My knitting, allotment and other witterings blog.

The black hole called Bobbles.

2012-02-13T00:12:00.000Z

First of all lets talk about the boy, this is how we see him most days whilst he is walking from room to room, apparently Eric quite likes it and is often half asleep whilst he is carted up or down the stairs. The boy adores the cats and needs to cuddle one most of the time. We saw the specialist last week and his fatty liver is slightly improved, looks like it might be a long job. But it is improved no matter how slightly, the boy has improved his diet and is walking an hour a day behind the Castle and beyond! So it is all good.

I made a pair of Fetchings (free pattern on Ravelry) and a matching hat for a special lady's 80th birthday

my Mum loves this pattern because they seem to keep her fingers warm and she doesn't have to take off her gloves to get money out of her purse. So I hoped they might be a suitable choice for a birthday present.

and I also made prawn vol au vents as my dish to take to her party, there was some really nice food there, a great time was had by all.

I made a pair of socks for a local lady copper (police woman) who has been nicking her husbands socks (that I had made) because they were so warm and cosy. I thought I had better make her a pair before she gets into trouble with the law. Apparently she just loves how they fit in her boots and the way that they keep her toes toasty warm.

I am nearly at the end of my cardigan that I started a couple of years ago. *cough*

and have been bobbling at all times of the day and night.

No matter how much time I spend bobbling I don't seem to get any closer to the end. I am on my last push for the next few days. It is completely driving me bonkers that I can't get this cardigan on my back and everything else has been left to one side, until this is finished.

Normal service will be resumed, just as soon as I have finished the bobbles.

Liv in action.

2012-01-24T22:32:00.000Z

First of all I must apologise for not writing sooner, it has just been a combination of being busy and because of that feeling shattered. Unfortunately I always pay one way or the other but it has been worth it. So thank you for all of those emails and private messages on Ravelry enquiring as to our health, we are okay. Son no.2 will be back to see the specialists about his fatty liver soon and my doctors are slightly concerned about 'stuff' but we are okay.

So what has been happening?

My dad has had his birthday, so I took Mum and Dad and the boy out for a meal. I think there was a mini competition of the impressive beards.

We had our wedding anniversary which was lovely. And decided to as in way of celebration have a mini break in London.

We went to see the David Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy. It was amazing! We became members of the RA, as we are desperate to come back to see it again along with other galleries and exhibitions on show that we never seem to get to. Mainly through exhaustion you understand.

I showcased Liv throughout my visit to London and it seemed to be going down a storm. For those that don't know, this was the piece of knitting that was carted around with me whilst son no.2 was very poorly recently. It kept me sane in what had become a world filled with pain and anxiety and one where all I could do was cry, in-between comforting our son. A sock wouldn't have had the same comforting effect but this, when I knitted, stitch by comforting aran weight stitch was to me a god send. And I am most glad that I started it the week it all went wrong and only later realised that the pattern was called Liv, (my photocopy which I made from the original book didn't have the title on, it was only later when I checked the book I realised) which was when we were two weeks in and it had become very serious. Of course that made me cry even more, but it also gave me hope, that somebody up there was doing strange things and sending me a message of hope. That and that there were many, many people, world wide, many with pointy needles that were praying for my boy by this point. I still weep at the thought of that and am so very grateful.

Liv was designed by Martin Storey and I made it with Rowan Scottish Tweed in Aran in colour way Lewis Blue. I haven't weighed it yet so I can't tell you how many balls I used.

Back to the trip. (I am keeping this brief because I need to get to bed!)

We went to the British Museum, I'd never been before.

I like it when buildings make me look small.

There was a very scary cat.

And I loved this ceiling and feeling of space in the museum.

I would have gone to see this building just for this.

And a chap playing a harp very beautifully in the underground.

And we did lots more, notably seeing Quentin Blake's illustrations at The Foundling. Don't forget to look out for there free app.

Dishcloths.

2012-01-06T15:33:00.004Z

Years ago, (many, many years ago) my nan used to knit her own dishcloths. They were sturdy and used to last for ages, not like the flimsy things we have these days. I saw some dishcloth yarn in Birmingham market last year and cast on, but must have been side tracked by something knitterly and put it down. I found this started project the other day and have enjoyed knitting these cloths in the late evening when all I want is to settle down with something soothing.

It will be interesting to see how they last. Another thing that tickled me is that the unbleached yarn is very pretty and all the rage and put together with a nice bar of soap from the French market which appears once in a while and tied up with a pretty ribbon it would make an ideal present which is completely on trend.

Even the boys have shown an interest in them and talked about their usefulness compared with the shop bought cloths. I find it very interesting when knitting leads me down a path I least expected - talking about dishcloths with son no.2 could not have been predicted, but I am very amused by it.

Banished.

2012-01-03T15:03:00.009Z

It was son no.2's birthday yesterday and what he decreed would be a perfect birthday present would be to banish us from our home for the 'whole' day. He was hoping for us to stay out overnight so that he could have a 'free one' as they call it in these parts. Unfortunately we disappointed him on that score, but we realised we would have to make ourselves scarce on the day, so he could relax and have his friends around. Although why they wouldn't want me around making them pizza and popping in and out of the living room for the odd little chat, I have no idea.

We decided to take this opportunity to visit an art collection that has been calling to us for a while. So we gaily booked inexpensive train tickets to London and decided to do this trip on the cheap, meaning no expensive restaurants for us, just cheese butties, bottled water and a few biscuits. With our passes for the underground in hand, we set forth.

We arrived in Euston and quickly made it to Bond Street via the Northern and Central lines. Where we found we were much too early, so had a quick wander around Selfridges which was quite enjoyable. The meat counter was interesting with some nicely aged beef that made us hungry just looking at it and a full array of game, both feather and fur with which to tickle the taste buds. After half an hour or so of amusing ourselves as we drifted around the store it was time to head off to our intended destination.

Although on the way we saw this wonderful window display from Selfridges made entirely from pans and lids.

Within just a few short minutes we had arrived at

The Wallace Collection, It is currently in an extensive programme of refurbishment so I am unable to bring you the frontage of the building in all its glory. As we entered the building we both gasped and realised we were in for a real treat. I won't bore you to tears, the website is extensive, but I will leave you with just a few highlights, tiny details on which to ponder.

with five generations of collectors there were treats to the eye at every turn,

and even what would normally be simple details in a room have become highly embellished

with the most exquisite detailing

The Wallace Collection's stunning courtyard is the glamorous location for Oliver Peyton's cafe and brasserie de luxe. I have to say the service is impeccable although we only stopped for a quick coffee the speed and attention to detail was noticeable. The menu looks very attractive, to be considered, perhaps, on one of our future jaunts.

This painting was one of my favourites, although there were so many I really don't think I could have a favourite. The laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals painted in 1624. The amusement in the mans face is quite captivating and it took quite some time before I was able to walk away.

We took five hours of intense viewing before being able to leave, we loved this collection and will be back for more. As we say if its good enough for Michael Winner (he had his evening reception for his wedding here!) its good enough for us.

We had a quick pit stop and ate our cheese butties and then resumed the plan which was a quick trip to the National Portrait Gallery We walked back to Bond Street station and caught the Central and then Northern lines to get to Leicester Square, a few short steps and we were there. We nipped up to the second floor to view the Tudor and Jacobean portraits and then realised it was time for more coffee so stopped for a little rest and I knit a few rows of the sock I was carrying before setting off for the rest of the pre planned jaunt.

So back to Leicester Square and caught the Northern and then Central line to Oxford Circus. Now the cleverer ones amongst you will have noticed that we have just gone back on ourselves, which seems a bit daft, but not once you realise that now

it is dark. Regent street was looking very pretty and was

full of people enjoying the January sales. The atmosphere was wonderful and we gained a second wind. (thank goodness)

Which was just as well, as we were aiming for Liberty. Liberty was enchanting, all lit up like a Christmas tree, it was lovely to see her again, especially in this setting as I have never seen her during the dark or at this time of the year. We quickly entered and I found a comfy seat on which to deposit an exhausted husband whilst I entered the fray of the January sales with renewed vigour. Liberty has so many pretty things that I must come back when I don't feel quite as tired.

Next we hastened over to

Carnaby Street, viewed as one of the best displays of Christmas lights by Time Out, London. Oversized mistletoe chandeliers with berries that change colour in time with the music. They were fun.

Feeling we could do no more, we headed back to Oxford Circus and took the Victoria Line to Euston.

Our train was waiting for us, so we boarded, and settled happily into our seats.

Later at home, hubby worked out our costs for the day and found that our underground travel, seven trains, four journeys had cost us the princely sum of £7.00 each. I still find the tube incredible, how quickly and easily it is to move around London. Especially with trains coming every couple of minutes and then the price, it is ridiculously cheap.

There may have been a little something, something for me to admire on the train on the way home, after all I am female, I am never too tired to shop. The lovely assistant at Liberty was just marking the Rowan down to half price, there was a cardigans worth of aran felted tweed in a mandycharlie colour, what was a girl to do.

(I am off to scratch one of my new year resolutions off the list, its only day two!, still I did get the exercise in!)

And so the end is nigh.

2011-12-30T18:42:00.002Z

We will certainly be glad when this year is over.

Although I always think it is a little sad to think like this, it is like rushing your life away. And I try not to do that.

We have been blessed with our family still intact, I am sure you all know how much that means to us. And I now know much more about the pancreas than I ever thought I would. There have been new and stronger bonds formed with all members of our family but especially our sons because of son no.2's trials and tribulations. It is not over yet, his liver is playing up, a fatty liver they call it, we all have fingers crossed that in the normal way of things he will slowly get better and not become the great performer that his mother is (me) on autoimmune diseases I have known and loved. Only time will tell.

Hubby and I have been having fun exploring London again this year with a lively programme already in place for the start of next year. There are three trips planned already with one culminating in a workshop at Loop which I am very much looking forward to.

My knitting is progressing well, I have knitted 2 cardigans and a waistcoat for myself, along with being in striking distance of finishing the cloak that kept me company whilst we were in hospital(s) with the boy. There have also been hats and scarfs and socks, lots of socks. I make the mistake of knitting a pair with love in my heart and then being badgered to knit more for the very lucky recipient. You would think I would learn wouldn't you. I also need to photograph lots of projects to show you what I have been knitting, the photography part of the equation of the blog has fallen by the way side.

I must get to grips with my City and Guilds on hand knitting as this was pushed to one side what with everything that went on. So I am going to have to organise myself a weekly/monthly calendar as to what I am doing.

The hand sewing group and patchwork was also pushed to one side, so I am looking forward to picking that up again.

What are my new year resolutions?

Firstly, I am going to start with a classic resolution - lose weight, exercise more. I have just had a pep talk from son no.2 as to why this usually fails and I realise I will have to put in quite a lot of effort to organise myself to make it a concrete part of my routine. I shall work on it.

Secondly, I am going to stash bust this year by finishing all projects that have been started or bought for (especially in the way of quilts). Within this I am not to purchase yarn/fabric unless in very small amounts as a memory aid to a wonderful day out, much in the way you might purchase a tea towel embossed with the subject you visited on a day trip. It is wonderful whilst rummaging through my stash to come across a pretty skein of sock yarn only to be reminded of a wonderful day out or holiday, often accompanied by hubby, the whole day comes flooding back. Or a purchase may be made if I need some extra fabric/yarn to finish a project.

There are two proviso's,

Firstly, babies wait for no one, so baby knitting is allowed and applauded. There can be nothing more delightful than knitting for a baby, it really is one of life's great joys, and certainly one to treasure.

And the other is that I should always be able to knit vanilla socks. Often the projects this year will be too large or complicated to take out and about with me. I find a sock is the perfect companion whilst chatting at knitting or waiting for appointments.

And another wish more than a resolution is to spend some quality time with our boys this year. It is so very easy for days to become weeks and then months with no real commitment to do this. Even if it is only to spend a Sunday having lunch once a month followed by a game of Monopoly. One can dream.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I wish you all a Happy New Year, and most of all to have fun with whatever you are doing.

love Mandy

Tatty Bye Fred.

2011-12-26T23:11:00.004Z

Action shot of Fred our Piñata being decimated. I particularly like the lollypop frozen in mid air.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-24T13:34:00.004Z

May I introduce,

'Fred' our snowman Piñata. You will have to excuse that fact that Fred doesn't have a pointy orange carrot for a nose, he has had to make do with half a tomato and a runner bean for his mouth, what with the price of coal these days.

He is packed full of goodies and is now ready for the day itself. Me - I am still in my jim jams... hubby has been doing battle this year with the marauding crowds, he has arrived home safely with turkey and all manner of goodies and has already opened the box of chocolate biscuits!

We are having a quiet Christmas, mainly because everybody received their Christmas presents ridiculously early this year, - the boys wanted theirs early and I couldn't say no and then I had the sewing machine, still we have a few small items to unwrap. We have games galore, the Monopoly and Trivial Pursuits has been dusted off. A new game of Connect Four has been purchased. I am the Queen of Connect Four so it will be fun to find out if those boys can beat me yet. The boys are arming the Wii with new games and if all else fails we have Happy Families and Poker to play.

After everything that we have been through this year I am just very grateful to be spending time with my family, we all realise just how lucky we are to have each other.

So, Happy Christmas to you all, I hope everyone has a wonderful day and finds time to relax and enjoy themselves doing what ever you love to do.

Lemon Curd

2011-12-20T09:43:00.007Z

Two of the three White Star hens are still laying every day. We knew that this hybrid was a very good layer, with promises of 350 eggs per year per hen, but those examples are when there are ideal conditions, i.e. an extra source of light when the dark days come. Just to explain, it is said that a hen needs eight hours of good daylight to produce an egg and will simply go off lay when she isn't getting that, after all mother nature wouldn't want to produce baby chickens in the middle of winter. We are two days off the winter solstice and according to this web site The Weather Channel are receiving 7 hours and 42 minutes of daylight. This is the maximum which doesn't account for those very dark dreary days we so often see in the winter.

Anyway, my point is, normally we have been without eggs for quite a few weeks, you normally see the last of the eggs in November and they are definitely not producing come December. But we have two that are still laying every day, it is a real treat, but one I am not prepared for. Son no.2 doesn't appear to be eating eggs like he used to, which was 5 at a time! You never know we might have freshly laid eggs on our Christmas breakfast table, that would be wonderful.

But until that time, I needed to come up with a plan to use a few of the surplus bounty up and after buying a high end jar of lemon curd at Shugborough's Christmas Candlelight Evening. I was unable to save this jar of curd until Christmas and surreptitiously hid it at the back of the fridge, behind the mayonnaise and big jar of pickle and ate it mouthful by mouthful over a couple of weeks until there was non left! Even though the boys knew and would tease me that they were going to eat some, they left me to my little game.

Well I did feel a bit guilty about that and starting researching how to make lemon curd. I'd made a banana curd when I found a glut of banana's on a shelf in our local supermarket for 5p a pound and that was delicious, but had not attempted lemon curd. I have memories of a few of my home economic class mates making lemon curd one week and there seemed to be a very panicky feeling even with the use of double pans (bain maries) to prevent curdling that it had put me off trying to make it.

Well things must have moved on a little bit, because it seems that with the addition of a little cornflour in your recipe, it stabilises the eggs and it becomes simplicity to make.

One can see with the ingredients that you could never call lemon curd a health food! Seriously it only took twenty minutes to make this, even though we doubled the quantities. Hubby gave the jars a quick wash and sterilised them in the oven whilst I found new sealing rings and sterilised them. I grated the rind, cracked the eggs, beat the eggs, diced the unsalted butter, measured the cornflour, weighed the sugar, hubby squeezed the lemon's and then we added the lemon juice. Mixed it all together and put it on a medium heat, stirring all the time until it bubbled and let it simmer for a minute or two whilst we still continued to stir and that was it.

Potted it up into hot sterilised pots.

and it made 3 x 1.5 lb jars and a little extra.

This was a zesty lemon curd, next time I am going to try one without the zest to see what the difference is like. It is is very lemony and just a little bit sharp before the sweetness of the sugar and richness of the butter overtakes your mouth, make some yourself, it is so much better than the shops.

Degas

2011-12-18T16:13:00.015Z

Last Saturday we headed into London again, this time to see Degas and the Ballet at The Royal Academy of Arts. I first came across Degas whilst looking around The Burrell Collection in Glasgow at the tender age of 22, he never left me. So when I realised that this exhibition was on and it was very near to ending I had to come and see some more of Degas works.

Seeing La Repetition again was like walking into a familiar home that has the warm smell of scones baking. This was the very work that grabbed my soul and kept it prisoner all those years ago, I have never escaped from the beauty of it. I am no great art critic, I am simply glad that art is in my life, if only in a very small way.

If you would like to have a peek at this exhibition and have iPhone, iPad or iPod touch there is an iTunes app which is very good, Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement Royal Academy of Arts, London. Cost £1.99

We stumbled out of here at about 12.30, we had taken three hours to view the exhibition and then ate our sandwiches and fed the pigeons our crumbs on these benches in the square. And then were ready for the fray!

I'd taken a couple of photo's of Fortnum and Mason just as we had arrived earlier,

as can be seen buy the hour on this timepiece.

Fortnum and Mason is so pretty at this time of year,

it sparkles,

and shimmers,

and glows.

After a little light shopping, (to be revealed later in this post) we headed out to Sloane Square, to see VV Rouleaux and there wonderful ribbons. I'd seen an idea for a velvet cushion made of ribbons which I had wanted to try out, but because of the festive time of the year some of the colours were not available to me, maybe next time. We then popped into Peter Jones and I bought a couple of balls of Lima by Rowan which is 84% baby alpaca, dreamily soft and very warm yet light, waiting to be knit into a new winter hat.

Next, Hubby negotiated the underground, I just make sure I don't lose sight of him as he zips along, fully confident on where to go, he quickly got me to Islington. We found Camden Passage very quickly and were met with such a pretty sight. We were that entranced by all this loveliness we nearly walked past our goal,

and when I turned around from admiring another shop to find this, well, it took my breath away. Loop has grown and grown in just the few short years that I have known it and often is the only purveyor in the UK of exquisite yarns from all over the world. I warn you, Not to have your credit card handy whilst looking through Loop's website.

As you can imagine, there were goodies galore, and it was great fun exploring, I bought something home as you might imagine. Well it was just calling to me, in colours that I adore and all of a sudden it was too late. I'd bent down to pick it up and by that time I was lost and gone.

Wollmeise Lacegarn in Gazpacho. It was Christmas and my colours all rolled into one. What was a girl to do.

And by that time we were hungry so we headed out to the Chinese Quarter. The previous week we had been unable to find our favourite restaurant so we did a little research on the net and found that they had closed down but that their Chefs had gone to, Feng Shui Inn so we headed straight there. On the way we saw quite a few Santa's who had had been enjoying their Flashmob in Trafalger square earlier, we had hoped to get their but spent too long enjoying the works of art.

We know these guys are great at sea food, so started with the seafood dim sums and a scallop apiece.

and then I settled into enjoying the best lobster I have ever eaten. I don't normally give accolades like this, you know I have had lobster straight off the boat and cooked it myself, I've had lobster in some very lovely restaurants, maybe it was the wine and the atmosphere, but this was gorgeous, lobster in a sweet and sticky chilli sauce. Hubby enjoyed his eel in black bean sauce before picking at my lobster. This restaurant was extremely busy, but they still did a good job on service, it has reviews that are up and down on the net, although some of the reviews are rather old. For us it is going to be our turn to restaurant until we deem otherwise, it was very, very, good. (and considering it was lobster in the centre of London, not that expensive)

All gone.

And we safely brought home our own little jewel. A beautiful hand blown cut crystal, decorated with gold, Christmas tree decoration from the hallowed halls of Fortnum and Mason. We shall treasure it always.

A completed Advent Calendar.

2011-12-14T14:38:00.004Z

I finished the advent calendar that I was making, not without a major hiccup with my sewing machine which had to go in for a service mid sew. Which as it transpired was no bad thing because it gave me the opportunity to have a look at my dream sewing machine again, only to find that it was reduced by £500.00 for a very short period. Now I have been saving slowly for this machine because ever since I had a days free tuition on it, I have wanted it and the only way I could get around that was to start saving. With the discount I had saved nearly half, so after a little family conflab it was decided that all Christmas presents would be money from my boys and my parents and hubby and I could have my dream machine. How wonderful is that! So I am now the very, very proud owner of the Janome Horizon 7700QCP I never dreamed it would become a reality. Don't get me wrong I still love my 4900QC, she is a lovely machine, and will be great to take to workshops etc, but once you have played on a machine like the 7700QCP there is no going back, you can feel the quality at your fingertips. And I need to name her, so in the best family tradition I shall name her Betsy, which is a name my Father has used on all of his cars, most of which were old bangers. They have never let him down, (well apart from that one time where we were stranded on a motorway on the way to our seaside holiday, all seven of us!, 2 parents, 5 kids - thankfully I can barely remember it) And hopefully my Betsy will never let me down, although I suspect there will be tear inducing moments along the way and I will be able to call out "Come on Betsy, you can do it" in time honoured family tradition.

Although I have seen many photographs and pictures of stockings being hung from the mantel above the fire, to me, it gives me the willies, so I have hung mine well away over an antique mirror.

All this decorative stitching has given me plenty of scope to play with Betsy and what she is able to do. This stitch is meant to be a sitting pussy cat, I will still need to play with the stitch, but you get the idea.

and I think I have succeeded in making all the stockings different.

Of course I like this one the best.

I will leave you with the boy and his first glimpse of the stockings.

Mending socks the felting way.

2011-12-09T12:09:00.012Z

I have been knitting socks out of hand dyed fairy yarn for just long enough to see the odd hole appear. These lovely yarns often don't have that little bit of nylon in to strengthen them so they tend to wear out if made into hard working socks, this is to be compensated by the lovely colours and yarns they come in and are a joy to work with. But you know that one day the sock hole death knell will ring and its time to make a decision as to what happens next.

I once tried to darn a pair of socks the old fashioned way - that post did not get onto the blog! I was a disaster, old fashioned darning is not for me.

I have tried re knitting it the clever way Carie does it, she has a wonderful tutorial on her blog Knitted Bear I was reasonably okay with it, but it was a fiddle (only because I am not as adept with the needles as she is) and I really think I could do with a master class from her just to go over the finer points.

When I came across a murmuring on Ravelry, just a few lines about felting holes in socks, that was all I needed to start thinking about the felted slippers that I made four years ago which are still going strong. "There might be something in this," I thought.

So I mooched around the Internet and finally after much thought and consideration ordered merino's 64s top 150g shade pack Autumn from Sara's Texture Crafts along with Felting Needles Gauge 38, a Felt Needle handle for 4 needles and 3" wide foam pad. When my package arrived I put it away waiting for the right time to be able to concentrate without the interruption of being asked what I was doing, its very distracting to be asked and I find it seems to worry them when I reply with "I have no idea!"

The time came this week when the boys and hubby toddled off to a local university to listen to an IET lecture. Yippee, I thought and set myself up for an adventurous half hour of felting.

Tools at the ready, I had cut an appropriate sock sized chunk of the large sponge that was sent. You can see how the Autumn colour way pack suits me and most of my choices with sock yarn.

Exhibit A, two holes in a sock made from Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in Fall Foliage in March 2009, as part of my hysterectomy recovery programme. So, it has had two winters behind it, one of which was especially long and harsh. The other sock of the pair is fine and I remember coming across this hole after wearing them for a long day in walking boots. I realised then that hand dyed fairy yarn does not like hard wearing walking boots and are meant to be kept for more delicate occasions.

Stuff your foam into your sock to give you something to work against. You really need to give yourself as much as possible as the barbed ends of the needles are very sharp and will hurt you if your not careful.

Fortunately I had just been to a felting workshop and remembered that you are meant to layer up the felting with the fibres criss crossing each other. So if you were doing three layers you would lay them, ---, then III, then ---.

Just a few punches in with the felt needles, it is amazing just how quickly it changes.

The felt is starting to take shape, it really doesn't take very long, but you do need to spend a few minutes on it to get a dense and matted fabric.

I am pretty sure it has felted at this stage. I paid particular attention to the edges at the end of the process. If you continue to felt it will become denser and smaller, so it is a balance to felt enough to become a patch without it becoming a hard mass that may feel uncomfortable under your feet.

You then have to pull it off your sponge, it will come. I then used the felting needles on the inside to tidy it up a little. You can play around with it however you like really, its your felting after all.

Pictures in daylight, on the outside,

then on the inside,

and then on the outside again.

On the foot you can barely see it.

And you can see how smooth it is there, and it feels comfy too.

I'll let you know how it wears.

A busy weekend in December. (picture heavy)

2011-12-06T10:00:00.010Z

About four weeks ago I happened across a documentary talking about Leonardo Da Vinci and his forthcoming exhibition at The National Gallery, London, I was mesmerised and called to hubby to ask him if he wanted to go, which he did. Just at that moment Son no.2 mooched into the living room so I asked him and was met with a very positive response, next I rang Son no.1 who was enjoying the high life in Sheffield with his friends who are at Uni there and could not get through on his phone. I quickly ordered three tickets, noting that Friday's were going very quickly, and Saturdays and Sundays were almost sold out! Son no.1 rang me back less than thirty minutes later and said he would like to go, I went back onto the net to book his ticket only to find that the slot we had booked had completely sold out the 38 spaces that were left so I managed to secure him a spot half an hour later. (fortunately they let us go in together)

A few weeks later hubby was very excited to find very cheap train tickets so we were all ready to go.

Settled on the train,

with boys giddy with excitement!

Soon we were in London and hubby negotiated the underground with his usual style, being born in Watford it holds no fears for him and he seems to automatically know which way to go. Very quickly we arrived at the National Gallery, ready for coffee and cakes.

Oh the choice.,

First this side of the buffet,

and then this side. And the savouries of fish pies and steak and stilton pies looked like they would keep you hale and hearty on a day out in London. I had heard that the National Gallery does good grub, I can confirm that it does. We ate our cakes in silence they were so good and then after an infusion of rocket fuel caffeine for the boys and a delicate infusion of caffeine laced breakfast tea for me, we were ready for the off.

The boys whizzed around the exhibition in just over an hour and then went to play in Trafalgar Square, we spent three hours on it. I think you grow into the arts, the boys may be a little young to really appreciate what they were seeing, although I think they enjoyed it. I loved it. To be able to see Leonardo Da Vinci's work up close and personal was wonderful, many of the paintings were without glass or being roped off. You could see every single mark of the brush, although you get an idea as to just how good his work is from the prints in books and on posters, to see the detail of the ear of the ermine for instance or the way the blush rises in the face of the young women and the clarity of the lens of the eyes, it is just spell binding. I had quite an emotional moment when I saw and studied at great length Christ as Salvator Mundi, Leonardo's newly discovered lost painting. It rocked me to the core and tears were flowing from my eyes, I was completely choked up. It gripped me with emotion, I'll never forget it. The drawings, of which there were many, held my gaze, it was most amusing to find Leonardo's humour mixed in with serious sketches of works in the making. Thankfully the audio guide does a wonderful job of enlightenment where we can all become experts of Leonardo's work with just a few clicks of a button - isn't technology wonderful.

Just as an aside, although the tickets for this exhibition were sold out weeks ago, they are releasing 500 tickets per day. It looks like they are doing this in stages during the day as the queue for these tickets seems to be permanent, but if you got there very early, it would be doable. Might be worth ringing to see exactly what they are doing.

The boys in Trafalgar Square,

and us.

We then decided to go to Hyde Park and see Winter Wonderland.

This event is huge and I am sure we would have been better placed to enjoy it if I wasn't dead on my feet, what with my left hip telling me in no uncertain terms that it wanted a rest.

I loved watching the ice skating

and this ghost train looked very scary to me. But as we were starving and tired it was time to head to Soho to the Chinese Quarter for supper.

One whole Crispy Peking Duck later and we are feeling more like our usual selves.

and then a very enjoyable main course to follow.

And then we were done, it was time to go home,

So we caught the tube to Euston and home we came.

I had plans for Saturday which had to be cancelled due to the hip but struggled forth on Sunday as I simply didn't want to miss Shugborough Christmas Candlelit Evening.

We arrived early and after a quick jaunt around the gifts and crafts marquee, we stood in line to enter the house. As we slowly trudged along I noticed the ground lights gave a magnificent silhouette puppet show against the house

with us as the main characters!

We had a fire eater for our entertainment whilst at the same time being able to hear carol singers and brass bands whilst we waited in line.

The dining room, looking very pretty in candlelight.

And the chandelier looked magnificent.

The laundry room looked very well kept,

and the washer woman was doing a wonderful job with her whites! Those bloomers would keep the breeze out.

When hubby saw the stove with irons he reminisced about a company he designed industrial laundry machines for having one of these in their lobby.

The Butlers pantry, having been called away whilst drinking the sherry!

Food being prepared in the kitchen,

Shugborough has a wonderful coach house with many coaches, this one is their State Coach which would be brought out on only the best of occasions.

We had a wonderful evening, but soon it was time to go.

Hopefully my hip will recover enough for next weekends adventures - stay tuned!

Whats the worst that could happen!

2011-11-27T14:46:00.003Z

I could be left with a lot of sock yarn, and that would be terrible! (said tongue in cheek)

For some time I have been aware of a few of our members of the knitting group not being able to come by good quality sock yarn. Whether it was from not being on the internet or not being able to go easily to other yarn shops or just lack of time. And I'd been mulling over an idea for a while, which was to provide sock yarn and double pointed needles so that they could enjoy the wonders of sock knitting and glove making. I decided to start small, very small, although the idea is to make a profit from this venture, rather than a loss, it will never give me an income on which to live, but will, hopefully, provide a small income and a service to my knitting group and others that may become interested along the way. From small acorns and all that.

I decided to start with Opal sock yarn, I love Opal, it wears like iron, I still have all of my pairs of Opal in very good condition that I knit when I first started knitting socks approximately five years ago. I think its soft and becomes softer in the wash and the colours are lovely.

My box of sock yarn arrived, "Crikey!", I thought, "thats a big box".

But it was okay as it was mostly packaging.

See not much at all. The other advantage of staying small is that the sock yarn will always be fresh and not mangled as can sometimes be seen in local yarn shops, along with I can stay current and buy the latest colours and designs so no one becomes bored.

It was quite appropriate that Janice who was my first member of the knitting group over two years ago purchased the first ball of wool. I thought there was something very nice about that.

Of course Kitty wasn't going to be left out of the action and when asked which colourway she preferred out of these two skeins it became extremely obvious that she liked them both. Which left Carie in the awful predicament of having to choose, which like Kitty she couldn't - like mother like daughter! - so she had them both. There were smiles all around.

Last night I was invited to a local creative event involving fibres at which I was able to promote my sock yarn and the knitting group. I had a lovely time and was able to talk about all things woolly for hours on end.

Well fingers crossed that my little venture is met with positivity, I do hope so.

A sense of Christmas.

2011-11-22T23:49:00.008Z

I seem to have been surrounded myself with all things Christmassy this weekend. Last weekend I wandered over to Decorative Cloth and found to my delight that they had some boiled woolen cloth in. I quickly came up with an idea and bought enough fabric to delight son no.2 with a home made stocking advent calendar. I was designing whilst I was choosing, it was really good fun.

So this Saturday was my first opportunity to sit and get down to business.

I was quite surprised at just how long it took to draw around the template that I made and cut the stockings out, even though I had cleverly decided to cut two out at a time, which then matches the pair perfectly.

I then chose which order they had to come in, which was critical because,

I was choosing which colour fabric square would work best before

machine embroidering the numbers on before attaching to the stockings. They are starting to look so much fun.

Unfortunately my sewing machine has stopped play. Its thrown a wobbly and the tension discs have stopped working correctly, I have tried everything and spent two full days on it and have had to admit defeat, its going in for a service, its still under guarantee so its not a problem. The spare ancient sewing machine was moved around during the window fitting, by hubby, I eventually found the 'ingenious spot' in which he placed it, he however, did not remember to place the 'very important' plastic briefcase that I 'always' keep with it, so I can't use my machine in reserve as I don't have its oh so very important electric leads, spare feet, bobbins etc. Bitter, I'm not bitter, frustrated may be a better choice of word, I was hoping to get this finished for the 1st of December, for obvious reasons. On the plus side, whilst taking my machine in for repair, it does give me another chance to ooh and aaah over the machine of my dreams in front of him, I'm not getting my hopes up, but a girl can dream.

So on Sunday afternoon I was kicking my heels and we decided to take advantage of the warm dry day to have a little wander around Birmingham to look at the German Christmas Market which had just come to town. I love it, its all so very festive, it gives me goose bumps and shivers down my spine all at the same time.

It was very busy,

and very pretty

and we all had a lovely time. If you do go, make sure to have a look at the Himalayan singing bowls, the chap on the stall had us all entranced and when he played with the largest bowl, the sound was so deep and low, almost out of ear shot, it was like an ancient god calling to you. Amazing, I loved it, - I didn't love the price tag though!

From the ashes rises the Pheonix

2011-11-14T14:02:00.004Z

When I knitted the first hat from this pattern for son no.1 he was tickled pink not least because the snow on the ground was at least two inches thick and he needed something warm whilst he was tinkering with cars. He proudly wore it to work and his boss exclaimed that it was indeed a very fine hat and was very impressed that his mum had knit a hat like that. I felt quite warm and perhaps just a little smug.

Fast forward four months, just breaking into spring and the 'boys' at work played a little game of hiding the hat, which culminated in the new boy (new that day!) putting the hat in the microwave and turning it on. The hat burst into flames in two area's but being wool self extinguished once the microwave was turned off. We were left with a very burned hat and were very annoyed - I am being polite here!

I was asked to knit another hat that the boys at work would pay for. So I quoted the full price for yarn, minimum wage and approximate hours it would take, all that cabling does take time. The message came back via my son that they wouldn't pay that, I think they were a little shocked at the price, and by this time we had calmed down somewhat, knowing that it was just boys being boys, so I said okay a bouquet of flowers and the cost and postage of the yarn. This was deemed fair by the boys at work and I left the knitting of it until the weather turned colder.

Son no.1 only had one request, that it must be identical, absolutely identical in every way.

Thank goodness for Ravelry as I had recorded everything I needed to be able to achieve that. Although if I am honest, I think the tension is just a gnats whisker tighter than the previous hat, although I think this may be because of the reasons above of why I was reknitting it.

Son no.1 proudly wore it into work, only to be told that only black hats were allowed these days, - back to the drawing board!

This was knit in Rowan Pure Wool Aran in Grey from a pattern called Knotty but Nice by Natalie Larson.

Simple Pleasures

2011-11-13T17:04:00.004Z

Two Sundays ago we were racing into Birmingham to see the Lost in Lace exhibition that I spoke about in my last post. Unfortunately we didn't make it in time and had to see that the following weekend because we realised it had been far too long since breakfast and we needed somewhere to eat. Out came the iphones and we thought we would give Yo Sushi (we are addicted at the moment!) a go in Brindley Place as we had never been there before.

Wow, what a space! Its wonderful. So much of interest, we got their late in the day so didn't have the time to appreciate all of what it has to offer, we are going back sometime soon. There were many restaurants, art galleries,

canals,

fountains

and small boys paddling at the end of October.

Interesting architecture,

in the shape of a very interesting cable pattern.

A happy hubby full of sushi,

and a contented Mandycharlie debuting her latest hand knitted hat,

made from a pattern called Simple Pleasures Hat written by Purl Soho in Berroco Ultra Alpaca in purple. Its very cosy, yet soft and light, perfect for the autumn.

Brindley Place has such a great vibe, it was the tiniest of city breaks but we came back home completely refreshed and eagerly planning more adventures to come in this wonderful space.

Lost in Lace in Birmingham.

2011-11-11T15:24:00.007Z

Last Friday we trotted over to Birmingham to see the Lost in Lace Exhibition at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. For the first half an hour we stayed firmly entrenched in hubby's car as the rain drops were so heavy they were bouncing up six inches after they had hit the pavement. Eventually we got into the museum, the boys went off for another look at The Staffordshire Hoard whilst I had a look at the lace. This gave me the time that I find is necessary to slow down to a pace which engages the arty side of my brain. I rather like it when I can just, if I listen very carefully, hear my own breathing, rather than the clod hopping sound of a boisterous teenager bouncing around a wooden floor whilst making audible sighs as to just how long his mother is going to be. It gave me time to appreciate the art of lace on a completely different scale.

I will show you just a couple of exhibits as it is a small show and I can't give everything away. I thought this was rather spectacular, and immediately saw the use of it on a commercial scale where it could be used for partitioning of open plan buildings.

And I loved this, envisioning the garden on this side, the allotment end of the garden on the other.

And then the boys came back, there was this one exhibition where you entered a very small room which then went black as ink and waited for the lights to shine upon the lace with different colours and angles. I thought son no.2 might like this and he did, but only because I was trying to take a photograph of him in the pitch black and he kept moving. So the game at which he giggled was to catch him in camera shot whilst he moved as silently as a ninja. It was great fun, I did get this photograph of him.

Which is quite arty in its own way.

The best part was because he had giggled and enjoyed himself, he then went around the exhibition with renewed interest. Perhaps that is the secret to bringing younger people into the arts, sneak a few unexpected twists in and they won't even realise how they have been drawn in.

Fish and Chips.

2011-11-03T22:22:00.005Z

Thursdays is market day. In the summer I wander around the market purchasing the odd seasonal beauty, although to be honest our allotment more than keeps us supplied. Unbeknown to you all what I am really doing is waiting. I wait patiently during the summer, dreaming of long almost forgotten days that were in the middle of last winter and silently I wait. I say nothing to nobody, it would simply make my agitation worse. Slowly the seasons change, the colours of autumn appear, grow vibrant and then start to fade, the days become colder, I drag woollies out of my wardrobe to pull ever closer around me to keep warm. And still I wait. The days become shorter, making it more likely to be returning from late afternoon shopping trips in the dark, and it is at this point that I can wait no longer, the time is ripe.

I casually wander up to the fish mongers in the market, inspect his wares and then jump into the fray of men and women bustling around his stall. It looks busy but we all know where our place is in the queue.

It was worth the wait.

For the first bountiful feast of these dark blue beauties.

They were clean, tasty and very plump, and came all the way from Cornwall. They say mussels should only be eaten with an R in the month, but modern methods mean you can have them all year around, my self, I think they need the cold to plump them out and recover from breeding. From November to late February or March if the weather was like last years is the perfect time for mussels. And what could be better in the dark and dismal days of winter in landlocked Warwickshire than the smell of the ocean tantalising your taste buds as well as your memory. And then just for good measure adding the tang of a splash of malt vinegar and a little sea salt on your hot crispy chips, making it tricky to decide which mouthful to have next, the crispy, hot, salty with a whiff of vinegar chip or a plump, fat, mussel dripping with a buttery, winey, slightly garlicky liquor accompanied by the clean fresh ozone smell of a winters day walking on the beach.

P.S.

2011-10-27T22:52:00.003+01:00

I just want to say thank you to everyone that sent all good wishes and those that prayed for our son. All I can say is, it worked. I thank you from the deepest recesses of my heart. I also thank the good woman that sent cake and preserves. We were absolutely shattered had very little in the way of ready food and were just about to head out the door again. That sugar boost was most welcome.

The boy does well. He came to knitting today, no amount of persuasion will convince him that knitting is indeed a fine hobby and one he should take up immediately if not sooner. Shame really because he has such a good eye, that if he were to take it up I am sure he would be brilliant at it and probably become one of those famous designers we would all like carefully tucked away, just there to answer questions or give us inspiration.

Then we hopped onto a bus which took us the few miles to our nearest City and had lunch at the Noodle Bar, huge portions, he managed his better than I managed mine! Bought books at Waterstones, and hopped back on a bus which brings us straight back to our very own door. It was peeing with rain for most of our trip and I swung from being absolutely giddy with delight to having the odd break down and sobbing in the street. The flashbacks from everything that has gone on are vivid, the what if's and images of nursing and letting go of a dying boy are particularly vibrant in colour in my imagination. When I sleep my dreams are full of hospitals, operations and images of the pain the boy was in. Its awful, not as awful as it could have been, but pretty bad, I am hoping it will get better. Maybe more trips out with the boy are what is needed.

Thank you all again,

love Mandy.

Mixed Blessings.

2011-10-21T20:11:00.001+01:00

Son no.2, hubby and I have been to see the specialists today and it has been confirmed that it is not cancer, turns out it was auto-immune pancreatitis. Even though they tested for auto-immune pancreatitis, the decision came back it was cancer, it was not. We have been reeling and have been reeling for a couple of weeks but didn't dare say anything until we had it confirmed today. We are Very happy that he doesn't have a cancer with such a low survival rate, but are still stunned and wake up because of nightmares of just what he and we have been through, watching your youngest child go through such major surgery is deeply shocking to your very soul.

We get to have our boy back, for that we are grateful.

National Baking Week - 1st Try.

2011-10-18T22:48:00.004+01:00

I was dreaming of fruit cake and wondering why we had to wait until Christmas to enjoy a nice fruity slice long before I spotted Carie tweeting that it was National Baking Week. It was all the excuse I needed and decided to try a new recipe for fruit cake.

Son no.2 and I weighed and measured and beat and mixed and sieved and grated and greased and lined in happy companionship and then gaily put the almonds on the top together before popping the cake in the oven for the required time.

And I tested it and then I gave it another half an hour, and then thought it was done.

And took a photograph whilst the cake was cooling down.

And then as I was trying to get the cake out, it all fell apart. And at that point it became evident that there was a half an inch base that wasn't cooked but which hadn't revealed itself to my skewer. I saved the cake part of the mixture, the boys picked whilst dinner was being cooked and

hubby dashed to shop for custard, (it is one of our sins, we do love Waitrose's custard) and all was well in our world again. The cake is extremely rich, this small portion defeated me and hubby had to help me out.

I shall try again soon.

Making meals week 2 - Sushi.

2011-10-16T11:33:00.005+01:00

I have been waiting for inspiration on what to teach the boy this week, first there was the idea of muffins, then the idea of a steak and kidney pudding as the boy insisted that nothing savoury could be called a pudding, and then there came the attack of the munchies in sushi form, which the boy was wolfing down. I thought Sushi would be a good thing to teach the boy, not least to save himself and I from bankruptcy because of the price of it ready made.

The boy especially likes Maki, and the last time I made those I couldn't get the rolls to stick together, since then I have been watching the masters at Yo Sushi and realise just how much they press the rice firmly onto the seaweed, it seems that was the magic trick I was missing.

We have also bought a rice steamer, which makes the rice soft but not soggy and we use the correct Japanese sushi rice, which is sticky and sweet. You must make sure you season the rice with Sushi vinegar after cooking, either home made or already mixed in a bottle.

There are no vegetables in the making of this Maki, the boys just wanted fish and rice, I think a little grated mouli on the side just to lift the palate makes a lovely addition, we served the Maki with pickled ginger and wasabi.

Ingredients at the ready,

and I am off to a good start.

Rolling complete and

now sliced. Over to the boy,

Doing an excellent job of placing the rice on the seaweed,

He has a very nice knife action. You need a knife with a good sharp blade, these are very old knifes with a carbon steel blade, they rust like buggery but are worth it, because you can hone them to a really sharp edge, simply not achievable with stainless steel knives - which you will notice we tried in the previous pictures before settling on this knife.

Rather excellent for a first timer don't you think? One more tip, if the knife starts to stick and drag, wet it.

And then the boy experiments with how much fish can he put into one roll. (I am not sure the Japanese would have mixed their fish, but it was yummy none the less)

Ta da, two big plates full of Sushi,

enough for supper for all of us and a midnight snack for the boy. They were lovely.

I learn a new thing every day.

2011-10-15T16:57:00.004+01:00

Who knew that having a Whipples would impact upon the tastebuds of the boy. Apparently its quite common for foods to taste quite different after this procedure, who knew!

The boy is doing very well, the drain site has just about healed up now and he hasn't been sick for a while and is maintaining his weight, mostly through a never ending supply of fruit juice, milk and sushi - he simply craves it, we are making our own this evening. Because of the change in his taste buds he has gone off eggs! Which has completely foxed the chickens who had between the three of them been doing a gallant job of keeping up with our families needs all summer. Normally as the days darken chickens go through their moult and have a few weeks of haphazard egg laying and then stop, and you won't see another egg until well after the new year. But these being a hybrid called White Stars, well it looks like they are determined to keep going, at present we are still seeing three eggs a day.

So, earlier this week I was sat looking at nearly 2 dozen eggs, just over a weeks supply and started to look through ideas on the net, a few ideas appealed, such as curds or baked custards or ice creams, but they would all take more effort than I really wished to put into preserving them at that moment, when I came across the idea of freezing hens eggs. I thought that was quite a brilliant idea, and then I can use them in my Christmas cake or a Victoria sponge. So I beat them and bagged them in batches of 3 eggs, they may not be as wonderful as fresh eggs, but come mid December when the hens will undoubtedly have stopped laying, they will still be more of a treat than anything I can buy in the supermarket, and you never know the boy may start to enjoy omelets again.

And later on in the day I heard some very good news. A friend of mine is having a baby, which was wonderful news, and as a knitter it is doubly good news, as we get to dabble in baby knitwear. When I first became a knitter I came across the pattern of The Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann. It all ended in tears, I simply couldn't follow the pattern well enough, but this time there are tutorials on youtube from Lorilee Beltman at Knitting Nuggets and a Wiki Page on Ravelry which supplies you with more information than you could ever imagine possible for one little baby cardigan. And somewhere along the line in my knitting career I had already come across Dawn Adcock's notes so printed those off. So I sat and watched the video's, rummaged through my commercial sock yarn box, of which I found DK wanting, but then found a beautiful yarn from Regia and cast on yesterday morning.

I think I have cracked it!

(I would have tried this pattern for Kitty, but her Mum could teach masterclasses in this pattern, so I decided it would be best if I chose something different)

Ally Pally 2011

2011-10-09T18:02:00.004+01:00

I had a wonderful time at Alexandra Palace Knitting and Stitching show yesterday, this show just gets better and better. There was more yarn here than in any previous year, I was really spoilt for choice. I had such fun squeezing all of the different yarns and my head is simply spinning with new ideas. But I also knew I was on a budget as I was a very lucky girl to be here in the first place what with the expense of the last few months, but my husband and son no.2 (Mum, just go!, go!) decided I needed a treat, I am spoilt, what can I say. So dosed up with paracetamol and hankies at the ready, due to a pesky virus and a babysitter organised for son no.2, a quick check on him at 7.30 a.m. and he was fine and off we went. We arrived at 9.30 and bought our tickets and waited around and then all of a sudden we were in, it was amazing, as you enter the hall the number of brightly coloured stalls takes your breath away. Hubby wandered off to find coffee and cake whilst I enjoyed the quiet of those first few moments and started to shop.

I was tempted in many directions, Fyberspates had some gorgeous purple creation that was creating a serious temptation and The Crochet Chain had some very gorgeous (and cheap!) Drops Nepal that was calling to me in my acid greens. There was yarn to cover all types of yarn emergencies, in various ranges of price, colour and fibre.

Eventually I settled on a kit from Colinette,

I have been resisting their kits for three years and I firmly believe that if something has been continuously calling to me for three years, then I probably should have it and just had the problem of choosing the colour. After two attempts, once in the morning, once in the afternoon, I eventually settled on....

Rustic,

I know you are laughing, because anyone that knows me would have been able to walk up to that stall and it would have been the first one they would have picked for me. Trust me, when faced with so much beauty, it is really tricky to make sure you have picked the one you love the most.

I also spent a fair bit of time looking at Jamieson's of Shetland wool and kits. And in the end decided to settle on their

colour chart. I can imagine some lovely evenings putting together creations of mittens and hats from this.

Hubby is cooking the dinner, I have wound the yarn into cakes and as I am still pretty tired I am settling down for the evening to gently cast on a few stitches and see where the pattern takes me.

Autumn Knitting.

2011-10-05T16:30:00.004+01:00

I have been knitting a lovely cloak since the start of August called Liv by Martin Storey published in Nordic Knits: 29 stylish small project (wonderful book, I recommend it, it really is lovely) It has been very easy knitting as once the cable pattern was memorised it was ideal to knit without thinking whilst everything has been going on. I have carted it with me everywhere, it was reassuring in a world that had become and still is intense, confusing and often very crazy. It was only later that I realised I had picked a pattern called Liv, I think there was some sort of cosmic wit in that especially as I chose to knit it before our world became a series of consultations and hospitals.

I thought you might like a quick update, the back is finished and I am on the homeward jaunt on the front.

I am falling very deeply in love with it, I chose to knit it in Rowan Scottish Tweed aran in Lewis Blue.

This is the back and I am not sure where I am going to block it, its huge.

But today I shall continue with the knitting, the barometer says change, the cats are in and dozing gently on beds and I can see rust coloured leaves floating down from the trees in the wind, I must knit faster.

Jane Brocket comes to Warwick.

2011-10-04T18:06:00.006+01:00

I know, Warwick, wow. It was Carie that spied this on Jane's blog Yarn Storm and conveyed this information to us at our knitting group with much excitement. I was stunned that such an important blogger and writer to us had decided to come to our county town of Warwickshire to speak to us, and immediately said, 'ooh yes, I'd love to go' so the date and tickets were booked and only later did I realise tea and cake would be involved - this had no bearing on my decision making what so ever!

Carie gently reminded me of the date last week and at that time I wasn't really sure if I would make it, and at the weekend I began to doubt even more, but the boy had brightened up by this morning and when I left him early afternoon he was bright and active so I felt less troubled and went off to enjoy what I can only describe as a delightful afternoon.

Firstly we had lunch at Merchants which is a lovely restaurant and where Carie and I have spent many a happy lunch time enjoying one of their lunch time deals for a Fiver, whilst catching up with each others news and knitting and quilting adventures. Todays special was a generous portion of gammon, fresh pineapple which was caramelised, home made chips and a side salad, it was lovely lunch and then time being short of time we marched quickly to the Lord Leycester Hospital where this event was being put on by Warwick Words

On entering I started to pick out people in the crowd firstly Anita who is The Quilters Den, and then fellow knitters from Kenilworth Knit and Natter D and N and J and we all happily sat together on one big table.

Quite quickly afterward Jane Brocket was introduced and we quickly fell under her spell, she spoke with passion about her background, crafting and writing whilst at the same time giving us little insights into her working day. The room was silent whilst we were absorbing every word, it was a real treat to hear her speak, what with her voice only being heard before through print. There were two areas that I really identified with, the first about needing to craft in whatever form every day, I feel that and feel a little bit lost if I don't. And the other the fear of writing, and how sticking your head above the parapet can be extremely frightening, and how people will often target you for doing so. Not being a very good writer, I often feel like this. But then Jane explained how in whatever format we should just have a go.

It was wonderful to see her quilts in person, quilts that had gently glimmered in her quilting book, simply shone with their beauty in real life. Knitting that was beautiful in print really came alive once seen. It was wonderful. I shouldn't really tell you this but Carie was quite giddy at one stage, she was enjoying every moment, as I have to say, so was I. And by the conversation whilst we were enjoying our tea and cakes everyone had been inspired.

Jane allowed me to take this photograph of herself, it was under duress though, I mean how many bald women can you say no to?!! She knows its going on my blog, and I must have said something extremely funny although I can't remember what just as I clicked, I do thank her for her generosity.

And then Carie, D and I wandered to Warwick Wools to have a wander around and all too soon it was time to go home.

I have to say I had a wonderful afternoon.

And just before hubby drove me home,

I realised we had entered my very favourite time of year.

Happy Autumn everyone.

Making Mondays

2011-10-03T18:16:00.004+01:00

Whilst chatting to son no.2 when he was laid up in hospital we came to the conclusion that university was going to have to be postponed for a year so we came up with a few ideas which would we hoped allay the isolation from his uni friends and at the same time give him some new skills. One of these plans was to have a regular Monday cookery slot, hopefully to teach him some new skills, although to be honest he does okay and can provide a reasonably balanced meal for himself when he wants to put the effort in.

At the moment he's not really up to cooking proper meals, but heating and mixing ingredients into a batter he could do. So we put together a gingerbread cake, which smells lovely and is taunting us with its gingery treacly scent. I think he did a lovely job and now realises just how quickly a cake can be put together. I am not sure if this is a good or a bad thing, but as he has lost nearly four stone since the start of all this and is still losing three pounds a week, I don't think it will do him any harm.

Blue is the colour.

2011-09-30T06:28:00.002+01:00

It seems we are rather surprisingly swathed in blue at the moment. I looked up yesterday as I was sipping a nicely chilled glass of rosé with my Mother and Father and could not see even the tiniest wisps of clouds, the sky was clear blue all the way. I could feel the tips of my ears going pink and wondered aloud if I was was going to become sun burnt in September. Last week I was rummaging through my box of knitted scarfs to find one to wear with this cardigan as I was feeling as chilled as the rosé I was drinking.

This cardigan remains unblocked. I was blaming the weather and now I am blaming lethargy, its far too nice to do anything other than play. It can become blocked when it needs its first wash.

The pattern is a free pattern from Ravelry, Basic Black by Glenna C. and I chose to knit it from Sublime Yarns Organic Merino Wool DK in colourway Sailcloth 118 which I bought for £1.99 (normally retails £5.50) a ball from Get Knitted in one of their sales. I feel I got a bargain and have safely tucked away in my stash another colourway for future knitting. The knitted fabric feels lush and very cosy and I feel this will be my turn to cardi this winter.

I am still not sure about the buttons, they seem a bit heavy for this cardigan, I may well change them in the future, but they will do for now.

And todays job? Finding my bottle of sunscreen, my ears feel a little bit pink and there are a few bits and bobs to be pottering about with on the plot.

It is all about the food.

2011-09-26T16:10:00.002+01:00

Just to let you know that son no.2 is recovering nicely from his surgery, his tummy has settled down and is at long last working properly so he is able to eat small amounts again. His scar is healing nicely apart from the one hiccup on Saturday where it came apart in a small area but that is healed together again and the drain site is doing very nicely too.

And he is getting his appetite back, I knew we had cracked it when on Saturday I was preparing a mainly vegetable but with some chicken curry and just as the vegetables were nearly ready, he pottered into the kitchen, looked into the preserving pan (I do big batch cooking in that) and enquired (and I am sure I heard his tummy rumble) as to when it would be ready.

It was a good sign and when it was ready I put it with sticky Thai rice which I had steamed, (we are currently in love with this rice, it can only be bought at the Thai supermarket in the next town - we buy it by the sack!) and he ate the lot without any dire consequences. This curry was so sweet, it almost had the flavours of a sweet and sour, because of all of the lovely homegrown sweet vegetables that were in it. I have a nice big bag of it in the freezer marked up with the directive, 'chicken and veg curry, delicious'.

Sunday came and it was time to prepare the runner beans. I have been treating myself to a few cookery books of late, not least because both WHSmith and Waterstones have had some good offers on of late. I picked up Valentine Warner's What to Eat Now, Spring and Summer and had been flicking through it recently, admiring recipe after recipe. Val cooks roughly about the same way that I do, - although he has more finesse, (I know my place!) using simple home grown fruits and vegetables at the peak of their season. On seeing his recipe for Runner Bean Chutney I came to the conclusion that this would be the perfect time to try it. I do love a sweet piccalilli, and this recipe was a very near approximation of that but just with runner beans and onions.

As you can see it was a great success, although I did increase the amount of mustard and turmeric, I do like a bit of potency to my piccalilli and by the time it has matured, it will be lovely.

On Sunday night I had just enough energy left, I call it a second wind, does anyone have that saying?, and at some ungodly hour when one should be settled down for the evening with their knitting, I baked a cake. Well I had Carie and Kitty coming the next day and as I had missed Kitty's birthday I thought it only fair to share a cake with her.

I had been inspired by The Great British Book of Baking which accompanies the BBC series. This television series had passed me by for some reason, but from the talk on Ravelry and seeing what an absolutely fabulous book it is, I am catching up with the series. It is a long time since I've seen a baking book which has inspired me so much.

I had all the ingredients to put together a Victoria Sandwich cake whilst hubby popped to the shop for a pot of cream. I even cut out a special wedge for Kitty so that it wouldn't be overloaded with jam and sugar. My cake is thinner than the photograph of the cake, I think my tin's are slightly larger than are called for, however,

Son no.1 thought it had exactly the right ratio of cake to cream. And to be honest, and it took a second tasting this afternoon, I think I rather agree with him.

And after a lovely lunch with Carie and Kitty we all went blackberrying. It was great fun and wonderful to have such good company on what these days is most often a solitary activity for myself. (what with the boys having other activities that fill their days) I can almost smell the blackberry and apple crumble wafting over from Miss Kitty's home, I am sure she is going to have a delicious supper.

"You say tomato, I say tomahto"

2011-09-23T23:00:00.007+01:00

Last time I was up the plot seems to be a long time ago, I am hoping to remedy that this weekend if only for half an hour or so. But last time I was up I had fully intended to talk about the merits of buying tomatoes that had already been grafted onto a vigorous root stock. I am sure you have seen them in the nursery magazines or on the internet and have wondered whether it is worth it compared to growing them your selves from seed. So this year we decided to throw caution to the wind and buy a few plants in. It was the best decision we have ever made. For the last two years I have grown piccolo tomatoes (which are absolutely divine) from seed and have noticed they tend to produce quite weedy plants and have a very poor germination. They fruit well enough when they get going so I can forgive them almost anything.. But then we tried these..

I am hoping you will be able to see just how densely fruited they are. I was staggered to see how they developed and am completely bowled over by them. I don't think I will be growing tomatoes from seed again, the price for the plants is definitely worth it.

It is difficult to show you density on bigger tomatoes but I am hoping you get the idea. We have one and a half greenhouse's full of tomatoes, if you remember, I like peas, but I like tomatoes even more.

These are a few chillis that are still green

and peppers yet to ripen. This was all a month ago and since then they have transformed into beautifully glossy richly coloured fruits which are so very pretty.

This was hubbys pickings of the day. This was the first of the sweetcorn so were testing one this evening, it was the sweetest corn on the cob we have ever tasted. We will be picking some more of these tomorrow.

He also came home with these,...

beautiful piccolo's, even if they are a little overripe, son no.1 seemed to have been a bit over zealous with the watering can, which can make a tomato split, but no matter we had plenty to choose from that were completely useable.

and a variety of beefsteaks, Italian (which I have forgotten the name) and shirleys. (because they were going at an event we went to)

And this is only one day's supply, I've just about caught up with the tomatos, the runner beans are next on the list. Since we have been back from the hospital I have probably processed about fifty pounds in weight of tomatoes. And the greenhouse is still pretty full, it gives me a good feeling, from now until next summer we shall have lots of lovely tomatoey dishes to boost us up when the days are dark and the vegetables can get a little samey. And let us face it the tomatoes just aren't worth buying come December onwards, so I have little pockets of sunshine to share with my family.

So what have I been doing with them I hear you ask. Well I have been using them for cooking and we have lovely dishes of meatballs in tomato sauces with spaghetti,

some lovely aubergine parmigiana was a great success. (although that may well have been a sneaky bit of cheddar added to it, but hey, that is how I cook)

I have cooked tray after tray of oven roasted tomatoes, so many I have lost count,

some of which I have left in the fridge as tasty additions to sandwiches or salads or just to pick at whilst waiting for supper to cook.

I have finally found the answer to what gives you that zingy taste from the sun blushed tomatoes one buys from the supermarkets. And as I am a generous soul I shall share it with you, it is vinegar. If you drizzle a little white wine vinegar, along with finely chopped garlic, a drizzle of olive oil and a little salt and I add a shake of oregano, it seems to work very well.

I tried it with balsamic but I think white wine vinegar has the edge as it doesn't give you any discoloration and gives you a cleaner tingle on the tongue. I have also started to speed up on oven times and tried them in a hotter oven than is normally used and you've be surprised at what you can get away with. They have been fine at 170 centigrade for an hour, turn the oven off and then take them out an hour later. I got bored with the six hour on a very low lite recipe.

And rather than give myself or my family botulism, and if one is preserving in oil, or without the use of a lot of vinegar, one should really read that one up, its quite scary, I bag a tray's worth at a time and then freeze them. They will be made into pasta sauces or soups or whatever cookery sorcery I desire as and when the time comes.

And some I have skinned and chopped and pulped down and frozen which will then in the fullness of time make my meatballs with tomato sauce, lamb tagines and other gorgeousness to titty-bait the taste buds.

At the moment I am living in a very tomatoey world, I am having great fun, its wonderful.

But I must show you this,

Aren't they wonderful. Sadly they are not mine, but I know whose they are and will be asking him for advice, now we have two greenhouses its time to start off my grape vine in one of them.
It would be lovely to have an old gnarled grape vine just like Grandad's was in a few years, and let us not forget the delicious Greek Dolmades that are made from the leaves, I used to make this dish regularly but only with packet vine leaves. So my winter homework will be identifying which grapevine has the combination of sweet grapes and edible leaves.

And this photograph of me was taken in August, note that woolly attire was needed. We have had a funny old year weather wise. And I hear that it is going to get colder very quickly, I must help hubby do some more picking, before the frosts come.

Stitch Perfect.

2011-09-17T21:42:00.006+01:00

Seeing this for the first time was a bit of a shock.

I didn't think the scar would be that long, I think the surgeon cast off beautifully.

And out of all of our war wounds in our family, son no.2 most definitely wins the prize.

He really has been a very brave soldier.

He is still poorly, he's not right, but has made fantastic progress in the last few days.

Extra points for counting how many staples there are, he wouldn't let me count them!

A little light levity

2011-09-16T21:46:00.006+01:00

A fellow crafter in our newly formed crafting circle in the hospital accommodation for visitors found a good use for a sick bowl. I was seriously impressed.

Son no.2 continues to make good progress recovering from his operation, thank you for all your messages of love, prayer and support, they are very welcome at this troubled time.

Desiderata

2011-09-10T10:49:00.004+01:00

We are finding this poem very supportive at the moment.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Son no.2

2011-09-02T22:16:00.002+01:00

There is no easy way to say this, it was confirmed today that son no.2 (who still wants his identity protected) has pancreatic cancer.

At the moment it is operable and we are heading towards him having the 'Whipple procedure'

thank you for all your best wishes and offers of support and prayers, they are very much appreciated at this very difficult time.

thank you.

son no.2 turns yellow.

2011-08-29T15:53:00.010+01:00

I've been racking my brains for a title and that is the best I could come up with.

It all started so innocuously, ten days before he was admitted to hospital, son no.2 came home with a queasy tummy and tummy ache. As you all know he is working out in fields all day with horses having great fun being a Squire at Warwick Castle and we just thought he'd picked up some kind of bug. I made fun of him, saying we had better worm him, we went through what he'd eaten, what he'd drunk, he'd been drinking water from a rubber hose, whether he'd put his lunch in a fridge all the normal things that you do and go over when your child isn't at its best. And the days that followed it carried on, he then got tummy ache. I just couldn't work out what was wrong and asked and begged and pleaded for him to go to the doctors, but he has such a strong work ethic and didn't want to lose a half day or full days pay so carried on. I've since found out that he didn't quite tell us the truth as to how much pain he was in. Then he started to itch, but put it down to laying in the grass and the insects biting him, it looked like insect bites at the bottom of his legs which fits with walking through the grass, but then started to scratch all over. Then he told me his poo's had gone white. Alarm bells really rang and I begged him to make an appointment at the doctors which he did, for last Wednesday, he was in hospital long before that appointment came up. On the Thursday, after he had came home from work and I had been googling, I tried to examine him, but he brushed me aside telling me he was getting better, and he's big and if he doesn't want to do something he simply walks off and there is nothing I can do about it. Friday came and I really growled at him to come to the light and let me look at his eyes. They were a deep yellow. That tan that we thought he was gaining, wasn't a tan at all, he had jaundice. I made hubby take him to the hospital and they admitted him, I stayed at home gathering his stuff together and went later.

I've beaten myself up so many times that I didn't see it before, I've looked through old photographs from our day out at Warwick Castle and at the party Mum had before and his eyes are white, it all happened quite quickly.

Weekends are slow in many hospitals and we had to wait for an ultrasound scan on the Monday. I went in with him, and watched as the radiographer tried in vain to find the gall stones we had been promised by several doctors would be there, he couldn't find anything. We were told the scan had proved inconclusive and waited for a CT scan the next day. On the Tuesday we were told that he had a swelling in his pancreas. My heart stopped. And an appointment was made for him to go to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham to their liver unit on the Friday. By this point he was going quite insane because of the itching and we tried our very best to keep him as calm as we could and as medicated as we could with piriton to help ease his situation, it didn't really work very well, but it ever so slightly helped. We bought him ear plugs to help with the snoring of other patients. Being the youngest patient in the ward by about forty years is very tough.

Son no.2 asked for his blankie. Remember the quilt I was making, it had been completed and stowed away for Uni, he wanted it with him. We had before he was ill great fun naming his quilt and he had decided it should be called the Blanketron 9000, and in his words "Warmer than the Blanketron 8000 but not as expensive as the Blanketron 10 000" how we had laughed.

I think it proved helpful to him and was ever so grateful that whilst walking around the Quilt show I had started to think about his blanket for uni and started to think about something fresh for him, bought the material and being so inspired to make it, made it in four days.

Whilst waiting for Friday, Sam and Andy came down from Leicester to see him to see him in hospital, they cheered him up no end. It was really nice to meet some of his university friends, they took no prisoners and carried on chatting to him as blokes do. I know son no.2 bucked up to the point that when I came back having left them for an hour, (I popped into the chapel and said a few prayers) that Oliver was stood up making Sam's life a misery as he had managed to snare poor Sam's phone and was trying to read and send naughty texts. I could hear son no.2's name being called as I walked up the corridor and caught him at it, red handed, how we all laughed that I had caught him out.

They are very nice boys, and I am glad that my son has such a supportive network. One always wonders if your child is going to fit in and find friends at uni, I was glad to find out he had.

And then the days dragged on, the next day he was to the bone tired. I bought the chess set in that day. He thrashed me on the first game, he's been able to regularly beat me since he was 12, but the second game, yep he thrashed me, but there was this one moment...

which gave him great concern, it was perhaps my finest moment of chess playing. It made us laugh, and then he thrashed me anyway.

We often sat in the courtyard off his ward. Very pretty it was and so unexpected. And as it was surrounded by walls was cool and often in the shade which was exactly what he needed for his constant itching. By this point he was tearing his skin to shreds, most notably on his legs, it was intense to see him like this.

We bought him the equivalent to a fun bag of toys and sweets for a child, I think the opening of it was much more fun that the prizes inside. It was almost like Christmas.

And we waited, and eventually Friday morning came and he was taken by ambulance with me at his side to the Queen Elizabeth hospital with his Dad taking the car.

The new part of the hospital takes your breath away, this is the entrance, I've seen smaller airports.

We went to the old hospital and saw the liver specialists. They don't pull any punches these liver specialists, he either has a localised autoimmune pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. The wipple procedure if it is cancer was explained to him and then during conversation the surgeon was told that his mum wasn't a chemotherapy patient but one who specialises in autoimmune diseases. The specialist nearly leapt into the air with joy, he explained that he did not have my medical history and that put a new light on things. I and many of my friends and friends of friends are praying for all we are worth that this is the case.

We were told that he would need a stent in his bile duct and would have an internal ultrasound and biopsy, but they couldn't fit him in today. Me being me, started to desperately try to find a way in which that could be done that day and nearly resorted to begging but just in time before I was reduced to a crumbled heap on the floor, reminded the surgeon that son no. 2 had had nothing to eat that day. Miraculously an appointment had been cancelled for 11.30 that day. We didn't have time for the bloods that were necessary to be done, we ran from the old hospital to the new hospital in the pouring rain. I would have run to the ends of the earth, albeit it very slowly, but we made it in good time and he went straight in for this procedure. I think that was the biggest lucky break we have had.

He went in for the procedure and then we were didn't meet up again for four and a half hours later. He'd been sent up to the ward and had been there for two hours but because of the unusual situation of grabbing that appointment the changeover had got cocked up. You can imagine just how his Dad and I were feeling waiting for all of that time. He stayed in over night, had the odd hiccup whilst recovering but is back home now.

He was on the highest floor, floor 7, his view from his window, its an amazing hospital. Brand new, things are still being finished off in it and the old hospital is slowly being placed in the new hospital. A & E was moved over just a month ago.

On the way out I took a pic of him with his dad,

And one of me and him.

The jaundice will take a while to go, as will his itchyness, his legs are still red raw, and this is Monday, but it is lessening and he is coping so much better.

And on the way home, we saw many, many rainbows.

He is starting to act like a normal male teenager, nose in the fridge what with his appetite slowly returning and answering back, he always has an answer. Its normal, I am grateful. We await news.

Quilts are so much fun.

2011-08-14T19:22:00.004+01:00

After my new adventures at the Festival of Quilts, I came home with a small pack of charm squares plus three pieces of fabric all in the William Morris colourway by Moda. I'd also picked up a pattern called One Pack Wonder by The Quilt room and I quickly set to work on Saturday morning. I pieced on Saturday and have quilted today, its not finished yet, but it is pretty.

Fancy a quick peek?

I learnt a new technique which was both daunting and exciting at the same time. If you notice the gold stripe it sits on its own, only attached on one edge. (I am sure there must be a technical name for this)

And a quick peek at the back, not finished and tidied up, but still looking reasonably neat.

That is it, I will quilt tomorrow, I need a rest now before I start making silly mistakes.

Festival of Quilts 2011

2011-08-13T07:51:00.009+01:00

I trundled along to the Festival of Quilts at the NEC, it was great fun. I bought a little bit of fabric to make a quilt with, (One day I will finish one!) added to my KnitPro collection of tips and cables and bought a smaller cutting board and some beautiful fabrics for next terms sewing group adventures. I played with machines that I aspire to, met many new friends whilst waiting for the show to open and came back with the feeling that this show is just getting better and better. People seemed to come from all over to see the show, I met many people that had flown from Scotland and were staying over at the nearby conference hotels so that they could stay for a few days and take part in the many workshops on offer. Sometimes I don't realise just how lucky I am to live so near to this event, I think I rather take it for granted.

There were hundreds and hundreds of quilts. I spent two hours looking at them and I am pretty sure that I missed a few, but I was simply too tired to go back on myself. There were many pictorial quilts, although I favour traditional quilts I am always in awe of just how much work must go into a pictorial quilt.

I am just leaving you with a taste of some quilts that I liked.

The Heir and the Squire.

2011-08-02T16:43:00.001+01:00

It was son no.1's 22nd birthday a few days ago and what I haven't told you is that son no.2 has finally found a summer job as a Squire at Warwick Castle. Not only is he a Squire, he is the King's Squire, no looking after the Barbarians and their horses for him. We are very pleased for him and just a little bit giddy so it was decided we should go to see him for son no.1's birthday treat.

I will start this post with a video hubby managed to catch on his iphone of the Trebuchet in action. "22 Tons of whirling death ladies and gentlemen, 22 Tons!"

This post is mostly about my sons and not a documentary about Warwick Castle, it was a fun day out though.

King Henry on Aaron his loyal and faithful black stallion, who is also very cheeky and is the only stallion in the group. Son no.2, on asking what was the best way to handle Aran and if there was anything he should and shouldn't do (Son no.2 did not have a pony as a child) was told to make sure he didn't walk Aaron behind a mare. It made us giggle.

The Barbarians arrive on their tub, (although I don't think any of the children noticed that their horses had arrived before them!)

Son no.2 walks Aaron off the stage whilst fistycuff's and swordfighting are going on all around him.

Remember the horse is cheeky and is quite a big, solid horse, well...

He is very naughty calling to the mares, you can almost see son no.2 is slightly shaken, but he holds firm.

And then Aaron settles down. What I have to tell you is that Aaron and son no.2 have become firm friends, I didn't quite manage to photograph the moment where Aaron completely cuddles up to my son whilst enjoying a gentle nose rub, this is as close as I could get.

There was jousting and other games involving quite alot of fire, it was quite a long show, over half an hour.

And the final line up.

When asked to hold on whilst I get my camera out, son no.2 replied with "well I will, as I am contractually obliged to do so",

Aaron in all his glory.

Then a quick shot of the heir apparent on his birthday with his dad.

And then with me.

And he played at bows and arrows.

And climbed the tower, having done that before I carefully declined the very kind offer and

caught up on a few rows.

Then it was son no.2's second show of the day and we caught him carrying the Kings flag back to base.

and then we have a photo of the Heir and the Squire.

Son no.1 loved his birthday treat and son no.2 quite enjoyed us being there, so it was a win, win. And I think son no.2 is a very lucky boy to find such a wonderful summer job, mind you, he had been working very hard to find something this summer with chasing the agencies and job centre every day, so you can imagine just how pleased we are.

Fibre East.

2011-07-24T07:00:00.003+01:00

I had a lovely afternoon at Fibre East yesterday, it is still on today (Sunday) if you fancy a trip out. It was comprised of lots of small independent traders who were having great fun showing off their wares.

With two marquee's to explore and a hubby who was quite content to explore the refreshment tent we both had great fun.

I do hope this goes on to even bigger and better things, it was truly magical, so much so that I just forgot to take photographs as I was talking too much. (Hush, Mandy, No, how could that ever be?) But I did manage to get one shot.

And what did I buy?

Well actually I didn't buy any yarn, although I was sorely tempted. What I did find is an interested way to use up my surplus sock yarn. You know the bit that is left after you have knitted a pair of socks and you put away wondering what you are going to do with it because it is far too pretty to throw away, but not quite enough to do anything more with.

Well I have a plan. I am going to make pretty blankets, with my bits and bobs of sock yarn, even if they are only dolly blankets for my Goddaughter to play with. And I am going to make them with this, Hazel Rose Looms .

In my defence of my new hobby, at least I didn't bring back the full blanket sized loom that was being sold at the bargain price of £250.00 ONO. I nearly fainted, now if I just had the room and a few more days in the week, I could have happily bought that home.

New adventures at the plot.

2011-07-14T22:24:00.004+01:00

As some of you are aware hubby has been tending to the plot this year, which has been a great help, but it is time to rejoin him on his quest to grow vegetables. Apart from that most of the digging is done, although there is hoeing to do but that is a never ending chore and soon there will be much picking and preserving.

Hubby put up a second greenhouse this winter, which has given the room we needed to play with aubergines. They are doing really well.

They do however hide rather well and this

were two we found hidden at the back. My crystal ball tells me that there will be Moussaka for supper on Saturday. Possibly with a cucumber and coriander salad,

and maybe some artichokes to start. We had ten artichokes off these plants just a few days ago and they are ready again.

The runner beans are showing promise as are the sweetcorn.

And as this is a knitting blog, lest one might think that I have given knitting up, which gives me the shudders just thinking about it.

A little something in a delicate shade of blue resting on weathered wood.

Who'll have a fishy on a little dishy? and lovely moments in the Happy Fields.

2011-07-10T18:10:00.012+01:00

We will have a fishy on a little dishy, oh yes please. There are times in life where one needs to mark an occasion and without giving too much away this was one of those times. So, I put my hound dog scenting nose to good use on the internet and found a place which I hoped would be a memorable restaurant to mark such a day.

After spending the morning at our knitting club, Carie, Kitty and I tootled along to Loch Fyne, although they have been here in this town for a while I had never ventured there before, but recently had heard good reports. We decided to venture forth on the a la carte menu, we were not disappointed.

We both started with Moules and this was a good decision. The pomp and ceremony of this dish made us both giggle, when the lid was removed the aroma of garlic, cream, muscles and the salty sea came billowing out of the pan. They were lovely as was the delicious liquor that was left at the bottom of the pan. I remember remarking that if this was the size of the starter, one can only wonder as to how big the main course might be. Whilst eating them Carie and I both grinned like cats that had gotten the cream. Kitty was quite content eating her salmon goujons, chips and peas, Kitty enjoyed her salmon and chips and very much liked her peas, me thinks she may well have a sweet tooth just like her mama.

And that was the last photograph of the food, because we love our food and the camera was completely forgotten whilst we were eating.

We both decided on scallops for our main, Carie had her scallops with bass (I think!) and I had mine with prawns. They were everything scallops should be, sweet and lightly cooked with just a touch of caramelisation, we enjoyed them immensely.

I remembered I had my camera with me and passed it over to Carie just in time to catch a rather cute photograph of Kitty wearing her adorable hand knit bib by her Mum.

When my sons were small they loved to go to the big park where we live known by them as the Happy Fields. "Are we going to the Happy Fields Mum?", they used to cry two or three times a week which we used to walk to wearing a rucksack a piece. Even when son no.2 was very small he wore an appropriate sized rucksack, and we all carried between us a blanket, sandwiches, lemonade, apples and crisps, a football, a frisbee, half a stale loaf for the ducks and most often along came a dog. We used to spend the day, feeding the ducks, paddling in the stream, pushing them on the swings, kicking the ball and playing with the frizbee with lunch somewhere in between and then walked home late in the afternoon, tired and content, they were indeed happy days spent at the Happy Fields.

So having those lovely memories in my mind and before setting off for the day I quickly packed half a loaf of bread, having tipped Carie off that we could wander into the Happy Fields after lunch and that she might need to provide rain cover as the weather wasn't looking so good. It was a good plan.

However, Carie had even better plans. Because just as we were walking back to her car, she said to me, that "Sweet As" had arrived in my home town and wondered where they might be. Quick as a flash I realised exactly where they were as there had been much talk about having a cake shop in the town, although it had completely passed me by that it was Sweet As. I quickly directed her to the nearest parking space next to the shop. We grabbed Kitty and dashed to the shop making plans whilst we walked. They were not good plans slimming world wise, but for the soul they were wonderful. A piece of cake each was bought for an impromptu picnic in the park and cake was also bought to share later with our lovely husbands. We would have felt too guilty if we hadn't shared, and it did give us the opportunity to taste a different cake that night. (it was all good, very rich and chocolately)

We found seats by the lake and as Kitty was fast asleep took the opportunity to eat cake, whilst having a lovely chat, one I will remember forever for all good reasons, and soon Kitty was awake and out came the bread and the camera.

Carie and Kitty throwing bread to the ducklings, they were so funny.

A nice shot of mum and daughter gazing at the duckings,

we laughed into our boots as the rest of the gang realised we had bread.

And then we took Kitty into the play area to play on the swings. Kitty is not too impressed, just a little bit scared, look at that thumb, it makes me giggle, and look how wonderful mum is.

but soon Kitty was feeling just a little bit more confident,

and then she was swinging on her own, yay. I think we can just glimpse a toothy peg or two?

And I have to tell you this, although I don't have the photo as my parents have my baby photograph album, Kitty's first swing was on the very same swing, same place and position, although her swing looks a little newer than mine did, as the first time, or at least the first time the camera was took out and at about the same age when I swung in a swing in the Happy Fields. I know that was very complicated to read but it makes me go awe. I was in a thick winter coat though as it was the spring, which made me much more stable than a light summer dress which Kitty wore. I think Kitty was most brave and did very well.

And a final photo of the adorable Kitty.

Good times were had by all.

Garden Party.

2011-07-03T22:58:00.005+01:00

Just a quick post because I am just about to head for my bed. Mum had her Garden Party this weekend held at my Aunties house. I was asked to poach a salmon which was fine as I have poached many salmons in my time, but I have never decorated one! So out came the mayonnaise and very thinly sliced cucumber and soon I had this.

I was going to keep the head and tail on but the fish was huge and we didn't have a tray that was big enough for the fish yet small enough for the fridge. I was very pleased with the way the scales portrayed with cucumber came together.

And then I decorated the plate with sliced lemons, I love the scent of lemons and whenever I used them wish I cooked more often with them.

I met with relatives I haven't seen for many a long year, it was all great fun.

The bunting looked lovely and the ladies pounced on the fabric flowers, they were seen everywhere, poking out of top pockets, worn on dresses and adorning hair, it was wonderful.

I'll leave you with a quick snap of the men in my life.

Fabric Flowers

2011-06-28T10:28:00.004+01:00

Having made the bunting for my Mothers garden party I was left with a few scraps of material, enough to play with! I bought this book Sew Fabulous Fabric: 20 Charming Ways to Sew Fabrics into Your Life by Alice Butcher and Ginny Farquhar. a few months ago thinking that I could make the fabric flowers for my Mum's garden party and was really pleased to find I had enough scraps left to play with. I love the book, there are quite a few ideas in it that I am going to make, the peg bag for instance look fabulous.

I had intended on adding my own embellishment to the idea, but realised I wouldn't have enough flowers for people to share. So that idea will stay in my things to make compartment of my brain.

I had great fun playing with this idea, choosing the fabrics, threads and buttons appeals to my inner child and the more I played with them the more fun I had.

I thought I would pinch one and sew it onto ribbon and tie it onto my handbag,

and encourage all of the ladies at the party to take one too. They could make broaches out of them or pin to an old well loved teddy bear or perhaps pop onto a hat or coat to go shopping in.

I think there are a myriad of ideas to be played with. And what are left Mum could sew to ribbon and festoon her conservatory.

I think they will look pretty like that, that's if.... there are any left!

Bunting!

2011-06-23T19:47:00.003+01:00

A few months ago Mum proposed having a garden party this summer to which I cooed "ooh I could make you some bunting." It was met with a slightly perplexed reply, "bunting?" "Yes, bunting, it will be FUN" on seeing my enthusiasm for such sillyness Mum became a little bit warmer to the idea. But I don't really think Mum was that enthusiastic, but then we all live in different worlds and this is mine.

You see since the Royal Wedding had been announced I'd seen a resurgence in bunting and had even contemplated making some red, white and blue triangles with which to adorn our house on the day itself. That idea had come and gone but I'd looked at all the pretty bunting around and the bunting that adorned Devon on the wedding day itself were really pretty and at that point I was still hankering after bunting of my very own. So it was more me and what I would like but I knew I could win Mum round.

I toddled home and immediately set to work on the net to source some pretty colours and found some very pretty Amy Butler fabrics reduced to half price at Get Knitted. Five metres was ordered in five different colourways and once they came I then had to put together a pattern I was happy with. When the fabric came I cooed over it and rang Mum and told her it had come, which was met with a warm welcome. And so with this idea buzzing around in my brain the work began.

There are lots of places to get ideas as to how to make bunting, so I won't go through all of that. But I did decide to make the sturdy bunting with two sheets sewn together and all seams on the inside rather than just one sheet of fabric cut with pinking sheers that would wither and die if the British weather decided to turn against us. I chose to make a big pointy triangle and have the template stored somewhere in my computer should anyone need it.

Eventually I had cut out 120 triangles, I folded the fabric and cut out four at a time, (don't forget to iron your fabric before starting) with the use of a template, a HB pencil, ruler, rotary cutter and mat. I am so very grateful that I have learnt to quilt otherwise I most probably would have gone down the route of cutting them out with scissors which whilst doable would have taken a very long time and left me with sore hands. Rotary cutters are a girls best friend. Being an accurate kind of gal this took me three sessions to complete.

Then I sewed all the triangles wrong side together down their two longest sides and as a hint and tip at the sharp point put a few extra stitches going over each other so that when your long pointy knitting needle pushes the points out it doesn't break the stitches and you don't find yourself muttering unpleasants under your breath. Fortunately I had done a test run and found the weakness in a few triangles before embarking on the marathon run of sewing 60 triangles. It took me a couple of days to complete this part of the procedure. I then clipped the points to make the turning out easier, turned them out and then ironed them all again. And then son no.2 and I played with colours, always the favourite part and came upon a pattern we were both happy with and placed the piles of triangles in this pattern next to my sewing machine.

And I was ready and off I went, having no idea as to how much tape/bias binding to buy there were two different types used, slightly saddening for the perfectionist that I am, but if anyone is going to spot and critise that, then they have clearly missed the idea of the day.

Before I got sewing proper I did a quick test run as to what gap I favoured. I used marks on my sewing machine, I tried the end of the foot plate, the corner of the machine or the drop to the table as a guide, I only pinned at this point and I realised that I rather liked the small gap which was produced by sewing to the end of the triangle and then placing the next triangle at the edge of the footplate. With that technique I was able to achieve a gap that was regular without too much measuring or stress.

And soon I had 3 x 5 metres of bunting..

A quick pic of one of them, too much sun for my camera, I am sure they will look fabulous on the day.

But then being the perfectionist that I am, I ironed the binding and whilst it was still damp, (I have a super dupa steam iron) I check to see if the triangles would hold steady and was shocked to find that some of them didn't. Well that would never do, not least because firstly if we did have a quick shower with wind some of them would come away and secondly, you know what family is like, someone (especially after a couple of drinks - my mothers punch should have a health warning on it!) would be sure to tell me that this particular triangle had separated from his or her friends and I would become crest fallen.

So I needed a plan and came up with using a pattern on my sewing machine that not only zig zagged but it sewed the zig zag in stages so as to secure the fabric securely, set my machine so as not to go over the binding and off I went, five metres at a time. Now my machine can go pretty fast and I've never before this have had it at full speed... It was amazing, seriously I will never sew so fast again in all my life!

You can just about see the zig zag in this picture.

I showed Carie and Kitty the bunting, Kitty was quite enchanted by it and loved us waving the bunting, by her smiles and giggles I do believe she is her mothers daughter. And Dad, well he suggested we should tie it to his car and he could drive down the high street with bunting catching the wind behind him. And I was right, Mum laughed and giggled and loved it too.

Ooh pretty colours.

2011-06-20T11:48:00.005+01:00

As spring sprung I seem to have need of an injection of colour into my life. Perhaps it was a knee jerk reaction against the really long winter we in the UK endured, perhaps it was the loss of Roger. What I do know is that the colours are eye searingly bright.

In no particular order,

I was incredibly lucky during the sales, well alright then tenacious! I did keep going back again and again, but on one trip I found two packs of colourscape chunky for just £30.00 each which is an incredible discount because they should sell for £130.00 Of course I immediately told Diane because I know how she likes a bargain and at some stage later as I was admiring her Valour she reminded me that I had some colourscape in my stash. And that was all the encouragement I needed and quickly cast on.

Today I finished my Valour by Sarah Hatton and this is a photo of it blocking in the sun. I am feeling slightly nervous and am hoping there are no naughty birds around today. These aren't the best photo's, the bright colours don't work against a green background. I am sure there will be more photo's of Valour once it is dry.

These socks are knit in Wollmeise 80/20 in colourway Grapes for Sheri. I originally started to knit a vanilla sock pattern a 60 stitch 2.5 mm needle and the pooling was in a straight line, not even a slight swirl around the sock, I didn't like it at all. So I started to knit my fall back pattern which I love called Wildflower socks by Fawn Pea and sure enough the yarn started to behave beautifully. It obviously wanted to be a very pretty sock and I love the way you could almost pick the daisy's on the lawn.

These socks are knitted from Babylonglegs Blue Faced Leicester sock yarn in colourway Blue Banana. I loved the yarn but am very disappointed with how the colours fell. If you look at the heel and turn of the heel you can see how pretty the yarn is. In another life I would have pulled them back and changed the pattern but I just carried on knitting. I am not even sure why. I may frog them.

Whatever happens to them they are going in my sock stash. I don't need to add to the circulating pairs of socks that I currently have on the go. But I may need socks later on in life and be uncomfortable knitting them, which is a horrible thought, but it could happen, I needed a plan. And the plan that came up was to have a sock stash and to knit extra pairs. I think that my socks will wear out at a maximum rate of three pairs per year, bearing in mind I am still wearing the first pair I knitted some four years ago. I have had to mend the odd pair of socks that have been made with wool that simply wasn't strong enough, but from that I have learn't the lesson on what to look for in sock yarn or equally as important what not to wear when wearing delicate socks. Walking boots can tear a heel apart in seconds whilst soft Ecco sandals with their padded straps are quite happy to partner a deliciously soft pair of delectable socks.

So I will need to knit approximately 120 pairs, some of which will be circulated quite quickly and some will be stored carefully to be used on a needs must basis. It makes me feel more comfortable that I have a plan rather than worrying that I may have cold feet later on in life. Having warm feet makes me feel happy. Being wrapped in wool makes me feel warm and happy.

On a trip to Stitch Perfect which is based in the Custard Factory in Birmingham I became entranced with Fleece Artist Trail Socks in colourway Hercules and realised it was much too pretty to make into socks. So I searched Ravelry and found this very pretty pattern called Willow Cowl by Amelia Lyon. It is very clever the way Amelia has designed the cowl so that the cowl flops down on itself in concentric circles.

I really love it, so simple but so effective.

And there is picot edging too, whats not to love.

And it keeps me warm, it's proving very useful when I am wandering around in a tshirt before the heat of the day, it keeps me warm enough without having to resort to finding a cardigan. I have another skein of this colourway, it is very tempting to make a hat, you won't be missing me in a crowd this winter.

Florence upped her game.

2011-06-18T21:35:00.003+01:00

Florence, our tabby and white moggy of this parish left a really big suprise for us this morning.

"What was it?" I hear you cry.

"Was it another Pigeon, all plucked and ready for the oven"

"No thankfully she hasn't repeated that particular performance, downy feathers whipping around your ankles at six in the morning is quite unnerving" "I'll give you a hint, it was bigger"

"Was it that Magpie you told me about?"

"No it wasn't a Magpie"

"Was it a squirrel?"

"No think Bigger"

I can hear the pause in the conversation and even I didn't think she would be able to achieve this..

Hubby was greeted with an almost fully grown rabbit this morning, deposited in the middle of the kitchen floor. I'd say it was a good three pound in weight wearing an adult coat but still having that look of youth about it.

I'm not sure if she has been really lucky and has picked up road kill but from the look of it it didn't appear to have been hit by a vehicle but you never know. Having been bought up on wild rabbit I was quite tempted to skin it, but I will wait and see to see if she brings another one home, it was certainly a fresh kill.

And I'll say something about her, she must really love us a lot to have brought this bunny home, its a good five minutes walk to where the bunnies roam, so to drag it back would have taken some serious effort from what is quite a small moggie and then to get the damn thing through the cat flap, that, I would have paid good money to see.

Conversation at Slimming World.

2011-06-16T08:24:00.002+01:00

I love our slimming world chats, it makes you realise you are human.

One lady was saying that she had bought her husband a box of chocs for his birthday, but she kept dipping into them, so she had asked her hubby to hide them as 'the children' kept taking them..

So he did, he hid them.

As soon as he left for work she started to play a game of hide and seek that he didn't even know he was playing! Her next comment was "He hadn't hidden them very well either"

The room was rocking with laughter, I could barely breath.

I love those girls.

"half way, I reckon" picture heavy.

2011-06-12T17:58:00.017+01:00

How time does creep by, it is truly shocking. Well 45 here I am, am I grown up, I'm not sure. I can't climb castle walls as I once did, or run or dance or play like I used to. What do I miss the most, long summers where everyone was out to play at the same time. Or long summer terms at Junior school where we swam, learnt maths and played rounders, they were good times. A long time ago I was a parent helper in the local junior school and just before it closed down forever the teacher knowing my love of rounders organised a final game with her class for me, it was great fun.

Well my birthday, it went on for days, which was wonderful. Firstly,

Noelle came by the day before with such wonderful flowers all from her own garden. They were gorgeous.

and that night, the day before my birthday I was trying to finish of Miss Felicity's hat. Which I did.

Notice the perfect joins at the crown. I was best pleased with those.

On my birthday we ventured off to pastures new, Hardwick Hall, as recommended to us by Lucy Worsley Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces was her favourite National Trust House whilst she was giving us a talk at Kenilworth Castle called "If Rooms could talk", which was wonderful. I digress, Bess started to build this house in 1590 after the death of her fourth husband Lord Shrewsbury. She was in her early sixties and one of the richest people in England.

"Hi honey, I'm home.."

hubby and I and the views from Hardwick Hall.

Bess loved leaving her stamp all over the house with magnificent statues, this one was on the roof,

and tapestries. Although the 6th Duke, known as the Bachelor Duke who furnished the house as it is today, used tapestries as wall paper and filled the house with furniture and portraits.

The High Great Chamber, so huge that they say a roomy five bedroomed house could easily fit into it.

The work is stunning and the frieze was most probably modelled by Abraham Smith and his assistants. The theme is the forest, with the court of Diana prominent on the north side amid attendant deer, lions, elephants, camels and other animals. The court of Diana, the virgin goddess and huntress is probably a deliberate allusion to Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen.

Why such expense? Well Bess was aiming at putting her granddaughter Arbella Stuart on the throne. Some thought that her right to succession through her father, Charles Stuart, was stronger as she had been born in England than that of her cousin James. But alas it was not to be, perhaps as Bess was by this point too old to plot.

The Long Gallery, measuring 51 metres long and 8 metres high, varying from 6.7 to 12 metres in width is the largest (although not the longest) of surviving Elizabethan long gallery's. And the only one to retain both of its original tapestries and many of its original pictures.

The attic was open whilst we were there and we gaily climbed the steps to the top of the house. Interestingly the floor of the attic was made of stone, perhaps as a fire break, I can imagine fire being quite a problem in those days. The view from the attic.

I love this pile of mattresses. I wonder which noble person would have slept on them. In those days the Upper Servants had their own well furnished rooms, mostly in the Old Hall, the lower servants bedded down more indiscriminately, on landings, on the main staircase, outside Bess's bedchamber door, in the scullery, off the pantry and the hall, or in the porters lodge and the turrets around the entrance court. Often with only a straw mattress which could be rolled up and stowed away if they were lucky.

And Hardwick house from the back.

We then hurried to Matlock to find a yarn shop called The Compleat Knit, it was a wonderful knitting shop, I could have spent a few happy hours there unearthing all of its treasures.

Happily I found some Lantern Moon double points and some gorgeous Cashmere with which to amuse myself this winter.

We headed home through Leicester and rang son no.2 to see if he wanted to come out to dinner but he was cramming for an exam the next morning so we took ourselves off to Yo Sushi and a good time was had by all.

The next morning, whilst quietly chatting to Sir Lancelot I told him of my dilemma at not having a doll big enough to model Miss Kitty's new dress and hat on. Now you know Sir Lancelot is a very kind Lion and he is also very greedy and is rather partial to bacon sandwiches, especially if the fat on the bacon is crispy. And quick as a flash Sir Lancelot said, "Well, I would love to model it for you, but at the moment I feel quite faint with hunger, I am sure a bacon sandwich would help" And so it was the bacon sizzled under the grill and a sandwich was made with just the right amount of HP Sauce and after a quick wash Sir Lancelot put on Kitty's new hat and dress.

Sir Lancelot thought things through and decided that he liked the dress, especially the colours that were used, but next time,

he would quite like a hole for his tail.

I especially liked the top stitching on the dress, it didn't frighten me as much as when I made my hat and it really finishes the dress off. The button holes were terrifying, but turned out well and

I love the gently scalloped edge.

I went to knitting and met up with Carie and Kitty who loved the dress,

and a piccie of gentle moments with Mum.

And then there were the presents from my knitting group.

A beautiful chocolate cake with handmade roses from Cynthia,

and yes it tasted as good as it looks.

There were gorgeous stocks, smellies from Lush (oooh nice) and a project bag from Diane, a very pretty rose bush and wine from Sheila and lots of cards, one signed from all of the girls, I loved them all.

A beautiful photograph of Kitty my God Daughter, modeling her christening bracelet and Easter present. Carie took over a hundred photos before she got the shot she was looking for.

And lastly I must show you this card from son no.2. I laughed like a drain when I read it.

And that is it,, three days of partying, and I am pretty knackered, grateful for such wonderful family and friends but absolutely shattered.

Saturday's highlights.

2011-06-06T17:35:00.013+01:00

It was such a beautiful day on Saturday that although a local agricultural show was on the call of a beautiful garden and cream teas proved too great.

And so it was we arrived at Packwood House and gently strolled around its beautiful grounds.

The garden is famous for its representation of the Sermon on the Mount. With a magnificent Yew known as the Master. Flanking it are a dozen yews said to represent the disciples and beneath them is the multitude, yews replacing an orchard in the 19th century.

We climbed the spiral mount to The Master and

viewed the gardens from this vantage point.

It gave me the shivers walking amongst such large and beautiful trees, they had such a presence about them, a very calm and large presence, so difficult to describe.

There was a little sock knitting underneath the canopy of the yews. These particular yews were castellated which we thought was great fun.

The same yews from a distance.

We saw geese and goslings munching grass.

And the same goslings having been led to the lake for a much needed drink.

We then saw inside Packwood House which was beautiful but very dark, so the photo's are not stunning.

Although I do have to show you some brown delft tiles I spotted over a fireplace.
And then it was time for tea and as Packwood house has limited catering facilities, something to do with Graham Baron Ash's wishes not to have restaurant/cafe in the house - too many sticky fingers! We headed over to Baddesley Clinton just in time for a cream tea which was delightful. Sadly we didn't have time to explore but there is always another day.

Slim Snake.

2011-06-01T15:34:00.006+01:00

Do you remember Snake who I made in the depths of winter and who has been doing a wonderful job keeping our hallway toasty warm. Well, a good friend of mine liked him so much she started to link my blog to others who were looking for a pattern to make a snake to keep their homes nice and warm. It was a terrible winter and everyone was looking for ways to keep the chill out.

And so it was that I thought that my good pal might actually like a snake of her own. She might not, but I got the feeling she was quite taken with my little project so I said to myself I would make her one just as soon as I had a spare moment. That moment came and I rummaged through my stash to find colours that I thought might suit her home and came up with these.

and cut them up into rectangles. I studied the rectangles and came up with this design which I thought was very snake like. It would mean it would be a slimmer snake though, but I think my snake was very wide, possibly a little too wide.. sssshhh, he might hear!

I was very pleased with the way the top came together,

and this is it with the head fabric attached.

I made the bottom of the snake with the bits that were left over and it came together very nicely too.

All trimmed and ready to sew up.

Sewn up ready to stuff. Which again I used the stuffing from pillows that were bought specially for the job.

And then I left him for weeks because I went on holiday and then side tracked myself, as a crafter it is easy to do! But the hiss from his bright red tongue got louder and louder and I just had to finish him off.

And here he is Slim Snake!

"What big blue eyes you have Slim Snake"

"All the better to see you with," he hissed.

Big Snake came over to say hi and to pass on his considerable wisdom about the insulating abilities of a snake and what the two legs and four (especially pussy cats) like about warm rooms to live in. Slim Snake nodded sagely and said he would do his very best to keep those pesky draughts out and promised to send Big Snake a post card just as soon as he had settled in.

And without further ado Slim Snake rolled himself up in brown paper and went to live in his new home.

I have had a message to say that he has settled in very nicely and has a nice little spot just by the living room door.

Quietly Impressed!

2011-05-28T23:45:00.008+01:00

As we had been over to see an exhibition in a museum in Nuneaton, I realised that we were not very far from son no.2 "Shall we go and see him," I said. Which it was agreed we should and we then decided to ring him to tell him we were half an hour off. He told me to go and look for a yarn shop to give him enough time to tidy up, to which I replied that I had just done that.

We arrived and found a freshly showered son with clean clothes on. Although his room was very lived in, I was extremely pleased to find his white board filled with mathematical equations. Although quite simple in nature it proves he is working for his exams and I for one am very pleased.

So we took him to nearest Toby for a cheap but nutritious meal of meat and veg, which he followed with a fruit crumble and custard. And then we took photos on hubby's iphone. On seeing the next few photo's one can only wonder as to how this boy got into University with parents such as this. Let us just hope his professors weren't watching!

You may notice that Mandycharlie finds it a struggle to dress herself correctly. Fortunately I had only been like this for a few minutes before hubby noticed. (but to be honest that was more luck than judgement as he would never have noticed if he hadn't been photographing us)

I look down, "oops"

And start to re button up.. I then, misaligne it again before getting it right, at which point...

Son no.2 starts making Coochy, Coochy, Coo noises as if talking to a small child, whilst making sarcastic comments about not being able to do my cardi up and whether I might need some help? I think my expression says it all.

Sorted, one more shot for the camera. Just a note to say my friends know I am quite a hefty gal, 5ft 10" in her socks and built for comfort not speed. This boy makes me look small, I must have fed the boy well whilst he was growing. Mind you we have often thought it would be better to buy our own cow just because of the quantity of milk he can drink in a day.

Hubby pretending to be a used car salesperson.. Why are men so funny about showing emotion?

A nice manly hug, laughing at each other.

Malvern Quilts.

2011-05-23T03:17:00.003+01:00

On a very windy Sunday, far to windy to go to the plot, hubby and I set forth to go and visit the quilts at Malvern. We had a marvelous time, here are a few of our favourite quilts.

I like this because of its simplicity and the way that although there are many different fabrics used the centre of the squares and the corners of the squares are all the same which seems to bring the whole quilt together.

This amused us very much.

The little fishes

and little shrimps..

A scary lion ready to pounce as you walked around the corner.

The work on this was just flabbergasting.

A closeup, can you imagine just how much thread was used.

A very nice traditional quilt.

And one for a girl - and yes all the dolls came out of their beds to play with. (I was wearing white gloves so I gave one a little tug and was rewarded with a doll, whilst I let out a silly giggle)

Can you imagine having that for a quilt as a little girl..., it would be wonderful.. (this is a not so subtle hint that Carie should get her sewing machine out and make one immediately, if not sooner for Kitty, I'll help if you want, but I think she would love one)

And one for a boy. Yeeeooowwww, (doing airplane impersonations)

It was fun.

And breakfast just got even better!

2011-05-20T10:19:00.004+01:00

I thought I would have eggs for breakfast today, and chose two of the larger eggs that have just been laid. And found, not one, but two double yolkers.. To have a hen that lays double yolkers is a prize indeed.

To answer Carie's question about the colour of the eggs. And this is going to amuse non hen keepers. As a general guide the colour of your eggs is determined by the colour of the hens earlobes, seriously, they have really cute earlobes. So, you could have a white hen but if she has brown earlobes she will lay brown eggs. You could have a brown hen that has white earlobes so she lays white eggs. As it is our White Stars are pure white with the most delicate white earlobes which is why we are getting our pretty white eggs.

Here is a photograph of a cockerel. Can you see his earlobe to the right of his eye, that's right the tufty patch that looks about the same size as his eye, that is his earlobe. And as you can see if he was a girl he would lay very nice brown eggs. There are exceptions to this rule but generally that is the way it works out.

White Stars.

2011-05-19T22:17:00.004+01:00

We started to keep chickens over eight years ago, mainly for their eggs but also to add a pretty addition to the garden, such as it is, it is very small. When we began keeping chickens all those years ago we chose a mix of chickens, some that we knew would lay very regularly, over three hundred eggs per year and some that would lay only about two hundred but were completely irresistible, such as my Buff Orpington, who I adored because of her sturdy yet cuddly build and quiet chirruping when she was deep in conversation. We kept our first chickens for many years, even when they weren't laying and were costing us quite a lot of personal energy let alone hard earned pennies to keep them.

Then we had Black Rocks which is a commercial trademarked name (but which the industry instantly recognises) which are Rhode Rocks. They laid well, well over three hundred eggs per year each and laid well for three years, but then we were left with hens that either didn't lay or were destroying the eggs that were laid. It was time to say goodbye. I know that sounds very heartless, but it is a necessary evil if you are keeping hens mainly for their eggs.

At that point, late last autumn, we weren't sure if we needed or wanted any more hens, one boy was off to University and the other is hardly ever home. And so we talked and talked and really couldn't make our mind up as to whether we wanted more hens. So we left it in limbo.

I then started to buy eggs from the supermarket. And even if I bought eggs that were the freshest in date that was available, free range and organic they were pretty nasty compared to a freshly laid egg. To the point that we almost stopped eating eggs!

A few weeks ago, with hubby in tow, I was again looking for the freshest eggs that were available and said to hubby "look these eggs are over £3.00 for a dozen, how much does it cost us for a sack of grain?" "Well, just over £7.00" "Really?!," (enough to feed three hens for weeks) "forget that then, we are going to buy some hens I am so sick of these eggs", to which hubby agreed.

And with that we ventured forth to the Domestic Fowl Trust at Honeybourne and on the journey chatted away as to what we were looking for, I said that this time I would like white hens. To my delight they had three White Stars, which were clearly laying as not only were their combs full and bright red, which is a clear indication that they are starting to lay, they had already laid five eggs in their viewing pen.

White Stars are a quite a slim bird bred just for egg laying they are a Leghorn hybrid, which means they are they won't eat as much as an Orpington to lay eggs, so are much cheaper to keep. They are very nervous and flighty compared to some of the older style hens so possibly not suitable for a new hen keeper, with only three hens they will quickly get to know us so they shouldn't be as flighty as if there were in a huge flock, but they are so pretty and what is more they lay between 300 and 340 eggs per year, each! The sad part about this is that they will wear themselves out quite quickly, three years will be their limit, but on the other hand, we should be getting eggs right through until the darkest days of winter.

They came home with us as did their newly laid eggs, which was a lovely treat. We let them settle in their hen house for a day with food and water before letting them out the next day. We let them out on their second day and remembering they are barn raised hens who haven't seen daylight before, they were very cautious and only came out for half an hour to feed and water. But it was okay because they still had food and water in their hen house.

Day three, they weren't coming out either, so I investigated if everything was okay for them and with the noise that I was making at the end of their run they came out. My camera was ready..

Hens that are really not sure,

an hour or so later I gave them some outer leaves of a cabbage I was preparing and they looked at it, and looked at me as if to say, "what's that?" I am sure they will enjoy learning all their is to know about being a chicken.

"Well this is very interesting"

An egg laid in completely the wrong place, we have since taught them to lay in the egg box. And you may be asking how does one teach a hen where to lay, well normally they like to lay where it is dark and secure, but because these hens didn't know any better because they are barn raised, any place that is dark is okay, such as the hen house, which was difficult as hubby had to crawl into the hen house to retrieve the eggs. But along with that the hen house has an egg laying area which is even darker and more secure so we just left an egg there. And sure enough the hens found it and started to lay their clutch of eggs with the egg that was already there. Simples....

But it is all worth it, look at such a perfectly white almost porcelain egg.

The hens are laying well, their eggs are starting to increase in size, hubby was quite excited today as one egg was a full sized egg. And as for me, well I love the eggs, but I have also missed the hens chirruping along with their triumphant calls as to when they have laid an egg.

Chick chick chick chicken lay a little egg for me,
chick, chick, chick, chick, chicken I want one for my tea...

Lizard Ridge Finished.

2011-05-09T14:49:00.004+01:00

At long last I have crocheted all the way around my Lizard Ridge by designer Laura Aylor which I started on January 29th 2008. In one way that seems a long time ago yet in other ways it seems like only yesterday. I haven't only knitted this blanket, I have made many other items along the way. I found that after knitting three squares I needed stimulation elsewhere but it was always very comforting to come home to a familiar project that just oozes so much saturation of colour. The temptation is great to start another one, maybe next year, I seem to have a lot on at the moment.

You can just about see the crochet. I crocheted an extra two rounds of double crochet to make the edge more sturdy along with to show off the colour of the edging a little more. I am nearly tempted to block the crochet edging to make it lay flatter, but am worried that the dampness of blocking may transfer to my bumps, and I do like the bumps that the short row wraps have created. So I am leaving it, with age and wear it will all flatten out eventually.

I thought the teal colour would match the blanket perfectly.

I just love the colours.

So pretty

and vibrant.

And don't forget, ...

they're be wolves in these parts... who love the Lizard Ridge almost as much as I do.

What a holiday!

2011-05-04T08:13:00.007+01:00

Hubby and I decided we needed a break so I did my usual ebay hunting which involved plugging in the words 'Holiday Cottage Easter', you would be suprised what bargains are to be had when you want a last minute holiday and sure enough up came a very pretty cottage in North Devon. Just over 24 hours later, after giving 'the children' strict instructions not to burn the house down, feed and water the dogs and please don't have a party, (at least not one where the police would be called) we were off. It has been forever since we had a whole week to ourselves and we quickly became good company for each other and pottered around North Devon quite amiably.

First there was rock pooling.

Hubby scampering over the rocks, I am not sure footed these days so my feet stayed firmly on the sand.

There were beautiful rock pools, this one in the shape of a heart.

Gorgeous seaweed in greens that I adore.

And still life's of beautifully flattened pebbles.

Then there was crabbing...

Imagine my excitement when hubby thought he had a big 'un!

Me in zen like pose, I was completely at peace listening to the seagulls and the waves crashing against the sea wall.

There were walks along beaches.

And time spent gazing out to sea.

A local Alpaca farm had an open day.

And we went to the zoo.

We went to a restaurant partly owned by Damien Hirst

Where his art is surrounding you. (fortunately not cows cut in half!)

We travelled to John Arbon's new shop in Lynton and bought a jumpers worth of Knit by Numbers which is dreamily soft and is a very pretty tweedy green.

But the best part of the holiday, the absolutely best part was when Martin Storey invited us to tea. I'd emailed him to say we were in his neck of the woods and to ask him where were the best yarn shops which is when he told me about John Arbon's new shop and then Martin invited us to tea. I was terribly excited and could barely contain my nerves, donned my best holiday attire and sun hat and ventured forth. Martin is lovely and made us feel most welcome.

He has a very beautiful home, with stunning views over the sea.

Hubby dwarfed by the size of the sitting room.

Martin in comfy repose.

Martin and I chatted away for nearly two hours about all things knitterly, it was absolute bliss and a memory I will keep with me forever.

And as if our holiday couldn't get any better, we watched the Royal Wedding, had a good lunch and started to think about packing when we decided we would wander around the harbor, we drank tea and I knitted and just as we were about to wander home we spotted a fishing boat unloading its catch and bought two lobsters live and kicking straight of the boat.

What a last supper! I dispatched them, sorted out the doings and lavished butter on them and roasted them in the oven, they were an absolute treat.

And then hubby stopped off at Get Knitted on the way home. The shop took my breath away, it is glorious.

And amongst all of this we had fine dining most evenings, ice creams and a most memorable cream tea. As I say, What a holiday!

Thank you.

2011-05-01T10:59:00.002+01:00

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for sending messages of sympathy, it was much appreciated. Roger was a very good friend and I shall miss him dearly. As hubby had already booked a holiday we have just spent the last week tootling around Ilfracombe, with much walking and talking, it was lovely and was just the break we needed. Much better than to be dwelling on all that could have been and general chatter that comes with knowing and being one of the locals.

Roger really would have enjoyed this week, he worshiped the sun and used to turn a lovely shade of a dark mahogany every summer.

I shall write up a holiday post just as soon as... (insert post holiday jobs) I just wanted to say thank you to you all first.

Roger

2011-04-20T00:04:00.008+01:00

My friend,

He is gone.

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye,.

He supported me so, when I lost my hair, when I wept for it.

And now he is gone,

Gone.

And I weep for the loss of him,

my friend.

Gone.

Roger's hat.

Flowers from Roger when I was poorly.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

2011-04-03T19:03:00.005+01:00

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him;
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones.

(Mark Antony's speech in the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare where Antony has agreed to abide with Brutus not to place blame on the conspirators - which he fails in quite dramatically with the use of sarcasm)

What I love most at the start of this speech is the two lines "The evil that men do lives after them, The Good is oft interred with their bones"

How true is this? I have found it so, goodness is often quietly given, evil even if slight is often remembered.

I wish I could express myself like the great writers so as you, my readers could understand the passion with which I speak. But my feet are made of clay, so may I present, the good that people do, given ever so quietly.

You may see just a simple bunch of daffodils, but to me, well they are so much more. They are a gift given with love, friendship and caring, which I will hold for ever dear. I won't embarrass my friend but thank you so much for them and taking the time. I'd also like to say thank you to the message sender for her deep friendship, kindness and caring. You both know who you are.

And then I would like to tell you about the women, of which there were many, who have read my blog over the years and sent by post or given to me in person their spare Noro Kureyon which has all been encompassed into my Lizard Ridge blanket. I have loved each and every gift and have carefully incorporated your wool into my blanket to the best of my ability, your love, friendship and caring will remain with me forever, most often in a woolly cuddle deep in the midst of winter.

I started my Lizard Ridge in January 2008, who knew it would take so long, and it is still not completed.

Along the way there have been wonderful surprises where deeply saturated coloured yarn, often entangled with each other have fallen out of envelopes or bags to be met with my highly pitched sound of glee.

The blanket, my blanket with the yarn of others, freely given, is sewn up. I love it so. And I can't quite believe that it is mine. It is just too beautiful to be mine. I have crocheting to do, of which I have to decipher the American crochet to the English version, I will try tomorrow.

But until then, here is a close up of my Lizard Ridge,

at this point, I would like to say a special thank you to Carie and Diane who spent the best part of their knitting time helping me to place the squares for maximum effect.

Monday is Washing Day!

2011-03-29T21:13:00.004+01:00

Whilst at the NEC Sewing for Pleasure show on Sunday I caught sight of some beautiful fabrics by Kaffe Fassett at half price! At that price I thought I would give them a go, not least because I seem to have a mental blockage on finishing a quilt. Son no.2 is still waiting for his, although having seen how he keeps his room at Uni I think the quilt is best kept at home rather than festering in his room.

I chose ten colours and bought half a metre of each, hoping to find a pattern that might fit and I found one in Jelly Roll Quilts called Nine Patch Wonder.

I've washed the fabric, tumble dried and ironed them, so pretty, its really not a chore to iron such colourful fabric. Next I have spent most of my evening cutting out the squares and 2 1/2" wide strips.

I am going to retire to the living room to read the instructions and then to continue sewing up my Lizard Ridge.

Although I might just gaze at these pretty colours for just a while longer.

Yarn Porn.

2011-03-28T08:17:00.007+01:00

Whilst surfing the net trying to find the perfect yarn to crochet around my Lizard Ridge blanket I found this, Noro Retro.

From here .

A delicious mix of 64 % wool, 24% silk and 12 % angora.

'nough said.

(apart from why isn't it in the UK?)

Sewing for Pleasure NEC 2011 (picture heavy)

2011-03-27T18:47:00.012+01:00

On Friday I rose at the crack of dawn and hubby and myself readied ourselves (hubby was driver to the train station) to pick Noelle up along with I to catch a train to the NEC, we were both giddy with excitement of what the day would bring. We had both volunteered to teach hand knitting at the Knit 1 - Pass it On stall which is funded by the UK Hand Knitting Association. In return for a couple of hours teaching we were given an exhibitors pass, which was gratefully received. We had a very fun two hours, I knew from past experiences that Noelle loves to teach, she has a way with her and got on very well. Me, well I bumble along like I usually do, but I got there in the end and was able to teach cast on, purl, knit, how to pick up stitches if they were dropped (I think that is really important it takes the stress out of learning to knit if you know how to pick those stitches up) and cast off.

Before our session at Knit 1 - Pass it On we had much fun. I hadn't took my camera so you will have to rely on me that there was much to see in the arty side of things, we could have stayed all day, but shopping called and during the morning I saw Pauline Ineson's stand, she who I worship from afar was giving free workshops. I stopped most abruptly and swiveled my head with the speed of a velociraptor spying game with a gasp of "Oh its Pauline Ineson" and wandered over to see what was going on. Only to be told there were free workshops afoot and that there were places available, can you even try to imagine just how giddy I was at this point., I doubt it. Noelle and I quickly booked up for an afternoon session and then headed off.

Later, much later we came back and settled into our seats to listen to Pauline, she was a wonderful teacher. And soon we both had this,

Firstly we learnt the secrets of candlewicking which is the middle section and then were swiftly taught how to make wavy window tucks. Then, if that were not enough Pauline came over to show us just how to mitre the corner of the bias binding that was included in the kit. Doesn't it look interesting, I have sheer jewel like silks in my imagination to make this project shine.

And then all too soon it was time to go home, although just before we left I had asked if they need more volunteers over the weekend and was told that they might be short on Sunday and so was able to come again to the show.

Come Sunday I was raring to go, even with the loss of an hours sleep with the clocks coming forward I was off again. This time, I had carefully looked at what is available and as soon as I arrived quickly booked myself onto available courses with the go ahead of Fred, (manager of knit 1 - pass it on).

And I took my camera.

With the benefit of the exhibitors pass I was able to gain entry before the general public so took full advantage to photograph (with permission) the Above and Below the Waves Knitting Project, created by Alison Murray, she who also created the 25ft Christmas tree and the most wondrous Gingerbread House. This time Alison is raising money for the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution), a very worthy cause.

Pirates looking very pleased with their haul.

Oyster divers, can you see their string of pearls on their purses and their daggers to open the oysters with?

Called the Nemesis, "Yep, I would think that would be my worst enemy too"

Loved the turtle.

And this fisherman in a full scale adult sized aran jumper!

Punch and Judy with crocodile with his string of sausages, whilst families watched. (I love this the most)

Sunbathing and knitting.

donkey rides!

a light house with people enjoying themselves.

a RNLI boat fighting against the huge waves.

Under the sea in a tunnel you walk through which was magical and beautifully lit, you have a beautiful mermaid,

and more beautiful mermaids enjoying the coral.

lost fish nets become home to beautiful fish.

a huge shark....oooh he was scary.

such atmosphere with coral, octupus, shells and crabs.

and jelly fish and sea weed, (there was lots of sea weed in the photo's, you just have to look for it)

And then there was time for the workshops, which were all given for free by very gifted tutors. Today I learnt how to...

There was Wing Needle and Criss Cross Chainstitching by Pauline Ineson to make a cover for a packet of tissues.

I made a concealed zip, from the dress makers workshop which I thought was amazing, considering this was a red zip can you see it?

I am very pleased with this technique.

Next was Amy Butlers "Blooms quilt" this was fabulous, I enjoyed it immensely, my cushion is not finished by you can get the idea.

And just before joining Knit 1 - Pass it On, I passed Pauline Ineson's stall and noticed that there were three sewing machines not in use, I asked Pauline what had happened and she asked me if I would like to join in, not a second passed before I said "oh Yes Please" (we later learn't that the clocks going forward had thrown the participants)

We learnt Shadow Applique by Pauline Ineson, silk was used to shadow the applique dove and we made it into a pretty card. (the purple pen will fade with sunlight)

I met knitters who I know and love, blog readers that recognise me (once seen, never forgotten) and others that know me from just being at the shows, it was wonderful, I had a wonderful day.

On a much sadder note, I came home to find that a favourite Uncle had passed away, he was one of my favourites not least (although not a blood relative) he was alopecia universallis from the age of five. He was a staunch supporter of me and everything that I have gone through and I will miss him very much. And strangely I have the perfect card, made today, to give to my Auntie. Perhaps it was meant to be.

Spring has sprung.

2011-03-24T22:01:00.005Z

Everywhere I look there are signs that Spring has sprung, unfortunately I don't seem to have taken any spring like photo's yet this year. But that might be because until very recently I have had my head down and been focusing on this.

Which I have finally finished and managed to sew the buttons on today, which Noelle helped me to choose from our LYS.

It is Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston and I have knitted it in Rowan Purelife Organic Wool which I bought from House of Frazer in Solihull for a ridiculously cheap price. (I have also bought rather alot of the other colours too! - well when a yarn keeps on getting reduced, eventually settling on a 80 per cent reduction, what is a girl to do?!) And yes, I did tell my knitting pals that the reductions were grand at H 0f F this year and there was much whispering of just how good they were.

I have lengthened this pattern by two inches and I think I could have added a couple more inches. It will look nice with a skirt though. It has had a light steaming and really needs to settle into a nice lukewarm bath and then I can stretch it out a little as it is a bit snug. I think I was hoping that I would have shrunk more by this point, but hey ho, that is life.

I slightly altered the lace pattern so that it was wider than the original, to suit the wider person that will be wearing it.

I am pleased, of course now it is finished, it is much too warm to wear it. But that is okay too.

When I wished upon my wishing star

2011-03-18T13:23:00.008Z

I must have been wishing very hard
because today my dreams came true.

Before Christmas I was waxing lyrical about Indigo Moon and the gorgeous one and only skein I had of it that I was knitting up for my own Christmas treat. And I asked if anyone knew anyone who sold this particular yarn in this country as Socktopus no longer does. I must tell you that everytime I took this project to knitting other knitters were in awe of the yarn and just loved the colourway which was called Starlight.

When my socks were completed just before Christmas I was very happy,

but also a little sad as my only stash of Indigo Moon had gone and I could no longer just admire it in the skein. It was so pretty. And I hadn't realised just how plainly that had come across on the internet especially as a certain somebody was listening. Amelia on hearing of my plaintive cry about my last skein, contacted Indigo Moon and get this.... asked Trish Moon to dye Especially for Me some beautiful skeins of Starlight. And get this... Trish said Yes.. Aren't they naughty!!!!

So today a package arrived for me which I was not expecting. I opened it up and found these gorgeous items.

Two 100 gram skeins of Indigo Moon fingering weight 100% merino superwash in Starlight and... an absolutely gorgeous mini skein of Pur Silk in Green Goddess and a very pretty postcard of Vancouver Island Gardens. What a treat, three beautiful skeins of gorgeous yarn. How lucky am I to have a friend like this.

And just for the cheap seats at the back,

A lovely, large close up.

This has turned my day into a very happy one,

thank you so much Amelia.

Arranging Lizard Ridge squares.

2011-03-17T22:29:00.003Z

I trundled up to knitting today with my Lizard Ridge squares about my person full in the knowledge that it was a Very Important Day. Well, it was for me. Because today was the day that my blanket would finally start to take shape. I have ummed and ahhhed and then ahhhed and ummed about the colours that I have chosen since January 2008 and if truth be told the colours that I have ummed and ahhed stem back to the first time that I knit a square and lets face it, it was my idea, for a baby blanket, which was a roaring success from a knitting group I belonged to in December 2007. At the time when I suggested such a blanket for a baby that was about to be born into our group, I had no idea of just how complicated a suggestion I was making, well I had never read the pattern. I just knew that if there were, at that time, a thousand odd projects of this pattern that were displayed in Ravelry, then the pattern must be doable. And then there were the pretty colours, need I say more.

When I started to knit my first square I can remember being shocked. There was more to this than met the eye and I quickly learnt what a short row wrap was, but to do that I spent the best part of two days on the internet fine tuning what a short row wrap was that was hidden on the right side. It was time well spent, I will never be frightened of short row wrap again, especially after 36 squares!

I and my partner in crime, at least in gorgeous yarns and colourways, was quickly off the mark and Carie although she has a much heavier schedule than I simply churned out startlingly beautiful squares after square. Not content with her prowess she had to share and it was when startling beautiful squares, not least from her photography skills aided with the internet came landing on my desk that I groaned from the beauty of them all.

Resistance was futile.

It was time to spend several hours choosing colours for myself. At the time the dollar was nearly two to the pound, so it was a good time to choose my yarn. And from my records I chose seventeen balls of Noro Kureyon from Yarnela yarns, mainly because they had a rather better range of colours than had been released into this country by Noro.

Then there were others balls of Kureyon that I bought from the UK, and then most magically word spread and my knitting pals started to give me their left overs. It was wonderful to be given or to be sent random balls of wool, huge bags of left overs, or just bits and bobs, they have all made it into this blanket, which has made it even more beautiful to me. Seriously, it gave and still does give me such a buzz about just how wonderful and friendly the knitting community can be.

After Carie, Diane and I played with the squares we eventually settled on this. Before I go we had a lovely time playing with all of the colours and serious chats were held on the rights and wrongs between pinks, blues and greens. If you ever get the chance, play with colours with your girl friends it is truly wonderful and it is certainly going to be a day I always remember. It was so much Fun!!!

Well here goes....

First shot from me,

and then a photographic shot from one who is taller. (have I told you Carie is even taller than me!) Its a much better photograph,

and then,

and then a black and white to see if the blanket is balanced in the saturation of colours. I can see where it isn't but trust me, we tried with the colours to get it balanced and to be honest I am very happy from the colour photographs.

What fun we have had today.

What can this mean?

2011-03-16T16:11:00.003Z

These strange, yet beautiful colours I put before you.

It cannot be, can it?

One has heard of these mirages, can this be true?

It is true, there are thirty six squares knitted up in the Lizard Ridge pattern.

And they have all had their ends sewn in.

Tomorrow, with luck, Carie, Kitty and I shall play to our hearts content with all the pretty colours. I suspect there may be others that find the colours irresistible and may need to come and play.

And look how pretty the ends are, I couldn't bear to throw them away when I had a sudden inspiration.

I could use them as ties in a quilt. Wouldn't they look pretty. I shall have to experiment with them.

Found them!

2011-03-15T10:07:00.005Z

I spent my spare time in December making hats for my parents for Christmas. Mum had just bought herself a beautiful purple coat and I just happened to have in my stash a purple that would match it perfectly. I also worry quite often about Dad's bare head, he doesn't seem to worry about it but I am sure he would feel warmer with a nice woolly hat. The previous year I had bought a rather nice (and very expensive!) lamb's wool hat but I could see it wasn't exactly the right shape for him and although he tried to wear it, it probably irritated him because he doesn't like hats that go too far over his face.

I knitted the hats up and was considering giving them early as the weather had turned rather fierce, when I put them somewhere safe intending to photograph them in the next couple of days and then I couldn't find them. During the latest upheaval (the windows have been fitted YaY!!!) they resurfaced.

Here is Mum's hat, I am hoping it will look more interesting when it is on. It is Beret by Bernat Design Studio in Katia Cocktail in colourway purple 17 and took 2 balls.

And this is Dad's hat which is much shorter hat from crown to tip and I think suit him much better. It is Hill Country Hat by Clara Parkes knitted in Rowan Renew in colourway Tractor 680 and took just over a ball. It is a lovely pattern, it took me about five hours of knitting time and I finished it in one day which makes it a very useful fall back if you have need of an emergency present. It was the first time I have used this yarn and I like it very much , it feels soft to the skin but has a tweedy effect to which I am very partial. The icing on the cake is that the colourway is called Tractor, my Dad's first job was working on a farm, I am sure it will amuse him and will bring an anecdote forth from his lips.

Now if I could just find hubby's sock that I lost....

Boswell

2011-03-10T19:12:00.006Z

Today very sadly we lost our beloved ginger boy, Boswell. He came to us as a rescue in a very strange way. I was in touch with various local rescue societies as we helped transport dogs in need when they were desperate for help just at the time we lost our beloved cat called Brian, our black and white fluffy cat who I completely adored, I'd show you a photo, but they are not on digital. I was a very sad girl as Brian was much loved.

Then a doggy lady in Birmingham who I knew got in touch because she had been feeding a cat who wasn't her's and had found out a neighbour had also been feeding him who had threatened to finish him off, he had become a pest and this ladies husband was not best pleased and would do the job willingly. With much blessings the cat was dog friendly. My immediate response, "Bring him here" which she did in less than an hour.

We dog tested him with Charlie my super friendly golden retriever and they said hello to each other in a very calm and collected way and we decided he was ours.. .. what a story that is. We got him sorted out at the vets and micro chipped him, the vet thought he was about five which was over ten years ago.

A very tentative Boswell on his first day.

Over the years this cat has rung us ragged. He liked to stay with other people until they or he became ill and we always picked up the pieces and sorted him out. Our boys became disenchanted with him often asking me how I could love him when he came home, often skin and bone and I said "Its like the prodigal son, and killing the fatted calf" as I opened a new tin of cat food and enticed him to eat and drink as this cat who was his former self dragged himself over the door step. And when the boys said "But how can you, he is a traitor to us, he abandoned us", I used to say "Would I not welcome you" to which they became quiet. I think it takes a while for children to understand a mothers love.

But never the less he came home in his retirement, well mostly apart from he got lost in the ice and snow this winter when two RSPCA chaps arrived at the house and asked if we had lost a cat, I'd been fairly sleepless for a few weeks by this point and thought they were bringing bad news. We found Boswell had rehomed himself yet again down the road. He was getting pretty senile by this point. We brought him home yet again where he stayed, we sorted him out again and got him back to full health.

Far too suddenly his health failed beyond repair. Today we had to say goodbye.

I'll leave you with my favourite photo's of Boswell.

Good night Boswell and God bless. Sleep tight.

Better late than Never!

2011-03-09T21:28:00.005Z

That's what I say,

and they were truly delicious.

"Old friends are like diamonds..."

2011-03-08T11:48:00.005Z

Precious and Rare"

Some of you may have noticed the rather infrequent blog posts of late. The truth is I simply can't be the creative bouncy person you have all come to know and I hope love (if even just a little) when I am going through the mill - yet again!. To cut a long story very short my rheumatologist and I have been steadily working through why my CRP has been steadily rising for the last three years (its up to 40 now, a well person would generally fall between 1 and 4 it signifies inflammation) and why my IL6 blood test came back showing a very high result. Along the way we have discovered the Fibromyalgia and the Polymyalgia, the Restless leg syndrome, of course there has also been the Atrial Flutter and the hypothyrodism and lets us not forget - as if we ever could - the Alopecia Universallis.

Well, I had a positive result a couple of weeks ago, one that I really did not want to be blessed with, but one that both my rheumatologist and I have been waiting for. I came in sero positive to rheumatoid arthritis. I am thinking of taking the seat in Mastermind with "autoimmune diseases I have known and loved!"

I am glad to have a result, its been a long time. At least I know why my knee's are shot to hell and I struggle both up and down stairs, why my ankles sometimes hurt, my shoulders play me up when I lean on them, especially whilst leaning on them whilst trying to sleep (at times I feel like I am trying to dislocate them!, which wakes me up in agony) and why my elbows play me up at times. I am looking to keep moving and remain very positive and there are plans afoot to keep the positivity going which I shall reveal in due course.

However, on hearing this news I slipped and lost my footing and whilst in my deepest of darkest of holes and lets face it, I have decorated and furnished some of those during the last three years, my old friends kept an eye on me. Either through emails, private messages or phone calls which I was extremely grateful for. Just knowing people are there for you can be very healing. I am still in a pretty dark place but lets just say I can see a brighter place, its just over the horizon.

And whilst in the deep dark place, I received this.

A beautiful shawl knitted by Diane. (Ishbel shawl designed by Ysolda Teague and knitted in The Yarn Yards Ochil)

I was completely bowled over, I don't think I could speak for half an hour, I absolutely love it. So many emotions flooded through not least that a good friend had taken the time to sit and knit me a shawl in my favourite colours. And also knowing full well that this lovely friend has had an aversion to knitting lace through most of her knitting career - she is a very accomplished knitter - and she put that to one side to knit me something beautiful to sooth me and help me to heal.

I think its very beautiful and it will go perfectly with a brown jacket for spring.

And then the next day whilst at knitting Carie whipped this out of her bag (it was beautifully wrapped of course) and after I had unwrapped it, sticky tape can be a bit tricky at times, I found this. My eyes nearly exploded out of my head because I recognised it as the fibre that I had started to spin at Carie's house but my knee's and muscles wouldn't let me progress. (at least we know why now!) Carie had spun it up for me just so that I could have it to stroke whilst gazing at its beautiful colours. Although how she found the time to spin and ply with a baby that is only a few months will forever mystify me and knowing how many hours were also put into this I am very touched. Of course I will knit with it, eventually!

I love it, it is just so pretty with all the various greens, browns and yellows blending with each other.

I have already had an idea of a hat which I am sure will do this lovely yarn justice. The yarn is Blue Faced Leicester, which is gorgeously soft and there are 110 yards and 94 grams.

So, due in no small part to my dearest friends, normal service will be resumed.

Playtime!

2011-02-27T21:46:00.007Z

Son no.2 has blessed us with his presence for the last few days which has been wonderful. During this time we managed to organise an evening out. Which is not as easy as you would think when son no.1 has such an extensive social life.

We then tried to book four seats at our local flea pit to watch The Kings Speech to find they were fully booked, which then sent out all of our timings and where we were going to eat for the evening. So it was decided that we would eat first and Indian cuisine was voted for, so we quickly rang an Indian restaurant that is so busy if you don't book you can't get in. Fortunately we were in time and secured a table. The food was delicious as usual and set everyone into a very good mood. We then had an hour and a half before the film so it was decided that we would take a trip out to ToyRus. I haven't been there for years, it was great fun.

The boys did what they always did, ran off. It took me a while to find them.

Son no.1 called to me just before cracking this joke with an oven. "I know how you feel love" I said and playfully pulled him out with a "Don't do eeeiit"

And then son no.2 found this triceratops which tickled him completely. This is him calling his brother over to have a look.

The triceratops moves his head and roars, look at the smile on the boy.

Yep son no.1 appears on the scene.

Son no. 2 deep in studying it mode.

Ooh yeah, still looking at it!

And just one final examination of the power of its jaws.

Hubby was suitably impressed. (it may have been full tummy syndrome)

Studiously looking at the microwaves.

"It works just like ours!"

And then onto the Pizza. Obviously these boys need more toys, they even admired the washing machine! (at this point I could show you a photograph of the pile of washing son no.1 has just dumped in the kitchen, but I won't be that cruel - Its a toy son, honestly!!!!)

There has been knitting, this is a cardigan called Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston I cast on on New Years Eve and have been steadily knitting it ever since. My chosen yarn is Rowan Purelife Organic in Horsetail and I am falling deeply in love with it.

There are lots of nice little details on this cardigan, the twisted long ribs and the decorative lace to name but two. It is knit in the round and has an unusual way to attach the sleeves, which I liked, its a very nicely written pattern. Another week's knitting and finishing and we should be there. I've knitted it on the smaller of me side so that I shrink into it!

A red dress for Valentines.

2011-02-15T12:33:00.006Z

I have no idea what prompted this urge to knit a beautiful red dress for Valentines for my delightful god daughter. Was it the rush of god motherly love that I so often feel for her? Was it the desire to play at dressing a girl?, real life baby girls are So much better than dolls. Or was it simply that I wished to play with red wool? Who knows, but what I do know is one moment I was happily knitting my spring cardigan, and the next I was knee deep in stash where hubby surprised me and saw my happy face as I had just found the required red aran I was looking for.

Next was to find a pattern that would suit and have I told you recently just how much I love Ravelry. Another happy hour was spent critiquing the dresses until I found the perfect one. Golden Rose Baby Sundress by Wendi Dunlap or if your are a member here is the link in Ravelry
As soon as I saw this beautiful dress I knew it was perfect for Miss Kitty.

So I started to knit and knit and knit and the wonderful aspect of this dress is that it has a very full skirt which I love which is then gathered together just under the bodice to form soft gentle folds. I was quite tempted to make a petticoat of many layers to fluff out the skirt but not knowing Kitty's exact waist measurement it might have been a bit tricky. I'd finished one half of the dress which I had lengthened by one inch as Kitty is long for her age, and was quite happy with it, until I happened to meet Kitty and her Mum unexpectedly for coffee and realised with shock and just a little bit of horror just how much Kitty had grown.

Using my hand as a measuring guide, (I have a near perfect eight inch span which is useful) as well as Carie's beautiful dress for Kitty she had just completed and happened to be with her realised that my dress would only just cover Kitty's bottom! which would never do. So I undid the top added another two inches to the skirt, which means it is three inches longer than it should be! (did I tell you she has very tall parents) and carried on.

Five balls of Aran Cashsoft by Rowan in Poppy 10 later, you have this.

A pretty red Pinafore for Valentines day.

There are some nice details to this dress. Simple but effective moss stitch,

and pretty lace at the bottom of the skirt.

Kitty modeling her dress, assisted by Daddy and staring happily at Mummy.

But Mummy being a clever blogger too, knew that I was after a shot with Kitty smiling at the camera. Mummy is on the move,

and Kitty is really not sure what is happening. "Where is Mummy going?"

"Oh, there she is" as Mummy is stood behind me.

"That's my Mummy, she smells of milk, I like milk"

"And I like snuggling into Daddy"

"And I think I quite like this dress"

Our workshop with Debbie Abrahams.

2011-02-03T18:43:00.003Z

It all started in June 2010 when I emailed Debbie Abrahams to see if she would be willing to come to Kenilworth to teach a workshop. Debbie came back to me offering her workshops that she normally covers, where upon I became very cheeky and asked her ever so nicely if she could cover beading, intarsia and fairisle in one go. Debbie very kindly agreed to teach a workshop covering all three techniques which was extremely generous of her.

Emails shot backwards and forwards between us in the intervening months covering various necessities, whilst all of this time I was quite giddy about having such a wondrous and quite famous (in the knitting world) knitter coming to us.

The day dawned and I headed off to The Almanack who do a wonderful job in looking after us to be quickly joined by many of our group. Debbie arrived, along with her beautiful blankets, books, dvd's and beads.

These blankets are exclusive to her mystery blanket clubs and I find them absolutely stunning. This is mystery blanket 2009 called Arabian Nights. I think this is my favourite blanket, I would love to own this. (If anyone knows of a spare kit, give me a nudge!)

Arabian Nights with a pile of Debbie's books which were stunning, one could happily pass the day gazing at the lovely photography of her blankets.

This is my second favourite blanket, although it is very difficult to have favourites when they are all quite exquisite. This is In the Country, mystery blanket 2008.

And underneath here is Beneath the Sea mystery blanket 2010 which also tickled me. Debbie has told us she still has a handful (approximately five) of places left on the 2011 blanket. So be quick if your interested because once they're gone, they're gone.

These are her lovely beads, which are beautiful to work with in your knitting.

We set to work and had a very busy morning, followed by a lovely lunch.

Pictures of everybody hard at work,

it was an intensive workshop we learnt a books worth of techniques in one day!

And Debbie was a very attentive teacher,

Debbie looking quite calm and stress free, considering how much she had to teach I am very impressed.

Time to go home and a quick snapshot of some pieces of work. They are all looking wonderful and we have the pattern, yarn and beads to complete our little bags.

As you can see we all learn't a lot, through Debbie's wonderful teaching. I'll try and finish my bag soon to show you although I have spent a large part of the day drooling over Debbie's book, Blankets and Throws to Knit, choosing a blanket that will be lovely to knit with my new found skills. Intarsia, fairisle and beading, here I come....

Not Pebbles, Stones!

2011-01-28T12:02:00.005Z

Well just one stone actually,

this one...

I'd been working on that stone backwards and forwards over Christmas for quite a while and this week as my tippy toes touched the scales I knew I was in with a chance of success, which proved to be correct. I have stuck my certificates on my study wall for when desperation strikes and I can gaze at them for inspiration.

And the other good thing about achieving the landmark of a stone,

Is a received another sticker. I like stickers..

I have a very long way to go, but I am enjoying the journey.

Three things I have learnt from Slimming World.

1. Generally people take longer to lose weight than you might imagine, although there will always be the stars of the group who manage to somehow drop lots of weight every week, generally it comes off very gradually, a pound loss is a great loss if your dieting every week.

2. I need the discipline of weighing in, it sharpens the mind when the mouth is grazing. (or longingly looking at treats that would send me into a catastrophic whirlwind of events that would end very sadly)

3. That it is good fun. I know that is shocking isn't it?! But you would be suprised about the laughs we have. Whether its about the friendly time you had with a bottle of red, the long term relationship you have with a bag of sherbert lemons. Are you a nutaholic? or a crispaholic? or maybe you love the sweet things in life. There are commiserations and celebrations, its all there at SW.

Right, I am off to make some homemade leek and potato soup, followed by a roasted pumpkin risotto. Yum, yum.

A New Years party.

2011-01-28T11:57:00.003Z

Kenilworth Knit and Natter celebrated their second New Years Party this week. It looked like everyone was having a good time.

It was a nice way to mark the turning of the year with a celebration. There was knitting, fine dining and wonderful conversation, what more could a knitter want.

22nd Wedding Anniversary.

2011-01-16T16:46:00.003Z

We have just celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary, how time has flown. I know this is a cliche and when you are younger you just don't realise quite how quickly the years will pass by. I don't consider myself as anything older than my mid twenties, and am often shocked by my creaky knees and wrinkles that are growing slowly deeper.

Hubby had booked the day off, which is a good thing as he was deep in sore throat and snuffly nose territory. So any plans were quickly curtailed and it was decided that we would take the day very gently. Although come the afternoon hubby, just as I was engrossed in reading hopped into the car and disappeared. He came back with scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam and some beautiful red roses, all 22 of them. We had a lovely cream tea and then hubby departed up to his bed. Leaving me to gaze at these beautiful roses,

and whilst I was gazing at them and thinking what a daft sod he was to venture forth, I noticed,

that there was one rose that had a double crown,

which made it looked heart shaped! I have never seen anything like that before and it tickled me pink.

Such beautiful roses, we are so lucky to be able to record such beautiful moments, it was only fifty odd years ago that colour film came in for home use and then it was expensive, all hail the digital age.