It is almost the weekend. My kitchen smells of the home baked fruit cake, that I’ve just taken out of the oven, and the firelighter that I made for later, using leftover scented candles. The hound is upside down on the sofa, with all his paws in the air, enjoying a few more hours of not having to share the best seat to stretch out on. The sun is out and all is peaceful.
It has been quite a week. Our little lane was flooded on Tuesday evening. It was a indisputable deluge. The fields are sodden and the rain just runs off them into the lane. A proper fords were formed. Even to the point where one car, tried its luck, drowned the engine and was abandoned overnight. This blocked all the commuters the next morning. Including making my three children late for school.
At one point, there was one road closed, due to flooding and the other way was blocked by a car too. Luckily, we had no where to go that evening.
We’re back into our term time routine. I’ve taken to writing up everyone’s whereabouts for the week on a blackboard in the kitchen, to ensure everyone knows and not just me. A Level mocks have finished and the results are filtering through. Eldest Teen is seeing her weaknesses and is ready to improve. I can’t believe she takes her A Levels this summer!
In between, I’ve finished my red cardigan. Although, I might re-do the button and buttonhole band, as it’s too tight. I need to squeeze in a few more stitches, to make it hang right. It will be worth is, as I know I am going to live in this cardigan.
I love this knitting pattern. Third variation of it that I’ve completed, since the Christmas before last, but, between you and me, I am so ready for a change. Maybe a pair of socks.
In other news, I’ve given up coffee. To be precise, I think it was the other way round. Once I was back in the land of the living, after my fun and games with flu over the Christmas break, I just couldn’t drink coffee. Rather than persevering, I ran with it. I’ve wanted to cut back, so why not cut out instead?
A definite upside is that I’ve noticed my complexion has improved. It wasn’t bad. The occasional spot. My lines and shadows are less too, although I’m probably the only one who really would notice.
Also, and probably far more significant, I’ve not had a single migraine, which was a regular occurrence. Maybe it is the lack of caffeine, or maybe something to do with the copious number of buckets of herbal tea I’m now drinking instead. Either way, I’m sticking to my new regime. Fingers crossed. Like they say, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
(cabbage in the garden)
Right, time to finish the last bits of work, before the rest of the family descend. There is a list as long as my arm of things that need doing this weekend. It is going to be busy.
Hope you all have a good weekend.
Joining in with Anne’s Word of the Week. Thank you for all your kind words last week. All of them inspired me.
My word is improve.
So glad you’re over the flu. The one that’s going around is particularly nasty! That cardigan is beautiful. I would live in it too, if I had the talent to knit something like that. I gave up coffee several years ago – weaned myself off slowly so as not to get a headache. I didn’t like having to drink a cup first thing to avoid headaches but I loved the flavor. Now I drink decaf now and then, but no more caffeine.
That is exactly why I wanted to cut back. I absolutely loathe being reliant on something, and a strong cup of coffee in the morning was beginning to feel like that. I shan’t go back to caffeine. Having flu actually made it easier. 😀
I’m so glad you are feeling better now. That cake looks lovely, I could really do with a slice right now. I’d love to be able to smell it. The flooding sounds like a bit of a nightmare, hope you don’t get any more. I love the cardi, Again, I’m in the middle of a crochet cardigan. My daughter bought me the wool and pattern for Christmas. It’s gloriously soft, but I think it will be a spring cardigan as it’s not so thick and cosy. I don’t drink much caffeine, I never understand people who can’t function until they’ve had their morning coffee, the smell makes me feel nauseous! Herbal tea is much nicer, and you can still enjoy it if it gets cold. 🙂
Good point about the herbal tea. It can be drunk cold. Looking forward to seeing your new cardigan. And what a lovely daughter to gift you the project.
Ah don’t say give up coffee … I have cut down, but couldn’t give up!!! #WOTW
Ha! I don’t recognise myself!
Ahh! We had a fair bit of rain here on Tuesday evening but thankfully no flooding.
It’s good to be back into a routine. I said in my post it felt like we were finally back in one too.
It sounds like your eldest teen knows where she needs to do the work. Good luck to her.
I love that cardigan. It looks so cosy, perfect for this time of year.
Good on you for giving up coffee. When I’m ill I will give it up but I always go back to it. It sounds like it’s a good thing for you. Migraines are the worst.
Have a good weekend x
I think now I’ve made a possible link to my migraines, I’ll have enough of an incentive to abandon coffee. I was surprised by our flooded lane. Hadn’t appreciated that we’d had so much rain over the last few weeks. Hoping it dries up now.
I always find your posts so relaxing to read, I can almost taste the cake and feel the texture of the cardigan you’ve knitted I think you are an amazing writer. I don’t think I could give up coffee but the benefits you are experiencing sound wonderful. Have a lovely weekend x
I’ve tried to cut back on coffee before, but it always creeps up. This time I can feel the benefit by cutting it out completely, so I’m confident it will stick. Thank you. When I write my Friday round ups, I always imagine you all sitting in my kitchen, around the table, enjoying a cup of tea, a slice of cake and lively conversation.
That cake looks delicious! I only drink coffee in the morning and certainly never at night, though first thing I prefer a cup of tea. Love the cardigan
Coffee in the morning sounds very sensible.
That fruit cake looks amazing and I love your red cardigan. Sorry to hear about the floods – hope that they’ve gone down now. I’m glad that giving up coffee is working out for you. I’m trying to cut down on my coffee consumption although I’m not sure replacing it with tea makes that much difference! #WotW
Floods went fairly quickly. Luckily it is only in spots and not the whole lane. Ha! I can see what you mean about the tea. I only drink herbal, but my children have just started drinking tea and they are opting for the decaff version. They seem to like it.
The cake looks so yummy! I would like just one slice please 😉 Sorry to hear about the flooding. We have the same problem here at the moment. We’ve had so much rain this winter and the roads are just not built for it. #MMBC
I love your cardigan and the color is so pretty. I gave up coffee decades ago when it started giving me a tummy ache. Hope you had a great weekend and wishing you a dry sunny week! #MMBC
I haven’t drunk coffee for a good 30 years and can’t say I miss it, the smell is what does it for me, I can’t abide it!
Your cardigan is a beaut. I love the colour but agree you need to make something different if you make the same pattern a few times as a kind of palate cleanser!
I love that red sweater!
We were affected by the flooding too. I couldn’t take my eldest to Beavers as there was no way to get there was the route was so flooded. #MMBC
Wow I am the opposite, I get headaches if I don’t drink coffee, but I think that more to do with the addiction as I honestly cant live without it! We had some flooding here just before Christmas and I know someone who wrote their car off being to brave with a giant puddle, it went up to the windows ! That cake looks delicious !