Hello again! I had planned to do a weekly post throughout the summer – kind of rounding up the events of each week, but it obviously wasn't meant to be!
Life with Toby has to be flexible or you'd go insane very quickly and he has been very demanding of late so keeping him busy is a full time job right now. He's also been plumbing new depths in the sleep department, with the current pattern being sleep at 10pm, wake at 2am-ish, play and watch videos for 4 or 5 hours (he is absolutely wide awake) before catching another 2 or 3 hours of sleep. Still, on the positive side this has given me 4 or 5 hours of extra making time (never again will I wish for more hours in the day – believe me it's not that desirable!).
Anyway, I've put these night waking hours to good use and have started another cushion cover – a bigger one this time. I have to say that when it comes to the yarny arts, knitting will always be my first love but the lure of crochet is strong and I can't seem to resist, it also feels less demanding when your mind would rather be sleeping!
I did start this as a cushion cover but I love this yarn so much (Rowan milk cotton fine – the colours are so soft and lovely) and I got swept along and ended up making more squares than I needed, so I think it's on the way to becoming another blanket!
Well, Toby needs some breakfast so I had better go. It's just him and me this week as Amy and H have embarked on a little adventure to France!
It's Amy's first ever trip abroad and her first proper motorbike trip so I'm hoping they have a lot of fun and that the weather stays mostly dry with none of the downpours that have been forecast!
Hope all is well with all of you. I've not had time to keep up with reading blogs so I'm feeling very out of touch. I'm looking forward to the start of school and catching up with everyone!
Hope to see you all again soon x
little cotton rabbits 
Hello Julie. Lovely to see you! I’m in awe of Amy in her leathers – lucky girl.
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Nice to see you back, but sad to hear you’re lacking sleep (been there, done that and now have a nocturnal 17 year old!)Hope you manage to keep your energy levels up and enjoy the rest of the summer.
Tracey x
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No idea how you cope with a sleeping pattern like that but guess it’s what has to be done and we can all adapt when needed. Your crocheting is really lovely and can see why it grew bigger than first planned.
Hugs,
A x
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Good to ‘hear’ from you – I’m sure I’m not on my own in wondering if you were ok. So difficult for you to survive on so little sleep but I suppose you do when there is little choice.
Hope Amy enjoys her jaunt and that you manage to get some peace. As a knitter, this crocheting lark is certainly addictive – and I never thought I would say that!!Love your colours too – take care.
Off to make some chutney.
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Oh wow Amy! How exciting to have a special adventure with her dada.
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Sounds like you are in for a tough or an easy week? Sometimes one on one works really well and sometimes it doesnt….hope you and Toby have a great time. Amy looks like she is all set for a big adventure. Funny you don’t look the type to have a bikie husband 😉 Loving the lovely colours you are crocheting and yes I think it is more forgiving than knitting because if you drop a stitch its only the one 🙂
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I love the colours in your blanket! A motorcycle trip to France… I’m sure she’ll have a brilliant time 🙂
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I’m secretly a little jealous of Amy – what an adventure! Hope you’re catching some zzzzs when Toby does.
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LOVE LOVE LOVE that blanket. love the colours and the pattern.
fancy donating it my way ? 😉
please post about it again when it’s finished.
Nicky
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Your crochet is very pretty Julie, as always. Like you, I love knitting and crochet, but knitting will always be my first choice. Good luck to H and Amy — it looks like they’re in for a super fun time!
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Hope Amy has a good time over here weather forecast a bit mixed depending on where you are .Love the crocheting the colours are wonderful, hope you and Toby have a good few days .
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Those colors truly are wonderful. I can see why you are enjoying working with them.
What a fun road trip!! Good luck to you surviving the week while they are gone.
My heart goes out to you with Toby and his lack of sleep. If I could, I’d mail you a years supply of sleep all bundled and wrapped up in scrumptiousness.
Levi started school yesterday. It is a long day for him and by the time he got home, he was all grouchiness and argumentative all evening. We couldn’t make him happy for anything! It’s a new school, teachers, buses, etc. Hopefully he’ll acclimate soon.
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Hi Julie, it’s so lovely to hear from you! 🙂
Sorry the sleep situation hasn’t improved any for you but thank goodness for yarn!!!
That is going to be a gorgeous blanket and I agree Rowan Milk Cotton is beautiful.
I have to say Amy is looking very cool on the back of the motorbike, what a lovely adventure for her before she starts school again.
Vivienne x
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Really missed hearing from you – checked each day! I knew you must have been busy. I don’t know how you do it, thank goodness for your love of fiber, crochet and knitting – not to mention everything else you are so good at. Nice Amy has special time with her dad. So special. Great you can make use of your time in the middle of the night and agree crocheting is easier than knitting for that. Keep on hanging on.
Joan from Wisconsin
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The lure of crochet is strong!!! I knit and embroider, but have just found crochet and I’m having great fun! Your daughter looks soooooooo sweet on the back of the bike, hope they have a good time.
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lovely granny plaid !
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I love that Rowan yarn too, your choice of colours is lovely, they will make a stunning blanket
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Hi Julie….you were missed down here at the bottom of the world. How you manage to create such beauty on minimal sleep is beyond me…..it would be understandable if all you created was in shades of black!
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Amy looks fabulous on the back of that bike! Hope she has a great time. Your crochet looks lovely – but I don’t know how you manage on so little sleep – thinking of you. Lucy xx
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Hello Julie, glad to be “back in touch”! Much sympathy for the lack of sleep. Loved Amy in her leathers..how cool is that! Hope she and Dad have a great time. Gorgeous blanket…my crochet skills are abysmal in the daylight never mind at night! Take care of yourself. Jenni xx
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Hope Amy has wonderful time with her Dad – even if it does rain I’m sure they will enjoy it , most of our holidays have been spent in the rain and the kids seem not to remember the wet bits.
Love the crochet – that is something I have yet to master. Hope that you have a good last few days of the holiday and enjoy the peace that the new term offers!
Big hugs
Alison xx
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Well – you’ve not missed anything with me. I’ve been running like a dog with a treat tied to his tail for, I guess, two months now. Was there a time when life was peaceful and easy? I don’t remember. Ah- Toby. I can’t imagine surviving more than a few days of that sleep pattern. And when I am up in the middle of the night, I can’t do anything productive. I play sudoku on the computer. Sometimes read a bit. But do anything with hands or brain? You have wonderful cognitive power. I don’t know, though – to flirt with the hook in place of the needles? Hmmmmm.
Riding a motorbike to France. To an American, that sounds amazing and impossible. And in all that black leather. And with Dad. Adventure is what that is.
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Hi Julie,
I have been reading your blog for a short while now.
My child is AS and up until he was 6years of age I would be up to him at least 5-6 times a night, smiling, just to help him settle again, and even after that it was a few times a night for a long time. My child is high functioning and is now 18 and working and loving what he does. I honestly didn’t know if he would be able to work.
I know that with your Toby things are very different to what I deal with. Just wanted to let you that that my heart goes out to you all. So many don’t understand what you have to go thru just to make it to another day.
hugssss and may your hubby and daughter have a safe and wonderful time.
Kayles
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I am amazed how you survive on that sleeping pattern too but I am having to build myself up to coping with the arrival of my own little one soon enough and I am sure a sleep pattern like no other! I often think that once the school holidays kick in then the time truly flies by so no need to apologise for not posting. I look forward to reading more once school restarts and to seeing your blanket once it is finished.
xx
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Hi Julie
Lovely to hear from you I have been checking and have missed you and your news. Sorry to hear things gave been rough. Amy looks great how exciting for her.
Take care
Davina
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Hi Julie
You soun dlike you are dong it ver tough iwt your Toby.
I would be pushing them for much more respite a you sound like you need it, My very low functioning daughter use to get up in the middle of the night and roam around and I got very desperate. They gave me what I needed in terms of respite because they knew I would not be keeping her if they did not. I agree with that lady several months ago who said when you mentioned you only go t 4 hours every second Sunday that “shy bairns get nought” You need to advocate for yourself and your family as I have noticed that noisy ones like me get what we need whereas local councils and government let those who do not demand what they need languish. Most of the helping professionals I know really have no idea what it can be like to live with a mentally disabled autistic person.
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I hope Amy enjoys her adventure (very exciting!) and that you have a peaceful week with Toby – even if it is sleep deprived. The blanket colours are gorgeous.
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I admire you patience and perseverance in regards to Toby. Keep plugging along – in all that you do.
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I have a need to crochet! Maybe I could share some of my 40 winks and you show more scrummy crochet pictures? Hope everything goes happily x
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Thankyou for sharing your life in the form of this delightful blog. From another knitting Mum of an autistic family. Sounds like there’s a few of us about!
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Sorry that Toby has had such an unsettled time-hopefully, things will improve once he gets back into school routine. Hope Amy enjoyed France-we just got back from brittany-the weather was fantastic. How you manage on so little sleep amazes me-and you keep so cheerful too. Your crotchet work is inspirational-maybe I’ll have a change from knitting-although it will always be my first love!!
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so glad you are back julie and that you are managing to use those 4 or 5 hours productively x
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Dear Julie, I fell on your blog at 1.30 am and turned the light off at 3am. Aarrhh so much talent and humour and strength you are a true brit. (are you?) and Congratulations on yr lovely children. Thank you for sharing them and your woollyworld in such a delightful way. I live in chile and with a friend we are publishing a knitting in spanish book for 3mth to 2 yr olds . V exciting nervous making stuff and now we need a web or blog to connect with Spanish speaking knitting world. Hence the exploring for ideas. Goodbye .G G
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