Day 23 - April Vlogs - Little Drops of Wonderful

Welcome to Day 23 of my attempt to vlog every day in April! It's time to get back to the routine and I am complaining about it! But my day is brightened by some unexpected gifts in the mail! Also - I buy frames and get my car MOT'd...will it pass...??
(My channel is about crochet, knitting, yarn, crafts and all the good stuff. I live in Kent, in the UK, with my long-suffering husband and my 2 delightful daughters.)
I hope you enjoy my April Vlogs.
Ali xx
The music is Parkside by Dan Lebowitz.

[@celestegarcia486]

So glad to see the smiles and delight in a day that began so challenging! I also started watching Loraine's podcast when she was making it. Although I don't crochet she was so inspiring with her designs that I was just about to start. The names of her shawls and how she made them were so interesting and beautiful. I also loved how she'd bring us along on her walks with her little satchel on her back in Cypress --- such a beautiful place. Glad to hear that she is still around. I sort of lost track of her when she no longer made her podcast. It'd be sweet to see what she is making now. The sea glass wrapped in copper wire is amazing!

[@katherinelillicrap2619]

Thanks so much for the honesty (and yesterday's reminder) about that back to school feeling. Even as a mum it leaves me feeling a bit flumped and weepy and I thought it was just me! I've taken your advice and am enjoying a bit of crochet and podcast time to cheer me along. Thanks x

[@carolm.6072]

Hi Ali, so glad your day turned around! What absolutely wonderful gifts you received to cheer you up!

[@kitkatchunky81]

Oh Ali!! What a day!!! Such lovely gifts to brighten your day... And such brilliant timing 😊 I think the humdrum is like every phase of parenting... we moan and feel overwhelmed but it always passes and then we miss it!!! Oh and a week is nothing, I once went 8 month's with no MOT 😱😂🤣😂🤣 xx

[@AnitaMeijerTheReedWarbler]

Love watching your daily vlog which certainly takes me back to the time when our boys were still young. So I certainly can relate to previous comments about the driving around, they grow up much to fast! Loved your unexpected arrival of presents, friendships to cherish xx

[@rossiej100]

Make the most of your busy schedule. Think of it as depositing lasting memories in a savings account in your heart.

[@smithydingbat]

What you was saying in the car is so right. My kids are all adults now, but still live at home. I am a carer to one of them. Life can seem so fast. I look at these vlogs and remember some of the things we did as a family.

[@phoebepaxford7184]

I totally understand the overwhelmed feeling. And I think we sometimes add guilt in because we feel bad that we feel down and that we shouldn't feel down because we have a lovely life, but its ok. Life is overwhelming sometimes and having to keep all the balls in the air all the time gets too much but we don't get to stop. It is hard, its ok to feel down. Sending you a hug xx

[@susanweber581]

Lovely gifts to cheer you up! Yes, I remember those days of driving my son from one activity to another. But, now looking back the days seemed really long, yet the years were actually short. See you tomorrow . . .

[@dorothygriffiths6626]

Hi Ali another fabulous vlog, thank you. What a beautiful bounty of gifts, well deserved so 😊 enjoy. I agree with lots of your other viewers, I had four boys in five years and I didn’t drive then and can well remember feeling absolutely overwhelmed trying to do everything with them, plus shopping every single day together with housework, in the evenings it would be non stop knitting as I made all their sweaters plus some for my husband and the dreaded ironing 😳😳. It is only now, since I have not long retired, that I look back and remember what happy times they were. Having my beautiful grandchildren to stay is a little reminder of those memories. You and Dan have a wonderful family. I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your lovely note and pin, plus chocs. I have been good and not eaten them😀😀 as I am going down to look after the children this coming weekend so will share them. Have a fabulous day Ali, lots of love to you all. Big hugs and loves xxxxxxx Dorothy 😘🙋🏻❤️🌟

[@nancywillick5737]

Thank you for sharing you day! What a beautiful one with all the lovely scenery and adorable puppy to more goodies, the tulips and I love the picture frames too. Lillia and Phoebe are so very fortunate to have such great parents!! I love the music, I find myself humming it for a good while after I watch you vlog. Kinda funny. Phoebe could learn how to play it and do a little concert ;)

[@frandefleurs5116]

💞so pleased I was able to sprinkle a little joy into your day💞 after all you do the same for us all out here 😘💕

[@melhartley2402]

How nice to get surprises in the mail.

[@suziefab9532]

Wow love the boxes of gifts.what a lovely surprise.

[@jackiefawcett2869]

Lovely vlog,pleased your deliveries cheered you up,I love a bits and bobs present,what a lovely thought from your friend. Especially liking the Arne and Carlos book x enjoy x 🌻🌻

[@SunshineLeclair]

Thanks a bunch, my pin arrived yesterday and oh my, I can't wait to try the lovely tea you sent along with it ;) thanks again, Donna from Canada

[@janescarisbrick6986]

What lovely gifts :) And just on a day you needed them

[@lisejackson1463]

What lovely gifts! I hope that made you feel better. I know exactly how you feel - the weekly grind really gets me down. I have digestive issues, and they came back today. I think it is the stress of the routine back again.

[@michelejacques4067]

I loved Spectacles, I listened to it on Audible. Sue is very very funny ( going on a trip with the family but having to be back for midday sports made me giggle), I totally agree with the madness of ferrying young children to various clubs however I really miss it. How wonderful that you have these Vlogs in future to look back on. I've so enjoyed them. Thank you so much Ali xxxx

[@LittleDropsofWonderful]

Thanks so much Michele, I am overwhelmed at the positive response to these little videos, I feel so very grateful. In Spectacles it was the bit with the sick dog in the car that really had me giggling, she's so funny and a very good story teller :) xx

[@MiMi-ox8nz]

I always enjoy your podcast. Yayyy the car passed the MOT, lol And Phoebe is just such a sweetheart. One day you will look back on these memories and think just how fast the time went. My children are now adults with their own children, which I call my grandangels. I now enjoy supporting them in their sports, and am their biggest fan.😃😊 Your surprise birthday gifts are lovely & should put a big smile on your face...jump starting you for your return to work tomorrow...well its probably Wednesday for you now. Have a blessed rest of your week. See you tomorrow. Oh I am excited to see the fabulous goodness in your birthday box.

[@LittleDropsofWonderful]

Thank you so much Tami - it’s lovely to hear from women who have grown children to remind me that this time will fly past, I need to stop and enjoy it more ❤️ How lovely to be supporting your grandangels like you do! And yes those gifts were just totally unexpected and made be so happy, I am spoiled and very lucky indeed 🥰 Have a wonderful Wednesday xx

[@periwinklestitches]

Back to work/school blues too :( but there is always the next holiday to look forward to :) I have a lot of fabric in my stash at home which is crying out to be used so I am going to make it my mission to get on board with the MAL and finally use my sewing machine. Looks like your bad day turned out to be a good day with some Happy Mail arrivals

[@patriciakasmarek6680]

Glad you had a wonderful mail surprise to brighten up your day!💕

[@LittleDropsofWonderful]

It was wonderful, thank you Patricia :) xx

[@christinepreston2120]

Hi Ali. my car passed it's MOT as well...lovely videos.. thank you x

[@bettyallam1548]

I’m trying to knit from a chart, Japanese Bilble stitch book, and my feet are tapping to your music which is messing up my stitch count. LOL. I love your podcast. Life is real but remember the girls will fly and you’ll be home. Cheers, 🇨🇦

[@rockymtnpenny]

It sounds like you need some zen doodling time Ali! Have you ever heard of the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich? They are truly laugh out loud books and always good tonic for a down day. It is a series of probably more than 30 books by now. They are all absolutely ridiculous, and are easy quick reads. I don't know if they are available in the UK but I'm sure you could get them on Amazon and probably Amazon kindle as well. I highly recommend this series for gray days!

[@carolewinstead8270]

Glad your day turned out so well. The picture of Pheboe and puppy was adorable. Your box of treasures was amazing! Lovely tea too.

[@eightlegs5712]

I know exactly how you felt about mixing up your MOT date, I've done it too and mines was several months. I'd changed cars and got confused during a particularly stressful time in my life. It's probably more common than we think but hurrah that it passed, mine did this year too. When I was young and broke I considered MOT day as one of the worst of the year! I know what you mean about the endless schedule with busy kids but it pays dividends as they get older and aren't the ones hanging round the streets as they're too busy with things that interest them more. And though we're back to the daily grind we've a bank holiday very soon and another school holiday not long away too so hang in there. Really looking forward to seeing the rest of your parcel, Sarah

[@ericallerton809]

What lovely gifts on a perfect day to cheer you Up!, GREAT FRIENDS, You are Busy! Time flies by ,,Enjoy UR times With UR girls! Glad UR car Passed! And hope days did,too, Enjoying UR April vlogs,,, Elaine

[@karleenpage5979]

Isn't it amazing how your friends may have been distressed because your gifts didn't arrive on your birthday, yet they arrived right on time? I'm glad your day improved!!! And I think I wished you a happy birthday, but in case I forgot, Happy Belated Birthday!!! I'm guessing MOT is state inspection? Always good to pass those!! As for the post-holiday let down, I honestly don't know where you get the energy to do all you do. It's nice to have those breaks, but they probably wouldn't be so enjoyable if your everyday life wasn't so busy!

[@suedale1865]

How wonderful to have those gorgeous gifts & WHY ? Because you are such a good gorgeous person 👏🏽 What will we do when April has ended Just in case I forget to tell you I’ve had a good time watching your vlogs THANK YOU

[@ileneklayman3440]

My son is 30 and a school teacher. my other "son"(my little brother I raised after my parents passed away 8 months apart)I got custody of him when he was 13. My boys are 8 years apart, they are very different people! My brother loved being in the theater crew(never in the plays but always loved stage crew) and his high school was a town over from ours(regional high school) and neither boy was in walking distance from the school at anytime. I won't bore you with the details. I do miss being needed by my boys! My husband has had a lot of health issues the last 10 years so he is my full time job! But what I wouldn't do to go back to when the children were smaller and doing all that running around for them! Some days I just felt like a taxi driver! But I felt like when I took a few minutes for myself I deserved it now I don't feel that way. It just changes and a lot of my son's friend's are having babies my son has a very busy social life but no girlfriend. My brother is married 8 years as of May and they have not been able to have children. All my friends are already grandparents! Love where you are at this time it goes by fast! You blink and they don't need you anymore. Then you are stuck with a man that you have to take care of! It sucks! I would rather take care of children! I hope Dan stays well and you never have to take care of him like I have to take care of my husband!! My husband can't even drive himself anywhere he doesn't see well on top of all his other ill's! Sorry! I did cut a lot of details out so I wouldn't bore you too much but this is still long. Sorry!

[@vickilauritsen2983]

Your children are the beautiful souls that they are BECAUSE you run yourself ragged getting them to all their activities and being the devoted parents you and Dan are. Just for the record, I am expecting the same feeling of gloomy sadness because the end of April is ever so near!!!!!

[@LittleDropsofWonderful]

Thank you Vicki, what a lovely thing to say 😘 I don’t mind it really, just the odd day I allow myself to moan 😄 Then I drink a cup of tea and have a biscuit and everything seems better 💕 Only one week of April left! This year is rocketing past!! xx

[@lindajones4934]

Seeing the 2 magpies did bring you joy 😀 (1for sorrow 2for joy) Car passed its M.O.T and you had 2 lovely surprise parcels.....Happy days 😍😍

[@ruthsmith6585]

I shared the back to routine post Easter and birthday blues but some bank holidays coming up to look forward to 🤗. What fab gifts ❤️. Glad your wheels passed the MOT 🚗

[@Lil_Deville]

Rooiboos is pronounced roy-boss, I believe it means red bush in Afrikaans but I could be wrong. I've read Spectacle and it is really eye opening isn't it. Such lovely parcels! I am toying with the idea of joining the bag mal but not sure where my sewing machine's foot is :/

[@julielines3281]

Wow lovely presents that’s just what you needed x 😀

[@amandab8838]

I too have the school mundane blues ☹️ not long until may half term 🤗🌻Xx

[@sallyhealey]

I share the school routine blues xx

[@ailsau8995]

A few years ago I found I’d gone a whole year without having had my car MOT’d, I now write it down in my calendar will in advance so it doesn’t happen again. I can’t believe I was never caught!

[@LittleDropsofWonderful]

Haha! Ailsa that makes me feel a lot better! :) xx

[@pearlduran7077]

I think the magpie maybe a bit of goodness

[@lisalovesstitchin]

The tea you can’t pronounce is pronounced Royboss its African Bush tea, it’s not from a tea plant and grows above Cape Town in Sth Africa, I only drink Rooibos now and it’s usually drunk with sweetened condensed milk but I love it with normal milk.

[@janicecoulson5388]

Funny enough I had a bad day too also involving a garage! A deer a dog and bad husband! Too long a story to tell

[@LittleDropsofWonderful]

😅😂Well now I need to know!! Hope it all got sorted out :) xx

[@tashaw1574]

Lol. unbeknown to me, i drove around for 4 months with no MOT!!!!😨

[@LittleDropsofWonderful]

It seems we are not alone in this! I felt so terrible, I have set a reminder now but I would have been mortified if I had been caught, haha! :) xx

[@julielines3281]

Oh dear bad start 🙁 to the day but congratulations on you mot on your car x

[@MsAmethystra]

Rooibos is pronounced Roy-boss ☺

[@LittleDropsofWonderful]

Thanks Emma! :) xx

[@bettyallam1548]

Could you car pool the kids to school? That would offer you and another mom less pressure.

[@barbaranelson2457]

How do I get on Instagram?