

Day 47: Heart in the Rose

I'm loving how more of the flowers in my Valentine's bouquet are opening up. There are some gorgeous daffodils and lilies that are newly opened, and I was tempted by some shots of the shapes and colours. I had a lovely shot down into one of the lilies and one of the pink gerberas. But I couldn't help but share the rose again, and how the centre forms a heart before the rest of the petals bloom out.

Heart in the Rose

Day 46: Taco Night

I decided to change things up for dinner today. The only thing resembling Mexican that we do is mince and veg with fajita seasoning on a bed of tortilla chips. I randomly spotted a taco box set and fancied them, so checked that they were wheat/gluten free and off we went. They're an absolute hit with The Imp! She's asked for seconds, and has even eaten the lettuce and grated carrot of the salad mix that I've bought (she hates carrots, but I figure that I can hide them with stuff like this).

Taco Night

Day 45: The Woman In Black

I absolutely adore going to the cinema, and I realised last night that the Imp had nursery this afternoon, I had no appointments, so there was plenty of time to go see a film if I dropped her off quickly. Even though last year in English I had absolutely no interest in the book and couldn't get past page 42, I've been desperate to watch The Woman in Black since I heard it announced a year ago that they were doing the film. 

On the way there, I stopped at a new sweet shop on the High Street, and found that they had imported American sweets, so I decided to get some Milk Duds, which are a cinema must-have where I come from, and a 3 Musketeers, which I've really been fancying. 

The film was amazing, but the sweets didn't even get touched. I knew it was a horror film, but even though I don't normally go to them because I'm such a jumpy person, I absolutely had to see this film. I couldn't eat, because I think my stomach spent most of the time on the ceiling. The teenage girl next to me spent over half the film curled up in a ball, hiding her face behind her knees.  The film was awesome. It wasn't that I was actually scared, but it was just the anticipation of jumping through the entire film. I walked out, physically trembling. The sky had clouded over, so it was like the atmosphere had carried on from being in the film. 

I'm thinking that the next time I'm inspired enough to be desperate to go see a horror film, I either need somebody to remind me why I don't normally go, or somebody to go with me. But I definitely give high marks to it.

The Woman In Black

Day 44: Valentine's Day

I received the most gorgeous of bouquets today for Valentine's Day from my boyfriend, Neal. It's the first that I've received from anybody in years, and they are so lovely that I had to share. 

The peachy velvet of a rose

My gorgeous Valentine's bouquet

Day 43: Mummy Manicure

We haven't done this for a while, because I've been too busy. So, in honour of Valentine's Day being tomorrow, I told the Imp that she could have red nails for nursery tomorrow. They're not salon-quality, but we've had a nice giggle over it.

Mummy Manicure