August has shown me how lucky I am, even though we don’t have much in the materiel aspect and we live in a house that desperately needs work, we are lucky to have each other, our little family.
Every August my hubby takes a trip to Germany with the drag racing team he crews for, and while he’s having stressful fun, I’m at home with our sons, our German Shepherd, who leaves a mountain of hair behind him and our two cats, who are at their happiest, gifting us with live mice, rabbits or any thing else they can bring home.
It’s wonderful having time with just the boys, I’m happiest when all four of us are at home together but the week my hubby was away made me realise, how incredibly lucky I am to have a supporting network around me.
I’ve always been the home maker, cooked, cleaned and looked after the children when my hubby, slugs his butt off at work, doing his upmost to keep a roof over our head.
When my health decided to play silly buggers, life changed for us all. I just can’t do all that I’m use to, cleaning the house alone, is one of my hardest challenges I face on a daily bases. What took a hour now takes nearly a morning and I hate that.
I’ve been very lucky that when my hubby gets in, he will make tea because I just don’t have the energy to do so, which brings me down, I want to be able to have his tea on the table when he walks in from work, I want him to relax, or pop on out with his camera, not for him to be doing my job. It’s depressing and makes me feel pretty useless, worthless even.
Well when he goes away with the guys to Germany, I have no choice but to push my body to its limits and do my job. And even though I really loved cooking homemade dinners for my boys, each day became harder and harder and I felt more useless than the day before. I felt so exhausted, I found it hard to get out of bed in the morning but to exhausted to sleep at night.
And that’s why I want to thank my hubby for all his does for not only me but for our boys.
I’m extremely grateful for all that he does and for all the extra work that has fallen on his shoulders but more so for sticking around when life got tough, really tough.
I know I’m half the women you married and that life is far from where we wished it would be but you know what, we are still here together, fighting the good fight, trying to climb the slippery ladder of life. And even though we hit bottom more than we climb, I’m pretty damn grateful for what we do have, a loving family, two wonderful miracles, Con and Cal, who make me prouder by the day. Their hearts are pure, they care, really care and they love, they have passion and determination and are growing into exceptional human-beings.
With every challenge life has thrown at us, we must be doing something right. I’m heartfully thankful for all three of them.

Research
I finally broke down a brick wall in my family research. I can tell you I’m over the moon, more importantly I enjoyed every minute of cracking the puzzle. It’s moments like those that make all the hours of hard work worth while.
But with every discovery my bucket list grows larger, with new places to visit and to lay flowers.  All I have to do now is, talk my hubby into finding time to take me to all the resting places, towns and city’s my ancestors lived, died and are finally resting. If you have no idea what I’m talking about you can read all about my breakthrough here and here.
August research has mainly all been on, Eleanor Mary Kirby and her life as Nellie Montague.
I first heard her name many years ago when my wonderful Nan, was helping me start my family tree, ever since then, her name has stuck firmly in my mind and my heart. All these years later, I have a good picture of her life, I know a lot of facts, all that is missing are memories of anyone that knew her and a photo, how I long to know what she looked liked. Was she really how I picture her in my mind?

I also got a message on Ancestry from my first cousin 2x removed, she is the daughter of my, Great Granny, Eileen O’Connor’s Brother, Brennan Cornelius O’Connor.
I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to be in contact with her. It’s been wonderful finding out a little about his family who live in South Africa.
We’ve exchanged a few photos and information, which although overwhelming at times has been beyond wonderful. To see the face of Brennan, the brother whom my Great Granny adored was fascinating and to see all his descendants was beyond words.
Thank you Faith, from the bottom of my heart. Here’s to getting to know each other and many years of friendship.

To me, moments like those are what research is all about, discovering long lost relatives and building family bonds.
I have been very lucky to have made some wonderful friends throughout my research especially with Val, who now holds a special place in my heart.

Crochet
As for crochet, it’s been a slow month. I haven’t been able to get done what I wanted, that may be because I keep starting new thing, yep my will power has totally disappeared but to be honest I never seem to find the time to sit and crochet, I seem to do a few stitches and then have to get up and do something else. I have however started three new projects. 🤫

I started the “Sweet Caroline Cal”, by Helen Shrimpton, from Crystals and Crochet.
My plan is to make the “Sweet Caroline” square and then to continue it on with “Around the Bases”, by ChiChi Allen.
I haven’t got very far but when finished my Sweet Caroline goes around the bases will be a lapghan for my beautiful cousin Kelly.

I also gave in a started one of my crochet crush’s.
I couldn’t resist “The Feeling Groovy Blanket” by Vanessa from, Hooked on Sunshine, any longer. It’s just the perfect pattern for the lapghan I’m making for my amazing cousin, Chloe.
Chloe is the most wonderful, kind, caring, well mannered young lady, who is braving the shave for McMillan on the 22nd September, you can read her story and donate to her life changing charity here.
She deserves a little something special for her bravery, not many 14 years old girls would be so selfless.
I’m not going to give too much away about her lapghan, as I plan to write about it, when it’s finished but isn’t she pretty.

While I was stitching away on Chloe’s, “Feeling Groovy Lapghan”, colours popped into my head and I just had to start another. I love these colours together. I’m not sure which one I prefer though. What’s your favourite?

I’ve tried so hard to finish my “Beautiful Shell Blanket“, by Latona Nally-Kaye.
I’m nearly there, one more repeat of all 12 colours to do and she’ll be done.
I’m not sure what it is about this blanket, every time I start to work on her, I just can’t keep my eyes open, they literally close and I fall asleep, which is a royal pain in the butt, as I so want to finish it and bring a smile to my Auntie Jan’s face. I promise you Auntie Jan, I’ll get there soon, as long as I can stay awake. 😴

As for my mums, “Nuts about DNA Afghan”, I feel terrible that I haven’t even managed one square. I’m so sorry Mum. ☹️

Crochet Crush.
Help there are too many to choose from. One though is trying me to new levels. I want to make it, I need to make it.
It is the “Myriad Cal” by Hawk Steek.
People photos of their projects are popping up all over my Instagram and Facebook feeds. They are all so beautiful.
You really don’t know how hard it’s been for me not to start one of my own, the struggle is really real.
How I’ve held back I do not know but I think it comes down to the yarn. This beautiful creations deserves to be made in beautiful yarn, of course it has to be in my all time favourite Scheepjes Stonewashed, right now I just can’t justify buying any. I’m sure I probably have enough in my yarn stash, but I want it to be perfect, the perfect colour combination not just colours thrown together because that’s all I have to work with.
So what is it that has me fascinated with this beauty of an afghan. Firstly I think it’s the butterflies. Butterflies have always meant something special. To me they are the spirits of our lost loved ones. When ever I’m having a hard time or missing my Dad more than normal, a beautiful butterfly appears and dances carelessly around me.
Apart from the butterflies, the texture, the beauty of the stitches are mesmerising. It’s stunningly beautiful.
I wonder how long I can resist. I don’t want to resist, I have to resist. 😢

Song of the month.
I haven’t done a song of the month for a while, but I heard a song that I strongly believe should get a mention.
Beautiful me (Acoustic) by Dappy.
We all know he has a bad rep, but no one can question his talent and how wonderful his voice is.
And those lyrics can melt any mother or fathers heart. We can all find some truth and meaning in them.
We have all made mistakes, small or large ones, but everyone deserves a second chance. Forgiveness goes a long way, love even further.

That about wraps up August, but before I go, if you haven’t read my, “Hope And Home” post, please take five minutes out and have a read. You can find it here.

Have a wonderful August
G x