Quietly Content at Home

 Ironing is one of my favourite cosy chores. It's like a window into your family seasons. One day you are ironing tiny baby clothes, then netball uniforms and piles of skirts. My husband's dress shirts don't get out much these days as we are blessed with semi-permanent Work From Home conditions for him. But I remember well what it was like ironing his work shirts with our eldest in a bouncer at my feet in our first apartment. I'll be ironing her high school uniforms soon. Woman Ironing, Study for the Washerwomen (1888) Albert Edelfelt I remember being the age she is now and ironing my own school clothes. I could not wait until I was ironing for my own children. Every time I cooked a meal for my sisters, baked muffins or read a bedtime story - I was looking forward to my future as a mother. And now I'm living it. Even when I'm tired or rushed, standing at that ironing board will never lose its charm for me. Whether I am 12 years old ironing for my sist...

 I love cross stitch magazines, my Addi knitting machine, making personalised icy pole holders with my Cricut and pumping out dozens of bookmarks. But picking up a crochet hook and some yarn is like arriving home after a long drive. I browsed through a crochet magazine on my library app and reading the patterns was like hearing my first language after working so hard on cross stitch for so long. Attributed to Tasha Tudor I have been using my girl's crochet play purse pattern to make little presents for a special little girl's second birthday. I am so happy with how the rainbow variegated one came out. Making it brought me so much joy after a long and tiring term. Left, centre are my crochet pattern linked above. Right is a daisy square by Melanie Ham I made into a bag.