Sunday Sevens is a diary of your week in seven photos to show people what you’ve been up to outside of your blog. Perhaps you don’t have enough to make a full blog post? #sundaysevens is a great way to keep you blogging. Visit Nat’s post at Threads & Bobbins to find out more.
- No.2 Son turned ten this week – he wanted a sewing machine for his birthday. Boy, he really needs a haircut!
2. By candlelight even my homemade birthday cake looks OK. My cakes always taste good but invariably look awful! Covered with lemon icing and smarties – who cares?
3. Another week, another garden centre, this time our local one in Wincanton. The Boys could spend hours there which makes for a cheap day out – all it costs is a pot of tea and a cake!
4. Mr H-L has started to let his ‘tache grow for this year’s Movember.
5. More kitchen-table sewing lessons. The official Kids Can Sew® curriculum has started!
6. The Sloe Port has been bottled and taste-tested against the commercial stuff (glass on the right) – ours tastes better!
7. Yesterday was foul weather-wise in the the morning. The afternoon cleared up but it made for a very soggy riding lesson.
8. Made in just an evening, my first homemade gift for #stitchingsanta! Part of the ‘free’ element, this was made from leftover bits of yarn so cost nothing except my time meaning I still have £10 to enjoy spending. All will be revealed later in the week.
How are you getting on with your #stitchingsanta? If you’re stuck for ideas or want to ask a question, drop me a line.
November 8, 2015 at 10:23 am
You made the port?
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November 8, 2015 at 10:24 am
Well, Mr H-L did, from last year’s gin-soaked sloes, red wine and brandy:)
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November 8, 2015 at 11:33 am
Ok,my Big Man and I are on our way to your home and taste it!
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November 8, 2015 at 11:34 am
I would send you a bottle except I don’t trust the post with glass:(
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November 8, 2015 at 12:19 pm
This is si kind from you!! Do not worry, there’s plenty of port in the stores, the fact is that I didn’t even dream that you are able to make port and I’m sure it tastes so awfully good! Maybe one day… 😃
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November 8, 2015 at 10:32 am
glad to see your sewing classes are going well.
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November 8, 2015 at 10:34 am
They have certainly got off to a good start and the girls absolutely love it!
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November 8, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Happy Birthday No 2!! Can’t wait to see what you make with your new sewing machine!
H had long hair up until about 3 years ago, I loved it. He was always self conscious about his ears, but he said it’s ok to have it short as he’s grown into his ears (which weren’t any bigger than anyone elses!) Good luck to Mr H-L with Movember, looks a bit prickly at the minute, hope it softens up for you!! 😉
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November 8, 2015 at 2:13 pm
I cut their hair so keeping it longish helps hide the wonky bits! Cut them both this morning and they look fine though. Bet when they’re teenagers and they find out I’ve never been a hairdresser they won’t let me do it any more! It always takes a while to get used to a prickly moustache, but it’s only for a month and for a good cause so I shouldn’t moan.
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November 8, 2015 at 12:43 pm
A mini machine! That’s wonderful, I used to have one of those…I’ve begun thinking of ideas for my secret santa, and I went to the fabric store for insoiration, but I’m taking my time to make and pick out presents that they will enjoy. It’s really fun.
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November 8, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Oops, meant inspiration.
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November 8, 2015 at 2:16 pm
I love doing secret santas and have so much fun making things to include. I probably go overboard but I don’t really have any family that appreciate thins like this so it’s a good excuse to go mad:)
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November 8, 2015 at 1:38 pm
the fair isle looks great.. if only I could untangle my odds and ends!
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November 8, 2015 at 2:18 pm
I only do fair isle in small doses so I don’t get bored as it grows quite slowly. It’s a great way to use up those odds and ends though, if you ever get them untangled….
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November 8, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Love your knitting! Bet the port tastes brilliant.
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November 8, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Thanks, I love fair isle but can only stomach making it in small amounts or I get bored. The port is so much better than I was expecting it to be – it’s nicer than the bought stuff we have in the cupboard!
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November 8, 2015 at 5:11 pm
Happy birthday, son no 2 and who cares what the cake looks like as long as it tastes good? 😉 Very cute that he wanted a sewing machine! He’ll be able to assist in your lessons soon!
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November 9, 2015 at 10:49 am
That’s what I say when my attempts at making a cake that doesn’t sink in the middle are laughed at! He’s wanted a sewing machine for ages so I hope he gets on with it. I will, of course, let you know:)
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November 8, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Happy birthday to son number 2! Glad you’ve got your priorities right with the cake. Looking forward to seeing what you’re knitting. and great to see your sewing classes filling up 🙂
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November 9, 2015 at 10:55 am
Thanks Bekki, I’ve been working on an article this morning for our Villager magazine as a local “entrepreneur”! Hopefully it will drum up some more interest.
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November 8, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Your own sloe port! Way to go 🙂 So happy to see your son with his own sewing machine too. Great week despite the weather xo
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November 9, 2015 at 10:57 am
Sloe Port is a first for us and an alternative to the usual chocolate or sloejacks that we usually make out of the used sloes. It’s delicious! I’ll let you know how he gets on with his sewing machine:)
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November 8, 2015 at 8:23 pm
Happy Birthday to your son! Mine had long curls as a baby and I loved them. In high school he wanted to have ponytail. He tired of it and has kept it short since. Love lemon icing no matter what it looks like. So nice to hear that the sewing classes are off to a good start!
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November 9, 2015 at 10:59 am
I cut their hair yesterday as they have school photographs this week – their ‘after’ haircuts are like most boy’s ‘before’!
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November 8, 2015 at 9:49 pm
Hope Son No 2 had a great Birthday!! Great to read that he wants to further his creative crafting with a sewing machine too 🙂 I love his long locks…the way we find our son in a crowd is…by looking for his hair!! -he has curls to die for – and a head of hair like Brian May! Being a violinist musician it certainly is a statement as he plays.
Your birthday cake looks brilliant I’m sure there weren’t any complaints 😉
Yay for Mr. H-L and his ‘tache Great cause!! Maybe he can sample a bit more of your Sloe Gin when he shaves it off?! 😀
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November 9, 2015 at 11:04 am
I cut their hair myself, hence the reason it gets so long. Longer hair also hides the rough bits as I’m not a hairdresser! I’m not a fan of the number-two-all-over look as I think it looks slightly thuggish on little boys. I have to brush mascara on Mr H-L’s moustache as it grows longer because the grey outnumbers the black nowadays making it hard to see:)
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November 11, 2015 at 6:01 pm
LOL …poor Mr. H-L ! Something none of us can escape from…grey hair I mean not moustaches 🙂
I’ve saved our family an absolute fortune over the years by cutting our family’s hair too, I don’t giggle so much these days as I’m doing it, probably as I’ve got better over time and make less mistakes, especially on Dearest!! I nearly fell through the floor when my daughter told me recently how much she spent on a cut and blow.
Hope you’re using waterproof mascara, as we’re having so much rain now ;-D
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November 8, 2015 at 9:58 pm
Happy birthday to number two son! I’m looking forward to seeing what he makes with his new sewing machine. The sloe port sounds delicious! We make a lot of fruit-infused spirits and they all taste so much nicer than shop bought stuff. The first ‘free’ gift for my #stitchingsanta has been made but not by me – by my husband! 🙂
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November 9, 2015 at 11:05 am
You’re so right – homemade liqueurs are so much tastier than their commercial counterparts and, once tasted, there’s no going back! The ‘free’ gift has me totally intrigued – do we get to see it?
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November 9, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Erm I’m not sure. If I put it on my blog my recipient will most likely see it and I want it as a surprise! However I will tell you that my husband is very good at woodwork and has come up with something on a sewing theme!
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November 9, 2015 at 1:35 am
Time is just flying away. #2 son has great ideas for gifts. I got a awesome sewing machine for Christmas and sewing lessons too. 🙂 The little guy should be in with the girls and get his lessons since he has the most awesome teacher living right down the hall. LOL Your port and yes your cake look just divine. I think your hubby look great for the cold weather. You are lucky, sume men look shaggy. Much love to the whole house!
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November 9, 2015 at 1:54 am
Please commend Mr. H-L for his hard work for charity–and willingness to be photographed for your blog! I had never heard of sloe port; thanks for the explanation in the comments (it looks delicious, by the way). And how great is it to have your son sewing with you?
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November 9, 2015 at 2:12 am
Aaaaw son No.2 looks so happy with his machine! Has he managed to make anything yet? The girls look like they are having a b;last too with your sewing lessons 🙂 Your cake looks gorgeous – homemade birthday cakes are the best!
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November 9, 2015 at 10:02 am
I thought you’d be up and running on your #stitchingsanta projects already! I’ve been battling with some boiled wool over the weekend which has covered my sewing room in microscopic fluff where it has been cut. When I’ve cleared that up I’ll be up and running on gift sewing!
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November 10, 2015 at 5:19 am
You life looks so exciting! How nice to have you as a Mum – port, horse-riding, charitable, hairy husband, nice knitting projects – you are living the dream!
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November 12, 2015 at 8:26 am
For ‘exciting’ read ‘busy’! Only joking, we do try to keep the balance right with plenty of down time which is important for kids, I think (not to mention me!).
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November 11, 2015 at 10:17 am
Always enjoy your Sunday Sevens! And I love, love, love what you’re knitting at the moment! Marianne xx
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November 12, 2015 at 8:28 am
I love reading all the Sunday Sevens too, it’s so nice to learn a bit more about the person behind the blog. I don’t do much fair isle as it takes so much concentration and there’s not a lot of quiet time in our house:)
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November 11, 2015 at 6:40 pm
What a fun idea for a blog post. I’ve not seen this idea before. I loved seeing your family, your daily activities, the sewing lessons…all of it. I’m delighted to see your son with his own sewing machine! My youngest son was into knitting at that age, but lacked the dexterity. Then his friend taught him finger knitting, and together they used to knit for hours.
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November 12, 2015 at 8:32 am
Thanks Alys, I love to read all the Sunday Sevens posts and getting to ‘know’ other bloggers a bit more. Boys love to create as much as girls, given the chance, and my two are no exception, although they haven’t asked to learn knitting yet, just crochet, sewing and cross stitch:)
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November 12, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Boys do love to create and it’s so important that they have the opportunity to do that. Your are an amazing mom!
Sports are pushed heavily here, to the detriment of a lot of other things. I think because I’m creative I just naturally provided those outlets. They’ve both played with clay, Playdoe, paint, fabric, sand, water, yarn and whatever else came along. I miss those years of creative play, but at 15 and 18, they’ve both moved away from the hands on creativity they once enjoyed. My hope is that as they move into adulthood they continue to find creative ways to enjoy life.
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November 24, 2015 at 11:16 am
Missed this one! Loving the look of your stitching Santa gift… Doubt I’m lucky enough to get you twice in two years lol.
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November 25, 2015 at 11:10 am
I’ve made quite a few bits for both the knitting and sewing santas but am far from finished. A few of the same type of thing are going in so you wouldn’t want me anyway! How’s yours coming together?
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November 25, 2015 at 3:10 pm
😀 Well I’ve not made anything but have bought something small… it’s a kilt pin with sewing charms on… really sweet and it has the initial of the person I’m giving it to one so can’t really share a photo! Unless I blur it out… It’s handmade but not by me!
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November 25, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Lovely! I photoshopped out your initials on the needle case and notebook for the blog, do you remember?
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November 25, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Yes, exactly what I was thinking of when I typed that!!
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