A Tale of Two Typewriters

On some days this is how I find the boys - tapping out love letters to their mama and relatives on their typewriters.

They plan what they are going to write and take their time (and much paper) getting it 'just right'.

To be honest, the eldest much prefers the PC or iPad (because it 'doesn't hurt the fingers and you change mistakes quicker'), but the midget - ah, anything that involves machinery, technology, an excuse to get under the hood to tinker with the inner workings, and he's happy. The letter is a bonus.















I envisage many more letters in our near future.

He Shoots! He Scores!

Every so often the midget snaffles my camera, and thus begins a solid half hour (at least) photo shoot. He's very careful, he knows the lens is king, he's learned the basics of good light, and I enjoy watching him get absorbed in the process. He'll talk to himself as he shoots - "Ooh, that's a good one", "yes! I like it!", "Wow, mummy is going to LOVE this one" - and I love to hear this chatter and the thought-process verbatim.

And I do so love scrolling through his shots (and the eldest's, as he comes in and joins the fun too), seeing what he finds interesting to shoot. And sometimes, well sometimes we get a forehead shot or some little feet poking out - love those - cheeky little monkey glimpses.



Now, if I could have my camera back?

This Time :: Last Year

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A new series: "This Time". Looking back once in a while to what we were doing on the same date in a different year. If you want to play along leave a comment here so others can find your posts.
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Another One for the Shop

The midget has been busy stitching again. His latest creation is now in the shop.

Fabric Raiding

One of the only downsides to having children who sew and sell their own makes is that my craft shelves are no longer my own.

Not satisfied with their own little stock of fabric, they are much keener to use mine - which, by admission, has greater range. And they seem to go for the most expensive stuff, which is great as it shows they have good taste, but not so great because, well, it's expensive stuff!

It's been a long while since I have needed to add a few bits and pieces to the fabric shelves, but I feel I need to do an online reccie soon to keep the stocks topped up. And when I go shopping this time, it will be things I know my children will like. Because it seems I'm now shopping for them.

Me and My Shadow

Always keen to get in on the action; whatever I'm doing it's not long before I get a little shadow keen to join in with his own version. I hope he always remembers these days, the way he worked along side me and joined in. Right now life is intense, but all I see when I look at my babes is the empty nest they are going to leave me with. And I hold on a little tighter.

Watching His Mummy Spin

As I sat down one day to spin some new yarn, the midget sneakily picked up my camera, and before I knew it I was in the middle of a photo shoot - "THIS one's a good picture, Mummy!", "Oh, I like THIS one", "LOOK, Mummy - it's an amazing shot" and so it went on until his creative urges were satisfied and my spinning time documented to his satisfaction.

"You can put those on your blog if you like".

And so here you are. An afternoon of spinning and clicking.

My Eldest Sews

After the initial success of the midget's foray into cushion making and selling, the eldest decided he wanted to make bags to sell.

The first one he made I snapped up, not out of charity, but because I actually dig it. It's small and funky, and appeals to the punk in me. Large enough to handle all the basics of keys, wallet, phone etc, and slings over the shoulder easily. A no fuss funky bag.













Since then he's received one commission and would like you all to know he can make bags in ANY COLOUR and any size, and his mama sells them in her shop. He had thought these would make excellent nature bags for when you go on adventures - you can take books and notepads and magnifying glasses, and also have enough room to bring some treasures home. But since he's seen me with mine, I think he's realised bags are for everyone.

Oh my children. This first flutter of being out there in the world all by themselves has made me realise how much letting go I've got to do in these following years. And in so much as I'd like to protect them from everything, and insomuch as they make me proud, I can't help but marvel at how painful this growing process is. Not for them, but me.

Having children, well, it's like having your heart living outside of your own body, isn't it?